The Singapore River and its Quays

Singapore exists because of this river, which was the port before the container terminals: cargo came upstream in lighters called bumboats to warehouses, or godowns, whose shophouse fronts still line the banks at Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, now painted in sherbet colours and full of bars and restaurants. A continuous promenade runs along both sides for a couple of kilometres, past the statue marking where Raffles is said to have landed, under the graceful old Cavenagh and Anderson bridges, and out to the mouth at Marina Bay where the Merlion spouts at the towers. Bumboats still work the river as tourist launches. Walking it from Robertson Quay down to the bay at dusk, as the lights come on, is the best free hour in the city.

What you actually see

• The three quays - restored godown shophouses at Boat, Clarke and Robertson.
• The old bridges - Cavenagh and Anderson, among the city's oldest structures.
• A bumboat ride - the river cruise from the quays out into Marina Bay.
• The Merlion - the spouting statue where the river meets the bay.

When to go

Year-round; the equatorial heat means late afternoon into evening is by far the best time to walk, and the riverside comes alive after dark. Sudden downpours are common and brief. Weekend nights at Clarke Quay are extremely busy.

Honest expectations

Clarke Quay in particular is a nightlife complex now, loud and heavily commercial, and the historic fabric is a shell around bars; the quieter stretches at Robertson Quay and the walk under the bridges are where the atmosphere survives. Drinks along the water are priced accordingly. It is hot and humid until sunset.

Nearby

Marina Bay, the Asian Civilisations Museum and Chinatown are all within a short walk.