SINGAPORE
Six months living in Singapore gave me time to figure out what’s actually worth your time. Here’s my list:
Must-sees ★★★
- Merlion Park: the classic Singapore photo stop. Start here and walk the waterfront all the way to Marina Bay Sands to see the skyline.
- Marina Bay Sands: the observation deck (~32 SGD), and the mall inside with its canal and gondolas, or have a drink at Cé La Vi on the 57th floor.
- Spectra: free light and water show along the bay. Not a priority, but worth checking the schedule if you’re already there in the evening.
- Gardens by the Bay: walk through the park, and check the schedule for the Supertrees light show.
- The Cloud Forest and Floral Fantasy domes are a nice extra if you have time, but not a must.
- Old Hill Street Police Station: the famous rainbow window facade. Quick stop, great photo.
The neighbourhoods
- Chinatown: the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. Then just wander the streets.
- Arab Street + Haji Lane: the mosque, the colourful shophouses, independent cafés. Great for photos and an afternoon wander.
- Clarke Quay / Boat Quay: the riverfront bar and restaurant strip. Touristy but fun for an evening out.
Worth a detour ★★
- CapitaSpring: a striking skyscraper with a public sky garden inside. Check opening hours, reservation may be needed.
- CHIJMES: a converted Gothic chapel, now restaurants and bars.
- Joo Chiat Road: rows of pastel Peranakan shophouses. A bit far from the center but great for photos.
- Henderson Waves + The Interlace: a short hike with a stunning pedestrian bridge.
- Jewel Changi Airport: worth a stop even if you’re not flying. The Rain Vortex is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, 40 metres dropping through a lush indoor forest.
- Raffles Hotel: walk in, admire the colonial architecture and have a drink.
If you have time ★
- Sentosa Island: beaches and beach clubs. Or rent a boat for the afternoon and catch the sunset from the water.
- Universal Studios: fun but noticeably smaller than other Universal parks worldwide. Worth a day, around 83 SGD entry.
- Orchard Road: the main shopping strip. Nice but expensive.
- Little India: not my personal favourite, and a bit far out, but worth a look if you have extra time.
- Singapore Botanic Gardens: free to enter, great for an early morning walk.
- Marina One Green Heart: a hidden garden right in the middle of the CBD. 350 plant species, a 3-storey waterfall and wooden walkways between four skyscrapers.
- Fort Canning Park: one of those classic Singapore photos. Nice green escape right in the city centre.
- Art Science Museum: check what’s on before you go, the exhibitions vary a lot.
Where to eat
Start with the hawker centres
The best food in Singapore doesn’t come from restaurants but food courts (hawker centres). They have Indian, Malaysian, Chinese stalls that have been doing the same dishes for decades. A full meal for only 4-5 SGD. I ate there every day for 6 months.
- Lau Pa Sat: everything is excellent. Go at night when the satay stalls spill onto the street. Definitely my favourite, the place to be in Singapore.
- Maxwell Food Centre: the Chinatown classic, go there for lunch.
For a special occasion
- Sky High Brunch at Cé La Vi: every Saturday on the MBS rooftop. 4 hours free-flow champagne, cocktails and food, with DJ sets and panoramic views. 208 SGD. Pricey, but a full experience.
- Cé La Vi ladies night: every Wednesday from 10pm. Free entry for women with a drink included.
- Level 33: rooftop with Marina Bay views.
- LAVO: excellent Italian-American rooftop restaurant.
Everyday spots
- Munchi Pancakes: traditional Singaporean pancakes with dozens of fillings. Around 1.50-2 SGD each. One of my favourite desserts. I love the peanut and speculoos ones.
- Wild Child Pizzette
- Ramen Keisuke Tori King
- Din Tai Fung: yes it’s a chain, yes the dumplings are still worth it.
- Pepper Lunch: casual Japanese teppanyaki, I love it.
- The Food Peeps: good affordable brunch.
- Salad Stop: for a healthy break between hawker centre visits.
- Coucou Swiss: a fondue restaurant in Singapore. Completely unexpected with the constant humidity but totally worth it.
- Merci Marcel: very popular with the French community.
Practical tips
Getting around
- You can pay for public transport directly with your phone.
- No MRT (metro) after midnight: you will have to take a Grab (the local Uber) and it can be quite expensive.
Doing an internship here
- The Work Holiday Pass (WHP) is straightforward to get for French and European nationals.
- Opening a bank account is easy: I used DBS, no hassle
- Large French community between expats, exchange students and interns: you won’t feel alone.
Singapore as a base for Southeast Asia
Immigration at Changi is among the fastest in the world: I’ve cleared passport control in under three minutes. From Singapore you can easily reach Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and beyond for weekend trips.
But flights from Singapore can be very expensive. What I did regularly: bus to Kuala Lumpur then take a flight from there, KL has much cheaper connections to the rest of Asia.
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