Last Updated on 24 June, 2025
Visiting Singapore soon? I’m Jaclynn, a Singaporean travel lover who’s lived here all my life and here are some of my personal recommendations on things to do in Singapore, including some local tips for those who want to go beyond the usual tourist sights.
I love travelling but when I’m out of annual leave, I try to spend more time exploring my own backyard a little more. You can see an extensive list of various articles and recommendations that I have written on how to see Singapore on this page. Also, I’m a co-writer on the latest Lonely Planet Singapore guidebook.
The official Visit Singapore is useful to learn about the main sights to see in Singapore which people think you can cover in just 1-2 days, but as a licensed Singapore tourist guide, I’m here to share some of its lesser known corners and experiences as well. Drop me a note if you want a well-travelled local who loves sharing stories about her home to show you around on a private tour.
Essential Information about Singapore
Some of the must-knows and things to prep for your trip to Singapore
Survival Guide: Top 10 tips for travelling to Singapore
From how to dress to budgeting and laws to take note of – your essential overview of things to look out for before visiting Singapore.
The worst possible advice to give someone travelling to Singapore
There’s a lot of advice written about Singapore where its obvious the writer knows nothing about Singapore. Here’s my real take on things.
5-day Singapore Guide – Best things to do for first-timers
I designed this 5-day guide for first timers to Singapore covering major attractions, things to do and what to eat.
How to use public transportation to get around Singapore
From how to take the bus and MRT to other public transportation tips, here’s my guide on getting around Singapore on a budget.
Best things to do in Singapore
Short on time? Here are the highlight things to do in Singapore for first time travellers who want to get a taste of the country and culture quickly.
Top free things to do in Singapore
Singapore may be considered an expensive country to visit, but there are plenty of things to do for free and still experience what it has to offer!
GoCity Singapore Pass review
Save money with tour attraction bundles
This remote northwestern corner of Singapore has some of the last remaining farms that you can visit like a goat farm and vegetable farm, as well as one of our best nature parks for animal and bird watching: Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve.
Ways to explore Singapore on your own
I’m very much a free and easy solo traveller at heart, and my blogs are here to help you plan your own adventures. Here are some fun ways to explore Singapore free and easy without a guide.
Sightseeing Singapore by MRT: East to West
Riding the metro across the island
I usually recommend navigating Singapore by the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) which is our version of the subway or metro. This article covers what you can see if you rode the green line across the widest length of Singapore from east to west.
Sightseeing in Singapore when it rains
Navigating the tropical weather
Singapore’s weather can be described in 2 seasons: Hot and Wet, and Hotter and Wetter! There’s no need to despair if it rains, here are some things to do in Singapore even when it’s wet outside.
Crazy Rich Asians movie shooting locations
Singapore set locations for this blockbuster hit
Crazy Rich Asians is one of the more recent Hollywood movies where Singapore features prominently in. The first movie was filmed partially in Singapore and I was an extra on the film! Here’s a look at what those locations are like in real life.
Guided Tours in Singapore
Looking for ways to explore Singapore with a guide? Here are some of my guided tour suggestions that I recommend to visiting friends and family. I’ve either tried these tours for myself or conduct them as a licensed tourist guide.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Indie Singapore Free Walking Tours
Tips based walking tours with a local
My favourite way to explore a new city is to join a free walking tour to get a quick overview of what to see there. Check out Indie Singapore Tours and their free walking tours with a local insider viewpoint in Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam and the Singapore River every weekday, and if you’re very lucky you might get me as your guide! These are tips-based tours so you pay as you want.
Hire me as your tourist guide in Singapore
Yes I am a licensed Singapore tourist guide
If you enjoy reading my blog or feel like I can understand your vibe and travel style, you can always hire me to show you my home country and Singapore from my perspective. I love giving private customised tours and in particular street art tours.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Some of these tours dig deeper into local culture and are seasonal
MyCommunity Heritage Tours
Free guided tours by volunteers in local neighbourhoods
MyCommunity is a local non-profit that does regular guided tours by volunteers around non-touristy neighbourhoods in Singapore for free. These areas might not be particularly interesting to your average tourist but might appeal to those who want a really local look at Singapore. They sometimes have paid tours to unusual places or themed festival tours.
The Intan Tea Experience
Afternoon tea in a Peranakan house
Enjoy afternoon tea in one of Singapore’s smallest and most intimate museums located in a traditional shophouse in the Peranakan Joo Chiat neighbourhood, learning all about this mixed culture.
OH! Open House
Art tours in local neighbourhoods
[SEASONAL] Explore Singaporean neighbourhoods through art installations set up in people’s houses, offices and personal spaces. I was a volunteer guide in the past editions for Joo Chiat, Emerald Hill and Kampong Gelam.
Istana Open House
Visiting Singapore’s palace and its grounds
[SEASONAL] The official residence for Singapore’s president is open to the public on five public holidays in a year. Here’s how to maximise your visit based on my experience visiting.
Katong Dreaming
Musical walking tour around Katong/Joo Chiat
[SEASONAL] This guided performance art tour shows you the history and culture of Peranakan enclave and foodie favourite Katong and Joo Chiat through music, dance and theatre.
Nature and Parks in Singapore
For a very built-up island state known for its many tall buildings, Singapore has a surprising number of green spaces and nature.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Gardens by the Bay
Cooled domes and Supertrees
The two cooled conservatories Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are the perfect spots when Singapore is being overly hot or too rainy! The lovely cool 20ºC temperature is a dream. The daily light and music show at the Supertree Grove in the evening is also a very popular thing to do, while the OCBC Skywalk is a suspended platform winding through the Supertrees.
I usually recommend visiting the domes in the afternoon when it is generally not as busy (Cloud Forest is very atmospheric when it gets darker), getting dinner nearby and doing the OCBC Skywalk for a closer look at the Supertrees, and then hanging around for the light shows.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Historic Park with UNESCO World Heritage status
Singapore’s only UNESCO site, these sprawling gardens near the Orchard Road Shopping Belt are a nice break from all the buildings and city vibe.
The National Orchid Garden is one of the park’s highlights with lots of examples and exhibits on Orchid hybrids that Singapore is famous for, and a nice coolhouse right inside simulating mountain temperature is a nice relief from the heat.
The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is also great for families.
Mandai Wildlife Reserve
World-class animal parks
Singapore has an impressive collection of open-concept animal parks that have an impressive collection of wildlife from around the region and the world.
The Singapore Zoo is the most well-known, while the nocturnal Night Safari has the most unique concept. River Wonders showcases critters from the habitats of major rivers in the world and offers the most shelter in case of bad weather, while Bird Paradise is the newest with plennty of open aviaries.
You need two days to see all four parks properly, but with limited time I recommend seeing the Singapore Zoo and doing the Night Safari.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Southern Ridges
10km of treks and panoramic views along Singapore’s south
This trek along the hill range of Singapore’s southwestern coast is scenic and well maintained with lots of interesting stops along the way.
Start at Mount Faber with the cable cars. Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch are also picturesque and some of Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridges.
Keppel Hill Reservoir & Seah Im Bunker
Forgotten infrastructure around Mount Faber
This once-forgotten reservoir near Mount Faber was left off maps for over 50 years and makes for a fun short hike if you are exploring the Southern Ridges. Close by at Seah Im Food Centre is another oddity – an abandoned bunker – just behind its carpark.
Bukit Batok Quarries
Nature at your doorstep in the west
Former granite quarries in Singapore’s western residential neighbourhood of Bukit Batok have been transformed into scenic parks that make for a nice stroll. There are several other quarries and parks nearby worth hiking, including Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with Singapore’s tallest hill.
Kranji Countryside
Wetland reserves and farm culture
This remote northwestern corner of Singapore has some of the last remaining farms that you can visit like a goat farm and vegetable farm, as well as one of our best nature parks for animal and bird watching: Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve.
Sembawang Hot Spring Park
A steaming soak in the sun
Singapore’s only publicly accessible natural hot spring is located up in a small park in the north, perfect if you want a hot foot bath soak and something quirky to see. Consider seeing more of the Sembawang neighbourhood too.
Offshore Islands of Singapore
Did you know that Singapore is a part of an archipelago with around 60 smaller offshore islands? Many of these are used for industrial purposes, but some of them can be visited for a fun day trip option without breaking out your passport.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Sentosa
Resort island life and beaches
Sentosa is the easiest island to access from Singapore’s main land by bus/car, monorail and even cable car. Most people visit for Universal Studios theme park, S.E.A Aquarium and the casino at the Resorts World Integrated Resort.
Free things to do on Sentosa: Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong Beach along the south are some of Singapore’s nicest beaches with imported sand. I also enjoy walking the historic Fort Siloso, now linked by the panoramic 11-storey tall Fort Siloso Skywalk bridge.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Pulau Ubin
Nature hikes and escape from city life
Pulau Ubin on the northeast shore is home to an excellent nature reserve Chek Jawa Wetland Reserve, stone quarries for some cycling and hiking, and one of Singapore’s last remaining villages. It’s a great day trip and escape from city life.
Pulau Hantu
Underwater treasures in Singapore’s silty waters
Join local dive groups to scuba dive in the waters around this offshore island, and in its murky depths you might find some unusual nudibranchs, seahorses and more! Alternatively venture out at night on an intertidal walk and see its shores come to life.
St John’s Island / Lazarus Island / Kusu Island / Sister’s Island
Day trip to serene beaches and island scenery
Take a ferry from Marina South Pier on a day trip to the cluster of Southern Islands and discover remains of a lost village, some quiet white-sand beaches and a quirky temple or two.
Pulau Satumu
Home to Singapore’s southernmost lighthouse
This little island on the southern edge of the Singapore Straits is home to Raffles Lighthouse, one of Singapore’s oldest lighthouses and can only be visited on a special tour by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore.
Local Neighbourhoods in Singapore
Recs for First-time Visitors
Chinatown
Multicultural Chinese district in downtown area
Singapore’s heritage Chinese quarter is one of my favourite places to bring new visitors to Singapore as it has a great mix of good food, cultural sites and lots of lovely murals on its walls.
Chinatown Complex, Maxwell Food Centre and Amoy Street Food Centre have plenty of hawker food options for anyone looking to try Singaporean food. Sri Mariamman Temple and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple are also worth exploring.
Little India
Colourful Indian district
Little India is a place to experience with all your senses, a riot of colours, fragrances and bustling chatter. The Indian Heritage Centre is a modern addition to the neighbourhood, while Tekka Market is a fabulous place for food and a little shopping.
Kampong Gelam
Heritage Malay quarter and street art mecca
One of my favourite neighbourhoods is one I used to work in, while a lot more gentrified than underground these days, Sultan Mosque at its centre still stands tall, while hip Haji Lane is always filled with murals and colours.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Venture further into the heartland districts for a truly local experience
Joo Chiat
Peranakan heritage neighbourhood and foodie haven
This well known Peranakan (mixed heritage of local borns with straits immigrants) neighbourhood has lots of great food, heritage and culture in its narrow alleyways.
Tiong Bahru
Revived hipster district with unique art deco architecture
This gentrified neighbourhood is the perfect mix of old school markets, shops and businesses alongside hip cafes, eateries and boutiques. Architecture lovers will adore the unique art deco buildings found here.
Sembawang
War history and natural landscapes
This northern neighbourhood has a surprisingly amount of WWII history, beautiful British colonial bungalows and one of Singapore’s last natural beaches. Also, Singapore’s only publicly accessible hot spring!
Queenstown
One of Singapore’s oldest residential neighbourhoods
One of Singapore’s oldest public housing estates, Queenstown (named for the British monarchs when we were a colony) has lots of history hidden amidst its residential neighbourhood worth checking out.
Street Art in Singapore
It may surprise you to know that while Singapore is pretty strict about what it considers vandalism, murals and street art have become quite popular in recent years and can be found all over the island. Here are some neighbourhoods that I’ve mapped. Read about the evolution of Singapore’s street art scene or check out my street art page to see other street art spots I’ve mapped around the world.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Areas that are easier to get to and close to the main sightseeing spots in Singapore
Chinatown
Nostalgic murals in the Chinese quarter
Instagrammable murals depicting Singapore in its early days fill the walls of the historic Chinese enclave, one of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods.
Kampong Gelam
The original street art district in the Malay area
Home to local street art crews and arts housing, this heritage Malay district was one of the first neighbourhoods in Singapore to embrace street art on its walls.
Little India
A growing collection of murals in the Indian quarter
The colourful Indian district is regularly updated with murals that nod to the neighbourhood’s South Asian heritage thanks to an annual art festival run by the local arts college.
Bugis / Bras Basah
Colonial history and cultural district
Art fills the former European quarter, with murals and street art amidst cultural landmarks housing national art institutions and private art galleries
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Surprising street art hot spots in Singapore’s residential neighbourhoods for the hardcore street art lovers
Jurong West
Art on the west side
Several art projects have jazzed up this residential neighbourhood that sprung up around the western industrial area of Jurong.
Bukit Merah
Murals and more in Redhill
One of the older neighbourhoods in Singapore, this southwestern district whose name translates to ‘Red Hill’ is a surprising home to some cool street art.
Ang Mo Kio
Quirky art and architecture to the north
This residential neighbourhood is home to some quirky murals, cool sculptures and interesting architecture.
Hougang
Humongous public housing murals
A rare northeastern neighbourhood in Singapore where huge murals decorate the sides of the public Housing Development Board (HDB) apartment blocks.
Katong / Joo Chiat
Colourful hipster heritage district
See glimpses of the neighbourhood’s Peranakan heritage and former coastal location splashed upon its walls.
Arts & Culture in Singapore
I’ve worked in the arts sector for several years in Singapore and we have some lovely museums here that are perfect for arts lovers and those curious to learn about our local history.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Major cultural institutions in Singapore
National Museum of Singapore (NMS)
Overview of Singapore’s history and evolution
Singapore’s oldest museum is housed in a beautiful historic building, but the content is far from boring with interesting and immersive exhibits that tell you about Singapore’s past and growth.
National Gallery Singapore (NGS)
Largest collection of Southeast Asian Modern Art
Housed in the former City Hall and Supreme Court, NGS is worth checking out even if you don’t want to visit the galleries – you can admire the architecture for free, and even see the old prison cells used in the former supreme court.
Singapore Art Museum (SAM)
Contemporary art amidst the port
Now housed in the Tanjong Pagar Distripark area, SAM is for those who don’t mind going a little out of the way to check out contemporary art.
ArtScience Museum
Public-friendly and pop culture related
The iconic lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum is most popular for its very instagrammable rooms and exhibits, and it usually has exhibits themed around pop-culture favourites.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
Smaller and more quirky options for those who like more niche museums
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Skeletons and specimens galore
One of my personal favourite niche museums in Singapore where you can learn about local biodiversity and see some impressive skeletons up close, including a whale that washed up on our shores.
Haw Par Villa
Quirky sculpture park dedicated to Chinese stories
This once-popular park is home to some pretty bizarre half-human/animal statues and dioramas that depict Chinese tales, ethics and weird international tributes.
The infamous 10 Courts of Hell is now located within the Hell Museum dedicated to death practices in Singapore and around the world, which is a paid section of the otherwise free park.
Former Ford Factory
WWII site of Singapore’s surrender
Those interested in WWII history should make time to see the Former Ford Factory, the site where the British signed the surrender papers back in 1942 and now a museum documenting Singapore’s occupation years.
Changi Chapel and Museum
Intimate look at WWII POW stories
This small museum is quite out of the way in Changi, but an important place for those ex-POWs and their family members as it commemorates the prison grounds that were used to house internees and POWs during WWII, including the recreation of a historic chapel and murals.
Hawker Centres in Singapore
Food is an essential way to experience Singapore and its multicultural landscape and hawker centres are one of the best places to find a diverse range of affordable, tasty food in a place where locals frequent. There are many open-air hawker centres, air-conditioned food courts and smaller neighbourhood kopitiams scattered around Singapore – these are my usual recs for visitors.
Don’t know what food to order? Check out my article about what to eat and drink in Singapore on Lonely Planet.
Recs for First-time Visitors
Iconic hawker centres in Singapore in convenient areas that are tourist friendly
Maxwell Food Centre
Hainanese chicken rice galore in Chinatown
Chinatown has several excellent hawker centres worth checking out, but if you have time for just one, head to Maxwell Food centre. Not too large but lots of variety nonetheless. Tian Tian Chicken Rice is THE stall here, but head to Ah Tai a few stalls down for arguably equally good chicken rice without the insane queues. I always get sugarcane juice from the stall right across from Tian Tian.
Other options in Chinatown: Chinatown Complex is the largest with over 200 stalls and the former 1-Michelin star stall, Amoy Street Food Centre has two floors of great food and Hong Lim Food Centre next to Chinatown Point is a local favourite.
Tekka Market and Food Centre
Spectacular Indian food and more
Tekka Market is one of the more famous wet markets in Singapore, and its adjoining Tekka Food Centre is also very good. Right in the heart of Little India, briyani, prata and Indian rojak are all great options, but there are plenty of non-Indian food options available too.
Lau Pa Sat
Hawker centre in a national monument
This historic 130 year old market is right in the middle of the downtown area with some beautiful architecture.
Tiong Bahru Food Centre
Popular local food centre
Those exploring the hip Tiong Bahru neighbourhood have to stop by the refurbished Tiong Bahru Food Centre on the 2nd floor of the market.
Offbeat Options for seasoned visitors
If you don’t mind travelling out a bit further, these are less touristy hawker centre options to consider
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Local favourite hawker centre
I like to recommend this hawker centre as it is a bit of the usual tourist trail. I used to work nearby and it has some reliably good hawker food.
East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre
Coastal views and vibes
If you are driving or don’t mind taking a car, this hawker centre at East Coast Park along the coastline has a great vibe by the sea! Lots of great charcoal grilled satay skewers and seafood here.