Singapore: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Night City Lights

Summary

Open-top bus rides past Singapore icons, vibrant neighborhoods, city lights

You’ll feel the city change as you ride an open-top bus past Singapore’s landmarks, from Marina Bay to Little India’s spice-scented streets. Hop off where curiosity takes you—maybe for dumplings or orchids—and join a live-guided night tour with time at Lau Pa Sat Market and Gardens by the Bay’s light show. It’s an easy way to see how many sides Singapore really has.

What’s the experience like?

Li was already laughing when we missed our first stop — Suntec Hub is busier than I thought, but it turns out nobody minds if you just hop on the next Big Bus. The open top was a relief after the sticky air below; you get this rush of wind and then suddenly there’s Marina Bay Sands just floating above the trees. Someone behind us pointed at the ArtScience Museum and said it looked like a spaceship. I kind of see it.

The audio guide switched to Mandarin for a second (my fault, pressed the wrong button), but honestly, hearing snippets of different languages felt right in Singapore. We hopped off at Little India because the smell of spices was too tempting — walked past Tekka Centre and tried something fried that I still can’t pronounce. Our guide on the night tour later told me Kampong Glam is best seen under all those neon signs; he wasn’t wrong. There’s this moment at Gardens by the Bay when everything goes quiet before the light show starts — not sure why that stuck with me.

I liked that you could just jump off at any stop and wander: Chinatown for dumplings, Botanic Gardens for orchids (so many colors), even Raffles Hotel if you want to pretend you’re fancy. The Big Bus app helped when we got lost near Orchard Road — not my proudest moment, but at least we didn’t miss Clarke Quay. The whole thing felt easy, like Singapore was letting us choose our own adventure without worrying about getting too lost. I’d do it again just for that feeling of drifting through so many worlds in one city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Singapore on Big Bus Tour

• Start at Suntec Hub
• Take Yellow Route bus
• Visit Singapore Flyer
• See Marina Bay Sands
• Explore Gardens by the Bay
• Stop at Fullerton Hotel
• Visit City Hall
• Explore Clarke Quay
• Stop at Robertson Quay
• Visit Miramar Hotel
• Eat at Zion Food Centre
• See Four Seasons Hotel
• Visit Botanical Gardens
• Stop at Orchard Hotel
• See Wheelock Place
• Stop at Hilton Orchard
• Visit Orchard Plaza
• Stop at Rendezvous Hotel
• See Singapore Art Museum
• Stop at Raffles Hotel
• Take Red Route bus
• Stop at Fu Lu Shou
• Visit Little India Arcade
• Shop at Mustafa Centre
• Stop at Village Hotel Bugis
• Explore Kampong Glam
• Visit Sultan Mosque
• Stop at Intercontinental Hotel
• Visit City Hall
• Stop at Boat Quay
• Explore Chinatown
• Stop at Kreta Ayer
• Visit People's Park Complex
• Stop at Hong Lim Park
• See Old Custom House
• End at MBS Convention Centre

Top questions

How long does the Big Bus Singapore Hop-On Hop-Off Tour take?

The daytime routes are flexible—you can hop on and off all day. The Night City Tour lasts about 3 hours.

Is there audio commentary on the Singapore hop-on hop-off bus?

Yes, recorded commentary is available in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, German, French, and Italian.

Are tickets valid for both Yellow & Red Routes?

Yes, tickets cover both routes with over 30 stops across central Singapore.

Is the Big Bus tour wheelchair accessible?

The lower deck of both hop-on hop-off routes is wheelchair accessible.

Where does the Night City Tour start?

The Night City Tour departs from BIG BUS & DUCK Tourist Hub at Suntec City Mall Tower 2.

What attractions are included on the route?

You’ll pass or can stop at places like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Botanic Gardens, Raffles Hotel and more.

Does my ticket include pickup?

No hotel pickup is included; tours start from designated stops like Suntec Hub.

Are infants allowed on board?

Yes—infants can ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult’s lap.

What’s included

Your day includes unlimited rides across two different bus routes with over 30 stops around central Singapore—just hop on or off whenever curiosity strikes. You’ll get engaging audio commentary in seven languages and (if you pick Explore tickets) a fully live-guided 3-hour Night City Tour with time to wander Lau Pa Sat Market and watch Gardens by the Bay’s light show before heading back into town.