Home to Singapore's iconic 8.6m Merlion statue — half lion, half fish — spitting water into Marina Bay. Free, open 24/7.
Entry
Free
Hours
24 hours
Rating
★ 4.6
Location
Marina Bay
The Merlion is Singapore's national symbol — a mythical creature with a lion's head and a fish body, representing Singapore's origin as "Singapura" (Lion City) and its history as a fishing village called "Temasek". The statue at Merlion Park is 8.6 meters tall and weighs 70 tonnes.
It's the most-photographed statue in Singapore and absolutely free to visit, 24/7. The view across Marina Bay with the Merlion in front and Marina Bay Sands behind is the postcard shot.
There's a smaller Merlion cub statue 28m away — most visitors miss it. The park is small (basically a concrete platform), so allow 30 minutes.
Don't miss
3 things to see & do
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The Main Merlion Statue
8.6m tall, 70 tonnes — half lion (Singapore origin as "Lion City") half fish (history as fishing village Temasek). Spouts water into Marina Bay.
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Merlion Cub
Smaller 2m Merlion statue 28m away — easy to miss. Most visitors only photograph the main one.
📸
Postcard Photo Spot
The classic Marina Bay view with the Merlion in front and Marina Bay Sands behind — Singapore's most photographed scene.
<p>This monument was erected to commemorate a significant historical event. It stands at the site of the original occurrence, and the surrounding plaza was designed to allow public gatherings. The monument was built with public donations.</p>
✨ The story behind
<p>The monument's bronze figures were cast abroad and shipped here in pieces. Local schoolchildren watched the assembly and many remember the day it was unveiled. The monument's design was selected from a public competition that received over 100 entries.</p>
🏛️ Cultural significance
<p>The monument is the focal point of national commemorations held each year on the anniversary. Veterans, families of the fallen, and school groups gather here for ceremonies. The site is also a popular spot for visitors to learn about local history.</p>
⭐ Fun fact
"The inscriptions on the base are written in multiple languages. The text is identical in all of them, but the engraved letters follow the local typographic traditions of each language."
