Singapore
Singapore is one of our favourite locations in the world. We've been so many times and it never gets boring, with incredible food, stunning views and free light shows. It feels like a futuristic Asia.
This guide covers where to stay across Marina Bay, Clarke Quay, Robertson Quay, Bugis Junction, Chinatown, Orchard Road and Sentosa, the must-see attractions from Gardens by the Bay to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, our favourite hawker food, and our own tips for keeping costs down, including the Go City Pass. It's all based on our own repeat trips to Singapore.
Most people think Singapore is expensive, but we've done a full travel series on our YouTube channel to help you save money and show you how Singapore can be done on any budget. If you'd rather skip the planning altogether, we can also build you a bespoke Singapore itinerary.
Watch our Singapore travel guide →Where to Stay in Singapore
Our favourite place to stay in Singapore is within a fifteen to twenty minute walk of Marina Bay Sands. That covers everywhere from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay itself to Bugis Junction, and keeps you close to all the main sights, which are all walkable. Here's how each area breaks down, including the places we've stayed ourselves.
Marina Bay
Marina Bay puts you right in the heart of Singapore and has incredible views, with Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion and Gardens by the Bay all within walking distance. There are so many luxury hotels surrounding this area, and it's probably our favourite and best area to stay in Singapore for convenience in getting around.
Best for:
- First-time visitors
- Couples
- Families
- Luxury travellers
Where to stay:
- Pan Pacific Singapore, the standout feature is 360-degree views across Singapore from the club lounge, one of the best views in the city. You also get a champagne breakfast, one of our favourite things to do in Singapore. We've stayed here many times now and it's one of our favourite hotels.
- The Fullerton Hotel, incredible architecture, it used to be an old post office and was used as a hospital in World War Two, so it's definitely worth visiting. They also offer walking tours around the hotel, if you've got the time we'd recommend adding it to your itinerary.
- Marina Bay Sands, a little more on the pricier side, but they've got a really cool infinity pool with incredible views across the Singapore skyline. One of the most famous hotels in Singapore, if not in Asia.
Clarke Quay & the Civic District
Clarke Quay sits right on the Singapore River and is the centre of the city's nightlife, with restaurants, bars and clubs lining the water. It's also home to the Civic District's museums and colonial architecture, so you get culture by day and energy at night.
Best for:
- Friends
- Couples
- Nightlife lovers
- History seekers
Where to stay:
- Pullman Singapore Hill Street, we've stayed here. The standout feature is the infinity pool overlooking Marina Bay, as well as the high-tech, modern rooms themed on a train carriage.
- Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay, a budget option right by Clarke Quay.
Robertson Quay
A short walk along the river from Clarke Quay, around twenty minutes, Robertson Quay is quieter and more residential, with a handful of good restaurants and a slower pace. It's about a thirty minute walk to Marina Bay, so it's a little bit further out, but it's great for budget-friendly accommodation.
Best for:
- Budget travellers
- Couples
Where to stay:
- M Social Singapore, a great option if you're looking for something more budget friendly.
We stayed at M Studio in Robertson Quay. It's not somewhere we'd recommend staying, based on the poor experience and student-style rooms.
Watch our M Studio hotel review →Bugis Junction & Kampong Glam
Bugis is home to some of Singapore's largest shopping districts and shopping streets, with Bugis Junction and Bugis Street on your doorstep, plus streets full of street food nearby, and Kampong Glam's mural-covered Haji Lane just a short walk away. It's also a really convenient location, the MRT is all over Singapore and it's clean and easy to use to get around the whole city from here. On our first trip to Singapore, this was the area we were recommended to stay in.
Best for:
- Budget travellers
- Market lovers
- First-time visitors
Where to stay:
- Mercure Singapore Bugis, smaller rooms, but in the centre of most things and more budget friendly.
- Village Hotel Bugis, also budget friendly, and in an excellent location, walking distance to all the shops and around twenty minutes on foot to Marina Bay Sands.
Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the most walkable parts of the city and one of the best for food, with temples, shophouses and Maxwell Food Centre all within a few streets of each other. It stays lively into the evening too, with rooftop bars and wine bars around Ann Siang Hill and Club Street. It's also worth checking here for some really good budget-friendly hotels.
Best for:
- Foodies
- First-time visitors
- Couples
Where to stay:
- The Clan Hotel, a heritage-style hotel on the edge of Chinatown with easy walking access to Marina Bay.
Sentosa
Sentosa isn't all about beach life. It's a full island of fun things to do, from Universal Studios to Adventure Cove Waterpark and the S.E.A. Aquarium, with plenty of different attractions and modern resorts to keep you and the family entertained for a couple of days. There are also a handful of beach clubs where you can book your own plunge pool, with live DJs and music on the beach. We usually recommend splitting a Singapore trip over a couple of days at the beach and a couple of days in the city, and it's really easy to connect the two, Sentosa is well linked to the mainland by MRT.
Best for:
- Families
- Couples
- Beach lovers
Where to stay:
- Village Hotel Sentosa, we've stayed here. It's got a huge pool overlooking the sea, where you can watch the boats go by. There's The Outpost, which is the adults-only side, and the Village Hotel side for families, and everything is within walking distance and really accessible.
- Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore's only beachfront resort, right on Siloso Beach, if you're after a more luxury five-star experience.
Raffles Hotel
We couldn't leave out Singapore's most famous hotel. Raffles Hotel is steeped in history, and the architecture alone is incredible, but the real reason to visit is the Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling cocktail originated. They've still got the original mechanical equipment behind the bar.
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is Singapore's main shopping strip, lined with malls and luxury boutiques. There isn't a huge amount to do beyond shopping, and it's a fair walk to other parts of Singapore, but it's a well-connected, central base if shopping is your priority.
Best for:
- Shoppers
- Families
Where to stay:
- Pan Pacific Orchard, a modern pick right on Orchard Road, distinct from Pan Pacific Singapore over at Marina Bay.
- Goodwood Park Hotel, a heritage hotel just off Orchard Road with a lot of old-school Singapore charm.
Mandai Rainforest Resort
If you're looking for something completely different, this is where all of Singapore's zoos are located. It's quiet, set in a natural preserve, and incredible for hearing the animals chirping around you throughout the night, a totally different experience from being in the thick of the city. It's eco-friendly and immersed into the nature around it, so all the furnishings and decor feel a bit like you're staying in a treehouse.
Watch our Mandai hotel review →Things You Cannot Miss in Singapore
Singapore is a small island that has loads to see and do. You could easily spend a week here and still have plenty to do after.
Best Free Attractions To Visit In Singapore →
- Gardens by the Bay, see it in both the day and at night, the Supertree Grove lights up after dark for the free Garden Rhapsody show, and the Cloud Forest changes its exhibition regularly, we've seen the Avatar and Jurassic World takeovers and both were incredible. We recommend booking in advance, the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are also included in the Go City Pass, more on that in our money saving tips below.
- Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion, this is the view you've probably seen many times before, it's one of the standout buildings in Singapore and offers incredible views across the water and the surrounding skyline. A lot of it is walkable to the main attractions in Singapore, and you can never get bored of walking along the harbour and taking in the gorgeous water. It's one of our favourite places for an evening walk, especially when the free Spectra light and water show starts.
- Chinatown's temples and hawker stalls, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple sit a few streets apart, and Maxwell Food Centre next door is one of the best places in the city for cheap, delicious food.
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve, home to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise. We stayed at the Mandai Rainforest Resort right next door, a brand new eco-friendly hotel set in the forest with animals chirping around you through the night, and it was incredible.
- Sentosa Island, beaches, the Singapore Oceanarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark, where you can swim with fish, and Universal Studios Singapore make this an easy, fun day out, we recommend booking Universal Studios tickets in advance during school holidays. Don't miss the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia either, a wobbly rope bridge out to a small islet off Palawan Beach.
- Orchard Road, if you love shopping, this is Singapore's main shopping strip, lined with malls and luxury boutiques. It regularly changes its decor with different lights and themes, we visited at Christmas and the whole street was covered in lights.
- Raffles Hotel and the Long Bar, steeped in history and incredible architecture, this is where the Singapore Sling was invented. Head to the Long Bar for one made with the original mechanical equipment.
- Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a peaceful break from the city, with the National Orchid Garden inside as the highlight.
Jewel Changi Airport is great for a layover. Arrive an hour early, there is so much to see, from a butterfly garden to the Rain Vortex waterfall to a free indoor cinema in departures.
Singapore is a popular layover stop on the way to Australia and further afield. If you're short on time, the hop-on hop-off bus is a good way to see most of the highlights above without having to plan a route yourself.
Watch our Singapore travel guide →We've shortlisted our favourite things to see and do in Singapore, including a Singapore river cruise, a Chinatown and Little India tour, Universal Studios Singapore, and a full-day city tour.
Browse our handpicked Singapore experiences →Our Favourite Places to Eat in Singapore
Singapore is one of the great food cities of Asia. A lot of the best meals come from hawker centres, food courts a bit like a canteen with lots of different stalls to choose from, and some of the best meals cost only a few dollars.
Best Budget Eat
Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown, home to some of the best hawker food in the city. We also love the masala dosas, you'll find more of our favourites in our travel guide video. Most shopping malls also have a food court at the bottom, and this is where you'll find some of the cheapest food in the city.
Most Fun Place to Eat
Funan, a really fun indoor shopping centre packed with small, affordable restaurants under one roof. It even has a dedicated cycling lane running through the mall, something we've never experienced before.
Best Cheap Michelin
Hawker Chan (Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle) at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, widely known as the world's most affordable Michelin starred meal.
Best Views
CE LA VI or LAVO at the top of Marina Bay Sands, for dinner with views that rival the observation deck itself. LAVO also serves some incredible dishes, from giant meatballs to an eighteen-tier chocolate cake.
Watch our Singapore travel guide →Save Money & Travel Tips for Singapore
The MRT (Singapore's underground, like the tube or the subway) covers almost the whole island and is the easiest, cheapest way to get around. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or an EZ-Link card, both work the same way. Grab is the local ride-hailing app and is often cheaper and more transparent than a metered taxi, worth downloading before you land.
- Transport card: a standard MRT journey costs between S$1 and S$3. Unless you are taking more than four or five long journeys in a single day, tapping in with a contactless bank card works out cheaper than a Singapore Tourist Pass.
- Free highlights: the Supertree Grove and Garden Rhapsody light show at Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands are all free.
- Go City Pass: we save loads of money by having a Go City Pass, and you can visit as many attractions as you like in a couple of days with the all-inclusive pass. We used it on our most recent trip, and cover everything we saw and did with it in our video.
- Sentosa on foot: walk onto Sentosa Island for free using the Sentosa Boardwalk from HarbourFront MRT, around 15 minutes, rather than paying for the Monorail.
- Tipping culture: tipping is not expected in Singapore. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, and hawker centres do not expect tips at all.
- Tax refund: spend more than S$100 at participating stores and you can claim back 7% GST at the airport on departure, keep your receipts.
- eSIM before you arrive: set up mobile data before landing so maps and transport apps work the moment you land. We always use ubigi, the service has been great every time.
What should you not do in Singapore?
Singapore has strict laws, so it's worth knowing the rules before you visit. Avoid littering, smoking outside designated areas (Vaping is Illegal), eating or drinking on public transport, or bringing chewing gum into the country (these have heavy fines). Jaywalking, vandalism, and drug offences also carry severe penalties. Respect local customs and follow the rules, and you'll find Singapore is one of the cleanest, safest, and easiest cities to explore.
Is Singapore safe?
Yes. Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare, and it's generally safe to walk around, even at night. As with any destination, keep an eye on your belongings in busy tourist areas and use common sense, but most visitors find Singapore to be a clean, welcoming, and a very safe place to visit.
Singapore: Your Questions Answered
The questions people ask us most, and search for most online, when planning a trip to Singapore.
How many days do you need in Singapore?
We'd suggest four to five days minimum. That's enough time to cover Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown and a day out on Sentosa, without rushing between them. If you're adding Mandai Wildlife Reserve, we'd stretch it to six or seven.
What is the best area to stay in Singapore?
Our number one is Marina Bay, it puts you within walking distance of Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands and it's our favourite area for convenience. Our number two is Bugis Junction, if you want to be in the heart of all the action at a more budget-friendly price. We wouldn't put Robertson Quay top of the list, but it's a good option if you want to be closer to the river and the nightlife.
Is Singapore expensive to visit?
Singapore isn't necessarily as expensive as people think, there are loads of takeaway food eateries and hawker stalls that cost only a few dollars a meal, and a lot of the best things to do, like the Gardens by the Bay light show and the Marina Bay Sands Spectra show, are free. The most expensive part of a Singapore trip is usually just booking your accommodation. We've done a full travel series on our YouTube channel on how to do Singapore on any budget.
Watch our Singapore travel guide →Do you need a car in Singapore?
No. We've never had one on any of our visits. The MRT connects you all over the island, and Grab covers anything the MRT doesn't. You can also get a taxi, ride sharing services or the MRT from the airport.
Singapore Zoo or Night Safari, which is better?
Do both if you can. They sit inside the same Mandai Wildlife Reserve, so you can pair a daytime zoo visit with the Night Safari after dark without changing location. We stayed at the Mandai Rainforest Resort right next door specifically so we could do both in one trip.
Is Universal Studios Singapore worth it?
If you've been to other Universal parks, Singapore's is smaller in scale with fewer attractions, it's not on the level of somewhere like Orlando. But it's a lot more affordable than the other Universal parks, and if you've never been to one before it gives you a really good feel for it and is a genuinely fun day out. A lot of the rides are more traditional, but they've just opened a brand new Minion Land, and they've also got exclusive rides you won't find at any other Universal park, including a Sesame Street area and a Shrek land with a few fun rides of its own.
Universal Studios Singapore Walkthrough →Is Singapore a good stopover destination?
Definitely. Even a few hours works, Jewel Changi Airport alone is worth arriving an hour early for, with a butterfly garden, the Rain Vortex waterfall and a free indoor cinema in departures. The airport is only around a twenty five minute drive from the city, so if you've got a six or seven hour layover, you could easily head into Singapore, have a look around, and get a taxi back in time for your next flight.
What's the best way to see the Marina Bay skyline for free?
Walk the waterfront promenade at Marina Bay Sands and catch the free Spectra light and water show in the evening. For a view, if you book LAVO, you basically get the same view as the observation deck view for free. You're not actually up on the observation deck, but LAVO sits on the other side of the building and gives a similar view, so you get to see the sea as well as the skyline.
What do we wish we'd known before visiting Singapore?
How much is genuinely free. We assumed Singapore would mean paying for every view and every show, but the Supertree Grove light show, the Spectra show and the Sentosa Boardwalk are all free, we just didn't plan around them on our first trip and missed a few. We'd also go to Gardens by the Bay in both day and night, they're two completely different experiences, and make sure to see Marina Bay Sands at night when it's all lit up. Singapore is more walkable than we expected, if you're based in a good location, we barely used the MRT because we just walked to most things. The first time we visited Singapore, we only had two days, and that wasn't enough to see and do everything, so make sure you've got a good amount of time before you go.
What's worth adding to a Singapore itinerary if you have more time?
Mandai Wildlife Reserve, if you can stretch to it. Pairing Singapore Zoo with the Night Safari and staying at the Mandai Rainforest Resort turned into one of our favourite parts of the trip, and it's easy to overlook if you're only planning around the city centre. We'd also recommend a trip to Sentosa, you can take the cable car up the mountain, and it's got a beautiful beach too. You can swim in the sea and cross the rope bridge to the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia while you're there.
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Singapore has warm weather all year round, generally around thirty degrees. Two of our favourite times to visit are Christmas, when the city has incredible decorations and it's warm and sunny on Christmas Day, we like to have dinner at Marina Bay Sands with a view over the city. The other is the Singapore Grand Prix, a night race that takes over the whole city using the actual roads, with live music alongside it, we've seen Robbie Williams, Elton John and the Foo Fighters there. Shopping malls fill up with F1 stores and cars to see, so even without race tickets you're still close to the action. The race itself runs at night with the skyscrapers all lit up around the track, it's one of our absolute favourite things to do in Singapore.
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