6 ways to experience the best of Singapore

Experience the best of Singapore 

Attractions in Singapore

With so much to see and do across Singapore, getting your bearings can feel overwhelming for the first-time visitor. The easiest way to remedy that is to do one (or more) of these things.

First up, get up high and see what’s out there. The Marina Bay Sands Skypark observation deck is Singapore’s fanciest vantage point, offering panoramic cityscape vistas. It also maps the key landmarks across the city. For a more historical viewpoint, take a guided tour up the 54-metre-tall Clock Tower at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.

Another popular way to get Singapore savvy is on a hop-on hop-off bus tour. While the commentary on board can be a little cheesy, the 24- or 48-hour tickets allow you to stop wherever you like, close to the main tourist attractions.

If you’re visiting Singapore’s resort-style Sentosa Island, take a ride on the new open-air revolving SkyHelix Sentosa gondola. You can even purchase snacks and speciality cocktails to accompany this 12- minute ride.

Shopping in Singapore

Shopping is to Singapore as coffee is to Melbourne, and there are some great bargains and unique items if you know where to look.

Orchard Road is Singapore’s most renowned shopping district. While it’s only 2.2 kilometres long, this bustling retail and dining boulevard is chock-full of interconnecting malls, international brands, and quirky local boutiques with products all vying for space in your luggage.

If you enjoy a good haggle, visit one of Singapore’s lively night markets. After sundown offers the most authentic hustle-and-bustle vibes, and a bargain or two. Head to Chinatown’s Street Market for a mix of fashion, electronics, antiques, and food. The Bugis Street Market is great value if you’re on a budget, and Haji Lane shopping houses are a must see.

Nature in Singapore

Given its size, Singapore has a surprising number of green spaces (it’s 10,000 times smaller than Australia). Getting out into nature connects you to the other side of the island’s charms.

Gardens by the Bay is a central 101-hectare park with diverse plants from every continent. Over 1.5 million different plants, in fact. Visiting the gardens is the easiest way to experience nature’s finest without veering too far from your hotel. It’s spectacular at night when the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show plays. Gardens by the Bay has been a Singapore must-do for 10 years. To celebrate that milestone, they just opened a new extension called Active Garden to unite people from all walks of life.

Alongside an outdoor fitness gym, there’s also communal gardening, an event area, a sensory trail, and a musical playground.

Also new, the first part of the Round-Island-Route has recently opened, offering a scenic coastal route for hikers and cyclists. If you prefer hiking in the rainforest, head inland to MacRitchie Reserve, Singapore’s old nature park.

Eating in Singapore

Yes, Singapore has impressive attractions to suit all interests, but want our opinion on what Singapore is even better at? Food! Whether you’re enjoying a messy meal from a hawker at Lau Pau Sat or a fine-dining experience at Odette’s in Singapore’s National Gallery, it all translates into an experience that heightens your connection to Lion City. They say the stomach is the way to the heart, and that’s certainly true in Singapore.

One of the best ways to get to grips with the variety of meals that reveal Singapore’s culinary heritage is on a food tour. Eat your way around Singapore’s bustling Katong area, where bites of local history accompany bites of the best delicacies. Wear stretchy pants.

Adventures in Singapore

There are several fun adventures to be had in Singapore, including an open-sea kayaking trip to Pulau Ubin, an island off the northeast coast. You can also explore the Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems, while you’re there. To experience this tour, join one of our partner tours, of which RACV Members receive a discount.

For a wild family adventure, visit the Singapore Night Safari in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, next door to the famous Singapore Zoo. Witness 900 nocturnal creatures in seven geographic zones from the comfort of a guided tram ride. The audio commentary ensures the whole family learns something new about these familiar and rare endangered species.

Singapore nightlife

There’s a long-standing tradition of visitors to Singapore indulging in a Singapore Sling, the country's most iconic tipple. Created in 1915 out of the fancy Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar, this gin-based cocktail fast became the beverage of choice for upper-class ladies in Singapore’s muggy climes.

For a more modern and fun setting, head to the very pink, very Instagrammable Museum of Ice Cream. By day it’s a fun-filled attraction dedicated to ice cream. It later transforms into Night at the Museum, still with free-flowing ice cream but with the adult-centric twist of alcohol, too. It’s a night to remember, particularly the parting ‘sprinkles shot’ after being in the world’s largest sprinkles pool.