How to spend a weekend in Singapore 2024
Singapore serves as a meeting point for different cultures and a convergence of modernity and tradition. If you loved theme parks as a kid, you will have fun in Singapore as an adult. I like to think of it as an adult’s playground and there’s no shortage of places to play!
Top things to do in Singapore
From visiting famous landmarks to enjoying the city’s happening nightlife, you’ll be thoroughly entertained on a trip to Singapore!
Visit Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands boasts a shopping mall, a casino, a hotel with a much instagrammed rooftop infinity pool as well as many restaurants and bars. Make a reservation at one of the restaurants, like CÉ LA VI or LAVO, to enjoy the view without the pricy rate of an overnight stay in the hotel.
See the MerLion
A mythical creature known as the mascot of Singapore. It has a lion’s head and a fish body and serves as a water fountain in MerLion park. If you ask me, the highlight of a visit to this statue is truly the view of Marina Bay Sands across the water.
Shop ‘til you drop
There’s no shortage of shopping malls in Singapore so you won’t have trouble satisfying a shopaholic here. A few of the best include the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, ION Orchard, VivoCity.
Take a walk in Fort Canning Park
Located in the heart of Singapore, this park is a perfect place for a peaceful stroll. Be sure to stop at the tree tunnel for some fun Instagram-able photos.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a not to be missed nature park showcasing the plant kingdom in lots of cool ways. There are two main gardens to explore; the Flower Dome, which is home to a variety of exotic flowers and plants and the Cloud Forest, which showcases a lush rainforest environment complete with a waterfall.
Each exhibit has a separate entrance fee. I’d budget about an hour and half at each garden. If you stroll quickly through them you can make it in less time, but I recommend stopping to enjoy the flowers (literally) and taking some fun pictures.
Supertree Grove
This is also located at Gardens by the Bay and you’ll need to pay an extra fee to see the trees up close on the Skyway. The canopy of artificial trees has a Skyway you walk across between the trees and nighttime light show, “Garden Rhapsody”. The man-made trees are covered in a variety of plants and flowers, creating an interesting juxtaposition of nature and urban architecture.
Night Safari
Visit the Singapore Zoo in the evening to go on the night safari. This includes an animal show, a ride in a trolley through some of the exhibits, and then you can walk through other exhibits on your own. The lions were a highlight for us as they majestically strolled out into the light as we drove by on the trolley.
How to get to the Singapore Zoo: Please note that the zoo is a bit out of town so be sure to budget a pricier Grab ride to get to the zoo. You can also take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) to Ang Mo Kio station then from there there is a connecting bus service (number 138) that goes directly to the Singapore Zoo. The drive takes about 30-40 minutes and the buses run fairly frequently.
Enjoy a cocktail
There are so many great restaurants and bars in Singapore to check out but here are five highlights from my trips that I think are worth checking out:
- 28 Hong Kong Street – a speakeasy once awarded The Best Bar in Asia
- Atlas – 1920s inspired cocktail bar (be sure to make a reservation as this place is popular!)
- Manhattan – also has the honor of being ranked #9 among the Best Bars in Asia
- Lantern at Fullerton Bay Hotel – for a great view of Marina Bay Sands
- Bar Stories – lowkey bar for a uniquely crafted cocktail personalized to your own tastes
How to get around Singapore
🚌Public transportation: Singapore is generally well connected by public transit, MRT is the metro and they also run efficient buses for places the subway doesn’t go.
The best part is you don’t need to bother getting a specific transit card. You can use a contactless credit or debit card to pay for your rides. Look for the “SimplyGo” logo at the MRT station’s fare gates or bus card readers. Tap your contactless credit card on the card reader at the fare gate when entering and exiting the MRT station.
🚕Grab: There is no Uber in Singapore. Instead download the app Grab, which works similarly to Uber and covers Southeast Asian countries.
TL;DR: How to spend a weekend in Singapore
A weekend in Singapore will be non-stop action, from shopping to delicious dining and fancy cocktails there’s endless entertainment to indulge in. Much more than a layover city, discover what you like most about this dynamic city!
Looking for more unique and adventourous destinations in Asia? Learn more about traveling India here.