18 Great Things to do in Singapore
One of the most vibrant, exciting, and gorgeous cities that I have visited is Singapore. It’s a place where you can get lost in the streets and find something beautiful at every corner.
It’s a city that follows the rules, has excellent manners, kind people, and thrives in different cultures. The number of things to do in Singapore can be overwhelming, but we found some great places to share with you.
What I loved about Singapore is the variety of things there are for everyone. Singapore thrives on international food options, and luxurious resort stays. It has romantic activities for couples, fun places for families, indoor and outdoor parks for nature lovers, and many free things for budget travelers.
Check out all the things to do in Singapore:
18 Great Things to do in Singapore
Table of Contents
1. Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is the most photographed spot in Singapore and one of the most beautiful spots to roam around at no cost. Inside the gardens, you find the Supertrees, which deserve their spot on our next point. Besides gorgeous gardens, there are lakes and pathways to get lost in. Inside, there is a Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.
2. Cloud Forest
This tropical dome has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall that stands at 35 meters tall. It mimics a real cloud forest by emitting mist. For $12, you can visit the Treetop walk, which views the beautiful greenery inside.
Another option is to pay $28 for a combined ticket to the Flower Dome and the Treetop Walk.
3. Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse globally and boasts beautiful flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and Semi-Arid regions. We got to see the Christmas displays when we visited in November, and everything about this place is beautiful!
4. Supertree Grove: Day Time
The Supertrees inside Gardens by the Bay are artificial trees that provide energy for the whole park! How awesome is that? I recommend walking the OCBC Skyway (like a hanging bridge) that runs above ground and connects trees. The cost is $5, and you get magnificent views of the gardens below and the city from afar.
5. Supertree Grove: Night Light Show
These 25-50 meter tall trees make it twice on our list because you should visit them twice during your stay. Every evening inside Gardens by the Bay, the Supertrees put on a stunning light show that flashes to the sound of music.
It was a magical and romantic moment. You don’t want to miss it. We visited in November, and they played Christmas music which added to the magic. The light show happens at 7:45 and 8:45. Make sure to arrive a few minutes early to pick your favorite spot to view the light show.
6. Marina Bay
A great way to spend a romantic evening is to walk the Marina Bay Sands, where you will have fantastic views of the Marina Bay Sands and Esplanade. Every spot here is beautiful and a great place to take in the city lights. Nearby you will find the water light show, helix bridge, the luxurious Marina Bay Sands, and Merlion Park.
7. Spectra: Water Light Show
This water show was one of our favorite moments in Singapore. Spectra is an outdoor light and water show along the promenade in front of Marina Bay Sands. The music dances to the symphony of music and is lighted by lasers and projectors.
It reminded us of the water show at Disneyland and the Las Vegas Bellagio fountains. This 15-minute show happens at 8 and 9 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 8, 9, and 10 pm on Friday and Saturday.
8. Merlion Park
Taking a photo of Merlion in Singapore is almost like taking a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Merlion statue is a tourist icon shaped like a half-fish and half-lion. Tale has it that it symbolizes Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village.
Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, which means ‘lion city’ in Malay. It resides in Merlion Park by the Marina Bay, and you can take a touristy picture of you drinking water.
9. Chinatown
We’ve been to a few Chinatowns, but none as clean and as colonial-looking as this one. Though it’s not the largest Chinatown we’ve visited, it’s an excellent place for buying cheap items and eating at a low price in an expensive city.
We enjoyed the lanterns floating above the shops. It’s a must-see when you are in Singapore, and you can find some lovely boutique hotels and hostels located in this area.
10. Little India
With colorful buildings and colorful street decorations, who wouldn’t love a stroll through Little India? It’s where you can also find many oil scents and spices, try new food, and do some shopping. It’s a small taste of Indian culture in a large block of Singapore.
11. Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay was a beautiful area to explore because of the beautiful river, building views, and many food options. You can also take a river cruise for 25 USD or walk around the area. At night, the place comes alive with a vibrant bar and restaurant scene.
12. Changi Airport
Known as the world’s best airport, Changi has many free things to enjoy. Those free things are foot massages, a movie theater with no admission, free Wi-Fi, beautiful artwork displayed throughout, and an interactive art center. Now that’s a good Airport experience!
13. Visit Temples and Mosques
There are many temples and stunning mosques in Singapore to explore. I enjoyed looking at the detail, it was beautiful. Some popular ones include Sr Mariamman Temple and Masjid Sultan Mosque.
14. Helix Bridge
Just a short walk from Marina Bay Sands, you see this beautiful steel footbridge inspired by the curved form of DNA structure. To us, the bridge looked like a scene from the future with its complicated shape. It became one of our favorite things to photograph!
15. Raffles Hotel
This beautiful architectural building is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. It’s also the birthplace of the famous fruity drink that will set you back 30 USD if you decide to try it, the Singapore Sling. We skipped the drink but enjoyed the view around the hotel.
16. Hawkers Centers
You can save money by visiting a Hawker Center to find cheap eats with cuisine from around all-around Asia.
17. Chijmes
We came across Chijmes by accident while wandering the streets of Singapore. It’s a historic building that began as a Catholic Convent in the quarters of Caldwell House.
The chapel is beautiful with a gothic style look. It’s now an all-purpose hall known as Chijmes. The area around it is a commercial spot with dining, shopping, and entertainment.
18. Walk the City
The best way to enjoy the city is to allow yourself to get lost in the streets of Singapore. We were headed to Chinatown one day, but it took us over three hours to get there because we kept finding other distracting and great spots along the way. So allow yourself time to wander freely, and you’ll find some great and beautiful gems.
Iconic Places We Missed
Marina Bay Sands is one of those epic and luxurious places to stay if you’re ready to spend a good amount of money. It’s famously known for its pool overlooking the city. Unfortunately, the pool is only available to guests. Staying here costs over 400 USD a night.
The other option is to visit the observation deck with no pool access.s This costs 23 USD.
Perhaps one day I’ll return to stay here. Or maybe not. Who knows.
Other Places To Visit
Some places I missed were the Singapore Flyer. It’s a giant Ferris wheel with large capsules that hold up to 28 people. Supposedly, it has excellent views of the city.
Sentosa Islands has Universal Studios and beautiful resorts.
There is also Singapore Zoo which is rated as one of the best zoos globally because it’s not your traditional zoo that cages animals in small spaces.
Singapore Botanic Gardens has beautiful lakes, lush green plants, and extraordinary sculptures.
There is an overwhelming amount of things to do in Singapore. It’s hard to choose what to fit into a short visit. Regardless of where you go, you will enjoy your time in this beautiful city.
Things to Know Before Visiting
- Singapore is one of the safest places in the world! We felt safe the entire time.
- There is a beautiful mix of cultures in Singapore. Thus, you will find different foods, experiences, and people.
- Singapore is very expensive! Come prepared to spend. However, if you visit on a budget, it’s possible to enjoy it still.
- The weather in Singapore is warm year-round making it easy to plan a trip no matter what season.
- If you find yourself at Little India on Sunday evening, don’t be surprised to see hundreds of men hanging out on the streets. It was a unique sighting to see so many men gathered outside the temples, food stands, and parks. We thought there was a special event going on, so we asked, and it turns out the men gathered to enjoy their day off/end of the week.
Singapore Regulations
Singapore has many strict and odd laws that come with expensive or harsh punishment. For example, don’t even think about connecting to someone’s Wi-Fi, feeding pigeons, or forget flushing. Smoking in public, walking naked in your house with open curtains, and littering will get you fined.
Bringing gum into the country or selling it is illegal. You’ll spend two years in jail aside from a hefty fine. Spitting in public is also not allowed, which, to be honest, is okay with me! Drinking and eating is strictly forbidden on the SMR (transportation).
Oh, and can you believe Singapore allows caning (a legal form of corporal punishment)? Offenders receive strokes as punishment depending on the type of crime or rule broken.
Some of those laws may have changed, so don’t take my word 100 percent. However, the gum part is real.
How to Get Around
You’ll find yourself walking a lot in Singapore, but the cheapest way to get around is using the SMR. It will connect you from the city to the airport and the border of Malaysia. They have a tourist card for one to three-day use and cost 10-20 Singapore Dollars.
However, you can also fill a regular card to get around and refill as needed. Another option is using Uber and Grab, which we used for our long-distance ride to the airport. Taxis are also common and inexpensive, but we didn’t use any in our time there.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the Little India area, and it was the perfect location. The SMR was conveniently located only a short 5-minute walk away. We were also immersed in the Singaporean Indian Culture, and we got to enjoy the beautiful colors of this neighborhood.
At the Hilton, we had fast working Wi-Fi, gym, pool, and comfortable bed. There are many luxurious hotels to choose from, and if you book early, you can save on hotels, hostels, and apartment rentals.
Hostels here run a bit more expensive. The day we arrived, we tried booking one last minute. However, it was nearly 50 USD per person. Instead, we booked a hotel through my friend who added me to her family discount working for Hilton.
What to Pack
Planning a trip to Asia? Here are some of my favorite travel items:
18 Things to do in Singapore
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
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The whole place looks so incredible! Your pictures made it look super promising, but I gotta say I wish you had taken more pictures of the cloud forest – looked so cool!
personally, i think i love singapore for how it is really safe and easy to get around. but for someone who’s not really a big fan of urban life like me, singapore has become plain boring after a few days. 😛
i am now considering to visit flower dome the next time i come to singapore again though. thanks to you!
It’s true! It’s the reason we loved it. We felt really comfortable and lots to do. But I get what you’re saying. We feel similar despite loving it. It’s weird to describe. 💙 Enjoy next time you’re there.
I have been living in Singapore from last 10 years and you will find every year they add something new to the list. Well, you will find the Foreign workers spending their time on weekend mainly all men.
Definitely lots of variety of activities to choose from!
It always amazes me how much nature there is in this modern city that is Singapore. In all the high buildings and architecture there are still so many spots with amazing flowers and trees.
Very true! We found so many great spots
It’s always nice to read an article about Singapore, I know the place very well and I think I have been to every possible corners of this island (having a Singaporean girlfriend helps). It’s cool you got to enjoy the Christmas lights are Gardens by The Bay, it’s like a fairytale! My personal favorite are walking in Chinatown and the Botanic Gardens. It’s true that many rules seem quite harsh and crazy… you can imagine the shock for me as I am French – in France everyone and everything is all about freedom!
I see why the Supertrees are the most photographed site in Singapore! Wow, I have never seen anything like that! I don’t often see travel pictures of Singapore. Now I am wondering why. It is gorgeous!
Singapore is one of my favorite cities in the world and I admire you that you were able to limit the attractions to 18 😉 I did most of the things you are listing and did especially enjoy the ethnic mix that you are pointing out, too, and the effort to install much greenery although the space is very limited. I agree that Little India is a perfect location to explore the city – it’s centrally located, but still affordable.
I’ve heard great things about Singapore but have never been. This is a well-written post, now I feel like planning a trip to Singapore!
I’ve never been to singapore, but it looks like such a beautiful country! It’s at the top of my travel list!
WOW! I never knew there was so much awesomeness in Singapore! Not some place I thought I’d want to visit, but maybe I should!
oh Singapore is breathtaking beautiful. it has been in my plans to go there and seeing your blog post is makes me eager and anxious to visit there already. there is so much to do and it feels like my kind of travel. With the harsh rules well..i am mute on that. Thanks for sharing this.
Never thought of visiting Singapore, but now I do. Seems like there is so much that you can do. Lovely post, you provide so many things to do and see.
I’ve been in Singapore last year. and I say that this is such a beautiful place to visit. Lots of beautiful scenery and views. I will definitely revisit Singapore this 2018.
Such beautiful pictures and a lovely informative post! I’ve always, always, always wanted to go to Singapore, there are so many wonderful and inspiring sights! I wouldn’t want to pass up any of these locations!
What an amazing destination and so many cool ideas here. I like the look of the cloud forest and the SMR to get around sounds easy 🙂 x
Singapore is such a great City – I was there a few years ago, but I can see it changed a lot – there are so many new things to explore! Thanks for the great inspiration – I see I have to go back soon 🙂
Singapore looks AMAZING. I can’t get over the cloud forest and flower dome. What a magical place. Will have to visit!
I see why the Supertrees are the most photographed site in Singapore:) It’s so grogeous. This post makes me want to plan a trip this instant.
Singapore is so beautiful! All of the flowers and greenery and attractions in your photos make me want to go visit!
I have heard nothing but good things about Singapore. I have not heard about all the fines. It’s good to know about the budget thing.
I have been to the Gardens by the Bay twice but its been a couple of years and it looks like they have added lots more so I would love to go back. I also loved the atmosphere at Chijmes, it’s a great spot for dining if you have had enough of the hawker centres.
I highly recommend the Singapore Zoo if you go back… I am not a zoo person but I absolutely loved it.
Wow.. its an amazing tips you gave. i planned to visit singapore next year. Thanks for the info.
I am scheduled to visit the place next year. I’m definitely bookmarking this! I would love to go to all the spots you visited, they look lovely!
Singapore looks so beautiful. I have stopped by the airport as a layover but I have never properly been there so would definitely love to.
The Supertrees, Chinatown, and the Hindu temples are my favorite. I adore Hindu architecture – so much so that I decided to stay at Little India. Chinatown is almost always mandatory for me, because I enjoy hunting down medicinal herbs and teas. 🙂
Singapore is a beautiful country. Unfortunately, we had to cancel a visit here last year. Definitely high on my bucket list.
Thanks for sharing this extensive list. I have bookmarked it 🙂
I love Singapore as well and have spent many a long weekend there! I generally go for the food – there is nothing quite like a char kway teo from a hawker centre.
We so want to visit Singapore soon. I love the marina bay and the wonderful and picturesque things it offers.. Thanks for sharing
This is a beautiful country would love to travel their someday