Looking for a travel guide for visiting Singapore? You have just hit on the right spot!
I decided to make this Singapore travel guide my first post, sharing experiences off our trips back and naturally, since I am Singaporean by origin!
Singapore, my homeland and sunny island! I left the country in 2011 and have been living abroad since. I look forward to my trip home each time, catching up with friends, the delicious local fares and especially, playing the tour guide to show my husband around.
Let’s get started with some quick facts about Singapore
– Singapore has a tropical climate. Weather is typically hot and humid all year round, with an average day temperature ~32 ºC and ~25 ºC at night
– It is one of the most convenient cities in the world! There are shops and eateries which are opened 24/7, you shall never go hungry in Singapore or ever be worried to run out of personal essentials – as what the locals would say: “no problem lah“ (“lah” is a Singlish i.e. local slang )
– Singapore is a multi-racial country. Majority of Singaporeans are bilingual, with English being the First language. Mandarin, Malay, Tamil are the main Mother Tongues (second language)
– Singaporeans would typically address men of an older generation as ‘Uncle’ and women as ‘Auntie’ For instance: taxi drivers, food stall hawkers.. it almost applies across any informal context
– Dress code is casual in most places, you can pretty much go around in shorts and t-shirt. Where you are expected to dress more formally, you should be able to get by with smart casual ( i.e. covered footwear and no shorts) for most venues
Planning the trip
Flying to Singapore
The Singapore Changi Airport is one of most important airports in Asia and is well-reputed for its world class facilities and efficiency. It serves most of the major airlines from all over the world. Singapore Airlines is the national carrier and member of the Star Alliance network. They are typically my first choice airline, offering clean and well-maintained flight cabins, good in-flight services.
Length of stay
You can cover a good part of the main places of interest in perhaps 3 days. I would recommend a 5-7 days itinerary to comfortably explore the cultural spots, heartland areas or the nature sanctuaries (don’t be surprised but yes, Singapore has done well to preserve their nature reserves where you can come face-to-face with many wildlife.
Accommodation
My favorite area to stay is the Somerset, which is a stone’s throw from the iconic Orchard shopping district. It is a very central area and has a good mix of local eateries along Killiney Road (see my recommendations below!), heritage sites (take a walk down the Penarakan place and hang out at one of the chic bars for an iced cold beer) and mega shopping malls like 313@Somerset and Orchard Central. You can reach so many places by foot, even better by bike. Several good hotels are located around Somerset – Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, Jen Singapore Orchard Gateway, Orchard Grand Court, depending on your budget.
Other popular locations are Orchard Road, City Hall, Marina bay (where the iconic hotel, Marina Bay Sands, is located) and Sentosa Island. I love using Booking.com to search and book my accommodation (whether my travels to Asia or in Europe) and I almost always only use them – you get competitive deals, and it is always helpful to have good information of the hotel, including extensive traveler reviews and ratings!
Getting around
I find exploring Singapore by bike extremely fun (there are a few bike-sharing operators Anywheel, SG Bike, HelloRide which you can easily rent for a nominal fee). There are well-structured, dedicated paths for cyclists and they are well connected for many of the places of interest.
The SMRT (local metro) is efficient with a good island-wide coverage. It is cheap and a good option for budget travelers. Taxi rides are also affordable as compared to Europe and I would really recommend to use Grab – Grab operates like Uber and the price fare is fixed on booking confirmation. It is mostly cheaper than traditional taxi.
Places to visit
(Sequence does not denote ranking!)
Marina Bay Sands
(10 Bayfront Avenue Singapore 018956)
The iconic hotel and shopping mall. Marina Bay Sands housed over 170 luxury and premium brands and includes the the world’s only floating Louis Vuitton boutique, the spectacular Crystal Pavilion.
You will also find the iconic infinity pool on the 57th floor, the news is… it is exclusive to hotel guests (the lowest room rate is about SGD 700-800 per night). Nevertheless, you will always have the option to head up to the SkyPark Observation Deck on the 56th floor. The ticket price is SGD 26 and I would recommend to skip the queue and pre-purchase the ticket via Klook, they usually offer discounted prices!
You may also head up to CÉ LA VI, the rooftop bar on the 57th floor, try out a few cocktails and enjoy the night scene!
Gardens by the Bay
(18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953)
This is one of the most visited sites by tourists. Witness here the numerous award winning, creative displays of plants, presented to you by themes and admission tickets ranged from SGD10-SGD53.
The Civic District
There are many heritage and cultural sites worth checking out here which should not be missed! My top picks would be the National Museum of Singapore and Fort Canning (which is of historical significance in WWII). Drop by also the St. Andrew Cathedral.. Chijmes.. also one of the famous landmarks around City Hall. The Civic District would be well-worth at least half a day, especially if you plan to explore the National Museum!
Sentosa Island
I would also highly recommend Sentosa Island, great recreational activities whether with friends or family. There are many ways to get to Sentosa – by bus or train (station Harbourfront), taxi or more a more unique experience with the cable car from Mount Faber. And if you do, check out the spectacular view point on Mount Faber!
Visit the Universal Studio theme park, the only one in Southeast Asia. If you are seeking some adrenaline, then do not miss the ‘Battlestar Galactica’ high-speed roller coasters and the ‘Revenge of the Mummy’ indoor roller coaster! We shouted our heads off! Fancy for a dip into the sea water? Try Palawan beach or Siloso beach, chill out at one of the beach bars.
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay
Take a stroll or hop on a boat ride along the Singapore river. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are also reputed for the nightlife and gastronomy.
Chinatown
Come here to discover the heritage of the early Chinese settlement. Lots of interesting street shops, eateries and restaurants. It is a fun place to shop for souvenirs. Recommendation for the brave ones: how about having a taste of durian, the king of fruits?
Kampung Gelam
Next stop, Kampung Gelam! Dipping into the Malay heritage, visit the majestic Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre. Have fun browsing the hip fashion boutiques, crafted jewellery and accessories along Haji Lane, the place turned into a bursting district of music bars at nightfall!
Little India
Visit the Indian Heritage Centre and the famous Hindu Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Not forgetting the Mustafa Centre, you can almost find anything under the sun.. whether a piece of India Sari, jewellery, scooter, toys, TV.
Nature reserves – MacRitchie reservoir, Bukit Timah Hill, Corny Island
I love the nature parks in Singapore. Why not spending a day or two to trek and explore the green and lush rainforests? Have your eyes peeled and be intrigued by your encounters with the wildlife.
Singapore Flyer
(30 Raffles Ave., Singapore 039803)
Get on board the observation wheel and enjoy the bird eye view of downtown Singapore!
Singapore Botanic Garden
(1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569)
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and I highly recommend to visit! Very well-maintained and beautifully shaped landscape, with a huge collection of plants worldwide.
Where else if you have more time…
Parkview Square – Atlas Bar
(600 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188778)
Any fans of Daredevil or Batman? Check out the unique architecture of Parkview Square “Gotham City in Singapore” and the impressive Atlas Bar – they serve great afternoon tea (fyi…)
Tiger Beer Brewery tour
(459 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore 639934)
Tiger Beer is one of Singapore’s homegrown brands. Join a 1-hour guided tour at Tiger Beer Brewery (including a beer sampling session, you can stay up to 2 hours for the tasting), they offer daily tours and tickets can be purchased in advance. Ticket price SGD 25 per adult (weekend) / SGD 23 per adult (weekday), child (below 18 years) SGD 15. Book your tickets here!
Jurong Lake Gardens – Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden
(Boon Lay Way, Singapore 619795)
Take a relaxing stroll or a bike ride around Jurong Lake. I really enjoy the serenity around the area and especially the beautiful setting of the Chinese Garden – the iconic ‘floating’ pagoda on the lake, well-maintained pavilions, courtyards and bridges..
Haw Par Villa
(262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628)
Eager to learn more about Chinese legends and folks tale? You have to visit Haw Par Villa! A cultural theme park where you will find elaborated displays, thousands of statues depicting famous Chinese mythologies including the Monkey God (Sun Wu Kong), the Hell’s museum (10 courts of hell) ..
Katong – Joo Chiat
(113 East Coast Road, Singapore 428803)
Immersed yourself with an afternoon of Nonya heritage at Joo Chiat, you will find rows of colourful Peranakan heritage shophouses, shops and eateries. Do not forget to try the famous 328 Katong Laksa whilst you are in the area!
Kuan Yin Thong Hood Cho Temple
(178 Waterloo St, Singapore 187964)
One of the most significant Buddhist temple worshipped by Singaporeans. Worshippers believe they will be blessed with good luck after praying to the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin
Pulau Ubin
Try taking a short boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to Pulau Ubin! Be ready to surprise yourself with the adventures on this unspoiled island – pure nature (mangrove, forests, beaches) this is mainland Singapore dated 40-50 years ago where you will also find the few remaining traditional villages ‘kampongs’.
Fancy a seafood feast? Try Cheong Lian Yuen Seafood restaurant (20 Pulau Ubin, Singapore 508275) – fresh and affordable seafood (including chilli crabs) and local dishes. P.S. Do remember to bring along insect repellent!
Food to try
Enjoying good food is almost in the DNA of every Singaporean. Singaporeans queue (and will ‘kill’ for good food). The country is definitely a renowned food paradise, you can find cuisines all around the globe. As a Singaporean, it is the local fares which really warms and gets into my heart. I would highly recommend that you to visit one of the local hawker centres or food courts and enjoy a feast of delicious and affordable local delights.
Popular hawker centres or food courts
– Adam Road Food Centre
– Amoy Street Food Centre
– Lau Pat Sat
– Maxwell Food Centre
– Newton Food Centre
– Old Airport Road Food Centre
– Tiong Bahru Market
– Makansutra Gluttons Bay
My list of MUST TRY local fares – check out my post here
Travel hacks
– Singtel Prepaid Tourist SIM card A tourist SIM card is a MUST for me and SingTel offers great value deals and super network coverage. Get 100GB of data with 68 minutes of local talktime and more, for just SGD 15 and valid for 28 days!
– Use Grab – great app for booking taxi
– Use bike sharing – there are a few bike-sharing operators e.g. Anywheel, SG Bike, HelloRide, bikes can be easily rented for a nominal fee, just download their apps! Anywheel is my recommendation to go, they have nicely maintained bikes, good accessibility and great app / support!
– If you are heading to do something fun outdoor, would be a good idea to pack your sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, a cap, an umbrella / poncho (weather can change rapidly, just speaking from my own)
– I like to plan my trip early, you will definitely have more options and attractive deals (especially, hotels) if you book them well in advance!
We did a bike tour from Boat Quay, the Civic District, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and all the way to East Coast Park.
It was so much fun!
