Visiting Singapore for the First Time? Don’t Miss These 5 World-Class Attractions

For a country that measures just around 700 square kilometres, Singapore has plenty of attractions that continue to draw in travellers. One of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, the city-state is frequented by business executives who want to expand their market in the region and partner with established companies in the country and in Southeast Asia. However, there’s also a significant number of people who head to the Lion City for a bit of rest and relaxation. No matter if you’re in Singapore for business or for leisure, you’ll find it easy to get around the city and see the world-class attractions that tourists and locals alike continue to enjoy. Here are 5 destinations that you should include in your itinerary.

Jewel Changi Airport

There are Changi Airport attractions that you can go to within minutes of your arrival, so you don’t have to venture far to get a glimpse of the best that Singapore has to offer. Jewel Changi Airport is a 10-storey lifestyle hub that seamlessly links with Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and it houses several attractions that continue to amaze its guests. Chief among these is the rain vortex at the heart of the complex—the world’s tallest indoor waterfall—that cascades down from a glass canopy. Surrounding this magnificent water feature is a terraced forest filled with nooks and crannies where you can catch your breath and relax for a bit. The area also has a park, a bridge, and hanging nets that you can traverse or bounce on. Here, you can enjoy communing with nature while only being just a few steps away from global retail boutiques, luxury goods stores, and Changi Airport restaurants, which are also some of the city’s best dining destinations.

Night Safari

If you feel like continuing your nature adventure in Singapore, you can drop by the Night Safari in Mandai Lake Road, which is a little more than an hour away from Changi Airport by train. The park is open from 6:30 PM to 12 AM, and it offers guests nocturnal nature tours in the company of an animal expert, shows headlined by furred and feathered critters, encounters with animals and lessons on conservation, and even dining experiences. The park has 4 separate zones and 19 types of animals, including big cats, hippos, elephants, and marsupials. You’ll not only enjoy yourself when you go to the park; you’ll also get to contribute to nature conservation. A portion of the park’s revenue goes into projects that care for the natural environment in Singapore and areas in Southeast Asia.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Some 20 minutes by car from Night Safari is the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 and the only tropical botanic garden in the said list. The garden is open from 5 AM to midnight daily, and admission is free. The site is made up of several gardens and has 4 cores: the heritage core Tanglin and the oldest part of the gardens, the tourist-favourite Central, the educational zone Bukit Timah and its eco-lake and gardens, and the Tyersall-Gallop zone, which was created in 2017 and integrates the gardens to the existing rain forest. In addition to its collection of plants, the Botanic Gardens also houses a collection of museums and galleries, educational centres, and sculptures. Visiting is a great way to experience how Singapore balances its urban development with its appreciation for nature.

Orchard Road

Not far from the Botanic Gardens is the famed Orchard Road, Singapore’s centre of commerce and retail. Here, you can find TANGS, the road’s oldest department store, alongside dazzling new commercial destinations. If you’re in the area to peruse the latest goods from well-known luxury brands or to taste epicurean delights from culinary masters, you won’t be disappointed. There’s an assortment of Michelin-starred restaurants in the area, and the boutiques here truly make shopping an experience. If you’re touring Orchard Road to see the sights, there are a few spots nearby that you can go to without spending much. These include the Istana or the office of the President of Singapore, the historic Emerald Hill, Fort Canning Park, and the nearby National Museum of Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands

A few minutes’ drive from Orchard Park can take you to a world-class integrated resort with a unique silhouette: Marina Bay Sands. Perhaps the structure’s most famous feature is its 1.2-hectare rooftop park that’s supported by the resort’s 3 towers. The said park features swimming pools, gardens, and jogging paths, and non-guests can access the area for a fee. From the resort, you can easily find your way around tourist attractions in the bay area. The Gardens by the Bay, a nature park that covers 101 hectares, has the largest greenhouse in the world, the Flower Dome. It also has 3 expansive waterfront gardens, art installations, nature trails, and smaller botanic features.

Travelling around Singapore is a hassle-free experience even if you’re planning to take public transportation. The country has efficient transportation networks that make commuting a breeze, even if you’re not planning to rent a car or take a cab. If you have a few hours to spare in your itinerary, drop by these places and treat yourself to some of the many world-class tourist destinations in the city-state.