Singapore’s Most Popular Tourist Attractions – Top 10

Check out the sights and attractions you can't miss on a trip to Singapore!

By Adam Fraiel
Published: July 18, 2024
Singapore

For such a small island, measuring just half the size of London, it’s impressive how Singapore packs in so many iconic landmarks and attractions. Around every corner you’ll find something new to explore, a new adventure to have, and a new selfie to take. We’ve put together a list of the top 10 tourist attractions in Singapore. Although they barely scratch the surface, it’s a great start.

  • Marina Bay Sands
  • Gardens by the Bay
  • Sentosa Island
  • Universal Studios Singapore
  • Changi Experience Studio, Changi Airport
  • Bird Paradise
  • Orchard Road
  • Singapore Flyer
  • Chinatown
  • Singapore Botanic Gardens

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Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands is an architectural masterpiece. It’s home to many tourist attractions, housing two exhibition centers, two theaters, over 40 restaurants, a museum, a three-story large art gallery, the world’s most expensive standalone casino, two shopping malls, and the world’s longest elevated pool.

The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark is the world’s largest public cantilevered platform with a height of 200 meters and a 150-meter-long infinity pool. It stands on top of the three towers and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

The two observation decks, The Sands SkyPark Observation Deck and the Sands SkyPark Infinity Pool offer unparalleled views, plus unmissable photo opportunities of the city skyline, the Singapore River, Gardens by the Bay, and the Singapore Strait.

 

Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a 250-acre garden spanning three waterfront parks in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. It features several attractions, including a 22-meter tall cloud forest dome, both indoor and outdoor waterfalls, a 150-meter long hillside garden with 35 terraces, and over 200,000 plants from 100+ species.

Gardens by the Bay is an iconic attraction in Singapore, visited by approximately 1.5 million local and international visitors each year.

Hosting diverse attractions, the Gardens offer unique experiences for people of all ages and interests. These include the Flower Dome for plant lovers, Cloud Forest for nature lovers, the Supertree Grove for adventurers, and the Heritage Gardens for history buffs.

 

Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island - the ultimate playground

Sentosa Island is an island resort off mainland Singapore. The island’s attractions include beaches, theme parks, and Singapore’s first casino. Sentosa Island is part of the Southern Islands of Singapore.

The contrasts of Sentosa Island are striking, from its pristine beaches to its exhilarating activities. The island’s filled with historical landmarks and cultural treasures, offering something for everyone.

On Sentosa Island you’ll find:

  • Universal Studios
  • Adventure Cove Waterpark
  • Resorts World Sentosa
  • Palawan Beach
  • Tanjong Beach Club
  • Skypark Sentosa by AJ Hackett
  • Many, many more attractions

 

Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore

Without a doubt, Universal Studios Singapore is a must-visit attraction for your itinerary, regardless of how long you’re visiting.

There’s something for everyone, with rides for kids and adults. There’s the Transformers ride, Shrek 4D Adventure, and Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, to name a few. Some are nice and peaceful, while others are white-knuckle thrill rides.

You’ll find plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, and kiosks all offering refreshments. If you need to calm down from the rides or escape the endless sun, head inside one of these air-conditioned oases and catch your breath.

Aside from the rollercoaster and rides, you’ll also find live shows and meet & greets, plus seven themed zones to explore: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar.

 

Changi Airport
Changi Airport

Changi Experience Studio, Changi Airport

The Changi Experience Studio (CES) is one of Singapore’s largest attractions. It houses 18 unique attractions, including the Butterfly Garden and Rain Vortex. This indoor playground features state-of-the-art technology and combines physical and digital interactions to provide a unique, unforgettable experience.

The CES works like a living museum that showcases Singapore’s heritage and culture, as well as the future of air travel. It aims to inspire the curiosity of visitors about the country’s history, culture, and future through interactive exhibits and multimedia shows.

You may have never considered an airport to be a major attraction, but Changi Airport is unlike any other. Waterfalls, art exhibits, high canopy walks, a variety of mazes, and a giant slide. It’s certainly not your standard airport.

 

Bird Paradise
Bird Paradise

Bird Paradise

Bird Paradise at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve is your chance to peek into a mesmerizing world full of colorful birds. Home to over 3,500 birds, the park is a must-visit for all animal lovers. You'll find perfectly pink flamingos and striking scarlet macaws, as well as some more unique species, such as Shoebills, Southern Cassowaty's and Andean Cock-of-the-rock.

The park has ten different zones to discover, including several vast walk-through aviaries and an impressive penguin habitat. There's also the opportunity to attend presentations where you'll get to see some of the world's most successful winged predators in flight or have fun feeding the pelicans.

For nature lovers, old and young, Bird Paradise is a fine addition to your itinerary.

 

Orchard Road
Orchard Road

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is Singapore’s most famous shopping belt and a top tourist attraction. This mega-shopping destination has become a global symbol of Singapore’s multiculturalism, with shoppers from India, China, and Southeast Asia contributing to the mix of people shopping here.

The shopping district is busiest in the evenings and weekends, when locals and tourists alike flock to the shops for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Treat yourself to luxury brands, high-street fashion, and cutting-edge electronics as you explore the futuristic malls and shopping complexes.

 

Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer

One of the world’s largest observation wheels, standing 165 meters tall with 28 fully air-conditioned capsules, the Singapore Flyer provides breathtaking views of Singapore’s skyline.

The Flyer provides panoramic views from Singapore’s central business districts, Marina Bay, and East Coast Park, providing ample photo opportunities during the ride.

It’s an ideal attraction for couples, families, and groups of friends to enjoy together. It offers a unique experience, especially at night when the skyline is beautifully lit up with vibrant colors, plus there’s a chance you’ll catch a light show or two while you’re making the rotation.

 

Chinatown
Chinatown

Chinatown

Just a short walk from Singapore’s central business district, Chinatown is an iconic neighborhood that offers a glimpse into Singapore’s rich Chinese heritage. From stunning cultural architecture to mouth-watering food, Chinatown is an essential part of the Singapore experience.

Whether you are looking for a gourmet family meal or a simple bowl of wonton noodles, Chinatown provides the ultimate dining experience. Whatever your budget, Chinatown has a variety of restaurants offering delicious, authentic dishes.

Chinatown’s also a cultural hub, with the Chinatown Heritage Center showcasing Chinese culture and heritage through traditional arts and performances. You’ll also find an incredible selection of art galleries, traditional street markets, and exquisite temples.

 

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore Botanic Gardens is a nature reserve in the heart of the city, and a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Not only a beautiful place to relax, it’s also an educational and scientific research center that houses over 5,000 plant species.

Home to a variety of tropical plants, flowers, and trees, it’s the perfect place to learn about plants, insects, animals, and even geology. With walking trails leading you through the gardens, you can spot squirrels, butterflies, and even exotic birds.

The gardens are also a perfect spot to switch off and reconnect with nature. Unwind and relax with a picnic, or stretch your legs on the walking trails or jogging paths. Whatever your energy levels, the Botanic Gardens have you covered.

 

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Go City app

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Singapore Hawker Center Hints and Tips Hawker centers are dedicated standalone premises, usually covered but sometimes open-air and are not to be confused with what Singaporeans call ‘food courts’. Food courts are generally found inside shopping malls; they’re a little less characterful and a mite more expensive than hawker markets, but nevertheless a solid option if you’re out on a shopping spree. Many hawker stalls operate cash-only policies, so be sure to bring some cash as well as a big appetite. We recommend first-timers buy several different small dishes from multiple stalls to get a real (excuse the pun) flavor of what’s on offer. If a stall has a queue, that tends to be a sign the food is top-notch and that the wait will be worth it. Don’t pass busy stalls by! Don't be put off if you find hawker centers a little overwhelming – it really is worth persevering to unlock some of the fantastic flavors on offer within. If in doubt, you can always take a tour with a local guide to help you find your bearings. Singapore Hawker Food – What to Eat Even the most ravenous of visitors may find it difficult to work their way through all the excellent dishes Singapore’s food markets have to offer. But there are a few staples that we’d consider must-eats. Chili crab, for example, is (unofficially) Singapore’s national dish. This stir-fried sensation – crab drenched in spicy sweet-and-savory-sauce – is as ubiquitous as it is delicious and you’ll find it in any hawker center worth its salt. Then there’s sticky skewers of pork and chicken marinated in umami peanut sauce. Again, available everywhere. Other popular favorites include Indian-influence roti canai – a buttery, crumbly melt-in-the-mouth flatbread served with a variety of curry sauces – BBQ pork with rice, pungent fish head curry and chicken with rice. 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East Coast Lagoon Food Village Singapore’s only beachside hawker center provides the picture-perfect setting for a sweet sugar cane juice, fresh coconut or ice-cold Tiger beer. Hit up Song Kee Fried Oyster at stall 15 for perfectly fluffy omelets packed with local oysters and drizzled with a fiery chili sauce. Newton Food Centre Perhaps best known for its appearance in the movie Crazy Rich Asians, this vibrant market near Newton MRT station boasts over 100 stalls serving up some of the best seafood dishes in town. Order spicy sambal stingray in banana leaf for the win. Hong Lim Market and Food Centre Hong Lim is one of the more easily navigable Chinatown hawker centers (more so than the sprawling Chinatown Complex, in any case), so a good option for novices. Authentic Singaporean cuisine abounds here. Try pork braised with Chinese five spice, zingy laksa with crayfish or Teochew porridge served with a variety of meat, fish, veg, eggs and sauces. Clementi 448 Market and Food Centre The long queues at Fried Carrot Cake in Clementi 448 are a dead giveaway. This very literally named hawker stall is something of a local legend around these parts, having been around for over half a century. First things first though: this moreish Singaporean classic (pictured above) has no carrot in it and nor is it really a cake, at least not in the Western sense of the term. But don’t let that (or the queue) put you off this unmissable piping hot melée of sweet, spicy cubed radish cake, egg, garlic and chili sauce. Delish. Old Airport Road Food Centre A little off the beaten track on Singapore’s east coast, the Old Airport Road Food Centre is nevertheless well worth the effort for its vast selection of stalls serving up everything from crab to carrot cake, satay to sambal, dumplings to duck. With close to 200 hawkers to choose from, good luck deciding what you’re going to eat! Tekka Centre This Little India landmark, handily located right next to the MRT station, specializes in Indian food. Head here to make all your dosa dreams come true, and for tandoor grill feasts fit for a maharajah. Tekka Centre is part hawker center, part mall and part wet market, so there are plenty of opportunities for souvenir-hunting and soaking up the old-school Singapore vibes after lunch. Adam Road Food Centre This diminutive hawker center is pretty much right next to the Singapore Botanic Garden, a 200-acre oasis of vibrant flora and tropical rainforest. Work up an appetite with a stroll around the shores of Swan Lake and a visit to the National Orchid Garden before heading to Adam Road for a well-earned laksa. Changi Village Hawker Centre Aromatic nasi lemak, an utterly life-altering dish of rice, coconut milk, chili sauce, crispy anchovies, peanuts and egg, is the one to try here. 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Things to do Alone in Singapore

Sometimes, you just need some time away from people. Interaction is great and all, but getting some space to be alone and clear your head is necessary once in a while. It's the same with vacations. Some may be fun to spend with friends and family, while others might be better off alone. So, if you're visiting Singapore this year by yourself and want to know what's good, we've got you covered. In this list of the best things to do alone in Singapore, we'll cover all of the city's best bits while riding solo. And who knows, you might even meet a special someone along the way. Including: City tours by bus, boat, or bike Gardens by the Bay Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience Singapore Zoo and more! Image courtesy of Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya/Shutterstock Big Bus Singapore If you're traveling alone, the thought of solo sightseeing probably fills you with giddy glee. Without the hindrance of human connection, you're free to soak up all the culture and landmarks with quiet contemplation and a keen ear. And where better to see all of Singapore's best bits than on a bus tour of the city? Thanks to the hop-on, hop-off nature of the tour, you can get off at any landmark, explore, and then hop on the next bus to move on. Your audio guide will fill you in on all the history of each stop, giving you insight into the era they were built. If you're interested in the melting pot of cultures present in the city, take the red line to see the likes of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam. Or, if you're in it for the spectacle, take the yellow line to see Singapore's most famous attractions like the Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Art Museum, and Raffles Hotel. Historical Singapore Bicycle Tour If you prefer your sightseeing on two wheels with a dollop of adrenaline, then why not take a bike tour of the city instead? With your expert guide in tow, you'll visit many of Singapore's highlights, including Chinatown, the Singapore River, Boat, Clarke & Robertson Quays, Kampong Glam, The Museum District, and more. They'll make sure to keep you in the loop with the history, culture, and big events that have taken place in each area. And, over the course of the four-hour tour, you'll work up a nice sweat to boot - the perfect remedy to your calorific evening excursions! Singapore River Cruise And to round out our sightseeing portion of the day, if bikes and buses don't quite cut it, see the city from a different perspective on a Singapore river cruise! Board a traditional bumboat, and you'll float in style past famous sights like Old Parliament House, Raffles' Landing Site, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade, The Merlion Park, and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. Just make sure your phones or cameras are at the ready - you'll want to snap dozens of pictures to the envy of everyone else. Gardens by the Bay One of the best things to do alone is to experience nature in its most peaceful form. And in Singapore, you've got the Gardens by the Bay, one of the most recognizable green spaces on the planet. Over 101 hectares and filled with 1.5 million plants from all over the world, you'll explore indoor and outdoor gardens, lakes, conservatories, huge sculptures, artwork, and more. Its beauty is so widely known that you might even recognize it - many films and TV shows have filmed scenes amid its luscious flora. Be sure to check out the Flower Dome, the world's largest glass greenhouse. Inside, you'll find displays representative of five continents, including 1000-year-old olive trees. And if you want to add a cinematic sheen to your visit, check out Avatar: The Experience at Cloud Forest. This immersive experience will transport you to Pandora and allow you to marvel at its cascading waterfalls, spiraling walkways, and fantastical creatures. Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin This is the second time on this list we'll be heading onto the water. But this time, you're free to go at your own pace. Well, to a degree. Ketam Island is one of the last villages in Singapore, so go exploring on this kayak adventure! You and a few others will join an expert guide as you roam the waters around Pulau Ubin, home to Ketam Island. Alongside the rustic village, you'll find plenty of untouched natural beauty, good vibes, and fresh air to fill your lungs with. And your guide will be happy to fill your withered brain with sweet, sweet knowledge about all the flora, fauna, and culture you'll find. If you're looking for relaxing things to do alone in Singapore, this kayak adventure should be top of your itinerary! Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience If you've ever wanted to take to the skies in a fighter jet, you can do the next best thing with this VR Fighter Jet Experience! Perfect for solo travelers, you'll get basic training from a qualified instructor. Then, you'll hop in the virtual cockpit and be pulling corkscrews, loops, and flashing past American landmarks like the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge. All that without ever leaving the ground. Nice. Then, when you're done, you can attempt landing a multi-million dollar piece of tech. Good luck. Singapore Zoo And finally, we'll end our exploration of things to do alone in Singapore with a little visit to the animal kingdom. At Singapore Zoo, you'll have the chance to meet thousands of exotic animals from across the globe. If you like orangutans, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles, monkeys, rhinos, and zebras, you'll be in your element. But this isn't any old zoo. It's more of an open concept, landing somewhere between a zoo and a safari. That means more space for the animals and happier animals as a result. And that's everything you need to know about things to do alone in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? Check out Go City. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can pick and choose the best of Singapore for one low price. Even things to do with others, if you happen to meet someone on your solo travels!
Dom Bewley

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