Things to do in Singapore for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAll self-guided activities
This roundtrip ferry from Marina South Pier to the islands of St John's, Lazarus, and Kusu is your ticket to paradise. Start your island day trip by boarding at Marina South Pier (arrive early to avoid the busiest ferries). Your first port of call is the unspoiled St John's Island, a former quarantine station that's now an idyllic retreat in the Strait of Singapore. Take in the beaches or go for a swim, and don't forget to walk the causeway to neighboring Lazarus Island. From there you'll head to Kusu Island, home to the popular Da Bo Gong Chinese Temple and a large paradisaical holiday resort which you can explore freely. Then head back to the mainland high on the spirit of adventure!
From slippery snakes to fuzzy spiders, to baby rhinos and orangutans, Singapore Zoo is an animal-packed paradise with an emphasis on conservation, education and sustainability. Watch a live sea lion show, meet the zoo's young rhino, and so much more.
There’s a reason this is Singapore's number one waterpark! Make a splash with the whole family and in quickly and easily with skip-the-line tickets for Wild Wild Wet. Ride the _Vortex_, Singapore's first high-speed 360° extreme loops ride, take to the rapids, then try the _Royal Flush_, Asia’s first hybrid ride that combines a bowl and a zero-gravity wall, all in one ride. If that sounds too extreme for you, then take it easy and soothe your muscles in the jacuzzi and outdoor spa! Jump right into the 360° extreme loops of _Vortex_ then hop the slide lanes of _Kraken Racers_ Singapore's first four-lane mat racer slide. And these are just two of the array of activities on offer with your Wild Wild Wet tickets!
Meet over 100,000 marine animals from over 1,000 species in several different zones with a S.E.A. Aquarium ticket! Travel from the Strait of Karimata to the Red Sea and beyond, touch sea cucumbers in the Discovery Touch Pool and learn all about the wonders of the deep!
Channel your intrepid explorer and set out on a safari with Singapore River Wonders. Meet manatees and giant river otters, and learn about great white pelicans, monitor lizards and more with the live show. Get ready to see Brazilian tapirs, giant anteaters, jaguars and more; and in the Amazon Flooded Forest learn what animals come out to play when the forests along the Amazon’s banks become submerged. Meet manatees, arapaimas and others who fill their tummies from the forest's floor. In the live show, hear an experienced animal expert share his knowledge of great white pelicans, monitor lizards, brahminy kites and oriental-pied hornbills. While you're visiting, you can pay a little extra and hop on the _Amazon River Quest_ for a 10-minute slow boat ride in search of well-camouflaged and elusive wildlife. Look out for jaguars and giant anteaters amongst lush greenery and hopefully lots of that Singapore sunshine.
Adventure Cove Waterpark is jam-packed with all sorts of fluvial fun, from hair-raising thrill rides to blissed-out journeys into deep relaxation. You can even snorkel with rare fish, scuba dive with (friendly) sharks, and take a stroll along the ocean floor! Immerse yourself in this tropical paradise!
Enjoy a slice of Hawaiian vibes at Ola Beach Club in Singapore. Located on a white, sandy, C-shaped lagoon on Sentosa Island, Ola Beach Club offers everything you could ever want in a paradise beach resort. Cruise your way through Siloso’s waters on board a single or double kayak, a standup paddleboard, an inflated banana boat, or a giant donut! Soak up the breeze from the sea and the energy of the sun with your family and friends. With a tropical Hawaiian theme, numerous fun ways to enjoy splashing about in the crystal-clear waters, pristine white sands to laze about on, and a restaurant featuring delicious Hawaiian cuisine, every day is a holiday at Ola Beach Club.
Looking for your museum fix? Why not cast your eye over Red Dot Design Museum Singapore's collections of innovative designs and concepts? Assembled at Red Dot Design Museum are the very best in international ideas and solutions. These eureka moments and futuristic creations have been recognized by the prestigious Red Dot Design Awards. See everything from tomorrow's mobile technology to new culinary tools and elite sport innovations.
Traveling isn't easy, especially if you're on a long-haul flight. Learn from your past muscle aches, battery-life warnings, and airport stress – do it differently this time! Treat yourself to the Plaza Premium Lounge in Singapore's Changi Airport, and make your trip so much more enjoyable. Take a fresh shower, relax on the couches (or in a private suite), and savour a delicious local meal before you get back on the plane.
Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, Sentosa's high-tech interactive entertainment zone is home to a diverse and exciting collection of highly sensorial experiences at Imbiah Lookout. **Pirates 4D**, is an immersive 4D movie experience where you become part of the show through synchronization of 3D imaging, wind, water, and other special effects. The 4D motion-simulated, **Extreme Log Ride** is where you will be riding through ravines and down valleys in a virtual _roller coaster_. In addition, **Haunted Mine Ride 4D** promises riders a fast and exhilarating adventure as you plunge headfirst into an old dilapidated gold mine that just happens to be haunted! **Desperados**, the first 4D interactive shoot-out game in Asia offers a superior gaming experience. Ride on a motion-based saddle to take out bandits with your handheld laser guns.
About Singapore
The must-see attractions in Singapore for a first visit are:
The best tours to do in Singapore with kids are:
The best walking tours to do in Singapore are:
Insider tips for visiting Singapore
WeGoTrip Inc is a local guide who has been publishing tours since for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Singapore on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Singapore.
When I’m in Singapore with family, I always recommend spending a full afternoon on Sentosa’s southern coast, especially Palawan Beach and the nearby play areas. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Singapore because kids can run safely, splash in the shallow water, and still feel like they’re on an island getaway without leaving Singapore. I usually go later in the day, when the heat softens and locals start coming out. Among the many attractions in Singapore, this feels the least stressful. If you’re comparing tours in Singapore and wondering what to see in Singapore with children, this is the easy, genuinely enjoyable choice.
When I visit Singapore for shopping, I split my time between Tiong Bahru, Haji Lane, and Orchard Road because each feels completely different. Tiong Bahru is where I go for independent boutiques, old-school bakeries, and stylish homeware tucked into heritage blocks. Haji Lane in Singapore is best for small local labels, quirky accessories, and mural-lined side streets that feel more personal than the big malls. Orchard Road still earns a spot, but I usually duck into the quieter malls like Design Orchard or Orchard Central instead of only the mega-complexes. If you visit Singapore, this mix gives you a smarter, more local travel guide Singapore take on things to do in Singapore.
When I’m deciding where to spend time in Singapore, I usually point people to Tiong Bahru, Kampong Glam, and Joo Chiat. They show a side of Singapore that feels lived-in, not staged. Tiong Bahru is great for early mornings: low-rise Art Deco blocks, kopi at old coffee shops, and quiet lanes before the crowds arrive. Kampong Glam has some of my favorite small streets in Singapore, especially around Bussorah and Haji Lane, where the shophouses change character by the hour. For colorful heritage homes and excellent food, Joo Chiat is one of the most rewarding attractions in Singapore if you’re wondering what to see in Singapore beyond the usual tours in Singapore.
I usually tell friends to give Singapore at least 3 full days, and 4 if they like moving at a slower pace. Singapore looks compact on a map, but the best parts are in the in-between moments: breakfast at a hawker centre, a late walk through Joo Chiat, or lingering in Tiong Bahru instead of rushing between sights. In my travel guide Singapore advice, 3 days covers the essentials without making Singapore feel like a checklist. If you visit Singapore for longer, it gets much more rewarding because many of the best things to do in Singapore are neighborhood-based and easiest to enjoy when you’re not watching the clock.
When I visit Singapore for food, I keep returning to Tiong Bahru, Joo Chiat, and Geylang. Tiong Bahru is perfect for breakfast, with old-school hawker stalls and neighborhood bakeries packed into a few walkable blocks. Joo Chiat in Singapore is where I go for Peranakan flavors, casual coffee stops, and shophouse-lined streets that still feel local after dark. Geylang is my pick for late-night eating; the best meals are often in modest open-air spots along the lorongs, not polished dining rooms. If you visit Singapore to eat well, this is the kind of travel guide Singapore advice that turns meals into one of the best things to do in Singapore.
When I want to show people a fuller side of Singapore, I suggest circling beyond the downtown core to places like Pulau Ubin, Joo Chiat, and the Southern Ridges. These are some of the most rewarding attractions in Singapore because they reveal how varied Singapore really is. Pulau Ubin gives you kampong-style paths and mangroves, Joo Chiat offers heritage shophouses and excellent neighborhood eating, and the Southern Ridges is best in the early morning before the humidity builds. If you’re deciding what to see in Singapore, I’d choose these over packaged tours in Singapore, because they feel more local and much less rushed.
In my travel guide Singapore advice, I always say the MRT is the smartest way to move around Singapore. It’s fast, air-conditioned, and reliable even when afternoon rain hits. When I visit Singapore, I use the train for most longer distances, then switch to walking in neighborhoods like Tiong Bahru, Chinatown, or Kampong Glam, where the best details are between stations. Buses are excellent too, especially if you want to actually see the city instead of disappearing underground. For me, that mix works best because many of the best things to do in Singapore aren’t far apart, but the heat makes all-day walking less pleasant than it looks on a map.