On my last trip to Singapore I met up with the people of Singapore Flyer who took me on their giant wheel and gave me a whole new perspective of the city.
The Singapore Flyer is located in the Marina Bay area of Singapore, and upon completion in 2007 became the world’s highest observation wheel.
The wheel is 165 metres high, which at ground level it didn’t seem as high as I thought it would be. Once you are in it and start ascending though, you get an appreciation for how high it is.
The Marina Bay area is reclaimed land and some of the biggest developments in Singapore are happening in this area. The Flyer’s location is ideal as it sits by the bay with a uninterrupted view of the financial district skyline.
The Singapore Flyer happens to be in the middle of the Grand Prix circuit, so one of the first things you see on your “flight” is the pit buildings and track grid. There are packages available for Grand Prix fans where you can watch the race from the Singapore Flyer.
As the wheel gets higher the harbour comes into view, with container ships as far as the eye can see. Singapore has one of the busiest shipping ports in the world (it was the biggest until Shanghai took over). This fact isn’t apparent at ground level, so seeing all those ships out there I could see how busy Singapore really is.
Beyond the ships on a clear day you can, apparently, see the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan.
On the land side is where you see where Singaporean’s live, with apartment blocks stretching to the horizon. Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. At the street level the city is so well organized with public transport and infrastructure that it doesn’t feel crowded. Viewing Singapore from the air gives you a better picture of the population density.
The wheel rises to what is perhaps the best view in Singapore – The Marina Bay and financial district skyline.
The wheel takes around 37 minutes to complete and the descent faces the city skyline. Looking at the other buildings, the Singapore Flyer probably has the best location for views of the city.
Oh you should really visit Salt Grill & Sky bar on the 55th & 56th stories above ION Orchard for the best panoramic views in Singapore. Was there this valentine’s and it was awesome. 🙂
Thanks for the tip Evangeline. I stumbled upon ION Orchard last time I was there, it is really getting bigger and brighter down on Orchard Rd.
Love your avatar by the way 🙂