Top 10 Places to Visit in Singapore

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Located in the southern part of Singapore, Sentosa Island is a popular holiday destination for locals and a top choice for foreign tourists visiting Singapore. Sentosa Island offers thrilling amusement facilities and family-friendly attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Siloso Beach, and Trick Eye Museum. Among them, Universal Studios Singapore, the second Universal Studios theme park in Asia, features iconic movie-themed attractions like Jurassic Park, The Mummy, and the world's only Transformers Ride. This place boasts a variety of top-notch movie-themed amusement facilities and unique attractions, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the enchanting charm of films. There are seven movie-themed zones, including Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. These familiar Hollywood stories allow you to immerse yourself and create unforgettable memories.

Regarded as Singapore's most beautiful urban garden masterpiece, Gardens by the Bay maintains its stylish and dreamlike appearance even after many years. Spanning over 101 hectares, the garden features the Flower Dome, a massive dome greenhouse with 380,000 rare and exotic plants from different parts of the world. Another eye-catching attraction is the iconic Supertree Grove in the South Garden, which stands as one of Singapore's top five landmarks, combining art, technology, and environmental sustainability. At nightfall, the Supertrees transform with colorful lights synchronized to music, creating a dazzling and dreamy atmosphere. On clear nights, you can even lie down and admire this breathtaking spectacle. A stroll along the two-kilometer waterfront promenade offers panoramic views of the bustling Marina Bay financial district.

In addition, the Cloud Forest inside Gardens by the Bay collaborates with the movie Avatar to create an immersive walking space called “Avatar: The Experience”, allowing visitors to step into the fantastical world of Avatar. Standing beneath the colossal man-made waterfall within the Cloud Forest, you can feel the sudden rush of mist that swiftly lowers the temperature, which provides relief from the heat. Walking along the viewing pathways inside the greenhouse, which simulates the environment of a high-altitude mountain forest, is truly a unique experience.

Located 56 stories high, the SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands resembles a giant surfboard spanning across the rooftops of three hotels, offering panoramic views of the entire Marina Bay area and the spectacular Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay. With a 360-degree unobstructed view, visitors can experience the beauty of Singapore anytime. At dusk, the cityscape bathed in the glow of the setting sun resembles a sea of orange hues while the gradually lit-up stars and city lights create a colorful and dynamic world at night. Don't miss the light and water show downstairs after capturing these indescribable, breathtaking views with your camera.

Additionally, the SkyPark features a beautiful infinity swimming pool, a popular spot for taking photos.

A one-of-a-kind zoo, the Night Safari opens its doors to visitors when night falls, welcoming them to explore the fascinating world of nocturnal animals. It showcases over 100 species and nearly 900 animals, with 41% of them being endangered species such as Asian elephants, clouded leopards, Malayan tapirs, and Malayan tigers.

Visitors can explore the park on foot through four walking trails: East Lodge Trail, Fishing Cat Trail, Leopard Trail, and Wallaby Trail. Or opt for a guided tram ride to get up close to the animals and their mysterious habitats. “Creatures of the Night” and “TwiLIGHT Performance” are also staged here, allowing visitors to interact closely with nocturnal animals and enjoy dazzling light shows that you definitely shouldn't miss!

Located on the scenic island of Sentosa Island, the Singapore Skyline Luge offers two activities: the Skyline Luge and the Skyride. There are four thrilling and adventurous tracks to choose from: Kuppu Kuppu Trail, Expedition Trail, Jungle Trail, and Dragon Trail. From the mountaintop slope, you’ll slide down the winding 650-meter track at a speed that is much faster than imagined, enjoying an unexpectedly thrilling experience.

The Skyline Luge is easy to control and safe, equipped with unique braking systems to allow visitors to grip the handlebars and control the speed downhill safely. Children can ride with adults, making it a popular family activity. After reaching the foot of the hill, visitors can take the Skyride back to the starting point and enjoy the stunning skyline of Sentosa Island and Singapore.

Established in 1887, the National Museum of Singapore chronicles the history and culture of Singapore, from the founding of the Lion City 700 years ago, through the British colonial era in the 19th century, the Japanese occupation during World War II, to the prosperous and stable Singapore of today.

The museum's permanent galleries, History Gallery, and “Life in Singapore: Past 100 Years” exhibitions showcase Singapore's past and present through captivating narratives. Hundreds of historical artifacts and artworks in the museum offer insights into each phase of Singapore's unique transformation. The extensive collection of artifacts and historical records, along with vibrant personalities and stories, further help us understand Singapore's life at that time.

In addition to exhibiting important historical and cultural artifacts, the museum hosts exciting activities such as art installations, festival events, performances, and film exhibitions. One of the museum's latest immersive art installations is “Story  of the Forest” by the Japanese teamLab, which uses grand digital displays to allow visitors to experience the museum's precious collections firsthand.

Chinatown, also known as Niu Che Shui in Chinese, is Singapore's historic Chinatown district. Legend has it that it got its name because there was no piped water supply in the area during its early days, and residents had to rely on bullock carts to transport water. While Chinatown covers a vast area, the most crowded areas are probably Pagoda Street, Smith Street, and Chinatown Food Street. Every street here is bustling with a variety of businesses, from family-run goldsmiths to traditional medicine shops, clothing stores, and dim sum eateries. Visitors can taste different delicacies and purchase various goods here.

In addition to buying souvenirs and memorabilia, Chinatown also boasts many historical buildings, including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Sri Mariamman Temple, Jamae Mosque (Masjid Jamae), and Maxwell Food Center, which are worth visiting.

The Merlion, designed by Fraser Brunner in 1964, was later registered as a trademark by the Singapore Tourism Board. In 1971, Singaporean artist Lim Nang Seng expanded the design from a drawing into a sculpture of a lion head with a fish body As a symbol of Singapore, the Merlion represents courage, wisdom, and strength, as well as the hardships faced by the first generation of pioneers who came to Singapore.

There are a total of seven Merlion statues in Singapore, located at various sites including the Singapore Tourism Board, Sentosa Island, Mount Faber, and Ang Mo Kio, with the most famous one being at Merlion Park near Marina Bay. The Merlion statue in the park stands at 8.8 meters tall, and weighs 70 tons. It faces the eastern Marina Bay, overlooking the eastern waters of Singapore. It symoblizes the spirit of continuous exploration by Singaporeans.

Although Merlion Park covers only 0.25 hectares, it still attracts countless visitors as a Singaporean landmark. There are viewing platforms next to the Merlion statue for citizens and tourists to rest. In the evening, the lights of Marina Bay Sands across the bay light up in brilliant colors, offering a view of Singapore's charming nightlife. By connecting with nearby attractions such as the National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilizations Museum, and Fullerton Hotel, visitors can stroll all the way to the ArtScience Museum and Marina Bay Sands Hotel on the opposite side, forming a leisurely walking route.

Orchard Road is a famous shopping district and commercial street in Singapore, featuring department stores and boutiques, with renowned fashion brands from around the world. The history of Orchard Road dates back to the 1930s when it was just an unknown street with fruit orchards, nutmeg plantations, and pepper fields on both sides. In 1958, local businessman C.K. Tang established the first department store on Orchard Road, marking the beginning of its transformation into a renowned shopping district in Singapore. Today, Orchard Road's bustling avenue is a shopping and dining paradise, with modern department stores lining both sides of the road, including ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City, 313@Somerset, Orchard Central, Wheelock Place, and more. Each store can keep you occupied for hours, offering a wide range of international brands and popular products. The largest LV flagship store in Southeast Asia is also located here, along with various high-end hotels, providing tourists and Singaporeans with a high-end fashion lifestyle experience.

Clarke Quay is located in the heart of Singapore and was originally an old pier. The low-rise buildings along the quay used to be abandoned warehouses. After being redeveloped by the government, they transformed into a gathering place for various second-hand shops and flea markets during the day and restaurants and bars for drinking and relaxing at night.

 

It has a completely different atmosphere day and night. At night, the dazzling lights make it an ideal place to experience Singapore's nightlife. The riverside is lined with restaurants and bars, and popular seafood restaurants like Jumbo Seafood also have branches here. Visitors can also take a sightseeing boat, which takes about forty minutes to cruise past Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Robertson Quay, Marina South Pier, and Marina Bay, offering panoramic views of the harbor. If you take a sightseeing boat during the evening, which coincides with the light and water show at Marina Bay Sands, the night view from the sea will be even more beautiful.