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Famous Landmarks

Singapore Famous Landmarks & Attractions Guide 2026: UNESCO, Gardens, Marina Bay & Heritage

2026 Singapore attractions guide covering Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Jewel Rain Vortex, Merlion Park, the Civic District and visitor planning tips.

Statutory Overview & Urban Master Plan Framework

Singapore's best-known landmarks span modern architecture, tropical gardens, historic civic buildings, cultural institutions and major visitor precincts. Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay define the modern Marina Bay skyline, while the Singapore Botanic Gardens is Singapore's only property currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Jewel Changi Airport's HSBC Rain Vortex is 40 metres high and is officially described as the world's tallest indoor waterfall. The Merlion is one of Singapore's best-known national symbols, and the Civic District contains major heritage buildings and museums including National Gallery Singapore. These attractions do not all share the same legal or heritage status: UNESCO World Heritage status, National Monument status, historic-site recognition and commercial tourism status are separate categories.

Singapore landmark categories explained

UNESCO World Heritage Site

International heritage designation

🏛️ Example: Singapore Botanic Gardens

UNESCO currently lists one World Heritage property for Singapore: the 165-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens, inscribed in 2015 for its colonial botanical landscape and pivotal contribution to rubber cultivation.

National Monument

Domestic built-heritage protection

🏛️ Example: Former Fullerton Building & National Gallery

National Monuments are officially gazetted under Singapore's Preservation of Monuments Act by the National Heritage Board (NHB), granting the highest statutory built-heritage preservation status.

Historic or Heritage Attraction

Landmark or heritage place

🏛️ Example: Merlion Park & Civic District

Civic plazas, statues, and historic colonial waterfronts that serve as cultural emblems and historic gathering spaces, protected under Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) conservation guidelines.

Modern Architectural Landmark

Contemporary tourism or architectural landmark

🏛️ Example: Marina Bay Sands & Jewel Changi Airport

World-renowned contemporary landmarks, integrated resorts, and modern engineering spectacles that define Singapore's global 21st-century skyline and visitor ecosystem.

Signature Landmarks

Marina Bay Sands

Integrated resort and architectural landmark

📍 10 Bayfront Avenue

Integrated resort with hotel towers, retail, dining, entertainment, and Sands SkyPark.

Gardens by the Bay

Garden attraction

📍 18 Marina Gardens Drive

Combines free outdoor gardens and Supertree Grove with ticketed Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy, and OCBC Skyway.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

UNESCO World Heritage property (Inscribed 2015)

📍 1 Cluny Road

Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site (49-ha inscribed property, 137-ha buffer zone).

Jewel Changi Airport HSBC Rain Vortex

Modern architectural attraction

📍 Jewel Changi Airport

World's tallest indoor waterfall (40 metres high) cascading 7 storeys.

Merlion Park

National symbol and landmark

📍 1 Fullerton Road

Home to the principal 8.6-metre Merlion statue overlooking Marina Bay.

Singapore Flyer

Observation wheel

📍 30 Raffles Avenue

Asia's premier giant observation wheel standing 165 metres high, featuring 28 air-conditioned glass capsules offering 360-degree panoramic views across Marina Bay and the Singapore Strait.

National Gallery Singapore

Art museum and heritage complex

📍 1 St Andrew's Road

Occupies former City Hall and former Supreme Court buildings.

Singapore's UNESCO World Heritage status

Site

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Inscription Year

2015

Inscribed Property Area

49 hectares

Buffer Zone

137 hectares

Details

Singapore Botanic Gardens is Singapore's only property currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Singapore National Monuments

Current Count

Latest Monument

Name

Former Kandang Kerbau Hospital

Monument Number

Gazette Year

2025

Legal Framework

Preservation of Monuments Act (NHB)

Visitor Route

Explore Marina Bay and Merlion Park

Start at Merlion Park, walk across Helix Bridge to ArtScience Museum and Marina Bay Sands.

Visit Gardens by the Bay

Explore Supertree Grove and ticketed Flower Dome and Cloud Forest.

Explore Civic District & National Gallery

Visit National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, and Victoria Theatre.

Visit Singapore Botanic Gardens

Explore UNESCO World Heritage grounds and National Orchid Garden.

Finish at Jewel Changi Airport

Marvel at the 40m HSBC Rain Vortex indoor waterfall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Singapore Botanic Gardens is Singapore's only property currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was inscribed in 2015 as a cultural landscape under criteria (ii) and (iv), with an inscribed property area of 49 hectares.

Major landmarks include Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Jewel Changi Airport, the Singapore Flyer and the historic Civic District.

The outdoor Gardens and Supertree Grove generally have free admission. Attractions including Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy, OCBC Skyway and Supertree Observatory are separately ticketed, and special events can have different admission arrangements.

The HSBC Rain Vortex is 40 metres high and is officially described by Jewel and Changi Airport Group as the world's tallest indoor waterfall.

Singapore currently has 76 gazetted National Monuments. The latest was the former Kandang Kerbau Hospital, whose Blocks 1, 2 and 3 were gazetted collectively as Singapore's 76th National Monument in 2025.

Not automatically for every flight. CAAS permit requirements depend on the unmanned aircraft, purpose, weight, location and operating conditions. For example, current CAAS guidance requires a Class 2 Activity Permit for certain outdoor operations involving an aircraft of up to 25 kg when flown above 200 feet AMSL, within 5 km of an airport or military airbase, or in a restricted or danger area. Other circumstances can require additional permits or licences, so operators should check the current CAAS rules before flying.