Singapore Activities

There are a myriad of Singapore activities on offer. Whether your Singapore stopover is only for a handful of hours or a few days, here are some suggestions for some easy things to do in Singapore. Beyond the hawkers markets, you’re sure to get a good taste of Singapore!

City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

You’ll find bus route maps for the city sightseeing double decker bus tours at the airport or other touristy outlets. You can purchase 24 hour tickets on-board. With some nice commentary you’ll be able to get a quick feel for Singapore, its rich ethnic and colonial history, and its amazing contrasts.

There are 22 stops around the city where you can hop on and off, but here are just a couple of favourite spots.

China Town is worth a stop. The intention is to get a glimpse into the rich Chinese history of Singapore however the combination of temples, market stalls and bars probably bear little resemblance to true historic Chinese culture. Nevertheless it’s still a fun touristy spot to wander round and sample some inexpensive food or buy a cheap nasty souvenir.

Little India is also a popular stop. Whiff the spices, enjoy the colour and pizazz of this Indian enclave, and check out the colourful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. The weekend markets are particularly fun.

The colonial district is home to a few museums and you can also take a walking tour to learn more about Sir Raffles and British colonisation, and maybe have a Singapore Sling cocktail at the Raffles Hotel.

Marina Bay Sands

If you’re not staying at the remarkable looking Marina Bay Sands Hotel, it’s worth popping up to the top of the building at the Sands Skypark observation deck for wraparound views of Singapore. Or head to the bar to overlook the hotel guests packed like sardines into the infinity pool (access to the actual pool is available only to guests of the Marina Bay Sands hotel). The prices for drinks at the bar are absolutely outrageous and the service is rather poor, but it’s worth it for the views if it’s not a smoggy day. Or go at night when the vistas of the city are particularly stunning.

There are also various other rooftop bars where you can appreciate the views.

Gardens By the Bay

Right near the Marina Bay Sands is the amazing 100+ hectare garden that includes climate controlled conservatories, super trees, and more than half a million plants. It might sound a bit poxy visiting a garden, but this is fabulous and a great way to see how the locals escape from the intense urbanization.

One of the conservatories, Cloud Forest, is cool and moist and includes the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It depicts plant lift from tropical highlands. Or if you like flowers, you can check out the Flower Dome.

The Super Trees are illuminated at night, and there are a couple of garden rhapsody shows in the early evening that look rather dramatic against the city skyline.

Singapore Flyer

Another great spot to take in the skyline of the city is the Singapore Flyer, which is supposedly the highest ferris wheel in the world. They like to go big in Singapore! And great news is that the Singapore Flyer gondolas are air conditioned!

Singapore Zoo

There are a handful of zoos in Singapore but the Singapore Zoo is probably the most popular. It’s a cross between a place for animals and a botanical garden, and many of the animals roam freely which is pretty cool. Speaking of cool, there are some water slide and swing features which are great if you happen to have your swimsuit. And no, there are not any elephant rides!