9 Things You Must Do in Singapore
Singapore is full of trendy streets, great shopping malls, high class restaurants and a unique man-made park, proving itself to be much more than a transit destination! On my last trip to the country, I only had 24 hours to see, do and taste as much as I could. While Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in the world, there are still a lot of things to do that won’t break the bank or won’t cost anything at all!
Here’s what I recommend:
Marina Bay Sands
Ask anyone going to Singapore and they’ll tell you how they must get a photo of themselves in the infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel! The top floor has the best views of Singapore, overlooking the harbour and Gardens by the Bay.
Pro tip: While the pool is only accessible to hotel guests (and it’s at least $500 NZD per night!), anyone is welcome to the rooftop bars and restaurants right next to the pool. For just $20, you can take the elevator all the way up to the SkyDeck for the same view!
Helix Bridge
Connecting the Marina Centre with the Marina South, the Helix Bridge is pretty unique as it has a DNA-like design. During the day, it gets pretty busy with locals crossing the river, exercising and tourists snapping photos.
Little India
I’ve never been to India, but I can imagine it’s hot, busy and colourful, just like Singapore’s Little India. Full of street vendors selling fruit and vegetables, stores overflowing with saris, Indian street food and spice shops, Little India is one of the most multicultural neighbourhoods in the city. Plus, photos in front of Tan Teng Niah (the colourful building in my photos) look great on Instagram!
Haji Lane
The creative area of Singapore, Haji Lane is one of the only places in Singapore that allows graffiti. Enjoy the streets, cafes and take some Instagrammable shots! Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit Haji Lane on my most recent trip to Singapore, but it’s on my list for next time!
ArtScience Museum
Resembling a lotus flower, the ArtScience Museum offers more than your typical museum! A lot of the exhibitions are interactive, making it fun for everyone of all ages.
The prices to enter ArtScience Museum depends on what exhibitions you’re interested in. For ticketing info, check out the ArtScience Museum website.
Merlion Park
For the best unobstructed view of the harbour and Marina Bay Sands is at Merlion Park! The Merlion is the symbol for tourism in Singapore, and is the combination of a lion and a fish. The fish symbolises the country’s origins as a fishing village and the lion head represents Singapore’s original name – Singapura – meaning “lion city”.
China Town
Beautiful temples, cheap souvenirs, knock offs and durian food stalls are all part of China Town, one of the busiest areas in Singapore. Order a plate of Carrot Cake (no, it’s not cake, nor are there any carrots) and sugar cane juice while checking out the shops!
Cloud Forest & Flower Dome @ Gardens By The Bay
Enter an indoor forest filled with orchids, ferns and some of the rarest plants and flowers in the world! The Flower Dome is where you’ll find plants found in more dry locations, whereas the Cloud Forest is cooler in temperature and is home to the largest indoor waterfall at 35-meters high!
Pro tip: The Cloud Forest is such a popular Instagram photo op spot that it gets super busy during the day. Make sure you arrive when they open for your best chance at having the Dome all to yourself! Tickets for both conservatories cost approx. $28 NZD.
Supertree Grove @ Gardens By The Bay
Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s “City in a Garden” vision, mixing nature with a man made mechanical forest consisting of 18 Supertrees that generate solar power and collect rain water. Two of the trees are connected by a bridge, called the ” OCBC Skyway” for visitors to get a better view of the gardens. Best of all: it’s free to walk around the Supertree Grove, but it costs $8 NZD if you want to walk along the Skyway.
Pro tip: Every night at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, the Supertree Grove puts on a stunning light and music show, known as the Garden Rhapsody! Don’t miss it!