Want to explore Singapore but don’t know where to start? Here’s how to experience the best of the city at your own pace.
Breakfast Singapore Style
Enjoy a classic Singapore breakfast of local coffee or tea, kaya (coconut egg jam) and butter toast, and two soft-boiled eggs eaten with a dash of soy sauce and white pepper at a local coffee shop or kopitiam.
Get up close and personal with the iconic Merlion at the Merlion Park. Built by local sculptor Lim Nang Seng, the half-lion, half-fish Merlion is one of Singapore’s most famous and most photographed icons. Look out also for a smaller Merlion statue known as the “Merlion cub” at the Park.
Retail Therapy On Orchard Road
Singapore’s most famous shopping street, Orchard Road offers a myriad of shopping options with its wide variety of malls. The 2.2km shopping belt was named after the orchards and plantations that existed in the area until the turn of the 20th century.
Colourful Ethnic Enclaves
Photo: Darren Soh
To learn about the traditions and lifestyles of Singapore’s various ethnic groups, visit Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Katong. Learn about Chinese heritage in Chinatown, find out more about the Indian community in buzzing Little India, get to know Malay culture and history in Kampong Glam, and discover Peranakan culture in Katong.
Go Green
Put on your walking shoes, fill up your water bottle and explore Gardens by the Bay and Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take your time and wander around the two magnificent gardens which will give you a better understanding of why Singapore is known as a “Garden City”.
To sample some of Singapore’s best local foods, head for one of the city’s hawker centres or food courts islandwide. Must-trys include Hainanese chicken rice, roti prata, laksa, Hokkien prawn mee, char kway teow, satay, wanton mee, rojak, nasi lemak, fish head curry, chilli crab, fried carrot cake and ice kachang.
Check Out The Murals & Street Art
Keep your eyes peeled for pops of colour in the form of vibrant wall murals and impressive street art when you are exploring the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Everton Park, Haji Lane, Kampong Glam, Little India, Tanjong Pagar and Tiong Bahru. Get your cameras ready for that perfect shot for the gram!
Fun & Adventure On Sentosa Island
Spend at least half a day on Sentosa – The State of Fun. With its golden sandy beaches, resorts, themed attractions including Universal Studios Singapore, cafes, restaurants, beachfront bars, spas and two championship 18-hole golf courses, the 500-hectare island-resort offers something for everyone.
Photos courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
