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The Best Things to Do in Esplanade Singapore: Free Concerts, Fancy Shops, and More
- Things to Know
- How to Get There
- Things to Do
- Catch a live concert or cultural performance
- Watch free shows at the Concourse and Outdoor Theatre
- Attend a festival
- Drink in the gorgeous view from Esplanade’s roof terrace
- Shop to your heart’s delight at Esplanade Mall
- Let your child run wild at PIP’s PLAYbox
- Hike along PIP’s Trail
- Go on an Esplanade Tour
Situated in Singapore’s city center, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is hard to overlook. After all, this building is shaped like a durian that glitters day and night. That design alone demands attention!
But more than its magnificent design, the Esplanade is a place that honors culture and the arts. There’s no shortage of fun things to do here. I’ve attended concerts, live cultural performances, and even festivals!
Here are some of the best things to do here if you want to visit. Some of them are even free!
Things to Know
Address: 1 Esplanade Dr
Contact Number: +6568288377
Website
How to Get There
By MRT: Take a train from the Circle Line (Yellow), then alight at the Esplanade MRT Station. Take Exit D and ride the elevator to get outdoors. From there, walk to your destination.
By Bus: These buses stop outside the Esplanade Mall entrance (along Raffles Avenue): bus service numbers 36, 56, 70M, 75, 77, 97, 97e, 106, 111, 133, 162M, 171, 195, 531, 700A, 857, 960, 961, 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N, NR1, NR2, NR5, NR6, NR8.
By Car: Esplanade has a dedicated parking lot, and it’s open 24/7. The parking rates are S$2.30 per hour (for cars) and free for motorcycles (subject to availability). You can purchase season parking, which lets you park even during peak hours. For more information, send an email to [email protected].
Things to Do
Catch a live concert or cultural performance
From: t42ok884
The Esplanade has a concert hall with 1,600 seats and a theatre with 2,000, so it’s not a surprise that concerts and live cultural performances are the main highlights here. You might as well catch a live event if you want to visit this place.
One of my favorite concerts that I watched was Soundtracks of the Stage, which was a performance of songs from all sorts of musicals (e.g., Wicked and High School Musical).
Pro Tip:
If you want to scroll through Esplanade’s What’s On page, you can filter through events with accessibility features like assistive listening and closed captioning.
Watch free shows at the Concourse and Outdoor Theatre
From: sgr_since_2018
Don’t have the money to buy a ticket to a concert? Don’t worry because Esplanade actually has a few shows every month that are completely free! These shows are usually held on weekend evenings at the Concourse.
My favorite types of shows are the ones that focus on music across different borders. For example, there was one show I attended in September that had musicians play music from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and America!
Pro Tip:
Check this page to see what free shows are available for the month.
Attend a festival
From: patricia._bourke
Aside from concerts and free shows, Esplanade sometimes hosts fun festivals. The best part is that the festivals cover a wide range of themes, so there’s always something for everyone!
The most popular festivals are music-themed ones, such as Jazz in July and Voices – A Festival of Song (I love this one because vocal music like opera and choral always gives me chills).
There are art festivals, too, like Octoburst (catered towards young artists) and Kalaa Utsavam (a yearly festival that celebrates Indian arts and culture during Deepavali).
Pro Tip:
Check this page to see what festivals are coming up soon. That way, you can prepare before you attend one.
Drink in the gorgeous view from Esplanade’s roof terrace
From: anne_achey._
If you’re just in the mood to relax, then you must head to the Esplanade’s roof terrace. There’s a whole garden sprawled out here, so feel free to take a stroll, maybe while listening to music or an audiobook, which is what I usually do.
When I’m even too tired to walk around, I simply take a seat on a bench and drink in the view. Since the Esplanade is conveniently located, the scenery is the skyscrapers, with Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. It’s very pretty!
Pro Tip:
I recommend coming here in the evening. The view of the cityscape is even more beautiful because of all the city lights twinkling in the dark.
Shop to your heart’s delight at Esplanade Mall
From: siya08_
Shopaholics will be delighted to know that the Esplanade has a mall. And this mall features an extensive array of specialty shops and restaurants, so you’ll definitely spend hours just window-shopping and treating yourself to delicious food like I tend to do!
My favorite shop to check out here is the Garden of Desire Jewellery Atelier because I love how simple and elegant the accessories here are.
When it comes to food, I always come back to Canopy Esplanade. Their burgers are so hearty and comforting, and I get to dine with a view!
Pro Tip:
There are always events and promotions active here. One promo you might like is the one that gives you free parking if you spend S$30 in the mall!
Let your child run wild at PIP’s PLAYbox
From: charlovescupcakes
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
Looking for an opportunity to bond with your child? Then, you need to stop by PIP’s PLAYbox. This space is dedicated to children and their parents to tap into their imagination and create something together!
I usually come here with my nieces and/or nephews, and I just follow along with whatever they’re trying to make (they love making animals using the tissue rolls). Once we’re done with the crafting, they will either go to the cozy loft to read a storybook or head outside to play a game in the playground.
Pro Tip:
You’ll be required to take off your shoes here, so I recommend wearing easily removable footwear. If you’re wearing closed-toe shoes, please wear socks.
Hike along PIP’s Trail
From: hol.experiences
Another activity that you might want to take on with your child is hiking along PIP’s Trail. This is a self-guided trail that takes you around Esplanade and glean more information and insight about this important Singaporean landmark.
What makes this trail great is that the various stations have all sorts of games and puzzles, so my nieces and nephews are never bored. Plus, to make things even better, once you finish the trail, you’ll receive a special gift. It’s usually a trinket or toy for children!
Pro Tip:
If you’re a teacher and you want your pupils to go on this trail, you need to register beforehand by sending an email to [email protected].
Go on an Esplanade Tour
From: daaniachill
It’s true that you can explore the Esplanade on your own, but I recommend going on a themed tour if possible. A themed tour made me appreciate this landmark even more.
The Esplanade Tour is the most popular choice, and it takes you into the different domes, especially the concert hall, the theatre, and the front-of-house spaces. My favorite though is the Esplanade Backstage Tour. It’s so interesting seeing the dressing rooms and the theatre’s wings!
Pro Tips:
Arrive at least 10 minutes earlier at the designated meeting spot. This is to ensure that you won’t miss anything. If you prefer a private or customized tour, you can send a request to [email protected].
