Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

In shortEsplanade – Theatres on the Bay is free to enter and open daily from 8am to 11.30pm, at 1 Esplanade Drive. Checked October 2026.

Culture · free

Duration

1 hour

The take

Singapore's arts centre, nicknamed the durian for its spiky shell. You can wander the lobbies, roof terrace and library without a ticket. For a free show, the outdoor theatre on the waterfront is the easy win.

Good to know

Lobbies, roof terrace and library@esplanade: free

Shows are ticketed through the Esplanade

Free outdoor theatre programmes have their own listing

Finding it: 1 Esplanade Drive, on the Marina Bay waterfront; Esplanade or City Hall MRT

Hours checked October 2026

#free #arts #architecture

Before you go

How much is the Esplanade house tour and when does it run?

The Esplanade Tour costs S$20 a person and runs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 1pm, excluding public holidays. It lasts an hour, takes you into the Concert Hall and Theatre, and is open to ages 6 and above. Seniors aged 60 and above, students and NSFs pay S$10, and children need an adult aged 16 or above with them.

Sources: EsplanadeChecked November 2026

Do babies and children need a ticket for an Esplanade show?

Yes, every person needs a ticket to a ticketed performance, including infants and children, unless the show says otherwise. SISTIC's booking fees apply on top, from S$1 a ticket under S$20 and rising with the ticket price. Free shows at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre need no ticket at all.

Sources: EsplanadeChecked November 2026

What are the Esplanade's opening hours?

The Esplanade is open from 8am to 11.30pm daily, and each show keeps its own start time inside those hours. If you arrive early with children, PIP's Trail is a free self-guided trail with six stations and a prize for finishing all six.

Sources: EsplanadeChecked November 2026