As I arrived to Singapore, via bus from Malaysia, my eyes have never been wider. The only plausible way to describe my entrance would be Katniss Everdeen witnessing The Captial for the very first time. The contrast between the rough, dusty Malaysian countryside and the crisp, tidy, {basically deserted} streets of Singapore was astonishing.
It almost didn’t feel like a real place, to be honest. Singapore was giving me all the Pleasantville vibes. Of course there are certain neighborhoods in Singapore that provide an authentic insight to the world beyond the contorted buildings, and shiny skyscrapers. However, the majority of the city felt like a clean, magical bubble, separate from the rest of Asia, where the world was my oyster. Point blank, my overall impression was one of awe. Again, this was a country that contradicted my expectations.
The list below includes trendy things to do in Singapore – you know, what all the ‘we are technically tourists, but we want to convince you we know what we are doing’ type are up to, myself included. Let’s just say the odds were definitely in my favor when it came to finding things to do in Singapore.
1. Gardens by the Bay {Super Tree Grove}
I think it’s illegal to visit Singapore and not stop by the Gardens by the Bay… just saying. Even those people that are constantly preaching about getting off the beaten path {I’m with you}, will enjoy the gardens. You’re basically walking through an adult Disneyland, sans the rides.
Technically the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ encompass all of the attractions you hear about {Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, Heritage Garden, etc.}, but most people associate them specifically with the Super Tree Grove. These larger-than-life, man-made trees aren’t really trees at all. In fact, they are created out of concrete and steel. The best description of these giants can be found on their official website:
Each Supertree consists of a trunk core made of reinforced concrete wrapped with a steel frame. Planting panels are installed on the trunks for the planting of the living skin. Each canopy is embedded with environmentally sustainable functions, then assembled and hoisted via a hydraulic jack system. – Gardens by the Bay Website
Each ‘tree’ is as tall as a 16 story building, and there is a canopy walk that leads you through each. The line is always long for the OCBC Skywalk, but will only cost you $8.00 SGD {approx. $5.50 USD}. Waiting time for the canopy walk when I visited was over an hour and honestly I couldn’t be bothered at the time. Plus, the weather was on the fritz and they repeatedly had to close it down due to safety concerns.
To visit the Super Tree Grove itself, however, won’t cost you a dime. There are so many photo opportunities, as well as {and let’s be real, more importantly} learning opportunities. Which leads me to my next activity…
Hours: 5:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953 {MAP}
2. Flower Dome & Cloud Forest
Though I pride myself on being a budget traveler, there are certain exceptions I make when I’m abroad. For example, splurging on the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest at the Gardens on the Bay. Normally spending $28.00 SGD {approx. $20.00 USD} on an attraction would be a big nahhhh from me. That being said, both of these exhibits are worth every cent – if not more!
The Cloud Forest is probably the coolest thing I’ve ever witnessed. They’ve somehow built a flippin’ mountain inside a glass dome, and allowed us to climb all over it. Expect waterfalls, exotic plants, secret gardens, and a routine misting that fills the entire glass case {of emotion}. Being afraid of heights, I was a bit apprehensive as I walked along the cloud walk. You are reaaaaaaal high. That being said, the sights are more than worth it.
As you make your way through the Cloud Forest, the exhibit includes a few educational videos on climate change and the environment. These are not mandatory to watch, however I found them absolutely fascinating {and heartbreaking}. At the end of the video, there are helpful tips to implement in your daily life in order to do your part for the earth. Singapore, in general, does a lot in terms of staying environmentally conscious {which you will learn about}. This was just a small insight into how the country is making a positive change in the world.
Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953 {MAP}
3. Wander the streets of Chinatown
I realized recently that I visit Chinatown in nearly every city I go to, and yet I’ve never actually been to China… That’s all about to change, however, when I head to Hong Kong with Gena in early February! Chinatown is always a trendy place to be, but Singapore does the most when it comes to showing off this section of it’s city. I found it to be vibrant, animated, and entertaining as I walked along the lantern lined streets. Best of all, the charm of Singapore was put into every window shutter I came across.
Location: Trengganu St, Singapore 050005 {MAP}
4. Check out the Bugis-Bras Basah district
Singapore wins when it comes to trendy neighborhoods – hands down. This part of the city, specifically Bussorah Street, Arab Street, Haji Lane, and Muscat Street, are a must if you visit Singapore. With a surplus of trendy cafes and unique bars, you won’t go hungry. The streets are also lined with traditional clothing stores, small jewelry boutiques, ceramics shops, beautiful fabric for sale, and Insta-worthy artwork. And finally, the Sultan Mosque is a highlight that can’t be missed. Walk along the palm tree-lined, pedestrian-only road to get all the feels, and be transported to another world altogether.
Location: 3 Muscat St, Singapore 198833 {MAP}
5. Explore Joo Chiat
My favorite neighborhood in all of Singapore was Joo Chiat. It’s not within walking distance from downtown, so you’ll want to hop on the metro, but I promise you it’s worth it. This was a more authentic side of Singapore that I had been searching for. While many go solely to snap an Instagram shot on the popular Koon Seng Road {guilty}, there is so much more to this area of the city.
I deliberately got lost multiple times, and loved every second of it. With local restaurants serving traditional laska dishes, and off-the-beaten-track cafes that cater to the new-age hipster, Joo Chiat is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the world.
Klook shares an extensive guide to Joo Chiat which you can find here.
Location: {MAP – this is the general area in which I found the most appealing}
6. Get lost in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
It’s always nice to escape the bustling city and find serenity in nature. That being said, Singapore does such a great job at combining the two within every inch of it’s city. Even so, the botanic gardens located at short drive from downtown, can provide you an afternoon of exploring {for free}. This UNESCO Heritage Site is home to thousands of plants. Some of the highlights include the national orchid garden, a learning forest with elevated walkways, an evolution garden with petrified wood and primitive plants, and the sun garden {greenhouse}.
Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Location: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569 {MAP}
7. Sample ALL the street food at Maxwell Hawker Centre
FOOD, FOOD, FOOD. One of my favorite aspects of traveling is, of course, using it as an excuse to indulge in anything and everything. Hawker Centers {aka big open air food halls} are perfect for this because they offer a variety of authentic food for pennies, my friend. The hostel I chose {Tribe Theory} was located just seconds away from the infamous Maxwell Hawker Centre. I was unaware of it’s popularity prior to dining in, but after just one meal there, I became a repeat customer for the remainder of my trip. It’s that good.
With so many options to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. I can personally recommend the ramen from Special Shanghai Tim-Sum and the best goreng pisang {fried bananas} from Lim Kee Banana Fritters. One thing to note, the well known Lim Kee Banana Fritters will be shutting their doors at the end of this year after 70 years in operation. The owner is retiring so make sure you hop on it, um, now!
You will also probably want to try one of Singapore’s most famous chicken rice stalls: Tian Tian. It’s hard to miss this famous street stall given the consistently large queue. Anthony Bourdain was a fan of Tian Tian, and it was the first street stall its kind to receive a Michelin Star. Have I convinced you yet?
To read about 10 must-try stalls in Maxwell Hawker Centre, check out Daniel Food Diary‘s post here.
Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Location: 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184 {MAP}
8. Cafe hop through Tiong Bahru
Prior to arriving in Singapore, a good friend of mine {shout out to Crystal} had just returned from her own trip to Singapore. Her boyfriend lives there, which provided her with some local insight as to the trendiest places to go. It was a win for me as well, because when I asked her where I should go, she immediately responded with Tiong Bahru. Nearly every website featuring Tiong Bahru refers to it as either, hip, trendy, up-and-coming, or something along those lines.
And indeed the rumors are true. There are multiple Insatgrammable cafes all throughout Tiong Bahru which makes it the perfect location to cafe hop. The weather can be sporadic in Southeast Asia, so I always bring a book along with me and pop into cafes throughout my visit.
While I find it amusing to stumble upon cafes, here is a good blog post to get you started in terms of which Tiong Bahru cafes should be on your list. For a list of unique things to do in Tiong Bahru, check out this post on The Smart Local.
9. Take a break at Chijmes
I’m not sure there is a more beautiful backdrop, than that of having a meal outdoors at Chijmes. Sure, it used to be a convent turned orphanage, but now it’s a dazzling food court and shopping center. Weird how these things come about, am I right? Regardless, it’s a trendy place to indulge in fine dining. This is definitely not a place for my budget traveler, but if you are looking to splurge, check out these recommendations.
Personally, I went solely to capture photos of, and around, the stunning chapel. I arrived before many of the shops opened in order to have the place to myself. That being said, I was dying to return to have a glass of wine in the courtyard. It’s the perfect place to take a break and relax outdoors.
Hours: Weekdays 8:00 AM – 3:00 AM, Weekends 8:30 AM – 4:00 AM
Location: 30 Victoria St, Singapore 187996 {MAP}
10. Bum it up on Sentosa’s Beaches
And finally, if you have enough time, enjoy some of Singapore’s most famous beaches. I personally didn’t get a chance to visit Sentosa Island, but friends of mine from Korea did, and it looked like they had a fabulous time. If beach bumming isn’t really your thing, {while not as trendy} there is still plenty more to do on the island itself including Universal Studies, the Singapore Aquarium, a water park and a luge track. You can read more about Sentosa Island here and the best way to get there here.
Location: {MAP}
Have you ever been to Singapore? If so, what surprised you the most about it?
