One Day in Singapore
Inside Supertree Grove at Singapore’s Garden’s by the Bay. Photo by L Royds
One day is certainly not enough time to explore this city state but, if that’s all you have, here are some must-visit attractions.
Something to keep in mind when visiting Singapore is that you will need money to explore. Yes, there are free attractions but some of the best ones will require you put your card to work so keep this in mind when budgeting.
Gardens by the Bay
Arguably, Singapore’s most well-known attraction (only marginally beating out the Marina Bay Sands and the excitement that awaits you at Changi Airport). We’ve all seen the iconic images of the Supertree Grove with those gigantic electric trees alight at night or the floral wonderland that is the Flower Dome. C’mon. I could spend the whole day at the Gardens by the Bay and so could you cause it is massive.
You’ll need to book tickets for each part you’d like to visit. There are also combination tickets for the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest so look out for those if you’d like to spend maximum time here.
Food
Did you know there were two hawker stands with Michelin stars in Singapore? They were the first street food establishments ever to be recognised by the prestigious grading. So for the food portion of your day, I would start there. If you’ve seen Crazy Rich Asians you’ll see lots of the great things Singapore has to offer including its food markets. In fact, Henry Golding’s character tells you about the Michelin grading.
Marina Bay Sands
Yes, it’s a hotel and a great place to consider spending your one night in Singapore. You can also just visit the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (in the hotel) boasting luxury brands. If you like luxury brands or are shopping for them, this is a must-visit. It is home to the largest collection of designer brands in the whole of Asia.
Honourable mentions
The Singapore Botanical Gardens are also a great spot to visit but if you’re heading to the Gardens by the Bay, I would say make the most of your time and see the plants at the Gardens by the Bay instead.
Merlion Park, home of the landmark statue of Singapore’s mascot the Merlion – a fish with the head of a lion – is also worth a mention. It’s a super spot for photos to show your family and friends or just some snaps for the gram. There are also bars and cafés if you’d like to grab a bite before you set off on a Bumboat Cruise on the river (you’ll need to purchase tickets ahead of time).
There are two (free) light shows every night in the Supertree Grove which are absolutely worth it. My advice is to start at the Gardens by the Bay, step out for a meal at a restaurant of your choice or eat on the go, spend some time exploring some other attractions or catching your breath then come back in the evening for the light show before going out for a fabulous dinner.
