It’s getting cold around where I live and I’m starting to miss the warm weather, especially Singapore’s tropical weather…! So I’ve decided to dedicate my first blog post to my 6-day summer trip to Singapore.
I categorized my recommendations and favorite places into food, attractions, shopping malls, museums, and photo spots. I also pinned all those locations on a Google map, which you can find at the bottom of this post. Enjoy :)
FOOD
Check out the basement of Raffles City! SO MUCH FOOD.
I discovered Raffles City on my first day in Singapore and came back at least 3 times during my stay. The basement has so much food - from brunch to dinner to dessert - and literally all the food looks great!
My favorites at Raffles City:
Din Tai Fung
Great dim sum place.
Nam Nam
Good and cheap pho. Also highly recommend their lychee-pandan iced tea.
Riverside Fish
LARGE whole fish for a reasonable price. My boyfriend recommends.
Milk & Honey
My favorite froyo place.
Coffee Academics
Coffee in a cone. How cool is this!?
Check out the all-you-can-eat restaurants in Orchard Gateway!
Orchard Gateway is my another favorite food destination in Singapore because of all the all-you-can-eat restaurants there. Bring your hungry stomach because you’re about to stuff yourself with some cheap good Asian food! Just be careful because some restaurants require a minimum numbers of people for their all-you-can-eat options.
Shabu Sai
All-you-can-eat Japanese hotpot.
Spending a day at the Marina Bay? Check out the Shoppes.
The Shoppes is a great shopping mall to stop by whether you’re looking to grab food, go (window) shopping, or just appreciate its architectural beauty. There are lots of super fancy restaurants if you’re looking to treat yourself, but there are also lots of affordable options if you’re a budget traveler like me!
My favorite food options at the Shoppes:
Rasapura Masters
Food court on the basement. Open 24 hours!
Toast Box
Highly recommend their chicken curry :)
Tcc
Nice cafe to take a break and sip on a fancy cup of coffee.
Food in and around the Esplanade
I like the Esplanade for its convenient location. After grabbing food at the Esplanade, cross the bridge to the south to explore the Marina Bay, walk to the east to check out the Singapore Flyer, or head to the north to explore the city… Your pick!
P.S. Makansutra Gluttons Bay right next to the Esplanade has lots of street food, which I’m super sad I didn’t have time to experience it, but you should :)
If you’re a huge fan of pho like me, check out Mrs. Pho.
Thumbs up for their good pho and cozy atmosphere. Walking distance to downtown Singapore, so grab an early lunch at Mrs. Pho and go explore the city! Pro Tip: Bring your own napkins.
Tired of walking? Take a break with cats at the Cat Cafe.
If you love cats, take a coffee break surrounded by lovely kitties at the Cat Cafe.
Enjoy the Waterfront View at the Starbucks Waterboat House.
Yes, it’s a Starbucks, but it’s not just any Starbucks. This one is located on the harbor facing the Marina Bay, and the waterfront view is worth paying for a cup of coffee :) Pro Tip: Visit during the day to best enjoy the view.
ATTRACTIONS
Gardens by the Bay
There are tons of photo spots and attractions inside Gardens by the Bay. You can definitely spend a whole day there. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes and be ready to do a lot of walking!
My recommendations:
Cloud Forest
I highly recommend checking out Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay! It’s a biodome featuring vegetation of the tropical highlands. You can walk through the water fall and take in the nature and city view at the same time. It’s definitely one of my favorite places from my Singapore trip. Entrance costs 12SGD (~9USD) per adult.
Dragonfly Lake
If you take the walkway from the Marina Bay Sands to Gardens by the Bay, this is the first place you’ll end up. Great photo spot!
Supertrees
Check out the iconic Supertrees, giant “trees” made out of canopies. You can even take a walk on the skyway among them.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Another great place to visit if you’re looking to enjoy some nature in the city! It’s one of the most well groomed and beautiful botanic gardens I’ve been to. They also offer guided tours, so check the schedule first if interested.
Sentosa Island
If you’re thinking about relaxing on the beach or doing some outdoorsy things, spend a day at Sentosa island. The whole island’s got that tropical resort vibe, yet it’s easily accessible from the city by public transportations. Sentosa Island has lots of attractions, so you could also stay there and spend a few days exploring the island.
Boardwalk
Sentosa Island is connected to the mainland by a long boardwalk. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk across and you will get an amazing view! If you’re not super excited about walking though, you can also take a train from the mainland.
Cable Car
Another way to get in and out of the island is to take the cable car. You can get an amazing birds eye view, so I highly recommend it unless you’re really scared of heights…! You can also get around inside the island using the cable car.
Beaches
There are multiple beaches you can check out along the southwest coast of Sentosa Island. There’s also a cool little suspension bridge on Palawan Beach that you can walk across to the observation decks.
S.E.A. Aquarium
I’m a big fan of aquariums so I liked this one a lot, especially their giant 2-story-tall tanks and the underwater tunnel. They have daily feeding times, so check the schedule if you’re interested! Entrance fees are 34SGD (~25USD) per adult, and it takes about 2 hours to walk through the aquarium.
Universal Studios
I didn’t have enough time to explore it, but it’s worth mentioning that there’s also Universal Studios on Sentosa Island. If you’re a big fan of Universal Studios or you’ve always wanted to visit one, there’s your chance.
Adventure Cove Waterpark
Something else I didn’t get to experience but worth mentioning. I didn’t go into the waterpark (due to a minor knee injury :/) but it looked super fun!
Singapore Flyer
Go on the Singapore Flyer to take in a 360 degrees view of the city. Highly recommend going at night to enjoy the beautiful city night view! Ticket costs 33SGD (~25USD) per adult, and the ride lasts half an hour.
Spectra
If you’re around the Marina Bay at night, check out the outdoor light and water show! Head out early to the dock outside the Shoppe to claim the best spot :) The show takes place twice daily at 8pm and 9pm. (Also 10pm for Friday and Saturday.)
SHOPPING MALLS
There are so many shopping malls in the city…!
Here are some that I personally visited:
Raffles City
Check out their basement for FOOD! Also their art gallery on the first floor had pretty cool exhibitions.
The Shoppes @ the Marina Bay Sands
Spend the day shopping at this huge shopping mall or stop by on your way to Gardens by the Bay. You can also take a sampan ride on the canal running through the mall for 10SGD (~7.5USD).
The Esplanade
Convenient location. Check out their amazing public library on the third floor too!
Suntec City
Another conveniently located shopping mall. In the middle of the city and easily accessible by public transportation.
Orchard Gateway
Check out their all-you-can-eat restaurants!
Vivocity
Right next to the boardwalk leading to Sentosa Island. Stop by on your way :)
CityLink
Raining? Check out this underground shopping mall.
MUSEUMS
If you enjoy visiting museums, you’d love the number of great art, science, and historical museums Singapore has to offer.
Here’re some I visited, but the ticketing prices and exhibitions change, so I recommend checking out their websites first!
ArtScience Museum
This flower-shaped building next to the Shoppes looks pretty cool from outside, but they also host a number of awesome art and science exhibitions inside. They have rotating exhibits, so be sure to check which ones are on display. They also offer student discounts, so don’t forget to bring your student ID if you are one!
National Gallery Singapore
This huge historical city hall turned art museum offers lots to see, including their special exhibitions and rooftop views. The only caveat here was the wait time for ticketing, so either come early, buy tickets online, or be prepared for the long line.
National Museum of Singapore
Another great museum to visit in the downtown. They offer both art and historical exhibitions. My favorite one here is Story of the Forest, which lets you take a walk among the drawings of animals and plants came alive with 3D animations.
National Design Centre
If you’re interested in design, check out National Design Centre. It’s located in the middle of city and the entrance is free for all, so I recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.
Mint Museum of Toys
If you’re a fan of vintage toys and collectables, then definitely add this place to your bucket list, but even for everyone else, this is a fascinating museum. I liked how all their five floors had different exhibition themes! Entrance fees are $15 per adult.
PHOTO SPOTS
Basically everywhere you visit in Singapore is a good photo spot in my opinion, but here are some additional photo spots that are worth mentioning:
Merlion
Taking a picture with probably the most iconic statue of Singapore? Merlion Park is a good spot if you’re looking to get a close-up photo, but you can also get a pretty picture from the Esplanade Bridge with the Merlion and the Marina Bay Sands in the backdrop.
Helix Bridge
This bridge connects the Marina Bay and the Esplanade sides of the harbor. The bridge is really photogenic and the view you can get from it is also amazing! Highly recommend taking a panorama photo from one of the observatory platforms on the bridge.
Rooftop and outdoor deck at the Esplanade
Great photo spot for capturing the view of the Marina Bay. There are also free outside music performances some nights.
Outside the Shoppes
Another great photo spot for capturing the waterfront view with the beautiful city in the backdrop.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Planning your trip to Singapore? I’ve pinned the locations I mentioned in this post to the Google map below. You can also copy and edit to create your own Singapore itinerary map. Happy traveling :)