What to do in Singapore: Top 11 things to do in the Lion City

Singapore is a strange place. It is a new country, becoming an independent city state less than 60 years ago. Yet, it has a deep culture in its history shaping the politics and economy of Southeast Asia and in the heritage of its multi-ethnic inhabitants. In this post I will introduce you to what to do in Singapore and give you some recommendations on where to stay and eat. Let’s dive in!

A little introduction to Singapore

The people of Singapore come mostly from Chinese, Malay and Indian descent. Also, the city’s thriving business spirit has lured thousands of expats from all over the world. There is one thing, however, that unites all of these people with different background, culture and language: food. If you were wondering what to do in Singapore, this is it. Singapore is, without a doubt, one of the best hubs in the world when it comes to food. It even threatens street food giants like Bangkok, and that is because of a wonderful evolution of street food: the Hawker Centers (more on that below). This is, for me, uncontestedly, the best thing to do in Singapore. If you’ve been reading Feast of Travel for a while this will not surprise you. And if not, it has “feast” in the name, so there you go.

The other aspect of Singapore that stands out is its urban planning. You can argue about politics, inequality, LGBT issues or overall big brother-esque control of the population (believe me, I do too). But Singapore knows what it wants in terms of becoming a better city, focusing on liveability and sustainability while maintaining economic growth. This leads to a city filled with modern and sustainable architecture, enjoyable parks, culture centers and an efficient public transportation. All of this meets in a city with a beautiful landscape, green escapes from the busy urban life and the overall highest standard of living in Asia. Without further ado, let’s find out what to do in Singapore!

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Top 11 things to do in Singapore

1. Feed your soul at the Hawker Centers, the true heart of Singapore

As I said, the unity of Singapore revolts around food, and this is nowhere clearer than in hawker centers. Hawker centers are food courts where hundreds of street food vendors cook and sell their signature dishes in rows of stalls around public tables. People line up to buy their favourite food (at very low prices) and eat together at the tables. Chinese, Malay, Indian and Indonesian cuisine (among others) – hundreds of different delicious dishes waiting for you IN THE SAME PLACE? I think your question of what to do in Singapore has been answered.

The creation of the hawker centers was a way for the city to control the sanitary standards of street food (and low-key to clean up the ugly looking stalls from the beautiful new streets of modern Singapore). In any case, they brought them together in these courts that have become the main attraction of the city, and almost double as civic centres for the neighbourhoods. I was actually quite surprised to see very few – or even no – tourists in some of the centers, so take advantage of that now.

Hawker food recommendations

As of the time of writing, there are 110 hawker centers in Singapore, each with hundreds of stalls, so I obviously did not have time to try them all – yet, and not for lack of trying -. As this is a massive subject, I wrote several posts about hawker food in Singapore, but is is all under this post:

Best Hawker Center food in Singapore: our experience with Singapore’s street food

2. See Singapore in all its splendor at Marina Bay

The other side of the coin. Marina Bay is the presentation card of modern Singapore to the world. Ultramodern, with green spaces, business-oriented and with a past (present, and future) in the sea, it is a clear totemic area for the city.

This again requires a dedicated post about it. There are many things to do and see, but I will try to summarize the most important things to see: the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the most iconic building in the city. The Merlion statue, Singapore’s sigil. The Central Business District (CBD), home of the most amazing skyscrapers in the city. And, last but not least, Gardens by the Bay, the botanic garden-meets-architectural marvel that you probably know for its supertrees and its glass domes.

You can read more on things to do in Marina Bay in this guide to the area:

Guide to Marina Bay: Singapore’s futuristic downtown

3. Explore the Chinese heritage in Chinatown

Chinatown, as its name indicates, is the heart of Chinese heritage in Singapore. It was designed during the British occupation in the 19th century as an enclave for the immigrating Chinese population. This is probably the most visited historical place in Singapore by tourists. This is largely because of its historical importance, shopping opportunities and AMAZING food culture. Its most important cultural attraction is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (which is free to visit). However, its real main attraction are the hawker centers at Maxwell, People’s Park and Chinatown Complex.

You can read more on things to do in Chinatown in this quick guide to the area:

Quick guide to Chinatown in Singapore

4. Learn the Muslim past and present in Kampong Glam

Many Muslims from different backgrounds (Tamil Indian, Malay and Indonesian mostly) migrated to Singapore. They made of Kampong Glam their home also during the British occupation, even though earlier it was the home of the Sultan of Singapore and the Malay aristocracy. Also known as Arab street in honor of one of its major arteries, this small quarter is filled to the brim with shops, bars and especially restaurants of Muslim background. These come from all over the world (think Turkish, Lebanese, Indonesian and obviously Malay). The most important site is, however, the Sultan Mosque, towering over Muscat street with its colorful shophouses.

You can read more on things to do in Arab Street (Kampong Glam) in this quick guide to the area:

Quick guide to Arab Street in Singapore

5. Meet the Hindu gods in colorful Little India

As I wrote in the introduction, one of the main three ethnicities populating Singapore comes from India. The heart of Indian heritage in Singapore resides in Little India. This colorful neighbourhood offers bustling markets, street food stalls and Hindu temples scattered around the quarter. Unlike Chinatown or Kampong Glam, Little India was born a bit later. Chulia Kampong (the original Arab quarter) became overpopulated and many ethnic Indians emigrated to the land around Serangoon river, good for the raising of cattle. The most impressive and important temple for the Hindu population of Singapore is Sri Veeramakaliamman, dedicated to the goddess Kali.

You can read more on things to do in Little India in this quick guide to the area:

Quick guide to Little India in Singapore

6. Have a drink by the Quays

The Singapore river has 3 distinct quays, each of them offering a different vibe for both locals and tourists in search of a drink after a hard day of work/touristing:

Boat quay

This quay is quite picturesque. It is lined by tiny colorful houses that stand out right next to the high metal-and-glass skyscrapers from CBD. There’s a line of wooden terraces by the water that used to offer seafood, but currently is more focused on laidback drinks.

Clarke quay

This is the fancy sister of Boat quay. Lined with chic restaurants and trendy bars, this quay offers a more glamorous and luxurious experience.

Robertson quay

The most isolated and lesser known by tourists. More artsy and with low lighting. This quay allows the locals to chill without tourists and have a low-key drink.

7. Get sporty at East Coast Park

This is not something that many tourists do. East Coast Park is a long stretch of land in the – you guessed it – Eastern coast of Singapore. It has been converted into a lush park with waking/running and biking trails. It is a fantastic place to get some sport done and sweat those street food treats during your trip under the shade of the trees. If sport is not your thing, it is still very enjoyable to walk through the park. It is also connected to other parks and reaches the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant & Public Space, offering great views of the city at no cost and with no tourists.

8. Discover Peranakan culture in Joo Chiat

Peranakans are an ethnic group descending from the first wave of migrants from Southern China to maritime Southeast Asia and the natives from the Nusantara region (roughly Melaka, Penang, Singapore and Medan). In reality, Peranakan culture embraces more than that. It also engulfs Indian and Eurasian intermarriages with Nusantara people. Thus, mixed racial descent in the Malay strait is what defines Peranakan people. And even though many retained their ancestral costumes and religions, their culture and language are shaped by the Malays.

The best way to explore Peranakan culture in Singapore is to visit the neighbourhood of Katong. Particularly the street of Joo Choat, where Peranakans settled in the early 20th century and is lined with picturesque pre-war shophouses. It is also a great place to try Katong laksa. This delicious Peranakan dish consists of rice noodles in a rich and spicy coconut soup with fish cakes, shrimps and cockles. Try the one @328 Katong Laksa. It is one of my favourite SEA dishes.

9. Get your fancy beach time at Sentosa Island

I would not say that Singapore is a beach destination at all. This is especially true compared to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand. However, the city stat has put an effort to offer their inhabitants a beach option without having to cross a border. That is Sentosa Island, an artificial beach resort island. You can access it from the city by cable car, walkboard or monorail.

I must admit that I have not been in Sentosa Island as I visited Singapore in a several months-long tour of Southeast Asia and felt that I would visit more exciting beach destinations, and I wanted to dedicate more time to the city itself. Also, I am not a beach resort kind of person. That being said, if beach resorts are your thing or you have some extra days in Singapore and want to come back with an activated melanin, don’t doubt it and go have a delicious cocktail in the Malay strait. The main beaches are Palawan beach, Tanjong beach and the several islands and lagoons at Siloso beach.

10. Feel the jungle at Pulau Ubin

If you are less inclined towards laying down on the sand and getting a tan and prefer a more adventure type of trip, worry not! You should visit the island of Pulau Ubin, located north of the city. This large island is covered in jungle and is home to many species of plants and animals, including many species of colourful birds, monkeys, cute mousedeer or even the elusive dugong.

As most of Singapore, Pulau Ubin has been re-structured so the population can easily enjoy it, so there are clear cycle trails and footpaths to have an easy and nature-filled day out. Full disclosure, you won’t get the true jungle experience that you would in Borneo or Sumatra, but it is a fantastic day-excursion, especially when traveling with children. The island is easily accessible by ferry, but bring cash as card payments are difficult.

11. Fly in and out of Singapore at the Jewel

You probably expected this one. Singapore’s “the Jewel” Changi Airport is world famous, and for a reason. Being awarded best airport for eight consecutive years. You probably know it for its magnificent indoors waterfall, the biggest of its kind. But it doesn’t end there. It is also home to cinemas, … Regardless, it will probably be your first and last thing to do in Singapore (that was a bad joke, so I half-heartedly apologize).

For me, not only it is a stunning piece of civil and architectural engineering, but its efficiency left me stunned. Immigration was easy peasy, fast and PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY (probably the first time in my life that this happened). You can bring in whatever liquid you please, since security happens just at your gate, so you can enjoy the airport cafés, restaurants and shops without the strict airplane regulations. All in all, it is a great transportation hub and a fantastic way to get in or out of Southeast Asia, as it connects with most important (and less so) airports in the region.

You can explore its map here.

Where to stay in Singapore

Singapore is an expensive city for the standards of Southeast Asia, so you may need a little extra planning when choosing your accommodation if you’re on a budget. However, you can find all kinds of accommodations in the city, so choose depending on your main interests based on the area. Check out this post where I give you recommendations based on the type of trip you’re looking for and the areas in Singapore:

Where to stay in Singapore

Or you can use the map below to find where to stay:

Booking.com

Closing statement

Singapore surprised me. This is one of the reasons that I love traveling so much. It can easily and quickly change your mind in many things. There are some destinations that, either because of overtourism, transient hype or just the type of destination, don’t typically appeal to me.

Earlier this year I had the chance to debunk my preconceptions with Venice, Italy. Singapore did the same. I expected a money-hungry, insta-perfect kind of city that is all surface, but fake deep within. And this is not what I found. Singapore is a city that knows what it wants and it works hard and constant to get it. As a result, it is a melting-pot of cultures and ethnicities, an architectural marvel, an example on how to plan a city with ecology and liveability in mind and it is home to some of the most delicious food on the planet. It is not without its faults, but I must admit that I fell a bit in love with it. If you have the chance, I recommend that you visit this city state, even if it is just a few days on the way to your trip to some other SEA country. I hope I have proven to you that there are plenty of amazing things to do in Singapore. And these are just a few of the things to do in this small but incredible country!

Wanna pair your trip to Singapore with something else? Check out these posts:

Perfect 3 weeks Vietnam Itinerary: North to South

Perfect 3 days itinerary in Ubud, Bali

What to do in North Sumatra, the secret Indonesia keeps from you

Perfect 10 days Flores itinerary in Indonesia

What to do in Kuala Lumpur: discovering the Malaysian capital

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