Singapore is a relatively young country that has quickly grown to greatness in the past 50 years. The small island nation attracts hundreds of international tourists from all around the world each year; And if there is one thing that Singapore knows how to do it is putting on a great show.
Traveling Singapore has never been easier. The transportation is amazing, the activities never-ending and the food is delicious. This is all you need to know about how to travel Singapore in 2019.
WHERE TO STAY
Accomodation in Singapore can quickly get expensive. As a budget traveler I recommend looking on Booking.com and Hostelworld to try to find the cheapest and best accomodation in your price range.
Other ways to save money on accomodation in Singapore would include:
- Workaway
- Couchsurfing
- Staying with a friend
INSIDER TIP: I stayed at Blue Jazz Hostel which was decent. If you want to stay there I would recommend spending a little extra money and booking the 4-6 bed dorm that has a window. The cheapest dorm at Blue Jazz Hostel is disgusting and I do not recommend it.
WHAT TO DO
There are a lot of interesting and entertaining things to do in this modern and fast paced asian city. Some of the main attractions include:
Garden Rhapsody and Gardens by the Bay
Garden Rhapsody is a must see light show that takes place in Gardens by the Bay. The show starts at 7:45 and runs for around 20 minutes. The second show starts an hour later at 8:45. Gardens by the Bay is a beautiful artificial tree forest that lights up at night and is fun to explore during the day. It is free to enter the gardens but to get up on the tree balcony it will cost $8 USD and is open from 9:00 am to 9:00pm.
INSIDER TIP: arrive to gardens by the bay around 7:15 to get an optimal viewing spot. Lay down and watch the show on your back.
Flower Dome
Located right next to Gardens by the Bay, the Flower Dome is just what it sounds like: A dome filled with flowers.It is also the world’s largest Greenhouse and is home to hundreds of different species of flowers. It is open from 9:00am-9:00pm and costs $28 USD for adults and $15 USD for children.
INSIDER TIP: For all things Gardens by the Bay and Flower Dome check out the official Gardens by the Bay website here: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html
Singapore Botanical Garden
The Singapore Botanical Gardens is the first Singaporean UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most incredible Botanical Gardens in the world. It is the first and only tropical garden on the UNESCO list. The Gardens are open from 5:00am- 11:59pm. There are individual gardens within the main Botanical gardens that have different operating hours and cost additional money.
INSIDER TIP: The Gardens are free except the Orchid Garden which costs $5. I 100% recommend spending the extra money to see this beautiful garden. It is well worth your time and money.
Marina Bay Light Show
The Marina Bay Light Show is a free 15 minute light show over the water at Marina Bay. It has two regular shows starting at 8:00pm and then again at 9:00 pm. The best place to see the show is yp front so arrive around 7:30 or 8:30 to get the best spot. You can see the Garden Rhapsody show first and then walk over to see the Marina Bay show after.
INSIDER TIP: Before or after the show you can grab a bite to eat on the ground floor of the Marina Bay Mall that is located in the same spot. The prices are reasonable and the food is delicious.
Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is a popular destination but i would not recommend it. I personally don’t think that Zoos are very ethical since the animals, that are suppose to be wild and free, are more often than not trapped inside cages. That being said, if you do want to go you can visit the Zoo during the day and during the evening.
The Day Zoo is open from 8:30 am – 6:00 pm and costs $37 for adults and $25 for children.
The Night Zoo is open 7:30 pm -12:00 pm and costs $49 for adults and $33 for children.
INSIDER TIP: If you buy your ticket online you can get a 10% discount on all tickets.
Singapore National Museum
The National History Museum is a great first stop when visiting Singapore. It gives visitors a great background of how Singapore came about, the diverse cultures of the country and so much more. The museum is open 10 am-7pm and costs $15 for adults and $10 for students.
INSIDER TIP: Bring your student ID card because they do accept International Student ID cards.
Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the oldest parts of Singapore. It is a great spot to buy some great souvenirs, taste some traditional chinese influenced singaporean food and see some old Singapore.
INSIDER TIP: For more information about Chinatown check out this blog post: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/singapore/articles/the-top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-chinatown-singapore/
Little India
Little India is another sight to see when visiting Singapore. It is also one of the oldest spots in Singapore along with Chinatown. The streets are filled with colorful houses and inviting indian music and food.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios Singapore is located on the island of Sentosa. The cost for adults is 79 Singaporean dollars and for children it is 59. You can book your ticket here: https://www.rwsentosa.com/en/attractions/universal-studios-singapore/tickets
Sentosa Island
If you are looking for a beach day Sentosa Island is your only option. The island is mainly visited when visiting Universal studios but it also has a nice beach to relax on and take in some sun.
INSIDER TIP: If you can avoid it visit the island on a weekday and NOT on the weekend. The weekend is even more crowded than the week and is not very relaxing.
WHERE TO EAT
For Budget travelers the best places to eat include:
The Hawker Center (pictured above)- These traditional Singaporean food stalls are famous for their multi-asian influenced food. There are usually 15-20 different food vendors in one Hakka station and you can pick and choose what you want to eat. Food here costs anywhere from $5-$15 depending on what you order.
The other cheap food option is to eat in the mall food courts. Surprisingly the food at the malls is delicious and super affordable. You can find a food court in all the malls usually on the ground floor.
TRANSPORTATION
One of my favorite parts of Singapore was the public transportation. Getting around Singapore is one of the easiest things to do. You can ride the MRT practically everywhere. The MRT is a rapid public transit system that spans the entire city. It is always on time and runs frequently throughout the day.
If you are going to be in Singapore for around 3 days I recommend buying an EZ-Link metro card for $10 (unlimited rides for one day), $16 (unlimited for 2 days) or $20 (unlimited for 3 days). If you end up spending more time in Singapore you can top-up at any of the MRT stations.
The MRT runs on 5 main lines. The is one additional line currently under construction but that is not finished. The 5 lines go all around the city. You can check the map for directions and plan your trip accordingly.
