Top 10 Things to Do in Singapore
The impressive city-state of Singapore is one of the busiest and most developed hubs in Asia.
The blend of different cultures, food, and an array of fascinating activities and attractions make Singapore one of the world’s most popular tourist spots.
Want to know the top 10 things to do in Singapore? Just keep reading.
Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, Credit: Envato
10. Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade
Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade is an area where you can experience all the dimensions of Singapore. Stroll along the promenade and enjoy the view of the bay and the city. It includes:
The Marina Bay Sands, one of the world’s most famous hotels, with an observation deck with a fantastic view of Singapore in all directions.
ArtScience Museum in the shape of a lotus: A fusion of art, science, culture, and technology - the first museum of its kind in the world.
The Merlion Park with the statue of Merlion, a mythical creature of Singapore with the body of a fish and the head of a lion.
The Helix Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with a view of the Singapore skyline.
Apple Marina Bay Sands: inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, it is a retail store selling Apple products and sits directly on the water.
Chinatown, one of many interesting neighborhoods in Singapore, Credit: Hungry Passport
9. Interesting Neighborhoods
Singapore is a city of diverse cultures, which also shows in its numerous interesting neighborhoods.
Kampong Glam: the neighborhood, best known for housing the Sultan Mosque, Arab Street, and the world-famous Haji Lane.
Chinatown: Rich with history and culture, this neighborhood gets its charm from its Chinatown heritage center, temples, and traditional Chinese architecture.
Little India: Showcasing the country's Indian culture. Don't miss the House of Tan Teng Niah, a colorful villa that's been standing since the 1900s.
Sentosa Beach, Credit: Envato
8. Sentosa Island
If you’re going to the beach in Singapore, you’ll probably find it hard to believe that the beautiful and Instagram-worthy beaches are actually man-made. Singapore got the sand from its neighboring countries and created these delightful tropical escapades.
With all-year-round sunshine and budget-friendly activities, you can easily spend a day or two in this tropical getaway. Don’t miss several famous beaches, such as Siloso, Palawan, or Tanjong Beach, and try different water and other sports.
You can reach Sentosa Island by cable car, sky-train, and car. For the ultimate experience, choose cable cars that take you to multiple locations on the island.
If you’re there in the evening, don’t miss Magical Shores, a multi-sensory experience with light and sound spectacle happening every night between 7.30 and 10.30 pm completely free of charge.
The island is also home to several theme parks, including Universal Studios, Fort Siloso and many other attractions. Check our travel guide for more suggestions.
Fort Canning Park, Credit: Envato
7. Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is the former home of the Malay kings and the Far East Command Centre of the British Army. Several notable historical events unfolded on the hill. Upon entering, you can’t miss the Fort Gate, a part of a fortress from the 19th century, often used as a site for social events.
The Malays call it the Forbidden Hill because it’s said to be haunted by Singapore's ancient kings which are believed to be buried here.
The park also houses nine gardens. Some of the most interesting ones are:
Sang Nila Utama Garden: A garden that integrates traditional Malay or Javanese culture in its structure, design, and plants.
Raffles Garden: Named after the founder of modern Singapore, featuring plants from the entire Southeast Asia region. By the way, don’t miss the Fort Canning Lighthouse nearby.
Artisan's Garden: A garden dating back to the 14th century and the site of one of the latest archeological digs in the country.
Clarke Quay, Credit: Envato
6. Shopping
Singapore is a shopping paradise. You can literary spend days shopping or window shopping at the following places:
Clarke Quay
Where the nightlife of Singapore comes to life with numerous restaurants, bars, and clubs. By day, Clarke Quay is a shopping spot offering various shops and malls. Located next to the Singapore River, you can also embark on a boat ride or a cruise.
Bugis Street
If you're looking for great deals, start with the Burgis Street Market. It offers a wide variety of options with bazaars in every corner selling souvenir items, home supplies, and clothing. Don’t skip the nearby Bugis+ and Bugis Junction.
Orchard Road
Singapore’s center of shopping and retail offers a myriad of options from local brands, high-end brands, and international stores. The road consists of about 5,000 shops, stores, and restaurants. You can visit several heritage malls and other malls like Orchard Mall with its distinct architecture.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
A collection of the latest fashion trends, with a majority of the shops offering luxury brands. If you want top-notch quality and state-of-the-art items, the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands provides that. You can also find the newest technology, toys, souvenirs, and more.
Changi Airport, Credit: Unsplash
5. Changi Airport
The Singapore Changi Airport isn’t just a travel hub, but also a tourist attraction on its own. It is often referred to as the best airport in the world. Ranging from a variety of dine and food options, shopping, and entertainment, to visiting gardens and the greenery, it very quickly becomes clear why it earned this title. Most of the shops are located in the Jewel, just outside Terminal 1.
Some of the main attractions in the airport include:
The Rain Vortex: An indoor waterfall that turns into a fantastic light and sound show by night.
The slide: Yes, Changi Airport features a slide that takes you to your gate. It’s located at T3 and is the world's tallest slide in an airport.
Forest Valley: Featuring a walk through nature with a waterfall at the center.
Singapore Coffee Museum: Get good coffee, fresh pastries, and learn about the coffee heritage of Singapore.
The Five Spice: Providing authentic street food to start you off on your Singapore journey.
Canopy Park: Another great place to relax.
And don’t worry if you’re not arriving via Changi Airport, you can still experience most of what it has to offer even if you don’t have a boarding pass, as the airport was designed so that anyone from Singapore can visit it.
By the way, if you have the time, the airport also features a movie theater showing global movies free of charge!
Haw Par Villa, Credit: Pixabay
4. Haw Par Villa
Take everything you love about the Asian community, and you'll find it in this cultural park, one of the last of its kind in the world. A rich heritage, history, and art are kept within this space full of sheltered pavilions.
Haw Par Villa is home to more than 1,000 statues and dioramas that show stories from Chinese mythologies, folklore, and legends. The park also holds social events, performances, food and art markets, and even lifestyle activities such as yoga.
Traditional Chinese architecture inspires many of its sculptures, decor, and pavilions. The park is a great way to discover the cultural heritage of Singapore.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Credit: Hungry Passport
3. Singapore Botanic Gardens
The amazing and vast Singapore Botanic Gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens are a popular place for recreational activities such as jogging, or even bird watching, and the entry is completely free of charge.
Different gardens inside this 60-acre or 24-hectare land include the National Orchid Garden, the SBG Heritage Museum, and the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, which focuses on botanical and horticultural research.
There are also numerous choices for food, dining, or just relaxing inside the garden.
Traditional Singaporean Food, Credit: Envato
2. Food & Markets
With the diverse culture of Singapore, with residents that are Chinese, Malay, Indian, Indonesian, and of other backgrounds, the one thing that unites these cultures is food. The city-state sees food as essential to what Singapore is as a nation. Although there are religious differences and a large number of vegetarians or vegans, people respect one another. They still come together to eat the food they can all share.
Usually, people prefer to eat at so-called hawker centers or food courts as opposed to restaurants because of the variety they can get in food and hawker centers. It is also much more affordable and can be found just about everywhere in Singapore. If you find yourself in one, you can see that it features an array of stalls, each with its own specialties, and there are tables nearby, where you can sit and experience different food.
If you have time, also visit the World's cheapest Michelin-starred meal at Singapore's Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. Here can try a delicious world-class meal for just a couple of dollars.
Don’t miss one of the most famous hawker centers, especially popular amongst tourists – the Newton Food Centre, which was also featured in a Hollywood hit Crazy Rich Asians.
Gardens By The Bay, Credit: Envato
1. Gardens by the Bay
A haven for nature lovers, Gardens by the Bay offer 250 acres or 101 hectares, and three different extraordinary spaces to explore: the Bay South Garden, the Bay East Garden, and the Bay Central Garden. Gardens by the Bay have been praised for their gardens, and they hope to spread the love for nature and green spaces to anyone who visits.
Here are some of the gardens and attractions you just can’t miss:
OCBC Skyway: A walkway that lets you admire the place from a bird’s eye view, hanging between two Supertrees.
Supertree Grove: climb the observatory on top of the tallest Supertree and see the sights from 164 feet or 50 meters up in the air.
Garden Rhapsody: lights and sounds show on the Supertrees daily completely free of charge at 7:45 and 8:45 pm.
The Cloud Forest: Home to a breathtaking indoor waterfall and a collection of rare plants and vegetation.
The Flower Dome: Located in the South Gardens, offering a collection of flowers from five continents.
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Cover photo: Adobe Stock