Singapore, Singapore
What to Do in Singapore: Gardens, Hawker Food, and Sentosa Sunsets
From the Supertrees to satay sizzling at Lau Pa Sat, here's your 4-day taste of the Lion City.
TL;DR
Singapore hits you with a kaleidoscope of flavours, futuristic gardens, and heritage lanes that smell like curry and jasmine.
- Gardens by the Bay: Supertrees glow neon at night, walk the Skyway between them.
- Lau Pa Sat: Victorian iron hall where satay smoke curls under the stars.
- Haji Lane: pastel shophouses and street art in the shadow of Sultan Mosque.
- Sentosa cable car: gliding over the rainforest as the sea turns gold at sunset.
- Little India banana leaf dinner: spicy fish head curry eaten with your hands on Race Course Road.
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Supertree Grove at Dusk
The Supertrees glow against the evening sky, their trunks alive with neon green and cyan.
Gardens by the Bay isn't just a park, it's a sci-fi forest that blooms after dark. The OCBC Skyway lets you walk between the giant artificial trees 22 metres up, looking down on the Cloud Forest dome and the Marina Bay skyline.
Come just before sunset to see the light change, then stay for the Garden Rhapsody sound-and-light show at 7:45pm. The mist from the Cloud Forest waterfall will cool your face as you enter the dome filled with the world's tallest indoor waterfall.
The Merlion Watches the Sun Go Down
The Merlion spouts water into the bay as the sun sets, painting the skyline gold.
Walk along the Marina Bay waterfront promenade from the Merlion Park to the Helix Bridge. The merlion statue is a half-lion half-fish fountain that spits water into the bay, and it's the spot to frame a selfie with the Marina Bay Sands hotel in the background.
At 8pm and 9pm, the Spectra light show plays across the bay with lasers, fountains, and music. Find a spot on the steps near the ArtScience Museum for the best view.
Satay Smoke at Lau Pa Sat
The hiss of satay grills and the clatter of beer bottles fill the Victorian cast-iron hall.
Lau Pa Sat is a 19th-century market turned hawker centre under an octagonal iron frame. At night, the street along Boon Tat Street closes to traffic and satay vendors set up charcoal grills right on the asphalt.
Order a mix of chicken, mutton, and beef satay from stall 7 or 8, with peanut sauce, ketupat rice cakes, and a cold Tiger beer. It's loud, smoky, and exactly the Singapore dinner you came for.
Pastel Shophouses on Haji Lane
The pastel shophouses on Haji Lane are a kaleidoscope against the blue Sultan Mosque dome.
Haji Lane is a narrow alley of boutiques, art galleries, and cafes painted in ice cream colours. Turn the corner and the domed Sultan Mosque rises in blue and gold, its minarets visible from every rooftop bar in the neighbourhood.
Spend an hour weaving between vintage clothing shops and murals, then grab a Turkish coffee at a sidewalk table. Friday prayers mean the area is buzzing with the call to prayer echoing through the streets.
Art and Columns at the National Gallery
Inside the former Supreme Court, the drama of Southeast Asian art unfolds in marble halls.
The National Gallery Singapore fills the old Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, connected by a glass atrium. The galleries hold the largest collection of Southeast Asian modern art, with works by Cheong Soo Pieng, Hendra Gunawan, and pieces that chronicle Singapore's independence.
Climb to the top floor for the rooftop bar and a view of the Padang field and Marina Bay. The light gets golden around 5pm, perfect for a cocktail over the city.
Banana Leaf Dinner in Little India
The scent of curry leaves and cumin hits you before you even step onto Race Course Road.
Little India's Race Course Road is lined with banana leaf restaurants where you eat with your hands. At Banana Leaf Apolo or the Komala Vilas, they drop a fresh banana leaf on your table and heap rice, fish head curry, vegetables, and pickles onto it.
Use your right hand to mix and scoop. The fish head curry is spicy and sour, and the bitter gourds will wake up your taste buds. End with a cup of sweet masala chai from a street stall.
Cable Car Over the Jungle to Sentosa
The cable car glides over the treetops as the South China Sea turns tangerine.
From Mount Faber Station, the cable car lifts you over the harbour and the rainforest canopy of Sentosa. You can see container ships in the strait and the distant Indonesia islands. The ride takes about 15 minutes each way.
On Sentosa, head straight for Siloso Beach for the sundowners. Grab a beach chair at a cafe like Coastes and watch the sky change colours. The sun sets between the palm trees and the yachts, and the night comes alive with neon lights on the beachfront bars.
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Frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Singapore is hot and humid all year, with temperatures around 26-31°C. The driest months are February and June to August, but rain showers can happen any day. December and January are the wettest, but also have Christmas light-ups. Book flights early for fall and spring crowds.
Do I need a visa for Singapore?
Many nationalities get visa-free entry for 30 days, including US, UK, EU, Australia, and Japan. Check the ICA website for your country. You also need an SG Arrival Card submitted online within 3 days of arrival. No visa on arrival for most countries.
Is it safe to eat street food and drink tap water in Singapore?
Yes, tap water is safe to drink from the tap anywhere in Singapore. Hawker centres are strictly regulated by the National Environment Agency, so hygiene standards are high. Go for the cleanest stalls with long queues of locals.
What's the best way to get around Singapore?
The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is fast, air-conditioned, and covers almost every attraction. Get an EZ-Link or Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited rides. Buses also go everywhere, but MRT is simpler for tourists. Taxis and Grab are affordable for short distances.
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