People sometimes ask me what they should do in Singapore. This is what I share with them.
🏞️ Outdoor
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve — One of the last patches of primary rainforest in Singapore. Spot macaques in the early morning. (177 Hindhede Dr, Singapore 589333; near Beauty World MRT)
Kranji Countryside / Bollywood Farms — Tiny farms, quirky food at the Poison Ivy bistro, and a far-from-the-city feel. (Bollywood Veggies now goes by Bollywood Farms.) Take the Kranji Countryside Express shuttle from Kranji MRT and make a half-day of it. (100 Neo Tiew Rd, Singapore 719026; near Kranji MRT)
Labrador Nature Reserve — Quieter than Mount Faber, with WWII relics and sea views. (Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore 119187; near Labrador Park MRT)
Mount Faber + Cable Car — Hike or take a cable car for views, breezes, and a quiet hilltop park. Combine with a HarbourFront walk. (Mount Faber Rd, Singapore 099203; near HarbourFront MRT)
Pulau Ubin — A bumboat ride away, this island offers a glimpse of old kampung life. Rent a bike and explore rustic trails and quarries. (Take bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lor Bekukong, Singapore 499172)
Rail Corridor — Walk or cycle this green strip through the city. In the north, end at Yeast Side bar near the Bukit Timah Railway Station; at the southern end near the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, stop at Little Part 1 Cafe on Blair Road for local craft beer. (Entry near King Albert Park MRT in the north, or near Tanjong Pagar in the south)
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve — Peaceful mangrove trails with wildlife spotting: monitor lizards, herons, even crocodiles. Best on weekday mornings. (301 Neo Tiew Cres, Singapore 718925; near Kranji MRT + Bus 925)
🏛️ Indoor
Civil Defence Heritage Gallery (Central Fire Station) — A compact museum in an old fire station. Great for families; try on the helmets. (62 Hill St, Singapore 179367; near City Hall MRT)
National Library Pod (Level 16) — Free, panoramic views of the skyline. A cool, quiet spot to reflect or snap photos. (100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064; near Bugis MRT)
Peranakan Museum — A beautifully curated museum of Straits Chinese culture, food, and fashion. (39 Armenian St, Singapore 179941; near Bras Basah MRT)
Reflections at Bukit Chandu — A tucked-away museum on WWII resistance and the last stand of the Malay Regiment. Small but immersive, and recently revamped. (31-K Pepys Rd, Singapore 118458; near Pasir Panjang MRT)
Singapore City Gallery (URA) — An interactive 3D model of the entire city and a window into urban planning. Free entry. (45 Maxwell Rd, The URA Centre, Singapore 069118; near Tanjong Pagar MRT)
STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery — Contemporary print and paper art near Robertson Quay. Free exhibitions and workshops. (41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236; near Fort Canning MRT)
🍜 Food and drink
Beach Road Scissors-Cut Curry Rice — Chaotic, messy, wonderful. A local favorite for crispy pork and curry rice, run by the same family since 1930. (229 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208905; near Jalan Besar MRT)
Haw Par Villa (with Pasir Panjang Food Centre) — Walk through this surreal outdoor sculpture park, then eat like a local at the hawker center right by the MRT. (262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628; near Haw Par Villa MRT)
Lau Pa Sat Satay Street (evening) — Tourist-friendly but lively. Outdoor satay stalls open around 7pm. Good vibes, low cost. (18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582; near Raffles Place or Telok Ayer MRT)
Level 33 — Craft beer and city views from the world’s highest urban microbrewery. Expensive, but a great sunset spot. (8 Marina Blvd, #33-01 MBFC Tower 1, Singapore 018981; near Downtown MRT)
Maxwell Food Centre — A classic hawker center across from the Singapore City Gallery. Great Hainanese chicken rice and local desserts. (1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184; near Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Makansutra Gluttons Bay — Numerous Asian food stalls along a sizeable pedestrian street with ample seating and bay views. Opens late afternoon. (8 Raffles Ave, #01-15 Esplanade Mall)
True Blue Cuisine — Elegant, atmospheric Peranakan dining beside the museum, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Pricey but memorable. (47/49 Armenian St, Singapore 179937; near Bras Basah MRT)
🎯 On the beaten track
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum — An ornate, photogenic Buddhist temple in Chinatown said to house a relic of the Buddha. Small shops along the side sell incense, religious items, and souvenirs. (288 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058840; near Chinatown MRT)
Gardens by the Bay — Famous for the futuristic Supertree Grove and Cloud Forest. Go in the late afternoon and stay for the light show. (18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953; near Bayfront MRT)
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck — Panoramic views from atop the iconic hotel. A bit pricey, but the best skyline photos. (10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956; near Bayfront MRT)
See the Merlion — The classic Singapore photo op at the mouth of the river. Best seen early morning or late evening to avoid crowds. (1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049213; near Raffles Place MRT)
Singapore Flyer (Ferris Wheel) — Ride one of the world’s largest observation wheels for sweeping city and sea views. (30 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039803; near Promenade MRT)
Sri Mariamman Temple — Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, known for its colorful, intricate gopuram. Visitors are welcome but should dress modestly. (244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793; near Chinatown MRT)
Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan) — The grandest mosque in Singapore, with a striking golden dome. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but it’s an iconic photo stop in Kampong Glam. (3 Muscat St, Singapore 198833; near Bugis MRT)
Walk (or bumboat) down the Singapore River — Stroll from Robertson Quay to Marina Bay, or take a traditional boat ride past Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and colonial landmarks. (Boarding points at Clarke Quay or Boat Quay; near Clarke Quay MRT)
🛥️ Beyond Singapore
Bintan, Indonesia — Ferries leave Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and reach Bandar Bentan Telani (BBT) Ferry Terminal in Lagoi in about an hour. Bintan runs an hour behind Singapore, so check which clock your ferry ticket uses. Bring your passport — Indonesia handles entry at the terminal.
Mangrove tours at Pengudang — A guide I have worked with runs tours through the mangroves at Pengudang and keeps a few homestays there. The homestays run genuinely rustic, so pack accordingly. Pengudang sits just under an hour from BBT, so build the drive into your day. Contact me and I will pass on his number.
Bintan Exotica Resort by Waringin Hospitality — A reasonable, unfussy base less than ten minutes from Pengudang, which makes it the easy choice if the mangroves are why you came. Same drive from BBT: just under an hour.
Doulos Phos The Ship Hotel — A retired ocean liner permanently berthed at Lagoi and converted into a hotel, about a five-minute walk from BBT Ferry Terminal. Odd, characterful, and reachable without spending an hour in a van. (Lagoi, Bintan; walk from Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal)
Dozens of resorts cluster around Lagoi and the BBT terminal if you want the beach without the drive.
What should I add to this list? Write me at [email protected].