Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay is Singapore's main performing arts centre, standing on the edge of Marina Bay. Its two spiky, domed shells of glass and metal earned it the local nickname the durian, and the building has been a fixture of the city's waterfront since it opened in 2002.

The story behind it

Esplanade was planned to give Singapore a first-class home for music, theatre and dance. It was designed by the local firm DP Architects together with the British practice Michael Wilford and Partners, and it opened in 2002. The complex holds a concert hall and a theatre, along with smaller studios and outdoor performance spaces.

The shape that everyone remembers is a practical one. The domes are covered in triangular aluminium sunshades that cut down the glare and heat of the tropical sun while still letting daylight into the foyers. The comparison with the spiky tropical fruit stuck almost at once. Today the centre hosts a wide mix of Asian and international performances, and many of its outdoor events are free to watch.

What to look for

• Look at the rows of triangular aluminium sunshades on the domes, which give the roofs their spiky, scaled texture.
• Walk to the waterfront promenade and look across the bay to Marina Bay Sands and the city skyline.
• Find the outdoor stage by the water, where free performances are often held in the open air.
• See the two domes from across the bay, for example near the Merlion or on the Helix Bridge, where the whole shape comes into view.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 60 minutes to walk around the outside and the public areas, longer if you attend a show or browse the shops inside.
• Come in the early evening, when the heat eases and the skyline across the bay begins to light up.
• The outdoor spaces are open to everyone, but the concert hall and theatre are for ticketed performances, so check the current programme and opening hours before you go.
• Esplanade MRT station is close, and Merlion Park, Esplanade Park and Marina Bay Sands are all within an easy walk.

See it on a quest

The Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Singapore is a good way to meet this part of the city with children. You reach Esplanade on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of what you are looking at. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group, so the family can play together at your own pace, starting whenever you like.