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In Singapore, even the airport is extra-sensory | Vuitton Lim/Unsplash
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on what Singapore is all about, it surprises you. The sleek skyline, enigmatic of the country’s quickly soaring progress, is also bursting with untamed greenery. Dreading the world’s longest flight? It’s all worth it, because the airport is a destination in its own right. The best art and culture the city-state has to offer? Tucked away inside a shopping mall.
Do you travel for food? Do you live for that perfect back-alley oyster omelette that is not only perfectly crispy but also tells the story of the Southeast Asian diaspora in one bite? How about ‘gramming a caviar-spiked short-rib whilst sipping a painstakingly made martini? You can do it all in Singapore. The Lion City is home to some of the world’s best street food—yet it’s also an epicenter for some of the most boundary-pushing, high-end restaurants and innovative cocktail bars in the world.
Originally a small fishing village that gave way to British colonization, and later, large-scale Chinese and Indian immigration melding with the Indigenous Malay, Singapore’s growth and cultural flux can be taken in at every turn. From each neighborhood’s unique personality and architecture to the bustling coffee shops and boutique artisans, Singapore’s urban-density-to-rich-history ratio makes it the ultimate destination for those of us who just want to walk around and see where the city takes them.
Today, Singapore is taking bold steps to lead the way worldwide on conservation and sustainability. As an island with a population of over 5 million, where 90% of produce is imported along with much of the nation’s water, conservation isn’t an abstract—it’s existential. Go to Singapore now to see the world’s urban future taking shape, seen most obviously in huge, eye-popping urban green spaces that run on solar-powered “Supertrees,” or a 130-foot indoor waterfall—the world’s largest—that uses recycled rainwater. But conservation is also at work on the ground level—rooftop farming, hotels with zero carbon footprint, and food waste inventively repurposed in cocktail bars.
Between the history, sustainability and innovation, and top-tier food, discovery never ends in Singapore. Below you’ll find all the best things to do, places to eat, and parks and neighborhoods to explore to make the most of your visit.
Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s most popular tourist attractions, and for good reason. Take in Supertree Grove—towering, solar-powered arboreal structures that generate power for the gardens—as you make your way to the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. These giant domed structures are an otherworldly experience (and refreshingly temperature-controlled, which is crucial on perpetually hot days) where you’ll take in the more than 250,000 species of plants covering a man-made mountain draped in cloud. Part botanical gardens and part startling climate change commentary, lapping the treetop canopy walk of the Cloud Forest biome lets you admire diverse species of rainforest plants and orchids while learning about the staggering effects our current industrial systems pose to their longevity.
Spying Singapore’s unique architecture is one of those must-do tourist activities that even a local will gladly come along for. Head to Marina Bay and hit up the SkyPark Observation Deck to take in the sprawling views of the bay and Singapore’s city skyline, or get a seat on Singapore Flyer, one of the world’s largest ferris wheels at 550 feet.
Start your day off with a quintessential kaya toast (best with soy and a boiled egg) and kopi coffee—a traditional Malaysian coffee that’s brewed with butter and sugar that has as many variations as there are kopi shops. If you think you’ve seen someone drinking brown liquid out of a bag, that’s probably kopi. Want to make your kopi iced to beat the Singapore swelter? Ask for kopi-o peng. While there’s no shortage of kopi shops, there’s no place like the cult Toast Box (now 65 plus locations strong) for Singaporeans.
Singapore is a city where it actually makes more financial sense for locals to eat out than to cook at home. And eat out they do, on transcendent broth-poached chicken and garlicky rice, ultra-rich pork rib bak kut teh soup, crispy fish head bee hoon, or the Chinese-Malay cuisine known as Peranakan. The hawker food stalls are a tradition deeply ingrained in the culture—many stalls are run by families of hawkers now into the third generation of feeding Singapore.
Try Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown, where stalls sling prepared foods that reflect Singapore’s Chinese influence. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is one of the most famous hawker dishes thanks to Michelin and Anthony Bourdain’s endorsement—but the line is often long, and since the original team is no longer intact thanks to a spat, many locals feel it’s lost its luster. Ignore the hype, skip the line, and head to the end of the row for Uncle Sky Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice for a tastier, under-the-radar bowl of one of Singapore’s most iconic dishes. Plus, you’ll be supporting a great cause. While the stall itself is modest, once a week Uncle Sky provides free chicken rice to any elderly Singaporeans in need of a hot meal, and even uses a network of friends to deliver to those who are unable to leave their homes.
Another option is Tekka Centre in Little India for Whampoa prawn noodles, ice-cold chendol, and mee goreng. This is a mixture of purveyors and food stalls from Singapore’s Indian population, not to mention home to some of the best Mamak in the city: A unique style of cuisine born of the mixture of Muslim Indian and Malay that’s as Singaporean as it gets in the form of flaky roti canai, fish head curries, and fragrant mounds of banana leaf-wrapped rice.
Go high end for dinner at one of Singapore’s famous home dining supper clubs, like FatFuku where you try family recipes in an intimate private meal. You can also dive into some of Singapore’s best Chinese cuisine at TungLok Signatures, or experience elevated Peranakan at Candlenut. The two-Michelin-starred Waku Ghin is another stellar option, expertly fusing Japanese, American, and Italian cuisine within some beautifully minimalist interiors.
Get to know Singapore’s famous cocktail culture at Native for tipples made with hyper-regional ingredients, go OG with Jigger & Pony, or feel like Gatsby at Atlas Bar. For more exploration, take a drive to Brass Lion Distillery, where you can make your own bottle of Singapore’s favorite spirit, gin.
You have options when it comes to finding the Singapore neighborhood for you, and they’re another great way (in addition to eating) to experience Singapore’s three major cultures and religions. The largest of the three is Singapore’s (predominantly Christian) Chinese population, experienced through bustling Chinatown, where you’ll find temples alongside modern boutiques (plus the endlessly explorable Maxwell Food Centre).
About 15% of Singaporeans are Muslims from South Asia (mostly Malaysian as well as Indonesian), and you’ll see that influence in the Arab Quarter, anchored by the impressive Masjid Sultan Mosque, which you can visit and tour. Just a block away, take a walk down Haji Lane for ultra-cool vintage shops and brightly colored murals. Vibrant, colorful, and historic—but also hip and newly energized by a younger crowd—the Arab Quarter is a great place to shop and rub shoulders with merchants who will be more than happy to draw you into conversation.
Little India is a showcase for Singapore’s ethnic Indian population—itself incredibly diverse, with a mix of languages, religions (Hindu being the largest portion), and classes represented. The aforementioned Tekka Centre is a main draw, but there is more to explore, including Hindu and Buddhist temples. Walk down Serangoon Road and take in the historic, colorful, Instagram-worthy markets and restaurants.
Outside of these three centers, Tiong Bahru may be Singapore’s trendiest ‘hood and is worth a stroll to find modern galleries, scenester vinyl stores, art deco tea houses, lust-worthy décor shops, and the hip bakery, Plain Vanilla.
National Gallery Singapore, located in the Civic District, boasts the largest public collection of Southeast Asian modern art. You can spend an entire day getting lost in this architecturally stunning building, which was once the site of Singapore’s former Supreme Court and City Hall. After immersing yourself in the works of Chen Wen Hsi and Chua Mia Tee, head over to Smoke & Mirrors, a rooftop bar attached to the museum offering panoramic views of Singapore Cricket Club’s Padang Field and, of course, Marina Bay Sands.
For something a bit more niche, check out the Peranakan Museum, where the history of this distinctly Singaporean community extends beyond food. The only museum dedicated to Peranakan culture in the world, this can’t-miss institution houses artifacts related to the history of Peranakan identity, including fashion, furniture, and contemporary art.
“Nightlife” can look like a lot of things in Singapore. Consider kicking things off with a sunset bike ride in and around Marina Bay, where you can cover a lot of ground at not-so-oppressive temperatures. You’ll pass the Marina Barrage, the Esplanade performing arts theater—and for F1 fans—the Formula One Pit Building. Make sure to stick around for Spectra, a nightly light show that takes place over the water at the Event Plaza.
The Mandai Wildlife Reserve lays claim to the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park, Night Safari. Sit in the comfort of a tram, or embark on a walking path and ogle at elephants and tigers in what looks like their natural habitat. Instead of using cages, the wildlife reserve makes use of naturalistic enclosures, so the only thing separating visitors from the animals are things like cattle grids and moats.
If you fancy a bit of theater, check out Wild Rice, an expansive performing arts theater located, funnily enough, inside Funan shopping center. The theater company puts on some of the most cutting-edge works, mainly written and performed by Singaporean artists. And for an unexpected hotspot of jazz music, pay a visit to Blue Jaz Cafe located in the ever-buzzing Arab quarter.
Make sure you allot some extra time on your return journey home. 2019 saw the addition of a giant nature-themed entertainment complex linking the terminals, making Jewel Changi Airport quite possibly the coolest in the world. It’s an architectural wonder that draws visitors who aren’t even flying anywhere, and you’ll find the world’s largest indoor waterfall (that uses recycled rainwater), art installations and performances, more than 311 shops, and an IMAX theater.
If you’re aiming to go big, Marina Bay Sands is bound to be an unforgettable stay, where a luxury shopping mall, ArtScience Museum, and Marquee Nightclub (complete with a ferris wheel) are all at your fingertips. For a more historic stay, there’s the stunningly neoclassical Fullerton, built in 1928. Situated on the mouth of the Singapore River, it once stood as the city-state’s General Post Office. The Raffles Hotel is even older. Originally built in 1887, it once provided rooms for famous guests like Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad and Charlie Chaplin. The landmark hotel is famous for a certain tall tale, in which a tiger infiltrated the billiard room, and it also happens to be the birthplace of the Singapore Sling (They might even let you crank their mechanical shaker for the ‘gram). For something a bit more affordable—but still quite luxe—The Clan Hotel, located in the Central Business District, pays homage to the rich history of Chinese immigrants settling in Singapore, and is only a stone’s throw away from Chinatown. There’s an infinity pool, too.
Singapore is a year-round destination with largely the same weather (hot and humid) no matter when you go. The wet season from September to February can live up to its name, so if you want to avoid sporadic downpours, plan to visit after February and before September. The city-state really lights up during Chinese New Year, so if you don’t mind the crowds, the end of January might also be a good time to get in on the action.
Singapore falls under Singapore Standard Time (SST). This translates to 12 hours ahead of New York’s Eastern Standard Time and 15 hours ahead of California’s Pacific Standard Time.
If you aren’t used to humidity and heat, you’re going to learn to truly live for that first blast of A/C when heading back indoors. Summer runs from June to September, when temperatures average a high of 89 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter runs from December to February with an average high temperature of 87 degrees and average low temperature of 77 degrees.
The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is one of the most impressive public transportation systems in the game. Clean and easy to navigate, it’s a slice of the future. If you’re in town for just a few days, it might be worth getting the Singapore Tourist Pass, which will allow you unlimited travel for one, two, or three days. Otherwise, you can access the station using contactless payment—no subway cards necessary.
Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD) and each dollar is worth 100 cents. As of April, 2024, $1 USD exchanges for 1.35 SGD.
Plug type G, marked by three rectangular pins organized into a triangle, is used throughout Singapore.
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