28 Best Sights in Singapore

Constructed in the 1860s as a courthouse, the huge, white, Neoclassical Empress Place building is now home to the nation's first museum to look comprehensively at the all Asian regions, each of which has its own timeline and permanent displays. Spread over three levels, the 11 galleries have state-of-the-art interactive features, and there's also an educational center for kids.

The government-funded, large-scale gardens next to Marina Bay Sands opened with much well-deserved pomp in 2012. Highlights include a futuristic grove of "Supertrees"—giant vertical gardens—and two armadillo-shaped conservatories. The Flower Dome is home to plants from the Mediterranean and subtropical regions, while the Cloud Forest is veiled in mist and houses the world's largest indoor waterfall. The OCBC Skyway is a 420-foot (128-meter) walkway that connects several of the Supertrees and offers a great view from above. While hefty fees apply for the Skyway, the SuperTree Observatory, and conservatories, visitors can wander around the Gardens until 2 am free of charge.

This 30-acre park is a lush green wilderness, crisscrossed by a 10-km (6.2-mile) walking trail that loops around the reservoir. The trail is mostly flat and shaded, with only the warbling of birds and chatter of the park's many monkeys to break the peaceful reverie. Pick up the trail from MacRitchie Reservoir Park in the south, near the trail's main car park, where you can grab a drink from the cafés and kiosks before heading off. From here, you can follow signs towards the TreeTop Walk, which lies at around midway mark in the north of the park. This 820-foot-long suspension bridge soars above the trees, with spectacular views across the wild rain forest to the city skyscrapers in the distance. After completing the TreeTop Walk, continue following the trail towards Jelutong Tower—another spot with scenic views that lies in the west of the park—before looping back to the MacRitchie Reservoir Park along the picturesque waterside boardwalk.

Take a 10-minute ride on a bumboat (a small launch) from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to be transported back in time on this boomerang-shaped island. It's best explored by bicycle, which can be rented on the island. There are three trails that lead past old plantations, mangrove swamps, forests, the occasional wild boar, and abandoned granite quarries that look surprisingly picturesque. You should also consider a visit to the Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems, to wander the 1-km (0.62-mile) boardwalk (Mangrove and Coastal Loops) and take in views from the 66-foot Jejawi Tower. There's also the Ketam Mountain Bike Park, a 10-km (6.2-mile) park around the Ketam Quarry. Before heading back, cool off with a fresh coconut drink or order a kampong-style meal from one of the small seafood restaurants near the jetty.

Aviation, nuclear science, robotics, astronomy, space technology, and Internet technology are entertainingly explored through audiovisual and interactive exhibits housed in the 14 galleries here. You can walk into a "human body" for a closer look at vital organs, test yourself via computer quiz games, or settle into the Omni Theatre, where movies and planetarium shows are screened. Other fascinating exhibitions include the Ecogarden, a living laboratory of flora and fauna in natural habitats, and "Climate Changed," which shows what life will be like if global warming continues—and what we can do to prevent it.

The first site in Singapore to gain UNESCO Heritage status is also the first and only tropical botanic gardens in the world to make the list. Once you start to explore the winding trails of the enormous park, which sprawls across more than 128 acres of lush greenery, you'll understand why. It is neatly segmented into different gardens featuring all the hallmarks of Victorian design—gazebos, pavilions, and ornate bandstands included. Highlights are the National Orchid Garden, showcasing over 1,000 species of brightly colored blooms, and the Ginger Garden, where several hundred varieties of ginger grow. Try to time your visit to coincide with the free guided tours that almost always take place around 9 am on Saturday (see the National Parks website for more details).

Sprawling over 65 acres of a 220-acre natural rain forest, this zoo has stunning views of nearby reservoir lakes. The zoo uses an open-concept design, with spacious enclosures using minimal glass and fencing to separate animals from zoo-goers: a 3-foot-deep moat, for instance, will keep humans and giraffes apart, since a giraffe's gait makes even a shallow trench impossible to negotiate. In total, there are about 4,200 animals from around 300 species here, spread across zones from Australasia to Wild Africa. The Asian elephant and Bornean orangutan enclosures are definitely worth a visit, but there's joy in stumbling across species less well-known as you wander through the park. The zoo is renowned for its conservation work, and up to 34% of the species living here are threatened in the wild. Make sure to ask for animal feeding times and keeper talks at the entrance.  To save a bit, you can buy a combo ticket for access to all four wildlife parks (Bird Paradise, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Wonders) or two of your choice, to be used within seven days of purchase.

A lesser-visited gem of a park in the northeast of Singapore, uninhabited Coney Island (aka Pulau Serangoon) boasts hidden white-sand beaches and plenty of mangrove-draped trails through coastal forests, casuarina woodlands, and grasslands filled with flora and fauna. Start at Punggol Point Park, where boats and a bridge go to Coney Island Park. There are five main beach areas, and the 2.5-km-long Coney Island Park Connector to explore by bicycle or walking. GoCycling at Punggol Jetty rents bikes for S$10 an hour. On selected Saturday mornings in the months of June, November, and December, National Parks volunteers conduct two-hour guided walks. Amenities: toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking; cycling.

A restoration and integration of Singapore’s former City Hall and Supreme Court, this Southeast Asian visual arts museum is a work of art in itself. Immerse yourself in its extensive collection of modern art from the region—the world's largest public display—before grabbing a bite at one of the many globally acclaimed restaurants on site.

One of the world's largest aquariums, this underwater wonderland with seven themed zones provides views of more than 1,000 species from around the world. Gaze into a shipwreck habitat; walk through a tunnel surrounded by various shark species; and gape at goliath groupers, Napoleon wrasses, and a squadron of magnificent manta rays. There are educational shows on dive feeding and understanding dolphin behavior scheduled throughout the day. VIP tours can be organized.

Packed with cutting-edge rides, shows, and movie-themed attractions, this theme park inside Resorts World Sentosa is a family favorite. Eighteen of the 24 movie-themed rides were designed or adapted especially for the Singapore park, including the world’s first Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey and the dueling Battlestar Galactica: Human vs Cyclone roller-coaster. Spread across seven themed sections, the park has a number of kid-friendly rides and shows, including Shrek 4-D Adventure, Dino-Soarin', and Donkey-Live as well as the Hello Kitty Studio Store and Minion Mart. The five-hour guided VIP tour includes priority access to eight popular rides like TRANSFORMERS The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle and photo-ops with characters. Popular dining spots like Mel's Drive-In, Fossil Fuel, and Fairy Godmother's Juice Bar provide fuel for what will be a busy day. 

Part of Marina Bay Sands, this Moshe Safdie–designed structure is often compared to an open hand or a lotus flower. Inside, the exhibitions combine—you guessed it—art and science. Since its opening in 2011, major international exhibitions have been set up within the 21 gallery spaces, totaling 50,000 square feet. Guided tours leave at 4 and 5 pm from the Exhibition Entrance on basement level 2. Upstairs, the Sweet Spot has excellent coffee, cakes, and snacks.

Set within a rain forest—and featuring an Asian landscape complete with a moon gate, streams, and bridges—this park has a collection of 1,500 live butterflies from 50 species, as well as 3,000 insects that creep, crawl, or fly. Look for tree-horn rhino beetles, scorpions, and tarantulas. A number of free educational and feeding experiences with iguanas, tortoises, and other creatures are scheduled daily.

This breezy, 460-acre seaside park isn’t just one of Singapore’s largest beaches, it’s also the most popular, with a plethora of dining and recreational activities. There’s fun for the whole family here, whether you choose to cycle along the bike-dedicated paths, go waterskiing, have a seafood dinner, or even camp overnight, though if you do want to camp, remember to apply for an electronic camping permit first ( nparks.gov.sg). A cable-ski park, Wake Park ( singaporewakepark.com), is set up around a lagoon for wakeboarding enthusiasts. You can also go windsurfing, winging, sailing, or simply take a dip in the sea. Aloha Sea Sports Center ( www.alohaseasports.com) offers rentals, storage, and courses, and also organizes occasional races. Further away along the wide, well-manicured park are public barbecue pits, 7.5 km (4.7 miles) of sandy beaches, and a hawker center. Before the upcoming Thomson–East Coast MRT Line connects the park with other parts of Singapore in 2024, a taxi or public bus is your best bet for getting here. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing; winging.

Offering a green sanctuary from the bustling city below, Fort Canning is where modern Singapore's founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, built his first bungalow and experimented with a botanical garden. Massive fig trees, luxuriant ferns, and abundant birdlife—including piping black-naped orioles and chattering collared kingfishers—flourish here. The hill's trails are well marked by signs, or you can explore the area with the help of augmented reality via the free BalikSG app offered by the National Heritage Board. In addition to the lush greenery, there are ancient artifacts for history buffs and occasional theater productions and music festivals for arts lovers.

This well-preserved fort covers 10 acres of gun emplacements and tunnels created by the British to fend off the Japanese. Unfortunately, the Japanese arrived by land (through Malaysia) instead of by sea, so the huge guns were pointed in the wrong direction. Fort Siloso is now home to a treasure trove of World War II memorabilia, including coastal guns and the remains of fortified structures. The displays have been successfully revamped with lots of interactive high-tech audiovisual and animatronic effects. Photographs document the war in the Pacific, and dioramas depict the life of POWs during the Japanese occupation. Free guided tours are available every second and third Saturday of the month from 3 pm to 4:30 pm, but you must register online in advance as limited slots are available.

Formerly known as Tiger Balm Gardens, Haw Par Villa is a charmingly bizarre park dedicated to Chinese legends and myths. Once part of an estate owned by the two eccentric brothers who created Tiger Balm ointment, the gardens were opened to the public after World War II and later transformed into this theme park. A highlight of the intriguing treasure trove of Chinese mythology, religion, and social mores is the walk-through "Ten Courts of Hell" display, which depicts a tale of life after death designed to teach traditional Chinese morality. Discover more about the display at the intriguing Hell's Museum, featuring specially curated displays that explore death and dying in belief systems around the world.

Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and local footballer Fandi Ahmad are just some of the realistic wax figures to admire and strike a pose with at Madame Tussauds Singapore. Included with the standard ticket is "Images of Singapore," a 45-minute show about Singapore's history, and the Spirit of Singapore boat ride, in which iconic landmarks and Sir Stamford Raffles (the founder of modern Singapore) make an appearance. The entry fee also includes admission to the Ultimate Film Star Experience and one souvenir digital photo. There are additional combination packages for access to Marvel Universe 4D and VR Racing experience. 

Right next to the Singapore Zoo, the safari is the world's first wildlife park designed exclusively and especially for night viewing. More than 85 acres of secondary jungle provide a home to over 900 animals (from approximately 100 species) that are more active after the sun sets. Some 90% of tropical animals are, in fact, nocturnal, and to see them do something other than snooze gives their behavior a new dimension. From elephants, lions, and clouded leopards to flying foxes and rare pangolin, the Night Safari is an unusual way to spy animals after dark. Their habitats have been designed to come as close to their natural setting as possible, with just enough light for you to see what they're doing but not enough to limit the animals' normal activity.  To save a bit, you can buy a combo ticket for access to all four wildlife parks (Bird Paradise, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Wonders) or two of your choice, to be used within seven days of purchase.

This refresh of the famed Sentosa Musical Fountain from the 1980s is also the tallest fountain in Southeast Asia, standing at 80 meters tall. A spectacular water show runs at various times of the day between 10 am and 10 pm (last show at 9 pm); it is at its most visually enticing at night when illuminated by full-color LED lights.

This world-class children's center makes education entertaining through a large number of multimedia attractions that aim to engage the senses via demonstrations and digital animation, including 3D films and 4D simulations. There is a focus on the history and growth of Singapore as a state through multimedia permanent exhibitions, plus plenty more activities for older kids with paintball and laser tag. There are guided tours of the permanent exhibitions that can be booked each day; ask at reception for more details and timings.

One of the largest observation wheels in the world, and the biggest in Asia, the Singapore Flyer offers one of the most exciting ways to soar over Marina Bay and capture its best views. The 30-minute journey provides unparalleled day and night views that, with good weather, stretch up to 45 km away to Changi, Sentosa, and parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Packages that include dinner are available.

Snow is a novelty when you live in a country where it's tropical all year-round. Locals endure freezing temperatures for a rare chance to touch and play in real snow at the only permanent indoor snow center in Singapore. Although it's geared more toward locals, it's a fun way to spend some time if you're not used to experiencing freezing temperatures. Admission includes the use of winter jackets and boots.