Whether you're a local, expat, frequent visitor or first timer looking for something off the beaten track, this guide to Singapore is for you! See how many items on this list you can try to tick off.
We have called Singapore home for the last 7 years and have not wanted to miss a thing this little island has to offer. Each time we read about a new and exciting place it was added to this list. Each time we got a local recommendation, it went on this list. This was our ever growing list of things to see, do, eat and drink in Singapore, and now we pass it on to you to enjoy this great city and never spend a moment bored there.
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Firstly, Where to Stay: Don't miss spending a night one of these iconic Singapore Hotels
Sofitel Singapore Resort and Spa Sentosa (Don't miss the So Sofitel Spa)
Top things to see & Do in Singapore:
Top Singapore Attractions:
Ride the waterslides and swim with dolphins at AdventureCove
Check out the SEA Aquarium, one of Asia's largest
Try indoor Skydiving at the iFly
Visit Jurong Bird Park
Get a thrill at the Clarke Quay bungy swing
Catch a movie in Singapore's most hidden cinema, the Projector for a vintage experience
Take cheesy photos at Trick Eye Museum or Madame Tussauds on Sentosa Island
Take a Tiger Brewery tour and taste the local beer
Take a tour of the Brass Lion Gin Distillery, taste local Singapore Gin
Enjoy sunset sailing along Singapore's skyline with a 3 course meal aboard the Royal Albatross tall ship
Top Neighbourhoods and Streets to Explore:
Visit the historic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and colourful shop houses of Chinatown
Explore Arab St area, experience the Grand Mosques and culture of Haji Lane
Wander the bars of Keong Saik Road on a Saturday night
Enjoy after work drinks on the street at Club Street on a Friday night
Enjoy casual dinner and drinks along Holland Village
Have a big night out along the river at Clarke Quay
Enjoy a morning walk or quiet dinner along Robertson Quay
Take in the views and shop houses over a drink along Boat Quay
Cafe hop and enjoy the local markets and art deco architecture around Tiong Bahru
Experience the culture of Little India
Eat dinner on Duxton hill, a charming little area full of restaurants and cobblestone streets
Visit Dempsey hill for a nice restaurant meal in historic renovated barracks
Visit the shop houses along Emerald hill, stop for dinner and a drink
Enjoy the street art and shophouses of Armenian St
Top parks, walks and island outings:
Take coastal walk down East Coast Park, stop for a local seafood lunch or dinner
Walk through the jungle tree tops and spot some monkeys at McRitchie Reservoir
For a quieter jungle walk, visit Upper Peirce Reservoir
Scale Singapore's highest peak - Bukit Timah Mountain
Cycle around Palau Ubin Island, try to spot some wild boars and check out the mangroves
Cycle around Coney Island
Cycle along the Singapore river from Gardens by the bay all the way to Clarke Quay
Take a quiet beachside trip to St Johns and Lazarus Island
Hunt for old World War 2 cannons buried in the jungle around Labrador Park
Visit one of Sentosa's beach clubs, try stand up paddle boarding
Play Badminton with some locals, it's one of Singapore's most popular sports
Visit Singapore Wetland Reserve
Top Singapore Museums:
Learn all there is to know about Singapore at the National Museum
Visit the National Gallery for amazing art, architecture and city views
See where Singapore surrendered to Japan in World War 2 at the Ford Factory Museum
Har Par Villa: Singapore's strangest museum, learn about the seven stages of the afterworld in Chinese culture.
The MINT Toy Museum
Visit the Kranji War Memorial
Visit the National library
Top Local Food Outlets and Hawker Centres:
Eat Satay on the Street at the La Pa Sat night markets
Enjoy a local hawker dinner with a view of Marina Bay at Makansutra Hawker Centre along the Esplanade
Enjoy a truly local hawker centre at Tiong Bahru Market
Eat at Newton Circus Hawker Centre
Eat Chili crab at Jumbo Seafood
Visit the famous Maxwell Hawker centre in Chinatown
Try the michelin starred Chicken rice from Hawker Chan, Chinatown
Eat Black pepper crab at Long Beach Seafood Restaurant
Try other local seafood dishes New Ubin Seafood
Visit No Sign Board Seafood restaurant
If you're brave - Taste Durian from Geylang Markets
Have a quiet local dinner by the river at Zion Road Hawker Centre
Taste some Thai Food from the Golden Mile Complex
Sip some local tea at the glamourous TWG
Taste Hai di Lao Hot Pot
Visit Timbre+ for live music and local food stalls in shipping containers
Visit Adam Road food centre
Top Events in Singapore:
Formula 1: Hands down the best event and weekend of the year in Singapore. Don't miss it. 3 nights of amazing concerts, racing, and the city a buzz.
Films by the Fort outdoor cinema at Fort Canning Park
The Singapore Air Show: held once every 2 years, featuring a global display of military aircraft and amazing aerobatic displays
Run in the Standard Chartered Marathon
Go to a music festival: We loved Garden Beats
Visit the renovated Gillman army Barracks for the Art After Dark Festival
Watch the city light up at iLight Marina Bay
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios
Our Top Restaurants for Brunch in Singapore:
PS Cafe: Must try the truffle fries
Tolido's Espresso Nook: Must try the Laska Pasta
Gather at Raffles hotel: Must try the crepe and portuguese tarts
Open Farm Community at Dempsey hill
King and Prawn: Brunch and boardgames
Merci Marcel Tiong Bahru or Club Street
Boufe Boutique Cafe - Cakes & Brunch
Publico Deli and Marcello at Robertson Quay
Little Farms Cafe: Australian style brunch and coffee at River Valley
Our Top Italian Restaurants in Singapore:
Cibo Italiano at River Valley
Bella Pizza and Bella Pasta at Robertson Quay
No Menu: Locally run italian restaurant on Amoy street with no menu
Pete’s Place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel
Blue Label Pizza at Club Street
Cicheti near Arab St
Fabbrica near Arab St
Our Top Steak Restaurants in SIngapore:
Bistecca near Robertson Quay
db Bistro and Oyster bar by Daniel Boulard: Seak at Marina Bay Sands
CUT Wolfgang Puck: Steak at Marina Bay Sands
Salt Grill: Steak on top of Orchard Road
Woolloomooloo at Raffles City
Our Other Top Restaurants for Lunch or Dinner in Singapore:
Kilo Kallang Waterfront: Dinner or weekend Barbeque at Camp Kil
JYPSY: Japanese
Le Bistrort Du Sommelier french on Armenian Street
Don Ho on Keong Saik Rd
Wine Connection: Cheese platters at Robertson Quay
Adrift at Marina Bay Sands
Blu Kouzina: Greek food Dempsey hill
Bakalaki: Greek food Tiong Bahru
The Tiffin Room: Singapore's first Indian Restaurant in the Raffles Hotel
Bar-A-Thym: French Omakase off Club St
Burnt Ends: Keong Saik Road
Club 55: Cheese and Chocolate buffet at Marina Bay Sands
Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen at Marina Bay Sands
Black Tap: Crazy milkshakes at Marina Bay Sands
Shake Shack at the Jewel Changi Airport
Tim Ho Wan dumplings
Din Tai Fung dumplings
Superstar K Korean BBQ Tanjong pagar
Chop Suey at Dempsey Hill
Top Bars in Singapore:
Level 33: Craft Beer and a rooftop view of Marina Bay
Potato Head: Keong Saik Rd
Holey Moley Mini Golf at Bar at Club Street
Little Creatures Brewery: Craft Beer at Club Street
Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel: Taste a Singapore Sling in the bar it was invented
Cei La Vie: Enjoy the view form the top of Marina Bay Sands
Spago: Sip cocktails on top of Marina Bay Sands in a relaxed lounge bar
Lavo: Another great one atop Marina Bay
One Altitue: Experience Singapores highest rooftop bar
The Loof rooftop bar: A quiet low rise rooftop
Manhattan bar at the Regent hotel: Some of the best cocktails in Singapore
Mezza9 at the Grand Hyatt: one for one Martini's most evenings
28 Hong Kong St: Hidden Bar
The Screening Room: Enjoy a low rise rooftop along Club st
Drinks & Co: Drink by the bottle along Club St
Southbridge bar at Boat Quay: Low rise along the River
Boomerang: If you're looking for somewhere to watch an Australian Sporting game
Artemis rooftop at the Capita Green Building
Native Cocktail bar Singapore
Where to Shop in Singapore:
Visit one of the many mega malls along Orchard road
Hunt for a bargain at the IMM outlets
Shop at Raffles City Mall
Visit Bugis St Markets
We hope you enjoyed our guide to Singapore, save this for all your Singapore trips or local weekend ideas, see how many things you can tick off. For more details on weekend activities in Singapore you can see the weekend and day trip section of our blog. For Singapore restaurant and bar recommendations you and see our eats and drinks section. Or for other destination guides click here.
Your,
LITTLE SHERPAs
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