Meet the myth
Half-fish and half-lion, the iconic Merlion resides at the Merlion Park waterfront.
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Half-fish and half-lion, the iconic Merlion resides at the Merlion Park waterfront.
The Merlion, which merges the symbol of a fish and a lion, is an unmissable Singapore icon.
Come see the Singapore icon that is half-fish and half-lion at the Merlion Park.
Be fascinated by the stories behind the Merlion and how Singapore came to be.
Photo by Andrew Tan
You’ve probably seen images of Singapore’s national icon, the mythical Merlion with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.
The Merlion's body symbolises Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, which comes from the same root as the word tasek ('lake' in Malay).
Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, or ‘lion city’ in Malay.
Today, you can glimpse this legend at Merlion Park. Spouting water from its mouth, the Merlion statue stands tall at 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes.
This icon is a must-see for tourists visiting Singapore, similar to other significant landmarks around the world.
Built by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng, it was unveiled on 15 September 1972 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the mouth of the Singapore River, to welcome all visitors to Singapore.
With the completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront.
So in 2002, the Merlion was relocated 120 metres away from the original position to where it stands in Merlion Park today, in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking Marina Bay.
The park also houses a smaller Merlion statue. Known as the ‘Merlion cub’, it stands at two metres tall and weighs three tonnes.
The original sculpture and its cub are the most well-known among the seven approved Merlion statues in Singapore.
See if you can spot the rest on your trip here: there's one at Tourism Court near Grange Road and another at Mount Faber.
With its nautical theme and menu of American comfort food, PS Café’s a great spot to kick back, relax and enjoy a meal after visiting the Merlion.
Located atop The Fullerton Bay Hotel, the name of this rooftop bar pays homage to the red lanterns that used to line Clifford Pier. Come for the cocktails and linger for the view.
If you’re looking for an after dusk activity, catch the bright lights of our city’s urban nightscape and experience an unforgettable ride on the Singapore River Bumboat Cruise.
A favourite haunt of local photographers, the Esplanade Bridge boasts a beautiful view of the Singapore River—We recommend visiting in the evening to capture the glimmering city lights.
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