Visitors to Singapore may feel a bit overwhelmed by all the attractions available. There is much more to Singapore than the well-known tourist hotspots like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and Universal Studios. We’ve put together this list of things to do in Singapore so you can experience the city like a local and see a side of Singapore that most tourists never get to see.
Try Out Of The Way Restaurants
The city’s Chinatown is one of its most famous cultural districts. The main street’s abundant fare attracts many sightseers, who frequently stop by for lunch and dinner. Si Wei Mao Cai, however, is a famous Sichuan restaurant that is favoured by locals for its original flavours and is located just one road back on Mosque Street. Here you can experience truly authentic food that isn’t watered down for a tourist’s palette.
Get A Coffee
Coffee, known as kopi in Singapore, is often considered a national beverage there. Kopi is typically made with newly roasted robusta beans, which provide it a bold flavour and a noticeable caffeine kick. To get their signature flavour, the beans are roasted in butter (or occasionally lard) and sugar before being served with sweetened condensed or evaporated milk. Your kopi can be made to order and packaged in a disposable plastic bag for easy transport.
Eat Hawker Food
If you were to ask any native Singaporean, they would tell you that the best local cuisine can be found in the city’s hawker centres. When you think of street food, Singapore probably doesn’t come to mind. However, the quality of the food sold by Singapore’s hawkers has put the country on the map, and several of them have received prizes and even earned Michelin stars for their efforts.
Go Shopping
Shopping is a passion in Singapore, thus visitors have a wide variety of options. China Square Central Flea Market is great for vintage goods, antiques, and books; Bugis Street Market is great for budget buys and souvenirs; Tekka Centre is great for a real Singaporean shopping experience (and has food stalls); and Chinatown Street Market has great deals on restaurants, clothing, and antiques. Since you can get the best P&O cruises to get to Singapore, you’ll have plenty of money to spend when you arrive.
Discover Street Art
The beautiful thing about Singapore is that you can discover art everywhere; it’s not just confined to galleries and museums. Little India is home to some amazing murals and street art. ARTWALK is a public art project that reanimates neglected areas of cities by covering walls and transforming otherwise blank surfaces with vibrant murals that speak to the identity or history of the surrounding community.
Take In Some Culture
Cultures from all over the world congregate in Singapore, making the city a veritable festival city. Singapore’s independence from Malaysia in 1965 is celebrated annually on 9th August with a national holiday. You can also look forward to the Chinese New Year and Thaipusam, a Hindu holiday that happens in January or February.
Get Some Peace AndTranquility
One of the busiest destinations in Chinatown is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Instead of leaving after seeing the giant Buddha on the first floor, as most tourists do, head up to the rooftop garden. The 10,000 Buddha Pavilion, which houses an intricately scripted prayer wheel, is located in this tranquil sanctuary.
