If you are a passionate traveller keen to explore something new and exciting, then Singapore should be at the top of your travel destinations. There are so many reasons to visit this nation city.
Some of them are places associated with its rich history, diverse cultures, temples, opulent hotels, and a variety of food options, including affordable ones. The other reasons are its sprawling shopping malls, beaches, natural spots, adventure destinations, and more.
For whatever reason, you are planning to visit Singapore, an absolutely thrilling and delightful exploration experience awaits you in the Lion City.
Here are some of the leading and worth visiting tourist attractions in Singapore.
Top Attractions for Tourists in Singapore
1. Vintage Camera Museum
The Vintage Camera Museum is the only camera museum in Singapore. It is located in Kampong Glam, a neighbourhood and ethnic enclave in Singapore. Located in a camera-shaped building, the museum is equipped with over 1000 cameras. They provide visitors with the knowledge about the history of cameras and their transformation over the last 137 years of modern film photography and even before this period.
The museum organizes a tour named “invention, innovation and transformation” where visitors get to see and learn about the milestones of camera and photography.
The museum also lets you view photo wall collections that exhibit the first photos in the world. The photos also include the first photo in Singapore and the first color photos in the world besides others. Moreover, you will get to know when all those pictures were created and how they were created.
2. The Merlion
The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It represents Singapore’s origins as a fishing village. This nation-city also derived its name Singapura (Lion City), from this creature.
Located at Merlion Park at One Fullerton, this statue is 8.6 meters tall and weighs 70 tonnes. It pours water from its mouth and provides ultimate views of Marina Bay. It provides a great photo shooting opportunity for tourists.
The beautiful pattern of lights in the night significantly enhances the Merlion statue’s beauty and grace. The monument in the backdrop of towering skyscrapers transforms Singapore into heavens at night.
3. Garden Rhapsody Show
The Garden Rhapsody show is yet another famous tourist attraction in Singapore. It is organized at the park by the name of Gardens by the Bay. The park’s specialty is artistic super trees with height up to 50 metres. The Garden Rhapsody show is held every night between 7:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. for about 15 minutes.
It offers a stunning display of lights and music on the super trees. The entry to the show is free. But to take part in special festive editions or other attractions with the Gardens, you may have to buy tickets. Watching the Garden Rhapsody show is an incredible and magical experience that you mustn’t miss.
4.The Gem Museum
This is a comprehensive museum in Singapore that features gems and minerals. It is open for public visit. It houses a collection that features a wide variety of gemstones and minerals procured from all corners of the world.
The aim of the museum is to educate visitors about the journey of gems and minerals from mine to market and understand how to judge their value, quality, and authenticity. The Gems Museum serves as a bridge between the gemstone industry and people keen to know more about the world of beautiful gems and how they can add value to their life.
5. Singapore Botanic Gardens
The planners of Singapore emphasized making the city green and environmentally sustainable. This green initiative is visible in the streets in the form of trees, plants on roofs and buildings, and gardens. Singapore Botanic Gardens is one such garden that lets visitors retreat into nature.
This is the only tropical garden in the world that was accorded the status of a UNESCO world heritage site. It lies west of the thriving malls along Orchard Road. A peaceful and calm atmosphere prevails in this 165-year-old garden.
The garden is divided into three areas or “cores. The first one is the Tanglin core, the oldest area with heritage charms of the historic garden. The second is the Tyersall-Gallop core that is integrated into the park’s rainforest. The third one is Bukit Timah. It is an educational zone with a children’s garden, tree houses, and a farm. If you are looking for the most relaxing spot in the lap of nature, then the Singapore Botanic Gardens is worth visiting.
6. Haw Par Villa
Singapore not only provides travellers the opportunity to explore its modern side, but also gives a glimpse of its rich heritage and culture.
Haw Par Villa is one of the best tourist attractions in Singapore for those interested in the rich cultural legacy of the Singaporean people. It is an Asian cultural park spread over an area of 8.5 hectares. The place was formerly known as the Tiger Balm Garden. Haw Par Villa showcases Chinese culture, history, folklore, moral tales, philosophy, and religion in a quirky yet enlightening way.
The villa features over 1000 statues and 150 dioramas presenting Chinese legends. They include the White Snake Legend and moral lessons. The entry to the park is free which makes it accessible to visitors to feel the Chinese cultural experience.
7. The Singapore Flyer
A ride in the Singapore Flyer provides a thrilling and delightful experience to travellers. One of the tallest observation wheels on the earth, the flyer reaches a dizzying height of 165 metres. The flyer’s gigantic size and towering presence make it one of the more famous skyscrapers of Singapore.
The ride on the flyer spans 20 minutes and provides breath-taking views of the entire Marina Bay and the downtown streets. Moreover, it provides glimpses of Malaysia and Indonesia.
As the Singapore Flyer offers 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline, Marina Bay, and even further, it remains popular among tourists, families, and couples. Sunset or night is the best time to enjoy the views and ride in the flyer. If you are looking for memorable experiences and iconic photography opportunities, then the Singapore Flyer happens to be the best option for you.
8. Emerald Hill
Emerald Hill is a popular spot for tourists and travellers looking for a laid-back and relaxing experience. It is a charming and historically significant enclave located near Orchard Road.
The place was once home to wealthy Chinese merchants and Peranakan families. It showcases rich Peranakan architecture in the form of stunning and beautifully preserved Peranakan terrace shop houses with unique cultural details.
The other highlights of this place are the peaceful atmosphere and photogenic pastel facades. All these make Emerald Hill a preferred location for photographers, architecture lovers, and those looking for a relaxed escape from busy shopping districts nearby. People looking for a night out in trendy bars are also fond of this place.
9. The Southern Ridges
Are you looking for best tourist attractions in Singapore that let you perform invigorating exercises while enjoying spectacular views of nature across Singapore? Then the Southern Ridges is the ideal option. Stretching over 10 kilometres, it connects the hills of Mt. Faber Park, Kent Ridge Park, and Telok Blangah Hill Park. The Southern Ridges provides easy-to-moderate walking trails on a generally elevated walkway.
Mt. Faber is one of the oldest parks in the Singapore city where its second tallest hill is located. The park is covered in forests. Hiking through the place offers far-reaching views of southern Singapore along with the ocean and islands. From here, you can undertake a walk to Kent Ridge Park that roughly takes around 60 minutes.
To admire the scenic natural attractions, you have to stop along the way. The trail takes you through the undulating canopy called the Henderson Waves, before it reaches Telok Blangah for wide-ranging views of the city. Next comes the Elevated Walkway. It takes you high into the forest for a walk among the birds and butterflies. At last, you’ll reach Kent Ridge Park, a historically important place. The last defeats in the Battle of Singapore took place here.
10. Thian Hock Keng Temple
Also known as Tianfu Temple,Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Singapore. It is a popular cultural and historical attraction, particularly for tourists interested in knowing more about traditional Chinese architecture, heritage, and religion. The temple attracts visitors and worshippers because of its intricate carvings and dragon motifs. Its status as a National Monument is another reason that pulls people to visit the temple.
Early Chinese immigrants constructed this temple to express their thanks to the sea goddess Mazu for their safe passage. Moreover, it showcases captivating Southern Chinese craftsmanship. This is visible in intricate sculptures and detailed roof ridges made of porcelain. The craftsmanship is also visible in traditional layouts that were built without the use of a single nail.
Thian Hock Keng Temple is located in Chinatown. It is a significant place for the Hokkien community. Moreover, it is a symbol of Singapore’s multicultural religious landscape. It is located near other places of worship. The temple offers a peaceful refuge to visitors. They can observe prayers here. Moreover, they can light incense and appreciate the serene courtyards.
11. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is the first wetland nature reserve in Singapore. Moreover, it is an ASEAN Heritage Park. Furthermore, it is a vital sanctuary for preserving rich biodiversity. The reserve contains mudflats, mangroves, forests, and migratory birds. Thus, it provides a truly natural escape along with long trails and wildlife exploration opportunities.
Mudflats, mangrove swamps, ponds, and secondary forests provide diverse habitats and a rich ecosystem for supporting various plants and animals. The reserve features mudskippers, monitor lizards, crocodiles, otters, and a large number of birds, including migratory ones. The green trails stretch over a distance of 15 kilometers through the nature park network. This allows visitors to explore the nature in the city.
This wetland nature reserve provides a more natural and wilder experience in comparison to manicured city parks. For this reason, it has become a major spot for nature lovers who love to see and explore wildlife. Buloh Wetland Reserve is an important ecological asset and green lung for the Singapore city. It symbolizes that Singapore is absolutely committed towards the preservation of nature in the middle of urban development.
Final Thoughts
We hope you will find these destinations exciting and enjoyable when you embark on a visit to the city of Singapore. These destinations are enough to spark the travel bug in you. But there is much more to explore, visit, and engage in the city of Singapore about which we will talk about at some other time. Before we say goodbye to you, we wish you the best of luck for your upcoming visit to Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be expensive, but travelers can visit many green spaces and cultural sites either free or at low cost.
There are excellent transportation options available for travelers, including the MRT (subway) system, taxis, buses and ride-shares.
The Vintage Camera Museum, the Gem Museum, and Haw Par Villa are some popular, historically significant destinations in Singapore.
February to April is the best time due to pleasant weather, while December is great for festive vibes, but it is busier at this time.
You must keep items like an umbrella, a water bottle, insect repellent, good walking shoes, and light clothing.
You can find affordable and delicious local food options in hawker centers.
