Explore Singapore
Many people may only have a day or even a few hours to explore Singapore but to experience this incredible city state properly you need much longer than that.
Here we look at some of our favorite 17 things to do in Singapore.
Gardens by the Bay
Located in the Marina Bay area this incredible park features Supertree structures which also have a wonderful skywalk to explore the gardens. Unless you want to walk among the treetops or explore the climate-controlled conservatories the park is completely free – we recommend you pay to explore fully.
The conservatories offer a range of different features that include hundreds of different varieties of plants and flowers, a cloud forest, children’s garden and art sculptures.
Try not to miss the incredible twice-nightly light show when the tree structures and surrounding exhibits light up the sky and surroundings.
Marina Bay Waterfront
The Promenade at Marina Bay stretches for 3.5km is an excellent way to explore the area, both during the day and once the sun has gone down.
Popular with tourists and locals the walkway even has mist sprays and breeze shelters to help visitors cool down.
Pulau Ubin
Take a trip back in time and see a slice of Singapore before it became crowded with traffic and modern buildings.
Pulau Ubin is a small island north-east of Singapore where fishing and agriculture are the main occupations of the 50 or so residents.
Jump on a 10-minute ferry from Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
Singapore Districts
Chinatown
The narrow roads in the shadow of skyscrapers includes Chinatown Food Street, an unmissable location on its own, individual markets and stalls offering everything from clothes to crafts and antiques to Club Street and its excellent bars.
Also home to Sri Mariamman Temple (oldest Hindu temple in Singapore) and the ornate Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum (a Buddhist Temple complex).
Little India
Known for its traditional Indian restaurants, the streets are also lined with incredible bazaars, markets, tailors and jewellery stores.
Also home to Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu Temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, the fierce embodiment of Shakti and the god Shiv’as wife, Parvati.
Orchard Road
World class shopping and excellent food and drink options abound in the many large, modern shopping malls and the more individual stalls and shops in the side streets.
Arab Quarter
Yet another diverse and individual area that has a host of shopping and eating opportunities including the excellent Bugis Street Market (one of the biggest and cheapest places to shop in Singapore).
Raffles
Named after the founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, the hotel was opened in 1887 and continued to expand and evolve over the years, with the iconic main building added in 1899.
Residents and visitors over the years, including Rudyard Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor, Somerset Maugham, Ava Gardner and Noel Coward, helped to raise the profile of the hotel even further.
Many visitors will come just to sample the Singapore Sling invented and made famous in the Raffles Long Bar in the early 20th century. Expect it to be delicious and expensive.
MacRitchie TreeTop Walk
This free-standing suspension bridge, 250m long and 25m high, connects the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie Nature Reserve and offers a bird’s eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy.
TreeTop Walk is approximately 4.5 km from MacRitchie Reservoir Park. A round trip including the TreeTop Walk is about 7 km to 10 km.
Closed for maintenance works until May 2021.
Singapore Zoo
Home to over 300 species of animals Singapore Zoo is renowned as being a leading zoo in the world of conservation and research in Asia. The zoo is split into a number of zones including Elephants of Asia, Australasia, Wild Africa, Treetops Trail and Fragile Forest.
A particular highlight is the Night Safari where you can experience nocturnal animals as they become more active.
You can get to Singapore Zoo by taking the North-South MRT to Khatib NS14 and then take the Mandai Khatib Shuttle to the zoo. The shuttle runs around every 20 minutes and takes about 15 minutes.
Marina Bay Sands
SkyPark Observation Deck
The SkyPark Observation Deck is 57 floors high and gives incredible views over Singapore and is an excellent place to view the sunset. Sands SkyPark Website
Infinity Pool
The world’s largest rooftop infinity pool located 57 floors high is a place to see and be seen – only available to residents. Infinity Pool at the Sands
ArtScience Museum
Advertised as the museum Where Art Meets Science the museum is an excellent experience with permanent and temporary exhibits. ArtScience Museum website.
Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
An incredible array of international stores mostly catering to high-end shopping. Shoppes at the Sands
Eat and Drink
The Sands has almost 40 different options for eating from cafes to celebrity chefs, including Adrift by David Myers, Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay and Wakun Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda. A number also hold Michelin stars. Restaurants at the Sands
The Sands also have a number of options for drinking from relaxed bars to lively, modern nightclubs to the SkyBar on Level 57. Bars and Nighclubs
Universal Studios Singapore
The only Southeast Asia Universal Studios has 24 rides, shows and attractions in 7 themed zones including Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, Puss In Boots’ Giant Journey and TRANSFORMERS The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle.
The theme park also includes a number of shows, some live action, including Lights, Camera, Action!™ Hosted by Steven Spielberg, Shrek 4-D Adventure and WaterWorld
S.E.A. Aquarium
With 45 different habitats, over 1,000 species and more than 100,000 marine animals this Singapore Aquarium is an excellent chance to escape the heat and experience the joys of the underwater world.
The Aquarium includes Nurse and Hammerhead sharks, Moray Eels, Dolphins, Manta Rays, Seahorses and much more.
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