The Singapore Flyer, 165 meters tall and with a diameter of 150 meters, was the largest Ferris wheel in the world until 2014, when the High Roller in Las Vegas, USA, which is 2.6 meters taller, was inaugurated. Although it’s now only in second place, believe me, a trip on it is still an incredible experience. The trip lasts exactly 32 minutes, and you’ll remember every second.
Equipped with 28 air-conditioned cabins, mounted on the outside of the wheel for an unobstructed view and each able to contain 28 passengers, the Flyer offers views over Marina Bay and the whole of Singapore, allowing you to admire not only the futuristic skyline, but also the beautiful archipelago, and to observe how the city has been built with respect for nature, featuring a host of parks and gardens.
Designed by Arup and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the wheel can carry over 7 million passengers a year. Work on the Flyer began on September 27, 2005, with a ceremony officiated by the Minister for National Development, and was completed at the end of 2007, but the official inauguration did not take place until April 15, 2008, after numerous safety checks had been carried out. In the small garden at the foot of the wheel, there is a multimedia display showing the various stages of its lengthy construction.
The first paying passengers actually took a ride two months before the official opening, but for one day only, on February 14, 2008. If you’re wondering why, it’s because Valentine’s Day, despite its Christian origins, is also very popular here in Singapore.
Unlike other Ferris wheels, the cabins of the Flyer are also wheelchair accessible.
An interesting fact: the Flyer initially travelled anti-clockwise if observed from the Marina Center, but on August 4, 2008, it was changed to move in a clockwise direction, on the advice of masters of Feng Shui, the ancient Taoist art of divination.
