Singapore is known for its cleanliness and efficiency, but there’s much more to this Asian metropolis than its spotless reputation. Alongside the gleaming malls and shining streets lies a city full of surprises, with independent art spaces, rooftop bars, world-class street food, rainforest walks and even a beach-fringed offshore island.
The efficient and easy-to-use MRT (Mass Rapid Transit system) runs across the island and is open from 5.30am until around midnight – meaning you can squeeze plenty into even a short trip or a layover. From Michelin-rated hawker food to otter spotting, here are the best things to do for all travellers.
All our recommendations have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best things to do in Singapore. Find out more below, or for further inspiration, see our guides to the city’s hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Find by activity type:
- Best for families
- Best free things to do
- Best for food lovers
- Best for culture and history
- Best for quiet escapes
Best for families
The Gardens by the Bay at night
See Singapore’s city garden come alive after dark
Even though most people visit Gardens by the Bay in the day, it’s after sunset that Singapore’s most photographed horticultural attraction really shines. The Supertree Grove, a vertical garden of towering tree-like structures covered in plants, glows with a twice-nightly Garden Rhapsody musical light show (7.45pm and 8.45pm), and the Cloud Forest’s misty walkways are cooler and quieter under the stars. Although the ticketed indoor conservatories close at 9pm, the free outdoor gardens stay open until 2am – perfect for those who want to linger and avoid the unforgiving daytime heat.
Insider tip: The Satay by the Bay food court offers affordable food a stone’s throw from the Supertrees. Sometimes, at dusk, wild otters from the adjacent Marina Reservoir make an entertaining appearance along the sandy beach area near the food court.
Website: gardensbythebay.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Gardens by the Bay
Price: ££
ArtScience Museum
Dali meets data in an experience for all ages
Inside a building shaped like a lotus flower, this Marina Bay museum hosts world-class exhibitions that blur the line between art, tech and storytelling. The immersive and often interactive digital landscapes, such as the popular Future World by teamLab, are a hit with children and adults. Previous temporary shows have ranged from a NASA space exhibition, a Salvador Dali retrospective and a showcase of fashion designer Iris van Herpen’s work.
In 2026, the museum will present an exhibition asking questions on AI and emotional intelligence from contemporary artist and recipient of the 2024 Artist Award at Frieze London, Lawrence Lek. May will see the global premiere of Into the Ocean, a collaboration with the global non-profit OceanX, where visitors can experience an immersive underwater odyssey.
Insider tip: Check out the ArtScience Cinema on level four. A mini-theatre screening art films, documentaries and cult classics, it’s a quiet space to escape the crowds.
Website: marinabaysands.com/museum
Nearest MRT: Bayfront
Price: ££
Rainforest Wild Asia
From Francois langurs to free-fall jumps
Rainforest Wild Asia is Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s reimagining of zoo tourism. Instead of cages, there are immersive rainforest habitats, so visitors can get up close and personal to free-ranging primates as they explore elevated walkways and spatial designs that mimic the animals’ natural habitats. It’s interactive, too, with a 20m-high Canopy Jump and a Critter Crawl through a cave tunnel with stalactites and hissing cockroaches (which are thankfully behind a glass panel).
Insider tip: Book a stay at the Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree. You’ll wake to the calls of langurs and breakfast beside misty treetops before the attraction opens.
Website: mandai.com/en/rainforest-wild-asia
Nearest MRT: Khatib for a connecting bus to the Mandai Nature Reserve.
Price: ££
Revitalised lifestyle hubs
Visit one of Singapore’s creative enclaves
Beyond gleaming malls and towering skyscrapers, Singapore is quickly building its reputation as a hub for nurturing creativity, where many of the city’s colonial and disused buildings are being redesigned and repurposed with artists in mind. New Bahru, a former high school, has been transformed into an enclave of over 40 Singaporean brands, ranging from plant designer Soilboy, to leather goods and workshop Crafune.
Kada in the Tanjong Pagar area occupies a turquoise-shuttered heritage building that houses cafés, studios and boutique apartments. Here, you’ll find Singapore’s oldest lift, installed by the British in 1929. And at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, a former police barracks turned art hive, there are studios, bakeries and offbeat local labels.
Insider tip: Many of these businesses run craft workshops, maker talks and tastings – check Instagram to see what’s on during your visit.
Website: newbahru.com; kada.sg; 195pearlshillterrace.com
Price: Free to browse
Best free things to do
Haw Par Villa
Where Confucianism meets camp
This gloriously grotesque moral theme park, created by the maker of Tiger Balm, is a fever dream of more than 1,000 sculptures that illustrate Chinese folklore and Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian teachings. The highlight is the Ten Courts of Hell, a series of gory, life-size dioramas depicting graphic punishments for different sins. While entry to most of the park is free, there’s a separate paid attraction called Hell’s Museum that’s worth forking out for – it explores the concept of death and the afterlife across different cultures.
Insider tip: For context (and air conditioning), begin with the Hell’s Museum – excellent storytelling and less graphic than the dioramas.
Website: hawparvilla.sg
Nearest MRT: Haw Par Villa
Price: £
Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail
A glimpse of the past at Singapore’s first housing estate
Charming Tiong Bahru – Singapore’s first planned and conserved public housing estate – has a popular hawker centre, independent shops and some beautiful art deco architecture. Download the official walking trail guide or join a free community tour, meander past modern-day murals of bygone times and visit Tiong Bahru Market, filled with heritage hawker stalls, to get a sense of old Singapore.
Insider tip: As you wander through Tiong Bahru’s lanes, be sure to spot three of artist Yip Yew Chong’s murals depicting scenes from the country’s past.
Website: nhb.gov.sg/bahru
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru
Price: £
Bukit Brown Cemetery walking tour
A poignant journey through Singapore’s past
This overgrown, under-the-radar burial ground reclaimed by jungle is Singapore’s first Chinese municipal cemetery. Established in 1922, it holds the elaborately carved tombs of the country’s early settlers, including prominent members of the community like Tan Lark Sye, a rubber and pineapple tycoon who co-founded Nanyang University. Tomb architecture here is unique and features “guardian statues” that reflect the deceased’s beliefs and protect them from evil spirits. Free tours are led by passionate volunteers who call themselves “Brownies” and bring history to life through tales of the dead, forgotten love letters and statues that watch over the tombs.
Insider tip: Wear mosquito repellent and sturdy shoes – the grassy paths can be slippery and muddy. If you’d rather do the walk without a guide, download a self-guided tour.
Website: bukitbrown.com
Nearest MRT: Caldecott
Price: £
Best for food lovers
Maxwell Food Centre
The hawker culture mothership
No food pilgrimage in Singapore is complete without a stop at one of the city’s oldest and most iconic hawker centres. Maxwell is “hawker culture” in its purest form – think Michelin-listed chicken rice meets fry-your-own savoury dough fritters. The stalls span legacy names, cult favourites and new-generation “hawkerpreneurs”. At Niu Bi, the beef noodles are made using a 100-year-old recipe that can be tweaked to taste. Even if you’re not planning to eat here, it’s worth visiting to understand Singapore’s food heritage and its diverse influences.
Insider tip: Try the famous chicken rice at either Tian Tian (praised by Anthony Bourdain) or at rival offshoot, Ah Tai, started by Tian Tian’s former chef. Save room for the fry-it-yourself (sweet or savoury dough fritters) at one of the market’s longest-standing stalls, Hum Jin Pang.
Website: chinatown.sg/dine/maxwell-hawker-centre
Nearest MRT: Maxwell
Price: £
Tekka Centre
A spice-scented sampler of Little India
Located in the heart of Little India, this hawker centre serves south Asian staples – goat biryani, masala thosai, mutton soup – alongside less common, non-Indian treats like Teochew-style goose simmered in a spiced broth. Upstairs, the wet market sells garlands of jasmine and curry leaves by the bushel. It’s loud, messy and a deliciously authentic reflection of Singapore’s multicultural mix.
Insider tip: My favourite among the dozens of stalls selling biryani is Allaudin’s, which serves a southern Indian-style biryani. The tender chicken version is a crowd-pleaser.
Contact: facebook.com/Allauddins-Briyani
Nearest MRT: Little India
Price: £
Supper clubs
Get a taste of Singaporean home cooking
Singapore’s private dining scene is booming, with side-hustling home cooks turning their dining rooms into mini restaurants that serve everything from traditional Peranakan fare to modern Thai cuisine. Some of the most popular have year-long waiting lists. Places come and go, but three of the most dependable (and delicious) are Lynnette’s Kitchen (hearty Peranakan food cooked by an internationally recognised violinist); Part Thai (modern Thai by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef); and Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen (no-shortcuts Cantonese by a self-taught cook who uses ingredients from his own garden). Beyond the food, it is a fascinating opportunity to peek inside the homes of locals.
Insider tip: The best way to research options is to browse the #privatediningsg hashtag on Instagram.
Nearest MRT: Varies by host
Price: £££
Katong
Singapore’s foodiest neighbourhood
Once a seaside retreat for wealthy families, Katong is best known for its food. Along the main East Coast Road, you’ll find many of Singapore’s most established Peranakan restaurants, along with numerous Western-style brunch cafés. Dive into the smaller streets and more layers unfold – the top end of Joo Chiat Road is packed with authentic Vietnamese restaurants, while further down it segues into Geylang Serai, home to Malay eateries.
Insider tip: Katong also has some of the best examples of Peranakan architecture. Make your way to Koon Seng Road for the best view of these pastel-hued heritage buildings from the 1920s.
Website: visitsingapore.com/katong-joo-chiat
Nearest MRT: Marine Parade
Price: £
Best for culture and history
National Gallery Singapore
Art, architecture and air-conditioned bliss
Spread across two national monuments – the colonial-era Supreme Court and City Hall – this expansive museum houses more than 9,000 artworks, from vintage batik fabrics to boundary-pushing contemporary pieces. This is the world’s largest collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, and it’s easy to spend a day wandering through the cavernous galleries. The shop on the ground floor has an excellent curation of local souvenirs.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the original courtroom in the City Hall wing. Its holding cells once held the infamous murderers, Adrian Lim and Anthony Ler.
Website: nationalgallery.sg
Nearest MRT: City Hall
Price: £
Peranakan Museum
Fashion, food and Straits Chinese culture
After a four-year makeover, the Peranakan Museum reopened in 2023 with a user-friendly thematic layout. Its nine galleries explore the lived experiences of a cross-section of Peranakans through heirlooms, fashion, food and customs. This isn’t just a look at painted porcelain artefacts and beaded shoes, but a contemporary take on identity and cultural pride. The building, a former school, has been beautifully restored with clever use of light and colour.
Insider tip: Register at the front desk for a free guided tour. Round off your visit with a meal at True Blue Cuisine next door, where traditional Peranakan food is served in a restaurant that doubles as a mini-museum.
Website: nhb.gov.sg/peranakanmuseum
Nearest MRT: City Hall
Price: £
Kampong Gelam
An immersion in Singapore’s Malay and Arab roots
Designated by the British as a quarter for the Malay community in the 19th century, this former Muslim trade hub is still filled with carpet shops and textile merchants from the era, interwoven with modern boutiques and cafés. You’ll find most of the older businesses along the main Arab Street thoroughfare, with newer stores clustered in the buzzy Haji and Bali lanes that run parallel.
Halal restaurants, from traditional Turkish outlets to hip pasta bars, can be found between Ophir Road and Jalan Sultan. The 200-year-old Sultan Mosque, built by the first sultan of Singapore on the northern end of Arab Street, is the area’s most recognisable landmark, with its grand golden domes decorated with glass bottle ends donated by the local community.
Insider tip: In the evenings, Haji Lane and Bali Lane are closed to traffic, and cafés set out for al fresco dining.
Website: visitsingapore.com/kampong-gelam
Nearest MRT: Bugis
Price: £
Triad Trails tour
Learn about Singapore’s gang history from former inmates
This immersive two-hour small-group tour explores Singapore’s early 20th-century underbelly, a period when secret societies controlled many aspects of life. It is conducted by former prison inmates, who bring the alleyways and buildings of Chinatown to life with stories about the opium and gambling dens that used to be in the area.
Insider tip: A lot of the route is unsheltered. Be liberal with your sunscreen and take an umbrella if you need more shade.
Website: triadtrails.architectsoflife.sg
Nearest MRT: Chinatown
Price: £
See a different side of Orchard Road
Shop until you drop
Iconic Orchard Road is Singapore’s main shopping belt, filled with shiny malls selling luxury and mass-market brands. Less obvious are the area’s older shopping centres where, sheltered from the skyrocketing rents of large corporate landlords, they are brimming with independent shops. Far East Plaza, a 1980s hotspot, is full of secondhand designer boutiques and quirky fashion labels. A few doors down is Tangs, Singapore’s longest-standing department store and a champion of homegrown brands.
Insider tip: Far East Plaza is also one of the most affordable places to eat along Orchard Road. Try Hainanese Delicacy on the fifth floor for very decent chicken rice, or New Station Snack Bar for a range of local one-dish meals.
Website: visitsingapore.com/orchard-road
Nearest MRT: Orchard
Price: £
Best for quiet escapes
Botanic Gardens
Relax in the city’s green lung
Founded in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only tropical botanic garden listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s filled with themed gardens, swan-dotted lakes and towering heritage trees, and plays an ongoing role in plant research and conservation. Families love the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, while music fans gather for free concerts at the Symphony Lake. The National Orchid Garden (separate entry fee) houses over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids.
Insider tip: Stop by Little Farms at nearby Tanglin Mall to grab supplies for a picnic and then park your mat on the scenic eastern bank near Symphony Lake. You’ll eat to the tune of sentinel hornbills and red-wattled lapwings.
Website: botanicgardens.gov.sg
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens
Price: £
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Join a temple ritual for the soul
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, also known as Bright Hill Monastery, is Singapore’s largest Buddhist complex, where its vast prayer hall houses a bronze Buddha just shy of 14m high. Visitors are welcome to join the incense-scented chanting pujas held every evening or the mass meditation sessions on Sunday morning. Dress modestly – your clothes should cover your shoulders and knees – and be prepared to remove your shoes when entering shrine halls and other sacred areas. You should also keep your voice down inside.
Insider tip: If you’re joining the chanting, sit in the rear corner for unobtrusive immersion. The on-site vegetarian Zen Cafe is a peaceful place to eat after your session.
Website: kmspks.org
Nearest MRT: Bishan
Price: £
Cycle across Pulau Ubin
Find rustic, rural charm
This island off the mainland’s northeastern coast is dotted with mangroves, secondary forests, and lakes formed out of abandoned granite quarries. It’s also home to some of Singapore’s last-standing kampong, meaning “village” in Malay, buildings from the mid-20th century. Explore what kampong life was like at Tek Seng’s Place, a former family home from the 1970s and open for visits on the second and fourth weekend of each month.
The best way to explore is to rent a bicycle from one of the kiosks near the jetty and ride the dirt trails past forests filled with macaques, birds and a wealth of native plant species. Chek Jawa Wetlands is one of Singapore’s richest natural ecosystems. Observe marine flora and fauna from the wetland boardwalk, viewing jetty and viewing tower. Check timings before you go, because many parts of Chek Jawa’s ecosystem are revealed only when the tides are low.
Insider tip: To reach Pulau Ubin island, take a “bumboat” (small boat) from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Boats only leave when they’re full (generally about 12 people). If you don’t want to wait, you can pay a group fee to depart immediately.
Website: nparks.gov.sg/pulau-ubin
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah
Price: £
Fort Serapong
A jungle fortress with coastal views and colonial ghosts
For those interested in colonial and military heritage, the Fort Serapong trial traces British coastal defences built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Part of Sentosa Island’s Heritage Trail, it visits WWII tunnels, barracks and gun emplacements and offers panoramic sea views across Bukit Serapong, the island’s highest point. It’s around a mile and a half there and back.
Insider tip: Guided tours run by Sentosa occasionally unlock disused tunnels and fort interiors you can’t access independently (use the website to book).
Website: sentosa.com.sg/serapong-trail
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront
Price: £
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles – from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
About our expert
Audrey Phoon
Like most native Singaporeans, Audrey is food-obsessed and enjoys a passionate discussion on where the best chicken rice can be found. She also speaks fluent Singlish and is happy to teach anyone who wants to learn when to add a ‘lah’ or a ‘lor’ after a sentence.