Singapore’s Best Free Finds Near Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Looking for adventure near Mandai Wildlife Reserve? Here’s how to explore Singapore’s wild side—without spending a single cent.

Birds at Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Mandai Wildlife Reserve may top many Singapore bucket lists, but there’s so much more to discover in this leafy northern corner of the city—and plenty of highlights don’t cost a thing. Whether you want a break from the crowds or just fancy seeing the island’s natural beauty, this area is bursting with parks, nature trails, and cultural gems that are perfect for a no-spend day out. We’ve rounded up the best things to do for free near Mandai Wildlife Reserve—from lush reservoirs and peaceful gardens to spots where you might even spot some wild residents! Get ready for an adventure that’s big on fun, not on price. 

Our favourite free things to do near Mandai Wildlife Reserve include: 

  • MacRitchie Reservoir Park 
  • Lower Peirce Reservoir Park 
  • Upper Seletar Reservoir Park 
  • Windsor Nature Park 
  • Thomson Nature Park 
  • Sembawang Hot Spring Park 
  • Nee Soon Boardwalk 
  • Yishun Park 

MacRitchie Reservoir Park 

Nestled just a short drive from Mandai, MacRitchie Reservoir Park is a haven for anyone who loves lush greenery and water views. Wander along the winding boardwalks or set off on the park’s well-marked nature trails, where you’ll spot cheeky long-tailed macaques and peep tropical birds flitting above the water. If you’re up for a gentle workout, the 11-kilometre loop is loved by locals for jogging, hiking, and peaceful strolls alike. 

What’s especially charming here is the sense of escape you get—just five minutes in and the city’s buzz melts away. Pause along the raised walkways to watch turtles bobbing in the water, or admire the ancient trees soaring above you. And if you want that ‘bucket list’ moment, the free TreeTop Walk (check ahead for opening times) gives you a bird’s-eye view of lush rainforest canopy, with Singapore’s skyline winking in the distance. 

Lower Peirce Reservoir Park 

For a true back-to-nature vibe, Lower Peirce Reservoir Park feels like a timeless escape. Steeped in history (it’s Singapore’s second-oldest reservoir), this shady retreat is woven with luscious forest, still waters, and rustic wooden boardwalks perfect for a tranquil wander any time of day. 

The best way to experience Lower Peirce? Slow your pace and let your senses take over. Listen for the whistle of kingfishers or the chatter of squirrels in the trees overhead. The boardwalk is stroller-friendly, with lovely views—you’ll almost forget you’re anywhere near a bustling city-state. Pack a snack, sit on the hillside with sparkling reservoir views, and maybe even get lucky with a sighting of Singapore’s famous otter families. 

Upper Seletar Reservoir Park

Upper Seletar Reservoir

Upper Seletar Reservoir Park is the spot for those classic, postcard-worthy lakeside panoramas that make you pause for a photo. Iconic for its towering rocket-shaped observatory tower (yes, you can climb it), the park serves up breezy lawns, sculptural trees, and vibrant sunsets—all for the irresistible price of free. 

Come for a morning stroll or a sunset picnic and watch the waterbirds skim the lake’s surface. The ambiance is calm, almost meditative—just the sound of chirping birds and the gentle slosh of paddles from the occasional kayak. Workout stations and sheltered benches dot the walking path, making it a tip-top spot for serious walkers and lazy daydreamers alike. 

Windsor Nature Park 

Windsor Nature Park is a gateway to adventure, offering gentle forest trails and atmospheric boardwalks only a few minutes’ drive from Mandai. Nature enthusiasts will love the air here: fresh, earthy, and filled with birdsong. The easy trails are perfect for families, explorers, or anyone craving some quiet under shady canopies. 

Educational signboards share fun facts about Singapore’s animal and plant life, so it feels like a living classroom for young and old. There are also freshwater streams and a marsh habitat to explore—just keep your eyes peeled for the park’s shyest residents, like the Malayan colugo gliding overhead or the tiny crimson sunbird. Windsor Nature Park is proof you don’t have to go far for a genuine taste of wild Singapore. 

Thomson Nature Park 

This park is rich in both natural beauty and Singaporean heritage, making it a standout stop. Thomson Nature Park preserves lush secondary forest while also showing off evocative ruins from a former Hainanese village, which you’ll stumble upon as mossy stone wells and old foundations peeking from the trees. 

You can follow five different trails, each designed to showcase either native flora or bits of local history (with charming old photos along the way). One highlight is the Ruins and Figs Trail, home to thriving fig trees and shaded nooks, where even resident pangolins sometimes make an appearance. Bring a camera—you’ll want plenty of snaps from this fusion of nature and nostalgia. 

Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Hot Spring at Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Sembawang Hot Spring Park proves you don’t need to travel far for a unique (and totally free!) experience in Singapore. It's the only natural hot spring on the mainland and it’s just a short ride from Mandai. Locals come here with pails, eggs, and even potatoes, ready to soak their feet or make a soft-boiled snack right in the communal springs. 

Charming touches make Sembawang Hot Spring Park special: stone foot-soaking pools, beautifully landscaped footpaths, and even little educational corners sharing the site’s history. Aromatic steam rises all around, so don’t forget to dip your toes in and relax. On cooler evenings, it’s especially atmospheric—perfect for unwinding after a day of animal spotting at Mandai. 

Nee Soon Boardwalk 

Hidden away in one of the last pockets of freshwater swamp forest left in Singapore, the Nee Soon Boardwalk is a true urban wilderness adventure. Stroll the wooden trails and marvel at an untouched habitat—giant ferns, curious insects, and clear running streams surround you under a thick tree canopy. 

This spot is perfect for those who appreciate a quieter nature experience—no crowds, just the buzz of forest life and trickle of streams. The boardwalk is part of a protected area, and while access is sometimes restricted for conservation, it’s magical when open. So pack your camera, listen for frogs and kingfishers, and see a unique side of Singapore that most visitors completely miss. 

Yishun Park 

Yishun Park, about a 15-minute taxi from Mandai, is a favourite local haunt. What makes it special? Over 60 varieties of fruit trees line the walking trails, so you might spot starfruit, rambutan, or durian hanging overhead. The park is spacious but never overwhelming, inviting you to stroll, jog, or simply relax under dense canopies. 

Kids can burn off energy at the playgrounds while adults take advantage of shady pavilions or try early morning tai chi. Birdsong is constant, and in the evenings you’ll often see families picnicking or kids flying kites. It’s a truly local glimpse into Singaporean daily life—free, fragrant, and full of smiles. 

 

From tranquil reservoirs and rustic boardwalks to bubbling hot springs and busy neighbourhood parks, you’re never far from your next pocket of adventure. So, take a break from the well-trodden path, let curiosity lead the way, and discover how much there is to see, do, and love on a budget near Mandai! 

Enjoyed this? Check out Everything You Need to Know About Go City's Singapore Passes or Things to Do Near Bird Paradise at Mandai Wildlife Reserve 

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Pair of lorikeets at Bird Paradise in Singapore.
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Bird Paradise Guide Singapore – All You Need to Know

Hey, do you like birds? Yes you! Sure, leviathan creatures of the deep are cool, and land-loving critters can be cute, cuddly and ferocious in equal measure. But birds are the connoisseur’s animal of choice; a feathered favorite of poets, painters and romantics down the centuries. After all, what other beast can sing as sweetly, or make potential suitors swoon with their flamboyant displays of technicolor plumage? We know, we know: meerkats are pretty entertaining too. But have you ever seen one fly? No, dear reader, you have not. And, now we’ve reeled you in, here’s all you need to know about Bird Paradise in Singapore, an awesome tropical aviary that's among the very best in Asia. Bird Paradise: the Lowdown Part of Singapore’s epic Mandai Nature Reserve, which also includes the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Wonders attractions, Bird Paradise is the 21st-century successor to the country’s long-running Jurong Bird Park. Indeed, the majority of Bird Paradise’s 3,500 or so inhabitants were painstakingly relocated here from the nearby Jurong site during 2022 and early 2023. Bird Paradise opened its gates in May 2023, welcoming bird enthusiasts and Instagram addicts eager to get up close and personal with its highly photogenic stars, among them vibrant scarlet ibises, pretty pink flamingos, majestic Philippine eagles, infectious laughing kookaburras and almost comically ostentatious Andean cocks-of-the-walk, with their brilliant orange crests. In other words, this is an attraction that more than lives up to its (very literal) name. You can easily spend a whole day exploring Bird Paradise, with a whopping 400 species to discover across 42 acres, and 10 distinct zones that include awesome walk-through aviaries, rainforests, wetlands and even a penguin habitat. Pitch up for feeding times with the pelicans, turacos, lories and lorikeets and don’t miss the daily presentations that let you experience the awe-inspiring sight of some of the world’s most successful winged predators, including white-bellied sea eagles and harris hawks, in full flight! Bird Paradise Guide: the Zones Amazonian Jewels – this authentic South American rainforest setting is where you’ll find the aforementioned Andean cock-of-the-walk hanging out with its colorful toucan, cracid and green oropendola pals. Shaw Foundation Australian Outback – say g’day to giant emus, tawny frogmouths, laughing kookaburras and other feathered critters from Down Under. This cool outback setting features aboriginal cave paintings, termite mounds and eucalyptus trees. Nyungwe Forest Heart Of Africa – Inspired by Rwanda’s dense Nyungwe Forests, this is the park’s largest zone, and fairly teems with African species. Around 80, in fact, including flamingoes, bee-eaters, grey parrots and punky turacos. Get an, ahem, bird’s-eye view from the observation tower. Hong Leong Foundation Crimson Wetlands – roseate spoonbills, American flamingoes and scarlet ibises ensure this authentic wetlands zone (complete with gushing waterfall) more than lives up to its colorful name. Kuok Group Wings of Asia – you’ll find some of Bird Paradise’s more prehistoric-looking critters here in these lovingly created Balinese bamboo groves and rice terraces. We’re talking rare black-faced spoonbills, Papuan hornbills, Australian pelicans and more. Lory Loft – hit up the Lory Loft for your kaleidoscopic fix of parrots, lories and lorikeets. Look out for the aptly-named fiesta of colors that is the rainbow parrot and try not to be hypnotized by the ice-cool stare of the blue-eyed cockatoo. Mysterious Papua – replicating the coastal forests of lowland Papua, this zone features viewing pavilions influenced by the traditional homes of the Korowai tribe, from which to view the resident southern cassowaries, palm cockatoos and colorful Nicobar pigeons. Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove – there’s an underwater kelp forest and rocky beach to explore at this, one of the world’s largest sub-Antarctic cold saltwater penguin habitats. Check out king, gentoo and Humboldt penguins, alongside feisty northern rockhoppers, with their ultra-chic punk crests. Songs of the Forest – if bathing in a symphony of birdsong is your bag, then this is the zone for you. Here’s where you can hear endangered species including straw-headed bulbuls, Bali mynahs and laughing thrushes in full throat. Bird Paradise Guide: shops and dining Now you know everything you need to know about the residents of Bird Paradise, you’ll also want to know where you can refuel and snag some souvenirs on your visit. Good news: the park has several dining outlets, including the Bird Bakery for your coffee and pastry fix, and the Egg Splash Café with its eggs-cellent menu and fun activities for kids. Food Central is on the plaza and offers a range of local favorites, like Hainanese chicken rice, in a casual setting. Alternatively peckish punters can take in spectacular views of the wetlands waterfall from the Crimson Restaurant, or join the penguins for lunch in the Cove restaurant or café. No, not literally, but you’ll be able to see them swimming through glass walls that border the underwater kelp forests. The Penguin Cove Café has a shop, too. Penguin plush toys, penguin tees, penguin stationery, penguin mugs... if you like penguins you’re going to be in clover here. It’s joined by chick-inspired merchandise at the Egg Splash Café and a plethora of bird-related souvenirs ready to fly off the shelves in the main Bird Paradise shop. Bird Paradise Tickets and Opening Hours An attraction pass from Go City includes general admission to Bird Paradise and saves you money when visiting multiple attractions in Singapore. Choose an All-Inclusive or Explorer Pass for entry to Bird Paradise plus Singapore Zoo, Gardens by the Bay, Madame Tussauds and many more top Singapore attractions, tours and experiences. The park is open daily from 9AM to 6PM, with latest entry at 5PM. The easiest way to get there is on the Mandai Khatib shuttle bus from Khatib MRT station. The shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes and costs S$1 each way. Check the Bird Paradise website for more ways to get to the park. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Singapore food market
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1 Week in Singapore Itinerary

Spending a week in Singapore for your vacation but worried about missing any of the city’s highlights? Never fear; we’re here to do all the work for you. Relax and read on as we outline a perfect week in Singapore! Day 1 - Getting acquainted with Singapore You’ve just arrived in Singapore, checked into your hotel room, and unpacked your bags before stepping out to explore the city. As you start your first day here, you’ll face an endless number of choices; our advice is to spend the first day getting to know the city. The Big Bus Singapore is the best way to get a feel for the place. With unlimited access to 2 routes around the city, covering most key attractions and landmarks, hop on and off as much as you want. By the end of the day, you’ll have a clearer idea of where all the hotspots are, plus the attractions you wish to explore further. Day 2 - Spend the day on Sentosa Island Sentosa is a resort island in Singapore with attractions like Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark, plus some of the finest beaches in the country. It’s been attracting holidaymakers for over 50 years and continues to grow from strength to strength. The best way to get there is with the Cable Car Sky Pass, riding from Faber Peak across to Sentosa, taking in the incredible panoramic views along the way. Sentosa Island Bus Tour Learn all about the history of the island while discovering all the best natural spots around. With a local tour guide to point out all the best attractions, plus facts, tips and advice for getting the most from your trip, the Sentosa Island Bus Tour is an excellent introduction to Sentosa Island. Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Singapore is the first movie theme park in Asia and features seven themed zones: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. With white knuckle rides for the adrenaline junkies, family-friendly rides for the little ones, plus shows and restaurants to keep you topped up in between, Universal Studios Singapore is a must-visit attraction in your weeklong itinerary. Adventure Cove Waterpark Wild water slides, surfing some waves, or snorkeling with tropical fish. This is an attraction you won’t want to miss. Thrill seekers, nature lovers, and happy families can all find some fun at Adventure Cove Waterpark. Get your heart beating with some crazy rides, before drifting down the river in an inflatable tube, and then get up close and personal with stingrays, coral reefs, and thousands of colorful exotic fish. Wings of Time A spectacular light show set over the water, using state-of-the-art technology fused with an outstanding soundscape to tell an award-winning tale of friendship and adventure. After a day of fun and adventure, the Wings of Time light show is the perfect end to your day on Sentosa. Day 3 - Experience the natural beauty of Singapore Singapore is an incredibly biodiverse country, with hundreds of species of flora and fauna, and over 300 species of birds. While there are also high-end hotels, luxury shopping, and world-class resorts aplenty, you’re never far from nature in Singapore. Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of the world’s largest urban parks and one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Singapore - the Gardens are the perfect peaceful location to enjoy a stroll through nature. With its lush greenery and mesmerizing nature, Gardens by the Bay is one of the world’s most visited gardens, featuring the tallest indoor waterfall and largest greenhouse. A climate-controlled mountain mist system cools the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, making it a welcome escape from the hot Singapore days. The gardens are free to explore, and there’s a superb free light show in the evening. Singapore Zoo is an enchanting place for all the family! Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you discover the wonders of the animal kingdom up close. See the wildlife in their natural habitat, with over 4000 animals. Get up close and personal with white tigers, tapirs, flying foxes, and more as you learn about the ongoing conservation work. Day 4 - Sample traditional Singaporean food and drink This day is all about food! Traditional Singaporean food is delicious and flavorful, and it’s a refreshing change from Western food. Singaporean breakfasts usually begin with kaya, a custard of coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and pandan leaf, which gives the jam a sweet, grassy aroma. Obviously, that’s accompanied by a delicious cup of calming tea. After that, try some roti prata, a dish made of flattened dough that is then grilled over a flame and served with cheese, egg, chili, or a spicy curry sauce. It’s best eaten with your hands, so don’t be afraid to get messy! Lunch is the national dish, Laksa. This is a spicy noodle soup made with coconut milk and flavored with prawns and cockles. It’s usually served with Otah (spicy fishcake). For dinner, try Nasi Lemak, rice cooked in coconut milk, served with fried anchovies, meat, peanuts, or soft-boiled egg. Perfect comfort food any time of day, but especially so in the evening after a day of exploring. Regarding drink, in Singapore, you must indulge in a tea-drinking experience. Sitting cross-legged at a low wooden table, you’ll learn the rituals and traditions surrounding the humble leaf - how to hold the cup, how many sips to take, and how to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Day 5 - Singapore is a shopaholic’s paradise Singapore is an irresistible shopping destination with a large variety of retail outlets, shopping centers, and markets offering the latest and the best in international brands. Singapore’s shopping scene has grown over the years to become one of the best in the world, offering stunning luxury items in deluxe boutiques down to quirky little gifts in the street markets. Bugis Street is where you can find Singapore’s budget-friendly products. Also known as “Electronics Street”, Bugis Street features hundreds of shops selling a variety of electronic items at prices that local shoppers find hard to resist. Head here if you are looking for cheap imported products, such as toys, mobile phones, and cameras. Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is a world-class destination, bringing a cosmopolitan vibe to the Singapore tourism landscape, offering international luxury fashion brands. The building itself is a feast for the eyes, with gondolas floating down internal rivers and waterfalls cascading from the rooftops. Chinatown is full of trendy bars, delicious restaurants, historic temples, and street markets selling all manner of goods. Head here for a unique shopping experience, where you can eat, shop, drink and dance all in one neighborhood. Day 6 - Spend the day exploring Singapore’s many beaches Singapore has stunning beaches with beautiful stretches of sand lined with palm trees and sunbeds. Some may be artificial, having the sand shipped in from other countries, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty. Here are a few of our favorites: Tanjong Beach - A nice calm beach to enjoy a gentle swim or just soak in the rays. Head there during the week to appreciate the quieter times, as it fills up fast during the weekends. Palawan Beach - More lively than Tanjong as it’s more picturesque, offering plenty of insta-worthy shots. Beautiful clear, calm waters, with the option to swim out to a nearby island should you fancy a little exercise. Siloso Beach - The third of the Sentosa beaches, and by far the most lively. Stand-up paddle boarding, jet skis, and beach sports are all on offer. If you want action and adventure, Siloso’s the beach for you. Lazarus Island - With no development, this beach is strictly for those wanting peace, quiet, and stunning surroundings. During weekdays, it’s sometimes possible to have this tropical paradise beach all to yourself. Day 7 - Tick off any other last-minute activities If you’ve followed along so far, you’ll be a little exhausted, but very much in love with Singapore. A week is a great time to experience the magic of Singapore, but there’s always something else to see and do. If you’ve got the energy, tick off a few last-minute attractions to ensure you go home with zero regrets. Madame Tussauds Singapore - As if your camera roll wasn’t full enough, make those back home green with envy as you pose for selfies with Taylor Swift, Priyanka Chopra, and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson! Go on a Puzzle Hunt in Chinatown - Explore the neighborhood while solving brain-twisting clues, as you compete to win a unique collectible prize! Gain a deeper understanding of Singapore’s Chinatown as you test your wits and mental fortitude. Take a Night Safari - You’ve probably been to a hundred zoos, but do you know what the animals get up to after hours? See lions, leopards, tapirs, hippos, tigers, hyenas, otters, bears, and much more. You won’t want to sleep on this opportunity! Save on Admission to Top Singapore Attractions Explore the best things to do with a pass for Singapore by Go City®. Select from top attractions with our All-Inclusive and Explorer passes, where you’ll enjoy access to galleries, museums, tours much more. Share Your Adventure with Us Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we’ll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook channels for exclusive competitions, special offers and events to help you make the most of your travels.
Adam Fraiel
Woman looking across the water to the Singapore Flyer
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Singapore for Adults - Activities and Attractions

Singapore is one big amusement park for grown-ups, with hundreds of fun and unusual things to do, from night safaris to Singapore Slings and slurping zingy chili crab with black pepper from hawker stalls. Add world-class galleries and museums, dizzyingly high observation wheels and platforms, gardens bursting with colorful blooms and bone-white beaches so pristine we swear you’d eat your dinner off them if it wasn’t for all that pesky sand. No list of Singapore activities for adults can ever claim to be truly comprehensive and nor does ours. Here, instead, are 10 of our favorite things to do in Singapore for adults, including... Dinner on the Singapore Flyer A Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel SkyPark views at Marina Bay Sands An authentic tea-tasting experience Sizzling Sentosa island A hike through the treetops The best street food in Singapore Get Snap-Happy in the Gardens by the Bay You’ll recognize the Gardens by the Bay from their much-photographed Supertree Grove: soaring tree-like structures that light up at night and are connected by an elevated walkway. Grab your camera and beat the Instagram influencers at their own game, then mosey on over to the veritable explosion of color and scent that is the Flower Dome, only the biggest greenhouse on the planet. Cooler and more misty inside, the neighboring Cloud Forest conservatory also makes for some atmospheric snaps (assuming your lens doesn’t fog up). Follow the sound of the world’s tallest indoor waterfall through a forest of vines, ferns and aromatic orchids. Sip a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel Raffles and its signature gin cocktail are as synonymous with Singapore as skyscrapers and orchids, making this colonial-era 19th-century icon a must-visit on any trip to the Garden City. And it would be remiss while there not to sample their Singapore Sling, a tropical blend of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple, grenadine, lime juice and bitters first concocted by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon here in 1915 and a favorite of visitors to the hotel’s Long Bar – including literary giants like Hemingway, Kipling and Greene – ever since. National Gallery of Singapore Anyone with even a passing appreciation of fine art will find much to admire at Singapore’s National Gallery in the Civic District. Focusing primarily on modern and contemporary artworks from Singapore and southeast Asia, its collection of over 9,000 pieces dates from the late 19th Century to the present day and (a common theme in this supersize city!) is the largest of its kind in the world. Don’t miss Singaporean Choo Keng Kwang’s oil paintings and woodcuts, and Georgette Chen’s evocative series of family portraits. Night safari Operated by the same group that runs the wildly popular Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari is the world’s first park that’s devoted solely to creatures of the night. Expect crepuscular critters and nocturnal beasts galore inside an 86-acre reserve that’s home to over 2,500 animals including Malaysian tapirs, Asian elephants, white African lions and the critically endangered (and ferociously cute) Sunda pangolin. Explore on foot or hop aboard the complimentary tram for an informative audio commentary as you meander through themed zones including fishing cat and wallaby trails. Marina Bay Sands You’ve heard Singapore can be expensive, right? Well, trust us when we say nowhere will zap your bank balance quite as rapidly as the Marina Bay Sands resort. Here, Michelin-star dining, achingly cool (and painfully pricey) cocktail bars, designer boutiques and, yup, even a casino, all vie for your wallet’s attention. Head 56 stories up to the SkyPark observation deck for sweeping views of the Singapore skyline and down to Supertree Grove and the huge hothouses in the Gardens by the Bay below. You’ll have to be a guest to access the quite unbelievable rooftop infinity pool (the world’s largest, natch) that straddles the resort’s three soaring towers. As good an excuse to book a room in this luxury resort as any, if you ask us. Feel Like Royal-Tea If you’re going to go tea-tasting in Singapore, you might as well do it at the city’s most storied tea house, right? Previous guests of Tea Chapter, a lovingly converted three-storey pre-war shophouse, include no less than Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Queen Elizabeth II herself! So you’ll be in fine company as you allow time to slow down while you're schooled in the noble art of tea appreciation. Relax with a cup of delicate Imperial Golden Cassia that’s literally fit for a queen inside this zen haven of elegant Eastern furnishings, ornate Chinese architecture, traditional Chinese classical music and perfect tranquility. Take a Day Trip to Sentosa Take the scenic route aboard the cable car to Sentosa or hop aboard the speedy Sentosa Express to get you there in under five minutes. Back on dry land, you’ll discover this sunny island resort has enough activities and attractions to keep you entertained for days on end. Hit the golden sands at palm-strewn Siloso Beach, where you can swim in the sea, ride an enormous swing and walk the SkyBridge 154 feet above the sunbathers below. Then head over to Imbiah Lookout where amazing views across Sentosa to the Southern Islands are already par for the course. The SkyHelix ride supercharges those vistas by taking you even higher, ascending to a dizzying 260 feet above sea level. Other attractions on the island include Universal Studios Singapore, the vast Luxury Fashion Galleria mall and the S.E.A. Aquarium. Savor the Singapore Foodie Culture Singapore’s hawker centers are the stuff of legend. There are over 100 of these open-air food courts around the city, meaning delicious, cheap, freshly cooked Indian, Malay and Chinese cuisine is at your fingertips. The noise and heady aromas – oh lord, those intoxicating aromas! – can be overwhelming at first. Our tip: look for the longest queues (indicating the most popular stalls) and get in line. A world of zingy coconut noodle soups, chili crab and spicy peanut satay awaits. Try the Old Airport Road Food Centre and Ghim Moh Market for some of the very best. Ride the Singapore Flyer Soaring to a knee-knocking 541 feet, the Singapore Flyer stakes its rightful claim as one of the tallest observation wheels on the planet. Steel your nerves for the 30-minute flight as you board at Marina Bay, with ticket upgrades that include a Singapore Sling, a glass of champagne and even a four-course dinner for two. Don’t worry: you get to stay on for two rotations with the dinner package, so no need to wolf down those profiteroles like your life depends on it! Included with all tickets, of course, are life-affirming views over Singapore and Sentosa island; even, on clear days, as far as Malaysia and Indonesia. Tiptoe Through the Treetops If the hustle and bustle of the city all gets too much, fear not! There are plenty of opportunities to escape into the great outdoors amid the plentiful lush vegetation of this tropical paradise. Pedal yourself silly on the epic Round Island bike route, or hit the Park Connector Network, which links major parks, gardens and nature reserves across the island. For those who prefer to explore on foot, the scenic Southern Ridges Trail is a breathtaking elevated walkway through the treetops of the hills south of the city. Cross Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge and see if you can spot banded bay cuckoos, red-whiskered bulbuls and myriad other colorful bird species flitting through the canopy. Save on attractions and activities for adults in Singapore Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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