Things to do in Singapore

Singapore is one island about 50 kilometres across, and a country of its own since 1965. Raffles set up the trading post in 1819. Nothing is far from anything, so the real question is which evening and which meal.

How the island divides up

• Civic District and Marina Bay. Colonial courts and theatres facing the water, the Merlion, the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands.
• The river. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay were once cargo wharves. Bumboats now run a 40-minute cruise past the landmarks.
• Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. Three old quarters, each a short MRT ride from the next.
• Katong. A Peranakan neighbourhood on the east side, known for its laksa.
• The housing estates. Most residents live in public-housing blocks, and one history walk climbs onto a rooftop.
• The Southern Islands. Reached by boat, and used for kayaking and paddle-boarding.

What people do here

Food comes first. Singapore's hawker culture has been on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2020. Guided walks link the hawker centres at Maxwell and Old Airport Road with the quarters above.

Evenings come second. The light show at Marina Bay and the Supertree Grove show at Gardens by the Bay are both free. A 4.5-hour evening tour strings them together with a river cruise.

Daytime options are lighter: an amphibious Duck bus, a river cruise, or a phone-guided puzzle walk through the Civic District.

Practical

• Weather. Every month runs about 31C by day and 25C at night. Over two metres of rain falls a year in short downpours, and November to January is the wettest stretch.
• Getting around. Tap a contactless bank card on the MRT and buses. The train from Changi into the city takes well under an hour.
• Tipping. Restaurants add a 10 percent service charge and GST, so nothing more is expected.
• Cash. Some hawker stalls take only cash or local QR payments. Carry a few notes.
• Guided walks. Most run on public transport, paid on the spot. A taxi can be added for a fee.
• Rules. Chewing gum cannot be sold, littering is fined, and vaping is illegal.