Singapore, our trip through the city

How to spend a day around the city

Our trip through the amazing attractions of Singapore

The bus from Melaka drop us off at the City Plaza bus stop; then, after reaching Gelang road on foot, we catch a local bus to reach the Victoria hotel, located in the city centre along Victoria Street. It’s almost 4 pm, so we immediately throw the backpack on the bed, ready to explore one of the smallest Island / Country in the world: Singapore!! 

Passing by the luxury Raffles Hotel and the War Memorial Park, we go straight to the most famous place in Singapore, the fascinating Marina Bay. Surrounded by skyscrapers, the bay is worldwide known for the iconic Marina Bay Sands Complex with its world’s highest rooftop Infinity Pool.

After seeing the Theater of the Bay, two prominent buildings with a strange shape like a hedgehog, we cross the esplanade bridge until we get to the “Merlion“, the monument half fish-half lion symbol of Singapore. Going on along the waterfront promenade, with a quite long walk, we reach the “Shoppes Mall” from where, through a pedestrian overpass, we enter inside the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Unfortunately, it’s not allowed to swim in the infinity pool if you’re not a guest. Anyway, there is the chance to have a drink or dinner at the “Ce La Vi” Sky-Bar next to it. Located on top of the Hotel on level 57, this Sky-Bar boasts a breathtaking 360° panoramic view of the city skyline and Singapore Strait (Sands Hotel Lobby Tower 3 – Adm. fee 15 USD).

After enjoying a drink in front of this privileged view, it’s time to visit the Garden by the Bay, linked by a small pedestrian overpass to the hotel. This vast garden is an urban oasis amidst Singapore’s city centre and boasts extensive plant species, outdoor terraces, lovely lakes, beautiful pavilions, amazing sculptures, and dining areas.

The highlights are the ”Flower Dome” with a display of exotic plants from the Mediterranean belt, the ”Cloud Forest” with beautiful and vivid plantations of flowers, and, above all, the iconic Supertrees Grove megastructures (each Supertree is a vertical garden), some of them linked by a skyway bridge. If you like, there is also a “Garden Rhapsody Light and Music Show” at night.

Walking here in the middle of nature and enjoying the garden view from the high skyway bridge is quite cool, but we don’t want to miss the “Spectra Light show” on the waterfront next to the mall entrance.

It’s a  free-to-public outdoor light and water show displayed over the water at the Event Plaza along the promenade, right in front of the Shoppes Mall. As in many other places like Dubai or Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be immersed in a beautiful symphony of music, water, and light that’s powered by advanced lasers, fountain jets and visual projectors with the background of the bay skyscrapers.

Our daily exploration is almost done; it’s time to find a restaurant close to Victoria Hotel and have a rest, ready for another beautiful day around the old neighbourhoods of Singapore.

Woken up early in the morning, we have a full day to stroll around the city and enjoy its attractions. Jumped on a taxi in front of the Victoria Hotel, we first reach the  Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a four-storey Buddhist temple and museum complex located in the heart of the Chinatown district.

It was recently built in 2007, and it hosts an exhibition hall, a collection of Buddhist artefacts, a Sacred Buddha Relics Chamber, and the tooth of Buddha on the 4th floor. It’s kept in a stupa made out of gold and claimed to be found in 1980 in a collapsed stupa in Myanmar.

Completed the visit, walking along South Bridge Road for 5 minutes, we get to the Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple. Founded in 1827, it’s the oldest temple of Singapore, and it was built in the Dravidian style by immigrants from the Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts of South India. It is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, known for her power to cure illnesses and diseases.

After the visit, we reach the main streets of the vibrant neighbourhood of Chinatown in a very few minutes. Walking along Temple Street, Smith Street, Terengganu Street, and Pagoda Street, it’s a blend of old and new.

Street food carts and stalls, restaurants and hip new bars, souvenir shops, locally made art and craft products, and any Chinese product shops make it a compelling destination for tourists and locals alike.

Got the New Bridge road, we walk for 15 minutes until we reach Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, the historic riverside of Singapore. Located upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River, it used to be the centre of commerce in the city about 150 years ago.

The Singapore River served as a seaport and used to trade goods from nearby villages. This area of restored warehouses it’s famous for being a night-life hub with its variety of restaurants, floating restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops.

At first, we have a nice walk along Boat Quay, a little stretch along the river on the right side of the bridge, lined by bars and restaurants, then we turn back, crossing the bridge to reach Clark Quay.

During the morning, after the visit to Chinatown, it is an excellent place to stop by and relax in one of the many bars or restaurant dotted along the riverside.

It’s my time to rest and have a good lunch in one of the old Chinese Junks, which were used as trading boats and now renovated to become floating restaurants or pubs.

We reach the nearby Liang mall Court with a full stomach to take a taxi and head to Kampong Glam, best known as the “Muslim quarter“. With its eclectic blend of history, this area is the centre for Muslim activities and boats the beautiful Sultan Mosque, a major landmark of the city and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.

Kampong Glam has its origins as a thriving port town and is Singapore’s oldest urban quarter.  It took its name from the trees called ”Gelam” found and used locally for boat-making, medicine and even as a seasoning for food.

The highlights of this quarter are the Sultan Mosque, built in 1824 with its massive golden domes and huge prayer hall, the Malay Heritage Centre, a museum for those interested in understanding the history of Singapore’s Malay community.

But also Bussorah street, lined by multi-label stores, charming boutiques selling fabric and silk, bars and cafes, and Haji Lane, a long and narrow road dotted with old shophouses, boutiques, bars, cafes and its alleys decorated with graffiti.

After visiting the Mosque and the old streets of this charming quarter, we move to another exciting neighbourhood: Little India.

It takes around 20 minutes to walk to Little India, passing through Arab Street and Upper Well Road.  This quarter is the centre for the large Indian community. Its gaily painted shophouses are an icon of the city, the most colourful and attractive places to visit in Singapore.

Along the roadside and its alleys (don’t miss Kerbau road), you’ll find traditional Indian shops selling spices, incense, oils, flowers, clothes and fabrics, small restaurant with delightful Indian cuisine, stalls selling typical Indian street food like roti prata flatbread, Uppuma porridge, and Dosai rice pancake.

Here, along Bukit Tima Road, you’ll also find the Tekka Centre, Singapore’s largest indoor ‘wet’ market, selling an incredible array of produce and hard-to-find ingredients. Little India also boasts three significant Hindu Temple: Srinivasa Perumal, built in 1855 and dedicated to Vishnu; Sri Veeramakaliamman, constructed in 1881 and dedicated to the ferocious Goddes Kali, and Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman.

It’s almost 5 pm, but we are not tired yet, then we decide to walk to the pedestrian Albert Street where, at its end, is located the Bugis Street Market, one of the biggest and cheapest markets to come shopping in the whole of Singapore.

In this long covered market, you’ll find everything: over 800 shops of all shapes and sizes selling any stuff, souvenirs, accessories, clothes, electronics, houseware, and cosmetics but also local food, fresh fruit, and drink.

In this area, there is also the Bugis Junction Mall, a big mall with over 200 fashion boutiques selling expensive popular brands. After crossing the whole Bugis market, we get out along Victoria Street, and from here, we jump on a bus heading to Marina Bay.

We could end our visit to Orchard road, the most famous shopping street in Singapore, with plenty of iconic shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and entertainment, but we are not about shopping.

We decide to go again to Marina Bay Sands hotel sky-bar, sipping a beer and looking at the sun disappearing at the horizon, behind the skyscrapers of this small but interesting island-country. See you soon Singapore!

• Click here to read our Singapore Travel Guide.