Built on reclaimed land at the mouth of the Singapore River, the Esplanade is home to Singapore's vibrant performing arts community. There's always something going on at the Esplanade, so look at the events calendar on their official site (see link below) before paying a visit.
This striking building evokes comparisons with the Sydney Opera House - the locals jokingly refer to them as the "Durian", as they resemble the malodorous local fruit. It houses a 1,600-seat concert hall and a 2,000-seat theatre. On the Esplanade's upper floors, a slick air-conditioned library lends out books and digital media.
The building also houses the Esplanade Mall, a retail center with dozens of restaurants and shops.
The nearby Esplanade Park hosts several monuments on its premises: the Cenotaph commemorating the soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars; the former Indian National Army Monument that commemorates the Indian soldiers who fought for the Japanese; and the Lim Bo Seng Memorial.
Address: 1 Esplanade Drive
How to get there: Alight from the City Hall MRT Interchange, and walk through an underpass linking four shopping centers (Raffles City, Marina Square, Suntec City and Millenia Walk). This site has more transportation details: Esplanade - Getting There.
