Singapore is a country and a city. They keep expanding their land into the ocean as they can’t expand north and south is becoming harder as Indonesia noticed their creeping towards the international water borders. With restricted space, you’d think it would be all city, high-rises and residential areas, but Singapore has done well to preserve parts of its tropical ecosystem with parks and natural resources like water. Below are 15 photos that will make you want to travel to Singapore and shows the balance that it isn’t all city.
Note: I was here for two full days of travel. Even though I wanted to see more, I was limited to see some of the areas close to the marina.
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Changi Beach Park
Changi Beach Park is close to the Changi airport, which has been ranked as one of the best airports in the world. After landing into Singapore, take an Uber to watch planes take off and land over the water.
Changi Beach Park is where you can take a boat to Pulau Ubin to view wildlife. Pay the whole fare or wait until there are enough people to cross.
Hawker Centres
Grab lunch or dinner at the centrally Telok Ayer Market (or hawker centre). It’s like an indoor market of food trucks where you can find local food for a decent price. Make sure to shop around to find the right food for the price or bring friends so you can try more than one dish.
Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer is the second highest ferris wheel in the world, only 2.6 feet shorter than the High Roller in Vegas, Nevada. Take a ride and see the city or walk near it and feel like an ant in its presence.
Gardens by the Bay
Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay is an unique tree-like architectural vertical garden and is hard to miss if heading to the rest of the gardens. Free admission gets you good views of the surrounding area and the natural water reserves used by the country where fresh water is hard to come by.
It’s easy to wander around the gardens outside, but I was surprised it was cooler in the greenhouses (pay an entrance fee). If you need a break from the outdoor heat, consider visiting the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay.
This 100+ foot waterfall and structure is a vertical garden. The paths in the Cloud Forest meander around the greenhouse and provides views of the city surrounding its glass walls.
Singapore’s location on the water lends itself to beautiful photography opportunities. I knew I wanted to capture the Singapore Skyline with the Gardens at the Bay greenhouses, so I scanned the maps to find a good vantage point across the waters. Gardens by the Bay East is a nice park where you’ll find locals exercising at night to beat the hot daytime temperatures. It’s also not a bad place for a stroll. You can walk across either of the bridges that connect the park or take a taxi or Uber.
Marina Bay Sands
Have some money to spend? The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is a collection of high-end designers and retailers. Don’t worry, if you don’t have the budget, there are restaurants inside and window shopping is encouraged.
Marina Bay Sands may be famous for its infinity pool that towers over most of Singapore’s skyline, but the rooms can be pricey. An alternative is to visit one of the rooftop bars, order a cocktail, and watch the sunset on a day of travel.
Merlion Park
Walk around the marina on the Jubilee Bridge for a view of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore’s Merlion statue. Light shows dance on the buildings along the water around 9 p.m. most evenings.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
I can’t get enough of green spaces when traveling to cities, so visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens was a great escape. Get lost on the many pathways through park or pack a lunch and picnic on the grass. The mass rapid transit (MRT) stops at the entrance making it easy to venture away from the city for a few hours. It’s free!
Inside Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, pay a small fee to enter the National Orchid Garden. Singapore has been breeding different orchids for years. You’ll even find special variations dedicated to famous diplomats and public figures.
Chinatown District
Singapore’s Chinatown is bustling. Find affordable souvenirs to bring home to friends and family. Drift into the many open stores and find trinkets of many varieties. Have a craving for food, consider stopping into any of the restaurants you pass.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is lined with gold and other figures. Be mindful of the conservative dress code or borrow wraps as you enter. Walk around and listen to worship taking place. I’d never been to a temple during a service and there were two sides of the building: one with public service and the other for locals.
Have a favorite attraction in Singapore? Please share in the comments below.