Singapore is an ideal travel hub to explore Asia, but is also a destination worth visiting. We stopped in Singapore for two days on our way to Bali and we decided to extend our layover to explore the city. We were impressed by the mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European culture, as well as the beautiful greenery and cleanliness. You can easily spend a week or more to explore the city, but if you only have a couple of days, here are the top things you shouldn’t miss:
Gardens By the Bay
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay display plants in a very creative way.
There is the Instagram worthy Supertree Grove with tall tree-like vertical gardens that are solar powered and house thousands of plants. They turn into a light show at night and some of them are connected by the Skyway aerial walkway that offer a unique view of the bay.
The gardens also include ecological domes, which focus on different themes. We liked the Flower Dome and its colors even though our favorite was the Cloud Forest dome. It replicates the cool-moist ecology of the tropical forests and features a 30 meters waterfall.
Entrance fees are expensive and you can save some money buying a day pass for most attractions. We recommend visiting early afternoon to be around when the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show starts in the evening.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must see when in Singapore. It includes an amazing orchid garden with more than 1,000 species of orchids and 2,000 hybrids on display.
The park is very popular and get busy on weekends and in the afternoons, better visit in the morning for a quieter experience.
Marina Bay Sands
Staying at the iconic hotel is expensive but offers an incredible experience. The best part of the hotel is the SkyPark which holds an infinity pool and restaurants at level 57 from the ground.
You get complimentary access if you stay at the hotel, otherwise you can access the pool by paying a day entrance fee.
Merlion Park
The promenade overlooking Marina Bay host the iconic Merlion statue, the symbol of Singapore. The half-fish, half-lion statue shoots water into the bay and represents the fishing village origins of Singapore and the name of the city state that in Malay means โLion Cityโ. It is a great location of Instagram photos, so plan your visit accordingly. In the evenings at the bay there are light and water shows.
Singapore Chinatown
Four neighborhoods form Singaporeโs Chinatown, which is the only one in the world hosting a Buddhist temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple.
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple is fascinating, with the many statues covering the outer walls of the temple. We also recommend a stop at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, for its architecture and informative museum.
Chinatown is also the right place to try a wide variety of street foods.
Changi Airport
It might seem odd to recommend visitors to spend time in an airport, but Changi is no common airport. It looks more like a nature-oriented mall with exceptional dining and entertainment options.
The feature we liked the most is the indoor Rain Vortex waterfall.
These include a spa, a pool, themed gardens, an indoor forest, a cinema and a game console room.
