Singapore has so much to offer! Beautiful nature? Got it. Unique high-rise buildings? Plenty. Diverse multi-cultural architecture? Certainly. Keep reading to hear about 13 awesome places you must see in Singapore! The attractions listed below are not in a particular order because they are all worth seeing for different reasons 🙂
1. The Marina Bay Sands
For many the Marina Bay Sands is THE most memorable landmark of Singapore. However, what many may not know, is that the Marina Bay Sands is not only a hotel. The complex consists of a convention center, a mall, casino and the SkyPark Observation Deck. That means, you don’t necessarily need to stay at the hotel to experience its charm and glamour, as the majority of the areas I listed above are open to the public. However, I do have some bad news: The insta-famous infinity rooftop pool has been restricted for guests only… Nevertheless, definitely a place you must see in Singapore!
2. Gardens by the Bay
Another ICONIC must see attraction in Singapore! The Gardens are located right behind the Marina Bay Sands, so the visit of both attractions can easily be combined. The entrance to the garden itself is free, however some attractions like the Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy and Supertree Observatory do require an entry ticket. Every night at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm there is a lightshow, where the trees light up in all kinds of colours. The show is a really unique experience, it looks like the trees are dancing in the night and I would highly recommend it!
3. National Orchid Garden
The National Orchid Garden is a separate section located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The Orchid Garden is famous for, you guessed it, it’s huuuuuge variety of beautiful orchids. According to their website the garden holds over 1000 different species of orchids, and over 2000 hybrids. Besides the flowers, the garden in general is beautifully landscaped. The whole atmosphere is very peaceful and serene, and it didn’t feel too touristy.
4. tree top walk
This was my favourite hike we did and for me it is therefore definitely one of the must see places in Singapore! The Tree Top Walk is located in the middle of Singapore and is part of the MacRitchie Reserve. The Tree Top Walk in its closest sense refers to a 250m suspension bridge among the tree canopy. You’ll get a beautiful “birds eye” view of the rainforest, which is quite unique! The whole roundtrip to the bridge and back takes about 3-5 hours. For more details about the hike check out the park’s official website here.
5. arab street
Arab Street is a hidden gem! Before visiting Singapore myself for the first time I’ve never heard of this area. It is located a little east from the central business district (across the Singapore river), and it has a completely different feel than the rest of Singapore. It is one of the few areas that has a pedestrian only street, with shops and restaurants on either side. I loved all the unique clothing boutiques and stores with hand made goods. In my eyes definitely one of the places you MUST see in Singapore!
6. chinatown
You will never get bored in Chinatown, there is always hustle and bustle here! The Singapore Chinatown is located very centrally. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and spice shops in this area. The smell will follow you around everywhere you go (in a good way!) 🙂 Also keep an eye out for some unique historical buildings. Some of the stops you should add to your list are:
- Sri Mariamman Temple (a hindu temple)
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Thian Hock Keng Temple (a buddhist temple)
7. clarke quay
Clarke Quay is an area of restored warehouses that have been converted into various restaurants and nightclubs. The atmosphere is quite Western in my opinion (there is even a Hooter’s lol). The area is located in a niche of the Singapore river, and along the outside you will find some floating restaurants which are housed in refurbished, old Chinese boats. Overall Clarke Quay is better visited at night I would say, as it is more alive!
8. boat quay
Boat Quay is also located along the Singapore river, but is closer to the Marina Bay. Personally I would describe the atmosphere in Boat Quay as more family friendly and relaxing than Boat Quay. The restaurants are smaller and mostly authentic, and you even get views of the Marina Bay Sands! That alone makes it one of the must see places in Singapore! I would recommend coming in the evening for dinner, when the evening lights give it a special atmosphere 🙂
9. hill street police station
Hold up, before you get any wrong ideas! I don’t want you to end up at the police station at any means, but the building of the Old Hill Street Police Station is really awesome and worth checking out. To be fair, the uniqueness of the building is really the only reason why this landmark has made it on the list. I’ve truly never seen any building like this before! But see for yourself, I’ve added a lovely picture of myself in front of the colorful building below.
10. mount faber
Mount Faber is Singapore’s second highest hill. That means, it is one of the best places to enjoy panorama views of the city! You can walk up the hill, which took us roughly 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the cable car, which must be an experience in itself! At the top, called Mount Faber Peak, there are some nice restaurants, cafes and a souvenir shop. Mount Faber is also a possible starting point for the Southern Ridges Walk, which is a ca. 10 km collection of trails through several different parks along the South of Singapore!
11. henderson waves
The Henderson Waves is a bridge along the above mentioned Southern Ridges Walk. The hike itself is beautiful and definitely worth doing, but the bridge deserves a special mention. As the mention of wave in the name suggests, the Henderson Waves Bridge mimics the undulating shape of a wave. The wooden structure is full of curves and seems to be twisting and bending along its entire length. There are some rest areas along the bridge, where you can also enjoy some beautiful views of the city!
12. sentosa island
Sentosa Island is a small, resort like island located right off the shore of Singapore. The island has nice, sandy beaches and a very laid-back vibe. The island can easily be reached from the city center by car, public transport or the above mentioned cable car. There are many fun and adventurous things to do for all age ranges, with plenty of amusement parks, zip lines and nice beach bars. There’s truly something for everyone 🙂 The only negative in my opinion is the fact that you do see the cargo ships and cranes from the port nearby, but if that doesn’t put you off then you’ll have a LOVELY time on the island!
13. the merlion
If you’ve never heard of the Merlion before you’re probably thinking what the heck is a Merlion, right? Well, the Merlion is the official mascot of Singapore and there is a statue of it along the Marina Bay. The statue showcases an animal with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It symbolises Singapore’s heritage as a fishing village, and pays tribute to the meaning of the name Singapore, which apparently means lion city. If you want to be a *real* tourist, make sure to take a picture like the one I’ve posted below!
That’s it, these were my 13 must see places in Singapore! If you’re looking for a day to day itinerary on how to see all of these attractions, check out my blog post here! I’ve also made a list of budget friendly attractions and things to do for all of you who are looking to keep costs low.
Let me know in the comments what your favourite Singapore attractions are! I’d live to chat and hear your opinions <3