Wondering what the best things to do in Singapore are and which attractions and experiences are actually worth your time and money?
Singapore may be small, but deciding what to actually do here can be surprisingly difficult. From futuristic gardens and skyline viewpoints to historic neighbourhoods, hawker centres, wildlife parks and island escapes, there is far more to Singapore than Marina Bay Sands.
We spent two days exploring Singapore in August 2026 and personally visited attractions including Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. For attractions we didn’t personally visit, we’ve included practical information to help you decide whether they’re worth adding to your trip.
If you’re visiting Singapore for only 48 hours, don’t try to do everything. Use this list to decide what deserves a place on your itinerary.
→ Planning only 2 days? Read our 2-Day Singapore Itinerary
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Table of Contents
Best Things to Do in Singapore at a Glance
| Experience | Best for | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardens by the Bay | First-time visitors | Free / paid | 2–4 hrs |
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark | Views | Paid | 1–2 hrs |
| Chinatown | Culture & food | Free | 2–3 hrs |
| Singapore Botanic Gardens | Nature | Free / paid | 2–3 hrs |
| Marina Bay | First visit | Free | 1–2 hrs |
| Kampong Glam | Culture & street art | Free | 1–2 hrs |
| Little India | Culture & food | Free | 1–2 hrs |
| Sentosa | Families/beaches | Free / paid | Half/full day |
| Singapore River Cruise | Couples/first timers | Paid | 40–60 min |
| Singapore Zoo | Families/wildlife | Paid | Half/full day |
35 Best Things to Do in Singapore
We spent two days exploring Singapore, personally visiting attractions like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay. For other attractions, we’ve included practical information to help you decide whether they’re worth adding to your trip.
Best Things to Do in Singapore for First-Time Visitors
1. Visit Gardens by the Bay
Why visit: This huge garden complex has impressive art installations, themed conservatories and, of course, the famous Supertrees. Most of the outdoor garden area is free to walk around, we saw lots of people enjoying a stroll here and taking in the art installations throughout. There are some paid conservatories which include the Cloud Garden, Floral Fantasy, the aerial walkway in the Supertrees and the Flower Dome, all require a ticket.
Time needed: 2–4 hours
Cost: Free outdoor areas; paid conservatories
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – One of our top picks
2. See Marina Bay Sands from the waterfront
Marina Bay is one of Singapore’s most famous areas, and you don’t need to spend anything to experience its waterfront, skyline and public spaces. You will find the Helix Bridge and ArtScience Museum here along with lots of shops and restaurants.
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Cost: Free outdoor areas and waterfront promenade
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Want the view from above?
3. Visit the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck
You can also pay to visit the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, which offers stunning city views. There are bars and restaurants at the top so you can stay and enjoy the views longer. Make sure to book in advance as the tickets do sell out, particularly if you want to go up from 5pm onwards. Sunset is usually around 7pm, so this is one of the most popular times to visit.
4. Watch Garden Rhapsody
Garden Rhapsody is a highlight of any trip to Singapore, this free show is a really nice way to spend your evening. The Supertrees light up with colourful lights moving in sync with music. While we were there they also had a new show straight after called Aurora with green lights resembling the Northern Lights phenomenon.
The show changes regularly current show times are daily, 7.45pm & 8.45pm, check official times before visiting because schedules can change.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of my favourite places in Singapore. We love nature based attractions and this massive 82-hectare garden displays more than 10,000 plant species. There are so many different gardens we loved using the walking trails to discover the rainforest and ginger garden, as well as Swan & Symphony Lakes. The National Orchid Garden is a highlight that requires a paid entry ticket.
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of our favourites!
6. Eat at a Singapore hawker centre
Hawker centres are famous in Singapore, they are like food courts where stalls with different types of foods are available. Usually each stall has a speciality and some have even been recognised by Michelin. The most famous is the hawker centre featured in Crazy Rich Asians, Newton Food Centre and lots of people want to visit this one. Others that are really popular and well located near attractions you would most likely visit also are Maxwell and Tekka. There is some must try, famous Singaporean dishes such as laksa, chicken rice, kaya toast and chilli crab. These will be cheaper at a hawker centre than at a restaurant.
Time needed: 1 hour per centre
Cost: depends on what your selected meal costs, entry to a hawker centre is free.
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families, foodies
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An absolute must!
7. Visit Jewel Changi Airport
Changi Airport is our favourite airport in the world, we absolutely love flying through here. The Jewel area of Changi is really cool, we spent some time here exploring the indoor waterfall and think it is a must see. If you are transiting you do need to clear immigration to go to Jewel.
Time needed: 1.5 hours
Cost: Free to enter / Canopy Bridge & Park is paid
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you have time definitely check it out.
8. See the Merlion
The Merlion is a statue at the waterfront that looks like a lion/mermaid. It spouts water and has become a place to get an iconic Singapore photo taken. The location on the waterfront is really nice and the view from there is popular of the Singapore skyline.
Time needed: 0.5 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ This is nice, easy to fit into your schedule. Iconic for Singapore.
9. Take a Singapore River Cruise
A Singapore river cruise is iconic as well, it is a very popular attraction. The boats are the traditional ‘bumboats’ that were once used for cargo and now take tourists on a 40-minute cruise along the river where you can see some of the famous Singapore landmarks.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Paid
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best Cultural Things to Do in Singapore
10. Explore Chinatown
Chinatown is a great neighbourhood to visit, there are some temples to see including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the Chinatown Street Market, Chinatown Heritage Centre which is a paid museum, Maxwell Food Centre and the colourful shophouses that line the streets.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Cost: Free except for the Chinatown Heritage Centre
Best for: First-time visitors, culture, food and photography
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
11. Explore Little India
Little India is a vibrant neighbourhood with the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Tan Teng Niah house to visit. There is street art and food galore at the Tekka Centre. Great for foodies, photographers and anyone who wants to experience more of the culture of Singapore.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, culture, food and photography
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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12. Explore Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is another one of my favourite places, the area is centred around the historic Arab Street and the Sultan Mosque. There are pretty, colourful shophouse streets filled with murals, restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Don’t miss Haji Lane with its murals and restaurants.
Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. Visit the Civic District
The Civic District includes places such as Raffles, the National Gallery, examples of Singapore’s history with streets full of colonial architecture.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
14. Visit the National Gallery Singapore
Discover over 8,000 pieces of modern art from Southeast Asia, the largest collection in the world. The best part for me though is it is housed in two stunning buildings, the former City Hall and Supreme Court.
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Cost: $20 SGD
Best for: First-time visitors, couples
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
15. Walk Emerald Hill
I loved visiting Emerald Hill and was surprised it wasn’t more busy. This street is lined with old shop buildings that have been turned into homes. The bright colourful, and interesting facades are excellent backdrops for photos.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved this area!
16. Have a Singapore Sling at Raffles
Having one of the famous Singapore Sling cocktails in the Long Bar at the famous Raffles Hotel where it was created is such a cool thing to do. They also offer a high tea that looks incredible, I can’t think of a better way to enjoy this famous hotel.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: ~$45 SGD
Best for: First-time visitors, couples
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Number one on my list for our next trip!
17. Visit Tiong Bahru Neighbourhood
This neighbourhood is more residential than other neighbourhoods but that is part of the charm. It is quiet, has a relaxed vibe to it and art deco style buildings. The main sight is the red and white Tiong Bahru Market but you can wander the Cultural District Walk to see other buildings. There are a lot of coffee shops and interesting stores here, we stopped into Cat Socrates filled with cute cat pieces. There is some cool street art which matches the retro vibe of the area.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, Art Deco lovers
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ A really sweet place if you have the time.
18. National Museum of Singapore
This museum has exhibitions and displays about Singapore’s cultural history and is in a beautiful building. We saw 2 exhibits, Singapore Odyssea and Once Upon a Tide.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ Good if you have time
19. Fort Canning
Fort Canning is a green space and one of the historic areas in Singapore, once the seat of royalty for rulers of Temasek (Sea Town) in the 1300s. Here you will find the Battlebox Museum which requires a ticket, the free Fort Canning Heritage Gallery Museum and the free Instagram famous Tree Tunnel. The whole hill is worth walking if you have time, there are interesting artefacts throughout. It is also a popular place to picnic.
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Cost: Free except for the Battlebox museum tour
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really liked this, would like to return to see more fully.
20. Walk Orchard Road
Orchard Road is one of the most famous places in Singapore. The street is the hub of shopping in the city and includes many very high end stores. There are lots of malls here, strolling the road and checking out the stores is a fun way to window shop.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Best for: First-time visitors, couples
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ Great window shopping
Best Paid Attractions in Singapore
21. The Original DUCKtours Singapore
Spend an hour exploring Singapore by land and sea on an amphibious duck boat! Great for families, kids will love it!
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: From $50 SGD
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun!
22. Singapore Southern Straits Sunset Dinner Cruise
A romantic sunset cruise with a chef on board for evening dinner, voyage through calm port waters and cruise by Sisters’ Island, St John’s Island, Kusu Island, and Lazarus Island.
Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: $60 SGD Sunset Dinner Cruise
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
23. 3-Night Cruise from Singapore on Disney Adventure (All Sailings)
This is a very cool experience and does require you to have more time on your hands but it is perfect for Disney lovers or families! What a cool and unique thing to do if you can make the time, certainly something the kids (or the kid in you) won’t forget!
Time needed: 3 days
Cost: Depends on cabin booked, check sail dates and details.
Best for: Disney fans, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
24. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
The large roof top Sky Park Observation Deck gives incredible views of the city. This is an easy experience to add into a day of sightseeing and worth the entry fee.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: $36 entry before 4pm or $40 after 4pm.
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
25. Cloud Forest & Flower Dome
A cool conservatory with the most exotic plant species. It has one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls, a mountain of plants and aerial walkways. The Flower Dome is a paid conservatory in the Gardens by the Bay. It features plants from a range of habitats, from the Mediterranean region to South African savannahs and arid deserts. The tickets are sold as a combination of the two experiences.
Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Combination ticket for $43 SGD which includes Cloud Forest & Flower Dome
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
26. Singapore Flyer with Optional Cocktail or Dinner Experience
The Singapore Flyer is one of the world’s largest observation wheels. You will get incredible views over the city and Marina Bay. There are a few different packages you can buy for the Singapore Flyer, from a standard ticket, or tickets that include anything from an ice cream to champagne, a cocktail or a full 3 course dinner in the sky!
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Cost: $45 SGD standard ticket – $78 SGD with a cocktail – $571 with an incredible 3 course dinner in the sky!
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
27. Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is huge! Mandai Wildlife Reserve is home to five major wildlife attractions: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild ASIA. You can buy a ticket to Singapore Zoo separately, or choose combination tickets covering multiple Mandai wildlife parks. There is enough here to easily fill a day.
Time needed: From 4 hours to a full day
Cost: $50 SGD for a single Singapore Zoo ticket or $120 SGD for a combination ticket to 5 parks.
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
28. Singapore Oceanarium
The Singapore Oceanarium has 22 zones that blend live habitats, storytelling, and immersive technology to create unforgettable moments. There is everything from small clownfish to sharks.
Time needed: 3-5 hours
Cost: $50 SGD entry ticket
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
29. Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park located on Sentosa. It has 7 themed areas including Minion Land, Far Far Away, Hollywood, New York, Sci Fi City, Ancient Egypt and The Lost World. This makes a great day for adults and children, there are also several hotels on Sentosa, the closest to the Universal Studios site is Resorts World Sentosa – Hotel Michael or Resorts World Sentosa – Hotel Ora.
Time needed: full day
Cost: From $70 SGD for a single entry ticket
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
30. Best Things to Do in Sentosa
Sentosa is a popular resort island just 15 minutes off the coast of Singapore. You will find beaches, theme parks, luxury hotels and restaurants. Sentosa is a full day experience if you are going to do any attractions, we hope to return to Singapore soon so we can spend some time on Sentosa and explore it fully. There are lots of things to do, but these are the top of our list!
- Skyline Luge
- Sentosa Cable Car and the Cable Car Dining Experience
- Adventure Cove
- 4D Adventureland
- Madame Tussauds Singapore
- SkyHelix
- Harry Potter: Visions of Magic
- Universal Studios
- Singapore Oceanarium
Time needed: full day
Cost: Free if you just walk over on the boardwalk or cost for the cable car or train
Best for: First-time visitors, couples, families
Our verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
31. Best Things to Do at Night in Singapore
Singapore is also great in the evening there are dinners over looking the skyline, light shows and Clarke Quay or Boat Quay full of restaurants. Whatever you choose to do in the evening you will definitely be looking at lots of pretty lights.
- Garden Rhapsody – Watch the Supertrees light up to music in this free evening show at Gardens by the Bay.
- Big Bus Night Tour by Open-Top Bus & Live Guide — See the city’s attractions in the cool of the evening.
- Night Safari Ticket | Mandai Wildlife Reserve — Encounter animals at night, a very cool experience!
- Marina Bay after dark — The city’s famous waterfront buzzes with atmosphere of busy restaurants in the evening.
- Singapore Cruise — See the city’s waterfront landmarks illuminated at night from a traditional bumboat.
- Clarke Quay — Find a cool atmosphere, perfect for a drink by the water.
- Singapore Starry Night Cruise, Spectra By The Boat, Rhapsody
- Roof top bars — Head to the sky to see the nighttime views.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Night with 9 tastings — Taste the flavours of the city and find out where the best local food is.
32. Best Things to Do in Singapore with Kids
Families will love Singapore, there are endless things to do to entertain kids. Sentosa has loads of attractions and each could easily fill a day.
- 3-Night Cruise from Singapore on Disney Adventure – This is such a cool idea, can see kids loving it!
- Universal Studios – Perfect for a fun theme park day.
- Singapore Zoo – This is like a natural encounter theme park!
- Singapore Oceanarium – Amazing if your kids like the water.
- Gardens by the Bay – A must for everyone.
- Sentosa – Would definitely stay on Sentosa if you are seeing a few of the attractions here.
- Singapore Flyer – A great view of the city.
33. Most Unique Things to Do in Singapore
Singapore has been well travelled and often there are similar things on each ‘must do’ list. These are the more unique things that we think everyone should do:
- Museum of Ice Cream Singapore – A museum for ice cream sounds like a perfect plan!
- Make Singapore Hawker Heritage in Miniatures Clay Workshop – This is such a cute activity and unique souvenir to take home.
- Kampong Glam street art – Loved finding all the street art here, it was really good.
- Tiong Bahru art deco buildings and street art – Cute area and street art too.
- Chinese Seal Engraving Workshop – Such a cool souvenir and very unique.
- Walk Emerald Hill – Loved walking this street! It was surprisingly quiet when we visited as well.
- Gemstone Earrings by Floral Knots – Inspired by Singapore’s Peranakan culture, these are a pretty souvenir!
- Art Jamming with Cats – If you are an animal lover come and hang out with some rescue cats.
- Ceramic and Pottery Workshop – Make some pottery and decorate it with a Singaporean theme.
- Personalised Perfume Workshop – Create a perfume to remind you of your time in Singapore.
34. Best Free Things to Do in Singapore
There are a lot of free things to do in Singapore, our favourites were the Merlion, watching Garden Rhapsody, exploring Emerald Hill, Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Haji Lane and Little India. We really liked walking Fort Canning Park and finding all the historic areas as well as the free museum. We happened to be there for the National Day celebrations and the free firework display was awesome! Singapore really knows how to do a light show.
35. Best Things to Do in Singapore for Couples
We travelled as a couple to Singapore and had a great time, the free activities are great to fill your day, then in the evenings take a night cruise or have an incredible dinner in the sky, there are a lot of options! Next time we visit we want to make sure and get a Singapore Sling at Raffles, that sounds amazing too.
How Many Days Do You Need in Singapore?
1 day in Singapore
With one day in Singapore you can see the highlights, be really selective in what you want to see and make a plan for the day so you don’t waste any time deciding what to do next.
2 days in Singapore
We spent 2 days in Singapore and wrote our itinerary based on what we think was most interesting → Your 2-Day Singapore Itinerary. You can easily swap out any part of our itinerary and add in something more suitable.
3 days in Singapore
If you have 3 days in Singapore you can fit in a big attraction like Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, an aqua park or Universal Studios.
4–5 days
4-5 days in Singapore gives you the flexibility to explore more of the lesser known neighbourhoods, a wildlife experience, museums and some of the unique activities from our list above.
Which Singapore Attractions Are Actually Worth Paying For?
Many of Singapore’s attractions are worth paying for, but it depends on what you enjoy. If you’re interested in gardens and nature, Cloud Forest can be worth the admission price. If you’re mainly interested in Singapore’s skyline, you may prefer the free views from Marina Bay. Wildlife lovers may find Singapore Zoo worth the cost, while theme-park fans will get more value from Universal Studios Singapore.
| Attraction | Free alternative | Worth paying? |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark | Marina Bay waterfront | Yes |
| Cloud Forest | Outdoor Gardens by the Bay | Yes |
| Flower Dome | Outdoor gardens | Optional |
| Singapore Flyer | Free waterfront skyline views | Depends |
| River Cruise | Walk the river | Yes |
| Singapore Zoo | — | Yes – for wildlife lovers |
| Universal Studios | — | Yes – for theme-park fans |
| Singapore Oceanarium | — | Yes – for families/ocean lovers |
Singapore Attractions Map
Tips for Visiting Singapore’s Attractions
These are the tips we needed before visiting, they will really help you get the most out of your time.
Start early
Getting out and about even an hour earlier will give you a little more wriggle room when getting around.
Group attractions geographically
Make sure that you organise your day geographically, by grouping the things you want to see into suburbs or areas you will not waste time going across town and back. Make sure to check opening hours as there may be a best time to visit a neighbourhood to get to an attraction.
Use the MRT
The MRT will definitely help you get around quickly and easily. The trains are frequent, cheap and most importantly air conditioned! Buying a tourist card gives you unlimited trips on most public transport which can help too.
Book popular attractions ahead
The most popular attractions sell out ahead of time, make sure you get your tickets for the things you really want to see so you don’t miss out. Remember some of the tickets you buy online need to be registered for the day and time you want to visit.
Check opening hours
This is so important, we have accidentally missed things thinking they were open later than they were.
Allow for Singapore’s heat and humidity
Singapore is hot and humid year round. We were so surprised by this in August. Make sure you pack accordingly, use the MRT for cooler transport and pop into shops to cool down.
Don’t try to see everything
It will not be possible to see everything, even in 3 days. Prioritise the things you most want to see and don’t over fill your itinerary.
Carry a water bottle
Singapore’s tap water is safe to drink so carry a bottle and try to fill it up.
Singapore Attraction Passes — Are They Worth It?
Singapore Attraction Passes are great if you are visiting a lot of the paid attractions. If you are planning to only visit one paid attraction then I don’t think it is worth it, if you are planning on visiting multiple then it would probably work out to be good value. I suggest that you add up the cost of the attractions you think you will visit and then compare it to the pass price.
The Singapore Attraction Pass includes lots of options – you can choose to add up to 10 attractions, a premium attraction and Universal Studios. They offer a discounted pricing structure.
Where to Stay for Sightseeing in Singapore
Where you stay can make a big difference when you only have two days in Singapore. We recommend choosing a neighbourhood with easy MRT access so you spend less time travelling between attractions.
These are hotels in neighbourhoods that work particularly well for a short Singapore trip. We stayed in Bugis and found it a convenient base for exploring the city.
| Best places to stay in Singapore | Best for | Price | Transport | Our Verdict | Recommended Hotel |
| Changi Airport | Transiting Passengers | $$ | Located Inside Airport | ⭐⭐⭐ | Changi Transit Hotel Terminal 1 |
| Bugis / Kampong Glam | First-timers | $$ | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mercure Singapore Bugis |
| Chinatown | Food/culture | $$ | Excellent | ⭐⭐ | Dorsett Singapore |
| Marina Bay | Luxury | $$$$ | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐ | QT Singapore |
| Orchard | Shopping | $$$ | Excellent | ⭐⭐ | Pan Pacific Orchard |
| Little India | Budget | $ | Excellent | ⭐ | ibis budget Singapore Selegie |
| Clarke Quay | Nightlife | $$$ | Excellent | ⭐⭐ | Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay by IHG |
| Sentosa | Resorts | $$$$ | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ | W Singapore – Sentosa Cove |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number one tourist attraction in Singapore?
Gardens by the Bay is one of the top attractions in Singapore and one of the places we’d prioritise on a first visit. The outdoor gardens are free to explore, while attractions such as Cloud Forest and Flower Dome require tickets.
What should you not miss in Singapore?
I would not miss the Gardens by the Bay, walking Singapore’s unique neighbourhoods and eating the local flavours at hawker centres.
How many days do you need in Singapore?
You can see a lot of Singaore in just 2 days and it is a perfect amount of time for a first visit. Alternatively, you could spend 3-5 days and go at a relaxed pace and visit more of the main attractions.
What are the best free things to do in Singapore?
We loved the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Emerald Hill and the waterfront at Marina Bay.
What are the best things to do in Singapore at night?
At night soak up the pretty sky line of Singapore which is lit up beautifully by taking a river cruise, eating at a roof top restaurant or catching the free light shows.
Is Singapore good for first-time visitors to Southeast Asia?
Singapore is a great place to visit for first time travellers to Southeast Asia, it is clean and easy to navigate and English is widely used.
Is Sentosa worth visiting?
Sentosa is worth visiting if you want beaches, theme parks, resort experiences or attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore and the Singapore Oceanarium. We didn’t have enough time to visit Sentosa during our two-day trip, so we recommend treating it as a dedicated half-day or full-day experience rather than trying to squeeze it into an already busy itinerary.
What is the best area to stay in Singapore for sightseeing?
We stayed in Bugis and it was the perfect location to see everything in the main part of Singapore.
What attractions should I book in advance?
I would book the big attractions, the Singapore Flyer, Universal Studios, Singapore Zoo etc. These are the big attractions that book out early.
Final Verdict — The Best Things to Do in Singapore
If we had to narrow Singapore down to just five experiences, we’d choose Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay, the Botanic Gardens, exploring the cultural neighbourhoods and eating at a hawker centre.
There is so much to do in Singapore that we know we need to come back, we really enjoyed how easy it is to get around the city and maximise your sightseeing time. There really is something for everyone here.
Only have two days? → Read our 2-Day Singapore Itinerary
Continue Planning Your Singapore Trip
→ Changi Transit Hotel Terminal 1 Singapore Review: Is This the Best Changi Airport Transit Hotel?
→ Singapore Travel Guide
→ 2-Day Singapore Itinerary
→ 16 hours in Singapore Airport
→ Plaza Premium Lounge Changi Airport, Singapore
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