During my stay in Southeast Asia, I stopped in Singapore for a week to reconnect with major developed cities because I was previously in Kuala Lumpur and after Singapore I will go to Bali! In this article, I will talk to you about: What to do in Singapore? What to do in Singapore?
📋 The essentials to remember: Singapore can be visited in 3-4 intense days. My must-sees: Gardens by the Bay (Supertree Grove + greenhouses), Marina Bay Sands (rooftop + iconic pool), Chinatown district, Little India, Sentosa for the beach and Universal Studios. Average budget: 100-150 €/day (expensive). Perfect air hub to combine Indonesia or Malaysia. Warm and humid tropical climate all year round (no dry season, just more or less rainy).
What to do in Singapore? What to do in Singapore?
What can I say except that you feel safe in this city, all train schedules are well orchestrated and delays are rare! Eating and smoking are prohibited in the metro just like in some European cities! Most people are on their smartphones tapping on their keyboards! You find yourself in a large Asian city!
You might ask me: What to see in Singapore?
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What to do in Singapore: visit Chinatown:
Located in Southeast Asia, Singapore has several official languages which are mainly Mandarin and English, there is also Malay and Tamil. You find everything that is classic in a Chinatown!
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What to do in Singapore? Head to Little India:
You can find some Indian temples there, when you are not used to it, you quickly find yourself attracted to this place! In this area, you find everything related to Indian specialties! There are also many cheap hostels in this neighborhood!
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The Malay district “Geylang Serai”:
In this district, you find everything related to art, traditional objects, and Malay gourmet restaurants. The Malays were the first inhabitants of Singapore so the Malay cultural impact is very important in this district and in Singapore itself!
It’s really worth the little walk!
🗣️ My experience: The show Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove (free, 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM every evening) remains my best memory of Singapore. 15 minutes of music synchronized with the lighting of the 18 artificial trees. A must-see. Then head to Lau Pa Sat hawker centre for satay grilled on the street at 12 SGD: the real Singaporean food experience, outside of restaurants.
🌍 Did you know?
Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where chewing gum is banned in public (except medical) since 1992. Fines range from 1,000 to 10,000 SGD. The same applies for spitting (1,000 SGD), jaywalking (50-1,000 SGD), or not flushing the toilet (150 SGD). Result: the city is one of the cleanest in the world.
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Visit Arab St in Singapore:
As the name suggests, it is the Muslim district of Singapore, with ethnic specialties, you can visit the mosque but avoid wearing very flashy clothes as it is not highly recommended!
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If you don’t know what to do in Singapore, go to Sentosa Island:
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Stroll around Marina Bay :
One of the famous recent dishes in Singapore is black pepper crab which I tried and I recommend it! It is more expensive than other dishes but it is worth it!
🍀 Singapore
- Ultra-safe, ultra-clean
- Impeccable metro
- Exceptional multicultural cuisine
- Perfect air hub for SE Asia
🔻 Limits
- Very high cost of living for Asia
- Crushing heat (28-33°C all year round)
- Highly regulated society
- Limited to 3-4 days (small country)
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The western district :
This is where most expatriates are found, there are quite a few rather original restaurants and bars. I remember that one of the bars had nurses as waitresses and served cocktails like intravenous type served in a traditional but rather spacey way!
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Bugis st
This street is known for being a very commercial street, you can find accessory shops, small restaurants, food stands, drinks, typical things from Singapore or Asia!
⚠️ Classic trap
Choosing a hotel on Sentosa Island to save money. Sentosa is isolated from the center by a small bridge, and each trip by metro/taxi takes 30-45 min. For 3-4 days, stay at Marina Bay, Chinatown or Bugis: everything is accessible on foot or within 1-2 metro stops.
The price of items is cheaper in this area! Take advantage of your visit to buy a few things!
To extend the adventure in SE Asia, what to do in Kuala Lumpur is the logical next step (6 h by bus). Thailand budget compares with a much cheaper country. And what to do in Vietnam to go further north.
There is also the Singapore zoo which is famous, do it if you have time! If you like Southeast Asia, then you will like this section: Southeast Asia tips!If you liked this article, share it on Facebook or Twitter, icon below! “Like” my Facebook page if you liked the visit on my site!
How many days to visit Singapore?
What budget for 4 days in Singapore?
When to visit Singapore?
| Place | To do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gardens by the Bay | Supertree Grove (free) + greenhouses (28 SGD) | Free/28 SGD |
| Marina Bay Sands | Rooftop SkyPark (26 SGD) or Ce La Vi bar | 26 SGD |
| Chinatown | Temples, hawker centres, market | Free |
| Little India | Hindu temples, Indian cuisine | Free |
| Sentosa Island | Beaches, Universal Studios, S.E.A. Aquarium | Variable |
| Singapore Zoo + Night Safari | Well-maintained zoo + night safari | Combo 70 SGD |
| Hawker Centres (Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat) | Local street food (5-8 SGD/dish) | 5-8 SGD |
