Singapore is a tiny island, however, don’t get fooled by its little size. If you’re visiting for the first time, you’ll find ancient temples, lush gardens, theme parks and old cultural settlements. From exploring its sustainable gardens in the city to having the best street food at the hawker’s stall, you’ll have the best time of your life.
Here’s the list of top places to visit in Singapore for first-time visitors.
Top Places in Singapore for First-Time Visitors
1. Marina Bay Sands & SkyPark
One of the topmost iconic landmarks in Singapore, Marina Bay offers amazing 360° views of the surrounding landscape such as Marina Bay, the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by Bay Supertrees. This tower is about 200 meters long and looks like a huge ship on the top of three buildings. It features a famous infinity pool that is the world’s largest that creates the illusion of disappearing into the sky.
Why you should visit-
- Go to Skypark Observation Deck to take in stunning views of the Gardens by Bay, Esplanade and Spectra Light by the night.
- Dine at the Michelin starred restaurants such as Waku Ghin and CUT to discover the multicultural cuisine of Singapore
- Explore the ArtScience Museum and learn about sustainability and technology from its exhibitions and displays.
2. Gardens by the Bay
Step into a futuristic green space at Gardens by the Bay where you’ll find large Supertrees that look almost identical to the forests shown in the sci-fi movie Avatar. These trees stand 25 -50 meters tall and provide an artificial ecosystem to the city.
It features cool conservatories like the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest where you will find over 160,000 plants brought from over five continents like Baobos, cacti, pitcher plants and more.
Fun Facts about the Garden:
- The Supertrees capture the sunlight with their canopies and which is later used for the light & sound shows at the evening. These canopies also harvest the rainwater which is then distributed among the fountains and plants in the garden.
- It features the tallest indoor waterfall inside the Cloud Forest that maintains the cooling temperature inside the dome.
Major Highlight: Visit the Gardens at night to get the best views of the Supertrees for free with the amazing light and sound show Green Rhapsody that lightens up the large Supertrees and the entire surroundings. You can also visit the nearby viewspoints like Skypark at Marina Bay Sands or walk on the OCBC Skyway just above the garden to get the magical panoramic vistas of these ecological parks.
3. Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island, formerly used as a British military base and as a Japanese-war-of-camp is now one of the famous attractions in Singapore. There are 3 beach resorts in Sentosa – Palawan, Silosa and Tanjong where you can relax for sunbathing or try kayaking or paddleboarding. You can get there by a cable car across Kepel Harbour or use a monorail from VivoCity Level 3 to the beach stops.
The island is rightly known as “the state of Fun” in Singapore as you will find numerous adventure parks for a great day. Race through the hill on go-kart at Skyline Luge or swim with 100,000 marine animals at S.E.A. Aquarium. You can also visit the Madame Tusaauds Singapore where you’ll find the wax figures of south Asian actors, Bollywood celebrities and India’s PM Narendra Modi.
- Fort Soliso, built in the 1880s is the only surviving coastal fort in Singapore that offers a glimpse into the history of WWII and authentic weaponry used in those days.
4. Universal Studios Singapore
Located within Resorts World at Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore is one of the five theme parks by Universal Studios in the world. You can enjoy an amazing fun day with your family on 28 rides that are spread across its 7 zones with different themes. Each of these zones are based on famous Hollywood movies, animated cartoons and television shows.
- Get a ride on Battlestar Galactica that is the world’s tallest duelling roller coaster.
- Go on a groovy dance party at Buggie Boogie with the minions and dance on popular song beats remixed by the Minions.
- Join the adventure ride at Transformers 3D ride and save the humanity with Optimus Prime at NEST Hedquarters.
- Meet the prehistoric world at Jurrassic Park.
5. Singapore Zoo & Night Safari
Meet the wild animals of over 300 different specimens from different ecosystems including Africa and Australia. Singapore Zoo & Night Safari is part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve that hosts five interconnected parks that showcases birds, animals and river ecosystems.
Highlights:
- Go on a real trek through the jungle and walk on 4 amazing trails that allow you to see civet cat, leopard, pangolin, gibbons, Tasmanian devils and many more.
- Walk through the trees at Treetops Trail and watch the gharials in the water below.
- Attend the Thumbuakar Fire show by the tribal dancers
Head over to the Night Safari after 6.30 pm and meet the nocturnal and shy creatures that only come out at the dark. It is the world’s first safari for nocturnal creatures in an entire open-zoo area. Meet the endangered animals and the rare night blooming plants such as pigeon orchids and butterfly ginger.
6. Merlion Park
Do you remember the half-lion, half-fish structure with water spouting from its mouth? That is a famous symbol of Singapore with its origin from the fishing village of Temasek. There are two Merlion status in the park and the largest one measures 8.6m tall and it’s spouting water represents prosperity and good fortune.
The park works as the best vantage points in the city for watching the Spectra Light & Water Show at Marina Bay Sands. You can also take a 40-minute river cruise at the bumboat that will take you through the historic landmarks such as Raffles’ Landing Site, Merlion statue, Clarke Quay and the Helix Bridge.
7. Orchard Road
Orchard Road is one of the most famous shopping streets in Singapore where you can find multiple shops along the street for budget-shopping of fashionable clothes, accessories and souvenirs.
- ION Orchard is one-stop destination for the luxury brands where you’ll find designer clothes and amazing eateries like the Japanese Daiso where you can dine with spectacular vistas of the city.
- Go to the Tanglin Road to get artsy vibe and buy amazing souvenirs from the older malls selling antiques and rugs. Stroll near the historic sites and ancient colonial buildings and learn about the past of this nation.
- 313@Somerset is popular among the female shoppers and offers multiple options for high-street fashion at affordable rates from brands like Forever 21, Cotton On, Unique Lo, and Zara.
The street food outlets at the Orchard Road offer diverse international cuisine with mix of mostly Malay, Indian and Chinese culture. Try late-night seafood at Newton Food Centre or buy ice cream sandwiches from the street vendors.
8. Chinatown
Crowned as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Singapore for 2023, Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinese districts in the world that date back to 1822. Start with the animated Pagoda Street and buy scents and souvenirs from the colonial-era shophouses. Discover the oldest well in the city at Ann Siang Hill and explore the old heritage sites like the mosques, shophouses, or try Japanese or authentic Malay dishes at the nearby restaurants.
Must-visit in Chintown:
- View the sacred canine tooth of Buddha at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Visit the oldest and biggest Hindu Temple in the city, Top Places to Visit in Singapore for First-Time Visitors
- Go to Chinatown Heritage Centre to explore the 1950s shophouses
Bottom Line
Singapore rewards every kind of travellers with multiple options for budget-shopping, cultural destinations and the best street food. With this list in your hands, you’ll experience a wide range of emotions at every destination in the city. Plan your trip with Singapore tour packages and start with these 8 places to get the best of Singapore culture. Apply for a Singapore visa in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience.
