Singapore is one metropolis I really feel fortunate to have referred to as dwelling! A giant cause why is, in fact, all of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore however the sudden nature of a few of them is probably what actually made it so particular to name town ‘home’ for some time…
My transfer to Singapore occurred proper intertwined with my time learning at Cambridge College and I’ve gotta admit, I moved over armed with not a lot else than a stereotypical expectation of what Singapore, being the worldwide metropolis that it’s, could be like.
Shiny, sparkly and chock-filled with glass and metal towers, was just about so far as my expectations would stretch on the time.
And don’t get me flawed, Singapore is shiny, sparkly and all of the stuff you’d count on from a world metropolis (properly, apart from the truth that the crime price right here is basically low!
You’d really feel as secure wandering across the streets at 4am as you’d at 4pm) however right here’s the factor – Singapore is about a lot extra than simply these shiny lights.
It’s additionally chock stuffed with some sudden surprises (that’s a little bit of a tautology – like “wet water” however you already know what I imply 🤪😄).
And they’re nice surprises too!
The type of shock that makes you realise why town is not only a terrific place to go to but in addition a tremendous place to name dwelling. The sort that made me actually need to keep on in Singapore lengthy after my preliminary plans right here.
However sufficient about that, let’s soar proper in, lets? 😁😁
1.) Ubin Island
So like I stated earlier than, Singapore is a shiny metropolis! It’s dwelling to many single multi-billion greenback corporations out there and has the very best focus of millionaires on the earth.
The whole lot about Singapore appears to shout shiny metropolis so that you’d be so simply forgiven for not realising there’s a extra pure and rustic facet to town! Stated place is Pulau Ubin, in any other case simply often known as Ubin or Ubin Island. (“Pulau” in English interprets to “Island”).
I didn’t really discover out about Ubin island myself. I really obtained an invitation to a piece staff day factor on the island (a country retreat in Singapore!) triggered my curiosity so I signed up.
Arriving on the island (it’s a brief boat experience from the mainland), I realised this was part of Singapore that’s nothing like the remainder of it.
On Ubin island, you’ll discover cobblestoned footpaths, deserted granite quarries and conventional kampongs (villages) – conventional Malay attap homes – and are available throughout kingfishers and Southeast Asian birds within the wetlands. It’s like taking a step again to the previous in Singapore and is chock full of fantastic wildlife.
It’s the type of island the place you may end up at a roadblock as you’re biking by as a result of the monkeys have determined to have a fruit break on the roads, or discover a wild pig rummaging by your bag seeking snacks, or the place seeing a hornbill or big monitor lizard is simply commonplace – undoubtedly very completely different from the Singapore you may count on when you solely spend time within the metropolis centre.
Ubin Island is superb and part of Singapore most travellers by no means actually suppose to go to. It’s such a improbable technique to “get lost” in nature and is so spectacular to discover. As briefly talked about earlier, attending to Ubin Island is fairly straightforward – it’s only a brief 10-minute boat experience!
To get round once you’re on the island, you may hire a bicycle, which makes probably the most sense because it you cowl extra of the island, although exploring on foot can also be one other nice choice right here.
Suffice to say, that is simply probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore when you’re actually seeking to get a extra balanced view of what Singapore has to supply, past bustling metropolis life.
2.) Lazarus Island
Singapore is just not a type of cities you’d anticipate finding a seaside in, and it’s not with out causes both. It’s by no means actually been a ‘beach holiday’ vacation spot however that’s to not say you may’t even have a extremely beautiful day on the seaside right here.
Lazarus Island is one other a type of underrated locations in Singapore that almost all travellers visiting town by no means actually suppose to discover.
Most individuals may suppose as a substitute to go to Sentosa (there are stretches of artificial seaside right here) however Lazarus Island is definitely top-of-the-line locations in Singapore to go to if you need a day trip on the seaside.
Lazarus Island isn’t actually crowded (it’s usually locals you discover right here) and it feels such as you’ve stepped so distant from town (you may’t even see the skyline once you’re right here as a result of it’s wanting away from town). A visit right here is well probably the most relaxed and most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
To get right here, you catch a ship from Singapore’s Marina South Pier to St John’s Island and simply stroll over to Lazarus island.
Additionally it is price testing St John’s Island for a bit bit right here and when you get the prospect to, after you’re accomplished with Lazarus island, the ticket you get can take you over to Kusu Island -pop in there too for a bit bit.
Oh, by the best way, you gained’t discover locations you should purchase issues right here and there isn’t actually shade on the island until you step away from the seaside and head over to the coconut timber so you’ll want to convey all the things you want with you (sunscreen, meals, drinks…and so forth).
3.) MacRitchie Nature Path
Carrying on within the nature-based theme, one other sudden factor to do in Singapore was exploring the Macritchie Nature Path. The Macritchie Nature Path is a type of spots proper within the metropolis that feels such as you’re miles away from town. This 12-hectare nature reserve has mountain climbing trails, kayaks and canoes for hire.
You may catch a taxi (or drive, in case you have a automobile) right here, park up and inside minutes really feel such as you’re some place else totally.
We confirmed up anticipating a fast stroll round however at 11 kilometres of strolling trails (and with a number of choices as to how to do that), you would very simply spend an virtually a full day simply wandering across the trails right here (in fact, you may select to be right here for as lengthy or as brief as you’d need). In case you’re up for outside adventures, that is simply probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore for that!
I feel it was whereas we have been right here that I realised how lively Singaporeans actually are. They profit from the character round them and it wasn’t unusual seeing folks simply twice our age (greater than generally) energy strolling previous you at a tempo we couldn’t even sustain with (belief me, we tried… many instances!!! 😄😄).
There are such a lot of alternatives to identify wildlife right here too – particularly these cheeky macaque monkeys and you would even discover flying lemurs right here. The Macritchie Nature Path has such lush tropical vegetation that it feels nothing like something you may even hope to search out in another international metropolis and is simply such a superb place to go to in Singapore.
4.) Little India
While you consider Singapore, it’s maybe its Chinese language heritage that involves thoughts for most individuals however Singapore is such a melting pot of various cultures and that is maybe most evident that in relation to the scrumptious meals on supply right here.
In case you’re searching for a number of the greatest Indian curries exterior of India, Little India in Singapore is likely one of the greatest locations to go to within the metropolis.
Because of Singapore’s comparatively large Indian inhabitants, you get to dine on a number of the most superb meals once you’re in Little India and at such superb costs. It’s simply probably the most scrumptious locations and probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
While you’re accomplished consuming to your coronary heart’s content material, a bit jaunt across the space is so price it as there are such a lot of alternatives to snap up a discount or two on stuff you maybe don’t really want however actually need. 😄😄
5.) Marina Bay Sands
This one’s a straightforward one. It’s really not sudden in the best way you may suppose – in that everybody is aware of about Marina Bay Sands and would most likely look to spend a while round right here.
Individuals even find out about that incredible swimming pool proper on prime of the resort right here. What may shock folks is that that is each the biggest and the very best infinity pool on the earth!
Despite the fact that we have been dwelling in Singapore then (fairly actually down the street from right here), I simply knew I needed to keep right here even when for only a night time in order that I might go to the pool (the pool is just for resort company).
Spoiler alert – it’s so price it! It felt like one thing of an pointless indulgence on the time however arriving there, I knew I’d made the appropriate name to not miss out on attending to benefit from the world’s largest and highest infinity pool! (Suffice to say, the view up there may be additionally fairly superb!). It’s a type of enjoyable issues to do in Singapore that I simply can’t advocate sufficient! 😁😁
I stayed up right here until lengthy after my fingers had gone as wrinkly as prunes! We have been the primary up there the following morning too! In case you ever get an opportunity to, even when you’re not a visitor on the resort for your entire time, you’ll want to ebook in an evening right here and arrive as early as attainable to profit from that incredible pool!
6.) Gardens by the bay
This one is probably not a lot so ‘surprising’ or ‘unexpected’ anymore however is simply included on right here as on the time, discovering such a tremendous place within the metropolis centre was a tad sudden – particularly so, the supertrees round right here that are as tall as a 16 story constructing!
As of late, it’s simply probably the most in style and most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore and with superb cause too.
It’s one other good instance of how Singapore does such a terrific job at balancing nature with metropolis life and is likely one of the explanation why Singapore is lauded as probably the most pure (or, I suppose inexperienced) cities to go to.
7.) Hawker Centre
Singapore being one thing of an costly metropolis is one thing most guests have come to count on of town.
Like I discussed earlier, town is dwelling to the biggest focus of millionaires on the earth and is continually ranked as probably the most costly cities to purchase a property in and even to dwell in.
As such, it’s comprehensible that most individuals count on to must spend some huge cash once they go to however this couldn’t be farther from the reality in relation to meals.
A few of the greatest meals in Singapore will be present in its hawker centres, the place you’ll discover a plethora of scrumptious native meals out there at fairly unimaginable costs (generally as a lot a 1/tenth of the costs you’ll discover in additional formal eating places).
If you need the very best meals in your travels, consuming the place the locals eat is one thing of a no brainer and in Singapore, that place is the hawker centres.
Living proof – do you know that Singapore’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Hen & Rice at present holds the honours because the world’s most cost-effective Michelin-star meal at beneath S$3 (roughly round £1.70 ) – how superb is that?
Why was this sudden? Nicely, I suppose once you arrive in a metropolis that’s well-known for being fairly fancy, discovering out that that is so not the case in relation to one thing as important as meals is certainly one nice shock to search out within the metropolis (particularly so when the meals is so good).
8.) Tasting Durian Fruit
For the uninitiated, durian is that pungent fruit that for lack of a greater technique to describe it, smells like sun-ripened rubbish. For some cause although, it’s so in style right here in Singapore and is one factor you must do once you’re right here.
Everyone seems to be so fascinated with it and it’s virtually marmite-like in that folks both actually adore it or actually hate it – no in-between! Nobody is ever ambivalent about it.
It took me a number of months to lastly work up the braveness to do that and spoiler alert – it’s tastes fairly just like the way it smells.
If for nothing else, it’s essential to attempt durian right here to see when you’re gonna be a type of who thinks it’s a lush, creamy fruit or certainly, one thing you by no means need to scent once more! 😆😆 It’s undoubtedly of probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore for foodies and the culinary-adventurous!
9.) The World’s Tallest Waterfall
Singapore’s Changi Airport has for some time now been extensively considered top-of-the-line airports on the earth. There’s simply a lot to see and do once you’re right here that’s it’s change into greater than only a place to catch a flight from!
As a substitute, it’s extra of a enjoyable hub for travellers and locals alike. It’s a spot that you simply may need to arrive early simply so you may spend time in and is actually probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
Probably the most thrilling addition to the airport now’s the spectacular round waterfall which is well probably the most spectacular installations in any airport – it’s additionally the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. When you’re accomplished right here, there’s really much more stuff to rise up to on the airport however I’ll depart you to search out these out once you do go to.
10.) Common Studios
It’s not fairly often that you simply discover a full-on theme park smack inside a metropolis.
They’re normally lots additional out of town and are locations you don’t actually consider simply “popping in” for a couple of hours so this one completely took me unexpectedly after we have been in Singapore, as we have been making our technique to a completely completely different spot within the metropolis. After we noticed the signal for it although, we determined we needed to test it out.
It was such a sizzling day that we simply selected a whim to pop in simply to get soaked on the Jurassic Park experience. One experience later and we promptly upgraded to a season ticket and even threw in a queue soar to the combo. Finest impromptu determination we made in Singapore certainly! 😄 😄
In London, we’ve got to traipse out of town to search out something like this so whereas we lived in Singapore, I made it a mission to go to as a lot as attainable, particularly contemplating how straightforward it’s to get to.
In case you’re right here with associates, household and even youngsters (‘big kids’ 😉😄 and little ones, in fact), it’s completely price popping in for a fun-filled day! (Take into consideration how a lot money and time folks spend to go to locations like Orlando for a full-on vacation and right here you’ve the choice to take action proper in your doorstep).
And there you’ve it! A few of the elements of Singapore probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore that completely shocked however totally thrilled me once I lived on this superb metropolis!
When you end up in Singapore, you’ll want to examine no less than one of many above out (if not all of them!).
Have a tremendous journey!
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