Things to Do in Singapore, Singapore
Asia's Gleaming City-State — Gardens, Hawker Stalls, and a Skyline Like No Other
- Average daily budget
- $80–$180/day
- Currency
- Singapore Dollar (SGD)
- Language
- English / Malay / Mandarin / Tamil
- Best for
- Food, Families, Shopping, Architecture
About Singapore
Singapore is Southeast Asia's most polished city-state — a tiny island nation that has become one of the world's great travel destinations through a combination of extraordinary food, dazzling architecture, impeccably clean streets, and a harmonious blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Western cultures. From the futuristic glass domes of Gardens by the Bay to the smoky hawker stalls of Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore delivers experiences of rare quality. It's also one of Asia's great gateway cities — a natural stop on routes to Bali, Bangkok, or the Maldives.
Top Attractions in Singapore
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore's most spectacular attraction features 18 super-tall Supertrees covered in ferns and flowering plants, two climate-controlled glass domes (the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest), and a nightly light and sound show that's free to watch.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
The observation deck on top of the iconic three-tower hotel offers 360-degree views of Singapore's extraordinary skyline, Malaysia across the straits, and the Indonesian islands. The infinity pool (hotel guests only) is one of the world's most photographed.
Sentosa Island
Singapore's leisure island contains Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium, cable car rides, beach clubs, and the bungee jump at Siloso Beach — a full family day out.
Chinatown & Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Singapore's most atmospheric heritage district is packed with incense-scented temples, hawker stalls, traditional medicine shops, and the impressive Buddha Tooth Relic Temple housing a relic said to be from the Buddha's funeral pyre.
Little India
The most sensory neighborhood in Singapore — garland sellers, sari shops, Indian classical music, colorful Hindu temples, and some of the best South Indian food in the world.
Orchard Road
Southeast Asia's most famous shopping boulevard stretches for 2km with malls that put most of the world's high streets to shame. ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City, and Takashimaya are the standouts.
Best Neighborhoods in Singapore
Kampong Glam
Singapore's Arab Quarter is an Instagram dream: pastel-colored shophouses, the golden Sultan Mosque, Middle Eastern perfume traders, and excellent cocktail bars on Haji Lane.
Tiong Bahru
Singapore's first public housing estate from the 1930s has been lovingly converted into a neighborhood of independent bookshops, artisan bakeries, specialty coffee, and street art.
Clarke Quay
Singapore's nightlife hub along the Singapore River has boat quay restaurants, rooftop bars, and clubs that keep going until dawn.
What to Eat in Singapore
- Hainanese chicken rice at Tian Tian (Maxwell Food Centre)
- Chilli crab at Long Beach or Jumbo Seafood
- Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa
- Char kway teow (wok-fried noodles)
- Kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs at Ya Kun
- Satay at Lau Pa Sat hawker centre
Best Time to Visit Singapore
Singapore is a year-round destination close to the equator with consistent temperatures of 25–33°C. February to April and July to September tend to be slightly drier. November through January sees more rainfall during the northeast monsoon but rarely disrupts travel plans significantly.
Getting to and Around Singapore
Changi (SIN) is 20 km east of the centre and the MRT is the cheapest way in: the East–West line from Terminals 2 and 3 reaches City Hall or Raffles Place in about 35 minutes for around S$2.30 with one change at Tanah Merah, tapping a contactless Visa or Mastercard at the gate. A taxi is S$25–S$40 to Marina Bay or Orchard including the airport surcharge, 20–30 minutes outside rush hour; Grab is similar. In town, the same bank card or phone tap covers the six MRT lines and every bus, with rides at S$1.20–S$2.50 and no daily pass needed; the Singapore Tourist Pass (about S$17 for one day, S$29 for three) only pays off with more than seven rides a day. The Downtown line links Little India, Bugis and Chinatown; the Thomson–East Coast line stops at Orchard, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay. Sentosa is reached by the Sentosa Express monorail from VivoCity (S$4, including island entry), the cable car from Mount Faber (about S$35 return) or a 10-minute walk along the boardwalk, which is free. The centre is walkable but humid, so plan an indoor stretch after lunch; the Marina Bay waterfront loop is 3.5 km. Taxis and Grab are honest and metered; expect S$8–S$15 for a cross-town ride, with peak surcharges from 6pm to midnight.
Where to Stay in Singapore
Marina Bay is the showpiece: Marina Bay Sands runs S$600–S$900 a night for the infinity pool, and the Fullerton and Ritz-Carlton are in the same range, with the Gardens and the light show on foot. Orchard Road has the widest choice of four- and five-star hotels at S$250–S$450 and the MRT to everything. Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar are the best mid-range base, with restored-shophouse boutique hotels at S$180–S$320, hawker centres on the doorstep and three MRT lines. Kampong Glam and Bugis have design hotels and the city's best hostels (S$40–S$70 a bed in a pod) around Arab Street, and Little India is the budget quarter at S$90–S$180 for a clean room, loud on weekend nights. Tiong Bahru's art-deco flats appear as serviced apartments at S$200–S$350 and suit a longer, quieter stay with the market and bakeries downstairs. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay put you in the bar district, fine if you plan to be out until 2am. Sentosa's resorts (S$400 and up) are for families doing Universal Studios and the beaches, but you will spend an hour a day commuting to the city. Prices peak during the Formula 1 weekend in September and over Chinese New Year; 9% GST and a 10% service charge are added to quoted rates.
3 Days in Singapore: A Sample Itinerary
Every stop below is one of the places named in this guide. Use it as a starting point, or let the planner build a version around your dates, pace and budget.
Day 1: Marina Bay and the Gardens
Morning: Gardens by the Bay
Kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs at Ya Kun in Far East Square, then the Thomson–East Coast line to Gardens by the Bay: the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome first (buy the two-conservatory ticket online), while the air is cool and the indoor waterfall is empty.
Afternoon: Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Walk the OCBC Skyway between the Supertrees, cross to the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark observation deck (about S$36) for the view over the bay, then a late lunch of hawker food at Lau Pa Sat under its Victorian iron roof.
Evening: Lau Pa Sat
The Garden Rhapsody light show at the Supertrees (7:45pm and 8:45pm, free), then the Spectra fountain show on the bay at 8pm or 9pm and satay on Boon Tat Street beside Lau Pa Sat, which closes to traffic for the grills after 7pm.
Day 2: Chinatown, Tiong Bahru, Little India and Kampong Glam
Morning: Chinatown & Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Chinatown from 9am: the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple on South Bridge Road, the Sri Mariamman Temple next door, then Hainanese chicken rice at Tian Tian in the Maxwell Food Centre before the queue forms at noon.
Afternoon: Little India
Bus 5 or a 20-minute walk to Tiong Bahru for the market's upstairs hawker floor, the bakeries and bookshops in the 1930s estate, then the Downtown line to Little India for the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, the garland stalls and a dosa on Race Course Road.
Evening: Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam at dusk: the Sultan Mosque's golden dome, the murals and shops of Haji Lane, then chilli crab with fried mantou buns at Long Beach or Jumbo Seafood (book ahead; the East Coast branches are worth the taxi).
Day 3: Sentosa and Orchard Road
Morning: Sentosa Island
The Sentosa Express from VivoCity at 9am to Sentosa Island: Universal Studios if you have children (book the date online), otherwise the S.E.A. Aquarium and a swim at Tanjong Beach, the quietest of the three.
Afternoon: Orchard Road
Cable car back to Mount Faber, then the MRT to Orchard Road for ION Orchard, Takashimaya's basement food hall and Ngee Ann City in the air conditioning during the hottest hours.
Evening: Clarke Quay
Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa on East Coast Road (a 20-minute taxi), then a last drink by the river at Clarke Quay or a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar of Raffles Hotel.
Plan this trip — get a personalized day-by-day Singapore itinerary with drive times, restaurant picks and a packing list.
Singapore Travel Tips
- Get an EZ-Link card or use contactless payment on the MRT — Singapore's subway is world-class and very affordable
- Hawker centres are the best value eating in Singapore — a full meal costs $3–8 SGD
- Tipping is not customary and can cause confusion
- Strict laws apply — no chewing gum, no smoking in public areas, always flush public toilets
- Changi Airport is consistently rated the world's best — arrive early and explore the Jewel shopping complex
Singapore FAQ
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Singapore is a year-round destination close to the equator with consistent temperatures of 25–33°C. February to April and July to September tend to be slightly drier. November through January sees more rainfall during the northeast monsoon but rarely disrupts travel plans significantly.
How much does a day in Singapore cost?
Plan on an average daily budget of $80–$180/day in Singapore. The local currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).
How do I get around Singapore?
Get an EZ-Link card or use contactless payment on the MRT — Singapore's subway is world-class and very affordable.
What should I know about safety and etiquette in Singapore?
Tipping is not customary and can cause confusion.
What are the top things to do in Singapore?
Top attractions in Singapore include Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Sentosa Island, Chinatown & Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Little India. Singapore is best for food, families, shopping and architecture.
Similar Destinations to Singapore
- More in Asia → Japan or Southeast Asia for a first trip, a 14-day Tokyo, Kyoto and Bangkok route with the Shinkansen and one flight, visas and arrival cards, monsoon seasons and daily budgets.