Top things to do in Singapore
From dining with orangutans to chartering your very own yacht, here are our top 10 things to do and see while in the Southeast Asian city-state
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Singapore is a country of contrasts. Many destinations are said to have something for everyone but with ancient temples, imposing cityscapes and wild uncharted jungle land, when it comes to this Southeast Asian nation, it's actually true. Here we round up the top 10 things to put on your to-do list if you're planning a visit to Singapore:
1. Go mangrove kayaking at Pulau Ubin
The mangroves on the island of Pulau Ubin are teeming with some of the most jaw-dropping wildlife you’re ever likely to experience.
Winged-wonders include Oriental-pied hornbills, eagles, kingfishers and herons. Down by your feet you’ll find pink dolphins, manta rays, otters, crabs and monitor lizards, all surrounded by incredible sea grass lagoons, coral rubble and coastal forests and other wetland ecosystems.
Kayaking tours from Changi Beach, past the cape of Chek Jawa and through the mangroves last for four or six hours and are a truly unforgettable experience.
2. Try the fish head curry at the Banana Leaf Apolo
There are certain dishes that define a nation. The UK's might be fish and chips or sausage and mash but Singapore's is fish head curry – and one of the best you’ll find is at Banana Leaf Apolo (+65 6293 8682, thebananaleafapolo.com) on Race Course Road.
The head of the fish is served on its side with the eye looking up at you so you can dig into the cheeks which are the tenderest parts of the fish. It it comes in a rich, sweet and spicy sauce full of vegetables. Packing a serious flavour punch, it met the approval of world-renowned chef Anthony Bourdain, so it must be good.
3. Spend a night at the Raffles Hotel (or at least visit)
In the same way that a dish can define a place, so can a hotel. New York has The Plaza and Singapore has The Raffles (+65 6337 1886, raffles.com), one of the world’s iconic hotels.
Described as ‘an intoxicating blend of luxury, history and colonial design’, The Raffles Hotel has been setting the standard of ultimate luxury since 1887 and was named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of the Garden City.
At least one night of your life should be spent at The Raffles, if for no other reason than to sit at the Long Bar and have the original Singapore Sling.
4. Charter a boat from the One°15 Marina Club
The best place in Singapore to charter a boat – whether an unspectacular but solid fishing boat or a an opulent ocean superyacht – is the One°15 Marina Club (one15marina.com, +65 6305 6988) on Sentosa Island.
Charter rates range from £275 to £5,500 but for exceptional service and trips out into the Singapore Strait, the islands and even across to Malaysia and Indonesia, the One°15 Marina Club is the place to be.
Back on dry land the marina has an award-winning fine dining restaurant and a bar where you can relax, drink a cool cocktail and watch the sunset.
5. Take a dip at the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool
Similar to the Raffles, no trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to the Marina Bay Sands (+65 6688 8868, marinabaysands.com), to experience the sensational infinity pool.
The world’s longest elevated swimming pool and the largest rooftop infinity pool, you can find the Marina Bay Sands pool on the 57th floor. It’s for hotel guests only but there’s nothing better than drinking a Singapore Sling with your feet in the warm water watching the world go by 200 metres below, so it's certainly worth booking a stay at the hotel for the pool alone.
The poolside menu is by Wolfgang Puck and if you’re looking for something to add to your bucket list, this has got to be up there.
6. Enjoy a made-to-measure meal at Imperial Herbal
There are lots of Chinese restaurants in Singapore, so what makes Imperial Herbal (imperialherbal.com, +65 6337 0491) so special? With a focus on healthy cuisine, prior to ordering, the in-house Chinese physician will give you a health diagnosis before a bespoke meal is created to correspond with your requirements. Ancient medicinal herbs that best compliment your health diagnosis are added to your food. Delicious and unusual, the menu is a true taste of the real Singapore and unique experience.
7. Stay in Singapore's most expensive Airbnb
More and more of us are using Airbnb on our travels and Singapore is no different. There are thousands of places to choose from but there is only one Black & White House.
It’s the most expensive Airbnb property in Singapore at an eye-watering £2,500 a night but it’s a place of stunning colonial proportions – to the tune of 600 sq. m. It has been used for movies, international product launches and star-studded parties and you could stay there.
8. Sample the world's smelliest fruit at Ah Seng
Durian has got to be one of the world's most divisive foodstuffs. Some love it and some hate it but it’s one of the many delicacies that has come to define Singapore as a foodie destination.One of the best places to buy durian – judging by the daily queues around the corner – is at Ah Seng at the Ghim Moh Temporary Market (01-161 S, 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020). They have three main varieties and the best is supposed to be Mao Shan Wang – literally ‘cat hill king’ – at £7.
The smell has been described as a mix of rotten onions, turpentine and raw sewage and it smells so bad that it’s been banned from public transport, but the taste has been likened to sweet, custardy almonds. The only way to truly find out is to try it for yourself.
9. Have breakfast with the orangutans at Singapore Zoo
There are few experiences quite like breaking bread with the orangutans at Singapore Zoo (+65 6295 3411, zoo.com.sg) – one of the world's foremost rainforest zoos.
Every morning between 9.30am and 10am over breakfast at the Ah Meng restaurant, the family of magnificent orangutans make their way over via their treeways and across a lowered drawbridge. What better way to start the day than by getting up close and personal with some of our closest animal relatives?
10. Learn about Chinese mythology at Haw Park Villa theme park
Haw Park Villa (+65 6736 6622, yoursingapore.com) is a theme park with a difference. It’s dedicated to the stories of Chinese mythology and has been open since the 1930s.
The park’s most famous exhibit is the grotesque depiction of the 10 Courts of Hell, or ‘Diyu’, the realm of the dead in Chinese mythology but there are lots of beautiful tableaux and statues telling millennia-old stories.
Unsurprisingly this is the only theme park of its kind and anyone with even a passing interest in the tales from the east should pay a visit.
Singapore Airlines — the world’s most awarded airline — and its regional wing SilkAir, operate flights to Singapore and more than 36 other South-east Asian destinations, including Laos and Indochina. Curl up and enjoy a film from our extensive collection as you sip a glass of champagne, a cocktail or a cup of tea. Explore the world with us and enjoy the lengths we go to to make you feel at home. Book now at singaporeair.com
A version of this article first appeared on firststopsingapore.com