Singapore: Boat Quay Facts

13/11/2017

A view of Boat Quay from the Singapore River.

The perfect location for my maiden visit to Singapore.

Quiet by day and energetic by night, historical Boat Quay is located by the city centre, alongside the Southbank of the Singapore River.

The lights of Boat Quay.

Once the main shipping artery of Singapore during the 19th century, renovations have harnessed the energy of the past and recreated a lively entertainment district that is popular with both tourists and locals. Shops transformed into bars, warehouses into nightclubs and restaurants. Reconstruction also including the addition of accommodation, cafes, and alfresco dining with a variety of seafood, noodles and international cuisine available.

A view of Boat Quay from the Singapore River.

The restaurants, bars and shops lining the Boat Quay Esplanade.

To be honest, I didn't put too much thought into the area I was staying in when booking my accommodation in Singapore. My visit was a stopover that I had stretched into three days, so all I primarily cared about was the quality of the hostel, the distance to the closest backpacker pub and whether or not I would be in quick reach of Gardens by the Bay. As it turned out, selecting Boat Quay was the perfect location for my maiden visit to Singapore.

A view of the Singapore River from the alfresco area along Boat Quay.

Boat Quay Esplanade.

Enjoying a drink along the Singapore River in Boat Quay.

Helicopters flying low over Marina Bay at 6:30 AM.

BOAT QUAY INFO FOR BACKPACKERS/ TRAVELLERS:

Safe and lively atmosphere.
Plenty of hostels and hotels available in the area.
Can be accessed by bus or via three different MRT stations.
Has a large selection of restaurants, cafes and bars are available.
Cheap drink specials.
Cheaper food than Clarke Quay.
Located along the Singapore River.
Singapore River Cruise and water taxi ticket booth and jetty access available.
Clarke Quay and Chinatown are only 10 minutes walk away, and Gardens by the bay was a 25 min walk or 6-minute taxi ride.
Navigating your way to Boat Quay by train from Changi Airport is simple. For further information, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Boat Quay made me feel a lot like I was walking through Southbank in Melbourne.

Approaching Boat Quay Esplanade.

The restaurants, bars and shops lining the Boat Quay Esplanade.

ARRIVING FROM CHANGI AIRPORT VIA TRAIN (MRT) TO BOAT QUAY:

Navigating from Singapore Changi Airport by public transport to Boat Quay is easy. The smoothest train self-transfer I have found in any city.

On arrival at Changi Airport terminal 3, I followed clearly labelled signs for the Skytrain transfer to terminal 1. The MRT train system is accessible from terminal 1. After one simple transfer at Tanah Merah, Ruffles Place station is only a 20 minute, clearly labelled train ride away.

Alight at Ruffles Place station, find exit G (Boat Quay, UOB Plaza) and walk in the direction of Singapore River. From there, towards the restaurants on the left and you have reached your destination.