10 fabulous things to do in Singapore

Don’t let Singapore’s tiny size fool you.

Between the city-state’s incredible food markets and high-end restaurants, its gleaming skyline, cultural wealth and surprising natural attractions, your main problem will be narrowing down your list of things you want to do. In this case, its compact size is in fact an asset, since you can use superb public transit to get around easily – and pack a lot into a short trip or even a same-day layover.

Here are my 10 favorite things to do in Singapore.

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1. Eat as much hawker food as you can

Singapore has more than its fair share of fine-dining establishments. Yet if you want to eat like a local, head to any of the country’s food courts – the famous so-called “hawker centers” – and fill your belly with a range of cheap and diverse street food, from noodles to chicken rice to chili crabs and much, much more. So culturally significant are these culinary treasures that they were inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.

Wondering where to start? Each Singaporean will recommend their own favorite hawker center – but you can’t go wrong at a few stalwarts. The Chinatown Complex is the largest center, with over 200 stalls, while Lau Pa Sat occupies an architecturally distinct building that’s a listed national monument. By the sea, East Coast Lagoon Food Village is perhaps the most scenic hawker center, while the famous Newton Food Center was featured in the movie Crazy Rich Asians.

Local tip: Most hawkers only take cash, so bring small notes and coins as well as your appetite.

2. Delve into Singapore’s history at its best museums

Museum lovers will rejoice at Singapore’s array of well-maintained and cutting-edge national museums, which showcase the country’s culture and history. The country’s oldest museum, the National Museum of Singapore, houses immersive multimedia exhibits that trace the state’s history into the present. The majestic National Gallery, in a building that once housed City Hall and the Supreme Court, has a world-class collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art.

For those interested in WWII history, Fort Siloso on Sentosa Island is the last remaining preserved coastal fort in Singapore, while the Battle Box in Fort Canning Park lets visitors access the former command center of the British troops. A more remote option worth checking out is the Changi Museum & Chapel, which features stories collected from the POWs of the Japanese Occupation and a replica of the Changi Murals, originally painted by a wartime prisoner.

3. Admire Singapore’s iconic skyline at Marina Bay

You’ll really know you’re in Singapore when you look up to take in the iconic architecture surrounding Marina Bay. It may be hard to believe, but this area was an empty swath of land until 2010 – and before that, open sea.

Taking a walk along the waterfront is one of the best things to do in Singapore for free. Along the way, you can admire the three towers of the Marina Bay Sands resort, take a goofy shot with the water-spouting Merlion statue, and stroll across the Helix Bridge (with its DNA-inspired swirls) toward the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum.

Planning tip: Sunset is a good time to start your walk around Marina Bay. The temperature is usually cooler, the building lights blaze in their full glory, and, if you time it right, you can catch the light and sound shows at the Marina Bay Sands waterfront and Supertree Grove.

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4. Explore Singapore’s historic neighborhoods

Singapore’s beloved neighborhoods are the result of a British colonial policy that divided the population into different districts according to their ethnic origin. Today, these areas offer a glimpse into the major groups that continue to contribute up Singapore’s diverse culture.

Located near the mouth of the Singapore River, colorful Chinatown has a delightful mix of temples and shophouses alongside hip restaurants and trendy bars. Kampong Gelam, where the Malays and Arabs lived, centers around the former sultan’s palace and the magnificent Sultan Mosque. And it’s easy to lose a few hours wandering the lanes of Little India, engrossed by its mix of aromatic spices, vivid temples and bustling weekend crowds.

Detour: One of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods, Tiong Bahru has today gentrified into an intriguing mix of traditional and trendy shops. And in the east of the city, Joo Chiat is the best place to learn about the unique Peranakan culture and to see more colorful shophouses.

5. Slow down in Singapore’s finest gardens

Singapore’s “Garden City“ nickname is well deserved, thanks to the 400 parks and green spaces nestled all over the city-state. Part of the Marina Bay development, Gardens by the Bay might be the most popular; certainly, with its strangely beautiful “Supertrees,” it’s most photogenic. Its twin glass hemispheres house the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – perfect climate-controlled escapes for when the tropical humidity gets too sweltering.

We also recommend a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of the few tropical gardens inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Here, you’ll also find the stunning National Orchid Garden, home to the world’s largest orchid display.

6. Sample the nightlife scene along the Singapore River

In Singapore’s early days as an entrepôt, the Singapore River was the town’s core, and the waterway served as the nexus from which the city expanded as it prospered. Today, the warehouses that once stored goods along the river’s banks have since been converted into some of Singapore’s top nightlife zones.

Located closest to the river mouth, Boat Quay is the place to enjoy drinks and waterfront views at laid-back pubs. Further down, Clarke Quay is home to trendier clubs and watering holes; if you keep going, Robertson Quay offers a quieter ambiance, with a cluster of nice dining establishments and cafes.

Local tip: Get to know the river even better by taking a cruise in an old bumboat. These small vessels used to trawl the river loaded with goods; today, they are a convenient way to sightsee if you need a break from walking.

7. Spend a day at Singapore’s wildlife attractions

As space for natural landscapes and wildlife is scarce in Singapore, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve up north offers the best way to experience animal encounters in a controlled environment. Here, you can visit the famous Singapore Zoo, with its naturalistic enclosures; the nocturnal Night Safari for animal experiences after dark; River Wonders, with its river-themed habitats and giant panda enclosure; and the aviaries of Bird Paradise.

For those with a love for the deep blue sea, the Singapore Oceanarium on Sentosa houses over 100,000 marine creatures across its two floors of immersive tanks.

Planning tip: Taxis to Mandai Wildlife Reserve incur an additional 5 Singapore dollar surcharge due to its remote location. Make the most of Singapore’s excellent public transport system and take the MRT to Khatib Station, where a S$2.50 Mandai Khatib Shuttle delivers you right to the park’s doorstep.

8. Take in Singapore’s quirky side

Beyond its gleaming towers and manicured parks, plenty of attractions will show you the more unusual sides of this island nation. Haw Par Villa is a park filled with statues and dioramas from Chinese stories and mythology; some are rather…eccentric. The MINT Museum of Toys is a small, private museum next to the renowned Raffles Hotel, and it displays the largest collection of vintage toys in all of Asia.

9. Hike Singapore’s nature trails

Nature lovers can't miss the 10km-long Southern Ridges, one of the most scenic trails in Singapore; highlights include the country’s tallest pedestrian bridge and panoramic views of the southern coastline from Mount Faber. Other great options include a wander over the 25m-high canopy-level Treetop Walk in MacRitchie Reservoir, or summiting Singapore’s highest peak (it’s a mere 163m high) in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Detour: For a real challenge, hike the full 24km-long Rail Corridor, which traverses Singapore from south to north. The route follows the former railway line that once linked Singapore to Malaysia.

10. Visit Singapore’s offshore islands

If you want an escape from Singapore’s ubiquitous skyscrapers, your best bet is to hop on a boat and sail to a nearby island for the day. Sentosa is the easiest to get to, and it’s home to a wide range of attractions, including white sandy beaches, Universal Studios and a casino.

For quieter spots that offer get you further from the city and closer to nature, take a ferry to the Southern Islands cluster of St John’s, Lazarus and Kusu Islands. Or head up north to Pulau Ubin and its excellent Chek Jawa Wetlands Reserve, outdoor adventure trails and a throwback-style village.

Planning tip: Weekends and holidays will see more people visiting the islands – and a higher frequency of ferry service.