Singapore, which means the “Lion City,” in Malay is a small island city-state located in Southeast Asia. We often find ourselves on a stopover in Singapore when traveling and it’s such a great spot to explore for a couple of days. I thought I’d share with you some of our top things to do in Singapore with the family.
For its 710 square kilometer size, it packs a lot in and despite its size, is a vibrant and dynamic city with a rich cultural heritage and a plethora of attractions. Singapore just has a feel like no other destination with its fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences and an interesting history as one of the major trade hubs through the ages.
Here are a few of our favourite spots that we’ve visited on our trips;
- Marina Bay Sands: This iconic hotel and entertainment complex is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Singapore, with its distinctive rooftop infinity pool and observation deck offering stunning views of the city skyline.
- Gardens by the Bay: This award-winning nature park is home to over a million plants from around the world, as well as stunning outdoor gardens, a giant tree-like vertical garden, and a range of outdoor activities.
- Sentosa Island: This popular resort island offers a range of attractions, including beaches, theme parks, a casino, and a wide range of dining and entertainment options. Just getting across to the island in the cable car is pretty cool in itself. We visited Universal studios during one of our trips and was a real highlight.
- Singapore Night Safari: Singapore’s first nocturnal wildlife park, Night Safari Singapore, is home to 900 animals across 100 species, 41% of which belong to the threatened species. With the aim of promoting biodiversity, it focuses on the captive breeding of threatened species including Malayan tigers, tapirs and Asian elephants. We explored the park on the tram ride which rode us through the six different geographical regions.
- Singapore Zoo: One of the most well-regarded zoos in the world, the Singapore Zoo offers a range of animal exhibits and shows, as well as the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the animals.
- Singapore Flyer: This giant observation wheel offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and is one of the largest observation wheels in the world.
- Chinatown: This historic neighborhood is home to some of Singapore’s oldest and most traditional streets, as well as a range of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.
- Merlion Park: This iconic statue, featuring a lion’s head and a fish’s body, is a symbol of Singapore and offers great photo opportunities with the city skyline in the background.
- National Gallery Singapore: This museum showcases Singapore’s art and heritage, with a collection of over 8,000 works of art from both Singaporean and international artists.
- Waterfront Promenade: Around Clarke and Boat Quays there’s a huge range of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. After sunset, The view of the skyline, the light show and people watching are great and it’s a perfect spot for Singapore chilli crab from one of the many restaurants.
- The Battle Box; For history buffs, which my husband is, this is a fascinating museum. Based under Fort Canning Park, the former British underground command centre explores the role of Singapore during WWII through a guided tour.
Singapore offers a multi-attraction pass so that you can save money on admission if you have a few of the above, and more, on your itinerary. But even just some general sightseeing around the city is super fun. Orchard Road with its amazing malls and food courts is a great place to spend an afternoon. As is having a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel.
Also, for our top things to do in New Zealand with the family, check out our blog here.
