There are countless reasons to visit Singapore.  The small island city-state, off southern Malaysia, is home to impressive engineering feats, alluringly lush gardens, and some of the best food in Asia.  Despite its modest size, you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.

So, what are some of the highlights and must-sees in the Lion City?  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Changi Airport

Go big or go home.  That sentiment couldn’t be more true of this captivating island nation.  Even the airport is a great reason to visit Singapore!  Home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the famed Changi Airport also features a butterfly garden, movie theater, shopping mall, restaurants, kid’s zone, four-story slide, spa, napping lounge, and a pool!

It’s no wonder why Singapore’s Changi Airport has been recognized as the world’s #1 airport!

In fact, visiting Changi Airport had been on my bucket list for years!  I wanted to see the Kinetic Rain art installation near the exterior doors to Departures, after happening upon a YouTube video of it on social media.  It may sound silly, but marveling at it in person was one of the highlights of my trip.

So, upon arriving in Singapore don’t rush out to grab a ride to your hotel.  Instead, unwind in the gardens around Changi Airport’s Jewel.  It’s an enchanting oasis after a long flight and the perfect way to start your adventure.

Supertree Grove

One of the most well-known attractions in Singapore is the Supertree Grove.  These enormous hanging gardens resemble towering trees that look like something straight out of Avatar, and they only get more impressive as the day turns into night.  After dark, the trees are illuminated with hues of red, green, blue, and purple to create an otherworldly atmosphere.

Not afraid of heights?  Then, check out the OCBC Skyway!  After a long line and a short elevator ride, you’re rewarded with a bird’s eye view of the Singapore skyline along the Supertree Grove’s elevated catwalk.  Still not high enough for you?  Then, try the grove’s newest attraction – the Supertree Observatory.  Here you can ascend to the canopy of the tallest supertree for a 365-degree panorama of the Marina Bay and surrounding gardens.

And, while you need to pay to embark on these sky-high adventures, entry to the Supertree Grove itself is free!

Cloud Forest

Educational and enticing, Singapore’s Cloud Forest is a jaw-dropping indoor garden the likes of which you’ve never seen (and one of my favorite reasons to visit Singapore!)  With a 115-foot tall mountain and multiple cascading waterfalls at its center, the Cloud Forest feels like a dream.  The greenery and flowers are shrouded in a light mist, and walkways wind through the glass-domed complex until reaching an overlook at the top.

Visitors will be delighted with the sights, sounds, and smells that make the forest feel miles away from Singapore’s bustling city center.  And, the walk concludes with a startling look at what we’re doing to the planet and ways we can make a more positive impact on our environment.

In the mood for more blooms?  Then, check out the neighboring Flower Dome and Floral Fantasy!  Here you’ll find the world’s largest glass greenhouse and an artistic take on a whimsical garden.

Each garden is well worth the money, so consider purchasing a bundled ticket to see more than one!

ArtScience Museum

Another awesome activity in Singapore is a visit to the ArtScience Museum.  It features interactive masterpieces, immersive experiences, and exhibitions like a mysterious trip down Alice’s rabbit hole.  The building itself is a work of art and its exhibitions flawlessly combine the creative and the scientific into one memorable experience.

It’s a colorful and inventive way to spend the afternoon!

Marina Bay Sands

The Marina Bay Sands was another bucket list moment for me.  Home to the world’s largest elevated swimming pool, the hotel offers swimmers a breathtaking view of the Marina Bay 57-stories below.  And, with poolside service and fruity cocktails, it’s the perfect way to unwind.  But, if you want to indulge in a once-in-a-lifetime soak you must be a hotel guest, so make sure to book a room!

Conveniently located within walking distance of the Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest, and ArtScience Museum, the Marina Bay Sands also features a casino, convention center, and shopping mall.  Plus, it has the world’s largest (and most exciting) milkshakes at the Black Tap!

The Botanic Gardens

Founded in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens are a beautiful escape in the middle of the city (and the first World Heritage Site in Singapore!)  In additional to beautiful foliage walks (including rainforest and lakeside paths), you’ll also find the National Orchid Garden which houses thousands of different plant varieties.  And, while the rest of the gardens have free admission, the small fee to enter the orchid area is well-worth the money!  It’s a stunning kaleidoscope of delicate pedals, with some unique varieties named after famous figures in world history.

While you’re there, you can grab lunch at the onsite eateries and souveniers from one of the many giftshops.  Which, coincidentally, make a great place to shelter from afternoon rainshowers (should you be caught in one like I was!)

Hawkers Centres

Singapore is known for its delectable cuisine.  And, nowhere is it on display more than at one of the city’s many Hawkers Centres.  Featuring food stalls that perfect their dishes over generations, it’s a cheap and easy way to experience truly remarkable meals.

About a block from the waterfront is one of my personal favorites – Lau Pa Sat.  It has great non-meat options at Uniquely Vegetarian (stall 46 & 47) and phenomenal pancakes at Munchi Pancakes (stall 61).  Plus, I checked one more thing off my bucket list when I had the Crispy Shrimp Wanton Hor Fun at Shi Hui Yuan (a Michelin-rated eatery at stall 23).  It certainly lived up to the hype!  And for dessert, ice cream from Creme & Cone (stall TK3) can’t be beaten!

Other fantastic hawkers centres in Singapore include:

• East Coast Lagoon Food Village – Specializing in seafood dishes right by the beach!
• Newton Food Centre – Featured in Crazy Rich Asians with close to 100 restaurant stalls.
• Maxwell Food Centre – Check out the chicken rice at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (another Michelin-rated eatery).
• Tekka Centre – Numerous Indian food options, many of which are made at Muslim-owned or halal-certified stalls.
• Chinatown Food Street – A beautiful ambiance with fabulous Chinese food options.
• Satay By The Bay – Located near the Gardens By The Bay and specializing in, you guessed it, satay dishes.

The Waterfront

Even a stroll along the skyscraper-lined Marina Bay waterfront is a great reason to visit Singapore!  It has scenic views of the imposing Marina Bay Sands hotel, the unmistakable facade of the ArtScience Museum, and an up-close-and-personal look at the Merlion (the mythical symbol of Singapore with a lion’s head and a fish’s body).

A great way to take it all in is from the top of the Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel.  The 541-foot observation wheel takes 30-minutes for a full rotation and gives riders a dramatic look at the Singapore skyline.  As one of the largest ferris wheels in the world, it’s also one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions.

These are just a few of the reasons to visit Singapore, but there are many others.  An afternoon on Sentosa Island, the Michelin star street food, the colorful streets of Kampong Glam, the Buddhist temple of Thian Hock Keng… the list is literally endless!

But, no matter what you see during your stay in Singapore, one thing’s for sure – it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

Have you been to Singapore before?  Comment below, I’d love to hear what your favorite sights were!

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