This city is one of those places that everyone who visits love. Or at least I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t enjoy their visit. It’s clean, safe, beautiful, and there is an abundance of things to do in Singapore. In fact, I have been there twice and still haven’t seen everything I want to see!
Whether you’re travelling alone, with kids or with your other half, you’ll find some incredible things to do in Singapore for every type of traveller.
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Here’s our top picks for the best things to do in Singapore:
Things to do in Singapore with kids
There are so many fun things to do in Singapore with kids. And we’re not just talking about the little ones. Even if you’ve left the kids behind, these things are just as fun for you big kids.
Visit Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island is located off the south coast of Singapore. With theme parks, sandy beaches, rainforests and award-winning spas, our picks of the top things to do in Sentosa for kids are:
- Take a cable car out to the island for an extra special experience. You’ll get a birds-eye view of Singapore from up in the cable cars. If heights aren’t your thing, you can always take the train instead.
- One of the most popular activities at Sentosa is Universal Studios. Prepare to spend an entire day to get the best out of Universal Studios, with 7 zones and almost 30 rides covering 20 hectares of land. Travel from Ancient Greece to New York to Madagascar in just one day. You can book your tickets here.
- Get up close and personal with over 20,000 tropical fish at Adventure Cove Waterpark and enjoy 16 different attractions with 7 adrenaline inducing rides.
- S.E.A. Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world and houses over 100,000 aquatic animals, including 200 different types of sharks! The aquarium is known to teach children the impact that humans have on sea life. Book your tickets here.
Jurassic Mile at Changi Airpot
It’s no surprise that Changi Airport is known as the world’s best airport, and this is just another reason it makes the cut.
Located along the Changi Airport connector is Jurassic Mile, home to 20 different types of pre-historic creatures from nine different species – from carnivorous to herbivorous, those that fly and of course the infamous T-Rex. You’ll also see giant dinosaur eggs! The tallest dinosaur at Jurassic Mile stands at an incredible five meters tall.
Breakfast with the animals at Singapore Zoo
Show your little ones an extra special zoo experience – having breakfast with the animals at Singapore Zoo!
You’ll start your breakfast while the zoo staff bring out some of the animals to join you. You’ll have photo opportunities before going to explore the rest of the zoo.
There are only a certain number of tickets available for the breakfast so be sure to book in advance before your trip.
Things to do in Singapore at night
During the day, Singapore is a city like many others: traffic, business meetings and shopping. But the city comes to life at night with its vibrant light shows and an abundance of entertainment. Here are our favourite things to do in Singapore at night:
Stroll around Clarke Quay
Situated on the banks of Singapore River, Clarke Quay, which was once a major trading port, is now full of waterside restaurants, bars and clubs, repurposed from old storage facilities and warehouses.
The best time to visit Clarke Quay is from dusk to night, where the area comes to life with live music and entertainment. Happy hour is from 5pm to 7pm!
For those looking for adrenaline pumping activities, check out the G-Mex Adrenaline Bungy! Those who dare will be shot through the air over the river at speeds of 200km!
Singapore Night Safari
One of the most desirable things to do in Singapore for tourists is the award winning Singapore Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal zoo.
Unlike other zoos where nocturnal animals are sleeping during the day when you visit, here you’ll have the unique experience of seeing how 130 different species of 2500 nocturnal animals spend their waking hours at night.
It’s tricky to get a good photo here as the zoo is a flash free zone (and rightly so!), so leave the cameras at your hotel, put your phone away and get up close and personal with the animals on the walking trails.
Because the tour starts at night, all guests arrive at the same time. So I recommend you book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues at the ticket booth.
Have a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel
If you know anything about cocktails, chances are you’ve heard of a Singapore Sling. This fruity, refreshing gin cocktail was originally concocted in Longs Bar in Singapore’s Raffles Hotel. This contraption is how your Singapore Sling is made!
Long’s Bar is not only famous for its Singapore Sling, but also for having peanut shells covering the floor. Each patron is given a bowl of peanuts when they arrive and it is customary to throw your shells on the floor. This was a major problem for my mum, who created a neat bundle of shells at the corner of the table – which I immediately flung on the floor. When in Rome!
Spectra Light & Water Show
This free nightly extravaganza of dancing fountains, lasers and visual projections takes place at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza.
Some of the restaurants at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel have a view if eating outside, but you’ll have a fantastic view from across the river at Merlion Park or find a quiet spot along the river bank.
Alternatively, if you stay at a hotel which looks out onto the river, you’ll have a spectacular uninterrupted view of the show from your balcony. Our choice is the Park Royal Collection Marina Bay.
Things to do in Singapore for couples
Singapore is a city of romance, with both man-made and natural beauty. Travelling here with a loved one, you’ll find an array of things to do in Singapore for couples.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
If you can afford to do so, stay a night at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and enjoy a cocktail together, lazing in the incredible rooftop infinity pool. Only guests are allowed to access the infinity pool.
If not staying there, you can still purchase tickets to the Observation Deck for stunning skyline views.
Have a romantic dinner on the Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is Asia’s largest observation wheel (soon to be overtaken by Ain Dubai).
For a romantic date with a gorgeous view, book either a private pod or a shared pod and indulge in a 5 star experience with a four course meal throughout two rotations of the Flyer (60 minutes).
Book your romantic Singapore Flyer dinner here.
River bumboat cruise
It may not sound the most romantic (or maybe it does…?), but the bumboat is Singapore’s historical river boat cruise, originally used to carry cargo and goods for trade.
The cruise is called ‘Tale of Two Quays’ – Boat Quay and Clarke Quay and lasts for 40 minutes. You’ll learn about Singapore’s rich history and witness the phenomenal architecture along the river bank.
Have a drink at 1-Altitude Rooftop Bar
Take in the best view Singapore has to offer at 1-Altitude’s rooftop bar, rising almost 300 meters above the hustle and bustle of the city.
Given its popularity, you will need to pre-book your tickets before visiting.
Read also: The Best Time To Visit Singapore: Weather, Shopping & Festival Guides
Things to do in Singapore on your own
Obviously, there is nothing stopping you from doing absolutely all of the above if you travel to Singapore alone. We even highly recommend it! But for a few other options, here are our top picks of things to do in Singapore on your own.
Wander through Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a phenomenal urban nature park created in 2012 as part of a government strategy to turn Singapore’s ‘Garden City’ into a ‘City in a Garden’.
It sits by the Marina Bay Waterfront and consists of three gardens: Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central.
The Bay South Garden is home to the iconic Super Trees, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest Dome and is one of the most popular things to do in Singapore for tourists.
The Bay East Garden, the second largest of the gardens, provides a green area of tranquility and respite away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and offers a stunning view of the Singapore skyline.
Bay Central Garden links the other two gardens and has a 3km waterfront promenade for jogging or strolling and enjoying the wonderful views of the city.
Book your tickets for Gardens by the Bay here.
Take a segway tour
What a more fun way to see the city than hopping on a segway! Join a group tour and get to know others, or just enjoy zooming around the Marina and taking in the sights.
Big Bus Tour
This is one of our favourite things to do in any city when short on time. Learn about Singapore’s history and architecture and if you have time, hop off at various stops to get a closer view and take photos. As soon as the next bus comes along, hop back on to see more!
National Gallery Singapore
Get lost for a day in the world’s largest public display of modern art in Southeast Asia at the National Gallery Singapore in the Downtown Core District.
While there is an entrance fee, once inside you can expect to find free guided tours, lectures and talks from artists. The gallery also provides a creative learning experience for art students.
Book tickets to the National Gallery Singapore
Enjoy a concert at Theatre by the Bay
The award winning Theatre by the Bay sits on the Marina Bay waterfront and offers an unforgettable live theatre experience.
Once just a pop up tent, Theatre by the Bay is now an iconic building which hosts musicals, concerts, Shakespeare and sometimes even free theatre events here.
Things to do in Singapore for nature lovers
It may be a city, but sometimes in Singapore you can feel as though you are deep within a forest or jungle, and yet only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll love these nature inspired things to do in Singapore.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a tropical garden located close to the busy shopping area of Orchard Road.
Incredibly, the Gardens are just one of three gardens in the world to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Some of the many attractions you’ll find at Singapore Botanic Gardens are:
- Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
- National Orchid Garden
- Healing Garden
- Ginger Garden
- Ethnobotany Garden
- Evolution Garden
- Swan Lake
Jurong Bird Park
Jurong Bird Park is home to over 400 species of birds, 20% of which are endangered. Bird lovers will be in heaven here with over 3500 nocturnal birds, flightless birds, water birds and even penguins!
You must book your visit date online before going to the bird park.
Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is a hilltop landmark located on the southeast of Singapore. Trail guides are available so you can explore the nine gardens of the park at your own pace.
- Spice Garden
- Armenian Street Park
- Pancur Larangan
- Raffles Garden
- Jubilee Park
- Artisan’s Garden
- Sang Nila Utama Garden
- Farquhar Garden
- First Botanic Garden
Some evenings you may be lucky enough to witness their Shakespeare in the Park or Ballet Under the Stars shows!
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Trek through winding trails on Singapore’s highest hill, standing at 163 meters high, at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
The reserve has one of the richest and most diverse ecological systems, given it’s close proximity to the equator. You will see an incredible variety of animal, insect and plant life here. In fact, a hectare-plot of land in the Reserve contains more tree species than all of North America!
Places to visit in Singapore for free
It may be the most expensive city in the world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t places to visit in Singapore for free (or at least, cheap).
Visit a Temple
Singapore is incredibly inclusive of different religions and has numerous temples for each of them in the city. One of the best things to do in Singapore for free is to visit some of their many temples. Our picks are:
- Sri Mariamman Temple is located in Chinatown and is Singapore’s oldest Hindu Temple.
- Tooth Relic Temple is also located in Chinatown and is a place of worship for Buddhists.
- Thian Hock Feng is a temple built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess
Merlion Park
One of the most popular things to do in Singapore for tourists is to visit Merlion Park on the banks of the Singapore River.
The Merlion is one of the city’s most iconic statutes and weighs a whopping 70 tonnes! It has the body of a fish and the head of a lion. The fish body represents Singapore’s origin as a fishing village and the lion head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, meaning ‘Lion City’.
If you’re there at night, you’ll get to witness the incredible water and light show over at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Window shop on Orchard Road
Orchard Road is Singapore’s largest shopping district. You’ll find everything from discount stores to high end fashion boutiques along Orchard Road. There is also an abundance of restaurants, cafes and hotels along this 2.5km road.
Even if you’re not willing to part with your hard earned cash, Orchard Road is definitely worth a stroll down, even just to window shop.
Treetop Walk
The Treetop Walk is located in the largest reserve and the first of its kind in Singapore. Part of the adventure is hiking a 6km trail (moderate difficulty) and arriving at a 250m free-standing suspension bridge which is connected to the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie and offers an incredible views of the forest.
The Treetop Walk is free for all visitors and will take around 2-3 hours to hike.
Waterfall & Butterfly Gardens at Changi Airport
Yet another reason to LOVE Changi Airport is for the indoor waterfall and butterfly gardens. I suggest you head to the airport a little earlier than you need to in order to experience these.
The Rain Vortex is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. It is 7 stories high (or 40 meters) and pumps a whopping 500,000 liters of rainwater down onto a climate controlled indoor forest in the airport.
The Butterfly Garden is located at Terminal 3 and has over 1000 butterflies over two stories of lush greenery. You never in a million years would think you were in an airport when in these tranquil gardens.
Conclusion
As you will see from the above, if you’re looking for things to do in Singapore for yourself or for your family, there is a multitude to choose from. Whether you’re a nature love, adrenaline junkie or like to chill in a garden or cruising down a river, you’ll always find something to do in Singapore.
Do you have any ideas of things to do in Singapore that weren’t on this list? I’d love to hear from you if you do!
this is such a complete post, I absolutely adore it. The cable car looks INSANE.
Singapore looks so amazing! Its been on my bucket list for so long! So when I eventually get round to going ill definitely be coming back to this! Bukit Timah Nature Reserve looks absolutely amazing – sounds like somewhere I’d love! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Charley, Singapore really is amazing. I hope you get there soon!
The animal encounters on this list look really fun. I love the idea of a night zoo. Thanks for the ideas!
Thanks Paula!
Amazing place to visit. I haven’t been to Singapore but would love to visit it if things get better this year. Thank you for sharing!
I hope you do get to go soon, fingers crossed for this year. It’s such a lovely place, you’ll love it!
I had no clue just how many things could be done – which sounds really silly. I think I’ve got COVID Stockholm Syndrome! I’d love to go Singapore and try out their beaches!
Rosie
Haha Covid Stockholm Syndrome!! Brilliant! Definitely recommend a visit. There is so much to do there, you won’t be disappointed.
I haven’t been to Singapore for quite a long time. I kinda miss Singapore. Thank you for sharing this post with me.
I’ve been twice and really don’t see myself ever getting sick of going. I even considered moving there!
Singapore has been on my list for so long and really can’t wait to visit when it will be safe! The night safari sounds like a unique experience to try! I love that the city is a mix of green, old and new structures. the Botanical Garden and Gardens by the bay are going surely on my list! Thank you so much for sharing x
Thanks Cristina! I absolutely loved Gardens By The Bay, such a unique experience to see in the middle of a city. I hope you get there soon!
Singapore looks amazing! I won’t lie I don’t have kids but I went straight to the section for things to do with a kids because I’m a massive child at heart haha! I absolutely love cable cars so was so excited to see that and I never knew they had a universal studios! There honestly isn’t anything in this that doesn’t sounds amazing. It’s crazy to me treat there’s even so much to do at the airport! Would also love to do the treetop walk, this post has out Singapore right at the top of my travel list!
Haha I did all the kids stuff when I was there! Although, when I did the cable car it was in the middle of a thunderstorm which was kinda scary. Their airport is definitely the best I’ve ever seen. I specifically left for the airport early so I could spend time there!