By: 4 Old Soles (My Parents)
Singapore Travel Tips & Top Things to Do
Singapore is my 3rd favorite city in the world.
It is clean, safe, modern, colorful, culturally diverse, scenic, has wonderful attractions, English friendly, a foodie paradise, and it’s very unique.
Temperature
- In the summer, Singapore is extremely hot and humid. DO NOT underestimate how draining the heat is to the pace of your sightseeing.
Singapore Changi Airport
- Singapore Changi Airport is the best and most unique in the world. It’s an attraction unto itself.
- Taxis are located outside of the airport baggage and there are people there to help you get a taxi to your hotel. You do not need to have a guide pick you up in Singapore.
- Singapore Airport Video Link
Tips for Traveling Around Town
- Taxis in Singapore are modern. They are safe and easy to use 24/7.
- All of the main attractions in Singapore can be seen without a local guide.
- Signs are in English and most people at the attractions speak English.
- Hotels can call you a taxi to go anywhere.
- I recommend ALWAYS having your destination and address marked on a sheet of paper to hand to the driver in case his English is limited.
- I also get a couple of business cards from the hotel to show the taxi driver (if needed), your hotel for your return.
4 Old Soles Tip:
- See the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” for great views of the city before traveling.
Singapore Must-Do Attractions
(that you can easily do on your own)
1. Singapore Botanical Gardens
The Singapore Botanical Gardens are the best in the world that I have seen. Don’t miss their amazing orchid displays!
Time Needed: (3 to 4 hours)
2. Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is outstanding! I especially like the freedom they give the Orangutans to climb on ropes over the walkways as they go from one habitat to another.
Time Needed: (4 to 8 hours)
3. Jurong Bird Park
The Jurong Bird Park is a very nice exhibit with thoughtful displays.
Time Needed: (3 hours)
4. Gardens by the Bay
I have not personally been there – it opened shortly after our last visit, but everything in Singapore is first class, and it is highly rated online, so I have no doubt it is nice.
5. Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is a Ferris wheel that gives a descent overview of the city. It is set to re-open in March 2022. Many people love this but personally, I would pass and put the money toward staying one night at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel which has outstanding views of the city.
6. Singapore River Cruise
The Singapore River Cruise is nice and relaxing. We enjoyed it and how the city looks different from the river.
7. Dinner by the Singapore River
Clarke Quay and the Riverside area are lined with wonderful places to dine. The ambiance is first rate. Try the Chili Crab here, a local favorite.
Sights Where it Helps to Have a Guide in Singapore
This is where TOURS BY LOCALS shine.
In Singapore, Tours By Locals offers 96 different tours from 16 outstandingly rated guides. Our guide when visiting, Anna Ong, is still giving tours and you will be truly fortunate if she is available. As Anna says, “ If you really want to explore and experience the ‘TRUE’ Singapore in the day and/or night, what you need is not just any tour guide, but a true-blue ‘INSIDER’ like me!!” I love what I’m doing and can’t wait to show the world how fun, crazy, colorful and uniquely Singapore is!” Anna is an exceptional guide and unique character. We used Anna in her early guiding days, and we somehow ended up doing 11 hours in the August heat and humidity. This was a lot and we would recommend breaking your tour into 2 days if you have 11 hours of sights that you want to see.
So here are the highlights best done with a guide.
1. Religious History of Singapore
Visit a market area where a Hindu temple stands beside a Buddhist/Taoism temple across from an Islamic Mosque. Learn about the pride Singaporeans have for their religious tolerance and how it is baked into the fabric of their society.
2. Visit the “Old Arabic” section of town
Drink a cup of “pull tea.”
3. Visit Chinatown and its markets and shops
Sample BBQ, a taste of the dragon fruit or even a dragon eye.
4. Lunch at either Newton Food Market or Lau Pa Sat
These are the “food court” like places where you can sample many different foods each sold in their own stall.
- This is the dining experience depicted in “Crazy Rich Asian” near the beginning of the movie.
- DO NOT miss this experience. In fact, plan to go at least two times and definitely go with a guide/local. It is too chaotic and overwhelming to fully appreciate on your own.
- Great food, weird food, some that you may not enjoy and a lot of different food. Dozens of different things to drink. I like to treat this like an attraction – buy a little of a lot of items.
- Try and sample as many things as you can that are not available back home.
- Don’t miss trying the Century Egg and the famous Chili Crab.
5. Kampong Lorong Buangkok
Kampong Lorong Buangkok is the last remaining rural village, squeezed between the massive, planned communities and shopping malls. This is where 30 families maintain a lifestyle reminiscent of the early 1900’s. To hear the story of how this very small area came about and what the future holds is well worth the visit.
6. Singapore Housing Authority Sales Office
No visit to Singapore is complete without a visit to the Housing Authority Sales office. Why? Because here you see the nature of the Singaporeans culture put into practical action.
Approximately 80% of Singaporeans live in government housing (apartments). The entire country is laid out in approximately 100,000 person “mini-cities” which have all the necessary amenities for a good life (athletics, schools, stores, etc). These high-rise cities are purposefully populated with a racial and religious balance matching that of the country.
Apartments
Apartments vary in size and cost. Almost all of the units have government subsidies based upon the need of the occupant. When you visit the sales office, you get to visit sample apartments, and see the availability of existing apartments, as well as those under construction or planned in the future.
All of these planned communities are interconnected by high-speed modern subways to the central downtown core.
Without a guide it would be hard to fully comprehend the magnitude of this project and what it says about the people of Singapore.
Where to Stay in Singapore
When visiting Singapore it is nice to be centrally located with a modern hotel that does not break the bank. In Asia I have found the Ibis chain of hotels to fit that description, like the Holiday Inn in the United States. In Singapore, my go to hotel is the Ibis on Bencoolen. It scores well on all my needs: location, price, presentation and ratings.
But I must admit that during our next stay in Singapore, we will splurge on a night at the Marina Bay Sands (“the boat hotel”) for the spectacular “room with a view” of Singapore AND to try out the rooftop “infinity” pool which is on my current bucket list.
Have a Great Trip in Singapore!
If You Found This Post Helpful, Please Share / Pin It
POPULAR TOURS IN SINGAPORE
10 Traveling Feet is a participant of Amazon Associates which means means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I will only recommend products that I have found useful and have loved using with my family. Thank you for supporting this website so that I may continue to bring you quality information.