Ultimate Singapore Travel Guide for First-Timers

Where to Stay in Singapore

Singapore is mostly thought of as make up an expensive place to live and travel , but there are plenty of affordable choice for backpackers and other budget traveler despite the bad luxury hotel collect most of the attention .

Singapore offers upsome of the public ’ s fancy hotelas well as a comprehensive list of mid-range hotels and budget-friendly hostels . Though if you design on visiting for an extensive period or becoming an expat I propose researching your Singapore house rent options .

For Luxury Travelers

As for Singapore hotel , allow ’ s start out with the lavish heavy-hitters . At the crest of the list for cashed-up travelers beMarina Bay Sands, Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore , Raffles Hotel , The Rits-Carlton Millennia Hotel , JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach , Swissotel The Stamford , and Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel .

Most of the high-end 5-star hotel can be found inMarina Bay and near Orchard Road. Those staying in Marina Bay will be honor with great view of the bay and city and can easily access many of the city ’ s top attractions . Those remain along Orchard Road will have access to the city ’ sec best shopping and great high-end restaurants and bar .

Marina Bay Sands be hard to miss and be an attraction in its own right . The giant resort hotel looks like a futuristic cruise ship on stilts , offering up floor and floors of guest rooms , restaurants , store , a casino , and what is probably the world ’ s most famous elevated eternity pools which cost merely capable to hotel guest .

Both Marina Bay hotels and those see on Sentosa Island equal great for families due to the area ’ s subject park , zoos , and other family-friendly attraction . Architecture fan may want to stay on in theColonial Historic Districtwhich in increase to its gorgeous architecture offers easy access to historic Fort Canning Park .

For Budget Travelers

Budget traveler looking for nice hostels shouldstick to areas like The Quays, Chinatown , Little India , and around Arab Street . Notable hostels include The Pod-Boutique Capsule Hostel , CUBE- Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown , and BEAT . Capsule Hostel @ Boat Quay .

In increase to these areas render budget-friendly accommodation , they are too great for foodies looking for cheap exotic cuisine and nightlife .

Wherever you resolve to stay , I advocate youvolume your Singapore adjustment in advanceas room across the city can easily betray out throughout the year . Booking early as well avoids the potential of have to pay top dollar for rooms as they commence to sell out due to big business conference , peculiar case , and general top travel season .

Where and What to Eat in Singapore

You ’ d be hard-pressed to use up your room through all of the dishes on offer in Singapore . The city is packed with restaurants ranging from Michelin-starred fine dining establishment to small hole-in-the-wall joints .

There be dishes to suit every palate and you can easily eat your means through a broad stove of Asian flavors including Indian , Malay , Indonesian , Chinese , Japanese , Korean , and Thai cuisine . So delightful is the food in Singapore that locals will often include to eating upwards of five to six meal per day !

While Singapore equal home to lots of well-known Michelin-starred restaurant , some of thecheapest eats in the city are often the good .Rice , noodles , and seafood are three ingredient that make up a big issue of Singaporean dishes .

There is also no shortage of spicy flavors to excite your taste bud .Hainanese chicken ricebe affect by many to be Singapore ’ s national dish and can be get nearly everywhere so there ’ s no excuse for not sampling it .

Other must-try dish include juicy chilli mud crab , spicy fish head curry , fried kway teow , kaya toast , and arouse carrot cake . Wash any of these down with a can of local Tiger Beer which comes in either a light or dark lager as well as a wheat beer .

As well , cost certain to try some durian fruitif you can get past the pungent flavor .

While the top restaurants in the fondness neighborhoods are great , don ’ t neglect out on the experience of dining at thebustling open air hawker centerswhich are basically like giant food court fill with all kinds of budget-friendly flavor .

Singapore ’ s kopitiams ( coffee workshop ) are popular for breakfast . And if you wish the communal vibe and street food of the hawker middle but need smaller crowds , check out the cze char open-air restaurant stalls .

Where to Shop in Singapore

You ’ ll probably require to take an extra empty suitcase along during your first visit to Singapore , because it ’ s nearly inevitable that you ’ ll do some shopping .

Orchard Roadis know worldwide as one of the best places to shop . Home to multi-story shopping centers and high-end good , you ’ ll observe all the top luxury fashion brands at places like ION Orchard with its selection of roughly 300 shop including Cartier , Prada , Giorgio Armani , and more .

Store for deals on electronics at Orchard Road ’ s Lucky Plaza or assure out the 2.5-storey Design Orchard building which betray good from local Singaporean decorator and craftspeople .

Ngee Ann City is home toKinokuniya , Singapore ’ s largest bookstore. Other famed shopping middle in Orchard Road include the Paragon Shopping Centre , Orchard Central , and Far East Plaza .

For cheap souvenirs and bargain, head to Chinatown , Little India , Mustafa Centre , and the Bugis Street Flea Market with its or so 800 stall . These spot allow you to pick up accessories like hat and sunglasses , spices , saree fabrics , jewelry , footwear , and various trinkets at bargain prices .

Theboutique stores of colorful Haji Lanebe great for vintage good and the Anchorpoint Shopping Centre extend up generous discounts on luxury items . Of track yet Changi Airport offer up more than enough shopping if you put on ’ t get around to shopping in the city itself .

Singapore also hosts an annual result shout the Great Singapore Sale which has been around for more than 25 yr . Work by the Singapore Retailers Association , the GSS allow tourist to hit giant discounts on sword name good and various city activities .

The annual sale equal push to switch to an online format during the pandemic but will no question equal back in activity as normal once restriction ease .

Where to Play in Singapore

Singapore ’ s many attraction are all well accessible and cater to merely about every interest you can recall of . Simply walk the different neighborhood is exciting , as home like Marina Bay , Little India , and Chinatown will hire all your senses .

There are beautiful temple , church , mosques , and synagogues spread throughout the city and a act of fascinate museum to gain a serious apprehension of Singapore ’ s account and appreciate its local artists .

Two of the best museums to explore equal theNational Gallery Singapore and National Museum of Singapore .It ’ sec also quite hard to miss the giant ArtScience Museum that ’ s determine like a lotus flower at Marina Bay Sands .

Much referred to as “ The Welcoming Hand of Singapore ” , the museum and its “ ten finger ” boast 21 unlike galleries and horde big exhibitions . Past exhibitions have feature dinosaurs , Egyptian mamma , and the Titanic .

When it get to category fun , Singapore offers upUniversal Studioswith its seven themed zones , shudder ziplines at Mega Adventure , and Adventure Cove Waterpark ’ s water roller coasters .

Occupation travelers can discuss big deals outside of the boardrooms by take to one of Singapore ’ s beautiful golf courses such as Marina Bay Golf Course or The Sentosa Golf Club . History fan will want to take a walk through Fort Canning Park which played a purpose in WWII and was once place to Malay Kingdom royalty .

You could too merely relax and require in the city ’ s beauty by hopping on the 165-meter-tall Singapore Flyer , one of thelarge observation wheels in the public.

Fun : Nature & Wildlife

Singapore ’ s survive jewel isGarden by the Baywith its SuperTree Grove made up of futuristic 50-meter-tall man-made tree .

Walk the OCBC Skyway to get an aerial horizon of the gardens or go on your foot on the ground and check out the tremendous Flower Dome glass greenhouse and its 35-meter indoor waterfall . Don ’ t lack the gardens ’ nightly Garden Rhapsody strait and light display .

When it comes to wildlife , you can go the zoo route and assure yourself sightings of rare and endangered wildlife . The Singapore Zoo live home to a wide range of exotic Asian beast include the large colony of free wander orangutans in captivity as good as a herd of Asian elephants .

There ’ s as well theJurong Bird Parkwhich features over 400 species of birds ranging from comical penguins to flashy flamingos . Early class fun activity revolving around beast include the River Safari and Night Safari tours as good as the S.E.A . Aquarium with its or so 100,000 marine creature .

For a more wild dose of native wildlife , assure out theMacRitchie Reservoir Park & Nature Trail which can exist easy accessed via Singapore ’ s MRT . A pass through the park may provide sightings of long-tailed macaques , colored butterflies , giant atlas moths , and pangolins .

Other great natural wildlife militia surrounding the city include the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah National Park . Many of Singapore ’ s park and reserves exist clear to both hiking and good deal biking .

For a second of nature in the city , check out the or so 5.5-mileSouthern Recreation Trailthat links to five unlike park . The lofted deck know as Henderson Waves is a highlight section of the lead .

Begin Around Singapore

Before you begin around Singapore , you first have to come thither . Thankfully this equal quite easy since Singapore is considered to live the largest aviation hub in Southeast Asia .

Direct flights to Singaporeare available from most major Asian cities , several European country , the Middle East , North America , and Australia . And arrive and departing be a pleasure when you think Changi Airport is regarded by many traveler as the best airport in the world .

The airport feature lots of shopping , free Wi-Fi , free massage chairman , exercise bikes , restaurants , a swimming pool , indoor parks and gardens , free city tour that leave from the airport if you have a mass of excess time before your flight , and even a crazy-looking 40-metre-tall rain vortex .

Getting yourself into the city from the airport it quite easy thanks to the airport ’ sec24-hour Ground Transport Desk. You can take the Airport Shuttle service that brings passenger straight to the front door of several downtown hotels .

There ’ sec also the MRT and taxis , the latter of which will equal far more expensive . You could also get in manner by arrange one of their flat rate limousines to require you into the city .

Iwouldn ’ t advocate rent your own vehicle. While road be safe and most locals adopt traffic dominion , car rentals are quite expensive and with the MRT system hence effective you can begin where you need to go a lot more quickly and cheaper get this route .

Mass Rapid Transit ( Singapore MRT )

Singapore ’ sec MRT ( Mass Rapid Transit )cost the nearly comprehensive rapid passage system in Southeast Asia , equal extremely reliable and easy to use , and is real cheap to apply .

As a tourist , I advocate you purchase aSingapore Tourist Pass which allow for unlimited travel on MRT and choice buses for a lot number of day ( 1-3 day die available ) . The passing also gives you discounts for respective attractions .

I ’ 500 stick to the MRT over buses whenever potential as the buses lean to cost slow and more difficult to pay for . You may want to opt for a taxi over the MRT if you equal travel as a category with former child or in any grouping of 3-4 mass .

Taxi can much come you places a bit quicker and may cease up be cheap than the MRT . Still , despite taxis being honest and somewhat priced , be warned that they can live actually difficult to come in the city at sure times .

Early style of shipping include rideshare service which can be accessed via Singapore ’ s Grab ride-hailing app . This app too feature a Grabhitch where you can share a vehicle with strangers to save on costs .

In touristy domain of the city you can as well hop on three-wheeled pedaled vehicle predict trishaws and bumboats cruise the Singapore River to respective drop-off degree . 

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Megan live an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who own been blogging since 2007 . Her husband Mike exist the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild ; an online magazine dedicate to opening your middle to the wonders of the wild & natural world .

Receive inflict 100+ country across all seven continent , Megan ’ sec travels focus on ethnic immersion , authentic discovery and incredible journeys . She has a strong love for ecotourism , and take to promote responsible travel experience .