Singapore Advice and Recs

[SummaLuvin]

DH & I have 10 nights in Singapore, first time, we have no children. We have a pretty good outline plan and have done research but would love to get some recommendations from fellow MNetters. Places to go, things to do, bars, restaurants...anything.

10 nights is quite long, so you not fancy seeing parts of Malaysia too? The train to Melacca or KL is lovely.

Gardens by the Bay are great, and there’s a church that’s been converted into restaurants.

Gardens by the bay, go up the observation deck of marina bay sands, cable car to sentosa. Take a big bus tour and get off at botanic gardens for few hours then bus to china town and other places you like look of. Take a trip to the changi shopping centre. Drop into a kenko foot massage spa. Outram Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh: Famous for its pork ribs soup . 10 days is a lot ? Look at day trips out?

Hawker centres

Go to ginger amazing buffet
www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-beach-road/dining/ginger.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=business_listing&utm_campaign=googlemybusiness

I am from Singapore.

Botanic Gardens
Hawker Centres
Malay Heritage Centre (my MIL liked it)
Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique (they have a nice one at craig road)
Pulau Ubin (you need to get there by boat so a day trip on its own) - the closest singapore has to countryside and you can see some truly stunning nature
Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve
Zoo (if thats your thing)
Chinatown/Little India
Museums - National Museum, National Gallery (Violet Oon restaurant is worth a visit)
East Coast Park (its a park that is also a beach; you can rent biccycles)
Sentosa
Gardens by the Bay

We go every year and my British DH has 'done singapore' multiple times, these are the things he enjoys.

You can go to Jewe (at the airport) l and look at the fountain too.

I don't know if they still have it but my DH was always very amused at the people circling the Fountain of wealth at Suntec City.

Everyone uses Singapore as a stopover place but it actually has so much to do and see. I love it.
Night Safari
Gardens by the Bay
Sentosa
Shopping
Hawker Centres

You must try Durian once. Its disgusting but you just have to try it.

It is just Singapore, I appreciate that 10 nights is long compared to most people who just have a couple of days as a stop-over but there really is a lot to see and do - I did some research an put together an outline plan before booking flights. I didn't want to travel so far and end up twiddling thumbs, but equally didn't want to go away feeling as if I haven't scratched the surface, it also gives a little space to get over jet-lag without feeling like I am missing out by not being 100% at it on the first days.

Thanks to everyone for recommendations.

I'm from Singapore.

Gardens by the Bay
East Coast Park and the hawker centre there
Wondering up Orchard Road
Botanic Gardens
China Town
Little India
MacRitchie reservoir and eat at the cafe there - lots of monkeys to see
Boat over to Pulau Ubin and rent bikes
Go to Ce La Vie at Marina Bay Sands
Eat at Violet Oon at the gallery
Raffles for afternoon tea and/or Singapore sling
Atlas Gin Bar
The zoo and Jurong Bird park

sadly they have closed Jurong bird park! the birds are going to live at the zoo.

DH was quite sad about it as he likes the bird park (as the birds are in a pretty 'natural setting) but not the zoo.

sorry probably should have put this in the OP but just thought now.

Is there anything that you see recommended on lists or are typical tourist activities that you feel are just a waste of time or tourist traps?

Loads mentioned, but I used to enjoy Dempsey too

If you are looking for a tourist trap, Sentosa Island is a must.

Still the best off option if you want a beach though.

it really depends on the kind of person you are.

Things like zoo may seem touristy but I can assure you that a lot of singaporeans love it (esp the children!) Things like getting a cocktail at Raffles Hotel- I have never done this and don't know any Singaporeans who have, but most British tourists seem to enjoy it. The casino at Marina Bay is definitely a tourist trap ( singaporeans have to pay $300 entry fee while it is free for foreigners but thats mainly to protect singaporeans from themselves). Things like tourist shops at China Towns and trishaws rides are definitely gimmicky but they are quite obviously 'touristy'. However, Chinatown is still worth a visit and many singaporeans routinely shop there.

Newton Food Centre is definitely a tourist trap in the sense that they have a reputation of overcharging foreigners (esp when ordering seafood). But I have eaten many times at Newton Food Circus and its fine, just a bit overpriced but in a sense not any different from Borough Market in London (or any other famous central london market).

I can't really think of many 'tourist places' that SIngaporeans don't enjoy. I mean Singapore is an incredibly small country and while overseas travel is very popular, most families have to entertain their children for the majority of the year at local attractions. I must have gone to all the suggested tourist hotspots at least 10 times in my life.

thanks I really appreciate the long reply - regarding food I was told the worst things that can happen in Singapore is having an average meal as you guys have such discerning taste and high standards.

@socialmedia23 noooo I loved that place!
Yes op the food is excellent, but Newton Food Centre is definitely over priced - just about anywhere else is just as good if not better, and cheaper.

We went to Fort Siloso for the first time on our most recent trip and I was so surprised by it, it was much more detailed than I was expecting and I thought it was quite underrated.

in addition to the above.

little India Harj Lane it's beautiful.

Capita Spring Rooftop

Art science museum

Ice cream Museum

Old Police Station is beautiful colours and worth seeing

Satay by the bay Hawker Centre

The Newton Hawker Centre is closed just an FYI.

Level 33'micro brewery for the views and food and drink.

Ten days is a long time In Singapore. Try out some Spa's too!

Also this might give you some ideas plus the locations

www.jasminealley.com/instagrammable-singapore/

Satay by the bay Hawker Centre

With the primary school chairs.

go to Tempat Senang spa. It’s a short ferry journey from singapore but don’t think you need a visa. Really wonderful and amazing VFM. The zoo opens early and I like it more then. Art Science museum is amazing. Most of all go to Din Tai Fung! Either Wisma Atria or Sentosa - near aquarium- for my preference but there are lots. Order plenty of soup dumplings (xi long bao) and a lemongrass juice and spicy pickled cucumbers . My kids always like pork chops on egg fried rice too.
also don’t shy away from mall life (and the Food courts underneath) , you’ll see lots of queuing- sign of good food stall, shopping (go to Daiso- $2 shop, lots everywhere) and conspicuous consumption is more visible and I think more culturally acceptable. The designer shops at ION used to limit how many incredibly expensive handbags could be bought in one trip!
Have fun!

And watch Crazy Rich Asians before you go. Just because its a great film!

These days the neighbouring islands (St John's, Lazarus) belonging to Singapore are popular with locals and expats alike.

For food, if you think you'll be fine with ordering etc you can visit the classic places locals frequent. Eg Swee Choon for midnight dimsum, tons and tons of Geylang food stalls (every Singaporean has their favourite Geylang store - yes it's a redlight district but both genders alike go there for amazing food, you need to know which Lorongs to avoid though, and also avoid any shops with red lanterns in front of them), Old Airport Road hawker centre, Chomp Chomp, Golden Mile, etc.

Go anywhere you see snaking queues with locals - you won't really see that at Lau Pa Sat for instance (though if you prefer nicer/quieter environments, these touristy places are certainly worth a try as a "taster" intro).

@ChillinwiththeVillains I'm not trying to be mean, but as yummy as it is, DTF is Taiwanese :) It is a very popular chain restaurant but it's hardly a classic, bit like PizzaExpress in the UK (except I think PizzaExpress is at least British)! Tung Lok, Imperial Treasure, Crystal Jade, Peach Garden, etc are "classics" more worth visiting if you like local chain restaurants. Of course fair enough if your family just really like the food at DTF, understandably so :)

There are also plenty of famous haute cuisine (non chain) Chinese restaurants which are pricier but very worth it.

Re: affordable but non chain restaurants, Red Star in Chinatown is the known place to go for authentic old school dimsum. Swatow (Teochew food) also does the push cart method. Recent reviews online seem quite poor, but in real life lots of multigenerational families still eat there as a tradition!

@squigglypasta fair enough, not actually SGP resto .But tbf I think part of the joy of Singapore is the melting pot element . But I’d still recommend Daiso despite it being Japanese, Tempat Senang is in Malaysia etc..
I actually went on a Red Lantern tour one time with my book club - Geylang and Chinatown. They ordered durian etc. for us.. Most orderly looking street gambling etc.. there too.
Also OP, when are you there? As for example there is an evening Shakespeare (in May) or outdoor cinema season at Fort Canning or the Night Festival ( usually January, 2023 finished today) around the National Gallery.