Singapore 🇸🇬
Singapore
Tips
- Liquor can’t be sold after 10:30pm and is highly taxed; would recommend travelling to Thailand/Vietnam to party.
- There’s no specific place that’s the best, but I’d recommend trying kaya jam, a sweet coconut custard spread, often used on toast.
- Hawker centers are fantastic, but can be overwhelming. Pick what interests you, or find the stall with the longest line. Food is so affordable that you can try multiple things without feeling like each is a commitment.
- Worth it: Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, Flower Garden, Jewel at Changi, Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell’s
- Universal Studios Sentosa is fun, but much too small compared to North American theme parks.
Attractions
Garden Rhapsody + Spectra - A Light & Water Show
Popular light shows at Gardens by the Bay and MBS, both worth seeing at least once. I always enjoyed seeing Garden Rhapsody at 7:45pm (lying on the ground for the best experience) followed by Spectra at 9:00pm.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
An outstanding venue for classical music. I frequented this place for cheap or free music recitals while on exchange, but the quality of performance is so high that I’d recommend it to anyone visiting NUS.
Incredibly well-kept garden, worth the admission price. Diverse and beautiful orchids that flow from every area.
Free observation deck on the 51st floor if you book in advance. Great views of Singapore with entertaining architecture.
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
Beautiful architecture, great indoor and outdoor concert venues.
Great aquariums, but the highlight for me was the pandas, red pandas, and capybaras.
Highly recommend, a very unique experience to enjoy a zoo at night, when nocturnal species like porcupines, tigers, and kangaroos are actively roaming.
Perfect place for a picnic; quiet and grassy, with Marina Bay Sands in the background. Supposedly also really nice at sunset!
Futuristic mall with indoor bikepath, climbing walls, and computer shops.
Free museum that gives a great history of the development of Singapore. I’d recommend going early on in your trip to familiarize yourself with the landscape of Singapore.
Food
Sing Swee Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice and Zi Char
Far better and quicker Hainanese chicken rice than the famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Come here instead.
Liao Fan Hawker Chan (Chinatown)
The first hawker center to receive a Michelin star. Phenomenal. One of the juiciest, most flavourful chickens that I’ve eaten.
Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique – Craig (Tanjong Pagar)
Great gelato, lots of flavours.
Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King Four Seasons
Tasty ramen.
Keng Eng Kee Seafood @ Alexandra Village
My favourite place for an iconic Singapore dish, chili crab. Stir-fried crab in a chili tomato gravy. Pair it with fried mantou (Chinese buns). Slightly edges out No Signboard Seafood At Geylang and JUMBO Seafood - Jewel in value.
You can find better durian and lower prices in Malaysia, but this is worthwhile to go to for your first time.
Drink
Chain that serves refreshing creamy coconut shakes with bits of coconut flesh.
Awesome bar experience with a cozy ambience. Bartenders are very helpful at suggesting or creating cocktails based on your preferences.
Great cocktails and oysters, but the highlight is the amazing view of the Singapore skyline over the Singapore River.
