10 Things to Do in Singapore That Locals Love

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Top 10 Things to Do in Singapore: Must-See Attractions and Experiences

Discover the top 10 must-see attractions and experiences in Singapore, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. Read on for your ultimate travel guide!

By Felicia Tan • Tastes her way through Singapore, one hawker stall at a time.

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HERO IMAGE [IMAGE: Panoramic dusk view of Marina Bay skyline with the Singapore Flyer and Supertree Grove lit up. Filename: waterfront-dusk-panorama.jpg]

I've lived in Singapore my whole life, and I still get excited when friends visit because it means I get to see my city through fresh eyes. After years of playing tour guide, I've learned that the best Singapore experiences aren't always the ones plastered across travel brochures. Sure, Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay are spectacular, but there's so much more to this island than popular tourist attractions.

This is my honest, local take on what’s worth your time in Singapore. Some are major attractions you can't miss, others are hidden corners that most tourists walk right past. All of them will give you a real taste of what makes this Lion City so special.

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Everyone tells you to visit Gardens by the Bay, and they're right. But here's what locals know: arrive early, around 8 AM, when the gardens are peaceful and the light is perfect for photos. The Supertree Grove looks completely different in morning sunlight compared to the evening crowds.

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The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are engineering marvels that showcase Singapore’s commitment to being a garden city. Inside the Cloud Forest, you'll find yourself in a sci-fi city landscape, where elevated walkways wind through mist and tropical plants. The 35-meter waterfall is Instagram-famous for good reason.

But here's my local tip. After exploring the conservatories, walk to the less crowded Heritage Gardens section. It's where you'll find plants that tell the story of Singapore's multicultural heritage, from spices that built our trading history to traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

The evening light show at the Supertree Grove is worth staying for, but position yourself on the grass rather than fighting for spots on the elevated walkways. The sound shows happen every evening at 7:45 and 8:45 PM, and watching from below gives you the full sensory experience.

While Gardens by the Bay gets all the attention, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is where locals go to unwind. This UNESCO World Heritage site has been Singapore's green lung since 1859, and it's completely free (except for the orchid garden, which costs just $5).

I love spending hours wandering the different sections. The Heritage Trees trail takes you past some of Singapore's oldest specimens, including a Tembusu tree that's over 150 years old. The Ginger Garden blooms year-round with plants you'll recognize from Southeast Asian cooking.

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The orchid garden houses the world's largest collection of tropical orchids, with over 1,000 species. Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, blooms here in stunning purple and pink. But don't miss the VIP orchid section, where you'll find flowers named after visiting dignitaries and celebrities.

My favorite spot? The small pond near the Palm Valley where families feed fish and kids chase monitor lizards (from a safe distance). It's pure Singapore: modern city life peacefully coexisting with nature.

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Marina Bay is Singapore at its most futuristic, but most visitors only see it from the tourist viewing points. I prefer exploring it from the water level, starting with a walk along the Singapore River promenade.

The Marina Bay Sands infinity pool might be off-limits unless you're staying at the hotel, but the SkyPark observation deck offers panoramic views across the entire Marina Bay area. On clear days, you can see Indonesia across the Singapore Strait. For more things to do in Marina Bay Sands Singapore, the complex offers shopping, dining, and entertainment options that could fill an entire day.

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But here's what locals do: we watch the city skyline from the Helix Bridge at sunset, then walk to the Merlion Park for the obligatory photos (yes, even we take them sometimes). The evening light show projected onto Marina Bay Sands happens nightly, and it's best viewed from the steps of the ArtScience Museum, which houses fascinating exhibitions ranging from modern art to interactive digital displays.

For a different perspective, catch a bumboat along the Singapore River. These traditional boats now offer scenic rides that show you the city's evolution from colonial trading post to modern metropolis. You'll pass Clarke Quay's restored shophouses, now filled with restaurants and bars, and see how the river mouth connects Singapore's past to its present.

Forget the souvenir shops on Pagoda Street. Real Chinatown happens in the side alleys and older buildings where traditional Chinese values still shape daily life. Start at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where you can witness morning prayers and see one of Southeast Asia's most impressive Buddhist art collections.

The Chinatown Heritage Centre tells the story of Singapore's early Chinese immigrants, but I prefer just walking through the older residential blocks. You'll find elderly residents playing chess in void decks, traditional medicine shops where herbs are still weighed by hand, and family-run businesses that have been here for generations. Many of the older shophouses also display beautiful examples of Southeast Asian art, from intricate wood carvings to traditional calligraphy.

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The Maxwell Food Centre is where locals eat. Skip the famous stalls with the longest queues and try the less obvious ones. The laksa at stall 47 has been run by the same family for decades, and their spice blend is perfect. This is street food culture at its most authentic.

For an intimate experience, visit one of Singapore's oldest temples, like the Thian Hock Keng Temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. It's a stone's throw from the modern financial district, but inside, incense and prayers create a completely different world.

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Little India hits you with color, sound, and smell the moment you step off the MRT. This is Singapore's most vibrant ethnic quarter, where the streets pulse with Tamil music and the air is thick with curry spices and jasmine garlands.

The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, and it's still very much a place of worship. Visit during evening prayers to see the rituals that have remained unchanged for over a century. The temple's gopuram (tower) is covered in hundreds of Hindu deities carved in brilliant colors.

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Tekka Centre is where the real action happens. The wet market downstairs is pure sensory theater: vendors calling out prices in Tamil and Malay, fresh fish on ice, and vegetables I'm still learning to identify. The hawker center upstairs serves some of Singapore's best Indian food at prices that haven't changed much since the 1990s.

Don't miss the shops along Serangoon Road selling everything from gold jewelry to Tamil novels to the freshest flower garlands in the city. During Deepavali season, the entire area transforms into a festival of lights that rivals anything you'll see in India itself.

Most tourists know Sentosa Island for Universal Studios and the beaches, but locals have found quieter corners of this island resort. The Southern Ridges walking trails connect Sentosa to the mainland via Henderson Waves, Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge.

The walk from Mount Faber to Sentosa takes about two hours and shows you Singapore's commitment to green spaces. You'll pass through forest canopy walks, heritage buildings, and viewing points that offer different perspectives on the city skyline. For a longer hiking experience, you can extend the trail to include Kent Ridge Park, which offers historical war memorials and peaceful walking trails away from the crowds.

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On Sentosa itself, skip the crowded Siloso Beach and head to Tanjong Beach instead. It's quieter, with better swimming conditions and fewer tour groups. The beach bars here serve decent cocktails with sunset views across the Singapore Strait.

Fort Siloso, Singapore's only preserved coastal fort, tells the island's military history through World War II. It's a major attraction that most people rush through, but take time to explore the underground tunnels and gun emplacements. The views from the fort across the shipping lanes show you why this small island was so strategically important.

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The Singapore Flyer is one of the world's largest observation wheels, and yes, it's touristy. But locals know the best time to ride: just before sunset, when you get daylight views on the way up and city lights on the way down.

Each capsule holds up to 28 people, but if you time it right during weekday afternoons, you might get one mostly to yourself. The 30-minute rotation gives you panoramic views of Marina Bay, the Singapore River, and on clear days, parts of Malaysia and Indonesia.

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The real treat is seeing Singapore's urban planning from above. The city's green building requirements mean that even the densest neighborhoods are dotted with parks and rooftop gardens. From this height, Singapore does look like a garden city that happens to have buildings in it.

After your ride, walk through the Singapore Flyer complex. The food court here has some excellent hawker stalls that tourists miss because they're not in the main tourist hawker centers. The char kway teow at the corner stall is particularly good.

East Coast Park stretches for 15 kilometers along Singapore's southeastern coast, and it's where locals go to exercise, eat, and relax. Rent a bike and ride the dedicated cycling paths, or just walk and watch Singaporean family life in action.

The hawker centers along the park serve some of Singapore's best seafood. Newton Food Centre gets all the tourist attention, but locals prefer the East Coast Lagoon Food Village, where the chili crab is just as good and the prices are more reasonable. The barbecue stingray here is legendary among locals.

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The park's beaches aren't pristine (this is a working port city, after all), but they're perfect for watching container ships navigate the busy Singapore Strait. On weekends, you'll see families having elaborate picnics, complete with portable karaoke machines and card games that go on for hours.

For the best experience, visit during the late afternoon when the heat starts to break. The sea breeze picks up, joggers come out in force, and the whole park takes on the relaxed atmosphere that makes Singapore so livable.

Pulau Ubin is Singapore's last kampong (village), a small island that time forgot. For those interested in Singapore's wildlife, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve offers world-class experiences, including the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and the spectacular Bird Paradise, where you can observe nocturnal animals and exotic birds in their natural habitat. The Singapore Zoo is particularly famous for its open-concept design and ethical animal care, while Bird Paradise showcases over 3,500 birds from around the world in immersive walk-through aviaries.

Bird Paradise, which opened as Asia's largest bird park, is worth a full morning if you're fascinated by wildlife. The park's different zones replicate habitats from around the world, and the early morning feeding sessions are when the birds are most active.

The 15-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal costs just $3 and transports you to 1970s Singapore.

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The island has no cars, just bicycles and the occasional motorcycle. Rent a bike from one of the shops near the jetty and explore the unpaved roads that wind through rubber plantations and secondary forest. The Chek Jawa Wetlands at the island's eastern tip is one of Singapore's most important ecosystems, where you can spot mudskippers, fiddler crabs, and over 100 bird species.

What makes Pulau Ubin special isn't just the nature (though it's excellent). It's a glimpse of what Singapore was like before the economic miracle. The village still has a few residents who remember when the island had granite quarries and thriving farms. Their stories, shared over coffee at the island's only coffeeshop, are living history.

The island's walking trails take you through different habitats. You'll pass through mangrove swamps, coastal forests, and grasslands where wild boars occasionally make appearances. It's worth the trip for anyone wanting to understand Singapore beyond the urban success story.

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When the sun sets, Singapore transforms. The humidity breaks, the city lights up, and a different energy takes over. Most tourists hit Clarke Quay or Boat Quay, but locals know better spots.

Start with the Marina Bay light show, but watch it from the less crowded Jubilee Bridge. Then head to one of Singapore's rooftop bars, but skip the expensive hotel bars and try CÉ LA VIE or Lavo, where the views are just as good and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

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For something uniquely Singaporean, order a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel. Yes, it's touristy, but this is where the cocktail was invented in 1915. The bartenders still make it the original way, and throwing peanut shells on the floor is not just allowed, it's encouraged.

The real local night scene happens in the heartland neighborhoods. Chinatown's night markets come alive after dark, Little India's temples hold evening prayers accompanied by devotional music, and hawker centers across the city serve late-night meals to shift workers and night owls.

My favorite way to end a Singapore evening? Sitting by the Singapore River with a Tiger beer and watching the city's reflection shimmer on the water. It's in these quiet moments that you feel the magic of this small island that became a global city.

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For those visiting Singapore who want to experience modern luxury, Orchard Road remains the premier shopping district with everything from luxury brands to local designers. The area around Marina Bay showcases Singapore's futuristic architecture, while Jewel Changi at the airport features the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, making even transit through Singapore an experience worth having.

If you're staying longer, consider dedicating a full day to Sentosa Island, which offers everything from world-class beaches to thrilling theme parks. Many visitors rush through Sentosa Island in half a day, but the island deserves more time to truly appreciate its diverse offerings. Whether you're interested in Universal Studios, pristine beaches, or historical sites, Sentosa Island provides a perfect escape from the urban intensity of the main island.

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What makes Singapore special isn't just the popular tourist attractions or the impressive skyline. It's the way this small island has created space for different cultures, different dreams, and different ways of being Southeast Asian in the 21st century.

When you're planning your time here, remember that Singapore rewards curiosity. The best experiences often happen when you wander off the planned route, strike up conversations with locals, or follow your nose toward interesting smells and sounds.

This garden city continues to evolve, but its heart remains unchanged. It's a place where different worlds intersect, tradition and innovation coexist, and a small island nation continues to punch well above its weight on the global stage.

Singapore will surprise you, whether you're here for three days or three weeks. These ten things to do in Singapore are just the beginning of what this remarkable city-state has to offer.

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This article reflects personal experiences and recommendations from a Singapore local. Tourist attractions and locations are subject to change, so always check current opening hours and admission requirements before visiting Singapore.