5 Awesome Things to Do in Singapore on Your First Visit

With Perth being a stone’s throw away from Singapore, it’s no surprise that I’m there several times a year and have adopted it as a second home.

Although I’m back and forth so often as it is, there are some things that never cease to amaze me in this beautiful place that is sometimes forgotten and overlooked as a must-see holiday destination. Singapore has an incredible array of attractions, sightseeing options, day trips and enjoyable activities for the independent traveller, the energetic couple, the enthusiastic family or anyone who slots somewhere in between. Choosing only a handful of things that would be a must-do in this city bursting with life was no easy task. Whether you are there for a short stay or ready to immerse yourself for weeks, the following things I have listed are only just the beginning of lifelong memories that you’ll discover and not even realise that you were missing out on.

When it comes to vision and implementation, Singapore is at the forefront with its magnificent urban development and transformation of this cosmopolitan city-state. The site itself covers 101 hectares and is essentially in three parts being the Supertree grove, the Cloud Forest Dome and the Flower Dome. Gardens by the Bay is an illustration of the amalgamation of architecture with nature and is definitely a feat worth seeing whether from the ground or in the air via the OCBC Skyway. The OCBC Skyway is a walkway suspended 22 metres above and between 6 Supertrees and is an opportunity to see this sensational location from a different viewpoint. Otherwise, experience what it would be like to be on top of a mountain amongst lush forest and cool waterfalls as if you are in the clouds in the Cloud Forest Dome. Check out the Flower Dome next and explore nature from South Africa, South America, Spain, Italy as well as Australia in the seven sectors of the dome that was named the Largest Glass Greenhouse in the world by the Guinness World Records in 2015. Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s awe inspiring attractions and when you see it for yourself, you will understand why it has won countless design awards and is called a futuristic wonderland.

With Universal Studios Singapore also commonly known as USS being the first amusement park of its kind to open in Southeast Asia, it’s obvious as to why this is one of the most popular activities on everyone’s Singapore bucket list. The park itself is separated into seven themed zones including Madagascar, Far Far Away, Lost World, Ancient Egypt, Sci-Fi City, New York and Hollywood with more than 20 attractions to keep you entertained. Families, friends, couples and individuals are sure to have fun and can slide in some various live shows and photo opportunities throughout the day. Whether you would like to take a walk through Hollywood or share in the rides inspired from movies such as Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Mummy or Shrek, USS is by far the best family friendly attraction that people lock into their Singapore itinerary. Located in Sentosa, it’s easy to get to and leads me to the next thing you should consider doing whilst in Singapore.

Breathtaking is the first and only word that comes to mind when I think about my last ride in the Singapore Cable Car. The view definitely never gets old and brings a whole new perspective and appreciation of the vision and energy behind Sentosa Island, Harbourfront and Mount Faber.  The aerial views are amazing but the convenience of getting into and around Sentosa is effortless with the Singapore Cable Car Sky Pass. With picturesque landscapes and 360° views, it’s an experience worth adding to your Sentosa visit and is even designed to be friendly for wheelchairs and baby strollers. If taking stunning photos of the view isn’t enough then did I mention that you can even enjoy a meal in the spacious cabin as an additional option? What about a 2 hour guided tour to learn about the history of Sentosa Island? Without the Singapore Cable Car Skypass, your Singapore experience isn’t really quite complete now is it?

S.E.A. Aquarium has over 12 million gallons of water, 50 different habitats, more than 800 species and nearly 100 000 aquatic inhabitants in total making it a must visit attraction in Singapore for every itinerary.  With the world’s largest collection of Manta Rays, this aquarium is worthwhile visiting and is like taking an underwater adventure through the open ocean and features predators and endangered species such as the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark and the Silvertip Shark. The most incredible thing however is the Open Ocean tank that is the centrepiece of the aquarium and holds more than 18,000,000 litres of water and 50,000 marine animals alone. This aquarium is one of my favourite ones to date and is truly an astonishing discovery of marine life that will leave you enthralled by the beauty of the sea and the realm of the open ocean.

Marina Bay is famed in Singapore as the place to go and see especially with the S$5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands Complex being the heart of the bay area with a 3.5km walkway along the bay. With so many things to do and see or dine and shop, the most popular and I admit one of my favourites, is the spectacular light show against the Singapore skyline. I’ve seen it at least a dozen times but drown in the symphony of song and sight each and every single time I see it again. However, in addition to the light show, another extraordinary thing to see is the ArtScience Museum also located at Marina Bay. Learn about space, art, technology, and production as well explore the permanent teamLab digital installation that is the epitome of where art meets science. Located in a lotus-designed building, the ArtScience Museum isn’t just your typical sort of museum. There’s 21 galleries inside and the museum will have you determined to stay and keep exploring the world in which we didn’t think was possible.

For those that have been a multitude of times to Singapore and have done every touristy thing possible or for those who simply need to relax after a day out doing any of the above suggestions, I recommend going to Serena Spa at the Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel. The spa is the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, wind down and simply pamper yourself with the range of treatments, facials and massages available. In my recent visit to Serena Spa, I tried  the Coconut Milk Massage which helped me to relax after a long day out and I was left feeling completely relaxed and ready to take on my busy itinerary the next day. The Serena Spa staff are always kind, attentive and professional giving me the need to pencil them into my schedule every time that I’m back in Singapore. Make sure that you add this to your routine every time that you’re in Singapore in order to give you the energy and mindset to take on life whether on a personal or business trip and your body and mind will thank you for it!