Best Places to Visit in Singapore
Singapore
Living in Singapore for three years has been quite an adventure! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up here, a city state of multiculturalism and progressive policymaking. Not only is Singapore extremely clean thanks to its ban on littering and efficient but it is unbelievably green and has lots to explore. From culture, shopping, to nature, there is a whole lot to do.
Singapore is located in the Straits of Malacca, which has a unique history of trade and cultural fusion. This city state was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles and key trading port for the British East India Company. Eventually this meant Singapore came under direct British control. You will see many colonial-style buildings throughout the city state like the famous Raffles Hotel. Even the shophouses in Chinatown and Emerald Hill have an element of colonial influence.
To this day, the main ethnic groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, and Indian. As you can guess this means the heritage of this city-state is rich and the food tasty! However, did you know there is a community of people called Peranakans that are unique to this part of the world? Peranakans are individuals with a fusion of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage and can trace their ancestry to the 15th century to Chinese traders who married local Malay women.
The Peranakan community has its own traditions and even cuisine! Check out my post on some of my favorite Perankan restaurants in Singapore including afternoon tea at Violet Oon. If you are interested in the history of the Straits, I highly recommend some museums (below) and a visit to neighboring Penang, Malaysia. Check out my post on Georgetown, Penang.
Here are some of my most favorite places in Singapore, old and new!
Marina Bay
Undoubtedly the most iconic place in Singapore. There is a lovely park and walkway along the bay where you can enjoy spectacular views of the skyline. I especially recommend coming here at sunset or evening to enjoy the balmy summer breezes that bless Singapore all year long. There are some restaurants and bars that line the water, which are great places to hang out and enjoy the view.
Of course, a key landmark is the Merlion fountain! This mythical creature is the official mascot of Singapore and has the head of a lion and body of a fish. Did you know Singapore has multiple merlion statues throughout? However, the fountain located in Marina Bay is definitely the most famous. Many people like to run, bike, and scooter, along the Merlion Park in the evening. You can also easily walk to the Marina Bay Sands Mall for some luxury shopping, dining, or access the lush Gardens by the Bay.
Be sure to admire the Marina Bay Sands Hotel that towers over Marina Bay. The hotel houses a famous infinity pool at the very top, shaped like a surfboard. Check out my review of our stay there! If you can’t stay in the hotel, you can also enjoy a cocktail (perhaps a Singapore Sling?) at the CÉ LA VI Restaurant and Bar, which is located just adjacent to the infinity pool. Mind you, it isn’t the same but you can at least admire the breathtaking view.
Gardens by the Bay
One of my favorite aspects of Singapore is that it is so green! There are numerous parks where you can hike, bike or run and then there are the “futuristic” gardens. By this I mean Gardens by the Bay. In addition to a beautifully, landscaped park you have the magnificent Super Trees, which are are essentially illuminated towers of tropical plants and orchids. These remind me so much of Avatar on many levels (and I am not the only one)! Lateral gardens are also something Singapore really champions in its aims to be a green city. Check out the Oasia Hotel in Tanjong Pagar as well as the Park Royal Hotel for other lateral garden concepts throughout Singapore.
There are also two domed greenhouses located wihin the Gardens by the Bay that are absolutely stunning – the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The latter is especially my favorite but both are worth the visit! You will need two separate tickets for each site and because they are quite big you can elect to see one and not the other if you prefer. But if you have time, I recommend purchasing the ticket bundle to both conservatories at S$28. These domes are also a refreshing way to be in “nature” while remaining cool on a hot day.
The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome houses different themed exhibitions every now and then so be on the lookout. Unlike the Cloud Forest, the flower displays change quite drastically. When we were last there calendulas were in bloom and carpeted the whole place! What I absolutely loved was were the soaring, glass ceilings – super modern and architecturally beautiful through and through. Did you know the Flower Dome is 38 meters (125 ft) high? While the Cloud Forest emulates the ecosystem of a rainforest the Flower Dome houses plants found in the Mediterranean and semi-arid tropical parts of the world.
Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest is an impressive feat of architecture and science. This “mountain” of greenery is meant to be climbed via various airborne walkways that lead inside and directly underneath a massive waterfall. You won’t believe how many tropical plants and orchids are thriving here. If you are an orchid lover, this place would thrill you! Whenever I visit, I marvel at how this ecosystem is completely manmade and was undoubtedly created by some brilliant, collaborative minds.
Did you know the size of the Cloud Forest is approximately as big as 60 Olympic-sized pools? The greenhouse also requires 2,577 individual glass panels in 690 different shapes and sizes. Can you imagine how many species of plants reside here? Tell me your guess once you see this place!
If you can’t get enough of the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest and want to see some more check out Floral Fantasy, another gorgeous floral/plant exhibition!
The National Gallery
Singapore has many wonderful museums from the National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilizations Museum, to the Arts Science Museum. But my favorite, as an art lover, is the National Gallery. This museum houses artwork from some of the most preeminent artists of the world and also that of celebrated regional artists. There are also some great exhibits that delve into Singapore’s colonial past. The building itself is also fascinating as a historic building that has adopted a modern wing. A great example of harmony between old and new architecture!
Considering how large this museum is you can easily spend a good part of the day here. If you are curious particularly about regional history, the Asian Civilizations Museum is filled with artifacts and is more of a history museum rather than art. Sometimes they have workshops and hands-on activities, like the opportunity to draw a self portrait (below). FYI my sketch is definitely not complete but something roughly done in 20 mins!
Haji Lane
Considering the amount of cultural diversity in Singapore, there are various cultural districts that you must visit! These include Chinatown, Little India and the Arab quarter (which includes Haji Lane)! In this post, for the sake of brevity, I will not cover the first two but the latter is my favorite. Haji Lane, is a little street that is located right by the beautiful Masjid Sultan mosque. If you are a hipster of sorts or just enjoy cute boutiques this is the place for you. Not only is this street absolutely instagram-able but this is where you can find local designer labels. Some of my favorite shops include:
Sifir Aromatics – Amazing little perfume shop that sells premium scents at an affordable price. You can also opt to have a private consultation and create an exclusive personalized scent!
The Nail Social – My favorite nail salon in Singapore that offers comfy chairs, an iPad for catching up on Netflix and complimentary iced tea (a glass of wine on the weekends). You can also order other drinks off the menu including cider. Best of all, this salon is a social enterprise, and uses non-toxic polish so you’re doing good (for yourself and others)!
Bellakini – This shop has the most beautiful swimsuits ever! Not only that but its shop attendants are so informative and helpful. You need a well-trained eye and helpful suggestions to find your next beachwear and Bellakini provides that. Try to be open-minded and ask an attendant what they recommend for your body type.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has a special place in my heart! If you didn’t know I received my Masters Degree in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore, which is literally nestled in the gardens. This meant I had the luck of taking at least one nature walk a day. That being said, Singapore can get quite humid and blazing hot. So the gardens are only really pleasant when it is cooler. If you can, avoid visiting midday – come in the morning or late afternoon!
This place is huge so plan accordingly but no worries if you prefer to wander around and get lost. The beauty of this place is that it has so many beautiful areas! There are herb gardens, a play garden for kids, and a spectacular orchid garden. Flower lovers, absolutely do not miss the Orchid Garden. There is a reason why the official flower of Singapore is an orchid. In all there are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids displayed throughout. All of the orchid gardens I have been to in the US were always indoors and in greenhouses. But because Singapore is humid and tropical this garden is completely outdoors! There are also various sections to explore that showcase rare species to special hybrids that are dedicated to famous people. Tickets to the Orchid Garden are S$5 for adults and free for children under 12 years old. Hours are from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM daily (last ticket sales and entry are at 6 PM).
If you prefer, you could also drop by for lunch at one of the many delicious eateries here. The gardens make for a wonderful, romantic atmosphere. Picnics are also always an option – near the Botanic Gardens MRT you will find a Da Paolo Gastronomia, which sells an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and meals perfect for a takeaway meal.
For Casual Lunch: Bee’s Knees, Cafe by the gift shop
For Special Occasions: The Corner House, The Halia, Botanico
Palau Ubin
You need not go far to experience how Singapore looked way back when it was a fishing village! If you are craving some peace and quiet, and a bit of nature, take a bumboat to Palau Ubin ($3 per person). You should be able to easily find a boat in the harbor but will need to wait a bit for it to fill up with other passengers. Since land is precious in Singapore the government has been trying to reclaim the island for development. But Singaporeans have pushed back given Palau Ubin’s unique, natural habitats, which include mangroves, jungles, and coastlines. We managed to see wild boar and monkeys during our day out as well! Not to mention, there are also some eclectic taoist shrines scattered throughout.
I highly recommend renting a bike to get around the island. That way you can easily move around the island to view all the sights (especially considering the heat). Bike rentals cost around $7-10 for a full day. Make sure you ask for a lock though, as in certain areas like Chek Jawa (below) you are not allowed to bring your bike along. Though it is not large, with a bike you can see some key sights (below) with relative ease. Again, it is also bound to be sunny and humid so walking the whole distance would probably not be the most pleasant thing to do.
Highlights include:
Chek Jawa – the wetlands that are one of this island’s main attractions! You can admire the mangroves, find sea creatures lurking during low-tide (e.g. mudskippers, small fish, crabs), and check out the boardwalk. This is a great place to admire the mangroves, which play an integral part of this island’s ecosystem.
German Girl Shrine – This shrine is probably the quirkiest one, housed in a wooden structure. Legend says the daughter of a German plantation owner was running away from British troops during WWI and fell to her death in a quarry. Over time this girl transformed into a Taoist deity, who some believe can grant good health and lucky lottery numbers. What I found fascinating were the offerings in the shrine, which included dolls and other toys.
Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple – Another interesting shrine, which we found very eerie but worth a peek. This 80-year old temple is covered in colorful prayer flags with chanting heard throughout the complex. Picture above.
That is all for this blog post folks! But there are so many more wonderful places to explore in Singapore. I may be adding to this list over time so please feel free to check back in! Also be sure to check out my other posts about Singapore food and other experiences!