The white Merlion statue spouting water from its pier, with stone terraces and CBD towers behind on an overcast morning

Landmark · Downtown Core, Central Region

Merlion Park

Home of the half-lion, half-fish statue that has become Singapore's national icon

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Photo: Jay Ang (@j1000words) / Unsplash

Discover Merlion Park

No visit to Singapore feels complete without a photograph at the Merlion. The white statue, with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, stands on a pier at the edge of Marina Bay, sending a steady arc of water into the bay while the towers of Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum line the far shore.

The park itself is compact and free to enter, with stepped viewing terraces down to the water and a smaller Merlion cub behind the main statue. It is a lively place from morning to late evening, when the statue and the skyline are lit, and it makes a natural starting point for a walk around the bay or along the Singapore River.

Don’t miss

01The 8.6 m Merlion statue spouting water into Marina Bay
02The Merlion cub, a 2 m companion statue standing behind the main figure
03Views across the bay to Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum
04Waterfront terraces next to The Fullerton Hotel and the Esplanade Bridge
05Evening views of the lit-up skyline and the Spectra show across the bay

History & culture

The story of Merlion Park

The Merlion began life in 1964 as the logo of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, designed by Alec Fraser-Brunner, then curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium. Its fish body recalls Singapore's origins as the fishing village of Temasek, and its lion head the Malay Annals legend in which the prince Sang Nila Utama saw a creature he took for a lion and renamed the island Singapura, the 'lion city'.

The statue was sculpted by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng, working from a design by artist Kwan Sai Kheong, and was unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 15 September 1972 at the mouth of the Singapore River. After the Esplanade Bridge, completed in 1997, blocked views of the statue from the bay, the 70-tonne Merlion was moved by barge and crane in April 2002 to its present pier at One Fullerton, about 120 m away. In 2009 a lightning strike damaged its mane; it was repaired and reopened within weeks.

Local life & traditions

The Merlion is one of Singapore's most recognised symbols, used on souvenirs and in tourism campaigns, and a handful of other official Merlion statues stand elsewhere on the island. For many Singaporeans it is a little kitsch and much loved at the same time, and it remains a favourite meeting point and a backdrop for photographs at national celebrations, weddings and graduations.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Come early in the morning if you want photographs without crowds, or at dusk to see the skyline light up behind the statue. The stepped terraces give plenty of angles, and many visitors line up the water jet with their hands for the classic playful photo.

From the park it is easy to walk on along the waterfront: north over the Esplanade Bridge to the Esplanade theatres, or south-east around the bay to Marina Bay Sands and the Helix Bridge. You can also follow the Singapore River upstream past the Fullerton and the old bridges towards Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.

When to go

The park is open-air and worth visiting at any time of year. Early morning is the quietest and coolest time, while the hour around sunset is the most atmospheric. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in much of the year, especially from November to January, so keep an eye on the sky and have an umbrella ready.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Location: One Fullerton, on the Marina Bay waterfront beside The Fullerton Hotel; the statue was moved here in 2002 from the mouth of the Singapore River Source: roots.gov.sg ↗
The statue: 8.6 m tall, sculpted by Lim Nang Seng and unveiled on 15 September 1972 by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Source: roots.gov.sg ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Visit early in the morning for fewer people in your photographs.
The nearest MRT station is Raffles Place (East-West and North-South lines); allow about ten minutes' walk.
There is little shade on the terraces, so bring a hat and water in the middle of the day.
From the park you can see the Spectra show across the bay in the evening, though the best view is from the Marina Bay Sands side.
Mind your belongings in the crowds at busy times.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Merlion Park: food, markets & places to stay

The Fullerton Hotel, a converted former post office building, stands right beside the park, with One Fullerton's restaurants on the waterfront. The Esplanade, the Asian Civilisations Museum, Boat Quay and the Raffles Place financial district are all within walking distance, and Lau Pa Sat and other CBD hawker centres are a short walk inland. Look for displayed MUIS halal certificates if you need halal food.

Merlion Park & what’s nearby

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Aerial view of Marina Bay Sands and the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum on Marina Bay at sunset

Landmark

Downtown Core, Central Region · 0.3 km away

Merlion Park in pictures

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

Celebrating 50 Years of the Merlion: Stories Behind the National Icon — Roots.sg, National Heritage Board
Merlion Park — Wikipedia
Merlion — Wikipedia

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