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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Week in Singapore

31 replies

crabb · 27/08/2018 09:30

Lucky me, I’ve got a week in Singapore while DH is at a conference, in 4 weeks’ time. MNers what do you recommend I do/see? I’m 60 and not fit and will probably melt in the humidity so will probably get around by taxi or MRT, and want to spend a reasonable bit of time indoors. Not especially interested in shopping, but I like food culture, wildlife, gardens, and colonial/WWII/any history. Have enough time to do day trips out of the city - any suggestions?

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crabb · 27/08/2018 22:40

Bumping

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/08/2018 08:54

I would recommend you see the Battlebox in Fort Canning park but the last part of that journey to get there is up some flights of stairs. If you google it they actually have the journey marked out from the MRT station.

The Changi museum is interesting but closed for another couple of years sadly because of redevelopment.

I would certainly pay a visit to Gardens by the Bay as this is accessible easily from the MRT and you can get a shuttle bus from the station to the entrance for an additional charge. There are places in there to sit down too.

The National Orchid garden is well worth a visit too.

The Sungei Buloh wetland reserve is interesting too. www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/nature-wildlife/reserves/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve/

BTW you will not need any power adaptors for Singapore as they use the same plugs and voltage as the UK.

DeusEx · 28/08/2018 08:56

Mostly food to be honest - there is so much amazing food in Singapore. Lots of food blogs about / from there - suggest looking those up!

My favourite - China town market, upstairs, there are loads of food stalls. My favourite had a dish called popiah or popsiah (sp?) and was SO GOOD especially with a fresh fruit shake.

Chicken and rice is a classic fish - sounds boring but there is a Michelin starred stall in the market! People queue from early morning...

BinkyandBunty · 28/08/2018 09:05

Chinatown and Little India in the evening for markets and food. Cheap tailors too.

Take a bumboat ride to Marina Bay, in the evening there's a light and water show on the hour. Posh shopping at Marina Bay Sands and an excellent food airconditioned food court in the basement, with lots of choices of local cuisine.

The cloud and flower domes in Gardens by the Bay are gorgeous. I suggest checking what time they seed the clouds and planning your visit for then.

Clarke Quay is a lively, clean, riverside spot with lots of drinking and dining options.

Check out Chinatown or any pharmacy for intriguing Chinese remedies if you're interested.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/08/2018 09:13

I was at Clarkes Quay last month; what a dump!. Its simply a long line of restaurants with outdoor tables along the quayside. The fact that there was hardly anyone there too early evening did not help its presence any.

The Michelin starred places are as follows:-

One is called Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, and it sells bowls of minced meat and noodles. The other is a stall in Smith Street’s Chinatown Complex with the unwieldy name of Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, and is best known for its $2 SGD plate of—as you might expect—soy sauce chicken with rice or noodles, served on disposable plates. At about $1.50 USD, this is the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world. To try it, you’ll need to be prepared to brave hours-long queues and no air conditioning, but hundreds of people do each day to enjoy the chicken that’s marinaded in a spice mix overnight, and then braised until the skin is brown and glossy.

If you like Dim sum I would recommend the Tim Ho Wan restaurant in Singapore. One of their branches is located in the City Link mall (and its air conditioned) and is easily accessible from the MRT.

ShanghaiDiva · 28/08/2018 09:39

Asian civilisations museum
gardens by the bay is lovely
Chinatown
little India
botanical gardens are lovely and the orchid garden is within the garden complex

ToesInWater · 28/08/2018 09:40

Different strokes Smile We stayed at the Swissôtel on Clarke Quay last month (me, DH and 15 and 19yo) and loved it. We tended to eat at the Hawker Centres for dinner but there was a nice buzz for pre dinner drinks and we had one great Indian meal there. I had previously had a short stay in Singapore with DD and did an "old Singapore" boat trip from Clarke Quay which would be nice on your own. Gardens by the bay is also worth a visit. Sentosa has changed a lot and you can now just walk there via the boardwalk, we're not into the resort thing but there are some nice places to eat/drink by the beach, the cable car is pretty cool though. I like Singapore, interesting and an easy place to hang out.

tomhazard · 28/08/2018 09:53

Ah you're so lucky.
The Peranakan Museum is wonderful

Gardens by the bay of you like flowers and gardens- the cloud dome is cool as well.

If you can manage in the humidity one of the short walks at MacRitchie reservoir and see the monkeys.

Amble round China town and appreciate the shop houses

Go to Lau Pa Sat hawker - the building and food is amazing.

Go to the lookout at Ion mall on Orchard Road

Little India

crabb · 28/08/2018 10:20

Hey @ToesinWater, that’s where we’re staying! So really glad to hear it’s nice.

Loving all these suggestions, thanks so much all PP. Please keep them coming!

Despite saying I’m not a shopper I will have to get presents for grandchildren and adult children. Any suggestions for what’s good, light and packs small?

Also, does anyone know whether day trips to Malacca are available/viable?

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crabb · 28/08/2018 10:24

Oh, and has Raffles re-opened? Would love to go to High Tea there.

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tomhazard · 28/08/2018 10:41

You can do trips to Malacca in one day but it is a bit exhausting! There's a coach that leaves about 7am, arrived 10-10.30 then picks you up at 4 to bring you back for 7ish. Malacca is lovely - you could consider a night stay though as the day trip is tiring

crabb · 28/08/2018 12:24

Thank you tomhazard!

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 28/08/2018 12:41

I admittedly did not see Clarkes Quay at its best, it was very quiet when I was there late afternoon and at that time it did look somewhat meh. I have however, eaten a nice fish dinner on that quayside in the past.

Malacca is too far for a one day trip, its a journey of several hours from Singapore by coach and there is more than enough to keep you occupied in Singapore for the one week you are there. If you had say three weeks in Singapore then I would say go for it.

There is an Asian based chain of stores called Samantha Thavasa and they sell nice bags, bag charms and purses. Another good place for presents is Daiso which seem to sell all sorts of interesting items. BTW carry your passport with you when you go shopping on Orchard Road as you can claim the tax back on purchases totalling over $100 Singaporean.

CaseStudyResearch · 28/08/2018 12:58

Download the Grab taxi app before you go.

Kranji Memorial was definitely worth the trip, it’s quite a walk from the MRT so might be worth a taxi.

Depending on how well you find yourself adapting to the heat, MacRitchie and Southern Ridges nature trails are beautiful and you can start from various sections of the Southern Ridges trail.

I loved the ArtScience museum when I lived there and there were always some really interesting exhibitions. The Asian Civilisations Museum was also a good couple of hours spent.

Food-wise, Lau Pa Sat is worth a visit, particularly on an evening and satay Street. The area around Keong Saik Road/Craig Road has some brilliant restaurants - Burnt Ends is a particular favourite as is the Lokal on Neil Road. Duxton Hill and Club Street also have some cracking places to eat/drink/hang out.

crabb · 28/08/2018 13:24

Great to have eating recommendations. Since DH is stuck in the conference and I’m having all the fun, I owe him great dinners! By the way, the conference is in Marina Bay Sands, are any of the restaurants in the hotel worth eating at?

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CaseStudyResearch · 28/08/2018 13:34

We’ve eaten at Cut by Wolfgang Puck & DB bistro as well as what is now Ce La Vi. All were ok but expensive for what they were.

In MBS itself, I’d say Din Tai Fung is probably the most reasonable and tasty option - similar to Tim Ho Wan mentioned above for dim sum.

You’d be best going to other places around Outram Park MRT (Craig Road etc) as it is one stop on the MRT from Clarke Quay.

tomhazard · 29/08/2018 07:46

You should also have a steam boat while you are there! And Sushi Express in Somerset 313 is so cheap and tasty. God I miss the food!

Girlgoneglobal · 02/09/2018 14:53

As others have said download Grab it's quick, cheap and efficient. Yes yes yes to Gardens by the Bay and Night Safari.

This is the list we work from and was originally started by a Singaporean friend of mine which has changed and grown over the years as we and friends have drifted in and out of the country.

Local food - go to any hawker centre. Locals don't eat at Newton Circus and Lau Pa Sat however but try Tiong Bahru Market including the wonton noodles at #02-30 or the bu jian tian cut of meat which is the best char siew or try Zion Road Hawker Centre got char kway teow and prawn noodles. Chicken rice anywhere (choose between roasted/boiled), laksa, bak chor mee (mince pork noodles) or hokkien mee (fried seafoodey noodles). Actually just try anything!! Cleanliness isn't an issue.

Everything is adjustable. Noodles with soup or without soup. Different types of noodles with each dish. With chilli or without chilli or with less chilli. Sweet or less sweet or not sweet. Don't be afraid to ask, and don't be confused when they ask you a load of questions about what you order, everything is customisable and everybody customises!

Other notable eats:

Singapore Zam Zam restaurant - this is the oldest restaurant in Singapore and is always crowded. Go for the roti prata or the murtabak.

Cumi Bali (Indonesian food) - have the sate madura - awesome meat skewers.

Jumbo Seafood restaurant - three words - SINGAPORE CHILLI CRAB. Messy, saucy, spicy, heaven. Sponge up the sauce with little fried buns (mantou). Lots of outlets but the one at East Coast Park by the sea is atmospheric.

The list is endless.

Bars

The list for this is again endless, so do a google if you want something specific (e.g. gin bars, whisky bars, cocktail bars, wine bars etc). Alcohol is VERY expensive in Singapore, but there are many very good bars. Close your eyes to the price and you'll enjoy yourself!

Good lively places to hang out for a drink or 20 - Haji Lane (Bar Stories and Maison Ikkoku are nice cocktail bars), Duxton Hill, Ann Siang Hill (Nutmeg and Clove for cocktails), Emerald Hill.

Rooftop bars - there are millions, but ones I know and like are Smoke & Mirrors (smart, great view at the top of the National Gallery), Kinki's (great view and lively, but basic drinks).

For (good) beer - Druggist, Smith Street Taps (craft beer in a hawker centre - drink in decidedly unpretentious local surroundings with a satay in hand), the 1925 (for local craft beer), LeVel 33 (craft beer, great view, high prices)

The bar of Tippling Club is also worth an honorary mention for superb cocktails (but no views or anything).

Museums

National Gallery. Highly recommended - brilliant collection of Southeast Asian in the beautifully restored old Supreme Court buildings. Beautiful art and beautiful architecture. Where smoke and mirrors is located (5th floor).

National Museum. Great museum to get your Singapore history 101, done really well.

Singapore City Gallery. If you are at all interested in the urban planning of Singapore, this is a surprisingly interesting place.

Peranakan Museum. Cute little museum to learn about the most Southeast Asian of ethnicities - the Peranakan.

Sights

Singapore Botanic Gardens - Highly recommended, including the orchid gardens. Get up early watch Singapore wake up and the Chinese community practice their tai-chi.

Little India - this is the colonial Indian quarter. Walk around there, eat some good food, visit some temples. A colourful India-lite place.

Kampong Glam - the colonial Malay quarter. Like little India, walk around, eat good food, and then end up drinking at Haji Lane

Raffles Hotel. It's undergoing restoration at the moment, but should be done by end-2018. The bar is an absolute rip-off (but I believe you can't go to Singapore and not have a Singapore Sling) tourist trap and so is the high tea, but it's cool to walk around and soak one of the last remaining Grand Hotels of the East in anyway!

Walk around the Civic District (i.e. old colonial heart of town) and along the Singapore River.

As for sights which I wouldn't particularly recommend, skip Sentosa (too artificial - set up for package tourists, though there are some fun things to do like luge-ing), Chinatown (it has lost its original old Singapore charm), Marina Bay Sands (unless you like gambling, it's chock-a-block with tourists and the view is really much better from afar than actually in it...).

Randoms

Haw Par Villa. This is a Chinese hell-themed kitsch sculpture park that has seen better days. If you like random things, this is free and fun.

Treetop walk (accessed through either MacRitchie Reservoir or Rifle Range Road). This is a nice easy jungle walk which will take you to a suspension bridge over the jungle canopy. Go for monkeys and the amazing fact that you've got jungle in the middle of Singapore!

Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve. A nice little protected bit of mangrove forest, with easy boardwalks and crocodiles and mudskippers.

Pulau Ubin. This is the last remaining kampung in Singapore, and nice to cycle around and catch a glimpse of the Singapore of yore (and wild boars!). You have to take a little bumboat out to the island too, which is an experience in itself! This is more of a nearly full day trip, and you can eat at simple seafood restaurants on the island.

And most of all enjoy (and drink lots of water!).

Girlgoneglobal · 02/09/2018 15:03

Sorry I have just read the dinners bit - we also like Artichoke (middle easterney) and Burnt Ends (and if you can't get in there then hop across the road to Potato Head for a rooftop cocktail and a view of restored heritage Chinese shophouse and a burger from three buns which is below).

lrwe · 02/09/2018 15:21

We did an excellent tour of Changi - the guide was marvellous, so informative and it was really very sobering.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 02/09/2018 15:51

I’m jealous, been to Singapore for the last three summers as DH was living and working there. We were lucky enough to go to Hong Kong this year and we loved it but I’d be lying if I said we didn’t miss Singapore!! DH lived in Siglap so we went to East Coast Park for Chilli Crab a lot!Smile Hiring a bike to cycle ECP is good too. The ArtScience museum is fabulous, saw SerpentiForm there last year and it was amazing, I’m sure this years exhibition is too. The Botanical Gardens are lovely if you’d like a long walk. Gardens by the Bay are stunning. If you’re not traveling with children you might not be itching to go to Sentosa but I couldn’t deny the cable car, zip wire, luge and Segway are very good fun. I’m not a lover of the concept of zoos in general but The Aquarium there is excellent and the best I’ve ever seen. Again, if you’re ok with zoos then Singapore zoo is great, Night Safari is very good. Raffle’s obviously, still undergoing renovation but as pp said you can’t go to Singapore and not have a Singapore Sling! Chicken and rice is a must! We had one night as a treat in Marina Bay Sands Hotel, very expensive but worth it for the infinity pool! I love history and The National Museum of Singapore is worth a visit. Will you be there when the Grand Prix is on? Worth going if so. Yes to the cab app btw, reliable, cheap, safe and air conditioned! Though public transport is easy to use too tbh. Have a great time!

Backinthebox · 02/09/2018 16:00

@Girlgoneglobal thanks for that comprehensive list! I fly out to Singapore a lot with work and have done most of the obvious sights and trips, but that’s given me a few more ideas. I still haven’t done the Battlebox tour and want to go the reserve with the treetop walk. I’ve been there a lot on my own but I’ve taken family the last 2 times I’ve gone - once with my kids and the other time with my mum and brother, and it has been fabulous each time. My kids were disappointed we ran out of time to go to the zoo after dark when the nocturnal animals are out and about too.

ThomasRichard · 02/09/2018 16:09

I loved the night safari: a zoo that only has nocturnal animals and opens in the evenings only so you see them awake.

The Gardens were gorgeous.

Zip-wiring on Sentosa was well worth it. Zooming over rainforest, a white-sanded beach and the turquoise water to a little palm-tree island was an experience!

Just don’t plan on any sea swimming. It looks gorgeous and the authorities keep the beaches very clean but there are so many huge ships off the coast that there’s a thin layer of oil/diesel over the water. Look, don’t touch.

Oldowl · 02/09/2018 19:05

DD has just been there travelling solo.

She did free walking tours with: www.monsterdaytours.com/
(The Chinatown one was excellent) These tours took the stress out of finding things yourself and wandering aimlessly.

She loved the botanical gardens and Marina Sands Bay especially the evening light show. Enjoy!

crabb · 02/09/2018 23:12

Wow, a heap more replies, thank you! This week I sit down and make a plan, and you’ve given me so many good ideas. Thank you esp @Girlgoneglobal for your comprehensive list Smile

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