The Best 10 Things to Do in Singapore

Singapore is a small city-state with a big appetite: for food, for architecture and for green space. It's one of the easiest cities in Asia to explore, and an ideal first stop in the region.

1. Gardens by the Bay

The giant Supertrees are Singapore's most famous sight. Walk the elevated OCBC Skyway between them by day, then come back at night for the free light-and-music show. Inside the two cooled glass domes, the Cloud Forest has an indoor waterfall and a mountain covered in plants, while the Flower Dome shows off plants from around the world.

2. Eat at a hawker centre

Singapore's hawker culture is recognised by UNESCO, and eating at a hawker centre is the best way to understand the city. Try Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow and satay. Good places to start are Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex. Some hawker stalls have even received Michelin recognition.

3. Marina Bay at night

Walk around Marina Bay in the evening for the skyline, the Merlion statue and the free light-and-water show in front of Marina Bay Sands. For a drink with a view, head to one of the city's rooftop bars.

4. Little India

Colourful shophouses, flower-garland stalls, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and some of the best Indian food outside India. It's especially lively on weekend evenings.

5. Chinatown

Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, then explore the shophouse streets and their small museums, cafés and bars.

6. Kampong Glam

The historic Malay and Arab quarter centres on the golden-domed Sultan Mosque. Nearby, Haji Lane is lined with murals, independent shops and cafés.

7. Singapore Botanic Gardens

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Botanic Gardens are free to enter and home to the National Orchid Garden, which displays more than a thousand species of orchid.

8. Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari

The open, natural enclosures make Singapore Zoo one of the best in the world, and the Night Safari lets you see nocturnal animals after dark. Plan a full day and evening.

9. Sentosa Island

Sentosa is Singapore's playground, with beaches, Universal Studios, an aquarium and adventure parks. Get there by cable car, monorail or the boardwalk from VivoCity.

10. Jewel Changi Airport

Even if you're not flying, Jewel is worth a visit for the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by a five-storey indoor forest.

Try kaya toast for breakfast

Start your day like a local: toast with coconut-and-egg jam (kaya) and butter, soft-boiled eggs with soy sauce and a strong local coffee.

Getting around

The MRT metro system is fast, clean and covers almost everywhere you'll want to go. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card.

Exploring more of Asia

From Singapore it's a short flight to Vietnam – read our guide to the best things to do in Hoi An. Breaking a long-haul journey? Compare Singapore with a few days in Dubai.