Top 50 Places To Go Visit in Singapore

Singapore is one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world. The city is so disciplined and orderly that even the trees that lined the main roads are planted every twenty feet apart.

The favourite past times of the local people are shopping and eating at all hours. The island is so well-lighted and busy with shoppers and diners after dark, it is very safe to walk in the streets at night.

Singapore is a shoppers' paradise, you can find fashion items ranging from small store bargains to luxurious branded goods. For those who are crazy about electronics and gadgets, there are heaps of shops selling the latest models in electronics and technology.

You will not go hungry in this food-crazed country. You can find restaurants, cafes, foodcourts and hawker food stalls everywhere. Many food stalls open 24 hours and you can find a darn good place to eat at 3.00am in the morning.

Here are the top must-see places in Singapore.

1. The Merlion

The Merlion is a symbol that represents Singapore. It is a mystical creature which is half mermaid and half lion. It has the head of a lion and body of a mermaid. This 8.6 metre tall merlion statue stands at the Marina Bay waterfront looking towards the sea.

2. Changi International Airport

Changi International Airport is one of the best airports in the world with hundreds of awards under its belt. It has full facilities for passengers from babies to adult with special needs, children's playground, several open-air gardens, fitness and spa centres, a transit hotel, internet services, a post office, medical clinics and pharmacies, restaurants, swimming pool and napping areas. The free Skytrain service transports passengers between the three terminals. The mass rapid transit trains (MRT), public buses, taxis and free shuttle buses bring visitors to and from the airport.

3. Orchard Road

Every visitor to Singapore have to walk along Orchard Road. There used to be spice and fruit plantations here in the mid 1800s. In the 1970s, commercial development on Orchard Road began with the emergence of major shopping malls and entertainment centres. It is a popular shopping precinct for locals, expatriates and tourists.

4. Esplanade

Nicknamed "The Durian" because it resembles the smelly durian fruit, the Esplanade is a performing arts centre with all the events and happenings. It has theatres, a library and art galleries at the centre.

5. Singapore River

Take a river taxi cruise along the Singapore River for some spectacular views of the city's skyline. Pass by the Merlion, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay and Marina Bay. See the contrasts of Singapore's rejuvenated colonial buildings along the riverside with the modern skyscrapers in the background.

6. Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles

Sir Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore on January 29, 1819 and thus began the colonial rule in Singapore until its independence on August 9, 1965. The statue in Boat Quay denotes the site where Sir Stamford Raffles first landed.

7. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay

These two attractions are built around the Singapore River and are great places to hang out at night. There are several blocks of restored warehouse buildings converted to entertainment spots, retail shops, restaurants, wine bars and nightclubs.

8. Vivo City

Vivo City is the largest shopping mall at the Harbour Front. It is a shoppers' paradise with hundreds of shops, restaurants and entertainment centres.

9. Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam has the largest mosque, the Sultan Mosque which was constructed in 1928. There is also the Istana Kampong Glam which was converted to the Malay Heritage Park.

10. Sim Lim Square

Sim Lim Square is the best place to shop for home theatres, cameras, computers, laptops, ipods and everything relating to electronics and IT. Another shopping centre called Funan Centre also has plenty of electronic goods and IT stores.

11. Fountain of Wealth

The Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City is the world’s largest fountain. There is a laser show at night when the fountain is all lighted up with dazzling displays of lights.

12. Cathedral of The Good Shepherd

Built in 1846, the Cathedral of The Good Shepherd is located in the heart of the city in Queen Street. The cathedral has had numerous renovations done over the years and it is a popular place for Catholic worshippers in the city.

13. Sri Mariamman Temple

The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple situated on South Bridge Road. It was first set up in 1827 and has a huge variety of Indian deities carved on the walls and rooftop of the temple. Every year there is a fire walking festival celebrated at the temple and the event attracts hundreds of visitors to the temple.

14. Singapore Botanic Gardens

Enjoy a morning leisurely stroll at the Botanic Gardens. It was built on 52 hectares of land with many specimens of flora found in nicely manicured gardens.

15. Geylang Serai

Singapore's Malay community like to hang out in Geylang Serai. Come and visit this cheerful place which is lined with shops selling Malay cultural items, restaurants with halal food and Malay traditional items.

16. Mount Faber

Travel by cable car to Mount Faber from the Harbour Front Station or Sentosa Station. You can get panoramic views of the harbour, Sentosa Island and other islands from the top of Mount Faber. The cable car service also runs in the evening for those who wants to enjoy views of the surrounding areas at night.

17. Downtown East

Children love this place. At Downtown East there is plenty of entertainment for everyone. There are theme parks, resorts, food outlets, shops and gaming zones. The Wild Wild Wet is Singapore's largest water theme park. The arcades and gaming centres are great entertainment areas for children.

18. St James Power Station

This is a one stop music and entertainment hub at the Harbour Front. It has about a dozen nightclubs with live entertainment, most of the nightclubs open until the wee hours in the morning.

19. Chinatown Heritage Centre

The Chinatown Heritage Centre occupies three restored shophouses on Pagoda Street. This museum reveals the lives of early migrants to Singapore who came from China to settle in Chinatown.

20. Little India

Little India lies along Serangoon Road. This is where a vast community of Tamils hang out. There are several Hindu temples, mosques and churches in Little India which also reflects multiculturalism in Singapore.

21. Chijmes

Chijmes was a Catholic convent built in 1840 and has been restored and converted to a commercial building. The chapel is now a function hall and the other parts of the complex have been converted to shops and restaurants. A nice spot to hang out for a drink and chat.

22. Chinese Garden

Take the train to Chinese Garden Station. The Chinese Garden is a park located next to the train station. The concept of this park is based on Chinese arts and designs. Some of the attractions at the park are the pagodas, bonsai garden, bridges and a tortoise museum.

23. Empress Place Building

The Empress Place Building is a historical building situated on the northern bank of the Singapore River. It used to be government offices during the colonial times but is now a museum and one of the major landmarks in Singapore.

24. Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa was originally called Tiger Balm Gardens because it was built by the founders of Tiger Balm products. The Haw Par Villa mythological theme park features thousands of statues from Chinese folklores, history and legends. Visitors also get to view live acrobatic shows and puppet shows from Chinese folklore stories.

25. Resorts World Sentosa

Until 2010, Singapore did not have a casino, and there were many concerns and disapprovals among the locals before the casinos were built. The casino at Resorts World Sentosa opened in February 2010. A few months later, another casino at the Marina Bay Sands opened and Singapore now has two casinos within kilometres of each other.

26. Marina Bay Sands

You will not miss the three monstrous towers of Marina Bay Sands which stands at the Marina Bay waterfront. Apart from the casino, the Marina Bay Sands also has a shopping mall, resorts, museums, theatres, an ice skating rink and a swimming pool with a vanishing edge on the Skydeck.

27. Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that links Marina South to Marina Centre. The bridge is lighted up at night with special lighting effects highlighting the double helix structure.

28. The Singapore Flyer

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Marina Bay on the Singapore Flyer, the tallest ferris wheel in the world. It stands at the Marina Promenade which is part of the reclaimed land in Singapore.

29. Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Park is a hill within the CBD of Singapore that is often used as a venue for outdoor concerts and music shows. There are several areas of interests at the park including some historical structures from the colonial times. The Hotel Fort Canning was formerly a military headquarters now converted to a hotel. Other structures in the area include a memorial, gothic gates and cannons.

30. Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat is situated right next to Shenton Way in the heart of Singapore's CBD area. This is Singapore's first market which was initially a wooden building when it was built in the early 19th century. It is now a foodcourt area with variety of foodstalls serving thousands of people working in the nearby offices.

31. Singapore Art Museum

The Singapore Art Museum used to be St. Joseph's Institution, a catholic school run by La Salle Brothers. It was built in 1867 and designed by a French priest. The former classrooms of this old school have been converted into galleries. The chapel is now an auditorium but most of the original elements of the chapel still remain.

32. Bukit Batok Nature Park

This Nature Park lies across the new housing estates in Bukit Batok New Town. This park used to be a quarry site. The excavated granite surface together with a quarry lake are now part of the features of the park where visitors can see some exotic wildlife and marine animals.

33. Eurasian Heritage Centre

Singapore has a multicultural population including a community of Eurasians who are descendants of Europeans who came to the region between the 16th and 18th centuries. The main groups of European comprised of Portuguese, Dutch and British who later settled in the area and married the local people. The Eurasian Heritage Centre situated in Katong provides interesting insights of the Eurasian people and culture in Singapore.

34. Sentosa Island

Sentosa's old name Pulau Blakang Mati meant Island of the Dead Behind. Since the 1980s, Sentosa Island has developed rapidly into a tourist area with many man-made attractions like the Underwater World, Wax Museum, Songs of the Sea, Butterfly Park, hotels and recently the opening of Resorts World Sentosa. Sentosa is accessible by public buses, cable cars, taxis and trains.

35. Jurong Bird Park

There are several thousand birds at the Jurong Bird Park from over 300 species of birds. Visitors can use the monorail to go around the park to view the many displays of birds. There are also bird exhibits and daily live shows at the park.

36. Singapore Crocodile Farm

The Crocodile Farm is located on Upper Serangoon Road and is open to public. The farm also conducts educational tours of the farm for school children.

37. The Singapore Crocodilarium

The Singapore Crocodilarim is in East Coast Parkway and has over 1000 varieties of reptiles. There are large collections of reptiles of different species including the crocodiles. The crocodiles here are reared for their skins for fashion accessories.

38. Jurong Reptile Park

The Jurong Reptile Park is located opposite the Jurong Bird Park. It has over 50 species of reptiles and hundreds of crocodiles. There are also feeding sessions and live shows for visitors to the park.

39. East Coast Park

A popular picnic place among local Singaporeans, the 185-hectare East Coast Park is the largest park in Singapore. It has facilities for cycling, squash, water sports, rollerblading, swimming, and barbeque pits for picnics.

40. Science Centre Singapore

The Science Centre is a great educational place for children. It has hundreds of science and technological exhibits.There is also an Omni Theatre, Snow City and Observatory in the area.

41. Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo has a open concept, displaying the animals in naturalistic environments. Visitors and animals are separated by moats and low shrubs for maximum viewing experience. Only the dangerous animals are displayed behind glass shielded enclosures. There are also animal shows during the day. Visitors can also ride the tram that goes around the zoo.

42. Night Safari

The Night Safari is the world's first nocturnal zoo. It is an open-air zoo and only opens at night and has over 1000 nocturnal animals on display. There are also performances presented by the zoo animals.

43. Dream Fish Arowana Farm

This is the largest arowana breeding farm situated in Lim Chu Kang. With dozens of fish ponds on the farm, this is a paradise for arowana fish lovers.

44. MacRitchie Nature Trail

Enjoy a stroll on the MacRitchie Nature Trail and see the rubber trees, tropical rainforests and vegetation. A popular place for nature lovers and fitness conscious people having a workout or jogging.

45. The Civilian War Memorial

This memorial was built in memory of those who were killed in World War II. Located in a parkland near to City Hall Station, it is said that the remains of some of the unidentified civilians are buried under the monument.

46. Orchidville

The orchid is the national flower of Singapore. The largest orchid farm in Singapore, Orchidville has a wide selection of exotic and rare orchids. The orchids are grown on the premises and available for export and retail sales.

Other Islands

47. Kusu Island

Kusu Island (also known as Tortoise Island) is accessible by ferry from Marina South Pier. It is located about 6km from Singapore. On the island there is a Chinese temple, several shrines, a wishing well and Tortoise Sanctuary.

48. Pulau Hantu

Pulau Hantu means Ghost Island. Despite its name, Pulau Hantu is a popular destination for outdoor adventures, swimming, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. It has a wide variety of marine sea life in the waters.

49. Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is another island off Singapore, it is a great place for cycling and outdoor activities. Travel by bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Explore the beaches and mangrove areas on your own or take a guided tour of the island. This island has animals and plants that are already extinct in many parts of the world.

50. Sisters' Islands

There are two islands located south of Singapore called Big Sister's Island and Little Sister's Island, separated from each other by a narrow but dangerous channel. The islands are popular places for picnic, snorkeling and camping.

Singapore is a FINE city.

To keep the country clean and tidy, there are rules everywhere, including no littering, no spitting on the ground, do not cross the road except at the pedestrian lights, no consuming of food on public transports and no urinating in lifts.

Offenders will have to pay heavy fines. Another penalty is the Corrective Work Order (CWO) which requires offenders to wear luminous workclothes embossed with the letters CWO and then make them clean up public areas. The punishment obviously works, who in their right mind would want to be named and shamed in public?

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