Singapore with its strong multicultural influence is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the entire world. People throng the city all year round. If you look at the rankings of the World Tourism Organization, you will be pleased to note that Singapore is the 5th most visited city on an international level. The city has also bagged several awards for being the best destination for meetings and conferences and is in fact, Asia’s top destination for worldwide conferences. The beauty of the unique cosmopolitan culture of the city is because of the stunning blend of the old and the new. There are some distinct areas in Singapore that exudes the culture and lifestyle of that particular area- for example Little India, Kampong Glam (Muslim), Chinatown and so on. Keeping this in mind, let us have an idea of the places to visit in Singapore and exciting things to do there:

Enjoying the green of the city

Did you know that Singapore is also known as a green city? Probably because of modern infrastructure and technology that keeps the city clean and neat and green at all times. This is clearly felt in the Gardens by the Bay, a recently opened seaside botanical garden. The specialty of the garden is that it is huge, really huge, about 15 stories high with vertical gardens. A truly mesmerizing experience, just waiting for you.

Marina Bay

Marina Bay was a silent body of water at the Singapore River at one point of time, but its popularity and importance grew with time, and it eventually became a bay of immense proportions. You can see the central Civic district, Clarke Quay and Financial District from the bay and some excellent restaurants like the Singapore Food Trail, Jaan, Summer Pavilion and Makan sutra Gluttons Bay to dine in. Shopping and nighttime activity are pretty vibrant and active at the Marina Bay.

Chinatown

There is probably not a single person who’s ever visited Chinatown who will ever forget it. Chinatown is famous not only for its typical Chinese lifestyle and food, but you also get a lot of authentic Chinese stuff here. You can also get a glimpse of the life of the Chinese immigrants who have really lived a hard life. Chinatown is divided into four main districts – Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Pasoh.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Take your family to a lovely and memorable visit along the gardens. A visit to Singapore is incomplete without a visit to these botanical gardens. The huge medley of colors and flowers is a perfect feast to the eye and one that you will retain in your memory forever. Fill your lungs with a breath of fresh air and take a walk along the meandering rain forests. The 1000 varieties of orchids and 2000 hybrids are the main attractions of the botanic gardens.

Universal Studios

Spend an entire day at Universal Studios at Sentosa if you and your family love theme parks and similar attractions. It is worth spending an entire day here if you have a week at Singapore. Avoid holidays because the place will be filled with people and you will not be able to get maximum enjoyment out of it. Huge crowds will make you wait in long queues and you will not be able to enjoy the studio in its full capacity. There are thrilling and challenging rides at Universal Studios. However, not all rides are applicable for children. You could take them to rides like Treasure Island, Enchanted Airways, Canopy Flyer, King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round, Shrek 4-D Adventure and Donkey Live. Adults can have fun at the Battlestar Galactica, Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park rapids, Broadway Show Monstrosity.

Singapore River Cruise

The river cruise along the Singapore River is best experienced in the night. If you choose to go for the day ride, then that’s a good decision as well. The cruise on bumboats are a real hit among visitors. These bumboats were in the past used for trading purposes, but now they are used for transporting passengers to and fro. Singapore River Cruise would take you through Esplanade Singapore, Asian Civilizations Museums, Boat Quay, The Merlion Park, Singapore Flyer, Fullerton Hotel and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort.

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a wondrous 101 hectare garden set right in the heart of the city. The awe-inspiring greenery is worth a visit because it has already secured plenty of awards. This huge garden has lots of exciting activities for both kids and adults if you enjoy walking. You can walk along the Supertree Grove and admire the huge steel-framed “tree plantation” where you can enjoy more than 200 species of plants and trees, a tree-top roofless bar and a 360 degree view from the lounge. Most of the areas inside the Gardens by the Bay are free, but you will have to pay 28SGD for entering the greenhouses.

The Merlion

The Merlion is the typical symbol of Singapore; of course, you may know that by now. But it is not just a mere symbol, it has some mythical connotations as well. The park is situated at One Fullerton near the waterfront at Marina Bay. The Merlion is easily the most popular attraction in the country, and no visit to Singapore is ever complete without a photo shoot besides this 70-ton concrete figure. The Merlion has scales on his body signifying the humble beginnings of Singaporeans as a mere fishing village and the Lion signifies the original name of the city – Singapura, which means Lion City in local language.

Singapore Zoo

That’s another attraction in Singapore that you must visit with your children. If you miss this, your trip is just not worth it. The zoo is not only well-known for its lush greenery and beautiful setting, but also for the freedom enjoyed by the animals in their habitat, when compared to other zoos of the world. The maintenance of the zoo has earned many awards for it, making it one of the best and must-visit destinations in Singapore. In the park, you can go on guided tours or hop onto the tram for viewing the world’s biggest collection of proboscis monkeys. You can see several inhabitants of the Arctic zone, including the polar bear and the Frozen Tundra. The primates at the zoo have their own designated islands. The zoo has eleven separate zones for you to explore. Enjoy an experience of a lifetime and take memories of the same back home.

Little India

Lovely and colorful Little India! Don’t forget to visit Little India even when you are on a short tour to Singapore. Little India is located at the east of the Singapore river and consists of shops, restaurants exuding the aroma of delectable Indian cuisine. Little India has plenty of temples and mosques as well and you can feel the positive vibrations of the spiritual chants emanating from them.

Conclusion

Marina Bay Cruise Centre is the favorite haunt for people travelling to different destinations from Singapore. You can take Royal Caribbean Cruises or take other regular cruises from Singapore. The main destinations from Singapore include Sihanoukville, Jakarta, Ko Samui, Semarang, Bali, Langkawi, Ho Chi Minh, Lombok, Nha Trang, Probolinggo, Komodo, Kuantan, Penang, Phuket, Malacca, Tioman, Kuala Terrangganu, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.