Gardens by the Bay

You’ve probably heard about Gardens by the Bayand its temperate biodome with (of course) indoor waterfall, skywalks to take in city views, restaurants atop “giant tree” installations, and more. But these paid activities aren’t all there is to offer. The gardens are actually free to enter and you can find yoga pavilions, brilliant winding paths (which kids will love to explore), bridges and boardwalks, lakes, a great children’s playground and stunning flora and fauna (we hung out with some wild chickens during a layover). All this you will find on the huge site that does not require you to spend a dollar.

Stroll through Chinatown and Little India

While Singapore might be known for its soaring skyscrapers, its humbler and more eclectic beginnings can still be seen in the cultural areas of Chinatown and Little. India. Stop by the low-rise buildings and narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets to sample some of the diverse food ethnicities that Singapore is known for. You’ll also be able to visit temples and old shops, buy a souvenir or three, and admire how Singapore’s many cultures and backgrounds live side by side in harmony.

Art Science Museum

The Museum of Art and Science is part of Marina Bay Sands Development (next to the famous hotel, casino and mega mall) so you can sign up for a free Sands Lifestyle membership to get 30% off tickets to this fabulous and exciting museum. Tickets can still be expensive for the world-class roster of exhibits and limited in time (there is no permanent collection), but our kids spent hours in one of the current exhibits Future World: Where Art Meets Scienceinteracting with light displays, climbing through tunnels, going down slides and climbing obstacle courses. Perfect Instagram feed.

A show of sound, light and water

If you visit the Museum of Art Sciences in the early evening, grab a bite to eat Food court or one of the restaurants at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sand Mall opposite, before strolling along the beautifully manicured beachfront. The evening is a great time to admire the river and city lights at cooler temperatures, and at 8:00pm and 9:00pm you can enjoy a free 15-minute sound, light and water show called Spectra, which tells the story of “ the story of Singapore in four”. documents’.

Find the monkeys and soar above the water on Mount Faber

Take a (slow) hike up the hill to Mount Faber to cross the water to the smaller island of Sentosa by cable car, which offers both a fun activity and mode of transportation as well as great photo opportunities. On the way, you might come across some wild monkeys hanging out in the greenery beside the path. Visit on a weekday and you’ll avoid the crowds that can gather on the weekend and have a better chance of seeing some new animal friends (just don’t feed them!). Mount Faber Park is also part of the Southern Ridges Trail, offering 10 km of parks and trails linked by bridges, leading from Harbor Front to Kent Ridge Park.

Pedal along East Coast Park

Singapore aims to be not just a garden city, but a ‘city in a garden’, and evidence of the success of this mission is all around you. Many parks, gardens and park connectors cross the island, and one of the most original (and best) of these is East Coast Park.

Built on reclaimed land and with man-made beaches, sports fields, fishing spots and (of course) hawker centres, East Coast Park is perfect for a day out on two wheels. Grab a bike rental from one of the many bike rental locations in the park itself, or even bring a street bike Any wheel – Singapore’s bike sharing service – from city to pootle along the 15km coastline enjoying the sea breeze.

go to the beach

Singapore might be bustling, but it’s also surrounded by tiny island sanctuaries with beautiful beaches. Hop on a short ferry ride to Lazarus Island (via St John’s Island and a short walk away) or Kusu Island to stay in a quiet deserted island oasis of white beaches, palm trees, jungle and a break from agitation. Kusu even has a turtle sanctuary that is home to hundreds of turtles. A welcome contrast to the bustling skyscrapers of downtown Singapore. Take the ferry from Marina South Pier, which you can reach by MRT.

Get a Singapore Sling at Raffles

I can’t afford to stay in the famous Raffles Hotel? This icon of Singapore’s colonial architecture and history is worth a visit. Head to the Long Bar, where the famous Singapore Sling cocktail was invented, and have a refreshing drink in the old surroundings. The Long Bar is perhaps the only place in the country where littering is encouraged – patrons are invited to brush their peanut shells directly onto the floor.

And don’t forget the Merlion

Singapore is known as the Lion City (in Malay “singa” is “lion” and “pura” means “city”) and its symbol is the merlion – half lion, half fish. The story goes that in 1299, the emperor of the Srivijayan Empire, which included Malaysia, Singapore and all of Sumatra, wanted a new capital for his empire and set out to find one by sea. He landed after some difficulty in Singapore and saw a lion in the jungle, which he took as a good omen and renamed what was previously known as Temasek (Sea City in Old Javanese) Singapura or Singapore. See the famous statue at the mouth of the Singapore River in Merlion Park.

Checklist

SINGAPORE

GET THERE

Fly non-stop from Auckland to Singapore with Singapore Airlines in about 11 hours.

DETAILS

visitsingapore.com/en