SINGAPORE

1 Super Tree Grove and Gardens by the Bay

The best time to visit is about an hour before sunrise, so you can capture that golden light in your photos before witnessing the light show. Visiting Super Tree Grove is completely free. You only need to purchase a ticket if you want to visit the top of the trees. If you’re not on a tight budget, you can also visit the other attractions in Gardens by the Bay, such as the Flower Dome and the indoor waterfall inside the Cloud Forest. But tickets for the Cloud Forest are a bit expensive at 27 SGD.

Every day at 7:45pm, the Super Trees light up in bright colors against the modern cityscape of Singapore. The show lasts less than ten minutes and is the perfect thing to do after a long day of Singapore sightseeing.

2 Light Show at Marina Bay Sands

Every night at 8pm and 9pm, the bay in front of Singapore’s mesmerizing skyline lights up with rainbow flashes of color and water. The light show at Marina Bay Sands is a must-do in Singapore, and it’s completely free.

If you’re walking there from the Super Tree light show, follow the path through Marina Bay Sands outside to the Louis Vuitton building; it’s about a fifteen minute walk from Super Tree Grove. The show happens to the left of the Louis Vuitton building. The best place to stand is in front of the middle of the fountains.

3 Singapore Botanical Gardens

Get away from the skyscrapers of downtown and the hawkers of Chinatown and Little India for some peace in the gardens. These gardens are over 165-years-old and is the only tropical garden to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over eighty acres, the Singapore Botanical Garden showcases 3,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants and a herbarium of about 500,000 species.

They’ve also kept eleven acres of Malay jungle preserved since the beginning of the shaping of Singapore. The best thing about the Singapore Botanical Gardens is it’s completely free, unless you want to see the National Orchid Garden.

4 Stroll down Haji Lane

Haji is a colorful street in Singapore’s Malay Quarter, full of trendy restaurants, cafes, thrift and vintage shopping, photobooths, and colorful street art. It’s hipster heaven. Take a stroll down Haji Lane, then walk just a block away to Muscat Street.

You’ll feel like you’re on the streets of Istanbul, not Singapore, when you walk past restaurants serving Turkish coffee, baklava, kebab, and piyaz. At the end of the palm-tree-lined street, the moon-shaped crescents of the Sultan Mosque stand out against the bright blue sky.

5 Try Michelin-starred street food

Want to try the world’s first Michelin-starred street food stall? Hawker Chan first earned a Michelin star in 2016, making their chicken with rice “the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world.” For Singaporeans, it’s a beloved comfort food. Try it in Chinatown’s Chinatown Complex for just $4.50 SGD. They open at 10:30am every day but Sunday and close when sold out, so make sure to visit for lunch time or earlier to avoid disappointment.

Just across from Hawker Chan might be the best, pan-fried dumplings in Singapore! Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao serves absolutely delicious pan-fried dumplings that earned them a Michelin star, too. The real winner to me is their ginger soy sauce—what a game changer!  You can buy ten dumplings for $7 SGD. Unlike Hawker Chan, Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao is open until 8:30pm (except Monday and Tuesday) for your evening dumpling-fix.

6 History and culture in Chinatown

Immerse yourself in the red and gold of Chinatown’s Chinatown Complex. Outside, old men place bets over games of checkers, and inside, above the antiques, red and gold paper lanterns, and shrines trailing incense into the air, you’ll find some of the best, cheapest food in Singapore.

Pay attention to which shops have locals queuing (they’re sure to be worth the wait!), and try Hum Jin Pang (fried dough fritters) or kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs with your kopi (coffee).

A short walk away is Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, said to hold a relic of the Buddha. It’s free to enter and you’ll be given a shawl or sarong to cover your shoulders or knees. Admire the glittering, golden Buddha, and the dazzling display of dragons, hanging lanterns, and locals praying or lighting offerings.

7 Curries and color in Little India

Wander down colorful streets, lined with shops selling fresh fruits, flower garlands, and admire the fragrance of jasmine, and fragrant curries wafting into the streets.

Stop by the former house of Tan Teng Niah, a riotous testament to color in a modern, concrete-paved Singapore. Don’t forget to wander into the Tekka Centre for a cheeky mango lassi and lunch at Delhi Lahori, known for their tandoori, or try any of the other street food hawkers serving long-loved delicacies from all over India.

8 Embrace Singapore’s street food culture, the hawker stall

Walk around a hawker center like Chinatown’s Chinatown Complex, and you’ll notice an older generation behind the stalls. Most hawker stalls specialize in only one dish, and they have been perfecting their recipe for decades. Dishes like putu piring, chili crab, chicken rice, and wanton noodles are part of Singapore’s cultural identity.

Take a bite into Singapore’s culture and tradition at Putu Piring, and Keng En Kee Seafood. Putu piring is a traditional dish of rice flour, palm sugar, and grated coconut. Nooraisha Hashim is the owner of Haig Road Putu Piring. She’s one of the new generation making sure their parents’ and grandparents’ recipe are not forgotten. Netflix featured her on Street Food Asia. Try her putu piring for just 3 SGD (2.30 USD).

9 National Museum of Singapore

If you’re curious about Singapore’s fascinating transformation from a humble fishing village to a thriving global city, the National Museum of Singapore is a must-visit. As the country’s oldest museum, it beautifully blends history with modern storytelling techniques. Explore exhibits showcasing Singapore’s colonial past, the Japanese occupation, and its rise as a multicultural hub.

10 Coffee in a Cute Cafe

Singapore’s café scene is as vibrant as its street food culture. For a charming mix of old and new, check out Chye Seng Huat Hardware Café. Housed in a restored hardware store, this industrial-chic spot is known for its robust brews and hearty brunch menu.

In Chinatown? Try out Cafe Monochrome, Singapore’s first 2D café. Step into a space that feels like a hand-drawn comic book, with black-and-white line art covering the walls and furniture. The café serves excellent lattes and light bites—perfect for coffee and a photo op.

If you’re near Haji Lane, don’t miss Selfie Coffee—where your photo is printed on your latte foam (yes, really!). Or, for a plant-filled haven, grab a matcha latte at Little House of Dreams in Dempsey Hill.

11 See the world’s largest indoor waterfall and more at Singapore Changi Airport

This isn’t your usual airport. Unlike other cities, when you’re headed to the Singapore Changi Airport, your trip isn’t over quite yet! Inside Terminal 3, the Jewel Changi Airport houses the world’s largest indoor waterfall, towering at forty meters tall. You don’t need to check or go through security to see the waterfall; it’s in the center of the Jewel Changi shopping mall. Plan to get to the airport at least two hours earlier than you usually would to take advantage of the other attractions at Jewel Changi, too.

Most airlines offer early check-in inside the airport, so you don’t have to lug your checked baggage along with you. There’s even paid baggage storage incase you don’t want to bring your carry-on along either. After checking in early, pick up the discounts brochure and enjoy the highlights of Singapore shopping right in the airport!

Leave some time before your flight to go through security, so you can check out Singapore Changi’s other attractions. Also in Terminal 3, there’s a butterfly garden and a free movie theatre! Movies show 24/7 with some of the latest Blockbuster hits. Check showtimes here. Think it couldn’t get any cooler? Think again! There’s even a four-story slide in Terminal 3; it’s free to ride when you download an app.

How to Plan Your Trip to Singapore

Where to Stay in Singapore

Stay near to Chinatown to be close to attractions like Little India, Haji Lane, Supertree Grove, and Marina Bay Sands. From Chinatown, each of these attractions is just a stop or two away by train. For budget stays, we booked a six-person dorm at Royale Hostel in Chinatown. The beds were comfy and clean, and the location was great. We stayed right in the middle of Chinatown next to all our favorite street hawkers!

How to Get Around Singapore

The best way to get around Singapore is by underground train. Train rides from Chinatown to Little India only cost about $1 SGD, making it the cheapest, most convenient way to travel. You don’t need to buy a ticket either. Just tap your Visa or Mastercard when entering and exiting; it’s that easy. Not sure which train to take? Google Maps has directions for public transport.
 
To get to and from the airport, the best budget option is to order a Grab or Gojek. Both apps have discount codes for airport trips, so you can use one there and one on the way back. For Grab, try “AIRPORTNEW” for $5 SGD off and “GOAIRPORT” for $6 SGD off Gojek.

 Where to Eat in Singapore

Hawker Chan – Famous for its Michelin-starred chicken rice, this is a must-try in Chinatown. At just $4.50 SGD, it’s the most affordable Michelin-starred meal in the world. Pro tip: Visit early to avoid the long queues.

Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao – Located just across from Hawker Chan, this stall is renowned for its dumplings. Ten pan-fried dumplings cost $7 SGD, and their ginger soy sauce is a game-changer.

Lau Pa Sat – This historic food market in the heart of Singapore is known for its satay street at night. Grab a skewer of juicy, charcoal-grilled satay with peanut sauce and enjoy the bustling atmosphere.

Tekka Centre – Located in Little India, this hawker center is perfect for sampling Indian food. Try a creamy mango lassi, chicken biryani, or spicy tandoori.

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, Crawford Lane – One of the first street hawkers in Singapore to earn a Michelin Star. Take a walk here from Haji Lane, and order their #3, minced pork noodles for $8 – $15 SGD. If you’re visiting around lunch time, expect to wait up to an hour in the queue, but it’s worth it!

Albert Centre Market & Food Centre – Located near Little India and Haji Lane, this hawker center offers local favorites at budget-friendly prices. Try the carrot cake (it’s not what you think—it’s savory!) or nasi lemak.

Newton Food Centre – Made famous by the movie Crazy Rich Asians, this hawker center has it all, from chili crab to oyster omelets. It’s slightly more expensive than others, but the variety and ambiance make it worth visiting.

Maxwell Food Centre – A foodie haven in Chinatown, Maxwell is home to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which Anthony Bourdain famously endorsed. Pair it with sugarcane juice.

Safety in Singapore

Singapore is a very safe city. That being said, be wary of pickpockets when walking late at night. Female solo travelers can book female-only dorms through HostelWorld. For added safety, connect with other female travelers in the Girls Love Travel and Host a Sister Facebook groups.

Health in Singapore

Malaria is not a risk in Singapore, but dengue fever still is, so make sure to use mosquito repellent in the mornings and evenings.

Travel Insurance for Singapore

Whatever you do, don’t travel without travel insurance. Whether it’s sickness, theft, or lost luggage, something WILL go wrong, and travel insurance is your only way of lessening costs!