Singapore - 10 More Things You Should Not Miss

Singapore offers many sights and is particularly popular for a stopover en route to the surrounding countries. We already showed you 10 things you should not miss in Singapore in the first part of this small article series.

Singapore – more sights and tips for the city

The city is pretty huge and 10 things are not enough to discover the whole beauty of it. Therefore we will show you some more things to do in Singapore in the second part of the series. You could easily even spend a week in the city and here is what to do during your stay. You will also get a good impression of the city when taking a tour in Singapore.

How to get to Singapore

Singapore has not only one of Asia’s largest airports, Changi Airport, but also one of the best in the world! Therefore, Singapore is well connected to the international flight network.

You can fly from many destinations in Europe directly to Singapore and from many destinations in Southeast Asia. More expensive airlines as well as cheap airlines land in Singapore and a good overview of flights with departure times and prices can be found at Skyscanner.

There are also bus and train connections from Thailand or Malaysia, as they can reach Singapore via the mainland. Further information as well as tickets are available at 12go.asia.

Accommodation in Singapore – our hotel tip

Accommodation is significantly more expensive in Singapore than in other major cities in Southeast Asia. For a decent hotel with a good location you have to have a little more budget. A good hotel we can recommend is the Fragrance Hotel Riverside. It’s located in the beautiful and popular district of Clarke Quay, just 5 minutes from the MRT station. The rooms are relatively small, but modern and bright. There is also a rooftop swimming pool to cool off after a hot day in Singapore. Top!

If you would like to stay in a place other than Clarke Quay, have a look here.

1. Kampong Glam/Arab Street

Kampong Glam is the Arabian quarter of Singapore and its main street is the Arab Street. Since this district was allocated to the Muslim population in 1822, the quarter is mainly influenced by Arab culture.

Here you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants which are specialized in the Arabian cuisine – they create a very special atmosphere. The main attraction to visitors is the Sultan Mosque with its golden dome, which you can already spot far away.

Furthermore, there are lots of oriental products to buy in the quarter like carpets, clothes or fabrics for sewing. Another highlight is the fasting month of Ramadan. During that time the whole quarter awakes especially in the night time and during the fast-breaking there are many colorful markets in the night, which you should not miss.

If you would like to know more about the Kampong Glam area then why not take a guided tour with a local guide?

2. Chinatown

Chinatown is one of Singapore’s most popular neighborhoods. Locals and tourists wind through the lively streets to see restored houses or try some of the delicious foods in one of the food stalls.

Souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and Chinese pharmacies are located next to each other. Many of the houses have a landmark status and you should not miss this fantastic neighborhood.

Furthermore, you can find many interesting temples in Chinatown, like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (see next point below) or the Thian Hock Keng Temple. But you can also find other religions in Chinatown. The Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple or the Masjid Jamae, Singapore’s first mosque, are also located in Chinatown.

Also the Chinese New Year, which takes place every year from the end of January to the beginning of February, is extensively celebrated here. Singapore’s Chinatown is beautifully decorated and there are many events for visitors. If you are going to be in Singapore at that time of the year, be sure to check it out!

On a night tour of Singapore’s Chinatown, you’ll also be able to discover the neighborhood and get a taste of its cuisine.

3. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Like I mentioned before, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is also located in Chinatown. The temple was opened in March 2005 and is today one of the impressive landmarks of Chinatown. It was built as the Buddhist center of Singapore and you can visit the temple free of charge.

The temple is decorated with lots of gold in the inside and you can see one of the highlights, a 5 meters tall Buddha statue in the entrance hall. Of course, the most special thing is the relic, a tooth of Buddha which is being kept in the temple.

On the upper floors you can also find a library or a small garden on the roof. The temple is open to visit daily from 7.00 A.M. to 7.00 P.M.

4. Singapore Botanic Gardens

The 60 hectare large Singapore Botanic Gardens are one of the most visited botanical gardens of the world. Since 2015 it belongs to the UNESCO world cultural heritage and houses more than 3000 different plant species, which are divided into different areas.

Some areas of interest are the Ginger Garden, Evolution Garden and a 5 hectare large piece of rain forest. But especially the National Orchid Garden is quite popular. Here you can find the largest orchid collection in the world with more than 20,000 plants and 1000 different kinds of orchids.

You can visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens free of charge, but you will have to pay an admission of 5 SGD for the National Orchid Garden. Open daily from 5.00 A.M. to midnight.

5. Sentosa Island

Sentosa is a 5 km² big island in the south of Singapore. You can reach the island easily by train and it is known as a popular recreation area among the locals.

In the seventies, it was decided to turn the island into an recreation area and so the construction went on for many years. Nowadays you will find amusement parks, beaches, apartments, a casino and a few resorts on the island.

There are quite a lot of activities inside the park. You can visit the Universal Studios, see Singapore from the Tiger Sky Tower or explore various wildlife in the Underwater World.

The Merlion and the Merlion Walk are also very popular. This Merlion statue with a height of 38 meters is the highest of Singapore and there is a viewing platform for visitors in its head. To get to the artificial beaches of Sentosa Island you will have to walk over the Merlion Walk.

On site you can explore three beaches, that are all artificially made of sand from Indonesia and Malaysia. The Palawan Beach, the Siloso Beach and the Tanjong Beach.

At the Palawan Beach you can walk over a suspension bridge to a small island. This is the southernmost point of continental Asia. In addition, you have a nice view from here at the Palawan Beach and the ships off the coast.

Sentosa Island is free of charge. Only the ride with the train or cable car into the park is not free. But if you walk through Sentosa Island and just take the train on your way back, it’s still free of charge.

6. Hawker Centre – Lau Pa Sat

Singapore is an expensive city and many restaurants are priced higher than usually in Southeast Asia. If you want to eat cheaply but still have good food with lots of choices, then you should visit the Hawker Centres that are spread all over the city. One of the most beautiful ones is Lau Pa Sat.

The food court or Hawker Centre is located in the middle of Singapore’s skyline in one of the colonial buildings. Since 1973 this building has been a national landmark to Singapore and has been restored over the years. Nowadays you can find a very good and special food court in the inside.

Inside you will find a selection of various dishes with Thai, Indian, Turkish, vegetarian food etc. There is almost nothing that you can’t find here. There are also plenty of tables outside the building where you can eat with an amazing view.

I would really recommend the grilled Satay, that is offered at the countless stalls in front of the building. A must-see and must-try!

7. Marina Bay Sands laser show

Every evening the Marina Bay Sands offers a free laser show for the visitors of Singapore. During the laser show the building is dipped into various lights and colorful laser beams illuminate the sky and water of the Marina Bay.

The show takes place three times daily starting at 8.00 P.M. The times vary, however, it’s best to be there before 8.00 P.M. to not miss it. Two good spots to see the laser show are the promenade in front of the Merlion and in front of the Esplande Shopping Mall.

Absolutely great to end a day of sightseeing in Singapore. I would recommend you to buy a drink from the surrounding 7-Elevens and enjoy the show.

8. Boat Quay

The Boat Quay is located at the banks of the Singapore River like the Clarke Quay and offers a terrific view at the skyline of the city. However, the Boat Quay really comes to life in the evening when the bars at the river start to open and attract lots of tourists with their happy hours.

The Boat Quay is a little bit more quiet than the Clarke Quay, but both are worth a visit in the evening. There is even a boat which connects both, so you can easily go from the Boat Quay to the Clarke Quay. It’s also not far by walking, if you like to take a walk along the Singapore River.

9. Singapore from a sky bar

If you want to see Singapore from staggering heights by night, then you should visit one of the sky bars. On top of the One Raffles Place Building there is the famous 1-Altitude sky bar. A bit more upscale and expensive, but with a terrific view over the Marina Bay and the Marina Bay Sands.

Another highlight is the Ku Dé Ta sky bar on the roof of the Marina Bay Sands with an amazing view at the skyline of Singapore. It is always mentioned among the most beautiful sky bars in the world and definitely worth a visit.

Not quite as high, but still very nice is the Lantern Bar on the roof of the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Here you will also have a marvelous view at the Marina Bay Sands and it’s also a good spot to watch the laser show.

10. Little India

You will find Little India around the Serangoon Road. This is the main spot of the Indian culture in Singapore. Along the main street and the many alleys there are a lot of Indian restaurants and Hindu temples, which give you a tiny insight in the culture of India.

Little India feels a bit like India with the typical Singapore cleanliness. You should not miss the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and stop for a visit. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples of Singapore and you can experience a few religious ceremonies if you’re lucky.

Also a visit to the Tecca Market should be on your list. The Indian shopping mall is another small highlight and you should eat at the very good food court on the inside. Check out the Indian cuisine, I bet you won’t regret it. We also recommend Little India on a guided walk to learn more about the area.

Singapore: Tours and tickets

Have you ever been to Singapore? What is your highlight of the city? Leave us some feedback in the comments below.

Photos: Photo 6 (Botanic Garden): edwin.11/flickr (CC BY 2.0) – Photo 14 (Sky bar): aotaro/flickr (CC BY 2.0)