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Top Sights In Singapore: 14 Unmissable Things To See and Do
Singapore is known as a thriving financial city with one of the world’s strongest economies. However, the City Island Nation has so much more to offer than just it’s magnificent skyline. With over 60 islands and more still being created, Singapore is a technologically advanced country that not only creates its own waterfalls but is also renowned for its cleanliness. With modern Singapore only being founded in 1819, it doesn’t have as much history as it’s neighbour Malaysia, however it still has a lot to offer. In this guide we list some of the top sights in Singapore along with some of the more unique experiences.
Top Sights in Singapore
1. Garden Rhapsody, Gardens By The Bay
A trip to Singapore isn’t complete without experiencing the mind blowing light and sound show at Supertree Grove. The mesmerizing 15 minute, futuristic performance is reminiscent of another world, with giant man made trees towering up to 50 metres in the sky! Not only is this impressive spectacle completely FREE but it’s also eco friendly! Each tree is powered by solar panels which fuel them up to come alive at night. Whilst the light show takes place twice a night (7:45pm and 8:45pm), the 128 metre long Skywalk between the trees is open all day (entrance is 8 SGD per person).
Fun Fact: Over 158,000 plants have been planted on the 18 Supertrees!
Our Recommendation
Visit the Grove at night in order to catch the light show. As one of the more popular of the top sights in Singapore, it can get pretty crowded therefore it’s worth getting there at least 15 minutes beforehand. We found that the best view came from lying or sitting on the floor below the trees. To complete a perfect evening filled with light and sound, combine this with a visit to Spectra – A Light and Water Show at Marina Bay. By attending the 7:45pm show at Supertree Grove you are able to slowly wander over to Marina Bay to catch the 9pm Spectra show.
Getting There
Take MRT to Bayfront, use Exit B and follow the underground linkway. If staying central it's an easy walk.
2. Eat at a Hawker Centre
Live like a local and dine at one of the many budget friendly Hawker Centres dotted around the city streets. The open air food courts offer a variety of traditional dishes and often for only a few dollars a plate! Locally cooked street food is served from colourful kiosks, donning images of their compact but exquisite menus. Try the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice, freshly cooked before your eyes, or watch the vendor freshly squeeze your sugarcane juice.
Fun Fact: The world’s cheapest Michelin starred meal can be found at Hawker Chan in the Chinatown Food Complex. The Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle dish comes in at only 2 SGD!
Our Recommendation
We recommend some of the following Hawker Centres and dishes:
- Maxwell Food Centre (Hainanese Chicken Rice 4 SGD, Lime Juice 1.20 SGD)
- Tiong Bahru Market (Roast Duck and Rice 3 SGD, Fresh Lime Juice 1.50 SGD)
- Lau Pa Sat (Hainanese Chicken Rice 7 SGD, Kopi 1 SGD, Carrot Cake Black 3 SGD)
3. Raffles Long Bar
Step back in time to the birthplace of the iconic Singapore Sling, Raffles Long Bar. Upon arrival you are greeted with 1920s Malayan style decor and a floor surprisingly covered with monkey nut shells! It’s definitely the only place in Singapore where littering is encouraged! Enjoy a sip of Singapore’s National Drink and sweep the nut shells from the table whilst being cooled by 20th century fans from above. There may not be a dress code but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap, a Singapore Sling here will set you back about 30 SGD!
Fun Fact: The Singapore Sling was created in 1915 at Raffles Hotel. Created to look like fruit juice, it was designed to allow ladies to consume alcohol in public.
Our Recommendation
A favourite in our top sights in Singapore and something everyone who visits should experience. Even though there’s no official dress code (there were people in shorts and flip flops) we felt it made the evening more special to dress up, especially when paying those prices! Also for those who don’t drink (like Eve) opt for the Teetotaller’s Sling.
Getting There
Take MRT to City Hall, from here it's less than a 5 minute walk.
4. Spectra - A Light and Water Show
The state of the art outdoor extravaganza will give you goosebumps as it transports you through history, exploring Singapore’s journey to becoming the cosmopolitan city it is today. Through a medium of projections, lasers, water and glass and carefully choreographed to an orchestral soundtrack, the 15 minute performance is an emotional experience for all who attend. The FREE spectacle shows at 8 PM and 9 PM every day, with an additional 10 PM show on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fun Fact: During the performance a 12 metre high glass and steel prism immersed in the bay, bursts into life.
Our Recommendation
It’s worth watching this show twice, once from the viewing point outside Marina Bay Sands and the other from the opposite side of the bay. Enjoy the light show for a second time with a Singapore Sling at one of the many bars and restaurants on the opposite side of the bay. When sitting in the viewing area at Marina Bay, head down to the wooden decking to watch. There are a few benches here and it’s away from the main seating area.
Getting There
Take MRT to Bayfront, the seating area is along the bay near the shopping centre entrance.
5. Night Safari, Singapore Zoo
Explore the mysterious night-time jungle and discover what animals get up to after dark in the Worlds 1st Nocturnal Zoo. This is a unique experience where you can get up close to elephants, hyaenas, sloth bears, tigers and more. Catch the lions at feeding time, ride the tram around the park, follow one of the four walking trails or attend one of the shows throughout the night. Strolling around the zoo after dark, surrounded by tropical forest and listening to the nocturnal animals come to life is one of the more unique and memorable experiences of our top sights in Singapore.
Top Tip: The Night Safari is a flash free zoo to help protect the nocturnal animals. Be prepared to not get a single good photo but that’s ok, take time away from your camera and enjoy the experience.
Our Recommendation
If you’re keen to watch the live shows, make sure to plan your evening around the timing of them. Whilst most visitors start by walking the Fishing Cat trail we chose to walk anti-clockwise and start with the Wallaby Trail (after having done the tram ride first), which proved to be much quieter. We booked our tickets through Klook which saved us some money!
Getting There
Take MRT to Khatib, from there take the Mandai Khatib Shuttle for 1 SGD to the Singapore Zoo.
6. Macritchie Treetop Walk
There’s more to Singapore than it’s futuristic cityscape. It’s easy to forget that it’s surrounded by lush, tropical jungle and exotic wildlife. The Treetop Walk allows visitors to immerse themselves in the jungle and witness the wild side of the immaculate city. Suspended 25 metres above the forest floor, the freestanding bridge spans 250 metres and connects the two highest points in Macritchie, Bukit Kalang and Bukit Pierce. Approximately 7 km, the trail is a one way loop and took us just over 2 hours to complete. Although some say to allow for up to 4 hours. With the opportunity to view creatures such as Tree Snakes, Pangolins, Monitor Lizards, Macaques and Giant Ants in their natural habitats, this trail offers great respite from the glitz and glamour of busy city life.
Top Tip: Keep all food zipped away tightly, the Macaques are cheeky monkeys and will try to steal and beg for food. Don’t feed them!
Our Recommendation
Set off early for this hike, it can take a while to get to the trailhead from the city. The humidity hits you when you enter the forest, so be sure to take plenty of water and insect repellent, you’ll sweat it off in no time! Check the trail opening times before you visit, it’s closed on Mondays and last entry is 4:45pm.
Getting There
Take the bus (52, 132, 163, 166, 167, 855, or 980) get off at the ESSO station. From there walk to Macritchie Treetop Car Park, Venus Drive, (5 minute walk) the trailhead is well signposted from there.
7. Lazarus Island
Singapore’s best kept secret (SHHH). Rewarding visitors with tranquillity, seclusion, clear blue waters and velvety sand, the island is reminiscent of a travel brochure paradise. The beach is the perfect place to relax and is far flung from the crowds and screaming children of Sentosa. The island has a fascinating history, previously being both a cholera quarantine and drug rehabilitation centre. With only two ferry journeys a day during the week, it’s likely you’ll have the beach to yourself! A return ferry trip costs 18 SGD, which for a day out on a private tropical beach, is definitely worth it!
Top Tip: The ferry booth only takes cash or NETS so be sure to bring enough!
Our Recommendation
It’s the perfect place to take a picnic and relax reading a book. There’s no sand flies although there are a few other bugs, so don’t forget to pack insect repellent! Also make sure to be prepared as there’s no facilities (toilets, shops or bins) on Lazarus Island. The nearest toilets are on St John’s Island, back over the bridge. We recommend going on a week day for a peaceful and therapeutic experience. Check the ferry schedule here. If you miss the last boat you’ll either have to pay for a private charter or wait until the following day!
Although it’s not perfect…
Sadly no where is safe from global pollution and like many other beautiful beaches, Lazarus Island has also fallen victim. With some beaches covered in a blanket of plastic bottles it’s a sad sight to see. Please care for this secret gem by carrying out your own beach clean, not only will it help keep the beaches beautiful but it will also help save local marine life. Travel blogs often to focus on the positives and brush past the negatives. We only wish we had known before our visit as we could have brought bags for our own clean up.
Getting There
Take MRT to Marina South Pier, Exit B, purchase your ticket at the pier and board the ferry to St John's Island (15 minute journey). From here cross the bridge to Lazarus Island (10 minute walk)
8. Selfie Coffee, Haji Lane
Tucked down the hipster Haji Lane is a quirky coffee shop where vanity exists on a whole new level. From 11 AM – 10 PM you can grab your drink of choice topped with your own face. Take a selfie on the coffee shop device but be sure to have your best pose ready as there’ll likely be a chain of others lining up behind you. Whilst you’re there, explore the surrounding boutiques and hip shops. Popular with the young and fashionable, Haji Lane is a great place to hang out and grab that Selfie Coffee.
Top Tip: If you want to keep your precious face from fading, the printed photo lasts longer on cold drinks rather than hot.
Our Recommendation
This isn’t one of the traditional top sights in Singapore but it’s a fun and unique experience. Who else do you know that can say they got their face printed on a takeaway coffee?! We opted for a banana and chocolate frappe, perfect for strolling down Haji Lane in the stifling heat!
Getting There
Take MRT to Bugis Station, Haji lane is less than a 5 minute walk away.
9. Cloud Forest, Gardens By The Bay
Shrouded beneath a layer of mist is the highlight of Gardens by the Bay, the world’s highest indoor waterfall and Singapore’s floral ‘mountain’. The 30 metre high waterfall is fused into the side of a 35 metre mound of exotic and lush vegetation. Offering a refreshing break from the outdoor heat, the huge dome is filled with diverse, curious and colourful plants. With displays on the unique biodiversity within the dome and information on the geology of cloud forests, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the environmental threats that they face. Entry is usually 28 SGD for entry to both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, book through this link to get up to 20% off.
Fun Fact: The huge dome is made up of 2577 glass panels!
Our Recommendation
This breathtaking and mysterious ‘mountain’ is a great add-on to any trip to Gardens By The Bay. This could be combined with seeing the Garden Rhapsody in the evening at Supertree Grove. It may be refreshing stepping from the heat into the dome, but if you feel the cold, it might be an idea to pack a light jacket. Additionally, if you’re prone to hay fever, be sure to take antihistamines before visiting.
Getting There
Take MRT to Bayfront and use Exit B, follow the underground linkway towards Gardens By The Bay.
10. Merlion Park
Stop by the iconic lion-fish hybrid at Merlion Park. The 70 tonne statue stands 8.6 metres high and looks over the luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The fish tail symbolises Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village whilst the lion head represents Singapore’s original name, ‘Singapura’, which translates to Lion City. Nearby is the Merlion Cub statue, much smaller in scale but still worth checking out.
Fun Fact: There are actually 7 Merlion Statues in Singapore, the tallest of which is 37 metres high! However, the Merlion and Cub at Merlion Park are the most well known and photographed.
Our Recommendation
This is a great stop for any budget traveller (it’s FREE) and is one of the more iconic top sights in Singapore. Why not include this stop whilst taking an evening stroll around Marina Bay or combine it with a River Bumboat Cruise.
Getting There
Take MRT to Raffles Place, it's a few minutes walk from there.
11. Sands SkyPark
Marina Bay Sands is an iconic landmark in Singapore. The SkyPark offers tourists a chance to visit the 57th floor and immerse themselves in the Singapore skyline. Enjoy the panoramic view over Marina Bay with a cocktail or cold beer. You’ll be able to see Supertree Grove light up 200 metres below however we did enjoy the show more from ground level. Unfortunately only those staying in the hotel can visit the pool and bar on the level above, but the SkyPark is still worth visiting.
Top Tip: Time your visit with sunset and watch one of the two light shows visible from above: Garden Rhapsody and Spectra.
Our Recommendation
Whilst the entrance fee may seem a little pricey, it’s the bar at the top that’s extortionate! It’s also worth noting that there’s no seating at the top, so be prepared to sit on the floor if you’re planning on staying for a while. We made the decision quite spontaneously, which meant tickets were full price. Klook have a great deal where you can save money and get the ticket straight to your phone, buy them here.
Getting There
Take MRT to Bayfront and head towards the hotel, where you take an escalator down the the lobby and kiosks.
12. Singapore River Bumboat Cruise
Once the main transport for commercial goods in Singapore, the Bumboats now tour visitors around the iconic waterways of Singapore. It’s a great chance for newcomers to relax and get their bearings before exploring the busy city streets. The 40 minute journey takes you past top sights in Singapore like the Merlion, Raffles’ landing site and Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Fun Fact: There are 13 different jetties, each of which have a ticket booth. You can start and end the cruise from any one of them. We jumped off opposite Marina Bay Sands to finish our evening with a cocktail whilst watching Spectra.
Our Recommendation
As with many of our excursions in Singapore, we booked our tickets through klook which worked out cheaper than buying them at the desk. If you plan where to start and finish the cruise in advance, you won’t have to skip any of the tour in order to get off at your desired stop (such as a cocktail bar on Marina Bay!)
Getting There
You can start the cruise from any of the 13 jetties. Click the icon to see a map.
13. Chinatown
A maze of narrow streets and souvenir shops, Singapore’s Chinatown is popular with both locals and tourists alike. As Singapore’s largest historic district, it’s no wonder that it’s popular with those looking to immerse themselves in local culture and traditions. Pay a visit to the districts Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, costing 75 Million SGD to set-up, the grand architecture is based on elements from the Tang Dynasty. The bustling district is also a great place to stop for some affordable hawker centre cuisine!
Fun Fact: There are actually two Chinatowns in Singapore, the Official Chinatown and the People’s Chinatown. The first is the most visited and popular with tourists, whilst the second is popular with locals and considered a closer representation to a traditional Chinatown.
Our Recommendation
This is one of the more well known top sights in Singapore however, we recommend only spending a few hours here. Unless you want to spend lots of time exploring souvenir shops, it’s probably worth moving on once you’ve visited the temples and wondered a few streets.
Getting There
Take MRT to Chinatown Station, the Heritage Centre (where you can get maps and information) is a short walk from there.
14. Little India
The lively, colourful neighbourhood of Little India is packed with local history and culture. Narrow lanes, vibrant buildings, historic temples and floral market stalls form one of Singapore’s smallest districts. Home to the 19th Century Abdul Gafoor Mosque and the instagrammable Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, it’s no surprise that the heritage centre is filled with information and activities for visitors. Whilst the aroma of incense and flowers follow you everywhere you go, it’s surprising to know that this area also happens to be one of the messiest in Singapore!
Top Tip: If you’re visiting between October and November, you might be lucky enough to see some Deepavali celebrations.
Our Recommendation
If visiting between October and November, we recommend visiting at night, the Deepavali celebrations will be in full swing and therefore the buildings lit up magnificently. We only spent a few hours here before making our way back to Marina Bay but there’s some great markets to explore and incredible food to try. Be aware that the narrow streets can get very cramped particularly in the arcade at night. This made our experience less enjoyable and resulted in us leaving earlier than expected.
Getting There
Take MRT to Little India, from here it's only a short walk to the main street.
We hope our list of top sights in Singapore has inspired you, you may have even discovered a new destination to add to your list. Don’t forget to check out our other guides and be sure to like the post if you found it helpful. If you’re planning a trip or have been to Singapore yourself, leave a comment below and let us know what your favourite sight was!
Thanks for reading,
Eve and Nick