Singapore is one metropolis I really feel fortunate to have known as dwelling! A giant cause why is, after all, all of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore however the surprising nature of a few of them is probably what actually made it so particular to name town ‘dwelling’ for some time…
My transfer to Singapore occurred proper intertwined with my time finding out at Cambridge College and I’ve gotta admit, I moved over armed with not a lot else than a stereotypical expectation of what Singapore, being the worldwide metropolis that it’s, can be like.
Shiny, sparkly and chock-filled with glass and metal towers, was just about so far as my expectations would stretch on the time.
And don’t get me mistaken, Singapore is shiny, sparkly and all of the belongings you’d anticipate from a world metropolis (effectively, aside from the truth that the crime charge right here is basically low!
You’d really feel as protected wandering across the streets at 4am as you’d at 4pm) however right here’s the factor – Singapore is about a lot extra than simply these shiny lights.
It’s additionally chock filled with some surprising surprises (that’s a little bit of a tautology – like “moist water” however you understand what I imply 🤪😄).
And they’re nice surprises too!
The type of shock that makes you realise why town isn’t just a fantastic place to go to but additionally an incredible place to name dwelling. The sort that made me actually wish to keep on in Singapore lengthy after my preliminary plans right here.
However sufficient about that, let’s leap proper in, we could? 😁😁
1.) Ubin Island
So like I mentioned earlier than, Singapore is a shiny metropolis! It’s dwelling to many single multi-billion greenback corporations accessible and has the best focus of millionaires on the earth.
Every part about Singapore appears to shout shiny metropolis so that you’d be so simply forgiven for not realising there’s a extra pure and rustic aspect to town! Stated place is Pulau Ubin, in any other case simply often called Ubin or Ubin Island. (“Pulau” in English interprets to “Island”).
I didn’t truly discover out about Ubin island myself. I truly obtained an invitation to a piece workforce day factor on the island (a country retreat in Singapore!) triggered my curiosity so I signed up.
Arriving on the island (it’s a brief boat journey from the mainland), I realised this was part of Singapore that’s nothing like the remainder of it.
On Ubin island, you’ll discover cobblestoned footpaths, deserted granite quarries and conventional kampongs (villages) – conventional Malay attap homes – and are available throughout kingfishers and Southeast Asian birds within the wetlands. It’s like taking a step again to the previous in Singapore and is chock full of fantastic wildlife.
It’s the type of island the place you would possibly end up at a roadblock as you’re biking by way of as a result of the monkeys have determined to have a fruit break on the roads, or discover a wild pig rummaging by way of your bag searching for snacks, or the place seeing a hornbill or large monitor lizard is simply commonplace – positively very completely different from the Singapore you would possibly anticipate in case you solely spend time within the metropolis centre.
Ubin Island is wonderful and part of Singapore most travellers by no means actually assume to go to. It’s such a incredible strategy to “get misplaced” in nature and is so spectacular to discover. As briefly talked about earlier, attending to Ubin Island is fairly simple – it’s only a brief 10-minute boat journey!
To get round once you’re on the island, you’ll be able to lease a bicycle, which makes essentially the most sense because it you cowl extra of the island, although exploring on foot can be one other nice possibility right here.
Suffice to say, that is simply one of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore in case you’re actually seeking to get a extra balanced view of what Singapore has to supply, past bustling metropolis life.
2.) Lazarus Island
Singapore will not be a type of cities you’d anticipate finding a seaside in, and it’s not with out causes both. It’s by no means actually been a ‘seaside vacation’ vacation spot however that’s to not say you’ll be able to’t even have a very pretty day on the seaside right here.
Lazarus Island is one other a type of underrated locations in Singapore that almost all travellers visiting town by no means actually assume to discover.
Most individuals would possibly assume as a substitute to go to Sentosa (there are stretches of artificial seaside right here) however Lazarus Island is definitely the most effective locations in Singapore to go to in order for you a day trip on the seaside.
Lazarus Island is rarely actually crowded (it’s usually locals you discover right here) and it feels such as you’ve stepped so far-off from town (you’ll be able to’t even see the skyline once you’re right here as a result of it’s wanting away from town). A visit right here is well one of the relaxed and most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
To get right here, you catch a ship from Singapore’s Marina South Pier to St John’s Island and simply stroll over to Lazarus island.
It’s also price testing St John’s Island for a bit of bit right here and in case you get the prospect to, after you’re finished with Lazarus island, the ticket you get can take you over to Kusu Island -pop in there too for a bit of bit.
Oh, by the best way, you received’t discover locations you should buy issues right here and there isn’t actually shade on the island until you step away from the seaside and head over to the coconut bushes so remember to carry all the things you want with you (sunscreen, meals, drinks…and so on).
3.) MacRitchie Nature Path
Carrying on within the nature-based theme, one other surprising factor to do in Singapore was exploring the Macritchie Nature Path. The Macritchie Nature Path is a type of spots proper within the metropolis that feels such as you’re miles away from town. This 12-hectare nature reserve has mountaineering trails, kayaks and canoes for lease.
You’ll be able to catch a taxi (or drive, when you’ve got a automobile) right here, park up and inside minutes really feel such as you’re some place else solely.
We confirmed up anticipating a fast stroll round however at 11 kilometres of strolling trails (and with a number of choices as to how to do that), you can very simply spend an nearly a full day simply wandering across the trails right here (after all, you’ll be able to select to be right here for as lengthy or as brief as you’d need). Should you’re up for out of doors adventures, that is simply one of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore for that!
I believe it was whereas we had been right here that I realised how lively Singaporeans actually are. They profit from the character round them and it wasn’t unusual seeing folks simply twice our age (greater than generally) energy strolling previous you at a tempo we couldn’t even sustain with (belief me, we tried… many instances!!! 😄😄).
There are such a lot of alternatives to identify wildlife right here too – particularly these cheeky macaque monkeys and you can even discover flying lemurs right here. The Macritchie Nature Path has such lush tropical vegetation that it feels nothing like something you’ll be able to even hope to search out in some other international metropolis and is simply such a superb place to go to in Singapore.
4.) Little India
If you consider Singapore, it’s maybe its Chinese language heritage that involves thoughts for most individuals however Singapore is such a melting pot of various cultures and that is maybe most evident that in the case of the scrumptious meals on provide right here.
Should you’re searching for among the finest Indian curries exterior of India, Little India in Singapore is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to within the metropolis.
Because of Singapore’s comparatively big Indian inhabitants, you get to dine on among the most wonderful meals once you’re in Little India and at such wonderful costs. It’s simply one of the scrumptious locations and one of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
If you’re finished consuming to your coronary heart’s content material, a bit of jaunt across the space is so price it as there are such a lot of alternatives to snap up a cut price or two on belongings you maybe don’t actually need however really need. 😄😄
5.) Marina Bay Sands
This one’s a straightforward one. It’s truly not surprising in the best way you would possibly assume – in that everybody is aware of about Marina Bay Sands and would most likely look to spend a while round right here.
Individuals even learn about that incredible swimming pool proper on prime of the resort right here. What would possibly shock folks is that that is each the most important and the best infinity pool on the earth!
Regardless that we had been residing in Singapore then (fairly actually down the street from right here), I simply knew I needed to keep right here even when for only a night time in order that I may go to the pool (the pool is just for resort company).
Spoiler alert – it’s so price it! It felt like one thing of an pointless indulgence on the time however arriving there, I knew I’d made the appropriate name to not miss out on attending to benefit from the world’s largest and highest infinity pool! (Suffice to say, the view up there’s additionally fairly wonderful!). It’s a type of enjoyable issues to do in Singapore that I simply can’t suggest sufficient! 😁😁
I stayed up right here until lengthy after my fingers had gone as wrinkly as prunes! We had been the primary up there the following morning too! Should you ever get an opportunity to, even in case you’re not a visitor on the resort for your complete time, remember to e book in an evening right here and arrive as early as potential to profit from that incredible pool!
6.) Gardens by the bay
This one is probably not a lot so ‘stunning’ or ‘surprising’ anymore however is barely included on right here as on the time, discovering such an incredible place within the metropolis centre was a tad surprising – particularly so, the supertrees round right here that are as tall as a 16 story constructing!
Nowadays, it’s simply one of the fashionable and most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore and with excellent cause too.
It’s one other good instance of how Singapore does such a fantastic job at balancing nature with metropolis life and is without doubt one of the explanation why Singapore is lauded as one of the pure (or, I suppose inexperienced) cities to go to.
7.) Hawker Centre
Singapore being one thing of an costly metropolis is one thing most guests have come to anticipate of town.
Like I discussed earlier, town is dwelling to the most important focus of millionaires on the earth and is consistently ranked as one of the costly cities to purchase a property in and even to stay in.
As such, it’s comprehensible that most individuals anticipate to should spend some huge cash once they go to however this couldn’t be farther from the reality in the case of meals.
A number of the finest meals in Singapore may be present in its hawker centres, the place you’ll discover a plethora of scrumptious native meals accessible at fairly unbelievable costs (generally as a lot a 1/10th of the costs you’ll discover in additional formal eating places).
In order for you the most effective meals in your travels, consuming the place the locals eat is one thing of a no brainer and in Singapore, that place is the hawker centres.
Working example – do you know that Singapore’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Rooster & Rice at the moment holds the honours because the world’s most cost-effective Michelin-star meal at underneath S$3 (roughly round £1.70 ) – how wonderful is that?
Why was this surprising? Properly, I suppose once you arrive in a metropolis that’s well-known for being fairly fancy, discovering out that that is so not the case in the case of one thing as important as meals is certainly one nice shock to search out within the metropolis (particularly so when the meals is so good).
8.) Tasting Durian Fruit
For the uninitiated, durian is that smelly fruit that for lack of a greater strategy to describe it, smells like sun-ripened rubbish. For some cause although, it’s so fashionable right here in Singapore and is one factor it’s important to do once you’re right here.
Everyone seems to be so fascinated with it and it’s nearly marmite-like in that individuals both actually like it or actually hate it – no in-between! Nobody is ever ambivalent about it.
It took me a number of months to lastly work up the braveness to do this and spoiler alert – it’s tastes fairly much like the way it smells.
If for nothing else, you must attempt durian right here to see in case you’re gonna be a type of who thinks it’s a lush, creamy fruit or certainly, one thing you by no means wish to odor once more! 😆😆 It’s positively of essentially the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore for foodies and the culinary-adventurous!
9.) The World’s Tallest Waterfall
Singapore’s Changi Airport has for some time now been extensively thought to be the most effective airports on the earth. There’s simply a lot to see and do once you’re right here that’s it’s turn out to be greater than only a place to catch a flight from!
As an alternative, it’s extra of a enjoyable hub for travellers and locals alike. It’s a spot that you just would possibly wish to arrive early simply so you’ll be able to spend time in and is really one of the enjoyable issues to do in Singapore.
Probably the most thrilling addition to the airport now could be the spectacular round waterfall which is well one of the spectacular installations in any airport – it’s additionally the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. When you’re finished right here, there’s truly much more stuff to rise up to on the airport however I’ll go away you to search out these out once you do go to.
10.) Common Studios
It’s not fairly often that you just discover a full-on theme park smack inside a metropolis.
They’re normally rather a lot additional out of town and are locations you don’t actually consider simply “popping in” for a couple of hours so this one completely took me without warning after we had been in Singapore, as we had been making our strategy to a completely completely different spot within the metropolis. Once we noticed the signal for it although, we determined we needed to test it out.
It was such a sizzling day that we simply selected a whim to pop in simply to get soaked on the Jurassic Park journey. One journey later and we promptly upgraded to a season ticket and even threw in a queue leap to the combo. Greatest impromptu determination we made in Singapore undoubtedly! 😄 😄
In London, we now have to traipse out of town to search out something like this so whereas we lived in Singapore, I made it a mission to go to as a lot as potential, particularly contemplating how simple it’s to get to.
Should you’re right here with associates, household and even children (‘huge children’ 😉😄 and little ones, after all), it’s completely price popping in for a fun-filled day! (Take into consideration how a lot money and time folks spend to go to locations like Orlando for a full-on vacation and right here you could have the choice to take action proper in your doorstep).
And there you could have it! A number of the components of Singapore essentially the most enjoyable issues to do in Singapore that completely stunned however totally thrilled me after I lived on this wonderful metropolis!
When you end up in Singapore, remember to examine not less than one of many above out (if not all of them!).
Have an incredible journey!
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