Complete Guide for an Amazing Singapore Trip

Singapore is the first holiday destination that comes to mind when you think of Asia, isn’t it? This guide will help you make your Singapore Trip memorable and efficient.

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I have been to Singapore so many times but would still love to visit again. Singapore has all the things for a perfect holiday; amusement parks, shopping malls, beaches, pubs, and more. Even in 5 days, you will not be able to cover everything mentioned above.

This guide will discuss all the possible things about Singapore so that you can make your perfect Singapore itinerary.

Get excited to unravel this amazing country. Before you begin designing your itinerary, watch a glimpse of Singapore and give a mental aid to your reading.  

THE CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – SINGAPORE

Let’s start at the very beginning, the airport, the Changi airport, awarded the world’s best airport for 5 consecutive years till 2017.

It has shops like Marc Jacob, Harrods, Charles and Keith, Major luxury brands, Victoria secret, and more. You can shop till you drop! It is complemented by a lot of greenery and some ocean life.

This Airport takes care of everything from Food to photo stations to foot massagers! Yes, they have foot massagers near the seatings. Very few airports in the world have those. So, when you are tired after shopping, you know where to go.

Jewel is an interconnected building to terminals. It is full of attractions and shopping opportunities. You can check-in to this building 24 hours prior to your flight. Don’t miss it! Take a look at Jewel here.

Read more about Changi Airport and ways to spend long halts here. Know all the important tips to utilize your time at the airport properly. 

SINGAPORE CURRENCY

1 SGD ~ 53 INR & 1USD ~ 1.36 SGD

Just make sure to spend all the coins before you leave Singapore because later you will not be able to exchange any, so it is better to spend it as soon as you get any.

 SINGAPORE HOTELS 

Choosing a perfect hotel for your stay is all about the location and your budget. I always suggest to pick a location first and then look for the hotels under your budget. 

Pro tip: Always choose the hotel location as centre of the locations where you will be visiting. Like you want to spend all your holidays at Sentosa then no point booking a hotel at Orchid Road.

Decide your itinerary first and then pick your hotel. This way you will save time and traveling fare as well. If you still are not sure which one to book then leave it to experts, just mail us.   

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, Beach Road

  This is almost a perfect hotel for your stay in Singapore. It is near the center of the city, all the key areas like Clarke, Garden by the bay are like 10 minutes away. MRT and Bus stops are 2 minutes away and taxis, just a tap away.

The suites are comfortable and the view from the swimming pool is awesome. The only thing that could be better was the breakfast. Check out the video of suite rooms at Pan Pacific Suites. Take a look inside the suite and one of the best views in the city.

The suites are almost like the Orchid Suites of Marina Bay Sands, at almost half the price of the latter plus it comes with a kitchen too! but it’s all about the location, isn’t it?  

Village Hotel Albert Court, Little India

If you want to have an Indian cuisine often then stay in or near little India because you will easily find Indian food here and the best exchange rate as well. There are a lot of Indian restaurants here, I mean really a lot of them and some gold shops as well.

Little India is like a suburban area, there are many many hotels here under various budgets. When you choose a hotel, keep a close eye on the room size & facilities because most hotels offer small rooms and not all hotel have swimming pool facilities.

Village Hotel is a good hotel here, the rooms are simple and the room size is decent. The breakfast is good and you can avail the breakfast in an Indian restaurant at the hotel as well, all you have to do is put a request for the same in advance.   

The ground floor of this hotel has some bars where you can enjoy a beer or two. Also, Bugis Street is nearby. You will read about it later in this article.

There is a chain of Park Hotel spread across Singapore and any one of them can be a good option for your holidays. I have had a good experience with PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road if we talk about rooms. Breakfast was not fine, not that great.

Mustafa is in this area, most of the people visiting Singapore definitely want to visit it for good electronics but mind you it is not that cheap as you might be expecting, it used to be cheap due to the low value of the Singapore dollar(SGD) but now the rates are on the higher side comparatively. If you still want to take a tour, it’s fine, just go ahead.  

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay is one of the most expensive locations in the city, you should stay here to catch the amazing city attractions.  You can easily find hotels or aparthotels here under varied budgets here.

All the luxury malls, famous Singapore attractions are nearby.  Marina Bay Sands is a luxurious hotel and one of the best in Singapore. It is connected to a luxury mall – the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, an MRT station, Garden by the Bay, the LV island, and the Helix Bridge leading to Merlion Park.

There are many types of rooms/suites in this hotel and the rates are proportional to the facilities. The room rates around approx Rs. 19000/night. You get free access to the Skypark and the Infinity Pool with room bookings.

The Skypark can be accessed by the tourists but the pool is only for the residing guests. Don’t forget to get your Sands membership card, you can enjoy some benefits with it. Even if you are not staying in this hotel then also you get this card made at the reception.

Advice: Decent hotels in Singapore are around Rs. 9000/night, including breakfast for two people. Make sure to check the room size prior to bookings. There are chances that you get some great deals on some good hotels, so always check the official hotel websites.  

https://livetotravelsaniyapuri.com/jewel-changi-airport/

TRANSPORT IN SINGAPORE

  Singapore local transport is very well connected. Taxi in Singapore is very easily available but is expensive as well. In case you are looking for some cheap mode of transport then you can easily rely on Singapore MRT and buses. These are really cheap, the fare varies from 0.80 SGD to 1.83 SGD.

There is an EZ link card and a Singapore tourist card for various travel needs. EZ link card is worth 5 SGD and then you can top up to travel in any transport like MRT, buses, taxi or even for shopping whereas Singapore tourist card is valid for 1, 2, or 3 days and cost 10$, 16$, and 20$ respectively for unlimited travel in MRT and buses, there are some exceptions as well.

Note: EZ link card helps in saving more than the tourist card. You can find all the information on Singapore transportation in detail here.

BUY ELECTRONICS IN SINGAPORE

Like most people, if you also want to buy the latest TV or any electronic item at better prices then try Niranjan`s. It is nearby Mustafa. I also bought it from there, I found better prices here as compared to all the other stores. All shopkeepers mostly maintain a price list for the customers. They do bargain so try your luck.

DON`T FORGET TO TAKE VAT REFUND FROM THE AIRPORT! get the filled form from every shop from where you buy. All shops have a minimum shopping amount set after which they provide the form. You will have to ask the shopkeeper regarding this, as nobody will tell this to you on their own and you will also need your passport for this.

Read more travel tips so that you never miss any benefit you are entitled to, rather subscribe to stay updated. 

SINGAPORE TOURIST PLACES

Tip: Before you read this section just keep in mind that it is not necessary to cover all the attractions on one trip, just choose some according to the time you have and leave the rest to become another reason for your next visit.

Garden by the Bay

This is one of the best attractions in Singapore. It is located in the best area of the city, Marina Bay and offers more than 20 attractions to the visitors.

You may not be a nature enthusiast but still you will love this place. Know why you must visit the place and what all you can skip.

Since there is so much to talk about this place, there is an entire post about it to help you decide if it your cup of tea or not.

https://livetotravelsaniyapuri.com/garden-by-the-bay-complete-guide/

Sentosa island (Madame Tussauds, Universal studios, Amusement park)

This is actually an island with multiple things to do, you can easily spend 2 days here. Even if you do, then also I can`t guarantee that you will cover the entire island. There are so many things for the tourists to do here:      

• Madame Tussauds (3-4 hrs, depends on your capacity to click pictures :D)
• Universal Studios (An entire day! I will talk about it later in this post)
• Amusement park (An entire day!
• Beach (As much time as you like)  

There are 3 ways to reach this island– by cable car, cab or by metro. You can choose your means. The cable car services can be temporarily shut down if the weather conditions are bad.

There are multiple hotels and resorts (near the beaches as well) where tourists can choose to stay. I did not stay here and chose to travel as and when I wanted to visit the attractions. I feel too many attractions daily kind of takes the fun out of it, so I prefer to mix it up a little with shopping, city tours, food, and other fun places.

So, I will suggest you choose one thing out of all, complete that and then come back after a few days. I chose the Amusement park first.

Now you can also get a virtual tour of Singapore and watch all the things to do in Singapore. Check it out now!

AMUSEMENT PARK

The best activity, I think, is the LUGE RIDE, I loved it… I wish I could do it again… It is like a cable car ride but in an open chair, it’s like you are hung high above only with a seat belt on a chair and you enjoy a beautiful view along. If you think it is over, it isn`t..the above-mentioned ride is only one way and on the return, you get to do go-kartinggg!!! The length is good, ensuring a wonderful ride…

In the evening, you can enjoy the wings of time show and you must. Don`t forget to carry the guide and the map along with you. You can get it at the entrance or the information. This will make sure that you do not miss any attraction. I strongly suggest you spare 5 mins in the beginning after getting the map and the guide, take a look at it and plan your entire day at the park. It is important otherwise you will not be able to catch things that you really want to.

The above-mentioned show is beautiful, one of its kind. This was the first time I saw something like this. They use lights to project pictures on water and narrate a story using it.

Also, there is an underwater world, where you can enjoy ocean life. If you haven’t seen it before then you must watch here. It is a good experience, try visiting here around the time when Dolphin’s are feed. This park has also maintained a water park surrounded by water rides and snack junctions.      You can look at the amazing Octopus and fascinating Jellyfishes at Ocean Park. You can also enjoy a 4D show here but these shows are pretty expensive and if you have already watched a similar show before this trip then you can skip this one for sure.   

SINGAPORE BEACH

SILOSO BEACH

This beach is at Sentosa island and it is the last station for the cable car as well. It is a beautiful beach and has a suspension bridge, just like one in the Pirates of the Caribean movie. Enjoy some amazing adventurous activities here to make your trip more exciting. Eat, relax, and enjoy activities like zip lining, water sports, and more here!

 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

I couldn`t cover Universal studios on my first visit as I was busy covering the malls ;P but I made a point to cover it during the second trip.  It also has a casino near the studio entrance, near a big Hershey’s store (yum!), if you want to play then do carry your original passport.    

Universal studios is like Disneyland and different from the above-mentioned amusement park. Here you will find famous characters with whom you can get clicked as I did!

There are 7 parks, each with their respective restaurants and merchandise shops. All parks have theme-based restaurants, needless to mention but still. There are always long queues for all the attractions and even the photographs, so reach the entrance before time to stay in the front.

The 3D transformer show was great, all the rides are fun-filled n thrilling. Not for weak hearted people. I didn’t find Oscar`s grouchmas show that great, you can skip it if you are not one of its fans.

Lights, camera, action is one of the shows, it shows how effects are put into a movie scene. It was wonderful and should not be missed. There is one Akshay Kumar movie, Kambakkht Ishq, in which he plays the role of a stuntman. One of the scenes shows him riding a water bike and fighting with gangsters. That entire sequence was shot here and you can watch it again, live. Name of the show is Waterworld.

Sit in the front row if you want to get wet! 

Donkey Live is more for kids but you can watch it if you have time, like after taking all the rides. A talking Donkey`s movie is put on the projector and someone speaks from the back. Street shows are many in this studio, all are good. In short, the place is wonderful n you must visit this to enjoy your life to the fullest n also to capture your childhood.

Singapore Flyer

You can even call it the Singapore eye but it is famous as the flyer, it is a good experience and this place consists of other activities as well. Like an XD show, a virtual plane flying etc..
XD show is like a normal 4D show and Virtual flying was too expensive. In the 2nd image, you can see the tube in which people stay during the ride, the view up top is amazing, you will enjoy.

NIGHT SAFARI – SINGAPORE

Tourists sit in an open cart and get a ride all along the jungle. It lasts for approx 45 mins.

Be prepared for standing in a long queue, carry something to eat while waiting in the queue. I was starving and couldn’t leave the line. You will not be able to click good pictures due to less light. Flash photography is not permitted.

You know what, it is far better to enjoy the trip and stay least bothered about the pictures. You should click pictures if the time permits, otherwise just capture the memories in your mind. So that when you look back, you don`t regret wasting time fixing the camera settings and missing the ride. After the ride, you get to see a fire show. This safari is okay, it will be a good experience if you haven’t been on any.

There are more attractions nearby Night Safari like River Safari, Singapore Zoo and now the Bird Park is also coming here, currently, it is under renovation. Try to plan a visit to 2 parks in a day, more than 2 will make you tired. Singapore Zoo has a good collection of our loved animals, if you love animals then you must visit here. You can cherish watching Pandas and Kangaroos.  

HARRY POTTER EXHIBITION

 CLARKE QUAY

– It is the party hub of Singapore, a perfect place for all the people who love to dance, listen to music n booze. There are many concept bars here and ZOUK is most famous out of all.
It is open on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 2200 hrs onwards. It is a huge bar, rest you will fall in love with the riverside once you reach there.

Apart from this list, there are more ways to enjoy your evenings and nightlife in Singapore. Know it all here!

Coming Soon: This is not it, there are more attractions here. Another article on Singapore Attractions coming soon to help you design your perfect Singapore itinerary. 

MALLS AND MARKETS IN SINGAPORE

Finally this section,

1) Bugis street

If you love shopping, you belong to this place. It is a huge shopping area and is nearby Little India. You will get all kind of stuff here and at dirt cheap prices. You can buy gifts and souvenirs from here.
There is also a mall here, Bugis junction, you will find brands like Mango, Charles n Keith etc. So you get all kind of stuff to the shop, branded n local.

2) Marina Bay Sands

This is the prime area of Singapore, Marina Bay is a hotel, shopping mall, and a casino. It is huge and consists of almost everything, even a gondola ride.
If you are interested in Casino then don`t forget to carry your passport (original). You will find all kinds of shops here from high-end brands to regular brands.
There is a huge food court at the end of the mall along with some chocolate and grocery shops.
Near the food court, you will find an exit from the mall and that will lead to the entrance of Museum, the one that I talked about above.

3) China Market

It is a cheap market and you can get small things here like keychains n magnets. Nothing special, everything here is available in Bugis street.

Singapore is full of malls and with almost similar brands, you can visit the following malls
– City square (oppo Mustafa, Charles n Keith here has a good variety)
– Raffles City
– Park Mall and the one oppo it (Orchard road)

Orchard road has plenty of malls, Paragon mall is nice, you can visit any but you will get almost everything mentioned in the above 2 markets (1 & 2 points)

RESTAURANTS IN SINGAPORE 

Toast box

They serve really good slices of bread, just read the menu carefully and then order. The person taking the order might not understand if you say you want vegetarian food. Show them the menu and then ask for what you want.

If you can’t find veg food then simply order bread and butter.

Till now must have understood that there are so many things to do in Singapore that the more days you spend here the better it is.

SINGAPORE WEATHER

There are only two seasons in Singapore, wet and dry. The dry season is from March to August and the wet season is from September to February. So it will be a good idea to carry an umbrella with you. 

February to April is mostly pleasant while you will notice a lot of tourists during June and July. November to January are the wettest months.

Don’t forget to read more about Singapore and ways to make your evenings special here…

Were you able to design your Singapore itinerary? Did this blog help you? Just drop a comment or mail me to get it designed by me…

Before I say bye I would like to help you further through the following blog. You are welcome!
Travel Tips