Best attractions in Singapore: Top 30
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One of the world’s smallest nations, Singapore is spread out over several dozen islands in the Indian Ocean. The country is unique not only because of its small size, but also because of its unprecedented population density - about 6 people per square meter, and a rich history, and the contrasts of antiquity and modernity. The sights of Singapore attract the fans of oriental color, culture, pristine nature of the tropics and historical monuments that demonstrate the former might of the British colonies. Amid the intricacies of ancient cultures, customs, religions, is something to see in Singapore, and among the modern attractions - huge skyscrapers, multi-level road junctions, the latest entertainment complexes, fountains with extraordinary lighting, modern parks form an extraordinary contrast to the monuments of antiquity.
What to see first in Singapore
What to see first is best known to guides in Singapore. There are also numerous reviews of travelers who have been to this country - it is on these real data that an objective rating of what to see in Singapore is made. Let’s talk about it in more detail.
1. Changi Airport
The best sights are mostly concentrated in the capital city of Singapore and its surrounding areas, and when choosing what to see in Singapore in 1 day, the first place to go is its capital city. Thus, 20 kilometers from the capital of Singapore is the world-famous Changi Airport. Each year, Changi Passes through a huge number of passengers - more than 50 million, has a modern infrastructure, thought-out to detail, and includes 4 large terminals. Visitors note the smooth and accurate as clockwork, the staff, the highest level of service, a large number of stores, catering facilities, as well as SPA complexes, cinemas, museums and catering facilities at the airport terminal.
Official website: http://www.changiairport
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2. Marina Bay Sands Hotel
A trip to Singapore should definitely include a visit to the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel if you’re looking for what to see in Singapore to get the most out of your experience. In addition to the hotel rooms themselves, it has everything to make the most of your time: a casino, conference rooms, a sky bar with an incredible panorama of the city, a chic pool, and a huge shopping center. The hotel building has a unique design - three high-rise towers united by a single roof-platform in the form of a large ship.
Official site: https://www.marinabaysands
3. Sentosa Island
No trip to Singapore is complete without a trip to Sentosa Island, a small tropical island where the tourist infrastructure began to develop not so long ago - in the 1970s. In a few decades Sentosa has made an amazing transformation from a creepy and gloomy place, as it was during the Second World War, to a fairy-tale holiday island with a lot of attractions and interesting places. Water parks, numerous rides and attractions, and upscale hotels are all open to guests on Sentosa Island.
Official website: https://www.sentosa
4. Clare Key Promenade
When choosing where to go in Singapore for a leisurely stroll and relaxation, you should definitely carve out an evening to visit Clar Ki Quay. Today it’s the most popular place in the city for recreation, and a century and a half ago it was a noisy wharf. Any tourist and local residents would love to take an evening stroll along the promenade, where the fresh wind from the sea brings a pleasant coolness, and everywhere twinkle thousands of lights from the store windows, signs of restaurants and nightclubs. A visit to the local souvenir shops will turn into new purchases of symbolic attributes of the country.
Official website: https://www.capitaland
5. Bukit Timah
At the highest point of Singapore, on a hill 163 meters high, sits the small Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. On its territory there is a botanical garden with exotic plants and a picturesque park - a beautiful area of quiet rest, equipped with stairs, bridges, paths and benches. Here you can make beautiful photos, take a walk by one of the three lakes. On the territory of the reserve are about 160 species of animals, including monkeys, who have become almost tame here.
Check out Singapore's beautiful places in this great video!
6. Gardens by the Bay
The futuristic Gardens by the Bay is one of the main attractions and is an area covered with vegetation and covering 101 hectares of land. In all, it includes three gardens - South, East and Central - dedicated to the vegetation of South America, Africa and Asia. Among the park’s attractions are two huge greenhouse greenhouses, a grove of giant futuristic super-trees, a restaurant and bar atop one of these trees, a large entertainment area for children, a cactus greenhouse, and much more.
Official website: http://www.gardensbythebay.
7. Ferris Wheel (Singapore Flyer)
An overview cannot do without Singapore’s most “visible” landmark - the Ferris wheel of unprecedented height. Until some time it was the tallest on the planet, at 165 meters in height. Anyone can take a ride on it in comfortable, air-conditioned cabins. A full turn of the wheel takes half an hour, during this time you can see the gorgeous views of the suburbs of Singapore from a bird’s eye view.
Official website: http://www.singaporeflyer.
8. Esplanade Theater
On the waterfront of the famous Marina Bay is a cultural landmark in Singapore, the Esplanade Theatre, which is an Art Nouveau-style theater and exhibition complex. This is a colossal architectural complex of about 60 thousand square meters, which includes two halls - a concert hall for 1,600 seats, as well as the theater for 2,000 seats. Well-known musical ensembles, symphony orchestras, classical dance and opera performances are staged here.
Official website: https://www.esplanade.com/
9. Museum of Art and Science
What to see in Singapore for art lovers, besides the famous theater? Another institution with an international reputation is the Singapore Museum of Arts and Science. Here, in turn, the emphasis is on the interaction of science and art and their harmonious interaction. A total of 6 thousand square meters museum houses 21 galleries with major exhibitions, the most famous of which were devoted to the wreck of the Titanic, the works of Salvador Dali, the Harry Potter movies.
Official website: https://www.marinabaysands
10. Orchard Road
Singapore’s most modern and trendy neighborhood is Orchard Road with Singapore’s fashionable hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and clubs. But the main specialization of this district is shopping, so this place attracts everyone who wishes to buy goods of the most expensive and high-quality brands. Orchard Road stretches for 2.2 kilometers along the entire length of central Singapore, and the area is lined with skyscrapers, shopping and business centers, luxury hotels, top restaurants and entertainment venues.
11. The Raffles Hotel
What to see in Singapore for a deeper insight into its history? One of Singapore’s historical symbols is the Raffles Hotel, a true national monument of the country. It was built in 1887 and its walls remember the lavish balls and official receptions that were held here more than a century ago. The ornate white hotel building has retained the architectural features of the colonial style, and it is surrounded by an amazing garden with fountains. Today inside, in addition to the rooms, there is a shopping arcade, swimming pool, restaurants and bars, beauty salon and gym.
Official website: https://www.raffles.com/
12. Little India neighborhood
Little India is another historical landmark in Singapore, which is a special district inhabited by descendants of Indian settlers. This land was once set aside for the Indian community to deal with inter-ethnic issues, but over time the area has become multicultural. Today there are temples of different religions and other ceremonial buildings in the area, and there is a lively trade in the market where one can meet people of different nationalities.
Official website: https://www.littleindia
13. Chinatown
There is another ethnic neighborhood in Singapore, only it is home to the country’s Chinese population. The Chinatown neighborhood was formed as a result of the ethnic settlement of the city in the mid-19th century. You will definitely find something to visit in Singapore if you find yourself in China Town, because all the local historical attractions of the Chinese people are concentrated here: Chinese temples, mosques, restaurants, boutiques and everything for shopping.
Official website: http://www.chinatown.sg/
14. Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is not a zoo in its classical sense: the animals here are not confined in cages, but roam freely throughout the park, amidst abundant vegetation. There are no strict limitations on living space for the inhabitants, some of the fauna can be strolled unhurriedly by, others can be fed from hands, and especially dangerous predators are separated from the visitors by artificial ditches with water or transparent plastic partitions. There are about 300 species of animals - mammals, birds and reptiles.
Official website: https://www.wrs.com.
15. Butterfly Park on Sentosa Island
If you’re looking for great things to do in Singapore with kids, check out Sentosa Butterfly Park. Here in the natural environment, among greenery and flowers, there is a huge number of insects, among which - more than 3 thousand endangered species, including about 1500 specimens of bright charming butterflies. The park is equipped in the open air, and the scales flutter freely right next to the visitors. The greenhouse with butterfly pupae deserves special attention of visitors, where you can observe different moments of butterflies coming into the world.
Official website: http://jungle.com.sg/
16. Night Safari in Singapore
Another “live” attraction in Singapore is the unusual Night Safari Zoo, where all the animals that lead a nocturnal lifestyle are gathered together. The zoo opens its doors to visitors at dusk and runs throughout the night. Today, there are about 130 species of nocturnal inhabitants, among which there are rare and endangered species, living on an area of 35 hectares. The park is located right in the rainforest and the low light is reminiscent of the light from the moon. The area is divided into 77 zones, corresponding to the climatic zones of the different inhabitants.
Official website: https://www.wrs.com.sg/
17. Marine Life Park
Currently, the largest oceanarium in the world is in Singapore, the Sea Life Park on Sentosa Island. The volume of the aquarium is truly colossal - 45 million liters, which is home to about a hundred thousand sea creatures. The entire volume is divided into 49 habitats for different resident groups. Panoramic viewing panels create the unbelievable illusion of being right on the seabed. In addition to the oceanarium, there is an amusement park with a variety of water rides.
Official website: https://www.rwsentosa.
18. Jurong Bird Park
Another popular destination is a tour in Singapore to Jurong Bird Park, one of Asia’s most beautiful and colorful parks. On an area of 20 hectares among the tropical jungle and waterfalls, there are more than 5 thousand birds, most of them - the bright feathered inhabitants of the tropical paradise. In all, the park has several areas adapted for specific groups of inhabitants - penguins, parrots, nocturnal, waterfowl, birds of prey and other categories of feathered birds.
Official website: https://www.wrs.com.sg/
19. Singapore Botanic Gardens
The main purpose of the now famous Botanic Garden in Singapore was once the cultivation of agricultural crops such as cocoa, nuts, fruits and spices. But later a new garden was planted on these lands, based on ornamental plants, which was built right in the pristine rainforest. Today the garden covers 74 hectares and includes several thematic areas dedicated to different types of vegetation. You can walk around the park endlessly, contemplating the beautiful alleys, fountains and ponds.
Official website: https://www.nparks.
20. Sultan Hussein Mosque
Singapore’s oldest surviving landmark is the Sultan Hussein Mosque, which still impresses to this day with its outward splendor. It was built between 1824 and 1826. Today the mosque has a capacity for 5,000 Muslims and the halls are divided into a lower room for men and an upper gallery for women. An interesting fact is that the domes of the mosque are erected on a glass base, for which the bottoms of bottles donated by the poorest residents of Singapore were used.
Official website: http://sultanmosque
21. Sri Mariamman Temple
Even without knowing the exact address of this Singapore landmark, walking through the Chinatown neighborhood, you simply cannot help but notice a bright and extraordinary temple with an amazing facade. It’s Sri Mariamman - the oldest Hindu temple decorated with numerous multi-colored sculptures of Indian gods. The interior decoration of the shrine is in no way simpler than the exterior, and the central place in it is occupied by the sculpture of the goddess mother Mariamman.
Official website: http://www.smt.org.sg/
22. Peranakan Museum
The only historical museum in Singapore today that is based on the history and culture of the Peranakan people is the Peranakan Museum. The museum has a total of 10 permanent exhibitions scattered over 3 floors. The first floor presents the history of the emergence of Peranakan communities in Asian countries. On the second floor describes the traditions of Peranakan wedding, and on the third you can learn the peculiarities of the people’s life and get acquainted with the objects of arts and crafts.
Official website: https://www.peranakanmuseum
23. Temple and Museum of the Buddha’s Tooth Shrine
This Singapore landmark is located in the Chinatown area and is dedicated to one of the most important relics of Buddhists, the tooth of the enlightened teacher left behind when Siddhartha Gautama’s body was cremated. The temple has a modest exterior but a rich interior. On the upper tier of the temple is a museum housing various artifacts in one way or another related to the life of the Buddha and the cult of worshipping him.
Official website: http://www.btrts.org.sg/
24. Universal Studios theme park
The first major entertainment complex in Asia, created in the best traditions of Hollywood, is Universal Studios Park on Sentosa Island. It was created based on Universal’s movie masterpieces and decorated in different styles, according to 7 thematic zones. In addition to a variety of rides, you can visit cafes, souvenir stores or watch one of the shows held here - all in all, it is worth allocating a whole day to visit this fascinating place.
Official website: https://www.rwsentosa
25. Fountain of Wealth
A striking and modern landmark in Singapore that cannot be overlooked is the Fountain of Wealth. The huge structure covers an area of about 1700 square meters, symbolizing the wealth and prosperity of the city, and is divided into two sections - a large fountain and a small fountain, recreating a spectacular spectacle. In the evening the beautiful spectacle is complemented by an amazing backlighting. It is believed that wealth and prosperity will accompany anyone who dips his hands into the bowl of the fountain and walk around it three times.
Official website: https://sunteccity.com.
Singapore sights: what else to visit in Singapore
Along with the main sights, there are others no less worthy of attention and recognition of visitors. Here are recommendations and descriptions of other interesting places worth visiting in Singapore.
26. The Museum of Optical Illusions
This complex is an interactive 3D exhibition on Sentosa Island. The museum exhibits are three-dimensional paintings and sculptures that recreate for visitors the incredible effect of presence. Here you can not just see the exhibits, but become a part of the exhibits yourself. This is a great place to take unusual photos, and you can even rent monopods for selfies at the entrance.
Official website: http://www.trickeye.com
27. Marina Bay Sands Hotel observation deck
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel has already been mentioned before, but now we are going to talk about the hotel observation deck. Three huge tall towers are connected by a single “deck” of the ship on the roof, it is on this “deck” is the world’s largest pool, recreation area and observation deck in the bow of the “ship”. The deck offers fantastic panoramic views of Singapore’s surroundings, such as the Gardens by the Bay, the Ferris wheel, futuristic trees or the roof of the Esplanade Theater.
Official website: https://www.marinabaysands.
28. Formula 1: Singapore Grand Prix
This is one of the most exciting and beautiful stages of Formula 1 as it takes place at night, when the deserted streets become an extreme 5 km long race track. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is characterized by its speed and its special surface providing perfect grip. Another unique feature of the race is the bright artificial lighting that covers every inch of the road and creates an extraordinarily beautiful, exciting and dynamic spectacle.
Official website: http://www.singaporegp
29. Merlajon is the symbol of Singapore
Almost every capital city has its own unique symbol. Singapore, in turn, is represented by the mythical creature Merlayon, or Merlion, a creature with the body of a fish and a lion’s head. Installed at the mouth of the Singapore River, this 8.6-metre-tall sculpture of the creature has become a symbolic landmark of Singapore and a trademark of the city-state. In addition, Merlion here is a working fountain: a powerful stream of water erupts from the lion’s mouth directly into the river, and in the evening the sculpture is spectacularly illuminated by colored lighting.
Official website: https://www.onefabergroup.
30. Songs of the Sea laser show
Songs of the Sea is an incredible light show with music, fireworks and water jets. The show tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a sleeping beauty of the sea. But the plot, in fact, is not as important as the spectacle itself, which is a combination of extraordinary special effects: various images are projected onto a screen of water jets, all this is accompanied by a real extravaganza of light and sound, fireworks explode, unusual laser illumination is turned on.
Official website: https://www.sentosa.com.
Singapore is truly a fabulous destination that attracts travelers with its rich nature, mild warm climate, and the hospitality of local residents. Once you’ve been here, you’ll want to return to Singapore again and again to discover new sights and places of interest in this paradise land. Read also about Laos attractions and get inspired for your next Asian trip!
