You have landed in the Lion City, Singapore, but now what? Do you just unpack, attend classes and follow a routine without anything exciting? Well, you can but not when in Singapore. The country has a lot to offer; especially if you’re here only for a few months, get the traveler, blogger, and photographer in you waking up. Though it’s a young and small country, Singapore has an array of items that you would want to tick off your bucket list. If you’re the researcher types, you must have seen what all to visit in Singapore already. If you’re the one who visits places after reading reviews, you would have done that already as well. I’m not just going to give you descriptions of all the must-visit places. This article is, rather, about those same spots but with a welcoming twist. I’m going to tell you how to visit the cliché list like a local and make the most of your time. Warning: There are some hidden tips that will up your game for the ‘gram. So, what are you thinking? Just continue reading and find out what is in store for today

The iconic Marina Bay Sands (MBS)

So, what do you need to know about it? It’s not just a tall building with a ship on top of the three towers. It’s a hotel and yes, you can actually plan a staycay here (staycay is a holiday in the country you’re residing in). There’s a club (Cé la Vi), a few restaurants with stunning views and of course, the infinity pool. You get free access to the infinity pool if you are a guest in the hotel. But never mind, if you’re a sucker for views, this is a MUST go. I would suggest going in the evening, enjoying the sunset, have dinner followed by a few drinks at the bar, and let the night sink in with the killer city views. However, there’s a ticket for approx. 20$ in case you want to go on top. If you want to avoid paying this fee, wait for the guestlists created by various groups on Facebook and RSVP yourself and get to the club without paying a penny.
Apart from all of the above, there’s a mall attached to the MBS, The Shoppes. It’s THE HUB for all the high-end brands. Pay a visit if you are looking to go luxury shopping and empty your pockets a little.   

ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM

Important: Get your cameras out! This is some serious stuff.

Built right beside The Shoppes, the Art & Science museum, where quite literally Art meets Science, is a delight for art lovers. It’s the world’s first ever Art Science museum. The architecture of the museum is in itself astounding. It’s a lotus-inspired building, though it resembles a hand more and is correctly referred to as ‘The Welcoming Hand of Singapore’. Even if you have visited the museum in the past, it won’t fail to impress you one more time and go gaga over it again with new exhibitions and shows every now and then. Awaken the kid in you by coloring your favorite picture and seeing it come to life on the Sketch Town section. Not just that, you can also slide down a small interactive, digital art screen. End your experience by getting the most touristy photo shot at the ‘Space’ with the Crystal universe surrounding you.

GARDENS BY THE BAY

As the name suggests, these are the beautiful gardens by the Marina Bay. So, is it just some regular garden? Well, it’s a 101-hectare garden, so, NOPE! The first thing you want to cover is definitely the Flower Dome. With some beautiful flowers and also the changing floral display, the flower dome is a treat for the nature lover in you. Also, this is a damn good spot for nature photography. Moving on, the next on your visit list should be the Cloud forest, a sure spot for the indoor waterfall shot of yours. Walk around inside the dome as you uncover the mysterious world amongst the mist. I would strongly suggest you all to not miss the art sculptures in the Gardens because I was stupid enough to not cover those in my initial visit. If you want some breathtaking views (duh, not as amazing as the ones from MBS) then do climb up the OCBC skywalk. There’s a separate ticket for it, but it’s a wonderful experience just to walk on such a height and gaze at the beautiful skyline. 

 

THE SINGAPORE FLYER (The Eye) 

It’s as though all the attractions in Singapore offer spectacular views. Well well, how can the flyer be any less. When you’re on top, you really feel like you’re on TOP of Singapore. It’s a full view of Singapore in an air-conditioned capsule. Fancy a proposal? Imagine dining with your loved ones in the giant wheel at a height. Yes! you can book one of the capsules for a special and private dinner. 

SENTOSA

There are a lot of things you want to be doing in Sentosa. If I start listing everything, the list would just get too long. So, I’m giving you the must see and do attractions. Start your Sentosa trip by taking the cable car from Vivo city/Mt. Faber and enjoy the sea views on your way to Sentosa. Once you’re there, cover all the indoor attractions so you can escape the sun for a bit. These include Madame Tussauds, S.E.A. aquarium, the 37m Merlion (you can even go up till the mouth of the Merlion), Skyline Luge and Skyride. Once you’re into the evening, start with the Mega adventure where you can do Bungee jumping and take the Zipline (most of the ride is covered with long trees and so it restricts views and it is also not the biggest one but I would still recommend it because I’m such a zipline fan). If you’re a Segway enthusiast, do make sure to get on one of those. Following this, get some dinner and as the sun sets, make your way to the Crane dance. It’s a spectacle of illusion and light-play that has a show every day at 8 pm for free.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE (USS)

This deserves one day of your trip; but if you’re lucky with the lines, then maybe half a day. The tickets might seem a little high priced if you’re on a budget. So do check out other websites where they sell tickets at a lower price. Quickly diving into what to do in USS, I would suggest you get done with the roller coasters in the beginning so you can eat as much as you want later and not worry about being nauseous. Also, watch out for the Jurassic Park ride which might seem pretty childish but hold your breath for the surprise in the end. Continue your day at USS with shows and hold on for the fireworks. Needless to say, shop a little so you can take back a few souvenirs home. Just make sure there’s no forecast for rain on the day you go so you can enjoy without any worry.

GARDENS

Singapore Botanic gardens- One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Botanic gardens is located just a few minutes from the shopping paradise Orchard Road. This could be the perfect picnic spot with some fun games. They say dress to impress, I’d rather say dress for the ‘gram when in the Gardens. With beautiful arches, orchid gardens, the Botanical garden is a treat for photographers and nature lovers. Don’t forget to check out for free concerts hosted by the ‘Singapore Symphony Orchestra’.

Chinese and Japanese gardens- Two separate gardens united by a bridge, the Bridge of Double Beauty. In the Chinese garden, you can find the most unusual museum, the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum. On the other hand, the Japanese garden is talked about for its aesthetic architecture. If you want to make the most of these gardens, go during the Chinese New Year or other festivities when these gardens are lit (quite literally) and have programs scheduled.

This deserves one day of your trip; but if you’re lucky with the lines, then maybe half a day. The tickets might seem a little high priced if you’re on a budget. So do check out other websites where they sell tickets at a lower price. Quickly diving into what to do in USS, I would suggest you get done with the roller coasters in the beginning so you can eat as much as you want later and not worry about being nauseous. Also, watch out for the Jurassic Park ride which might seem pretty childish but hold your breath for the surprise in the end. Continue your day at USS with shows and hold on for the fireworks. Needless to say, shop a little so you can take back a few souvenirs home. Just make sure there’s no forecast for rain on the day you go so you can enjoy without any worry.

THE SHOPPING PARADE

Definitely, hands down, the Orchard Road is the first thing to pop up in my mind. House to a lot of brands ranging from luxury to budget, chic to casual, Orchard has everything. Especially during the festive season, needless to say, this road turns into paradise with fairy light streets and lit up stores. Is that all? Nope! It’s also a street full of cute cafes and restaurants for a romantic dinner. Don’t miss out and do give this street a visit. 

If you’re looking to shop indoors though, check out Vivocity, Plaza Singapura, Suntec City and the brand new Funan Mall which host all the brands you would like under one roof. Keep an eye on the sale period and also the local brands.

But that’s not all. I’m sure you have all heard of Outlet Malls. Yes, the place where you get branded goods at a lower price. Singapore has its very own outlet mall, the IMM. If you’re looking to buy some luxury goods, I would recommend you go here, else, it’s not for you. 

That was all for the Cliché list. But guys, bookmark us so you can make the most out of our blogs because what’s next is something I’m sure you’ll enjoy and want to read too.