Southeast Asia’s smallest country (and city state), pocket-sized Singapore punches well above its weight. Amid the space-age skyline and candy-colored shophouses lie world-class museums and galleries, not to mention the world’s original Night Safari. Three cultures—Indian, Chinese, and Malay—shaped the Lion City, and tours focused on their delicious food are among the best things to do in Singapore. But if river cruises, heritage temples, and Sentosa Island are not enough, Malaysia is a hop, skip, and jump across the water. Capital Kuala Lumpur and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Melaka are popular day trips.
Hot and humid year-round, this destination actually has two rainy seasons—between November and January, and between June and September. It’s relatively dry in February, March, and April, making it a good time to be outdoors in destinations like the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Mount Faber Park. Expect large crowds over the summer, between school holidays, and around numerous cultural festivals and big seasonal sales. Visit in fall for smaller crowds, though plan ahead if you want to visit for the Formula One Grand Prix in September.
Singapore has an excellent public transport network. The MRT is easy to use, and there’s usually a stop within walking distance of major attractions. Buses offer a more extensive footprint, but using them may be a little more confusing. Taxis are plentiful and affordable, and nearly all drivers speak English. A water taxi is also a limited but pleasant option for attractions along the river.
This city is famous for its food, and one of the best things to do in Singapore is to sample a variety of dishes at a hawker center. With more than 100 centers, there are plenty of options. Although most visitors flock to central hawker centers like Chinatown Complex, Maxwell Food Centre, and Lau Pa Sat, it’s worth visiting the less centrally located options, like the Old Airport Road Food Centre, the open-air Makansutra Gluttons Bay, and Changi Hawker Centre.
Local Currency Singapore Dollar (SGD) | Time Zone SGT (UTC +7) | Country Code +65 | Language(s) Chinese | Attractions 126 | Tours 691 | Reviews 28,839 |
After calling Singapore home for four years, Ally certainly knows her way around the little red dot.
download a local taxi app like Grab or Gojek—the midday Singapore humidity hits hard, and air-conditioned taxis aren’t expensive.
starts with an early morning bike ride along East Coast Park, involves getting your shopping fix on Orchard Road, and ends with a drink at a rooftop bar (like Mr. Stork or CÉ LA VI) to enjoy the balmy breeze and cityscape views.
Gardens by the Bay. Make sure you go during the show times—7:45pm and 8:45pm—when the trees come alive with lights.
go to a hawker center. Satay Street and Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market) provide a taste of history set against an impressive backdrop of modern skyscrapers.
head up to LeVeL33, which overlooks the entire Marina Bay. Bonus: It also happens to be the world’s highest microbrewery.
assuming Singapore noodles are a national dish. They’re actually a Cantonese creation and have no connection to Singapore. The local dish you should be looking out for is Hainanese chicken rice.
A tiny island but a travel hub, the city is famous for its shopping, street food, and its skyline, particularly Marina Bay Sands. Changi Airport, home to a 130-foot (40-meter) waterfall, ranks among the world’s best airports, while the iconic Raffles Hotel gave the world the Singapore Sling cocktail.
...MoreSingapore is a great destination for a long weekend. Indulge at hawker courts, cocktail bars, or fine dining restaurants. Explore world-class museums like the ArtScience Museum; shop the malls on Orchard Road; discover the Cloud Forest, with its Supertree Grove and Flower Dome; and visit the tranquil Pulau Ubin island.
...MoreSingapore is magical at night. Join a night cruise, visit the SkyPark observation deck, and hit stylish cocktail bars. The Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo is a must. You can also savor the light and water show at Marina Bay Sands or the light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay.
...MoreThe best things to do in Singapore include visiting Sentosa for theme parks, Marina Bay for skyline views, Chinatown for temples and shops, and Little India for food and street art. Sip a Singapore Sling, eat chili crab and Hainanese chicken rice, and tour a museum. See the Merlion statue—the city’s mascot—and visit Bird Paradise, Asia’s largest bird park.
...MoreSingapore has all the indoor activities you’d expect in a global financial hub. Choose between spas, malls, museums, workshops, galleries, cinemas, eateries, and cooking classes. Try your hand at parkour, ice skating, trampolining, ax throwing, and more. Or, opt for city signatures like hawker courts or the Gardens by the Bay.
...MoreYes. With fearsome penalties, strong social bonds, and a repressive government, Singapore boasts one of the lowest violent crime rates in the world. It’s not unusual for locals to fall victims to scams, but crimes such as robbery, assault, murder, and stranger rape are extremely rare.
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