16 Best Things to Do in Singapore
(Ultimate 2025 Guide)

July 6, 2025
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Singapore, the famous “Lyon City”, is certainly one with the most unique attractions. From Gardens by the Bay to Sentosa Island, there are so many incredible things to do in Singapore.

I have been to Singapore several times on layovers now and it is one of my favourite cities. Gardens by the Bay is possibly my favourite attraction I have ever visited, it is just so magical.

There are so many incredible things to do and see in Singapore and a wide variety of activities, which is why I have decided to summarise my top 16 in this article!

Table of Contents

How to get to Singapore?

You will likely arrive in Singapore via Singapore Changi Airport. The quickest but most expensive way to get into the city center is by taxi. There are a couple of surcharges which apply for night taxis and weekdays, so it can get pricy quickly. I would hence recommend getting a rideshare, so a Grab, TaDa or Gojek, which are all apps you can download. You will need to meet your driver at the Arrival pick-up point as they are not allowed in the Taxi stand.

Travel Time: 30 minutes
Cost: around 20-30S$ each way (11-18GBP)
Tickets: Download the Apps or go to the taxi stand at arrivals and pay cash or card

You can also go by MRT, which is Singapore’s rail network. The quickest way is to take the EW train to Tanah Merah from the airport and then transfer to the EW line towards Tuas Link until City Hall. From there, it is only a ten minute walk to Clarke Quay which is our first stop. You can look up the best transit route here.

Travel Time: ~45 minutes

Cost: Around S$2 which is around 1.20 GBP

Tickets: You can pay using a contactless card or Stored-value EZ-Link cards which can be bought at the airport MRT station. Fares are calculated by distance and are super affordable.

Where to stay in Singapore?

Check out my full accommodation guides for Singapore here:

Where to Stay in Singapore – Budget to Luxury

Top things to do in Singapore

1. Wander around the lively Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is well-known for its nightlife, but in my opinion it is worth a visit at any time of day. The area is famous for its waterside restaurants, beautiful old riverside warehouses and lots of river tours. My favourite part was just strolling along the river and spotting the colourful houses lining it as well as the many different foods you can try here.

A river cruise of Clarke Quay is also an amazing and unique way to explore the area as well as learn a lot about its rich history. Night-time cruises will often even include the fireworks at Marina Bay.

2. Take some fun photos of the Merlion by Marina Bay

A short walk from Clarke Quay, you will find the Merlion. The famous statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish may just be THE symbol of Singapore. The lion represents the city’s original name Singapura (lion city in Sanskrit), while the fish alludes to the fact that Singapore started out as a fishing village.

It is located in Merlion Park, right by the waterfront of Marina Bay. Make sure to take some fun photos with the statue – “catching” the water with your mouth is a fan favourite.

From this side of Marina Bay, you also have an amazing view of the stunning Marina Bay Sands Hotel, as well as the many skyscrapers lining the Bay, so make sure to plan in plenty of time for photos.

3. Marina Bay Sands Hotel for Shopping and Rooftop Views

Walk around Marina Bay to Marina Bay Sands to fully enjoy the beautiful bay and views of the city. It takes around 20 minutes and gives you different angles of some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks, as well as the downtown skyline once you reach the other side of the bay.

Right by the hotel is a shopping centre called “The Shoppes“. While the area by the waterfront is full of luxury stores, the indoor shopping centre has something for everyone and is perfect for buying souvenirs. They even have an interactive light canvas where your drawings come to life and a canal you can get a boat ride on. Once you have done your shopping, check out the Marina Bay Sands Hotel lobby to see the fascinating architecture from the inside.

If you want to experience the iconic rooftop view of Marina Bay Sands, head to the elevator in Tower 3 and visit the rooftop bar. You will need to buy a drink, but at S$25 for a cocktail (14.50 GBP) it is well worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime view. If you want to go into the infinity pool, you will need to stay at the hotel.

4. Visit the stunning Gardens by the Bay

Once you pass through Marina Bay Sands Hotel, you land right in the famous Gardens by the Bay, my absolute favourite place in Singapore. I have rarely seen something so magical that perfectly blends nature with man-made art.

Both the free outdoor gardens with the Supertree Grove as well as the paid indoor domes are absolute highlights.

You have three main things you want to see here: The Supertree Grove which are the famous light-up trees you see in photos that are covered in plants and foliage as well as the two domes. One is the Flower Dome, which is a huge flower garden that often has themed exhibitions. It is also the world’s largest glass greenhouse. The other dome is Cloud Forest, where you can see one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls as well as several plateaus of exotic plants.

I would highly recommend visiting both domes if you have the time. It takes at least 1.5 hours to see each one, so keep that in mind.

Tickets to see both domes are S$59 which is about 34 GBP and it is well worth the money. You can pre-book tickets here, which I would recommend to save time on the day. If you decide to stay longer and stay at a hotel or hostel, they often have deals on these tickets so it is worth asking.

5. Listen to the Garden Rhapsody

Another highlight at Gardens By the Bay is the Garden Rhapsody, which is the nightly light show in Supertree Grove. It is free to watch at 7.45 PM and 8.45 PM daily for around 15 minutes.

You can check the exact timings for the entire area here. When I went, the theme was “Mamma Mia” and it was the coolest experience.

6. Grab some delicious, local food at Lau Pa Sat

No visit to Singapore is complete without sampling some street food at a Hawker Centre. A 20-minute walk from Gardens by the Bay, you will find Lau Pa Sat, one of Singapore’s most popular and oldest Hawker Centres. It does feel a little chaotic walking in, but the energy here is contagious, especially after hours of walking.

A Hawker Centre is usually an open-air food court with lots of different stalls selling local and freshly cooked food. Seating tends to be cafeteria-style with trays.

Lau Pa Sat is the perfect stop to refuel after exploring Singapore and offers a vast collection of local dishes, you’ll be spoiled for choice. A local favourite is Hainanese Chicken Rice, while I personally loved the Chili Crab and Satay.

7. Marvel at the bustling pot of culture that is Chinatown

Another must visit while in Singapore is Chinatown. It’s a bustling pot of heritage, culture and modern attractions, with also lots of affordable accommodation. Strolling through the streets, you will be able to see some incredible street art and murals from some of Singapore’s most famous artists.

Make sure to stop at the stunning red Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, famous for housing what is believed to be Buddha’s left canine tooth. The oldest Hindu Temple Sri Mariamman, with its impressive Dravidian-style architecture, is also a highlight.

8. Stroll through Singapore Botanic Gardens

Located about 15 minutes outside of the centre by MRT, Singapore Botanic Gardens is my favourite botanic garden I have visited worldwide. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site for its display of the evolution of a “British tropical colonial botanic garden”. The plant and flower displays here are truly one of a kind and there are even waterfalls.

The Gardens are free to explore, except for the National Orchid Garden which boasts a stunning display of over 1000 species.

9. Visit Bird Paradise Singapore or the Night Safari

Both of these are part of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which is a collection of 5 wildlife parks. Getting here is a bit of a trek, around 1 hour by public transport or 30 minutes by Taxi/Grab, yet both are definite Singapore highlights.

Bird Paradise Singapore is the largest and most diverse bird park in all of Asia, with over 3500 birds across 400 species. Tickets cost S$49 for adults (~28GBP) and there are concession tickets for children and seniors. The park offers bird presentations, feeding the animals and walk-through aviaries. Easily one of the coolest things I did in Singapore.

Night Safari is a totally unique experience where you get to meet over 900 nocturnal creatures through different walks and an Adventure Tram. Tickets for adults start at S$58.00 (~33GBP).

If you’d like to see both, you can get a combined pass from S$80.00 here.

10. Make the most of the beach vibes at Sentosa Island

As a man-made island and former military base, Sentosa Island nowadays is almost like a beach holiday within Singapore. From the cable car ride to get there to Universal Studios, a Waterpark, a Skypark, indoor skydiving and picturesque beaches, this Island has literally anything your heart could desire.

11. Explore the colourful Little India

Little India brings a whole different feel to Singapore, with narrow lanes full of colour, culture and incredible food. Make sure to check out the beautiful Hindu temples, such as the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

12. Shop till your drop at Orchard Road

If shopping is your thing, you cannot miss Orchard Road. It is an over 2km long shopping paradise, with anything from large, international brands to local designers.

Make sure to also check out the colourful houses along Emerald Hill Road which represent the beautiful Chinese Baroque style.

13. Enjoy the serenity of Kusu Island

Kusu Island is all turtle themed after the legend that it was formed by a turtle who transformed into an island to rescue to ship-wrecked fishermen. You will find many live tortoises on the island as well as countless turtle statues. The island is full of beautiful beaches as well as temples and shrines and offers a cute little daytrip from Singapore.

The ferry to the island goes from Marina South Pier, close to the city centre. It takes around one hour and an island hopping ticket costs about S$13.90 – you can book it here.

14. See the Spectra light show

The Marina Bay Sands hotel puts on a light & fountain show called Spectra every night at 8 PM and 9 PM (Friday-Saturday also at 10 PM). It lasts 15 minutes and is an incredible show with an award-winning soundtrack. 100% worth seeing if you can fit it into your layover.

I would highly recommend seeing it with Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop. To do so, head back to Merlion Park and pick a spot – try and come a little early as it gets busy quickly.

15. Hike the MacRitchie Nature Trail

This stunning nature trail is located about 40 minutes outside of Singapore city centre by bus or MRT. There are several trails here leading through over 2,000 hectares of forest around the MacRitchie Reservoir.

A definite highlight is the tree top walk which leads over a a 250m-long freestanding suspension bridge. If you are looking to reconnect with nature and find real serenity, this is the place for you.

16. Ride the Singapore Flyer

Located by Marina Bay and overlooking all of Singapore’s main attractions is the Singapore Flyer. The observation wheel is a whopping 165m tall, making it higher than the London Eye. A great time to go on is around sunset for both day and night views of Singapore.

A ride costs S$4o and takes around 30 minutes.

How many days do you need in Singapore?

2-3 days are perfect for seeing the main attractions in Singapore without feeling rushed. 4-5 days are ideal if you want to take your time and visit more than the central attractions.

This also makes Singapore perfect for a layover if you are flying between Europe and Australia, as you can just stopover for 2-3 days and get a great feel for the city.

Is Singapore very expensive to visit?

Singapore is on the expensive side when it comes to accommodation, whereas food and transport are surprisingly affordable. In my opinion, you can visit Singapore on a budget too, I have done so twice already.

Is a layover in Singapore worth it?

Singapore is the number one city I would recommend for a layover. It is just ideal for a short stay, whether a few hours or 2-3 days. Thanks to Singapore’s compact city centre, you can see a lot of Singapore’s highlights on a short layover too.