Welcome to Singapore! Known to many as the “Little Red Dot”, Singapore is a bustling cosmopolitan city. The city offers a vibrant multicultural experience that is hardly found anywhere else in the world! Singapore has a unique mix of culture and heritage where people of different ethnicities and beliefs co-exist in harmony. If this is your first trip and you only have a few days to spare, here are some of the best Singapore attractions and top places to visit in Singapore! Have fun!
Best Singapore Attractions
1. Sentosa Island
Located just 15 minutes from the city, Sentosa offers an exciting array of themed attractions, award-winning spa retreats, golden sandy beaches, resort accommodations and much more! Do be prepared to spend an entire day visiting the various island attractions excluding Universal Studios Singapore.
Website: www.sentosa.com.sg | Getting there: Getting To Sentosa | Opening Hours: 9am to 10pm Daily | Admission Fees: Ticket Options | READ MORE
2. Universal Studios Singapore
Experience movies real life at Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa! Being the region’s first Hollywood movie theme park, see your favourite movie characters in real life and enjoy blockbuster movie-themed rides unique to Singapore!
Website: UniversalStudiosSingapore | Getting There: Getting To Universal Studios Singapore | Opening Hours: 10am to 7pm Daily | Admission Fees: Ticket Options | READ MORE
3. Singapore Zoo, River Safari & Night Safari
Since 1973, Singapore Zoo has been known for having one of the most beautiful wildlife park settings in the world where animals roam freely in open and naturalistic habitats. This 26-hectare wildlife park is nestled within the lush Mandai rainforest that stretches into the magnificent Upper Seletar Reservoir. More than 2,800 animals representing over 300 species of mammals, birds and reptiles call Singapore Zoo home. While you are there, you may want to check out their River Safari as well as Night Safari.
Website: www.zoo.com.sg | Getting There: Getting To The Zoo | Opening Hours: 8.30am to 6pm (Zoo), 9am to 6pm (River Safari) & 7.30pm to 12 Midnight (Night Safari) | Admission Fees: Ticket Options | READ MORE
4. Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is located along the Marina Bay waterfront. It features three cascading hotel towers with 2,560 rooms, topped by the extraordinary Sands SkyPark, ‘floating’ crystal pavilions, a lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum, retail stores featuring cutting-edge labels and international luxury brands, trendy Celebrity Chef restaurants, endless entertainment at the theatres and the hottest night clubs.
Website: www.marinabaysands.com | Getting There: Getting To Marina Bay Sands | Opening Hours: 9.30am to 7pm (Sky Park) | Admission Fees: None | READ MORE
Top Places To Visit
5. Gardens By The Bay
Spanning 101 hectares, this award-winning horticultural attraction houses over 380 thousand plants and is just a five-minute walk from the city. The Gardens comprises three spaces—Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. From the waterfront promenade, enjoy an amazing view of the Marina Bay financial district skyline. The grounds are perfect for an evening stroll and a picnic with loved ones.
Website: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg | Getting There: Getting To The Gardens | Opening Hours: Admission Hours | Admission Fees: Ticket Options | READ MORE
6. Merlion Park
Located beside the picturesque One Fullerton and commanding a breathtaking view of the Marina Bay, Merlion Park is home to the 8.6 metre-tall, water-spouting Merlion and her cub. The whimsical lion-headed, fish-tailed sculpture has been iconic to both locals and visitors since it was erected in the 1960s. On 15 September 1972, the park was officially opened at an installation ceremony of the statue, officiated by then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Address: One Fullerton, Singapore 049213 | Getting There: Raffles Place MRT Station | Opening Hours: Always Open | Admission Fees: None
7. Haw Par Villa
Tucked away in Pasir Panjang, amongst the Universities, the shipyards and offices, lies a plot of land filled with magical creatures. The stuff of folklore and mythology. A place where the Monkey god rubs shoulders with lady liberty and the 7 courts of hell are in constant procession (only during office hours). I am talking about Haw Par Villa of course. The former house and grounds of a wealthy Burmese businessman who made his fortune through an Ointment that has become famous the world over.
Address: 262 Pasir Panjang Road Singapore 118628 | Getting There: Haw Par Villa MRT Station | Opening Hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm | Admission Fees: None | READ MORE
8. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is a Tang-Styled Chinese Buddhist Temple in the heart of Chinatown. The temple features many facets of Buddhist arts and culture of Singapore. It also houses what the Buddhists regard as the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic in a stupa weighing 3.5 tonnes and composed of 320 kg of gold donated by devotees.
Website: www.btrts.org.sg | Address: 288 South Bridge Road Singapore 058840 | Getting There: Chinatown MRT Station | Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm Daily | Admissions Fees: None
9. Singapore Botanical Gardens
A visit to Singapore would not be complete without seeing the grandeur of the internationally renowned Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: www.sbg.org.sg | Getting There: Getting To The Gardens | Opening Hours: 5am to 12 Midnight | Admission Fees: None | READ MORE
10. Fort Canning Hill
To many, mention Fort Canning Hill and they would think of it as a lush green space for outdoor concerts and Wedding photos. But look deeper into it’s corridors and walls and you’ll realise that this park is much more than that. The “Forbidden hill”(as it was known in Malay) is a cemetery, a reservoir and is home to a lighthouse amongst other things.
Address: River Valley Road Singapore 179037 | Getting There: Clarke Quay MRT Station | Opening Hours: 7am to 7pm | Admission Fees: None | READ MORE
11. Mount Faber
Mount Faber located near the Bukit Merah planning area in the Central Region is about 105 metres (344 ft) in height. It overlooks the Telok Blangah area and the western parts of the Central Area. The summit is accessible by road, but there are many footpaths leading up the hill. A frequent tourist destination, it provides a panoramic view of the increasingly dense central business district within the Central Area. Its slope includes a tower that is part of the Singapore cable car system that connects to HarbourFront and Sentosa.
Website: www.faberpeaksingapore.com | Getting There: Getting To Mount Faber | Opening Hours: 8.45am to 10pm Daily | Admission Fees: None | READ MORE
12. Singapore Flyer
For some of the best views of the city, be it during the day or in the evening, head to the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel at 165 metres tall. As you make your way up, you’ll be treated to breathtaking 360-degree views of the city. Have some fun during the journey and see if you can spot iconic and historical landmarks along the Singapore River and surrounding areas.
Website: www.singaporeflyer.com | Getting There: Getting To Singapore Flyer | Opening Hours: 8.30am to 10.30pm Daily | Admission Fees: Flight Options
If you are looking to chill out over beer & wine in the evening, check out my post on Top 10 Bars With The Best View In Singapore and The Best Roof Top Bars In Singapore.
