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The Singapore River is the island state’s chief waterway and links the Central Business District at Kim Seng Bridge to Marina Bay. Historic wharfs such as Clarke Quay have been adapted to modern usage and are now home to exciting entertainment venues and gourmet eateries. Statues such as Aw Tee Hong’s The River Merchants dot the riverside promenades and provide illuminating glimpses of Singapore’s rich history.

Boat Quay was the busiest area of Singapore in its maritime heyday. The quay’s commercial buildings have been lovingly preserved and now contain a wide assortment of bars, eateries and shops. Clarke Quay is farther upstream and has undergone a similar transformation. Extras at Clarke include the G-MAX reverse bungee and a collection of nightclubs. Refurbished Chinese sailing junks are moored at Clarke and house floating restaurants.

A cruise along the three kilometres of the Singapore River gives passengers insights into the city’s heritage. Singapore’s iconic Merlion statue sits on a spit of land near the river mouth. Across the Fullerton Bridge, exhibits and displays in the Asian Civilisations Museum outline the ancestry of Singapore’s modern-day residents. Back on the opposite bank of the river there are temples and a mosque. The Yueh Hai Ching Temple dates from the mid-19th century and is ornately decorated.

The Singapore River is one of the main hubs for eating and nightlife in the city. While Clarke Quay and Boat Quay tend to be livelier and have a better selection of restaurants, Robertson Quay still offers patrons the chance of sampling cuisines from around the world. Thai, Japanese, Australian and Italian are among cuisines served at the three piers. Dim sum and other Chinese specialities are on the menu at some of the establishments. The bar collection includes Irish, Australian, American and a micro-brewery.

The banks of the Singapore River feature a great choice of shops and department stores. Although the larger stores are not as big as those on Orchard Road, they sell everything from the latest appliances to designer clothes. There are market zones where vendors sell a full range of souvenirs and ornaments that includes ethnic jewellery, wooden handicrafts and Singapore-logo T-shirts.