No time to plan your Singapore sightseeing itinerary, or simply relish the idea of a guided city saunter? Monster Day Tours and Indie Singapore run pay-as-you-wish walking tours that cover Singapore’s most prominent ethnic enclaves—Kampong Glam, Chinatown, and Little India. 

If you only have time for one tour during your stay, SneakPeek Singapore has an “All In One” walk that will take you to the most beautiful places in Singapore, within the city centre.  

To delve deeper into Singapore’s history, book a private session with Tribe Tours to learn about the country’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. You’ll get to retrace the steps of Singapore’s most-revered politician and founding father—in the places where he grew up, attended school, and fell in love. 

For a refreshing view of the city, Singapore Sidecars lets you play tourist while being carted around in a vintage Vespa sidecar. 

Need to recharge in nature? Bookmark the Wild Happenings blog, a resource that locals use to keep track of upcoming nature tours and workshops. 

Book a tour with Indie Singapore

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Book a tour with Tribe Tours

Book a tour with Singapore Sidecars

As a city-state that only gained independence in 1965, Singapore may not have the cultural gravitas of older civilisations. But what it lacks in age, it more than makes up for in enthusiasm. Cultural travellers will appreciate the country’s stories and quirks—they’re precious markers of identity for a shape-shifting young nation. 

Intend to cover several Singapore museums during your stay? Begin at the National Museum. Established in 1887, it’s the country’s oldest museum, now bolstered by several high-tech updates to better depict the “Singapore story.” 

Within the city centre, you can also visit the National Gallery and the Asian Civilisations Museum. Fans of specialty museums, sign up for a tour of the Battlebox, a former World War 2 British underground command centre, which was rated Singapore’s top museum by TripAdvisor last year. 

Away from the city centre, museums such as the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, the Former Ford Factory, and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum are worth your time. 

To enjoy a performance before you leave, check out the events calendar at the Esplanade and The Arts House. If you’re after something more freeform and unexpected, pay a visit to the visual arts galleries at Gillman Barracks to revel in the indie spirit and creative energy. 

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Wondering what to eat while in Singapore? Widely known as a food paradise, the Lion City offers an ever-expanding spectrum of culinary delights—from Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants to popular street food. 

Begin by making a checklist of local dishes that are commonly available at many city-centre eateries, such as:

• Chicken rice

• Chilli crab

• Fish head curry

• Fried carrot cake

• Hokkien prawn mee

• Laksa

• Nasi lemak

• Rojak

• Roti Prata

• Satay

If you’re short on time, refer to the Michelin guide to find out which establishments—on either end of the affordability scale—are considered the cream of the crop in this country. Even if you disagree with the selections, doing so guarantees you at least a decent meal.

Already visiting the National Gallery? Consider fitting in a meal at French fine-dining restaurant Odette (located on the premises), which was awarded two Michelin stars in 2018. It was also the only Singapore restaurant namechecked on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2019. 

To sweat it out at a hawker centre like most locals—the authentic local eating experience—pay a visit to Amoy Street Food Centre, ABC Brickworks Food Centre, Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, or Tiong Bahru Food Centre. Look for the Michelin Bib Gourmand winners (download the 2018 list here), or simply try any hawker stall that catches your fancy. Don’t shy away from snaking queues, as they usually signal quality!

Guests at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore: enjoy an award-winning meal right where you are, at Peach Blossoms. This highly acclaimed Chinese restaurant serves authentic Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist. Private dining rooms are also available for bookings.

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Ready and raring to go at the crack of dawn? Head out to catch the sunrise at East Coast Park, then proceed to the Aloha Sea Sports Centre or the Singapore Wake Park for a full day of high-action water sports. 

If your adrenaline dreams involve scaling heights, take the Forest Adventure challenge at Bedok Reservoir Park. Here, maintaining your balance will be key as you navigate your way across tricky tree-top obstacles. 

Loath to leave the city centre? You can spend a morning or afternoon chasing new highs at Climb Central, just a nine-minute drive from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore. Said to be one of Singapore’s tallest indoor sports climbing venues, Climb Central has over 40 climbing lanes with walls up to 16m high, perfect for a satisfying core workout. 

For a full spread of options—and if you don’t mind paying tourist prices—Sentosa Island has it all, from an adventure waterpark to bungee jumping and experiencing the joy of flight in a vertical wind tunnel. 

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Wondering where to go in Singapore at night? You can’t go wrong with one of the World’s 50 Best Bars; local bars that have made the esteemed list include Atlas, Native, and Operation Dagger. 

For “live” music and energy, Crazy Elephant, Wala Wala, and Timbre are stalwarts on the scene, yet they’re still considered top-notch party venues by those in the know.

What if you prefer nightlife ideas without the booze? 

To continue sightseeing by night, sign up for the two-hour Let’s Go Marina Bay Night Tour, where you will get around Singapore’s Civic District on the wheels of your choice—bicycle or electric scooter. Late-night rides to other locations are possible, if you contact Let’s Go in advance to customise a tour.

For a quintessentially Singaporean experience, spend time at a pop-up pasar malam (night market, see locations here), where street foods and cheap goods reign supreme. These makeshift markets are usually set up near train stations to attract the crowds, so accessibility won’t be an issue. 

If, however, what you need can only be found in a mall, the all-purpose megastore Mustafa is where you should head—it’s one of the most popular 24-hour attractions in Singapore. 

To partake in a local late-night comfort food ritual, head to Rochor Original Beancurd for a  beancurd dessert or soybean milk drink. Otherwise, there’s always Starbucks, which has 24-hour outlets scattered across the city. 

Get directions to Atlas

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Get directions to Operation Dagger

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Get directions to Timbre X @ The Substation

Get directions to Timbre X @ The Arts House

Get directions to Mustafa

Get directions to Rochor Original Beancurd

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