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Singapore’s Best Attractions
Sentosa Island is one of the major highlights of Singapore. It is a tropical theme park with sandy beaches and only ten minutes away from Singapore. Connected to the mainland by a causeway bridge, it’s a popular day trip for all. All bus and monorail transportation around Sentosa is included in the entrance fee.
The easiest way to get to Sentosa is to take the MRT train to HarbourFront station. On Level 3 of Vivocity, the Sentosa Express monorail goes over the causeway to the island. Alternatively, from Harbour Front you can ride the Cable Car for scenic views of the city and the island. Or take a taxi directly to Sentosa Island.
There are many attractions and activities on Sentosa Island:
Images of Singapore is a wax museum with displays depicting the story of Singapore’s history, located at the top of the hill near the Cable Car station.
Sky Tower is an observation tower located at the top of the hill near the Cable Car station. It takes you up to a height of 131m above sea level and offers a 360-degree view of Sentosa, Singapore and the Southern islands. Day or night, views from the tower promise to be both scenic and breathtaking.
Sentosa Merlion is a 37m high statue of the Merlion (half fish, half lion and national symbol of Singapore). Visitors can take the elevator up to the mouth and head lookouts for great views over Sentosa Island and Singapore’s Port.
Songs of the Sea at Beach Singapore Station is a nightly extravaganza set in the sea with a live cast, pyrotechnics, water jets and lasers
Underwater World takes visitors into the ocean depths via a moving travellator that ferries you through an 83-metre-long acrylic tunnel. All around you are sharks, stingrays, eels and schools of fish.
Dolphin Lagoon at Palawan Beach Singapore has highly intelligent and loveable pink Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins demonstrating their natural abilities. You can also swim with the dolphins.
Fort Siloso is the former WW2 British Naval Base and fortress where the British waited to defend a seabourne Japanese invasion. The guns were pointed out towards the sea in preparation for an attack. However, the Japanese came through the jungle down the Malay peninsula and caught the British by surprise.
Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel and is located at Marina Bay. At a height of 165m and featuring fixed capsules the size of a bus, Singapore Flyer provides panoramic views that capture Singapore’s skyline glimpses of Malaysia and Indonesia.
Singapore Zoo is located at Mandai Lake Road next to the Seletar Reservoir and is one of the best zoos in Asia, if not the world. The animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures, separated from the visitors by dry or wet moats. There is a zoo train that takes visitors through the park and children can play at Rainforest Kidzworld, a water play area themed like a wet animal wonderland.
Jungle Breakfast is a very popular buffet breakfast, at the zoo, hosted by a range of animals such as orangutans, otters and elephants.
Night Safari is part of the Zoo and is the world’s first wildlife park built to be viewed at night with geographic zones like the Southeast Asian rainforest, African savanna, Nepalese river valley, South American pampas and Burmese jungle. At the amphitheater, the 30 minute ‘Creatures of the Night’ show runs three times per night. The tram tour is highly recommended otherwise visitors will do a lot of walking and the eastern part of the park is not accessible by walking. At the second tram station there is a walking path ‘The Leopard Trail’ for viewing giraffes, flying squirrels, lions and other animals.
Jurong Bird Park is an open-concept park and its collection of more than 8,000 birds from 600 species is among the largest in the world. The Park specialises in birds from Southeast Asia. The Park has four walk-in aviaries, among which is the world’s largest walk-in aviary with the tallest man-made waterfall. Bird shows, staged at the Pools Amphitheater and Fuji Hawk Walk are entertaining and informative and have thrilled visitors from all over the world.
Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden is located next to Lakeside MRT. A very pleasant place for visitors to relax and during Sept/Oct each year there is a Lantern Festival where the garden is lit up with thousands of lanterns making a wonderful night-time experience.
Singapore Science Centre houses more than 850 science and technology exhibits. Omni-Theatreis an Omnimax movie cinema and Planetarium located next to the Science Centre.
Snow City is a permanent indoor snow center in Singapore. If you need a break from the hot and humid Singaporean climate this is the place to be. Skiing, snowboarding or sleds are available for hire subzero bar.
Botanic Gardens are located on Bukit Timah Road and feature trees and plants from tropical climates around the world. [Open 5am-midnight, Free entry]
National Orchid Garden is located in the Botanic Gardens and the home of Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, and many others. [Open 8:30am-7pm]
Singapore Grand Prix is a formula one night race held in late September every year on the street circuit at Marina Bay.
Marina Barrage is a dam built across the 350m mouth of the Marina Channel. Keeping out seawater, it transforms the Marina Basin into a freshwater body. The Marina Basin waters are constant all year round, making it ideal for water sports. There are an assortment of Food & Beverage outlets.
Bumboats are small tourist-oriented boats that cruise the Singapore River offering short rides and cruises with nice views of the Singapore CBD skyline.
National Museum of Singapore houses many exhibits covering the history of Singapore.
Singapore Art Museum houses exhibitions of modern art from both Singapore and the Asia.
Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan) is the largest mosque in Singapore with its golden domes. Visitors must be appropriately dressed (shorts, short skirts & sleeveless shirts are not permissible).
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque is the second most important mosque in Singapore named after an aristocratic Malay woman who donated money to build it. It was build with a mix of local Malay Muslim and British colonial architecture.
Sri Krishnan is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu located on Waterloo Street.
Sri Mariamman Temple at 244 South Bridge Rd is Singapore’s oldest and most important Hindu temple and worth a visit for the intricately carved entrance. Remember to take off your shoes and don’t disturb the worshippers.
Chinatown lies behind the soaring skyscrapers of Singapore’s financial district contrasting the old with the new. In the crowded and colourful network of streets and alleyways Chinese merchants sell their goods from the ground floor of quaint pre-war shop houses. This cultural hub of Chinese migrants is bounded by Upper Pickering Street, Cantonment Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. Take the MRT to Chinatown station arriving on Pagoda walking street. Walk along Pagoda Street and explore the parallel streets of Mosque Street, Temple Street, Smith Street and Sago Street. It’s a great place to visit day or night.
