Singapore is one of the best destinations for a fun-filled family vacation. There is something for everyone, its easy to get around, and the city is a cosmopolitan cocktail of delights. There are countless things to do in Singapore, but I’m just going to cover a few things that I liked, and felt are must-do’s.
GARDENS BY THE BAY
These trees light up at night in a spectacular music and light show. If you want to feel like you are in the movie Avatar, head over for the show. Psychedelic trippy neon glowing tree lights pulsate to the music and it is spectacular for kids, adults, everyone. Best of all, its free! You have to pay if you want to go up the trees across one of the walkways though. Pro tip: Get there early, the good places in the centre get taken. Also, don’t bother eating at any of the restaurants in the gardens, the food is nothing great and very expensive.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
This is a full-day affair! Located in Sentosa, there are many zones with different themes, from Shrek to Madagascar to Dinosaurs and Ancient Egypt. According to us, the best ride was Transformers 3D. The best rollercoaster was Battlestar Galactica (the blue cyclon track). Revenge of the Mummy is a dark roller coaster that was decent. There are a lot of dances and shows by people dressed as animated characters, take a schedule at the entry gate to know the timings. Pro tip: Take the express pass to skip the queues if you are going on a weekend. There are lockers inside where you can leave your bags.
SENTOSA
Sentosa has so many attractions, it actually requires its own blog post. But just to give you a quick outline – Need a beach break? For the best spots, head to Palawan, or Siloso Beach on Sentosa. The S.E.A. aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world. There are over 100,000 marine animals of over 800 different species, enough to keep the kids busy for a few hours. Take a selfie with the Merlion – Singapore’s famous statue that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. For an adrenaline rush, there are ziplines, iFly, or take a chairlift ride up to Imbiah Lookout and a luge ride down… a luge is a kart with brakes. For the water babies, there is also Adventure cove waterpark. At night, check out the crane dance show at 8pm at Resorts World. How to get there? You can take a taxi, or ride a cable car over for some good views. Plan your visit here – https://www.sentosa.com.sg/
NIGHT SAFARI
Another hit with the kids, this features walking trails and tram rides around 8 regions to see the nocturnal activity of rhinos, deer, lions, elephants, and much more. The 35-hectare park features over 1,000 animals in their natural surroundings.
ORCHARD ROAD
For shopaholics, Orchard road is mall central. A 2-km long retail heaven, this is the pulse of the city. There are 22 malls and 6 department stores on this stretch! I personally liked Far East Plaza on Scotts Road (adjacent to Orchard road). It has small stores that sell the latest fashions, trendy accessories, and more. Orchard Road is a great place to visit during Christmas, as it gets all festive and lit up and the stores go all out to decorate themselves in the jolly spirit. For serious bargain hunters, the Great Singapore Sale is on from June to August. Pro tip: One of the best places to change money is Lucky Plaza.
SIM LIM SQUARE
Electronics heaven! Leave the men here while you shop on Orchard road. Six floors of the latest electronics, gadgets and gizmos at good prices, you can be sure their wallets will come back a little lighter from here. Who said men don’t like to shop?
CLARKE QUAY
This is more for adults than for kids. There are a variety of restaurants and bars by the riverside promenade, that are lively till late. This area is also famous for clubs like Ministry of Sound and Zouk, if you like to party. You can check out the G-max reverse bungy at one end of the quay. Instant adrenaline rush, but we found ride time very short as compared to the long queue to wait in for your turn.
MARINA BAY SANDS
Catch the laser and water fountain show at 8pm everyday in Front of Marina Bay Sands, the iconic luxury hotel. You can hit the casinos here, or eat in one of the restaurants the line the bay. If you stay in this hotel, you can take a swim in the infinity pool at the top, which is 57 floors high!
EAST COAST PARK
To getaway from the hectic city, chill out in East Coast Park. You can rent rollerblades and cycles to zoom along the promenade, or have a picnic. There are many cafes and restaurants. The beach water is murky, but water sports are available to do. If you are on the other side of the island, check out West Coast park.
MACRITCHIE RESERVOIR
If you’re looking to get in touch with nature, go off the beaten track… head to Macritchie Reservoir. A popular spot for nature lovers, this is Singapore’s oldest reservoir. This huge nature reserve is full of trekking trails, mountain bike trails, and lakeside boardwalks. You can even kayak in the reservoir. On your walk you can come across monkeys, turtles and monitor lizards. The trees are thick and shady, so you can even do an afternoon trek without feeling too hot. The treetop walk is highly advertised, but I didn’t find it that amazing. Its a hanging bridge slung high over the trees. My recommendation would be to walk along the boardwalks in the south. The south car park entrance has a food court and clean bathrooms. Pro tip: Carry water with you, as once you are deep inside the reserve, there are no amenities around!
ST. JOHN’S ISLAND
If you’ve been there, done that for all of the above… take a day trip to St. John’s island. A half hour ferry trip from South Marina Pier takes you to a small getaway spot where you can walk about, picnic, swim or laze on the beach. Sentosa beaches are crowded on the weekends, but here you will find a secret beach! From the St. John island pier, take a left and walk on a wide road bridge across to Lazarus island. On the right side you will come across a crescent shaped beach with clean sand. There is no food on this island though, you will have to pack everything you need, including water. Pro tip: Keep a note of the return ferry timings… you don’t want to miss the last boat home!
BEST EATS
Being such a multicultural city makes it a great place to eat! Some of our favourite things to eat were – Chilli crab at Jumbo Seafood, Chicken rice at any hawker stall, Milo dinosaur and roti prata at any hawker centre, plain bun at Papparoti or Roti boy branches, cream puff at Beard Papa.
JEWEL
Last but not least, if you are flying in and out of Singapore, take some time to visit the new Jewel attraction at Changi airport. This houses the largest indoor waterfall in the world. Surrounded by rainforest, you can enjoy the cool air, take selfies against the massive 5-storey waterfall, eat at one of many cafes around the waterfall or do some shopping. This is something you really cannot miss, and what’s better, entry is free! You can visit an hour before your flight departure. Pro tip: Do an early check-in to get rid of your bags, and then head to Jewel! Alternatively, if you are visiting from arrivals, there’s a luggage storage area on Jewel level one – SGD7.50 for 4 hours.
You can visit Singapore many times and still find new things to do! The little red dot is one of the world’s most popular cities. If you are visiting, check out Spontie or Klook for last minute discounts on tickets to popular attractions.
Gypsea Trip 