Asia Pacific Guides™ Top 25 things to do in…
Singapore
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The See Singapore Attraction Pass can save a lot of money for those of you who wish to make the most of their precious holiday time… You can take a Singapore River Cruise, or ride the world’s largest observation wheel, visit one (or more) of Singapore's fantastic museums, see the world's largest collection of tropical orchids at the National Orchid Garden, visit Jurong's BirdPark and Singapore Zoo, join a guided walking tour and much more…
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Sights and attractions around the Singapore River
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Asian Civilisations Museum
Housed in an imposing Neo-Palladian building, next to the Singapore River, this fabulous museum displays the cultures of Asia's tribes and nations, with focus on those groups that created Singapore.
Address: 1 Empress Place
Tuesday – Sunday : 9am-7pm (till 9pm on Friday), Monday : 1pm – 7pm 6332 2982 / 7798 Website Information on free guided tours
The Singapore River quays Clarke Quay 7 days a week, almost 24 hrs a day Information on restaurants, cafés and entertainment venues
Robertson Quay 7 days a week, almost 24 hrs a day
Boat Quay 24 / 7 No entrance fees
Exhibits are rich and fascinating and include ethnic costumes, traditional jewelries, ancient books, sculptures, religious artifacts and what not…
From Raffles Place MRT Station: Take Exit H to Bonham Street and walk to the river bank, turn right and walk along the river for a minute or two, then cross Cavenagh Bridge. The entrance to the museum is just a few steps from the bridge.
Clarke Quay, the middle of the three historic quays along the Singapore River, has been restored quite a few years ago and became one of the city's best Wine and Dine areas… The old godowns have been painted vivaciously and were converted to restaurants, cafés, bars and other night spots.
From Clarke Quay MRT Station: Take exit E, turn left and left again, to the river front. Cross Read Bridge and you are there.
Robertson Quay, the innermost of the quays along the Singapore River is, perhaps, not as "historic" as its downstream counterparts, but it certainly has a lot to offer in terms of restaurants, cafés and pubs. The area is particularly popular among Singapore's expatriates community.
You can take a bumboat from various points along the Singapore River (see above)
Boat Quay is the first of the three historic Quay. Nestled along the river's south bank, it boasts more than a few restaurants and cafés that offer alfresco dining.
Take a bumboat from one of the jetties along the river (or walk)
Easy walk from Clarke Quay, or from Clarke Quay MRT Station (Take exit E, turn left and left again and walk along the river for a few minutes, before crossing it on Clemenceau Bridge or Alkaff Bridge. From Raffles Place MRT Station: Take Exit H to Bonham Street and walk to the river bank, turn left and after 2 – 3 minutes you will reach Boat Quay.
Some good restaurants (particularly local eateries) can also be found on parallel Circular Road. Although it is a tourist cliché, cruising the Singapore River on a bumboat is recommended, as it gives you another angle of the city and makes it easier for you to get from one point to another, without having to sweat… Both HiPPO River Cruise and Singapore River Cruises operate this service, and you can find the jetties in central points along the river, such as: Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Raffles' Landing Site (Asian Civilisations Museum), The Merlion, Robertson Quay and so on…
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The Merlion 24 / 7 No entrance fees
Soaring to a height of almost nine metres, right in front of Marina Bay, The statue-fountain of "The Merlion" is one of Singapore's best known landmarks This imaginary creature was invented back in the 1960s, as a logo for the tourism board and has since become a symbol of the city. It incorporates a body of a lion, which signifies the lion from the legend about the founding of Singapore, and a tail of a fish, which signifies the city's relationship with the ocean.
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Address: Next to One Fullerton From Raffles Place MRT Station: Take Exit H to Bonham Street and walk to the river bank, turn right and walk along the river for a few minutes, passing under the road, until you reach the open piazza, where the famous statue-fountain stands.
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Sights and attractions around the Colonial District
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
The Peranakan Museum
As its name denotes, this fantastic museum specializes in the Peranakan culture, which is unique to this part of the world.
Address: 39 Armenian Street
Daily, 9am – 7pm (from 1pm on Monday / Until 9pm on Friday). website Entrance fees apply
The Peranakan is a relatively new ethnic group which started to develop circa 1800, when Chinese migrants married local Malay women and adopted some local traditions, in order to assimilate into society.
From City Hall MRT Station: Take exit B, turn right to North Bridge Road and left to Stamford Road. After a few minutes turn left to Armenian Street. After 2-3 minutes you will see the museum on your right.
There are plenty of beautiful exhibits here, including costumes, traditional handcrafts, replica of Peranakan homes and so on… National Museum of Singapore
Singapore's oldest and largest museum.
Daily, 10am – 6pm (Singapore Living The main feature is "Singapore Galleries remain open until 8pm and History Gallery", where the visitor admission is free during the last two walks through dozens of beautifully hours). designed life-size displays that website replicate scenes from the city's past… Entrance fees apply
Address: 93 Stamford Road From Bras Basah MRT Station: Cross the open piazza towards Stamford Road and you will see the impressive Neo-Palladian building of the museum right in front of you.
Highly recommended !
Although Singapore has one of the best public-transport systems in the world, taking the Singapore City Hop-on Hop-off Tour is highly recommended, as it takes you directly to the various attractions and saves you the time and hassle of waiting for a bus or walking…
Raffles Hotel Daily, from morning till late (The museum opens daily, 10am – 7pm) website Raffles Hotel Museum High Tea at the Tiffin Room No entrance fee
Explore Singapore's less known "gems" through our range of Unique Day Trips and GuidedWalks !
Mint Museum of Toys Daily: 9:30am – 6:30pm website Entrance fees apply
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"The grand old dame", as this world famous hotel is often called, has started its life as a rather humble 10room colonial bungalow, back in 1887, but has quickly become one of Southeast Asia classiest hotels. Other than hosting some of the world's most famous names, the Raffles prides itself for being the place where the Singapore Sling was invented and where the city's last tiger was hunted…
Address: 1 Beach Road From City Hall MRT Station: Take exit A and walk a few steps along Stamford Road, to the corner of Beach Road, where you turn left and walk for another five minutes or less, till you see the entrance to the hotel on your left. From Bras Basah MRT Station: Walk along Bras Basah Road for a few minutes. After crossing North Bridge Road you will see the entrance to the hotel on your left.
There is a small museum on the arcade's 3rd floor, where you can see nostalgic paraphernalia from the hotel's past and, of course, there is the legendary high tea at the Tiffin Lounge… The world's first toys museum is certainly one of the city's must sees… It is not an overwhelmingly big museum (Which is good news for those of you who museums are not their cup of tea), but it is packed with tens of thousands of nostalgic toys, including "prehistoric" versions of Popeye, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Beatles buttons and what not…
Address: 26 Seah Street From Bras Basah MRT Station: Walk along Bras Basah Road for a few minutes, turn left to North Bridge Road and right to Seah Street, where you will see the entrance to the museum on your left.
Sights and attractions around Marina Bay
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Singapore Flyer
The world’s current largest Ferris Wheel soars 165 M (550 ft) above the city and affords stunning views of Singapore and its environs…
Promenade MRT Station is a few minutes' walk from the Singapore Flyer (There is a direct link)
The best time to board the Singapore Flyer is at around 7pm, which is twilight time in Singapore almost all year around, but make sure visibility is fine, or else you are wasting your time and money.
Opt for the Singapore Flyer Sky Dining and enjoy a 'one-of-a-kind' fine-dining experience on the world's largest observation wheel!
Daily, 08:30am – 10:30pm website / Additional info and bookings Entrance fees apply
Housed within the shopping mall beneath the Singapore Flyer, Flight Experience's simulator is the closest you can get to flying a Boeing jet, without having a pilot's license, and although it is not a cheap pleasure, the experience is hands down unforgettable. Flight Experience, Daily, morning till evening, Website, Prices and special promos are published in their website.
Marina Bay Sands 24 hours a day / 7 days a week (lifts to Sands SkyPark run 10am - 10pm) No entrance fees (Unless you take the lift to Sands SkyPark) Info on Sands SkyPark Info on tickets / opening hours Information on the casino
This imposing architectural project houses what is currently Southeast Asia's hottest attraction, including the city's first casino, a glitzy shopping mall and endless dining and entertainment options. The real hoo-ha here is, doubtlessly, the Sands SkyPark: An enormous sky terrace that is perched across the three hotel skyscrapers, at a height of more than 200 metres.
From MRT Promenade Station: You can either walk through The Helix Bridge (10 minutes or so), or take one of the following bus routes: SBS bus Nos. 97, E-97 and 133, or SMRT No. 106 (The same buses can also be boarded at MRT – Marina Bay Station, on the other side of the bay). Very soon, Marina Bay Sands is going to have its own MRT station.
Directory of restaurants and cafés The Helix Bridge is a high-tech looking bridge that links Marina Centre with Marina Bay Sands and offers lovely views of the new city centre.
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Sights and attractions around Orchard Road
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Pernankan Place and Emerald Hill
Peranakan Place is a cluster of six beautifully restored shophouses, right in the middle of Orchard Road, that were built by wealthy Perankan merchants at the beginning of the 20th century and converted to lovely alfresco-cafés and resto-bars.
Address: 178 A Orchard Road (Across the street from Exit-B of MRT-Somerset Station).
It is a great place to unwind, while shopping around Orchard Road, or before/after visiting neighboring Emerald Hill.
From MRT-Somerset, take exit B, cross Orchard Road to the other side, where the alfresco-cafés of Peranakan Place can be found, and walk through the passage to the back, where Emerald Hill Road begins.
Daily, 24 hours a day No entrance fees
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The conservation area spans across a cluster of a few quaint streets, just off Orchard Road.
The conservation area of Emerald Hill was once home to many members of Singapore's wealthy Peranakan community, and their charismatic houses have been beautifully restored. Most of the houses around here feature a unique architectural style, commonly known as "Chinese Baroque", which blends classic European motifs with Chinese elements... The See Singapore Attraction Pass can save a lot of money for those of you who wish to make the most of their precious holiday time… You can take a Singapore River Cruise, or ride the world’s largest observation wheel, visit one (or more) of Singapore's fantastic museums, see the world's largest collection of tropical orchids at the National Orchid Garden, visit Jurong's BirdPark and Singapore Zoo, join a guided walking tour and more.
ION Orchard and other malls Daily, 10am – 10pm What's on : A guide to events at ION Orchard No entrance fees
Orchard Road's hippest shopping mall seats bang on the street's most central spot: The corner of Orchard and Scotts, and offers its visitors a choice of more than 300 stylish shops, restaurants, cafés and plenty of free cultural events. Another attraction here is the ION Sky: An observation terrace on the 55th floor, from which you can enjoy beautiful cityscape views.
Corner of Orchard Rd. and Scotts Rd. (MRT-Orchard Station is linked directly to the mall). Do you know? We have a whole range of free eBooks and mini-cityguides about Asia's most popular city destinations... Click HERE to view and download them.
ION Orchard and Orchard MRT station are connected directly to some other glitzy shopping malls like stylish Wisma Atria which boasts almost 100 specialty shops that cater mostly for the young and trendy female fashion shoppers, as well as to sophisticated, modern working women, Ngee Ann City (one of Orchard Road's largest and most popular malls), Takashimaya (A Japanese mega department store) and TANGS (Singapore's oldest department store and an icon of the city's retail market). Other shopping malls that are worth knowing about, around the same area, include The Heeren Shops, on 260 Orchard Road, which houses quite a few lifestyle shops that specialize in pop culture and cutting edge fashion, The Paragon (A posh shopping mall with some 200 specialty stores that cater mostly for the well-heeled and brand-conscious cosmopolitan shoppers) and the relatively new 313@somerset which boasts a variety of mostly mid-market fashion and lifestyle shops, including quite a few international names, like HMV (music), Zara, Uniqlo, Forever 21, New Look and Esprit, as well as some reputable jewellery and watch retailers. There is also a good range of food outlets there. Singapore Botanic Gardens Daily, 5am – 12midnight (The National Orchid Garden is open 8:30am – 7pm) Website Map of the gardens No entrance fees (There is an entrance fee to the National Orchid Garden)
One of the world's most beautiful botanic gardens and a "must see" for everyone who loves nature, plants and flowers…
Botanic Gardens MRT Station (on Circle Line) is about to open towards the end of 2011 and will provide direct access to the gardens' northern side.
The gardens' "jewel in the crown" is, doubtlessly, the National Orchid Garden, where you can see the world's largest collection of tropical orchids, including some 2,000 hybrids…
Until that happens (or if you are not interested in visiting this part of the gardens), you can easily get here with any of the following bus routes: SBS 7, 123, 174, or SMRT 77, 106 can be boarded at the station on Orchard Boulevard, next to MRT Orchard Station, or from Somerset Road, next to MRT Somerset Station. From Marina Bay Sands: SMRT No. 106 From Scotts Road (Far East Plaza): SBS 105
Holland Village Daily, morning till late at night No entrance fees Wine and Dine Guide to Holland Village and Dempsey Hill
The heart of Singapore's expat community (and a popular hangout for many of the city's trendy youngsters) lies within the small enclave of Holland Village, or Holland V, as it is commonly known. Plenty of sidewalk cafés, good restobars, unique shops that specialize in arts, antiques and knick knacks, and pleasant ambience… It's a nice place to end the day, after visiting the Botanic Gardens.
Holland Village MRT Station (on Circle Line) should open before the end of 2011 and will provide direct access to the place. Until that happens, you can get here by bus: SBS 7, or SMRT 77 or 106 can be boarded at the station on Somerset Road (next to Somerset MRT Station and Phoenix), or along Orchard Boulevard (parallel to Orchard Road – Right next to Orchard MRT Station)
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Sights and attractions around Chinatown
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Chinatown - Characterful streets and impressive temples
The cluster of narrow alleys, where Chinatown has started its life from, almost 200 years ago, was restored and the old houses where poor families of Chinese migrants had to cram in tiny flats are now housing shops, eateries and cafés.
Pagoda Street is just outside MRT Chinatown Station (The whole cluster of streets is just 10 minutes' walk, from one end to the other).
Daily, 24 hours a day No entrance fees (unless you visit Chinatown Heritage Centre) Chinatown Heritage Centre is open 9am - 8pm daily), Website
One of these heritage buildings, on Pagoda Street, has become a museum, where you can learn about day-to-day life in Chinatown and the hardships those newcomers had to deal with. Take a slow stroll through Mosque Street, Pagoda Street, Trengganu St., Sago Street and all the way to Temple St., where one of Chinatown's best and most popular food-centres can be found (No. 335)
The Peranakan Trail Food Tasting Tour gives you an opportunity to explore the fascinating Peranakan culture, which is unique to this part of the world, and familiarize yourself with the clothes, jewelry, furniture, customs and festivals of the Peranakans, as well as to their flavorful delicacies…
After dark, Smith Street becomes "Food Street", while the small streets around it host a night market. While there, you should also visit Sri Mariamman (Singapore's oldest Hindu temple) and Masjid Jamae (one of the city's oldest and most important mosques), on the corner of Pagoda St. and South Bridge Road, as well as Eu Yan Sang Medical Hall (an interesting shop that specializes in Chinese herbal medicines which are prepared on spot, right before your eyes). The imposing red Chinese-style building near the corner of Smith Street and South Bridge Road accommodates Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, a Buddhist temple and a museum, where the relic of the tooth of Buddha is kept, in a gold stupa. There is also a Buddhist Museum on site, where hundreds of Buddhist artifacts and works of art from Asia are displayed. The Buddhist Culture Museum and Relic Chamber open daily, 9am – 7pm, Free admission, Website
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Sights and attractions around Little India
Name and details
What is there to be seen
Shopping and authentic food in the picturesque streets of Little India
The streets of Little India are packed with colorful shops where you can find all sorts of authentic goods… From various spices and herbal medicines, to silk, Indian clothes and, of course, lots of gold jewelries.
Daily, all day No entrance fees
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How to get there and what to see next
Start your journey from Tekka Centre, a relatively large complex, right next to MRT Little India Station, where a wet market, a food centre and lots of authentic shops. The hawker centre boasts a good selection of vegetarian food stalls that serve different Indian cuisines, while the shops stock a wide range of stuff, from Indian fashion and inexpensive casual clothes to Taoist and Buddhist paraphernalia, and from tailor shops to henna salons... Little India Arcade – An indoor market opposite the corner of Serangoon and Buffalo Road, occupies a cluster of old shophouses and boasts dozens of stalls where you can buy everything India has to offer… From there continue walking along Campbell Lane, turn left to Clive Street and right to Dunlop. On the corner of Dunlop and Clive, there is a well-known emporium shop, called Haniffa Textiles, which has been selling Indian clothes, as well as cameras, watches, suitcases and what not for the last 50 years or so… After strolling along Dunlop, walk back to its other end and turn right to Serangoon Road and right again, to Upper Dickson Road, which runs parallel to Dunlop and boasts some more authentic shops and eateries. While strolling through the streets of Little India, you should make a point to stop at some of the small eateries and enjoy some lovely street foods that are both delicious and cheap… Komala Vilas, on Serangoon Road (Between the corner of Dunlop and Upper Dickson) has been serving delicious vegetarian fare for God knows how many years… Kulfi Bar, on 15 Upper Dickson Road serves homemade Indian ice-cream (known as Kulfi) and Sakunthala's Restaurant, on 151 Dunlop Street, offers a choice of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare.
Getting there: From MRT Little India: Take exit E, turn right to Buffalo Road, where Tekka Centre can be found, and continue to Serangoon Road (Five minutes' walk). On the other side of Serangoon, you will see Little India Arcade, from where you proceed along Campbell Lane. Mustafa Centre 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Free entrance
Singapore's famous superstore occupies two large buildings on the corner of Syed Alwi and Serangoon (Serangoon Plaza is like a "wing" of Mustafa Centre, and the two are linked by a pedestrian bridge). Open 24/7, this megastore sells everything you can think of at some of the best prices in town.
Corner of Serangoon Road and Syed Alwi From Farrer Park MRT Station: Take exit-C and turn left to Birch Road. After a few minutes' walk you will reach the end of the street, where you can cross Serangoon Road and enter the shop.
Sim Lim Square Daily, morning till evening No entrance fees
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Sim Lim Square has long made a name for itself as one of the cheapest places in Singapore to buy electronics and computer gadgets, and while the centre used to be infamous for its cunning traders, things have somewhat changed during the last few years, since they introduced a reception desk, where unhappy customers can complaint.
Corner of Bencoolen and Rochor Canal Rd. From Bugis MRT Station: Take exit-A, turn right and immediately right again, to Rochor Road. After a few minutes you will reach the corner of Bencoolen and see the huge, glass clad building of Sim Lim on the other side. From Little India MRT Station: Take exit-A, turn right and after a few minutes' walk you will see the mall on your right.
Sights and attractions around Kampong Glam (Arab Street)
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Arab Street and its colorful offshoots.
Arab street, Kampong Glam's main thoroughfare, is bustling with activity. The main thing here are the textile shops, where you can choose from a wide choice of exotic fabrics, but there are also shops that sell carpets, weaved rattan basketry and brass and copper bric a brac, as expected from a street with such name…
From Bugis MRT Station: Take exit-B, turn right to Victoria and start walking along the street. Cross Ophir Road and then turn right to Arab Street.
Morning till evening No entrance fee Do you know? We have a whole range of free eBooks and minicity-guides about Asia's most popular city destinations... Click HERE to view and download them.
Bali Lane and Hajji Lane run parallel to Arab Street and boast some nice Middle Eastern cafés, as well as a few groovy secondhand shops.
If coming from Masjid Hajjah Fatimah: Turn right to Beach Road and after 5 - 10 minutes right again, to Arab Street. From Istana Kampong Glam: Walk out from the compound to Kandahar Street, cross it and enter Muscat Street, which will take you to Arab Street.
Masjid Sultan, Singapore's largest and most significant mosque, towers high above Kampong Glam, right next to Arab Street, and its golden onion domes can be seen from quite far. Built in 1928, this impressive mosque features both Muslim-Indian architecture and Neo-classic motifs. Bussorah Street, the pedestrian mall in front of the mosque, boasts a few nice cafés and restaurants where tired tourists can chill out for a while... Istana Kampong Glam and the Malay Heritage Centre, just a minute's walk from Masjid Sultan, occupy what was the palace of Ali Iskandar Shah, Sultan of Johor and the son of Hussein Shah, who authorized Raffles to build Singapore… Built in 1835 by George Coleman, one of early Singapore's most famous architects, the imposing building combines Palladian style with local Malay motifs. Nowadays, there is a Malay Heritage Centre here (which is closed for renovations at the time of writing), which boasts a nice museum where you can learn about the history and culture of Singapore's Malay community. There is also a nice Malay restaurant in the adjacent Gedung Kuning Palace, called Tepak Sireh.
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Sights and attractions around Geylang and Katong
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
The Malay Village and Geylang Serai Market
Purporting to replicate a traditional Malay "Kampong" (village), like the ones that covered Singapore more than a century ago, the Malay Village is a bit of a kitschy cliché but is worth a visit all the same, especially if you pass through the area anyway..
From MRT-Paya Lebar: Turn right to Eunos Road and almost immediately left to Sims Avenue (after you have crossed it). Walk along Sims Avenue for a couple of minutes, passing an open carpark and then turn right, to Engku Aman Road, where you will see the entrance to the "village" on your left. (All in all, it's less than a 10 minutes' walk).
10am – 10pm Website No entrance fee (Unless you want to enter the small museum) The market is opened from morning till evening
Other than a cluster of traditional Malay houses, you can see the day-today paraphernalia of the villagers, a life sized scene of a traditional Malay wedding, arts and crafts and so on... Geylang Serai Market, one of the city's most popular and authentic markets, is just across the street from the "Mallay Village" and boasts many spice shops, as well as small boutiques where traditional clothes are sold, alongside cheap jewelleries and wide choice of scrumptious street foods and snacks…
Joo Chiat Rd and its small offshoots 24 hours a day / 7 days a week Free entry Do you know? We have a whole range of free eBooks and minicity-guides about Asia's most popular city destinations... Click HERE to view and download them.
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Joo Chiat Road, one of Singapore's most characterful streets, is lined with many beautifully restored pre-war Peranakan shophouses, occupied by splendid authentic eateries and old style shops… When coming from the Malai Village and Geylang Serai Market, cross Changi Road and start walking down along Joo Chiat Road. Turn left to Joo Chiat Lane near Hotel 81 Sakura and after a few steps, on the corner of Tembeling Road, you will see a colorful Chinese temple on your left hand side, dedicated to Guan Yin - The Chinese goddess of mercy and compassion. As soon as you walk out of the temple, turn right and walk down along Tembeling to the corner of Koon Seng Road, where you turn right and pass by a row of some beautiful old shophouses. Getting there: From the Malai Village and Geylang Serai Market (see instructions on the previous page): Cross Changi Road and walk down along Joo Chiat Road.
Visiting Singapore ? Although the city's public-transport system is one of the best on earth, taking a guided tour is strongly recommended, for two reasons: A) A guide can show you all sorts of "hidden gems" you may have never found on your own, and tell you the untold stories behind each of the sites… B) Guided tours take you directly from one spot to the other, saving you the hassle of waiting to public transport, and leaving you with more precious holiday time in your hands… Take a look at our list of recommended guided tours and see which of them suit you best.
Katong – The historic stronghold of Singapore's Peranakan community 24 hours a day / 7 days a week Free entry
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This historic suburb is where Singapore's wealthy Peranakan community thrived more than a century ago and other than many atmospheric shophouses, there are still some lovely galleries here, where you can familiarize yourself with the Peranakan art, as well as some fantastic eateries and small restaurants. 328 Katong Laksa, on the corner of Ceylon Road and "The Original Katong Spoon Laksa" across the road (in Roxy Square) serve the best Laksa in Katong Katong's old police station currently accommodates some cafés and shops, including the popular Old Hong Kong Teahouse, where you can enjoy Hong Kong style dim sum 24 hours a day. Rumah Bebe, on 113 East Coast Road, is an exquisite Peranakan arts and antiques gallery, housed in a historic shophouse. A particularly beautiful Peranakan shophouse can be seen on 150 East Coast Road… Few more steps and you are at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, on 204 East Coast Road – A charming 'old times' coffee shop, which has been serving some of the most authentic breakfasts in Singapore for who knows how many years… Two doors from there, on 208 East Coast Road, is Katong Antique House: A gallery that showcases one of the best collections of Peranakan antiques and artifacts (to visit it, you will have to call the owner, Mr. Peter Wee, in advance, on 6345 8544 and tell him you are coming over).
Getting there: From MRT-Paya Lebar: Turn right to Eunos Road and start walking along it, cross Sims Avenue and continue strait. Eunos Road changes to Tanjong Katong Road and you have to cross to the left side, where the bus stop is. From here, take No. 40 to Katong Mall From the city centre: Bus Nos. 14 or 16 can be boarded along Orchard Road (Lucky Plaza, Midpoint Orchard, or Concorde Hotel), as well as from the Raffles Hotel (Bras Basah side). Bus Nos. 10 and 10-e come here from Fullerton Square (near the Merlion Statue), while route No. 12 comes from Chinatown and has stops near MRT Clarke Quay, as well as on Hill Street (Armenian Church / Funan DigitaLife Mall) and outside Bugis Village (across the street from Bugis Junction mall). The See Singapore Attraction Pass can save a lot of money for those of you who wish to make the most of their precious holiday time… You can take a Singapore River Cruise, or ride the world’s largest observation wheel, visit one (or more) of Singapore's fantastic museums, see the world's largest collection of tropical orchids at the National Orchid Garden, visit Jurong's BirdPark and Singapore Zoo, join a guided walking tour and more.
Click HERE to find some of the best rates for hostels and low-cost accommodations in Singapore and Asia !
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Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Neighboring each other, Singapore Zoo and the "Night Safari" are unquestionably among Singapore's best attractions.
BusHub operates a bus service called "SINGAPORE ATTRACTIONS EXPRESS", which takes passengers directly from their town centre hotel, or Little India to Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo / Night Safari.
Singapore Zoo: Daily, 8:30am – 6pm Night Safari: 7:30pm – 12 midnight Website (Zoo) Website (Night Safari) Information about "Park Hopper" (discounted combo tickets) Entrance fees apply
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Singapore Zoo is best known for being the first zoo on earth to implement the "open zoo concept", where animals dwell in open spaces that resemble their natural habitat. Quite expectedly, it emphasizes on Southeast Asia's fast vanishing species and boasts one of the world's largest groups of Orangutans (Their Jungle Breakfast with Orangutans is one of the zoo's best known attractions), as well as some Komodo Dragons (the world's largest and most fiercefull lizards) and rare species of butterflies, reptiles and insects from Borneo's rainforests. All in all, there are more than 2,500 animals in the zoo, belonging to 315 species, of which at least 50 are rare and threatened, including the White Bengali Tiger, Polar Bears, Elephants (very nice show) and what have you… Night Safari is the world's first "nocturnal zoo"… Similarly to its neighbor, the animals here also live in open spaces, rather than in metal cages, and those spaces are dimly lit, using special lights that allow visitors to watch the animals without disturbing them. Night Safari's most notable tenants include Lions, Tigers, Leopards and various wild cats, alongside Hyenas and other Canids, like Foxes, Jackals and Wolfs. Obviously, there are many other interesting night animals that are not carnivores, from Rhinos and Hippos to Tapirs, Anteaters and giant bats (flying foxes). Tip: Many visitors start their visit at the Singapore Zoo around 2 or 3 pm, so by the time it closes, at 6 pm, they can move almost immediately to the Night Safari (You can kill an hour in one of the eateries outside, while waiting for the "Night Safari" to open).
Currently, there are four buses a day to the zoo, at 8am, 10am, 11am and 1pm. From Jurong Bird Park, there are two buses a day to the zoo, leaving at 1pm and 2pm Buses depart from the zoo's gate, on their way back town on 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm and 6:30pm Buses to the 'Night Safari' depart from town at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm (From Jurong Bird Park, buses leave at 4:45pm and 5:30pm, on their way to the 'Night Safari') Back to town, buses depart from the 'Night Safari' at 9:30pm, 10pm, 10:30pm, 11pm and 11:30pm For the exact timetable (and list of the stops), please visit Bus Hub website or call them on 6753 0506 You can also use ordinary public transport to get to Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari, although it will probably consume more of your time... From MRT-Ang Mo Kio, take SBS bus No. 138
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20-22
Jurong BirdPark, Chinese Gardens and West Singapore
Name and details
What is there to be seen
How to get there and what to see next
Jurong BirdPark
Jurong BirdPark is possibly the world's best bird-zoo (with the largest number of birds) and undoubtedly one of Singapore's top attractions !
From MRT-Boon Lay: Take SBS bus Nos. 194 or 251
Open daily, 8:30am - 6pm Website Info on discounted "Park Hopper" discounted tickets There is entry fee The Raffles is among the world's most classic hotels and one of Singapore's best known historical landmarks… Other than having famous names, like Rudyard Kipling, Charlie Chaplin, Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth Taylor on its guest book, the hotel also prides itself for being the place where the Singapore Sling was invented and where the city's last tiger was hunted… A guided half day tour will take you back to the heydays of British colonialism in Southeast Asia.
The Chinese and Japanese Gardens Daily, 6am - 11pm. The entrance to the gardens is free, although there is a small entrance fee to the themed gardens.
Daily, 9am - 6pm and you can fetch more info from their website).
Daily, 9am - 6pm
Occupying an area of 50 acres, it makes home to almost 10,000 birds, belonging to 600 different species... From the penguins who live in an Antarctica-like area, to the birds of the tropics, who dwell in a zone with manmade 'tropical storms'...
BusHub operates direct buses from the city centre (passing through most major hotels), Little India and Chinatown to the BirdPark (via Harbour Front - link to Sentosa).
Buses depart from either Orchard Hotel, or Golden Mile Complex at 9am and pass through Grand Hyatt, Meritus Mandarin, Concorde Hotel, Little India, Chinatown As you might expect, there are all sorts and some other stations, before of exciting bird shows here, as well as proceeding to the BirdPark. other activities... For more information, you can call 6661 7830 or They also operate a service between the visit the relevant webpage Singapore Zoo/Night safari and Jurong BirdPark (leaving the BirdPark on 2 and 4:45pm daily / Leaving from the Zoo to the BirdPark at 2pm daily). For more information and an up-to-date timetable, call BusHub on: 6753 0506 or, better, visit their website. Occupying two islands in the middle of Jurong Lake, the Chinese and Japanese gardens form one of the loveliest corners of Singapore. The Chinese Garden was designed by a famous architect from Taiwan and other than manicured lawns and delicate landscaping it boasts elegant fish ponds, magnificent Chinese structures, pavilions, pagodas and statues of Chinese historical heroes and the zodiac animals… Inside the garden, there are a couple of attractions worth knowing about: The small Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum houses a collection of rare turtles and tortoises, some of which really look like prehistoric monsters… The Bonsai Garden displays thousands of well-groomed Bonsai trees, mostly from China, and there are experts on sight, who give helpful tips and advice about those miniature trees.
The Chinese Garden is a couple of minutes' walk from Chinese Garden MRT Station.
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Haw Par Villa and Hua Song Museum (Tiger Balm Garden) Daily, 9am - 7pm (Hua Song Museum is open daily, except Monday, from 9am to 6pm). The entrance to the garden is free, although there is a small fee if you wish to visit the Hua Song Museum.
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Better known by its old name, Tiger Balm Garden, Haw Par Villa is a theme park where folktales from the Chinese mythology are presented through nearly a thousand dioramas and life size sculptures, and although many of the exhibits are fairly kitschy, the park is well worth visiting. The garden was originally built in the 1930s by two Chinese brothers, who amassed a fortune thanks to a popular heat rub they introduced (That is the Tiger Balm, after which the garden is named) and there is also a small museum here, which is dedicated to Chinese communities around the world and shows how these communities developed and contributed to their new societies... (Quite recommended).
Haw Par Villa - MRT Station should open at the end of 2011 and provide direct access. Until that happens, you can come by bus: Bus No. 10 comes here from the area of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (The busstop stands next to One Raffles Link, opposite the Chopsticks monument). No. 51 can be boarded along North Bridge Road, near St. Andrew's Cathedral and also near Boat Quay (after the corner of Circular Road). No. 143 comes here from the city centre and has stops on Scotts Road (next to Far East Plaza) and along Orchard Road (outside Tangs Plaza / near "Paragon" opposite Meritus Mandarin, and next to Concorde Hotel). No. 200 comes from MRT - Buona Vista
23
Singapore's outlying islands
Name and details
What is there to be seen and how to get there
A cruise to Singapore's islands
Named after a famous 15th century Chinese Admiral-Explorer, the Cheng Ho is a replica of an imperial Ming Dynasty vessel, supposedly similar to the one that was sailed by the legendary admiral who gave it its name.
Daily, 8:30am - 6 pm Click here to book your cruise on the Cheng Ho… Morning, high tea, or dinner…
There are three different "cruises" on the offer: The Morning Glory and Afternoon High Tea cruises make a Stopover at Kusu Island, where you can visit the ancient Chinese Temple, while the Imperial Dinner Cruise boasts a buffet dinner and stops next to Sentosa's south shore, where passengers can view the fireworks at Sentosa.
The Morning Glory Cruise departs from Marina South Pier at 10:30 am and lasts 2:30 hours. It costs SG$ 27/14 for an adult/child (price includes some coffee/tea and light snacks)
The Afternoon High Tea Cruise departs at 3pm from the same place, and the price of SG$ 32/16 for an adult/child includes a High-tea buffet of sweet and savory pastries... It also lasts 2:30 hours
The Imperial Dinner Cruise leaves at 6:30 pm, lasts 2:30 hours and costs SG$ 55/29 for an adult/child
The operator also provides a complimentary Pick-Up Service from some hotels in town, as well as from Marina Bay MRT Station.
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24-25
Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and "Resorts World"
Name and details
How to get to Sentosa and "Resorts World Sentosa" / Universal Studios Singapore
How to get to Sentosa + Practical info
Sentosa Island is Singapore's playground and wonderland, and one of Asia's most popular destinations.
7am to 12midnight (The island is active 24/7 but transport usually stops around 12midnight) Entrance to Sentosa is SG$ 2 but this fee is included in the ticket cost of the various transport means and does not include entry to the different attractions / themed rides Sentosa Website If you are short in time, or just don't feel like "working hard", you can join one of the day trips to Sentosa, like the Afternoon Trip, which includes a cable car ride, a visit to the Dolphins Lagoon, the Underwater World, Images of Singapore and the "Songs of the Sea" show, or the Morning Trip, which is a bit shorter…
Other than Chinese temples, great shopping and world-class museums, Singapore is home to some fantastic theme parks and family attractions… Click here for the city's best attractions.
Occupying an area of only 5 km², the small island is packed with tourist attractions and themed rides that appeal to adults and children alike. From MRT-Harbor Front (The last station on the purple marked Southeast Line): A) Sentosa Express monorail departs from neighboring VivoCity Mall (The station is on Level 3 - Lobby L) and has three stops on Sentosa: 1. Waterfront Station, where Resorts World Sentosa, the casino and Universal Studios are located 2. Imbiah Station, in the centre of Sentosa, next to most of the attraction 3. Beach Station, near Palawan Beach. A train leaves every few minutes, from 7am to 12midnight and the journey takes only 10 minutes or so. The "Sentosa daily Pass", which can be bought at the station, costs SG$ 3 and gives you unlimited rides on the monorail, as well as admission fees to the island (not including the different attractions). B) The orange colored Sentosa Bus leaves from Harbour Front Bus Interchange, next to the MRT station, and moves through several stations on the island, in a loop, before returning to its departure point. The bus operates daily, 7am - 10:30pm (until 12midnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holiday Eves). Similar to the monorail, the daily pass costs SG$ 3, covers the entrance fee to Sentosa and on your way back, you are free to use either the bus or the monorail... C) The most scenic way to get to Sentosa is with the cable-car. The cable-car station is at Harbour Front - Tower II, just five minutes' walk from HarbourFront MRT station: Walk out of the station to the adjacent bus-interchange and Seah Im Food Centre, from where you proceed along the pedestrian bridge, across the road, and onto the building next to where the cable-car station is located. For more details on the cable-car (including promotions and special packages), call them on 6377 9638. For more information about the "Sky Dining" experience, you can call them on 6377 9688 or visit their website. D) The newly opened Sentosa Boardwalk provides access to the island on foot. It’s a leisurely stroll from VivoCity Shopping Mall’s waterfront promenade, made easy by two-way canopy-covered travellators (The boardwalk is opened 24 hours a day, but the "travellators" run only from 7am to 12 midnight).
Getting to Sentosa from town: Sentosa Rider is a new bus service, which picks up passengers from hotels in town and drops them off in several places across Sentosa. It also passes through Mt. Faber before proceeding to Resorts World Sentosa/Universal Studios, Sentosa's Siloso Point (Underwater World), Imbiah and other places-of-interest... Their daily pass costs SG$ 8 and gives unlimited rides, but they also have "special packages" on the offer... Their buses operate daily, 9am - 10:30pm, from either Orchard Road or Raffles and Marina Bay. For more details, you can take a look at their webpage, or timetable.
The attractions of "Resorts World Sentosa" and Universal Studios
Owned by Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Corp., this stately resort heralded the beginning of the gambling era in Southeast Asia…
7 days a week, almost 24 hrs a day (Universal Studios Singapore is open daily, 10am – 7pm)
Other than a swanky casino, the main draw is the resort's thoroughfare, FestiveWalk, which is lined with fantastic restaurants, cafés and shops, and offers world-class entertainment spectacles like " Lake of Dreams" (integrating sound and light effects, pyrotechnics and water) and the very popular " Cranes Dance", where two colossal crane-shaped robots perform a love dance, with lots of effects, fire, water, lasers and what not…
Resorts World Sentosa FestiveWalk (including "Lake of Dreams" and the "Crane Dance") Universal Studios Tickets cost (including information on special promos) Entry to "Resorts World Sentosa" is free, but not to Universal Studios, where you will have to pay to enter.
Main attractions of Sentosa Island Fort Siloso Daily, 10am – 6pm More info
The two spectacles are free, which in its own is a good reason to come here. Universal Studios Singapore hardly needs to be introduced. Occupying an a area of 50 acres, right next to Resort World Sentosa, this outstanding entertainment park boasts seven themed zones, including Far Far Away (Shrek), Madagascar, The Lost World (Jurassic Park, with a nice "Shoot-the-Chute" water ride) and The Sci-Fi City, where the (currently) world's tallest dueling roller coasters can be found… All in all, there are 24 attractions here, of which 18 are unique to this park… Tucked at Sentosa's westernmost corner, mighty Fort Siloso was originally built in 1885 and refortified during the 1930s, as part of the British efforts to prepare Singapore from a Japanese naval attack… Visitors can stroll through the labyrinth of trenches and bunkers, see the old canons and watch life size mannequins of soldiers replicating the battle… It's pretty impressive, especially if military history is your thing.
Admission fees apply
Getting there: Take the internal Red Line or Blue Line from Imbiah Station or Beach Station (See the previous page for instructions how to get to Sentosa)
The underwater world and the Dolphin Lagoon
The Underwater World, one of Sentosa's most recommended attractions, is a "live museum" boasting thousands of fish and marine creatures, belonging to approximately three hundred different species, many of which from the waters around Singapore.
The underwater World is open daily, 9am - 9pm, and the Dolphin Lagoon 10:30am - 6pm Website Admission fee applies
Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom Daily, 9am - 6:30pm Admission fee applies
The main thing is an 83 meters long tunnel passing through a titanic aquarium, with hundreds of fish, sharks, rays, eels and other creatures that swim all around you, but there are more than a few other attractions here, including touch pools and, of course, the Dolphin Lagoon, which is located on Palawan Beach, but included in the ticket price.
Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom displays thousands of unique butterflies and exotic insects, including real "monsters" from Southeast Asia's jungles. is where you can walk amidst the lush tropical vegetation and see hundreds of species of amazingly beautiful butterflies. Located in the central part of Sentosa, next to Cable Car Plaza and just a few steps from Imbiah Station (Monorail)
Images of Singapore Daily, 9am - 7pm Admission fee applies
This highly recommended museum takes the visitor through the history of Singapore, from the 14th century onwards, through "scenes" where life size tableaus depict major events in the city-state's history, as well as through other multi-media displays that make the visit more interesting and enhance the experience of "being there"... (Near cable-car plaza / Imbiah Station)
Attractions and activities in the central part of Sentosa, near the cable-car plaza and Imbiah station Daily, 10am - 9:30pm
Daily, 9am - 9pm
Daily, 2pm - 7pm (on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 11am 7pm
Some of the best rides in Sentosa are clustered around the cable-car plaza and Imbiah monorail station. Getting here is very easy, from every corner of the island. Sentosa Luge and Skyride is a good fun for kids, as well as for adults... The Luge is a sledge-like cart that runs down the hill, along a 650 meters paved track, specifically built for that purpose, while the Skyride is some sort of a ski-lift that takes those who finished the track, back to the top of the hill. Tiger Sky Tower prides itself for being Asia's tallest free-standing observation tower... Its top elevator-observation deck reaches 110 meters above the ground and 131 meters above sea level, and on a clear day, you can see the islands of Indonesia from here. MegaZip Adventure Park, one of Sentosa's latest and most exciting attractions, is like a huge scouts camp, packed with extreme activities... For more information, including price-chart and special offers, visit their website.
Daily, 10am - 9pm (last show starts at 08:45pm).
The Sentosa CineBlast can be described as a "cinema ride": An adrenaline-boosting experience that combines special photography techniques, special 3D effects and moving seats... Quite recommended!
Daily, 10am - 9pm (last show starts at 08:45pm).
Sentosa 4D Magix is a so-called "4 Dimensional cinema", meaning that on top of the usual 3D effect, there are more features that make the experience even more tangible, like moving chairs, blowing wind, sea spray and more... Desperados is a "virtual reality" type of game, where you have to shoot wild west outlaws with you laser gun
Daily 10am - 8pm, last admission at 7:30 pm).
Sentosa's Merlion is a colossal replica of Singapore's most-known symbol, the Merlion (on which you can read in the chapter about the Singapore River). Raising to a height of almost 40 meters, the statue has a small gallery inside it, dedicated to mythological sea-creatures, and an observation deck on its head, from where you can enjoy a nice view over the island and Singapore Port.
Nightly at 7:40pm and 8:40pm (and 9:40pm, on Saturdays
Songs of the Sea is a state-of-the-art show, integrating dancers, pyrotechnics, water screens, three dimensional projection, laser effects and what not...
Website
It shows nightly on a small manmade island, just a few steps from Beach Station and Palawan Beach.
12noon (reptiles), 12:30pm (monkeys), 2pm (parrots), 3pm (monkeys), 3:30 pm (large/mimicking parrots), 4:30pm (close encounters with parrots) and 5pm (last show of the day, with all the animals). Free admission
Palawan Amphitheatre, south of the Merlion Statue and next to Palawan Beach, is where you can watch the highly recommended animal & bird encounters. Those "meet-the-animals" shows are usually very good fun (especially for families with kids...). The shows are free and are held several times daily… All interior bus lines arrive at the amphitheatre (Click here for the current timetable of the shows).
Attractions and activities around the beaches of Sentosa
Sentosa's southern coast stretches along a few kilometres and boasts three beautiful beaches, namely Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach (which is probably the best of the three), with white sands and coconut palms… The water, however, is not as crystal clear as you would expect to find in a tropical resort and there are dozens of large ships that dot the horizon and spoil the view, but I guess you can't have it all… Beach Station, near Palawan Beach, is serviced by both Sentosa Express monorail and the orange Sentosa Bus and from there you can proceed with one of the free "Beach Trams", which run along the coastline from morning till night and make it easy to move from one point to another…
Daily 2.30pm - 6pm (till 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays)
One of Siloso Beach's main attractions is the Flying Trapeze, where you can challenge your fear of height and get your adrenaline pumping, while flying (almost) like the trapeze artists at the circus...
Daily, 10am – 12midnight (till 1am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays)
The Wave House, one of Sentosa's newest and most exciting attractions is also located on Siloso Beach and boasts Singapore's first (and currently only) artificial barreling wave, where you can enjoy flowriding, body-boarding and stand-up rides.
Daily, 10am - 10pm (till 2am on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays / eve of public holidays)
After the action, you can unwind on a comfy couch at Azzura Beach Club, on Siloso Beach, where they have soft sand, some casual eateries, boats for hire and even a hip nightclub, for those of you who wish to stay until late Siloso Beach Tram travels to both the Wave House and the Flying Trapeze.
9.30am - 8pm daily If you are short in time, or just don't feel like "working hard", you can join one of the day trips to Sentosa, like the Afternoon Trip, which includes a cable car ride, a visit to the Dolphins Lagoon, the Underwater World, Images of Singapore and the "Songs of the Sea" show, or the Morning Trip, which is a bit shorter… 24 hours a day / No admission fee
Further south, Go Green Segway® Eco Adventure are located near the Beach Station and, as their name suggest, offer Segway tours of the island, From "funrides" for beginners to "Guided Eco Adventure" for the slightly more experienced. Gogreen Cycle & Island explorer offers a one-hour guided bike tour of Sentosa, although they also allow you to just rent a bike, without participating in the tour (the price is obviously lower) The Dolphin Lagoon, in Palawan beach, is part of the Underwater World and gives visitors an opportunity to have a close encounter with the local Pink Dolphins (IndoPacific Humpback Dolphins), learn about them and play with them. Another notable attraction around Palawan Beach, not far from Beach Station, is a small manmade island, purporting to be continental Asia's southernmost point… There is a suspension bridge connecting the beach to the island, on which there are two viewing towers, overlooking Sentosa's southern coastline.
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Please note: Prices and other details mentioned in this eBook were correct at the time of writing and may change by the time of your visit.