There’s no better way to capture the beauty of a city than to take a panoramic shot of it from up above or a clear, unobstructed spot—that should do the place justice.

Venues that offer stunning views are irresistible. Whether you’re in town, by the waterfront, or surrounded by nature, there’s always a vantage point worth checking out in Singapore. Here are some of the great ones you need to visit.

An aerial panorama of the Marina Bay, shot from Marina Bay Sands and overlooking Esplanade and Fullerton Bay

By the waterfront
Night view of the Esplanade overlooking the river Photo by Vincent Chong

Visit the iconic Marina Bay Sands® for gorgeous views of the city. Standing tall at 200 metres above ground, the Sands SkyPark is an observation deck that’s home to a 150-metre-long Infinity Pool (accessible to hotel guests only), as well as swanky dining establishments like rooftop bar CÉ LA VI, so you could swim, drink, or dine with a view here.

Another place to check out is The Fullerton Hotel and its classy restaurant, The Lighthouse. Book a spot here to tuck into perfectly executed Southern Italian creations while you gaze at beautiful sights of the Singapore skyline—complete with full-on views of the Marina Bay waterfront. Plan your visit right and you could also catch Spectra, a captivating light and water display at Marina Bay (8pm and 9pm daily, with an additional show at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays) and even fireworks on certain occasions (New Year's Eve, National Day) while sipping on a bubbly at the adjoining rooftop bar.

Nearby The Fullerton Hotel is Esplanade. This performing arts centre is situated near the mouth of the Singapore River and has plenty of restaurants, bars, and outdoor spaces (on both ground level and rooftop level of the building) for you to park yourself and take in the view. Or, if you prefer to take things up a notch, make a beeline for the gigantic Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer, and hop into a capsule for a 30-minute ride to enjoy 360-degree city views 165 metres above ground.


In the heart of town

If you find yourself in the Central Business District (CBD), you could pop by venues like 1-Altitude and LeVeL33.

Multi-concept lifestyle destination 1-Altitude features 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar on level 63 and fine dining restaurant Stellar on level 62 of the 1 Raffles Place building—both joints stand at over 280 metres above ground and boast panoramic views of Singapore. On the other hand, if you love craft beers, microbrewery LeVel33—dubbed “the world's highest urban craft brewery”—is the perfect place to unwind with a drink in hand while watching twinkling lights of the city.

Situated on the fringe of the CBD, The Pinnacle@Duxton may be a residential complex, but don’t be surprised to know that the public can visit its 50th-storey skybridge. For just S$5 per person, you can head on up for more amazing views from 9am to 9pm daily.

Aerial top down view of the Pinnacle@Duxton Photo by Darren Soh
An aerial shot of the 1-altitude bar rooftop at dusk Photo by 1-Altitude

In nature
Henderson Waves and a jogger

If you love the great outdoors, be sure to step into Gardens by the Bay to see the unique-looking vertical gardens called Supertrees. These structures are 50 metres tall and two of them are linked by the OCBC Skyway, a 128-metre aerial walkway that offers views of the city and the rest of the Gardens.

Up for a little hike? Go on the Southern Ridges trail and travel up to Mount Faber and the connected 36-metre-high Henderson Waves for Instagram-worthy views of Southern Singapore. If you prefer, take the cable car up to Mount Faber from HarbourFront Centre and make your way from there.

If you fancy a hike that’s a lot more challenging, try MacRitchie, which is a hotspot for nature lovers and fitness junkies. Make your way through the lush greenery and you’ll be rewarded with a knockout bird’s eye view of the forest canopy when you cross the 250-metre-long freestanding suspension bridge, the TreeTop Walk.

To enjoy activities like kite flying and picnicking while you take in views of the city skyline, head to Marina Barrage. This green facility (which interestingly enough, doubles up as a dam) is popular with families and couples looking to while the day away before whipping out their cameras to capture pretty sunset shots. 

Now you know where to go to feast your eyes on stunning views of the Singapore skyline. Whatever you do, don’t forget your trusty camera!