From hawker stalls to heritage, here’s how to make the most of a Singapore stopover in just a few days.
Why visit Singapore
Singapore is arguably the greatest food city on earth, and a time-honoured stopover on routes between Australia and Europe. Go feast at the hawker stalls and pan-Asian restaurants.
What to see in Singapore
Anyone who has ever got sucked into computer games such as SimCity will find the Singapore City Gallery enthralling. It is devoted to the art of city planning, and there’s nowhere in the world that this is more crucial than tiny Singapore.
There are lots of touchscreen games so visitors can have a go at planning city squares, or balance the needs of industry, defence, residents and commerce.
Where to eat in Singapore
You can’t go too wrong in Singapore – there is good, cheap food at every turn. But Peranakan food – which developed as the Chinese and Malay populations intermarried – is undergoing a resurgence.
Nowhere is this more the case than at the sumptuously decorated National Kitchen by Violet Oon inside the National Gallery. The tangy, spicy buah keluak ayam, made with chicken leg and buah keluak nuts, is revelatory.
A great Singapore neighbourhood to explore
The Katong neighbourhood tends to be popular with ex-pats, but otherwise overlooked. But it’s home to some fantastic places to eat, and Singabites’ $175 private evening food tour takes in curry puffs with perfect pastry, top drawer laksa and beautifully tender Hainanese chicken rice.
On the way, there’s also a visit to a tremendously garish Hindu temple, and a swoony, traditionally-furnished Peranakan home.
Five great things to do while you’re in Singapore
- Explore Singapore’s landmarks and back streets on a bike tour.
- See Singapore from above from the Sky Deck at Marina Bay Sands.
- Discover the city at night in a private group adventure – including a river cruise.
- Smell the flowers at the National Orchid Garden.
- Take a highly-rated food and culture tour through Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.
Unmissable history
The revamped Battle Box, inside the rather lovely and historic Fort Canning Park, was the British military HQ during the Second World War. Inside the maze of tunnels and map rooms, tours tell of how the Japanese overran the Malay Peninsula, and the ill-equipped defence of Singapore became a humiliating surrender. See battlebox.com.sg.
Where to stay in Singapore
Right next to the legendary Raffles in the colonial district, the Naumi Hotel offers a modern, playful experience. The lobby is dotted with plastic hippos, there’s a statement street art mural on the exterior wall, and super-attentive staff hint that those who mention a birthday or anniversary will get extra treats.
Local tip
Half the fun of Singapore is continually grazing in hawker stalls and eating messy. But very few provide napkins – so either carry a packet of tissues or buy some off a vendor in a hawker court.
More Singapore travel
Other Singapore travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Braving the Singapore Flyer with food poisoning.
- Why Singapore Zoo is the best zoo in the world.
- How to visit Singapore’s gory Haw Par Villa.
- The attractions that explore Singapore’s Chinese heritage.
- Why Singapore is a perfect introduction to Asia.
For more Singapore tours, activities and experiences, head this way.
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