Discover Singapore: Everything you need to know before you go!
Sought after for its tropical weather, futuristic innovations, and unparalleled street food, Singapore is without doubt one of the most anticipated and coveted travel destinations in the world. Although frequently portrayed on social media as glamour incarnate and somewhat of a mecca for revelers looking for a taste of the “high life”, Singapore is, in reality, quite tame and shockingly peaceful. The overall calm of the country, which is in part due to the many odd laws governing the city-state, has led some to refer to Singapore as the soulless city. We, however, beg to differ with this unfortunate description as, to our eyes, the ingenuity and beauty on display everywhere in Singapore was to us the very embodiment of vibrancy!
Despite being a rather small nation, Singapore is nevertheless a giant in the world of international trade and business dealings leading to its economic prosperity and earning it the position of wealthiest nation in Asia. The country is located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula and is comprised of a single city which is separated into some 24 towns. Interestingly, Singapore is what is known as a city-state, meaning that everything from government and politics to business and cultural life are all conducted in just the one city.
With much to offer from soaring high rises and elaborate indoor gardens masquerading as high-end malls to theme parks and pristine beaches all within a few minutes drive of each other, Singapore’s beauty and ease of access is unmatched making it a true traveler’s paradise! Keep reading to uncover the secrets of Singapore and make your visit unforgettable!
What’s the best way to get to Singapore?
Getting to Singapore is relatively easy as there are many daily flights departing from the US to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Additionally, there are nonstop flights that depart to Singapore from New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, and Los Angeles giving travelers plenty of options and flexibility. Of the many flights to choose from, we want to call your attention to one route in particular: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to SIN. Why? Because this currently is the LONGEST flight in the world! At just over 19 hours, completing this Singapore Airlines route is an accomplishment in its own right! Intrigued? Well, so were we which is why we didn’t hesitate to buy our tickets the moment they went on sale!
Visas are not required for US citizens visiting Singapore however all visitors must fill out the SG Arrival Card no more than three days prior to arrival. The SGAC can be filled out online HERE ahead of time or on arrival to Changi airport.
With Singapore Airlines being the flagship carrier of Singapore and as they are recognized for their impeccable service, hospitality, and food, we honestly weren’t too concerned about the flight. We were excited too by the fact that, for once, we fought against our natural penny-pinching ways and booked premium economy seats! Our excitement was short-lived though as we realized, just before boarding, that our plane had only business class and premium economy seats meaning that, despite our efforts, we were still flying in the cheapest possible class! Thankfully, our dismay lasted only for the two long, and envy-filled, minutes that it took us to walk past the glowing, business class cubicles equipped with their full screen TVs and completely reclining seats. Fortunately, the premium economy cabin that we found ourselves in, although much less glamorous, was still well-equipped with more legroom than average, comfortable reclining seats, footrests, and an entertainment system with plenty of charging ports.
A complimentary welcome kit including Chapstick, a sleep mask and bedroom slippers are available for all premium economy class customers, you just need to ask for it!
After settling in, we donned our headphones and perused the huge selection of entertainment available to us for free while the crew began serving the first of three exceptional meals on our lengthy flight. The cabin was always kept dark except during food service creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere conducive to binge watching hours of TV or napping. Flight attendants worked in shifts however someone was always available to serve up a glass of wine or a bag of Dorito’s depending on the demands of the moment. Except for a few hours of sleep, we somehow spent the majority of the flight alternately eating and watching movies and arrived in Singapore only slightly worse for the wear. While the 19+ hour flight was intimidating from the outset, we found ourselves enjoying the pampering and the fact that we could completely unwind and lose ourselves in some much-needed TV time!
Bathrooms on this Singapore Airlines flight are large, clean, and equipped with toothbrushes and toothpaste for every guest so you can freshen up without much effort. Also, consider signing up for a KrisFlyer account before your flight this way you can have access to free WIFI!
Is Singapore Changi Airport as amazing as they say?
Yes, it is! Clean, modern, and efficient, Singapore Changi airport is a tourist attraction on its own. The airport features several stunning gardens including a butterfly garden, tons of shopping that will make you wish that you had actually lost your luggage and more than one mouthwatering food hall to choose from! Knowing ahead of time that there was so much to do in the airport, we purposely delayed our airport pickup by 3 hours, something we would never otherwise do, just to give us ample time to explore!
The Jewel, famed for its indoor waterfall, is connected to the Arrival Hall of Terminal 1. There are free shuttles to the Jewel if you happen to arrive to a different terminal, just follow the signs to the shuttles!
Despite its size, Changi Airport is easy to navigate and has English signage throughout the various terminals. Customs and border control is done electronically with automated machines and is shockingly quick. One major difference that we noted between most American airports and Changi Airport was that there was no “main security.” Instead, security at Changi Airport is done at the individual departure gates. This means that you can freely explore the airport and will only need to clear security on arrival to your gate. Make sure to leave enough time to get to your gate though as this does require a fair bit of walking in the gigantic airport and as you’ll have to clear security just before you board. We should mention also that there are no shops or restaurants at the gates after the security checkpoint so make sure to bring whatever you need with you!
Bring a refillable water bottle. Seeing as you’re not allowed to take water through security and there are no shops from which you can purchase some at the gate, bringing a refillable bottle and using bottle fillers located at the gates is the best way to overcome this small obstacle
What’s the best way to get around Singapore?
As we’ve mentioned before, Singapore is rather small which makes getting around relatively easy. The city-state has a robust public transportation system comprised of trains and buses to get traveler’s safely to their destinations. The other options for getting around are by renting a car, taking a taxi or using the Grab ride-share app. We didn’t notice any unmanageable traffic however parking appeared to be a challenge throughout the city hence we recommend that you avoid renting a car if possible.
Singaporeans drive on the left-hand side of the road and all road signs are in standard and in English.
For ease and simplicity, we chose to travel in Singapore via Grab. Rides were abundantly available, affordable, safe, and comfortable making this a no-brainer for us. We also enjoyed learning about Singapore and its culture from our various drivers, something we would have missed out on had we chosen to drive ourselves!
Where should you stay in Singapore?
For first time visitors to the city-state, central Singapore is the ideal location for ease of access to local attractions. As we’ve mentioned before, there are 24 towns in the city-state to choose from when booking accommodations so where exactly should you stay? We suggest following in our footsteps and splitting your time between the Orchard Road and Marina Bay areas. Although these areas are only around 20 minutes away from each other, they have vastly different offerings for tourists. Whereas Orchard Road is known for its gargantuan brand-name fashion malls, Marina Bay area is better recognized for technological marvels like the Supertree Grove and the Flower Dome. Regardless of which of these areas you choose, both are safe and upscale with plenty to discover and lots of yum street food to fuel your exploration!
Little India and Kampong Glam are also great areas to stay in Singapore. If you don’t mind a little more crowding —these areas are very touristy— then you’ll be able to save some on hotel rates.
With Singapore being one of the more expensive cities to visit in the world, we weren’t surprised that finding a reasonably priced was a bit of a challenge, especially in the Orchard and Marina Bay areas. Luckily for us, we noticed that Airbnbs in our desired locations were much cheaper, about a third of the cost, than a hotel room. We ultimately decided to book an Airbnb in the Orchard Road area which, although small, was beautifully appointed, secure, and comfortable.
Airbnb accommodations in Singapore tend to be small which is a result of how small the city-state itself is. This is the same for hotel rooms as well so paying more for a hotel over an Airbnb does not guarantee more space! If you need more space, be sure to pay attention to the square footage on the listing.
Being a little swankier overall than Orchard Road, the Marina Bay Area accommodations were primarily hotels. Airbnbs were difficult to find there and tended to be even smaller than elsewhere in the city. For these reasons, we selected to stay at the ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay hotel. You’re perhaps wondering why we went all the way to Singapore and didn’t stay at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel, right? Well, we just didn’t feel that spending almost $1000 per night for another small room, no matter how luxurious, was worth it. Not when we could roam the buildings and admire them for free! Any, this decision worked in our favor as we absolutely adored the ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay Hotel for its location, multi-floor indoor garden and amazing skyline views. And, even though our room was barely larger than the Airbnb we stayed in on Orchard Road, it was admittedly more luxurious.
For one of the most luxurious stays in Singapore check out the Raffles Hotel. The historic hotel, established in 1887, is a local landmark and is both elegant and charming. Rooms here often book out far in advance so make sure to plan early if you’d like to stay there!
When is the best time to visit and what’s the weather like in Singapore?
Being just over 1º north of the equator, Singapore has what can most accurately be described as tropical, rainforest climate. Funnily enough, the city-state has no natural rainforest remaining, just the accompanying heat and humidity that is found in this type of climate zone. Temperatures in Singapore remain constant year long, ranging from 80-90 ºF and there are no discernible seasons except as it pertains to rain. Evidently, it is common knowledge that it rains somewhere in Singapore everyday however there is still, apparently, discrete wetter and drier periods of the year. If you’re not a fan of sudden, torrential downpours then consider timing your visit for the drier months of February through April. Keep in mind though that less rain inevitably means hotter sunshine.
Although 80-90 ºF may not seem terribly hot, the high humidity in Singapore dramatically intensities the heat so brace yourself for some sweaty days and epic 1990-style, fluffed hair because, we assure you, there’s no amount of anti-humidity hair products that can prevent this phenomenon!
As for what to wear in Singapore, well this is a bit of a challenge. We normally recommend good SPF clothing for such intense sunshine however the humidity causes just about everything to stick uncomfortably unto the body. What worked best for us was lightweight, quick dry clothing. This was particularly effective as we dried off quickly whenever we needed to duck into air-conditioned buildings to take refuge from the unrelenting heat and humidity.
Having an umbrella on hand is priceless and it can protect you from both the hot sunshine and sudden rainfalls.
What language is spoken in Singapore?
While there does not appear to be an “official” language of Singapore, the most encountered languages are Malay, Tamil, Mandarin and English. Of these, the language we heard most frequently in Singapore was English. Everyone we interacted with spoke English and most signage throughout the city-state were written in English as well. Although we’re not ones to shy away from wielding a translation app when needed, we did enjoy not having to worry about this for change!
What currency is used in Singapore?
The official currency of Singapore is Singapore Dollars or SGD. Now, you may be thinking that Singapore is a hotshot international country that has all manner of cashless payments so why worry about carrying cash? Well, even though you could get by without cash in Singapore, you may find yourself missing out on some crucial experiences such as sampling the street foods and shopping the local markets. Many of the famous food halls and open-air markets for which Singapore is known do not accept credit cards and those that do tend to charge more. To reduce hassle and avoid some serious FOMO moments, we recommend getting Singapore Dollars before you leave the airport.
Some local vendors do accept electronic payment in the form of GrabCash so make sure to set this up in the Grab App ahead of time as it can come in handy for those moments when you’re running low on cash.
Is it safe to travel in Singapore?
In the words of a proud Singaporean, we were fortunate to spend time with during our visit: Singapore is a lawful society! To elaborate further, he explained to us in detail that locals follow all laws to the letter no matter how inane some may seem. We were a little taken aback by this declaration, but truth be told, we didn’t encounter so much as a jaywalker ourselves while there. Although we found this all to be a little odd, we can only assume that this was due to our own personal culture and experiences. Ultimately our impression of Singapore was that of an orderly society in which locals and visitors alike could feel safe and secure. Honestly, we felt no uneasiness even in those times when we found ourselves walking alone along the streets late at night. We must admit that, thus far in our travels, Singapore is the only place in the world that we’ve been to where we didn’t feel the need to be extra cautious or mindful! So, yes, we think you’ll be perfectly safe no matter where you choose to go in Singapore!
Tourists are not exempt from local laws hence it would be prudent to do a little reading on this before your arrival. To get you started, Singaporeans find the acts of chewing gum and spitting to be so disgusting that these practices have been outlawed! Expect fines and/or jail time if you partake in any of these grotesque behaviors.
How is the food in Singapore?
Ok, who are we kidding? Seventy percent of the reason we so desperately wanted to go to Singapore was the food and we’re sure you guessed that too! Singapore is renowned for its food, especially, its street food and it is generally common knowledge that this is perhaps the only place in the world where street food can be consumed without fear of illness thanks to stringent sanitation and hygiene standards. But where exactly should you go to find Singaporean street food? At the famous Singaporean Hawker Centers of course! A Hawker center is a collection of individual food stalls, usually housed in a giant open-air building, serving up mouthwatering family recipes at incredibly affordable prices. Hawker centers are a hallmark of Singapore, are frequented by locals and tourists alike and can be found everywhere from local neighborhoods to fancy malls and even the airport!
Hawker centers are Singapore’s version of fast food and are the places to go for all your meals especially if you’re seeking to explore local flavors. No reservations are needed, the food is always spot-on, and the prices are impossible to beat!
Of the many Hawker centers to choose from, we recommend two in particular: Newton Food Center and Old Airport Road Food Center. These two Hawker centers are vastly different in terms of service, food, price and ambience and a visit to both is an excellent way to get a good grasp of culture and socioeconomic status in Singapore. Featured in the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, the Newton Food Center is, of course, currently in fashion and attracts lots of tourists however, outside of its Hollywood cameo, there is much to love about this Hawker Center. Although smaller overall than we expected, Newton Center was clean and organized with great bathrooms and handwashing stations. Vendors were varied and many of the highlights of Singaporean food were available and easy to find. The Old Airport Food Center, on the other hand, was older, a little grimier and no hand-wash stations but was triple the size of the Newton Food Center, offering a huge selection of incredible food for insanely cheap prices. For example, a bowl of noodles cost us $3-4 USD at the Newton Center and just $1-2 USD at the Old Airport Road food center! We thought the food was exceptional at both centers so we truly don’t think you can go wrong choosing between these two food halls.
Some vendors at Newton Food Center will accept GrabCash. Vendors at Old Airport Road Food Center only accept Singaporean Dollars. No credits are accepted at either of these centers.
Navigating the Hawker Centers in Singapore is much like working your way through a food court at any shopping mall in the US as each stall sells a handful of dishes and menus offer pictures to make choosing easier. Once you select your meal, it is prepared fresh and served immediately to you at which point you can select a table in the communal seating area and enjoy! There are no servers in the Hawker Centers and diners are expected to deposit their dishes at designated tray return areas around the food hall when done.
Buy some wet wipes for your hands before you head out to the food center. Paper products are limited, and these wipes are a must!
So, now that you know all about Hawker Centers, what foods should you try while in Singapore? Well, although there are more dishes than we have space to name right now, here are a few of the ones we know you absolutely won’t want to miss: Curry Laksa Noodles, Prawn Hokkien Mee, Kaya Toast, Chicken Rice and the famed Chili Crab.
Check us out HERE for more food inspiration!
Top things to do in Singapore
Explore Marina Bay Sands Hotel
The single most iconic building in Singapore’s skyline, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is much more than just a place to stay. The three towers comprising the hotel house enormous malls, theaters, exhibition centers, museums, and celebrity chef restaurants. If you’re not staying within the hotel, then expect to spend at least half a day exploring its finer points. Much of the resort is open to visitors, with the exception of floors containing guest rooms and spaces and is free to enter. For an amazing view of Singapore and of the Super Tree Grove, purchase tickets to the Skypark Observation Deck. Tickets to the observation deck sell out quickly so make sure to purchase at least one week in advance. We recommend arriving to the observation deck in the evening this way you’ll have gorgeous views of the setting sun and the opportunity to see Spectra, the spectacular light and water show which is hosted over the water at Event Plaza. The Spectra light show occurs at 8 and 9pm during weekdays and at 8, 9 and 10 pm on weekends.
The infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is for guest use only and cannot be visited if you’re not staying at the hotel. Don’t despair though as even though you may not get to swim in it you can still see the pool from the Skypark Observation Deck.
Take a stroll through Merlion Park
At the heart of Singapore is Merlion Park, home to the half-lion, half-fish fountain that serves as the mascot of the city-state. The Merlion is a symbol of Singapore’s founding, representing both its origin as a fishing village and its once-name of Singapura which translates to “Lion City.” The park sits on the banks of the Singapore River and is lined with restaurants making it a great place to relax. Oh, and before we forget to mention it, Merlion Park has splendid views of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Spend an afternoon at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Established in the late 1800s, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Botanic gardens serves as both a place of leisure and science and is open to the public daily at no cost. Although entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens is free, access to the National Orchid Garden, a special exhibit within the gardens, requires a paid entry ticket. As it was the most splendid part of our visit to the Gardens, we must recommend not skipping the magnificent Orchid Garden. Make sure to also keep an eye out for the Ethnobotany and Ginger Gardens. And keep an eye out for the monitor lizards that freely roam the grounds!
The gift shop at the Botanic Gardens sells unique preserved orchids and golden orchid jewelry which is hard to find elsewhere and is actually a great place for souvenir shopping.
Visit Little India and Kampong Glam
Two of the most vibrant neighborhoods of Singapore, Little Indian and Kampong Glam deserve an entire day of exploring with the multitude of shops and eateries lining the bustling streets. Of the two areas, Little Indian is larger, with street upon street of vendors and restaurants all connected by alleys adorned with colorful murals. Make sure to check out the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple with its huge, pastel-colored tower of deities and don’t miss your chance to admire the interior and get a blessing. Also, keep an eye out for the Abdul Gaffoor Masjid which has been designated as a National Monument of Singapore.
If you’re interested in acquiring fine gold jewelry, Serangoon Road in Little India is the right place to go!
In contrast to Little Indian, Kampong Glam, also known as Singapore’s Muslim Quarter is somewhat more orderly and a little less congested. Centered around Arab Street, Kampong Glam is also a melting pot of interesting textiles and foods. Must-see landmarks in this neighborhood include the Sultan Mosque with its golden dome and the Malay Heritage Center.
Take a cab or Ride share when visiting Kampong Glam or Little India as parking is difficult to find in both these neighborhoods.
Go shopping in Singapore’s Chinatown
As with Little India and Kampong Glam, Singapore’s Chinatown is a major cultural center made up tiny, maze-like streets housing hundreds of vendors selling literally anything a shopper might want. Almost double, or perhaps even triple the size of the other famous neighborhoods, Chinatown in comprised of a mix of shops and open-air stalls selling food, clothing, and goods. Although both Kampong Glam and Little India were busy, they appeared positively quiet when compared with the packed streets of Chinatown. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple where visitors are welcome to enter and observe the fine architecture and scholars at work.
Check out the fruit stands in Chinatown! This is where we bought the freshest and most delicious fruits that we ate in Singapore!
Ride the Singapore Flyer and discover the Time Capsule
Another great way to capture a bird’s eye view of the city is by hopping on the Singapore Flyer, an observation wheel located in Downtown Singapore. The wheel is one of the largest in the world and has 28 air-conditioned capsules allowing you to take in views of the skyline and Marina Bay in comfort. Be sure to also check out the Time Capsule, a museum of sorts, where visitors follow a robot through the many displays showcasing Singapore’s history and future.
The Singapore Flyer offers ticket options for private capsule rides that include a 5-course meal for two. This romantic option needs to be booked in advance so make sure to visit the website to book.
See the technological marvels of Gardens by the Bay
Located in the Marina Bay area, Gardens by the Bay is home to several ingenious environmental marvels including the Supertree Grove, the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. Each of these wonders are truly novel and feature innovations unseen anywhere else in the world. Gardens by the Bay is free to enter and there is no cost to walk through the Supertree Grove however tickets are required to enter the Supertree Observatory, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and Floral Fantasy.
Each attraction requires its own entry ticket. Consider purchasing tickets online to save time standing in the various lines once you get there.
Contained in a giant glass structure, Cloud Forest is an entire tropical ecosystem complete with an impressive waterfall and skywalk. Visitors to the forest can take the elevators to the top of the waterfall then make their way down by way of the suspended, circular walkway while enjoying the views of the lush Marina Bay area and the Supertrees.
Cloud Forest is very humid despite some air conditioning so make sure to bring water with you as this is allowed
True to its name, Flower Dome is an entire indoor garden featuring live flower displays from all over the world. Seasonal displays are common in the Dome and tend to be extravagant. For instance, we visited during the Tulip Festival and were treated to displays of hundreds of vividly colorful Tulips of all species. The dome is easy to explore with a meandering pathway that takes visitors through the essential features then out to the exit.
Flower Dome is often crowded so plan on spending 1-2 hours slowly exploring the different floral displays
You may be wondering whether you would even need to visit Floral Fantasy after the spectacular displays within Flower Dome and the answer is yes, you do and it’s absolutely worth it. While Flower Dome is about simply showcasing the flowers themselves, Floral Fantasy is dedicated to the art of creative floral arranging. The multi-tiered floral displays are truly one of a kind and will leave you breathless!
Floral Fantasy is a great spot to take dreamy pictures, but visitors are allowed only an hour in this attraction so come prepared to be efficient with your camera!
Although literally everything in Gardens by the Bay is outrageously magnificent, the Supertrees are the stars of the show in our opinion. Not sure what they are? The Supertrees are sustainable, vertical gardens with each tree housing more than 150000 plants of greater than 200 species! There are 18 Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay with the tallest being as tall as a 16-story building! In addition to serving as gardens, the trees also have functions such as collecting solar energy and water and helping with greenhouse gas emissions. Walking amongst the Supertrees, we couldn’t help but reflect on how meaningful these structures were and to appreciate the hope they inspire for a future where nature could be so easily incorporated into our daily lives.
We suggest visiting the Supertree Grove both in the daytime to admire the plants living on them and in the nighttime to see the Garden Rhapsody show. Garden Rhapsody is a mesmerizing light and music show that is free for all and is done in the Supertree Grove every evening at 7:45 and 8:45pm. We suggest arriving a few minutes early to the grove and finding a good spot to lay beneath the trees to enjoy the show without having to look up for 15 minutes straight!
Garden Rhapsody can be viewed from the OCBC Skyway however we think laying down beneath the trees is a much better way to enjoy the show!
If all these attractions alone are not enough to occupy a full day of your time in Singapore, then brace yourself as there are even more points of interest to visit in Gardens by the Bay. The OCBC Skyway which allows you to walk just below the boughs of the Supertrees, the Supertree Observatory with its views of Marina Bay and the Kingfisher Wetlands are all must-dos in the Gardens as well!
Check out the Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport
As you may recall us mentioning, the Jewel is located at Singapore Changi airport and is connected to the Arrival Hall of Terminal 1. The Jewel is a giant mall and its claim to fame is the Shiseido Forest Valley featuring a grand indoor waterfall and garden. Aside from the typical fashion brand shops, there’s plenty to explore in the Jewel from the Mirror and Hedge mazes to the Canopy Bridge and Walking Net.
Visit the parks of Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Consisting of several parks geared towards wildlife protection and preservation, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve is a must-see when in Singapore. The reserve includes the Night Safari Park, River Wonders, Bird Paradise, and the Singapore Zoo. With hundreds of different species cared for in open, forested habitats, a visit to any of the parks of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve offers both an educational and fun way to spend a day in Singapore.
The Night Safari is an interesting concept and can be fun but does have some drawbacks. Keep in mind that although you’ll encounter some nocturnal animals during the safari, many of the other animals will be reposing in their habitats. This means that you’ll likely see much less wildlife than you might expect.
Discover Sentosa Island
Situated just off Singapore’s southern coast, Sentosa is an island resort and is, in fact, where the lovely beaches of Singapore can be found. In addition to the beaches, the island is also home to all manner of fun activities including a luge, an aquarium and a theme park!
Sentosa Island can be accessed by car, bus, the Sentosa express train or the Mount Faber Cable Car. Of the ways to get there, we recommend taking the cable car as it is fun and incredibly scenic. There are two cable cars serving the island: the Mount Faber Line and the Sentosa Line. The Mount Faber line connects mainland Singapore to Sentosa Island while the Sentosa line operates within Sentosa Island only. Seeing as the day of our visit to Sentosa was gloriously clear and sunny, we decided to take the Mount Faber Cable Car. We booked the Skypass roundtrip with the Skyorb one way ticket. This allowed us to take the cable car from Mount Faber to Imbiah Lookout on Sentosa Island as well as the cable car from Imbiah Lookout to Siloso Beach. We chose the Skyorb option which cost a little additional because it gave us access to the special cable cars that featured glass floors! Taking the cable car to Sentosa Island was a great way to see Singapore’s skyline and the sparkling green waters surrounding the islands.
Taking the cable car to Sentosa island does not require you to purchase round trip tickets as returning to the mainland can be done via the Sentosa Express train which drops off at the HarbourFront area. Taking the train from Sentosa to HarbourFront is free and a lot faster although considerably less scenic than the cable cars. Note that taking the train in the opposite direction (from HarbourFront to Sentosa) is not free and costs around 2 SGD.
Once on Sentosa Island, there’s much to do to pass the day between the various beaches and attractions. Getting around the island itself is easy as there are free trams transporting visitors across the entire island several times an hour. Walking or biking are also great options especially as everything is close by to each other. There are three beaches on the island: Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong. While all the beaches are relatively small, each has something different to offer. We particularly enjoyed Palawan Beach where we crossed the rope bridge to the tiny nearby islet that is recognized as the southernmost point of Continental Asia.
Tanjong beach has a nice cove and was the best of the beaches on the island for swimming and lounging.
If you’re not feeling a swim, then there are other ways to have fun on Sentosa Island. Universal Studios, the S.E.A Aquarium, Adventure Cove Park and the Skyline Luge are also located on Sentosa and are, of course, fantastic ways while away the time. In addition to these outdoor adventures, Sentosa Island also has an entire smorgasbord of indoor activities if the weather is less than ideal. Head to Axe Factor to test your aim, to DinoVenture for some thrilling virtual reality fun or even go indoor skydiving at iFly! Honestly, whatever you’re in the mood for, we’re sure you’ll find it on Sentosa Island as this is one resort that left no stone unturned in its quest to be the ultimate activity-packed destination.
Hike to Henderson Waves
A part of what is known as the Southern Ridges, Henderson Waves refers to a wooden bridge designed to mimic the crests and curves of actual waves. Henderson Waves is one of many scenic bridges along the Southern Ridge trails that extend for over 6 miles and connect three different parks. The quickest way to access this particular bridge is by a short, downhill hike from the Mount Faber Cable Car station. Leaving the cable car station, signs direct hikers down a paved road to the section of trail leading to Henderson Waves. This short hike is approximately 20 minutes one way and not terribly technical or challenging. Being quite popular, this trail has a constant flow of hikers and remains busy throughout the day. Once on the bridge, hikers can take a breather on one of wooden benches and admire the architecture or simply take in views of downtown Singapore.
Consider visiting Henderson Waves on the same day that you plan to take Cable Car to Sentosa Island as the hike is short and only a little time is needed to explore the bridge. Bundling these activities will definitely save you time and cut down on commuting!
Now, if you’ve got time in your schedule, we strongly suggest hiking the entire collection of Southern Ridges trails. At just around 6 miles in length, the trails cross from Kent Ridge Park to Hort Park then on to Telok Hill Park and ends in Mount Faber Park. The hike is, on average, around 3-4 hours and is moderately challenging with amazing views from the many suspended bridges of the lush forest and the city. We suggest starting in Kent Ridge Park and ending in HarbourFront where you can reward yourself at the nearby Hawker Center after the long hike!
