There are so many things to see and do in Singapore! No matter if you are there for a long layover, a few days, or a week, you will want to fit in as many of these sites and attractions as possible!
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Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s futuristic national garden. The iconic design uses innovative sustainability features to generate renewable energy, recycle water, and provide an urban green space.
The most striking aspect of the gardens are the towering supertrees that support vertical gardens, generate solar power, and collect rainwater. Climb up to the Supertree Observatory for great views, or take the OCBC Skyway suspended bridge. And make sure to visit in the evening for the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show to see the trees dance along. The 15 minute show runs daily between 7:45 -8:45 p.m.
The complex also features two domes. One is the Flower Dome with floral displays. The other has a Cloud Forest with an indoor waterfall, a mountain covered with tropical plants, and aerial walkways. Outside, enjoy gardens, playgrounds, and more than 200 sculptures around the complex.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sans is a three tower hotel topped with a rooftop park shaped like a ship. Of course, you can stay in the hotel (but you probably can’t afford to). Instead, visit the ahip-shaped SkyPark Observation Deck. It has high-end shopping, dining, and a casino. Or just get a drink from one of the rooftop bars and enjoy the Garden Rhapsody light show from above.
Jewel Changi Airport
Yes, I am including an airport on this list of things to do in Singapore! Jewel Changi Airport is one of the best airports in the world to enjoy a long layover. There are so many things to do there! The most impressive is the Indoor Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall surrounded by a multiple level garden. At night, it has a light and sound display at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. every day, with additional 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. shows on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Canopy Park has sky nets, a hedge maze, a mirror maze, and discovery slides. The Changi Experience Studio showcases the airports technology. There’s also Jewel-rassic Quest, an augmented reality experience with dinosaurs. And if you have kids in tow, there are play areas and interactive art installations designed for them. There’s also a movie theater playing free movies! And all of this is in additional to hundreds of dining and shopping options.
Helix Bridge
Helix Bridge is a pedestrian bridge modeled after the structure of DNA which is illuminated at night with LED lighting. Take it from Marina Bay Sands to the waterfront promenade for a great view of the Singapore skyline.
ArtScience Museum
ArtScience Museum is a lotus-shaped building with gallery space in each petal. Exhibits include immersive digital art displays, virtual reality experiences, and AI projections. There’s teamLab Future World, a digital art installation. Relax and explore a different world in the VR Gallery. And explore the convergence of art, science, and technology at the ArtScience Laboratory. Rotating exhibits fill the other gallery spaces.
Cultural Neighborhoods
Singapore’s status as a major trading port brought in people from many different backgrounds. Today there are five primary ethic groups. The largest ethic group are of Chinese descent. The Malay are the indigenous people of the area. There are also people of Indian descent. Peranakans (Straits Chinese) are descendents of early Chinese traders who intermarried with Malay and Indonesian women. Similarly, those of Eurasian descent trace their lineage to Portuguese, Dutch, or British men and Malay, Chinese, or Indian women.
The unique blend of cultures quite unsurprisingly create vibrant cultural districts for travelers to explore. Scattered throughout the modern city, these cultural districts highlight the various ethnic backgrounds of locals. While it’s tempting to spend all of your time at the innovative icons discussed above, make sure to add these cultural districts to your list of things to do in Singapore!
Chinatown
Chinatown was established in the 1800s and today has restored shophouses, traditional medical halls, and tea shops. You will also see clanhouses, social and welfare centers for immigrants with the same surname.
You will see the religious diversity of Singapore during your time in Chinatown. Visit Buddha Tooth Relic Temple to see its richly decorated main prayer hall and the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. You can also visit the Buddhas of the World Museum to learn more about Buddhist history and traditions. And don’t miss the rooftop garden You can also visit Singapore’s oldest Hindi temple, Sri Mariammam Temple. Admire the colorful tower and go inside to see Hindi rituals. You can also visit Masjid Jamae mosque where a tour guide will explain Muslim worship rituals.
You can learn more about early Chinese immigrants in Singapore at Chinatown Heritage Centre. Spend some time admiring the preserved Peranakan houses that now serve as shops along Pagoda Street and Trengganu Street. If you want more shopping, Chinatown Street Market offers unique souvenirs. It’s open daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. And of course, you must visit a hawker center for some traditional Chinese food. Visit Chinatown Complex, Singapore’s largest hawker center with almost 300 food stalls.
Little India
Little India dates from the 19th century when many Indian migrants settled in Singapore. It has colorful streets filled with shops and stands selling fresh produce, spices, textiles, jewelry, and street food. The energetic atmosphere and bright colors stand in contrast to the sleek modern city surrounding it.
Of course, there are colorful Hindi temple to visit. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple dates from the 19th century and is dedicated to Kali, the goddess and destroyer of evil. Another beautiful temple is Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of Hindi’s main deities. Both temples feature colorful towers filled with statues of gods, goddesses, and mythical figures. You can go inside both to admire their richly decorated shrines and observe Hindi worship rituals.
Learn more about the Indian influence on Singapore at the Indian Heritage Centre. Take a walk along Serangoon Road where you will find shops selling textiles, spices, jewelry, and other great souvenirs. Make sure to check out the side streets for great street art and murals. And make sure to time your visit to get a meal at the Tekka Centre, a market with fresh produce spices, and authentic Indian street food.
Kampong Gelam
Kampong Gelam was established as the seat of the indigenous Malay aristocracy under British colonial rule. It is the home of Sultan Mosque and a former royal palace that now serves as the Malay Heritage Centre.
Visit Arab Street for shops selling textiles, carpets, perfume, and traditional crafts. You can also find street food vendors selling Malay cuisine on this street. Haji Lane is trendy, with street art, boutiques, and cafes.
Nature & Wildlife
The modern architecture of Singapore soars above rich cultural districts, but there’s still places to experience nature within the city.
Merlion Park
Merlion Park is the home of of Singapore’s most famous icon, the Merlion statue. A merlion is a mythical creature with a lion’s head and fish’s body. The park is located across the bay from the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum. It provides a terrific view of these unique attractions. Take a stroll on the waterfront – it’s a great place for sunrise or sunset.
Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is one of the world’s best zoos. The zoo’s 4,000+ animals are kept in naturalistic habitats, not in cages. You can see orangutans, white tigers, elephants, and more from all over the world. Attend keeper talks and presentations and sign up to participate in feeding sessions or animal experiences. If you have kids with you, they will love Rainforest KidzWorld featuring farm animals, pony rides, and a water play area.
Enhance your visit with a Amazon River Quest boat ride through the Amazon. And stay late to take the Safari Tram Adventure to see animals at night.
Singapore Botanical Gardens
The Singapore Botanical Gardens is the only botanical garden in the world recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Featuring tropical plants, lush greenery, lakes, and walking trails, it’s a nice place to spend a few hours. Visit the National Orchid Garden to see thousands of orchids in beautiful displays. Walk through a preserved tropical rainforest, and enjoy swan-filled lakes. If you have kids, they will enjoy the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden interactive space.
Sentosa Island
If you only have a few days in Singapore, you will want to focus on what we covered above. But if you can spend a few more days, you can check out all that Sentosa Island has to offer! Take a cable car from the HarborFront or the Sentosa Express Monorail from VivoCity Shopping Mall.
Once on the island, you can spend several days at various attractions. There’s Universal Studios Singapore with movie-themed rides and roller coasters. The S.E.A. Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Skyline Luge Sentosa offers gravity-powered rides down scenic tracks. And Adventure Cove Waterpark has water slides and opportunities to snorkel with tropical fish. If you are interested in military history, check out Fort Siloso. This World World II fort is well-preserved and now houses a military museum.
If you prefer nature to man-made attractions, Sentosa Island is still worth a visit. Take the cable car to Mount Faboer. Here you can enjoy panoramic views of the island and Singapore skyline and enjoy short strolls through Faber Peak Trails. Sentosa is also where you can visit beaches. There’s the lively Siloso Beach, family-friendly Palawan Beach, and the quiet and scenic Tanjong Beach.
What tops your list of things to do in Singapore?
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