Utravlr

1) Marina Bay Sands: Marina Bay is the prettiest and most desirable place to stay in Singapore. The stunning architecture of the glass-front office towers, swanky hotels and grand colonial buildings make the most iconic cityscape. Most visitors would love to stay in a bay-facing five-star hotel, but this is prized real estate so it’s expensive.   This tourist hotspot is also one of the major business areas of Singapore, so there’s a vibrant cosmopolitan vibe all along the pristine pavements and inside the many shopping malls, subway stations, restaurants and rooftop bars – all of which can be found easily in Marina Bay.

2) Gardens by the Bay: Gardens by the Bay is a huge, colourful, futuristic park in the bay area of Singapore; and has won countless architecture awards. The famous Supertree structures offer an impressive skywalk over the gardens, over-sized seashell-shaped greenhouses recreate chilly mountain climates and there are hundreds of trees and plants to discover, making this destination great fun for both kids and adults. Open daily from 5am to 2am.

3) Clarke Quay: This delightful riverside development is packed full of bustling bars and restaurants, boutique shops and pumping nightclubs, attracting a steady stream of tourists alongside Singapore’s party animals. Clarke Quay’s location takes full advantage of the picturesque body of water that emerges from the city’s main river, with alfresco-style dining to be had in an endless number of eateries set around the water’s edge. Head under the futuristic, jelly-like roof and you’ll find some great shopping options as well as a plentiful supply of bars, making this a real bar-hoppers’ heaven.

4) Chinatown: Exploring Chinatown is one of the best things to do in Singapore, no matter how many times you’ve visited the city. It’s great for shopping – many swear you’ll find the cheapest souvenirs here – you’ll see all kind of important attractions and find plenty of authentic Chinese food. There are countless restaurants and hawker food vendors to choose from. Learn more about its history from the Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street. Its main focus is on the Chinese immigrants who lived a hard life and were the main group of people who founded Singapore. Other attractions include Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest temple in Singapore, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Eu Yan Sang Chinese Medical Hall and Maxwell Road Food Centre.

5) Orchard Street: One of the city’s most iconic streets, Orchard Road is the epicentre of shopping in Singapore and is similar to London’s Oxford Street or Hong Kong’s Nathan Road. Flanked on both sides by local and international department stores, tiny boutiques, offices, spas, beauty salons, hotels, entertainment spots, restaurants, and cafes, you could spend a whole day trawling the main thoroughfare. Shopping malls along Orchard are stocked with practically everything under the sun. Plus, there is always some kind of fair or activity taking place in the malls and shopping centres so there are probably more things to do Orchard than anywhere else in Singapore.

6) Sentosa Island: Sentosa is a purpose-built island off the southern tip of Singapore which was built with leisure and relaxation in mind. A collection of beaches, theme parks, golf, shopping, dining and more are all available on this strip of reclaimed land that can be reached by road or cable car. Authentic it’s not, but if you want to add a bit of fun to your Singapore trip then Sentosa is the place to do it. You can choose to stay in Sentosa, but even if you’re not based on the island, you can easily access all the attractions via MRT in 15 minutes from downtown Singapore.

7) Universal studios: Universal Studios Singapore was the first amusement park of its kind to open in Southeast Asia. The park has more than 20 attractions in themed zones including the Lost World, Ancient Egypt, New York, Hollywood, Madagascar and Far Far Away. Regarding the rides, 2 are water themed and 5 are thrilling roller coasters. Families with small children can also make the most of the various live shows, kids’ roller coaster and a merry-go-round too. Located on Sentosa, it’s easy to get to Universal Studios by MRT subway. Opens daily from 10am to 7pm (open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday).

8) Louis Vuitton Island Maison: Nestled along the water, the all-glass structure of the Louis Vuitton store is the brand’s first Island Maison. The nautically inspired interiors are reminiscent of a luxury yacht. The main floor is home to the men’s and women’s leather goods, ready to wear, shoes, and accessories. The second floor features travel luggage and accessories. The high ceilings and glass walls look out on to incredible views of the bay. An upstairs lounge provides a private shopping experience. From the second floor you can also access an outdoor loggia for a panoramic vista of the bay.

9) Singapore River Cruise: Enjoy the rustic charm of the Singaporean bumboats – an iconic way to traverse the Singapore river for tourists and locals alike. Board the boat at Clarke Quay and enjoy a 40 minute cruise, passing by some of Singapore’s popular riverside highlights. Sit outside or inside, and listen to the interesting commentary about all of these sights onboard. Alight at any of the jetties and continue your journey on foot (note that you can’t re-board the boat once you get off), or stay onboard for the entire trip to see Singapore from a different perspective!

10) Singapore Night Safari: Singapore Night Safari is truly a unique attraction. It’s not only an interesting place worth a visit but a leading conservation and research centre in Asia. As a zoo, it offers an unusual glimpse into the nocturnal animal kingdom, with more than 59 exhibits and 1,000 animals to be seen from around the world. These include Himalayan griffon vultures, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, wildebeests and gazelles. You can simply start with the ‘Creatures of the Night’ show for a good 20-minute overview of the animals to be seen here. Opens daily from 7.30pm to midnight.

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