HarbourFront and VivoCity: What to Expect

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HarbourFront and VivoCity sit at the southern tip of mainland Singapore, and what to expect here has changed in 2026: VivoCity is still the main draw, but the older HarbourFront Centre building next door has closed for redevelopment, so it’s worth knowing what’s actually open before you plan a stop here on the way to Sentosa.

VivoCity: Singapore’s Largest Mall

VivoCity opened in October 2006, designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, and remains Singapore’s largest mall by floor area at 142,854 square meters across three shopping levels and two basement levels. It holds around 340 stores, a Golden Village cinema, and two large food courts (Food Republic and Kopitiam) alongside sit-down restaurants. The rooftop level has a Sky Park and an amphitheatre that hosts the annual New Year’s Eve countdown, and library@harbourfront, which opened on the mall’s third floor in January 2019, is the largest public library located inside a shopping mall in Singapore. VivoCity connects directly underground to HarbourFront MRT station, and its Level 3 Sentosa Express monorail station is the standard way into Sentosa Island.

HarbourFront Centre: Closed for Redevelopment

HarbourFront Centre, the older building next to VivoCity, closed permanently on 27 July 2026. The site — originally built in 1978 as the World Trade Centre, then rebuilt and reopened as HarbourFront Centre in 2003 — is being redeveloped by Mapletree into a 33-storey mixed-use tower with Grade A offices, retail space and a 13,000-square-meter elevated park, expected to complete in the first half of 2031. Until then, there’s no mall or retail at that building — VivoCity next door is the only shopping and dining option in the immediate precinct. The Mount Faber cable car’s HarbourFront Station is unaffected by the closure, since it operates from the separate HarbourFront Tower 2 rather than the closed mall building; see our Mount Faber Cable Car guide for tickets and hours.

Singapore Cruise Centre: Now at a New Terminal

The Singapore Cruise Centre, previously housed inside HarbourFront Centre, relocated to a new passenger terminal at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, about 70 meters from the old building, which opened on 7 July 2026. Cruise and ferry routes and schedules haven’t changed — only the terminal building has, so anyone arriving by cruise ship or ferry to Batam or Bintan should head to the new address rather than the closed HarbourFront Centre.

Where to Stay Near HarbourFront

HarbourFront itself isn’t a hotel district — most visitors passing through are either heading to Sentosa for the night or staying elsewhere in the city — but there is one solid option directly in the area: Travelodge Harbourfront Singapore, at 50 Telok Blangah Road, built in 2019 with 328 rooms across 10 floors, an outdoor pool and laptop-friendly workspaces in every room. It’s a straightforward, well-reviewed base for anyone who wants to be near VivoCity, the cable car and the Sentosa boardwalk without paying Sentosa’s own resort prices.

Getting There

HarbourFront MRT station is the interchange for the North East Line and Circle Line, and it connects directly underground to VivoCity’s basement level. From there, the Sentosa Express monorail (VivoCity Level 3), the Mount Faber cable car, or the Sentosa Boardwalk on foot are all viable ways onto Sentosa Island itself.

FAQ: HarbourFront and VivoCity

Is HarbourFront Centre mall still open?
No — HarbourFront Centre closed permanently on 27 July 2026 for redevelopment into a 33-storey office and retail tower, expected to reopen around 2031. VivoCity, next door, is unaffected and remains fully open.

Where does the Singapore Cruise Centre operate from now?
The Singapore Cruise Centre moved to a new terminal at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, about 70 meters from the old HarbourFront Centre building, with no change to cruise or ferry schedules.

Is HarbourFront a good base for exploring Singapore?
It works best as a base for Sentosa Island and the Southern Ridges trail specifically, thanks to the cable car and MRT interchange, rather than as a general base for the rest of the city.

Bottom Line: HarbourFront and VivoCity

VivoCity covers the shopping, dining and cinema needs on its own now that HarbourFront Centre is closed, and the area still works as a launch point for Sentosa via the cable car or Sentosa Express. Our Southern Ridges walking trail guide covers the walking route that starts a short distance from here, and Mapletree’s official VivoCity property page has current store listings and mall hours.

For more nearby, see our guide to Sentosa Island Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Things to Do & Travel Tips.