We recently visited Singapore, a long bucket list dream of mine. I have always wanted to see Gardens by the Bay, and so many Instagram influencers inspired me. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.
If you are considering visiting the “City in a Garden”, here is a quick read on my impressions of the city so you can decide if you should go. I think it will appeal to all gardeners and plant lovers, the city is so luscious, clean, and safe, it is truly a traveler’s paradise.
I made a rapid-fire Q&A for you, as I know there is plenty of information on the internet about travel to Singapore, and I wanted to share just the most important impressions I have.
How long do I need in Singapore?
It depends on how much you want to see and experience. Some people can hop on and off in just a couple of days, to experience the highlights of the city. Some would like a more thorough immersion into Singapore life and I am sure you can find what to do there even for a couple of weeks. We stayed for almost four days. On the first day, we arrived in the afternoon and it was raining, so we didn’t do much, and we spent almost all last day exploring the airport.
How expensive is Singapore?
I would say prices are very comparable to Canada. We visited Singapore after Thailand and Malaysia, so it felt like a huge price increase after being spoiled by those more affordable countries, but it’s not like Switzerland or Monaco.
What are your top five things to see?
You can find a lot of things to see and do in Singapore, but my personal top list includes:
- Gardens by the Bay and watch the evening musical show (arrive early to get a good spot, around 7 pm)
- Singapore Botanical Garden with the National Orchid Garden
- Singapore Airport
- Marina Bay Sands
- The Flower Dome
I also highly recommend exploring the subway with beautiful stations and walking around the Arab street with a huge selection of amazing Turkish food (an unexpected find!).
Any special tips?
Beware of the rainy season and build in some wiggle time in case it rains all day. It could also get really hot so be mindful of whether your body can handle the climate well or build in some indoor breaks like subway rides, malls, and restaurants with AC (“aircon” they call it). Also, look up the rules and what’s prohibited ahead of time before going (such as bubble gum, etc). Try to get a small private tour with a local guide if you can – they can tell you so much more than a generic excursion. We took an Instagram tour and then had lunch with our guide who told us a lot of insider info not just about exploring the city, but also about their social system, laws, and what it’s like to grow up and live in Singapore in your thirties. On another note – they have a lot of Australian brands in shopping malls and you could get some really nice things you can’t buy in North America, so set aside some shopping money too if you are into this type of tourism.
Hope this helps and happy travels!
