BACKGROUND
Living in Singapore almost my entire life, I have visited virtually every corner of the country (except the lesser known islands). This article is for tourists, whether first-timers or return visitors, who crave an immersive and genuine local experience on a low budget without compromising on quality. So, let’s begin!
GETTING TO SINGAPORE
First, the basics: Singapore is connected to neighbouring Malaysia (specifically Johor state and city of Johor Bahru by causeway bridge), so some visitors coming from the north take a bus/train into our little red dot, as we are affectionately known.
Cruise ships are another way to enter the country, although I guesstimate that 98% of tourists arrive by plane at our world-famous Changi Airport.
ACCOMMODATION
Airbnbs and short-term homestays (less than 3 months) are strictly not allowed here, so hotels are your only option. Those in prime areas are expensive, so my suggestion for finding affordable accommodation:
- Look for a centrally located hotel offering discounts;
- Or get a hotel on the city fringes but near an MRT train station (The MRT is very efficient and covers much of the island so travel times aren’t long).
WEATHER
The dry season is generally from March to August, the wet (monsoon) season is September to February.
Be aware that the wet season has much more rainfall and unpredictable weather changes (sunny one moment and downpour the next), so prepare contingency plans during this period. Thankfully there are many large, interconnected shopping malls within the central area.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Our MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) train network is robust and ubiquitous. Public buses are also available, though more complex and harder to navigate. For those who prefer walking: the countless footpaths, bike paths and pedestrian underpasses are a backpacker’s dream.
The city boasts a squeaky clean and green image, with a ranking as one of the cleanest countries in the world. Public toilets are plentiful and information centres are located in tourist hotspots if you need help.
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
English is widely spoken here, as is Singlish (a mixture of English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Chinese dialects like Hokkien).
Curious about Singlish? Here’s a short take on Singapore’s demographics and culture, Singlish mode:
A boiling pot of races, religions and cultures, got chinese, malays, indians… remainder is eurasians, ang moh. Food wise got all kinds loh, most are ok lah but some damn power, die die must try. Every religious holiday we also celebrate, got a million cultural landmarks to look see, from buddhist temples to arab hoods to peranakan museums. Our colonial history influenced many laws and buildings, such as the atas Raffles Hotel, Fullerton Hotel and Capella Hotel (where Trump and Ah Kim paktor and yaya papaya, but we all know is wayang for the cameras).
Moving on, our western influences created cosmopolitan attractions like the Esplanade theatre and Marina Bay Sands. Which brings us to…
ATTRACTIONS
Most major attractions and points of interest, including the Central Business District, are in the south. Famous tourist spots include:
Sentosa: Within is Resorts World Sentosa, an integrated resort (IR) containing popular attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove, and RWS casino. The S.E.A. Aquarium really impressed and is a must-visit (beware long queue times). There are other attractions and tourist beaches throughout the island.
Marina Bay Sands: Singapore’s second IR contains the iconic SkyPark and Infinity Pool. Connected to the hotel complex are the Shoppes shopping mall and MBS casino.
Gardens by the Bay: Famous for its Avatar-inspired Supergrove trees. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest dome are unique and worth visiting too.
Botanic Gardens: A large park to wander around. Avoid going on hot days as there is little shelter and you’ll sweat like crazy.
Orchard Road: Singapore’s famous shopping street. Take photos of buskers and colourful buildings, explore a wide variety of local food, and shop at high end boutiques or value gift stores.
Bonus: Try the ice cream sandwiches from the many ice-cream uncles (spotted by their motorbikes with colourful umbrellas) along the street!
Chinatown: A great place to sightsee, browse, and dine. Visit the street stalls, Chinatown Complex Food Centre (Biggest hawker centre in SG) and the many cultural landmarks.
Kampong Glam: This neighbourhood has rows of stores selling Arab-themed clothes and accessories. The Masjid Sultan is the national mosque, while Turkish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cafes serve up exciting cuisine.
Boat Quay & Clarke Quay: Close to the financial district, you can view the Merlion near One Fullerton, then stroll along the Singapore river and take in views of the city. At night, indulge in dinner and drinks at one of the many bars or pubs in the area.
For museum lovers, the National Gallery Museum, National Museum of Singapore, and Asian Civilizations Museum are close by along with dozens of landmarks.
Animal lovers can journey to Singapore Zoo (and adjacent Night Safari) in the far north, or Jurong Bird Park in the west (moving location soon!).
I don’t recommend going to Pulau Ubin or the smaller islands, they’re hard to reach and not worth your while.
Shopaholics rejoice! The entire Orchard Road area (connected by underground walkways and MRT for rainy days) has many malls; you can find cheap souvenirs at Lucky Plaza, 313 Somerset and Plaza Singapura.
Two big malls to check out are Vivocity at the gateway of Sentosa is the biggest mall in Singapore and the Jewel Changi Airport, a new mega lifestyle and shopping hub.
Adventurous travellers can try the city fringes or heartlands (suburbs) for a different shopping experience: Jurong hub in the west (near the bird park); NEX in Serangoon; or cheap, quirky fashion stuff at City Plaza, etc. There are also many shopping districts in the downtown core, including Bugis Street.
DINING
Welcome to food paradise! Some popular local dishes include:
- Bak Kut Teh
- Char Kway Teow
- Chicken Rice
- Chilli Crab & Pepper Crab
- Hokkien Mee (Fried Prawn Mee)
- Laksa
- Nasi Lemak
- Roti Prata
- Satay
- Wanton Mee
Check out this guide for some of the best eating places in SG!
All these and much more can be found in restaurants, food courts (1 in every mall), and Singapore's unique hawker centres (which are basically sheltered open-air establishments). A famous one is Newton Food Centre which was featured in Crazy Rich Asians (both kinda overrated in my opinion). If you’re going there, stick to local favorites like Chilli Crab, BBQ Sambal Stingray, Chicken Wings, Satay, or Hokkien Mee.
Chomp Chomp in Serangoon (North Eastern Singapore) is another popular hawker centre.
Other interesting foods are Kaya Butter Toast (Or my preferred Kaya Peanut Butter Toast) at Ya Kun Outlets. Try our local milk tea (teh si siu dai for less sweet) to go along with it! Bakkwa (Sweet Barbecued Pork) is also my delicious version of jerky. Pandan cake is another popular Southeast Asian treat.
Got a sweet tooth? Sample some of our many desserts…
Plenty of milk tea shops (boba in America) too. Liho and Koi are two hangouts popular with tourists and locals alike.
If you’d like to indulge a bit, try any one of our local boutique cafes. Plenty of these everywhere, such as Providore and TCC (The Connoisseur Concerto) which serve great food too.
Feeling adventurous? Try our unofficial national fruit: the durian. It tastes better than it smells, and only go for quality variants: Mao Shan Wang (MSW), D24, or Red Prawn (becos of its reddish colour). If you want to play safe (aka cover backside), simply go for a durian ice cream or puff (sold at stores like Four Seasons durian chain).
NIGHTLIFE
There are many clubs, bars and pubs downtown including Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, Emerald Hill Road (Alley) in Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands and the financial district.
Zouk is Singapore’s famous club, currently at River Valley Road. Dempsey Hill along Holland Road is a popular watering hole a short bus or shared ride from Orchard Road.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
Want to do something very local? Try prawn fishing (or prawning), which is using a line and bait to catch prawns from artificial pools. You can then release the prawns or grill and eat them on the spot (free grills provided). Food and drinks, like satay, are also available while prawning. Hai bin in Sembawang (north-east) is one of the most popular prawning places here.
Points to note about prawning:
- It's mostly done at night (usually for 1 to 2 hours)
- Prawns are not easy to catch (but you should catch at least a couple in an hour or so)
- There might be mosquitoes
- It’s not for everyone (especially impatient people, those who don’t like to get dirty, vegetarians or animal activist types).
But it’s fun, even for kids and newcomers; catching a prawn for the first time is so satisfying and exhilarating!
Another popular Asian pastime is karaoke. There are many family-friendly karaoke chains such as Partyworld or Teo Heng all over Singapore, which are cheap and a fun bonding session, especially for big groups.
MOVING AROUND SINGAPORE
Most tourists use the MRT while in Singapore. To reach MRT-inaccessible places, rideshares are a cheap option. Uber no longer operates here so the only major rideshare operators are Grab and Go-Jek.
If renting a car, keep in mind that driving and navigating Singapore’s busy roads aren’t easy. Parking in the central-southern area is usually exorbitant or difficult to find too.
EXPLORING THE REGION
Singapore’s good location and infrastructure makes it the perfect springboard to explore Southeast Asia’s pristine beaches, cheap food and shopping, nightlife, or watersports: Bangkok, Phuket, Bali, Malaysia, Philippines, and Maldives are common destinations. Flights are cheap too with several regional budget airlines to choose from.
SUMMARY
Our tiny size means tourists can probably exhaust their cookie-cutter travel itinerary within a week or so. In that case, consider visiting the more offbeat attractions or places. You never know what you may find!
Further Reads
> Singapore Star Eats
> Perfect Home: Your Singapore Property & House Guide
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