Travel is definitely back! After almost three years since the outbreak of COVID-19, both local and international travel are back to its pre-pandemic A-game with almost all countries opening up their borders and lifting pandemic restrictions.
As one of those people who find joy in exploring new places, I am certainly one among the happiest as I can finally return back to my bucketlist and continue ticking them off, starting this time with the country of Singapore.
A progressive island city-state located at the southern most tip of the Malayan peninsula, Singapore is often connotated with layovers, Southeast Asian counterpart offices of multinational corporations and—for its fellow neighboring countries—high cost of living. But beyond these stereotypes, the Lion City is also brimming with history, culture and destinations that are worth the trip.
Without further ado, here are the important information that you need and places to visit if you’re planning to put Singapore in your go-to this year.
Disclaimer: This post hasn’t been updated recently, hence, some information may be outdated. I highly encourage to check reliable sources for updates.
Table of Contents
Travel Requirements
Entry to Singapore has been simplified thanks to the low number of active COVID-19 cases in the country after several months of opening borders to foreign travelers.
As of February 13 of this year, the following are the documents required upon entry to the country:
- Flight ticket
- Filled up SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
- Travel visa if required
The SGAC contains relevant information regarding your profile, flight, accommodation and health declaration and needs to be submitted online through the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority portal three days before your arrival, including the day of the flight itself.
Unvaccinated travelers are also welcome to enter without the need for pre-departure or on-arrival tests, quarantine, COVID-19 travel insurance or entry approvals. Nonetheless, visitors coming from Africa and Latin America six days prior to their arrival in Singapore are required to present a valid vaccination certificate against yellow fever.
Philippine passport holders with leisure and tourism as their travel purpose are welcome to stay in the country visa-free for up to 30 days.
Itinerary & Places to Visit
Singapore is a pretty small country that can be visited within a few days. Most travelers suggest spending at least three days to explore the place’s major tourist spots and based on experience it is enough.
For our recent trip, we spent three and a half days which covered most of the city. We skipped the trip to Sentosa Island and Universal Studios since we are not fans of amusement parks(—maybe next time!). But that didn’t stop us from being amazed with what Singapore has to offer.
Day 0 – Singapore Changi Airport & Jewel Changi
Kick off your adventure right after getting off the plane at Singapore Changi Airport. Hailed as the best airport in the world, be amazed with this air terminal’s modern design and with the iconic indoor waterfall at Jewel Changi’s Rain Vortex and its lights and sounds show. No need to go to the main city as well as this place is dotted with different restaurants that will certainly fulfill any traveler’s grumbling stomach.
Day 1 – Chinatown & Gardens by the Bay
With most of its population having Chinese heritage, dropping by in SG’s Chinatown district is among the handful of activities that tourists must do to learn more about the country’s diverse culture.
Starting from Chinatown MRT station, make your way into the district through Pagoda Street where the Heritage Centre is located and where a handful of shops sell various souvenirs with a backdrop of colorful Peranakan houses.
At the end of street, cross the road and walk your way to Mohamed Ali Lane where history unfolds with its wall mural depicting street vendors doing trade in the 1960s. You can also spot the other culture-inspired murals in the other streets as you further explore the district.
Don’t skip on the chance of dropping by at Sri Mariamman and Buddha Tooth Relic temples to get a glimpse of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. And when you get hungry, drop by at the nearby Maxwell Food Centre to get a taste of its popular Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken.
After hours of discovering SG’s heritage, unravel some of the country’s landmarks at Gardens by the Bay. Home to various tourist spots, this place is visited for its scenic offerings that fuse nature and man-made structures.
If you have the budget, pay a visit to Cloud Forest and Flower Dome to let your eyes feast on different flora set inside a big glass dome or if you’re on the other side of the spectrum, the SuperTree Grove will not disappoint and will allow you to enjoy it for free, not to mention the additional view of the nearby Marina Bay Sands which is a sight of its own.
Day 2 – Marina Bay, Civic District, Bugis & Kampong Glam
Zoom in on more specific experience in the downtown area where different tourist and local-favorite spots are located.
Iconic for its lotus-shaped architecture, ArtScience Museum sits at the nearby Marina Bay Sands and houses several exhibits including FUTUREWORLD that features works of art collective TeamLab. This tourist-favorite is also surrounded with a 180-degree scene of Marina Bay with the city’s skyscrapers towering behind it.
If luxury is one of your tastes, the nearby The Shoppes is also the place to be. Home to well-known high-end and designer brands, anyone can enjoy a quick visit here whether they have the money or simply window shopping. There’s also an affordable food court at the basement for quick grubs.
For a glimpse of local dining scene, head to CHIJMES located a stone throw away from the City Hall MRT station. This enclave of restaurants is a local favorite that provides an array of cuisine to its diners with a scenic backdrop of its former chapel dressed in a Neo-Gothic style.
Fun fact: This is also the same place where that dreamy Crazy Rich Asians wedding scene was filmed.
Prepare to spend a few hours discovering and learning about the country’s history and Southeast Asian modern art at the National Gallery Singapore. Sitting in the locations of the City Hall and former Supreme Court, this six-level museum houses thousands of art and allows you to get a glimpse of where the country’s major judicial processes used to be done.
Complete your Civic District experience by dropping by at the nearby Capitol Theatre and Old Hill Police Station and having photo ops at the well-known Merlion Statue at the other side of Anderson Bridge to seal your trip.
To further learn about Singapore’s diverse culture, one can also include a trip to Bugis and Kampong Glam to get their shopping and dining fixes.
For cheap finds, head to Bugis Street to score on souvenir t-shirts, tote bags, ref magnets and trendy tops minus the hefty price tag.
If you’re up to a unique and cultural shopping experience, Arab Street and Haji Lane are dotted with Middle Eastern stores and boutique shops selling everything that range from Turkish lamps, aromas, textiles to fashion accessories and board games.
No need to go far as well when you get hungry as both of these streets are filled with dining spots that offer various cuisines such as Mediterranean, Lebanese, Indian, Indonesian and Western.
After filling your stomach and shopping bags, don’t forget to drop by at the famous Sultan Mosque which can easily be spotted as it towers the entire neighborhood.
We weren’t able to include it in our itinerary but I was able to pass by briefly at Little India on my way back to our hotel the following day. But if you have the time, you can explore this must-see vibrant district by visiting the retail complex of Mustafa Centre and Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple which are two of the well-known spots in the area.
Day 3 – Singapore Botanic Gardens & Orchard Road
If you want a quick escapade from the bustling city life, head to Singapore Botanic Gardens to fill your eyes with the region’s lush flora and picturesque scenes. This 82-hectare nature park is the country’s sole inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site with the National Orchid Garden taking centerstage with its landscaped slopes.
You can also complete your Singapore itinerary with the rows of shopping malls at Orchard Road. Known as a buzzing commercial district, score finds from beloved luxury brands from Japanase retail giant Takashimaya Shopping Centre or drop by at Lucky Plaza for affordable options and grubs.
If you also have the time, make your way to library@orchard in Orchardgateway and read a book with a background of the city in front of you or snaps some shots in its Instagram-famous curved shelves.
Lastly, don’t forget to pay a visit to at least one of Singapore’s numerous hawker centres scattered throughout the country for an authentic local dining experience. Aside from Maxwell, other famous hawker centres in the place are Newton Food Centre and Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Budget Accommodations
“Cheap” isn’t exactly the best word to describe accomodation hunting in Singapore and I personally found this as a difficulty at first when looking for a place to stay in the country. So if you have a relative or a friend who is willing to host and let you stay in their home, grab the chance since this will allow you to save a lot of money and stress. But if you don’t have, here are some hostels and budget hotels in the area that won’t break the bank.
Hostels
- Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel – Chinatown
- Galaxy Pods – Chinatown
- MET A Space Pod – Arab Street
Hotels
- Fragrance Hotel – multiple locations
- Hotel 81 – multiple locations
- AM Hotel – East Coast
- Four Chain View Hotel – Geylang
Most of these options have a price range below or around SG$365 good for four nights and for two persons. Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel has breakfast included so it may be the best for people who want to make the most out of their budget. But for us, we decided to go for Fragrance Hotel – Oasis in Balestier Road for the privacy and to have our own bathroom.
Generally, Singapore is safe but if you’re a female traveler looking for an accommodation, you may want to skip the Geylang area most especially the streets located in the red light district as it may be unsafe at night. It is also important to note to pick a hotel or hostel that is just a stone throw away from the MRT station for added convenience.
Ready to see the Lion City? Which one are you excited to see? Let me know your thoughts below!
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