From incredible shopping to some of the world’s best walking trails and gardens, Singapore has lots of attractions to keep you busy throughout your stay. The city’s cheap and convenient MRT system makes travelling between most attractions a quick and simple process.
Below, we’ve listed the best places to shop, enjoy the view, experience nature and learn more about Singapore’s unique culture.
Shopping
Orchard Road
Orchard Road, Singapore 2012 © 12587661@N06
Singapore’s main shopping street, Orchard Road is a boulevard in the centre of Singapore that’s home to many of the city’s biggest shopping malls. Highlights include Ngee Ann City, Mandarin Gallery, ION Orchard, Knightsbridge Mall, Plaza Singapura, Orchard Central and Paragon.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
The Shoppes @ MBS II © z_wenjie
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is a high-end shopping mall in Marina Bay. The mall is easy to access from Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino and stocks a great selection of international brand name goods.
Chinatown
Chinatown, Singapore © travelourplanet
Singapore’s Chinatown is a great place to shop for tourist trinkets, traditional Chinese medicine items and more. Excellent hawker food and low prices make Chinatown a refreshing break from the city’s seemingly endless list of luxury malls.
Viewpoints and Attractions
From incredible rooftops to iconic attractions like the Singapore Cable Car, there are plenty of places to enjoy the view in Singapore.
Singapore Flyer
Misty Sunrise © fieldsofview
Singapore’s answer to the London Eye, the Singapore Flyer is 100 feet taller than its British counterpart. The 165m observation wheel offers spectacular views over Singapore’s central business district, Marina Bay, Raffles Place and other noteworthy landmarks.
Singapore Cable Car
View of Singapore Cable Car © irvin
The Singapore Cable Car connects Sentosa Island with Mount Faber, giving riders an incredible view of Singapore’s impressive skyline and busy harbour. Glass-bottomed cabins are available for people that prefer a more thrilling ride.
Marina Bay Sands Skypark
SkyPark Infinity Pool © sackerman519
Located atop the incredible Marina Bay Sands building, the Marina Bay Sands Skypark offers a great view of Singapore’s central business district from the top of one of the island’s most iconic structures. Access to the Infinity Pool, however, is restricted to hotel guests only.
Merlion Park
Merlion © michi_loheit
An icon of Singapore, the Merlion Park is famous for its 8.6 metre statue of the half-fish, half-lion Merlion that represents the city-state. The park, which is located at One Fullerton, overlooks the eye-catching Marina Bay Sands resort.
Gardens, Nature and Wildlife
Singapore Zoo
Singapore Zoo © dtaylor28
Ranked as one of the world’s top five zoos, Singapore Zoo is home to more than 315 different animal species. The zoo, which houses its animals humanely in ‘open’ areas, has a rainforest theme and a selection of animal shows throughout the day.
Jurong Bird Park
Bird Talk © adavey
Located on Jurong Hill, Jurong Bird Park is a landscaped wildlife park that’s home to more than 5,000 birds of 400 different species. Highlights of the park include the world’s second largest walk-in aviary and an impressive nocturnal bird house.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Open since 1859 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, Singapore Botanic Gardens is an incredible tropical garden located close to Singapore’s commercial centre. Thousands of species of tropical plants, particularly orchids, can be viewed inside the gardens.
Gardens By The Bay
Super Trees, Gardens By The Bay, Singapore © _pavan_
Built on reclaimed land near Marina Reservoir, Gardens by the Bay is an incredible green space in the centre of Singapore. Three gardens, each split into several areas, offer an incredible look into Singapore’s efforts to become a “City in a Garden”.
MacRitchie Nature Trail
MacRitchie Nature Trail © traveloriented
Although Singapore is a small island, it’s easy to escape from the city and enjoy nature. The MacRitchie Nature Trail is an 11km walking trail that takes visitors through some of the dense jungle of Singapore and across a 250 metre suspension bridge.
Art, Culture and History
National Museum of Singapore
A Dozen Of Those @ National Museum © z_wenjie
Singapore’s oldest museum, the National Museum of Singapore was established in 1887 and is one of the city’s most popular cultural attractions. Inside the museum, you’ll find a large variety of exhibitions on the history of Singapore, as well as the city-state’s 11 national treasures.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple at Night, Chinatown, Singapore © 34371745@N05
Located in Chinatown, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a Tang-style temple built in 2007. The temple contains a selection of sacred Buddhist artefacts and an incredible 3.5 tonne Buddha tooth relic, built using more than 320 kg of gold.
The Changi Museum
Changi Chapel Museum © surveying
Singapore was invaded and brutally occupied by Japan during World War II, with much of the island’s garrison executed and others housed in Changi Prison. The Changi Museum offers a look into the lives of imprisoned POWs and Singaporean citizens during the war.