10 Best Things to do in Singapore
One of the major airline hubs in Asia, Singapore is a popular layover city. Here’s a curated list of 10 things to do in Singapore that will make your visit unforgettable.
From pirate enclave through empire outpost to economic powerhouse, Singapore is a must visit destination in Southeast Asia.
The Lion city is a diverse cultural melting pot with something for everyone. If your interests lie in exotic food, luxurious hotels and complex history, Singapore is the place for you. To get the most out of one of the world’s great cities, take a look at this list of the 10 best things to do in Singapore.
Watch the Sunset at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
The subject of a million photographs, the Skypark, perched on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, has quickly become an icon of Singapore.
Ride the lift to the 56th floor for a dip in the Skypark’s infinity pool, then order a cocktail and take in the spectacular sunset view over the Malacca Strait, Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore F1. Finally, watch the phenomenal light and water show that illuminates the Gardens by the Bay after dark.
The Marins Bay Sands Skypark was the finishing point of the first season of the popular TV travel series, Race Across the World. The Marina Bay Sands Skypark is definitely one of the 10 best things to do in Singapore.
You can buy tickets for access to the Skypark here.
Wander Through the Gardens by the Bay
Politicians rarely keep their word, but in 1967, when Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced his vision to make Singapore a garden city, it has absolutely come to pass. This list covers 10 Great Things to do in Singapore. The Gardens by the Bay easily makes that list, but in 2024, it achieved the list of the top 10 visitor attractions in the world!
The Gardens by the Bay holds a huge number of attractions for visitors
Wander the walkways between the eco-friendly self-powered Supertrees, explore an indoor cloud forest with a 35m high waterfall, soak in the multi-coloured flowers of the Flower Dome.
Alternatively, discover Singapore’s diverse fauna with multicoloured sunbirds, jewelled kingfishers, sleek water monitors and splashing otters easily seen.
These gardens are a modern wonder and one of the most memorable things to do in Singapore.
You can purchase tickets for Gardens by the Bay attractions here.
Relax at Sentosa Island
Singapore is full on! With so many people in a tiny space, the Lion City can get hectic.
If Singapore gets too much, follow the locals, and retreat to the peace of Sentosa Island, a tropical paradise just minutes away from downtown Singapore. It’s well served by public transport and even has a cable car.
Enjoy a day of fun-filled activities, there’s something for everyone. Visitors can commune with nature, lounge on sandy beaches, walk or cycle the many trails or hit the thrilling rides at Universal Studios Singapore.
At sunset, if you’re having too much fun, you don’t need to go home, Sentosa has you covered with 20 hotels. One, the spectacular Equarius Ocean Suites, has 11 suites with a window into the S.E.A. aquarium. This aquarium is one of the largest in the world, holding 10s of thousands of sea creatures in its 45 million litres of water. Guests can explore the depths without even getting out of bed.
Stuff Yourself at one of Singapore’s Famous Food Courts
https://maxwellfoodcentre.com/Singapore has one of the world’s great street food cultures. The diversity of its cuisine reflects its historic position as one of Southeast Asia’s major trading hub and its acceptance of all races and religions. You can find every style of food in Singapore.
Normally, street food comes with its risks, as many sufferers of ‘Delhi Belly’ or ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’ have discovered. Singapore’s street food is different. The world’s premier restaurant guide, Michelin, awarded its coveted stars to two of Singapore’s street food vendors and acknowledged several others.
The beauty of the Hawker Centres like Maxwell Food Centre is that it’s not just about the food, it’s the entire experience. This is communal dining at its finest, with large tables seating many diners. You basically bag a seat by putting something on it, wander around until you decide what you want and take it back to your table to eat. Fancy different dishes from different stalls? No problem. Most stalls are counter service, although others serve at your table, and many do takeaway if you’re in a hurry. It’s also worth remembering that many stalls don’t accept credit cards, so make sure you have cash.
Explore Singapore’s Diversity at Little India and Chinatown
Singapore is the poster child for multi-culturalism with many religions and ethnicities living harmoniously side-by-side. Immerse yourself in Singapore’s multicultural heritage by exploring the vibrant neighbourhoods of Chinatown and Little India. Wander through bustling streets lined with colourful shophouses, temples, and markets. Sample authentic Chinese and Indian cuisine at local eateries, and shop for souvenirs, spices, and traditional crafts.
The colourful Hindu temples in Little India, such as Sri Veeramakaliamman and Sri Srinivasa Perumal, are well worth visiting.
This Self guided tour of Little India will help you get the best out of your time here.
Smell the Flowers at the Singapore Botannic Gardens
In 2015, UNESCO designated the Botanic Gardens Singapore, a World Heritage site, Singapore’s first, and only the third gardens in the world to achieve this accolade.
The garden was first laid out in 1859, after Sir Stamford Raffles himself had started a ‘Botanic and Experimental garden’ at Fort Canning in 1822.
Today, the Botanic Gardens cover 82 hectares, and is one of Singapore’s most visited attractions. The Gardens feature themed areas like the Ginger Garden, which holds hundreds of species of ginger, The Walk of Giants, an 8m high canopy walk and the National Orchid Garden, home to over 1000 species of orchid.
You can spend an entire day wandering these beautiful gardens, perusing the exhibitions at the various galleries, listening to the regular free concerts given at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage or the bandstand or eating at the cafes and restaurants (or bring a picnic).
Enjoy a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel, one of the truly iconic hotels of the world, has been a fixture of the Singapore expat scene since it opened. Established in 1887, Raffles Hotel was named for modern Singapore’s founder, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
The hotel has been a favoured haunt for the writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward and the rich and famous like Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Kennedy have passed by its liveried Sikh door staff into its hallowed halls.
In 1915, Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at Raffles’ famous Long Bar, invented one of the world’s great cocktails, the Singapore Sling. Mixing gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, Curaçao, Bénédictine, grenadine, and cherry liqueur, he cunningly designed the drink to resemble a fruit juice, so ladies wouldn’t appear to be drinking alcohol.
The Singapore Sling is now Singapore’s national drink, and visitors really need to sample one in its original setting, the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel. Raffles is famous for offering its customers free peanuts as a snack. Don’t forget to sweep the shells onto the floor as 140 years of patrons have done before you.
Commune with Nature in Singapore’s Parks
Singapore is one of the world’s greenest cities and the perfect place to find exotic flora and fauna. Singapore’s bird list features 450 species, an extraordinary number for such a small area.
The best places to watch birds and other wildlife in Singapore include:
- Central Catchment Nature Reserve which specialises in rainforest species and boasts a tower platform to get you up into the canopy.
- Ubin Island, accessible by a short boat ride, features a disused flooded quarry and is great for fishing white-bellied sea eagles.
- Kranji Marshes for marshland and grassland species like greenshank, whimbrel and red turtle dove.
Don’t forget to keep your eyes open at the Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay for kingfishers, water birds and the odd rarity. (In 2018, hundreds of twitchers rushed here to witness a Band-bellied Crake, only the 2nd ever seen in Singapore).
Walk on the Wild Side at Singapore Zoo Night Safari
If hunting for your own wildlife sightings seems too much like hard work, Singapore has a fabulous zoo, holding over 2500 species. The problem with zoos is, many of the animals you want to see are nocturnal and normally tucked up in bed during normal working hours. Never fear, Singapore Zoo’s got you covered. For 30 years they’ve been running night safaris, the first in any zoo globally. Instead of shutting shop when things start to get interesting, they keep the park open when the Sun goes down. You can either explore the zoo on a tram ride, or join a guided walking tour for a really special nature experience. You can purchase tickets to the Night Safari here.
Take in Singapore’s Art Galleries and Museums
Singapore boasts fantastic museums and art galleries
The National Museum of Singapore is the country’s oldest museum and explore’s Singapore’s development over the last 700 years. It even has a planning app to help you plan your way around its exhibitions and galleries.
The National Gallery Singapore hosts the world’s largest collection of art from Singapore and the surrounding region and has won many prestigious global awards for its approach to displaying its collection.
Other fascinating museums and galleries include:
- SAM (Singapore Art Museum);
- Indian Heritage Centre;
- Battlebox (the site of the decision to surrender Singapore in WW2);
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
Conclusion
Singapore, the Lion City, is one of the great cities of the world and is incredibly tourist friendly.
It’s compact, filled with great things to do, has wonderful food options and a hot (if humid) climate.
The public transport system is clean, cheap, easy to use and there are very few places which aren’t covered by it, making getting around Singapore incredibly easy.
Places to Stay in Singapore
Raffles – The iconic hotel synonymous with Singalore
Marina Bay Sands – One of the world’s great hotels
The Fullerton Hotel – Colonial splendour and history
The Quay Hotel – Great location on Boat Quay
Village Hotel Sentosa – Ideal for Sentosa Island fun.
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