Things to do in Singapore for a Birthday

By Adam Fraiel
Published: July 18, 2024
Singapore Slings

It’s your birthday, congratulations! The fact you’re spending it in Singapore means you’re a lucky person indeed, so let’s make the most of it. We’ve put together a little guide to ensure your birthday in Singapore will be one to remember.

  • Universal Studios Singapore
  • AJ Hackett Sentosa's Giant Swing
  • Nature Kayaking Adventure at Pulau Ubin
  • Sentosa 4D AdventureLand
  • Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience
  • Puzzle Hunts
  • Raffles Courtyard
  • Tiger Brewery Tour
  • CÉ LA VI SkyBar

You may be a year older, but that’s not slowing you down. Get the adrenaline pumping with a trip to Universal Studios Singapore - the only Universal Studios park in Southeast Asia. Take your pick from the seven themed areas: Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar.

Enjoy white-knuckle rides like Battlestar Galactica or Revenge of the Mummy, or celebrate a more leisurely, if not a little wetter, birthday party drifting along with the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure.

Plenty of dining options, selfie opportunities, and the chance to grab a cold beverage or two to cool down - a trip to Universal Studios Singapore is a fine choice for those still young at heart, no matter how many candles are on your cake.

Hungry for more action? Head over to AJ Hackett Sentosa’s Giant Swing. 40 meters above the ground, you’ll enjoy the stunning, peaceful, panoramic view of the city, before launching through the air at speeds up to 120kph!

If you want to slow things down while still keeping the level of awesome nice and high, how about a nature kayaking adventure across the open ocean? When your friends ask how you spent your birthday, tell them you kayaked around a tropical island, before navigating mangroves surrounded by otters, kingfishers, and eagles.

If that’s all a little too ‘outdoorsy’ for you, how about moving indoors and celebrating your birthday in 4D? Sentosa 4D AdventureLand combines all the thrills of a theme park without ever leaving your seat. Choose from a mysterious island, the Wild West, an old mine, or a fantasy land. All use state-of-the-art technology to provide an incredibly immersive experience - feel, touch, smell, and hear every crazy detail.

More? You want more excitement? Okay, then what are you waiting for? Go fly a fighter jet! From the Grand Canyon to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Virtual Reality Fighter Jet Experience is as close as it comes to flying a real jet plane. The pre-flight briefing ensures you’re familiar with the controls before you take to the open skies and live your Top Gun fantasy.

A birthday with friends is always more fun, and what better way to bond than putting your heads together and solving brain-twisting clues in a crazy puzzle hunt?

Puzzle Hunt in Fort Canning Park is a military-themed outdoor adventure, where you’ll take on the role of soldiers on a quest to discover the hidden secrets of Singapore’s army. Traversing Canning Park, you run around searching for clues and puzzles to solve.

Puzzle Hunt in Little India sees you assume the role of a code breaker, helping an archaeologist dig up clues to unlock a secret treasure chest. Work as a team to solve the riddles while exploring this stunning, iconic area of Singapore.

Fancy being an advisor to the King who’s lost his memory? Puzzle Hunt in Chinatown combines deciphering clues with a fun learning experience, teaching you all about the history and modern-day culture in Chinatown.

These puzzle experiences are an excellent way to get off the beaten path and gain a unique perspective of the city, all while having fun with friends.

For a little more adult fun, how about exploring the cultural beverages of Singapore?

You may have tried a Singapore Sling cocktail before, but have you ever had one in Singapore, surrounded by swaying palm trees and majestic white arches, in the very bar that invented the cocktail? No? Then your birthday party needs to swing by Raffles Courtyard and Long Bar.

If you’re a beer connoisseur, why not explore the history behind Singapore’s most famous beer, Tiger? Take a journey from milling the grain, to packaging and labeling, to the best part of all - pouring the perfect pint! Taking a tour of the Tiger Brewery will leave your head full of knowledge and your belly full of happiness.

Pouring your own perfect pint is a great experience, but it is your birthday after all. You shouldn’t have to lift a finger. If you want the drinks to come to you, treat yourself to an evening of luxury at CÉ LA VI SkyBar at Marina Bay Sands. Sat in the VIP section, 360-degree panoramic views of the city all around, and a frosty beverage in your hand... today is your day!

The only question left - how are you going to top it next year?

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do Alone in Singapore
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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
Woman exploring colorful buildings in Singapore's Little India neighborhood
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Things to do on a Weekend in Singapore

Looking for things to do on a weekend to Singapore? While 48 hours is never going to be enough time to soak up everything this space-age metropolis has to offer, it’s plenty to get a flavor of the Garden City and its many intoxicating sights, sounds and smells. From sightseeing strolls through Chinatown and Kampong Glam to lazing on tropical beaches and sampling Singaporean specialities in the lively hawker markets, here’s our pick of some of the finest ways to while away a weekend in Singapore, including: Gardens by the Bay Epic bike rides and city sightseeing strolls Amazing nature reserves Foodie fave hawker centers Sentosa’s top beaches Cinemas and cocktails Fabulous free light shows Gardens by the Bay Instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic supertree structures that dominate the bay, Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s top attractions – and with good reason! But did you know you can visit many parts of this iconic 250-acre park for free? That’s right, a stroll between the trunks of the majestic Supertree Grove is absolutely gratis, though you’ll have to cough up a few dollars if you want to explore the elevated walkway. There are certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday morning than by grabbing a coffee and breakfast roti and finding a quiet spot to relax with a good book in the tranquil Bay East Garden, with its manicured lawns, pretty flower gardens and sweeping views of the Singapore skyline. Get on Your Bike Singapore has a world-class cycling infrastructure, with dedicated bike lanes downtown and dozens of routes for escaping the bustle of the city and exploring the rest of the island. There are plenty of cycling tours around the city’s main attractions but we recommend renting some bikes and going it alone. The Central Urban Loop provides a (literal) breath of fresh air as you pedal your way out from beneath the skyscrapers and into a network of paths that traverse the city’s many excellent parks, gardens, waterways and woodlands. Or, if you’re feeling particularly sprightly one Sunday morning, you could even consider taking on a section of the epic Round Island Route, a 150-kilometer coastal trail that takes in some of the best ocean and bay views in the country. Take a Sightseeing Stroll A weekend wander from Chinatown to Little India (or vice versa) rewards even the most jaded traveler. Chinatown’s labyrinth of narrow streets is an Instagrammer’s dream, packed with ornate temples, bustling markets and, of course, steaming grills and pots heady with the aromas of Peking duck and kung pao chicken. Wander east to Kampong Glam, Singapore’s vibrant Muslim district, where the mosque’s huge golden dome and countless colorful Peranakan shopfronts in cactus greens, turmeric yellows and chili reds make for more great photo opportunities. Then make for Little India where a well-earned lunch of spicy fish-head curry awaits. Get Back to Nature Weekends are made for communing with nature, right? And where better to do so than on an island that’s made up of more than 50 per cent green space. Head over to the MacRitchie Reservoir nature reserve where you can spot abundant native wildlife including monitor lizards and macaques, and get a birds’ eye view from the dizzying 250-meter suspension bridge that forms the Treetop Walks. You can easily while away a lazy Sunday here, whether kayaking on the reservoir, or lacing up your running shoes for a gentle jog along one of the scenic cross-country trails. Enter a Foodie Fantasy World Bodyswerve the ubiquitous international pizza and burger chains and go straight to the heart of the action in Singapore’s bustling hawker centers, where the sensational scents of sizzling satay and spicy coconut soups are enough to make a grown man weep. There are over 100 of these open-air food courts around the city, meaning delicious, cheap, freshly cooked Indian, Chinese and Malay cuisine is yours to enjoy on demand, day or night. Try local favorite satay bee hoon, in which spicy hot sauce is smothered liberally over rice vermicelli, and served with meat, fish or vegetables of your choice. The national dish of zingy chili crab is another absolute must-try. And, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, why not give turtle soup, live octopus or century egg a spin? Hey, don’t knock them 'til you’ve tried them! Be a Beach Bum Reachable from the main island via monorail and cable car, Sentosa Island is one great big playground with thrill rides, an aquarium, Singapore’s Universal Studios outpost and, of course, several fantastic beaches. Think bone-white sands, turquoise lagoons and swaying coconut palms and you’ll be halfway there already. A free shuttle operates between the resort’s sandy Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso beaches, so all you need to remember is your bathing costume, a bottle of sunscreen and a giant pair of Jackie O sunglasses. Have a go on the adrenaline-pumping giant swing that soars high above Siloso Beach if you dare! Swig a Singapore Sling A Singapore institution of some 135 years standing, the colonial-style Raffles Hotel has hosted a who’s who of glamorous household names through the decades: Elizabeth Taylor, Christian Louboutin, Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin and Queen Elizabeth II, to name-drop just a few. So you’ll be in good company when you pop by this Garden City icon for an equally iconic Singapore Sling, the tropical cocktail for which the hotel, in spite of its many celebrity guests, is best-known. This boozy blend of gin, cherry brandy, pineapple, grenadine, lime juice and bitters is the perfect start to your Saturday night. Movie Night Weekend activities don’t get much better than sinking into a comfy seat in a hushed cinema theater with the smell of freshly popped corn hanging in the air. Singapore has plenty of cinemas to choose from. Head for the huge GVMax screen at the Golden Village VivoCity multiplex for the latest Hollywood blockbusters, or mosey over to Projector X: Riverside or the ArtScience Museum if under-the-radar indie flicks and documentaries paired with trendy cocktail lists are more your thing. But remember: no-one is too old or too cool to enjoy a bucket of sweet and salty popcorn with their movie. See the City Lights There’s a duo of splendiferous light shows in the bay every evening. The light and music spectacular at the Gardens by the Bay kicks off every evening around 7:45PM and sees the iconic supertree structures burst into colorful life. Over at the Marina Bay Sands resort, the Spectra light and water show features dancing fountains as well as dazzling visual projections, lasers and mist effects, all backed by a rousing orchestral soundtrack. There are shows at 8, 9 and 10PM on Friday and Saturday nights, making this a great weekend activity when visiting Singapore. Best of all, both shows are completely free! 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
Mother and Son in Singapore
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