Best Things To See And Do In Singapore
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If you’re planning to travel to Asia and are hitting more than one destination, Singapore is a fantastic hub for your travels. Not only is it a fantastic place to visit, it is centrally located to get to many other destinations for typically very low prices! As small as Singapore is, there is so much to see and do in this country!
Top Things to See and Do in Singapore
Number One Thing To Do In Singapore - Eat
#1 Thing to do is Eat! Any type of food that you can possibly imagine can be found in Singapore. Traditional restaurants are everywhere, and Clark Quay (pronounced “key”) is a perfect place to start. There are dozens of restaurants, pubs and bars to sample in this area, and from my experience they all seem to be excellent choices for dining. Malls and food courts are another obvious choice for dining. It seems that there is no shortage of shopping in Singapore, and each shopping center has floor after floor of restaurants to choose from. A trip to Singapore would not be complete without at least a few trips to different Hawkers! These are both open air and covered stalls of specialty food from around the world. You will again find more choices of different types of food here than you could possibly eat. Don’t pass this up!
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel has numerous restaurants. We ate at the Lavo Italian Restaurant and Rooftop Bar, and it was phenomenal.
Number Two Thing To Do In Singapore - Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is simply gorgeous and should be on the top of your list. The park itself is free, but there are two main attractions inside the park that require an entrance fee. I’ll get to those later on.
If you have the option, you should enter the park through the southern entrance at Marina Park and work your way through until you reach the Flower Dome and Rain Forest.
The gardens cover an expansive area and are a very impressive display of flora, fauna and architecture that no-one in Singapore should miss
My full review of Gardens by the Bay can be seen here:
Number Three Thing To Do In Singapore - Visit The Japanese and Chinese Gardens
One of my favorite places to visit in Singapore was at the Chinese and Japanese Gardens in Jurong East. There are so many beautiful areas here, make sure you have enough time (and water bottles) to enjoy it all. Pro Tip: Go early because it gets HOT here!
Getting there
Although it’s a bit long of a ride, the easiest way we found to get there from Singapore City is to take the EW25 (East West 25) line on the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, or Metro) and getting off at the Chinese Gardens stop. Then it’s just a short walk to the entrance gate.
Another much more expensive option (depending on where you’re coming from) would be to take Grab, which is Singapore’s equivalent of Uber. Download the app to your smartphone and it works the same as Uber.
If you have a car and prefer to drive, then of course that is an option for you as well.
Stunning Pagodas
This a beautiful seven story Pagoda in the Chinese Gardens in Singapore
One of the beautiful “Twin Pagodas” in the Chinese Gardens in Singapore.
One of the first things you’ll see as you approach the gardens from the RMT is the seven story pagoda show in the first photo above. The beautiful Pagodas here in the gardens are truly stunning to see. The amount of detail that has been put into these structures will blow your mind. The detail in the wood is amazing and is complimented by beautifully vibrant paintings. Although pagodas originate from India, the Chinese adapted their own type of architecture to build pagodas as early as 68 CE (or BC). The first in China was built by Emperor Ming to spread Buddha’s teachings.
Architecture and amazing greenery combine at this cultural park for some beautiful views.
The Turtle Museum at the Chinese Gardens
A turtle in the Turtle Museum at the Chinese Gardens in Singapore.
For some turtles, life can be a little rough. This turtle shows serious damage to its shell, but keeps on trucking!
In October 2018 when I last visited Singapore, the Turtle Museum was located at the Chinese Gardens. Please note that the museum has moved and is now located in ORTO. ORTO is a sanctuary for nature lovers, and is a lush greenery located in the northern part of Singapore. It is the country's first multi-recreational park that is open to the public 24 hours a day, catering to all-day and night activities.
Now I have a new destination for my next trip to Singapore!
The Double Beauty Bridge connects the Chinese Gardens to the Japanese Gardens
Crossing the Double Beauty Bridge from the Chinese Gardens will pull you into the beautiful Japanese Gardens, These are to distinctly different places of beauty highlighting both the Japanese and Chinese cultures. Although the gardens were under construction during our visit, it was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018. So, again, I’ll need to take another trip here during my next visit!
The Japanese Garden is a large strolling garden showcasing a landscape style originating from the Muromachi and Momoyama periods of Japanese history. There is a network of paths winding through the garden and along Garyuchi pond. Photo opportunities are abound with plenty of birds, and bonsai trees.
This is such a great place to take photos that you will undoubtedly see models and photographers doing photo-shoots around the park. From my observations, it seems most of the models are in anime style costumes. Pretty cool, right?!
An arched bridge within the Chinese and Japanese gardens in Singapore.
A beautiful pond scene in the Japanese Gardens in Singapore.
One of many beautiful Bonsai trees in the Japanese Gardens in SIngapore.
The seven story pagoda from the shore of Garyuchi Pond in the Japanese Gardens in Singapore.
The Japanese Gardens are filled with beautiful plants and statues.
Number Four Thing To Do In Singapore - Treetop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir
Botanic gardens and simply walking around the streets of Singapore will be a delight for any lover of nature, especially with such diverse flora here. There are also some much less tamed areas of thick tropical jungle located throughout Singapore, especially at the parks of MacRitchie Reservoir.
One of the best spots to get really into the thick of it here is in the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. This is a very popular spot for walkers, runners, nature lovers and hikers.
Full Map of MacRitchie Reservoir and Parks
There are lots of paths to take here, but my first recommendation is to head toward the Tree Top Walk. Along the path you will come across families of Macaque monkeys coming through the thick jungle canopy above. Although the monkeys seem to keep mostly higher up in the trees, they are very curious animals and will watch and follow you to a point.
Whatever you do during your walk, please do NOT feed the monkeys. Feeding them will make them dependent on humans for their food supply and make them less effective at sustaining themselves. Besides, if your caught feeding them, you will be prosecuted, so don’t take the chance!
Don’t Feed the Monkeys at MacRitchie Park!
There are also certain areas of these beautiful trails that are raised above the ground. It is around these areas that you are likely to encounter some wild boar. These animals are not friendly neighborhood dogs, and they could hurt you if provoked. So please observe these creatures from a safe distance. My observation is that the wild boar I came across were much more afraid of me than I of them.
When you reach the Tree Top Walk there is a small Ranger hut where a park employee will be keeping an eye on visitors and animals alike.
A Macaque monkey acting as a toll-keeper at MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore
These curious monkeys were probably looking for a handout, but remember, don’t feed the monkeys!
My favorite part of the Tree Top Walk was the several families of monkeys that seem to be waiting for payment to let you through. These guys will give you a very close encounter with them as you walk across the walkway. They didn't reach out for me, even when I was only less than a foot away, so it's very safe. Enjoy the walk!
Some other creatures you'll come across on this walk are Monitor Lizards creeping around the area looking for their next meal. You may also see some very large snails on the trail, so watch your step! Also, keep your eyes out for some VERY large black ants that reach at least an inch in length!
The snails along the paths at MacRitchie Reservoir are almost the size of the palm of my hand.
Past the Treetop Walk, there is still a lot to see along the paths. There is a tower called the Jelutong Tower that is a short climb to a fantastic view, so don’t pass this up!
Number Five Thing To Do In Singapore - Singapore Botanic Gardens
A great place to spend a day enjoying the stunning flora Singapore has to offer is at the Botanic Gardens. The gardens, as they stand now, have been in place in Singapore since 1859. Entrance to the gardens is free.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The gardens are also very easy to reach by train, bus or Grab (similar to Uber in Asia). There are numerous paths to follow through the gardens, and so much to see.
If you love Plumeria flowers, than you will be delighted that they are in numerous places throughout the park.
Plumeria Flowers In Singapore
Throughout the park you will find waterfalls, streams, lagoons and lakes. Massive Catfish can be found in the lake and lagoon, and beautiful Koi fish can be seen in other areas.
You will also see lots of ducks and geese throughout the park.
Beautiful plants and flowers are everywhere throughout the park as well, and the orchid display is nothing short of amazing.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful monitor lizards that roam the park. Very cool animals!!
All in all, you will certainly have an amazing time exploring the Botanic Gardens in Singapore!
Number Six Thing To Do In Singapore - Visit Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island is a small resort island of Singapore that has tons of the more typical family vacation things to do. If that’s your cup of tea, then Sentosa will have every one of your bases covered.
On this little island there are:
Six luxury hotels to choose from
Six Spas to indulge in
Numerous casual and fine dining restaurants to eat at
Several Bars to choose from
Shopping galore
Over 34 different attractions to choose from including water parks, Universal Studios, shows, and so much more.
Walk the Sentosa Boardwalk to get to the island for days of fun.
On thing you can’t miss when visiting the island is the giant Merlion!
The massive Sentosa Merlion
Whatever you choose to do here on the island, you are sure to have a fantastic time!
Number Seven Thing To Do In Singapore - Ride The Singapore Flyer
Your trip to Singapore cannot be complete without a ride on the Singapore Flyer. The Singapore Flyer is more than just a giant Ferris Wheel. It’s looked at as a viewing wheel, and man-oh-man what views await you on this ride.
It’s hard to show how big this wheel really is in a simple picture, but hopefully you get the idea from these photos. Also, if you are afraid of heights, domn’t worry. Once this starts moving, you’ll just be blown away at the stunning views.
The Singapore Flyer is a massive observation wheel you can’t miss
If you only have time (or the desire) to take the ride once, I strongly suggest you take it at night. The city lights from this height are simply stunning. Taking pictures while the wheel is moving during the nighttime hours is difficult without cranking up the ISO to much.
The Number Eight Thing To Do in Singapore - Watch The Laser Light Show At The Sands
Every night in Singapore there is a laser light show put on at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This is a nice light show, and if possible, you should see it. There are three main night time things to do here: ride the Singapore Flyer, watch the light show at Gardens by The Bay, and watch the Marina Light Show. Unfortunately, you will need three nights to properly see all three, as the timing isn’t the best.
Marina Bay Sands Laser Show
More of the brilliant colors of the laser show
Just because the laser show at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is over doesn’t mean you need to pack up and head back to your hotel. This city is absolutely gorgeous at night and you should take the time to walk around and soak up the sights.
The Singapore Merlion at night.
This is a beautiful view of Singapore at night.
Another wider image of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel at night.
As you can see, Singapore is an absolutely wonderful place to visit and has so much to do. Not is only Singapore a fantastic place to visit, but is the perfect springboard to get to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and so many more places.
I hope this post has made you want to visit Singapore, and I hope I’ve helped you in your decisions on what to do and where to go while visiting. Please leave any comments and I’d be happy to respond to any questions.
Thanks!
Matt Reed
