A FIRST-TIMER'S GUIDE
Within the ever-expanding metropolis of Singapore, you will see a beautiful blend of heritage and contemporary. There are peaceful green parks nestled among soaring skyscrapers. You can indulge at Michelin-star restaurants with sky-high prices or discover some of the world's best quality, affordable and delicious hawker food. Compared to surrounding countries, Singapore can be expensive, but it is possible to see on a budget. Everything in our top things to do list can be seen for free and experienced without breaking the bank.
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GARDENS BY THE BAY
One of Singapore's most popular, photographed, and well-known tourist attractions is Gardens by the Bay. This is not your regular garden, though. The grounds showcase horticulture as art with a big focus on sustainability. Many sections of the park are free, including the famous Supertree Grove and the night-time light show, Garden Rhapsody. You can purchase tickets to each attraction depending on your interests, including the Skyway, Observatory, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. There are also plenty of food and beverage options inside the park, so you can comfortably spend the entire day exploring. Our favourite was the hawker-style eatery Satay by the Bay.
It is easy to get to the Gardens via taxi or public transport. We opted for the latter, catching the Downtown Line to Bayfront station.
MARINA BAY SANDS
Another iconic Singapore landmark is the Marina Bay Sands. We have to admit, on a budget, Marina Bay Sands doesn’t offer a wide variety of things to do. We enjoyed window shopping in the air-conditioning and dinner in the food hall. We also loved the impressive Spectra Light & Water Show at night. Be sure to head across the bay to admire the building with the flower-shaped ArtScience Museum beside it.
Make a night of it and see both light shows on the same day. Watch the 8 pm Spectra Light & Water Show at Marina Bay Sands, then walk to Gardens by the Bay Supertree Grove to catch the 8:45 pm Garden Rhapsody.
If you have some more money to spend, want to shop designer brands, dine at Michelin Star restaurants, splurge on cocktails at an unparalleled rooftop bar and stay in luxury accommodation with an infinity pool, then Marina Bay Sands is the place to come.
MERLION PARK
On the harbour, you will find another well-known landmark – the Merlion Statue. This 28-foot statue and fountain in Merlion Park, erected in 1972, is half fish and half lion, recognising Singapura, Malay for “Lion City”, and Singapore’s heritage as a fishing village. From Merlion Park, you will have panoramic views of the bay, with the city skyline and Marina Bay Sands.
CHINATOWN
Head to Chinatown for incredible food, bustling markets, heritage buildings and temples. The Chinatown Street Markets are a great place to score a bargain and shop for souvenirs. While in the historic district of Chinatown, you should stop by the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This is a place of worship and a museum with an extensive collection of Buddhist relics and artefacts.
When it comes to food, the options in Chinatown are endless, but there is one destination at the top of our list. The Maxwell Food Centre has many options for high-quality, delicious and affordable food. You will easily find the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall from the line snaking around the corner. Don't let this deter you, it is worth the wait, just ask the Michelin Guide, who have awarded this stall with the Bib Gourmand for quality food, noting their Hainanese Chicken Rice in particular.
HAJI LANE & MUSCAT STREET
Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam district is one of the most popular streets in Singapore. The buzzing lane is lined with independent boutiques, hip food spots, great bars and beautiful street art. Just a couple of streets away is Muscat Street. Enter this colourful street through the granite arch to admire the murals painted by Omani artists and tiles imported directly from Oman. This street also leads to the majestic Sultan Mosque.
FORT CANNING PARK
In 1822 the first botanic gardens were established in Singapore. Now known as Fort Canning Park, this hilltop landmark offers a beautiful garden oasis amongst the skyscrapers and busy streets. It has quite a history too, dating back to the 14th century when the palaces of Malay royalty sat atop the hill. The site was also utilised as army barracks and the command centre during World War II, and many sites, like the Fort Gate and Battlebox, can still be seen today. You can discover more about Singapore’s history at the Fort Canning Centre after you've spent the morning strolling through the nine historical parks.
If you arrive early or are willing to wait in line, you can also see the famous Tree Tunnel and get the obligatory Instagram picture before the crowds descend on this site.
OLD HILL STREET POLICE STATION
At the corner of Hill Street and River Valley Road lies the Old Hill Police Station. Opened as a police station and Barracks in 1934, it was the largest government building in the country at the time. In 1980, the building stopped operating as a police station, going through several occupants until, in 1998, it was named a national monument. The building underwent an extensive restoration and was reopened as MITA – the Ministry of Information and the Arts. In 2012 the building was officially renamed the Old Hill Police Station. The main feature of this building that has gained so much recognition is the painted rainbow window shades over the six stories of the building.
OUR GOOGLE MAPS
When planning our travel destinations, we pin our bucket list of sites to see and recommended places to eat and drink on Google Maps. We are then never lost for ideas when travelling, and can easily share these lists for our friends and family to use too.
Click here to see our Google Maps for Things To Do in Singapore.
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