Singapore is a futuristic city-state known for its fascinating blend of cultures, stunning architecture, and lush green spaces. In this in-depth Singapore travel guide, we look in our Singapore Travel Guide at our top 10 places to visit that are ideal for your next Singapore stay.
Singapore is a very liveable city and very future-orientated in terms of climate change and integration. The city feels very futuristic as soon as you arrive and you can feel and see everywhere that Singapore is simply one step ahead.
Whether you’re interested in exploring its modern marvels like Marina Bay Sands or delving into the rich history found in areas like Chinatown and Little India, Singapore offers a diverse range of attractions.
Don’t miss out the Explorer Pass Singapore
Before we show you the individual Singapore sights in our Singapore Travel Guide, we advise you to buy the Singapore Pass from klook*. There you can choose how many of the sights you want to visit in Singapore and definitely save a lot of money compared to buying them individually. And since a visit to Singapore only makes sense if you also visit most of the top attractions, the pass is worthwhile anyway.
So read through our article and then decide how many Singapore attractions you want to visit. Then you can buy the ideal pass for you, which theoretically offers a total of 36 options.
Alternatively, we also link you to the ticket options for the individual Singapore sights at the bottom of the article, but these are only worthwhile if you want to visit fewer than three of the sights, which is rather unlikely.
Singapore Travel Guide: Sightseeing Singapore Top 10
We start here with a short summary of the top 10 places to visit in Singapore in our Travel Guide, as this article is much longer:
- Chinatown: Buddha Relic Temple – A spiritual sanctuary that houses the relics of Buddha in the middle of the vibrant Chinatown.
- Chinatown: Sri Mariamman Temple – Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, which stands out in Chinatown with its colourful architecture.
- Kampong Glam: Masjid Sultan Mosque – An impressive Islamic landmark that sits enthroned in the heart of Kampong Glam.
- Marina Bay Sands Hotel: Probably the most famous hotel in the world – An architectural masterpiece that dominates the Singapore skyline and offers luxury at the highest level.
- Marina Bay: Gardens by the Bay – A futuristic garden landscape that forms a green oasis in the city with its supertrees and greenhouses.
- Marina Bay: Singapore Flyer – A majestic Ferris wheel that offers panoramic views of Singapore’s sparkling skyline.
- Marina Bay: Cloud Forest & Flower Dome – Two impressive greenhouses showcasing a variety of exotic plants and an artificial waterfall.
- Marina Bay: OCBC Skyway – An aerial pedestrian bridge that offers breathtaking views of the Supertrees and the surrounding Marina Bay.
- Marina Bay: Supertree Grove Lightshow – A spectacular light and music show that transforms the artificial trees into a colourful spectacle.
- Marina Bay: Merlion, Spectra Light & Water Show – The iconic Merlion statue combined with a mesmerising light and water show that brings Marina Bay to life at night.
- Bonus tip: Singapore street art in Kampong Glam & Chinatown – An artistic foray through the streets that shows the vibrant street art culture in Singapore’s historic neighbourhoods.
Singapore Chinatown: A culinary and cultural centrepiece of Singapore
Chinatown is located in the centre of Singapore and is a very lively district. It is characterised by small houses in Chinese-Malay style and you will find small restaurants or street food stalls serving Chinese cuisine everywhere.
Buddha Relic Temple: A spiritual centre in Singapore Chinatown
This temple is a masterpiece of modern Buddhist architecture and houses relics of the historical Buddha inside, so of course this attraction should not be missing from our Singapore Travel Guide.
Even from the outside, the temple is fascinating with its bright red façade and golden decorations. Inside, you will be surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and spirituality. The detailed Buddha statues and ornate murals tell stories from the Buddhist teachings.
Pay particular attention to the opening hours and ceremony times, as the temple is even more interesting when a ceremony is being held. We’re not really that spiritually inclined, but the atmosphere was definitely unique when the Buddhist monks were chanting.
You can find the appropriate ceremony times on the official website. Admission is free of charge.
Singapore Sri Mariamman Temple
Another highlight in Chinatown is the Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. With its colourful and detailed façade, it immediately catches the eye. The many figures decorating the entrance area represent various deities from Hindu mythology.
The temple is a living testimony to Singapore’s cultural diversity and an exciting contrast to the Buddha Relic Temple. We were particularly fascinated by the fact that you can experience such stark contrasts between Buddhism and Hinduism in such a short space of time, as the two temples are only a stone’s throw away from each other.
Kampong Glam: The Malay centrepiece of Singapore
Kampong Glam is another vibrant neighbourhood in Singapore known for its Malay culture and history. This neighbourhood is a colourful patch of historic buildings, trendy boutiques and lively pavement cafes. Everywhere you go in Kampong Glam, you’ll feel the rich cultural mix that makes this neighbourhood so unique.
Recommendation: Even though the main street may seem a little touristy, we highly recommend going to one of the small cafés and trying one of the many Turkish tea variations, which you can enjoy hot or cold.
Masjid Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam, Singapore’s Malay neighbourhood, is also home to the impressive Masjid Sultan Mosque. With its golden dome and high minarets, it is a landmark of the neighbourhood. The mosque is a place of peace and contemplation and offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about Islam and Malay culture in Singapore.
The architecture of the mosque is a mixture of traditional Islamic and Malay elements, making it a unique structure in Singapore. The interior of the mosque is not as colourful as the Hindu and Buddhist temples. However, this is always the case, as mosques are usually kept very simple on the inside, even though they are very splendid from the outside.
Hint: Pay particular attention to the visiting times on the official website, as access for non-Muslims is restricted during prayer times.
Singapore Travel Guide: Marina Bay in Singapore
Marina Bay is certainly Singapore’s best-known district, as it is home to the world-famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel with its unusual architecture of a ship, which characterises Singapore’s cityscape. There are also numerous other well-known sights in Singapore here like the Merlion statue and the famous and luxury The Fullerton Hotel.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
The breathtakingly large hotel is truly unique. Whether from the inside or the outside – this hotel was built in superlatives. In the inner part there is a huge shopping centre, with a casino, an indoor waterfall, a water channel like in Venice and many other highlights.
Most tourists are drawn to the roof terrace of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel at sunset. But this is precisely why we would not recommend going up to the roof terrace at this time, as it gets incredibly crowded. In our opinion, it is better to go up here in the early hours of the morning, while the sun is not yet at its highest point.
There are basically two ways to go to the roof terrace. The classic way is to simply buy a ticket for the rooftop terrace and then enjoy the view. The second option is to visit the rooftop bar CÉ LA VI and enjoy a cocktail there.
A few years ago, we would have preferred the second option, as this was the cheaper option at the time. Although you theoretically had to buy a drink, the staff were so inattentive that you didn’t have to order anything.
Nowadays, you have to pay SGD 30 per person in advance, which you can then redeem as a voucher in the bar. Due to the large number of visitors, you may have to wait forever for your drink in the CÉ LA VI bar, wasting time unnecessarily or not ordering and therefore paying a lot of money.
In this respect, we advise you to buy a regular ticket* to visit the larger roof terrace, which is only half a floor lower than CÉ LA VI, but is right on the edge of the hotel. Here, too, we recommend going in the morning, as you usually have to book a timeslot from 4 p.m. onwards and have to be there at this time.
Please note: Buy the ticket as early as possible, as you usually have to buy at least a week in advance. We have not yet experienced that you can buy the ticket 2 days in advance, for example. You can easily buy the ticket here at GetYourGuide* for around €21 per person. Alternatively, entry is also possible with the Singapore Passes at klook*.
Afterwards, you can stroll through the large shopping centre in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and take a ride through the shopping centre on a Venetian gondola, among other things.
Singapore Marina Bay: Gardens by the Bay
Directly behind the Marina Bay Sands is the spacious Gardens by the Bay park, which is also known worldwide for its artificial Supergrove Trees. During the day, it is much more cosy here than in the evening, so you can take a relaxed stroll through the extensive park.
Theoretically, you can also visit the OCBC Skyway here, as the Skyway is usually relatively empty at this time of day. However, we would only visit it later in the day (read more about this below). Afterwards, you can enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants at Marina Bay Sands.
Tip: Take a look at the food court in the basement of the Marina Bay Shopping Centre. The prices here are a little higher than in the other hawker centres in Singapore, but still okay. The Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung (unpaid advertising) in the Marina Bay Sands building is also good if you like dumplings, as they are freshly prepared.
If you’re not hungry yet, you can go straight to Cloud Forest & Flower Dome Garden, which are in the immediate vicinity. However, we would advise you to eat now, as there are rather mediocre food options in the form of fast food restaurants at Cloud Forest.
Marina Bay: Singapur Flyer
The Singapore Flyer, one of the city’s most famous landmarks, offers a breathtaking view of Singapore’s impressive skyline and should not be missed in this Singapore travel guide. At a height of 165 metres, it is one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world and offers an unparalleled view of the city.
Recommendation: A visit to the Singapore Flyer during sunset or in the evening is particularly recommended. At this time, the warm, golden light of the sunset bathes the city in a magical atmosphere and gives the buildings a very special glow. The twinkling lights of the city, combined with the shimmering waters of Marina Bay, create a picturesque panorama that is not to be missed. In the evening, you can also book a special experience and enjoy a unique sky dining experience* in the Singapore Flyer. You can also buy the regular ticket here at GetYourGuide* in combination with the time capsule online in advance and save yourself the waiting time at the Ferris wheel.
It is therefore important to note that these times in particular – sunset and the hours after – are also very popular with other visitors. Therefore, there may be longer waiting times if you plan to travel on the Singapore Flyer. We therefore advise you to arrive a little earlier and book your ticket in advance to ensure that you can experience this spectacular view of Singapore in its full splendour.
Overall, the Singapore Flyer offers a unique perspective of the city and is an absolute must for anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Singapore from a different bird’s eye view. We also love the view from the flyer because you can see the Marina Bay Sands and the striking Singapore skyline in the background.
Marina Bay: Cloud Forest & Flower Dome
Singapore Cloud Forest: Unique botanical garden
The Cloud Forest is an artificially created vertical botanical garden that is unique in the world. The botanical garden is built vertically and its installations are somewhat reminiscent of the film Avatar. In our opinion, a visit is a must. The botanical garden comprises several floors and a large variety of exotic plants.
Here, too, you should buy your tickets in advance, as the queue on site can be incredibly long and queuing in the humid Singaporean heat is a real pain. You can get your ticket from GetYourGuide* or buy the recommended Singapore Pass from klook*.
Singapur Flower Dome: Greenhouse with unique flowers
Right next to the Cloud Forest is another botanical garden called the Flower Dome, which, as the name suggests, focuses almost exclusively on flowers. Interestingly, there are also many flowers here that we are familiar with in Europe and are particularly popular with Asian tourists.
After all, the botanical garden is located far away from Europe, so European flowers are exotic plants there. In particular, you will see a huge number of tulips here and they are also the most popular photo subject in the Flower Dome.
Marina Bay: OCBC Skyway
Gardens by the bay is also home to the OCBC Skyway with its fantastic view of the park. In our opinion, the best time to visit the OCBC Skyway is 30 minutes before sunset. Of course, this time is also very popular, as it is well known that you can take the best photos during the golden hour. And that’s exactly why you should go to the OCBC Skyway at this time.
The sky glows golden and the skyline with the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is bathed in a unique atmosphere that is truly one of a kind. Officially, you are only allowed to stay on the Skyway for 15 minutes. However, we certainly spent 45 minutes here and the staff at the top of the Skyway had no problem with that.
Direkt am OCBC Skyway befindet sich auch das Supertree Observatory. An deiner Stelle würden wir uns das Geld aber sparen und den OCBC Skyway bevorzugen, da der Ausblick ähnlich ist.
You should definitely not go here later. This is because the queue at the bottom of the Skyway is getting longer and longer and it is also becoming increasingly difficult to get up there, as most visitors don’t come down as quickly. What’s more, some people want to watch the subsequent light show from up here, making it very crowded, especially on the long bridge.
How do we know when the sun sets? You can easily find out using smartphone apps such as ‘Golden Hour’ or Google search. Simply enter ‘Singapore sunset’ in Google Search and Google will give you the time. Sunset is usually between 18:45 and 19:15, as Singapore is very close to the equator.
Marina Bay: Singapur Supertree Grove Lightshow
The Supertree Grove should be familiar to all travellers to Singapore, as the colourful show is known worldwide and is reminiscent of the film Avatar. The huge artificial trees are equipped with LED lights and glow in all kinds of bright colours in the evening, and standing underneath them makes you feel like you’re in another world. But the Supertrees are also a great attraction in Singapore during the day.
The Supertree Grove Light & Music Show (Garden Rapsody) takes place every evening at two times and is free of charge: at 7.45pm and 8.45pm.
In this respect, the show is one of the most popular attractions in Singapore and the place is incredibly crowded, especially at the Supertrees. You won’t find a day when this place isn’t crowded, although it’s probably a little more crowded at weekends.
So if you want to get a good seat, you should stay here directly after your OCBC Skyway visit and choose a seat near the Supertrees. However, the benches are usually already occupied from 7 pm, as many people actually wait here for over an hour for the show.
Despite the crowds, we still think the main square is best for the show and you should have no problem finding a seat on the floor or the less popular seats on the edge at around 7.15pm.
Personal recommendation: We recommend watching the show at 7.45pm, as you can then watch the second light show (Spectra Lightshow further down in the article) and in our opinion it is even more crowded at 8.45pm.
Basically, there are two other good viewpoints of the Supertree Grove Show, which we link directly to you here in our own Singapore highlights map further down in the article. However, these are just as busy. So get there early if you prefer these!
If the main square is full, you can assume that the Marina Bay Overpass is also full. In that case, we would rather try the first viewpoint if we were you.
Marina Bay: Spectra Light & Water Show on the lake
The Spectra Light & Water Show is a 15-minute show and is located directly on the waterfront promenade in front of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. As the show is also free of charge, you will also encounter many tourists here.
The show takes place daily at 8 pm & 9 pm (on Friday and Saturday also at 10 pm). If you have previously attended the Supertree Grove show at 7.45 pm, you can go to the 9 pm performance here. The laser show is really beautiful to watch and is projected onto shooting water fountains.
Parallel to the light show down by the water, there is also a laser projection at the top of Marina Bay Sands. However, you can only see this if you are standing on the other side of the shore.
Afterwards, we recommend simply taking a stroll along the beautiful promenade or enjoying the skyline. Of course, you can also try out one of the many restaurants at Marina Bay Sands, as the choice is huge.
If you want to watch the light show from a different perspective, the bank by the Merlion is a good place to do so: The Merlion is one of Singapore’s most recognisable landmarks. This mythical creature, half lion, half fish, stands majestically at Marina Bay and proudly looks out over the city skyline. From here, you also have a fantastic view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Spectra Light & Water Show. Of course, there is always a lot going on here in the evenings and it is mainly young people who hang out here.
Bonus tip: Singapur Streetart in Kampong Glam & Chinatown
Singapore may be known for its futuristic architecture and glittering skyscrapers, but there is also a vibrant and colourful street art scene that can be found in the streets of Kampong Glam and Chinatown and many more. These artworks not only provide stunning photo opportunities, but also tell stories about Singapore’s culture and history.
Kampong Glam: Streetart on Arab Street
This street is a true mecca for street art lovers. Here you will find a variety of murals ranging from traditional Malay motifs to modern works of art. The vibrant colours and detailed designs are a real eye-catcher and reflect the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood.
Kampong Glam: Streetart on Victoria Street
Between Jln Sultan and Arab Street, there are a number of impressive murals depicting everyday life in Singapore. From street vendors to traditional dancers, these artworks perfectly capture the essence of Kampong Glam.
Chinatown: Streetart in der Mohamed Ali Ln
In fact, in our opinion, this is the most beautiful, albeit lesser-known, street art spot in Singapore – mainly due to the impressive works of artist Yip Yew Chong. Yip Yew Chong is a Singapore-born artist known for his life-size and vibrant murals depicting nostalgic scenes from Singapore in the 1970s and 1980s.
His artworks are not only visually appealing, but also tell stories from his childhood and memories of old Singapore. A visit to Mohamed Ali Ln gives you the opportunity to travel back in time and get a glimpse of life in Singapore decades ago.
Many of the street art paintings invite you to become part of the artwork yourself and of course we didn’t miss this opportunity, as you can see from the pictures. We definitely had a lot of fun and were able to put a smile on the faces of passers-by!
While these spots are among the best known, there are many other places in Singapore where you can discover impressive street art. So it’s worth strolling through the streets with your eyes wide open and being inspired by the creative energy of the city. Each mural has its own story to tell, and there’s no better way to experience Singapore from a different perspective than by exploring these works of art.
Singapore attractions map: Top 10 places to visit in Singapore
In this Singapore attractions map, we have summarised all the top 10 places to visit in Singapore for your next trip. You can easily save this map in your Google Maps app.
By loading the map, you agree to Google's privacy policy.
Learn more
Our summary of the Top 10 places to visit in Singapore
Singapore, the city of the future, is a fascinating destination that offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. If you have never been to Singapore before, you should definitely not miss the most important sights. They will give you a comprehensive insight into the vibrant life, rich culture and impressive architecture of this metropolis.
But as in any city, there are hidden gems in Singapore that lie off the beaten track. That’s why we are planning to publish another post with our personal Singapore insider tips, in which we will present lesser-known places and activities and link them here.
Hint: As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, we would like to take this opportunity to refer you once again to the Singapore Pass at klook*, with which you can save a lot of money if you want to see some of the Singapore sights.
Singapore has so much to offer, and we hope our recommendations will help you discover the city in all its diversity and beauty. We hope you enjoyed our Singapore Travel Guide. Have fun exploring the top 10 places in Singapore!
0 Comments