Singapore🇸🇬

Singapore is another country that you must include in your South East Asia trip. Known as one of the cleanest countries ever, you will want to see how they are completely living in the future. The only downside is the country is quite expensive, especially as a tourist. I would go towards the end of your trip and spend as much time as your budget allows you, even if it is just for a one day layover. I spent four days here at the end of my trip, which is more than enough time. Singapore also has easy flight options all around the world, which allowed me to get a cheap, direct flight back to London.

Staying in a hostel can still be very expensive, but you get your own private pod, with extremely comfortable beds and all the amenities. It doesn’t have to be too swanky, as you will spend the rest of your time exploring, but if you are with friends, it might be cheaper to book a hotel/airbnb between you. To get around, I walked or got the bus, which was pretty easy to use and not expensive at all.

Jewel Changi Airport
You cannot miss visiting the famous Jewel Changi Airport. This Airport is famous for being a world-class nature, entertainment and retail complex. It has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a train which takes you around and holds over 280 different shops and restaurants, offering a fun travel experience to all kinds of travellers. When getting your flight out, I suggest going a few hours earlier so you have time to properly explore the airport and browse the incredible shops.

Marina Bay Sands & Shopping Mall
You have to pop by Marina Bay Sands, the iconic resort in Singapore. It is known as a premier 55-story hotel with a huge rooftop, that holds the largest infinity pool. At the top it also has a few restaurants and bars, giving it the perfect place to watch the sunset over Singapore. The building itself is also a highlight, with its amazing architecture, it was a pinch me moment going inside. There are so many incredible high-end shops to browse, food spots and cool experiences to see on the lower two levels of the building. You could spend a whole day here just mooching around.

Gardens by the Bay
You have to see the famous Gardens by the Bay both during the day and especially at night. There are eighteen incredible supertrees, which light up every night for a Garden Rhapsody light and sound show. This free light show happens every evening from 7:45pm-8:45pm. It lasts for ten to fifteen minutes and is held at the Supertree Grove. The show features synchronised, colour changing LED lights with special themed displays and is the perfect way to spend an evening!

OCBC Skyway at Gardens of the Bay
If you want to watch the light show from above on the Skyway, you will need to buy a ticket for this, which costs around 12 SGP. The 128-meter aerial walkway opens every evening and provides a panoramic view of the show where you can watch all the trees light up. The queue for this can be very long, so you want to get there as early as possible and start queuing around 7pm. This will allow you to be on the skyway for when the light show starts at 7:45pm. You are only allowed on the skyway for fifteen to twenty minutes before the next lot of people are allowed up and they do shuffle you out if you try to stay. Definitely worth the view as you can also see a gorgeous view of Marina Bay Sands all lit up!

Art Science Museum & National Museum of Singapore
Make sure to visit both the Art Science Museum and National Museum of Singapore. Both museums you have to pay for a ticket, but they are worth the price!

The Art Science Museum offers different exhibitions which you can visit, with the permanent Teamlab Future World exhibit being a huge favourite. This is the one I went to see and involves an immersive experience of different interactive, light and magical installations.

The National Museum of Singapore is where you can learn about Singapore’s rich heritage and history. A very interesting exhibit and perfect way to spend one a morning in Singapore.

One George Street
Take in Singapores amazing architecture and walk through the streets of One George, which will take you to Raffles Hotel. If you have the budget, you can get a cheeky cocktail at the hotel, however, the prices of these are ridiculous with some being nearly £40!

Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay
Buy a ticket to visit the Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay. You can buy a ticket on the Gardens by the Bay website or on Klook. This ticket allows you to enter the experience, where you can explore one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls, as well as walk along an aerial hanging walkway surrounded by different exotic plants and trees.

Chinatown Singapore
Spend the morning exploring Chinatown. Pop into the different shops, restaurants and food stalls here, where you will eat some of the best food ever!

Merlion Park and Fort Canning
Merlion Park is famous for the iconic Merlion statues, which are a mythical creature with a lion’s head and fish’s body. These statues symbolises Singapore’s origins as a fishing village. It is a big tourist spot, where you can see a panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands over the river.

Fort Canning Park is another spot to get your morning steps in. It is a former British military base, located in the middle of Singapore and features a mixture of greenery, wartime history and archaeological sites, with the iconic photo spot of the underground spiral staircase.

Spago by Wolfgang Puck, Marina Bay Sands
If you want to go out for a nice meal, take yourself out to Spago in Marina Bay Sands. On my last day I took myself out and had lunch and a few drinks at the different bars in Marina Bay Sands. It is expensive, but completely worth it for the experience and the views over Singapore.

Infinity Pool at Sky Park Marina Bay Sands Hotel
You can only get into the Infinity Pool if you are staying there, however, you can see a close up view of it at the CÉ LA VI Bar. Make sure to book a spot ahead of time as it is very popular and I don’t think they do walk ins anymore.

Level 33 Craft Brewery Restaurant & Lounge
If you want to see Marina Bay Sands light up in the night and see a gorgeous view of it from afar, Level 33 Craft Brewery is the best place for it. I spent my last night here, took myself out on a date and got to see it light up in front of me. It is expensive, but that’s what you get with a view like this. Completely worth it though!

Shopping
Singapore is dangerous for anyone with a shopping addiction. There are loads of different places to go to. Marina Bay Sands is for the more high-end shopping, but they also have Singapore Mall and City Square Mall, which are perfect to shop at for all kinds of clothes and beauty products.

• Marina Bay Sands Shopping Mall
• Arab Street
• Bugis Street
• Haji Lane
• Clarke Quay Central

Foodie Spots
There are loads of different food spots to go to in Singapore. Depending on if you want a nice meal out or to try one of the different food stalls, the places I visited were:

• Little India
• Maxwell Food Centre
• Clarke Quay Central
• China Town
• Dragon Chamber
• Tanjong Pagar
• Haji Lane
• Tekka Centre
• Marina Bay Sands

Overall, Singapore is an incredible place to visit. After nearly seven months of travelling South East Asia, I caught my flight back to London. Only another 10kg heavier from the shopping spree, but it was the perfect and most luxurious way to end my trip!