5 Best Singapore River Cruises (2025 Reviews)

Taking a river cruise through Singapore offers a fantastic perspective on the city that you can’t get anywhere else.

You’ll float past Marina Bay Sands with its incredible architecture, then find yourself among the old shophouses at Boat Quay—each stretch of water showing you something completely different.

The lights reflecting off the water, the mix of old and new buildings, and the gentle rhythm of the boat create something really special that stays with you long after you’re back on land.

We’ve curated our top Singapore river cruise options, which we believe you’ll genuinely enjoy. Each one offers something a bit different, so take a look through our reviews below to see which one fits what you’re looking for.

🏆 Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show

A magical night tour combining the beauty of the Singapore river cruise, Garden Rhapsody light show, and Spectra Water Show.

⏱ 2 Hours | 📍 Marina Bay Sands | 💬 4.9 Stars | ✅ Free Cancellation

🏆 Editor’s Pick 👉 Reserve Now

Want to see more of Singapore beyond the waterways? Combine your relaxing river cruise with active Singapore Bike Tours during the day to explore neighborhoods and cultural districts up close.

Experience wildlife after dark with thrilling Singapore Night Safari tours featuring nocturnal animals.

Don’t forget to visit Gardens by the Bay for stunning botanical displays and the famous Supertree Grove. Round out your experience with authentic Singapore Food Tours to taste local specialties.

Top 3: Singapore River Cruise

Compare Top Tours: 1. Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show, 2. Singapore River Cruise, and 3. Private Tour Singapore Nighttime sightseeing + River Cruise

1. Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show	2. Singapore River Cruise	3. Private Tour Singapore Nighttime sightseeing + River Cruise
Duration: 2 Hours	Duration: 1 Hour	Duration: 4 Hours
Pickup: Marina Bay Sands	Pickup: Boat Quay	Pickup: Hotel Pickup
Cancellation: Free Cancellation	Cancellation: Free Cancellation	Cancellation: Free Cancellation
Includes: Cruise, Light Show, Water Show	Includes: River Cruise, E-ticket	Includes: River Cruise, Sightseeing
Cruise, Spectra Show, Garden Rhapsody	Singapore River Views	Night Views of Singapore
👉 Reserve Your Spot!	👉 Reserve Your Spot!	👉 Reserve Your Spot!

Tour Lineup: River Cruise Singapore

1. Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show
2. Singapore River Cruise
3. Private Tour Singapore Nighttime Sightseeing + River Cruise
4. Private Tour: Nighttime Sightseeing with River Cruise
5. Private Singapore Full Day Round Island Tour with River Cruise

Singapore River Cruise Tickets (2025 Reviews)

Tour 1: Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show

🟧 Meeting Point: Marina Bay Sands
🟧 Departure Time: Evening, specific times on booking
🟧 Duration: 2 Hours
🟧 Guide: Live, English-speaking guide
🟧 Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
🟧 Includes: River Cruise, Garden Rhapsody Show, Spectra Light and Water Show

If you’re craving an unforgettable evening in Singapore, the Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show will be the perfect way to do it. The river cruise sets the scene for a truly magical experience, gently gliding past the city’s illuminated skyline. As the boat sails, the soft glow of Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade fills your view. The Garden Rhapsody light show creates this magical atmosphere, and then the Spectra Show comes along with all its water effects and lighting displays, which blows you away.

I found myself grinning the whole time as I watched everything unfold. Our guide struck just the right balance, too, providing us with interesting details when it mattered, but also knowing when to let us take it all in without distraction. The way the boat rocks back and forth adds to the peaceful feeling, and I couldn’t help but get lost watching all the activity along the waterfront.

It runs for about two hours, which works out great if you want to see Singapore’s evening lights without committing to a whole night out. This cruise works great whether you’re looking to impress someone special or you just want some quiet time watching the city go by from the water; either way, it’s the kind of thing that sticks with you.

More Tours of Singapore

Tour 2: Singapore River Cruise

🟧 Meeting Point: Boat Quay
🟧 Departure Time: Flexible, check booking details
🟧 Duration: 1 Hour
🟧 Guide: Self-guided with optional audio commentary
🟧 Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
🟧 Includes: River Cruise E-ticket

The Singapore River Cruise offers a fantastic way to explore the heart of Singapore from the water. I got on at Boat Quay, and right away you’re hit with these amazing views—Marina Bay Sands towering on one side, while Clarke Quay’s bright, colorful shophouses line the other bank. Floating down the river, I could take my time checking everything out, and they have audio commentary if you want it, though it doesn’t feel pushy or anything.

The best part was relaxing and watching Singapore pass by. It only takes about an hour, but that’s enough time to really appreciate how the waterfront mixes ultra-modern towers with these charming old bridges and heritage buildings. Every bend in the river shows you something different, which kept things interesting the whole way through.

Anyone looking for a chill way to sightsee would enjoy this. You get tons of great photo opportunities, and there’s something nice about seeing the city’s famous landmarks from the water instead of street level. Plus, the breeze off the river makes it really pleasant, especially compared to walking around in Singapore’s heat.

Tour 3: Private Tour Singapore Nighttime Sightseeing + River Cruise

🟧 Meeting Point: Hotel Pickup
🟧 Departure Time: Evening, specific times on booking
🟧 Duration: 4 Hours
🟧 Guide: Private, live, English-speaking guide
🟧 Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
🟧 Includes: River Cruise, Private City Tour, Pickup

We booked the Private Tour Singapore Nighttime Sightseeing + River Cruise, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Getting picked up right from our hotel made everything so easy, and it really did feel like we had our own personal guide showing us around the city.

Our guide knew Singapore inside and out, and you could tell they genuinely loved talking about all the cool spots and stories most tourists never hear about. Driving through the city, the lit-up skyline really caught my attention, but when we got to Marina Bay Sands, that thing just dominated everything around it in the darkness.

The river cruise was a perfect addition to the tour.Floating down the river, all those city lights bouncing off the water made everything feel so calm. What really got me was how different it felt being on the quiet river while you could see all the busy city life happening just steps away on the banks. Perfect timing to just chill out while our guide filled us in on what we were looking at.

The private tour setup was great because we could focus on whatever caught our attention most. Getting both the city tour and river cruise in one go worked really well—we got to dive into Singapore’s past and see how modern everything’s become, all while the city looked incredible lit up at night.

Four hours ended up being the sweet spot too. We saw everything we wanted without that rushed feeling you sometimes get on tours.Having both the city tour and river cruise together worked out perfectly we got to see Singapore’s old side and all the new development, plus the whole city looked amazing after dark.

The four hours flew by but didn’t feel packed. We had enough time to actually appreciate what we were seeing instead of being hustled from one spot to the next.

Tour 4: Private Tour: Nighttime Sightseeing with River Cruise

🟧 Meeting Point: Hotel Pickup
🟧 Departure Time: Evening, specific times on booking
🟧 Duration: 4 Hours
🟧 Guide: Private, live, English-speaking guide
🟧 Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
🟧 Includes: Nighttime Sightseeing, River Cruise, Pickup

The Private Tour: Nighttime Sightseeing with River Cruise was the perfect way to immerse myself in Singapore’s beauty at night. From the very start, it was clear that this private tour would be a unique experience. Our guide greeted us at our hotel, and we were whisked away to explore the city’s nighttime charm.

Driving around at night, Singapore really transforms into something else entirely. All the towers and old buildings lit up make the whole place look completely different from what you see during the day. But honestly, the river cruise was what made the whole evening, getting away from all the street noise and crowds for a bit.

Watching the reflections of the city lights shimmer on the water was magical, and the peaceful ride gave us the chance to see the city in a whole new light.

The tour was well-paced, with enough time to enjoy both the city tour and the river cruise without feeling rushed. Having our own guide made a huge difference because they could adjust everything based on what we actually wanted to see.

They showed us the big famous spots but also took us to some places we never would have found on our own, plus they had all these great stories about Singapore’s past. Four hours ended up being perfect for an evening out. We never felt rushed, but saw plenty, and it was nice to learn stuff while still feeling totally relaxed.

For anyone looking to explore Singapore from a more personal and relaxed perspective, this nighttime sightseeing tour with a river cruise is the perfect choice.

Tour 5: Private Singapore Full Day Round Island Tour with River Cruise

🟧 Meeting Point: Hotel Pickup
🟧 Departure Time: Morning, specific time confirmed after booking
🟧 Duration: 8 Hours
🟧 Guide: Private, live, English-speaking guide
🟧 Free Cancellation: Yes, up to 24 hours in advance
🟧 Includes: Full-Day Tour, River Cruise, All Transfers, Licensed Guide

The Private Singapore Full-Day Round Island Tour with River Cruise covers everything—Singapore’s culture, history, and all the waterfront spots. Our day started with getting picked up right on time from the hotel, and our guide was so welcoming that we knew right away we were going to have a good time.

This went way beyond your typical tour we really got to delve into all the different aspects of the island, covering everything from bustling local neighborhoods and cultural hubs to these beautiful parks and gardens.

Moving from one area to the next, our guide kept us entertained with all these stories that really brought each place to life. We passed colonial landmarks, visited temples rich with incense and history, and even enjoyed a local snack break, one of those small touches that made the day feel personal.

And just when I thought the day couldn’t offer more, we were brought to the final highlight: a tranquil river cruise that offered a calm, reflective view of the city we’d just explored by land.

The cool breeze off the river felt amazing after being in Singapore’s heat all day, and floating past the skyline was like something out of a movie. Since you see so much in one go, this tour works great for people visiting Singapore for the first time or anyone who wants to hit all the major spots without having to plan everything themselves.

If you’re after depth, ease, and a meaningful journey through Singapore with the added bonus of a river cruise finale, this is the one to book.

FAQs (5 Best Singapore River Cruise (2025 Reviews)

1. Where do most Singapore river cruises depart from?
Most river cruises depart from central locations like Boat Quay or Clarke Quay, making them easily accessible from most city hotels. Some private tours also include hotel pickup for added convenience.

2. Is the Singapore River Cruise suitable for children and families?
Yes, all river cruises featured in this article are family-friendly. Children will especially enjoy the nighttime light shows and scenic boat ride. Be sure to check each tour’s listing for age-specific ticket info.

3. Do I need to book Singapore river cruise tickets in advance?
While some tickets may be available on the day, it’s highly recommended to book in advance especially for evening or private tours. Booking early secures your preferred time slot and often includes free cancellation.

4. Are there any dress code or weather considerations for the cruise?
There’s no strict dress code, but light, breathable clothing is advised due to Singapore’s humid climate. If you’re cruising at night, a light layer may help with the breeze. Always check the official Singapore weather forecast before heading out.

5. How long are the river cruises in Singapore?
Cruises range from 1-hour standalone options to full-day excursions with sightseeing. The shortest cruise lasts around 40–60 minutes, while full tours like the island round-trip can run up to 8 hours including guide-led exploration.

6. Are live guides included on these tours?
Yes, many of the private and longer-format tours include a live, English-speaking guide who provides insightful commentary and local knowledge. Self-guided options may offer recorded audio commentary.

7. Can I cancel my river cruise if my plans change?
Most of the tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, but it’s important to review the individual tour’s cancellation policy when booking through GetYourGuide or Viator.

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501Places Sandra Bisalo Ranking: Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra Show