Singapore: Top Things to Do, See & Eat

WELCOME TO THE SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE

I spent seven days in Singapore for work and had an amazing time exploring this diverse and beautiful city. From the Hawker Markets to the stunning Marina Bay Sands, from Gardens by the Bay to the iconic airport – Singapore has something for everyone!

Need to Know for Singapore:

Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Check conversion here

Language: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

Airports:

SIN – Singapore Changi

230 volts and 50 hertz, Type G, also known as the UK 3-pin plug

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation:

Location: Singapore is pretty small, you can get almost anywhere in the city within 30ish minute on public transit. I stayed in the Novena area since it was a little cheaper and still conveniently located. The Courtyard Marriott Novena worked out great. The top place to stay is the Marina area. People often recommend Marina Bay Sands, the Mandarin Oriental, and the Fullerton Hotel.

Airbnb vs. Hotel: Since I was traveling for work, I didn’t look at Airbnb options – but the hotels worked great.

Getting Around Singapore:

Trains and Buses: The public transportation in Singapore is awesome! It is easy to use and get around. You can use a contactless credit card to tap in and out of the trains and buses. You don’t need to get a specific transit card.

By Taxi: GRAB is the go-to app for ride hailing in Singapore. This works just like Lyft or Uber. There are also city taxis you can find pretty easily.

By Bicycle: There are tons of rental bikes scattered around Singapore. The two most common brands are AnyWheel and HelloRide. These are so convenient but make sure you park them in an authorized area. They’ll be marked with a yellow box and a QR code.

What to Do in Singapore

Hawker Centers

Lau Pa Sat: This is one of the most famous Hawker Centers in Singapore, centrally located with a massive indoor/outdoor dining set up. It is easy to be overwhelmed with the options in these markets – but you can hardly go wrong. The food is so freaking good. Check out this blog on some of the top stalls to try at Lau Pa Sat.

Newton Food Center: This was the Hawker Center closest to my hotel so I went there right when I landed in Singapore. Newton is known for its abundant seafood options. Since it was my first night, I was too excited to try satay so I just got that. You can check out this blog for more stalls to try.

East Coast Lagoon: I went here with my local friends which was amazing for trying new foods and sharing a bunch of dishes. We had sambal stingray, oyster omelette, satay, chicken wings, Hainanese chicken, cockles, and more! You have to try the sugar cane juice (with lemon!) and fresh coconuts.

These are some of the popular Hawker Centers – but you will find this style of restaurants all over Singapore, even in the malls! Usually they’re on the lowest floor of all the malls.

Parks & Hikes

MacRitchie Reservoir: This beautiful reservoir park is centrally located in the city. You can choose your own adventure here by taking a short stroll by the reservoir or hiking the whole 7.6 mile loop around the park. There is also a popular tree top walk in this park. I didn’t do the walk – but I’ve heard it highly recommended.

Singapore Botanic Gardens: I almost didn’t make time for this – but I sure am glad I did! The park itself is free to enter and explore. The park is huge and you will see people running, doing yoga, and enjoying the beautiful foliage. The park is famous for the National Orchid Garden where you have to pay $15 to enter. I took the MRT to the north entrance and then walked all the way down through the gardens.

Gardens by the Bay: This is more of a city park and famously home of the Supertrees (where they had their wedding reception in Crazy Rich Asians). I recommend grabbing an AnyRide bike and biking around the park – then walking through the park to the Supertrees. You can’t bike within the park and there are clean “No Cycling” signs. To get the best photos of the Supertrees – follow the instructions on this TikTok.

Neighborhoods to Explore

Chinatown: This famous Chinatown neighborhood is great for finding food like Hainanese chicken rice, noodles and satay. Grab some souvenirs from shops and indie boutiques with unique clothes, crafts and antiques. You can also check out Club Street full of trendy wine bars.

Tiong Bahru: Known for trendy cafes and cute shops – spend a morning roaming around Tiong Bahru. I grabbed brunch at TIANN’s, a gluten free cafe with Kaya Butter Toast, and then shopped around and bought gifts at Cat Socrates.

Little India: Singapore has a large and vibrant Indian community – which really shines in Little India. You’ll find any kind of Indian food you are looking for, along with markets, clothing stores, and more. I also recommend stopping by Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.

Kampong Glam: Visit the middle eastern neighborhood of Singapore, marked by the iconic Sultan Mosque. This area is known for great food, lots of souvenir shops, and the colorful Haji Lane.

Top Attractions

Cloud Forest & Flower Dome: These two attractions are located in Gardens by the Bay. The entrance to each is around $20 USD, but you can also get a combo ticket for a discount if you want to visit both. I visited the Cloud Forest and it was stunning! It is filled with tropical plants and you go way up high onto an elevated walkway to explore the whole forest winding down.

Marina Bay Sands: This is the most iconic building in Singapore – three skyscrapers with a cantilever extended over the top, home to a stunning infinity pool. In the MBS building there is a mall, restaurant, expo center, and more. You can buy a ticket to go to the very top and explore the view points. Only hotel guests are allowed to swim in the infinity pool. See my experiences list for my favorite MBS rooftop hack!

Spectra Light Show: Spectra – A Light & Water Show happens every night in the harbor in front of Marina Bay Sands. Come check out this free 15 minute show every night at 8 & 9 pm on weekdays and 8, 9, & 10 pm on weekends.

The Jewel: Another icon of Singapore – the Jewel is a giant indoor waterfall at the Changi Airport. The Jewel is on the landside of the airport, meaning you don’t have to go through security to get to it. It is located in a big mall attached to the airport. If you are on the airside – you can only see it on the tram, so it is a limited view.

Top Eats & Experiences in Singapore

Rooftop Drink at Spago This is a great way to spend time at the top of the iconic MBS. Make a reservation at Spago Bar & Lounge to enjoy a drink with a stunning view of the city. The minimum charge per person is around $30 USD - which is about the same as the rooftop access ticket, so this is a little hack to get the same views with a drink!

Afternoon Tea at The Landing Point I had an amazing afternoon tea at The Landing Point - the bar and restaurant at the Fullerton Hotel. They were able to accommodate a full gluten free tea (with advanced reservation) with a stunning view of MBS. I'd highly recommend this experience.

Bike Along East Coast Park Grab a HelloRide or anywheel and bike along the coast in East Coast Park for beautiful views. After your ride, you can grab sugarcane juice from the East Coast Park Hawker Center.

Try a Singapore Sling at Long Bar Head to this famous bar in the Raffles Hotel to try out Singapore's signature cocktail - the Singapore Sling. This British era bar is known for their cocktail shaker contraption and throwing peanut shells on the ground.

See the Skyline from a Bumboat You can catch one of these little boats from the Clark Quay Jetty or the Merilon Terminal. The city is so beautiful in the evening and you can enjoy the view on a little cruise.

Try Durian Fruit Known for its distinctive smell (something between feet and rotting garbage), Singapore is known for this fruit. The inside is a creamy/custardy texture that can be sweet or stinky.