SINGAPORE

Arrival: You have just stepped foot off of the plane and for probably the first time ever, you are immediately in a must-see site of a new country. That's right, the Changi Airport is not only a tourist attraction, but it is rated one of the best airports in the world! With roughly 50 attractions, like a butterfly exhibit and a bouncing net trampoline, a shopping mall, and over 200 dining options, you could easily spend an entire day checking out this airport. The biggest attraction is of course The Jewel, which you can find by following the many signs throughout the airport. It is a bit of a walk from the main gates, so we recommend seeing it upon arrival, just in case you are short on time when departing. 

Stepping outside in Singapore, you will be hit with a wave of humidity, like instantly drenched, hair frizzing, makeup melting humidity. Ok, that might be slightly dramatic, but it is definitely one of the most humid places we have traveled to, so be prepared. On the plus side, you will be surrounded by a beautiful, lush city that is clean and organized. It is one of those cities that seems more like a place you would live, rather than a touristy travel destination, and you can easily explore the sites in 2 days or less. We mentioned it above in "what to pack" but we will reiterate it here; there is a TON of walking when exploring Singapore.  Even when using the Metro, you will get your steps in! We averaged about 20-30K per day just getting from metro stops to each site and also when transferring between metro stations, so wear comfortable shoes and drink plenty of water!     

Gardens By The Bay: One of our favorite places to see in Singapore was Gardens by the Bay. The area is open between 9am and 9pm, and you can enjoy attractions such as the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, Super Tree Observatory, and Skywalk. These attractions all require tickets and are offered individually or in different bundles when you purchase online or at the park. If you just wish to walk through and see the trees, you can enter for free and walk around. One thing to note, is that if you would like to do the Skyway up in the trees, they will close if there is rain or other bad weather. If that is a must on your to-do list, we suggest going during the early afternoon when there is less likely to be rainstorms.  

Garden Rhapsody, the nighttime light and music show, is also free to see. Showtimes are every night at 7:45p and 8:45p for about 10-15 minutes, weather permitting. People start staking out seats 30-45 minutes prior to the show starting, so get there early if you wish to sit, otherwise, you can walk through the tress while the show is going on.  Either way, it is a magical experience and not to be missed while in Singapore!      

Clarke Quay/Marina/Merlion Park: The other famous area to check out in Singapore is the Marina, including the notorious Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Unless you are staying at the hotel, you are unable to access the amazing infinity pool, but you can purchase tickets up to the Observation Deck for about 30 SGD to get an incredible view out over the marina and city. 

Take your time and stroll around the perimeter of the marina and check out the bars and restaurants that line the waterfront. Here you can also see Merlion Park with it's statue, the bloomin' onion like Art Science Museum building, and Spectra, another spectacular light show that takes place at 8p & 9p Sun-Thurs and 8p, 9p, & 10p on Fri-Sat. The show is free and takes place on the East side of the Marina, in front of the shops at Marina Bay Sands, but can be viewed from multiple locations around the Marina.   

Hawker Centers: Are you interested in trying the city's most beloved food dishes for cheap, then look no further than the many Hawker Centers throughout the city. Here you will find a building full of multiple food stalls, each of which specialize in 1-2 dishes that they have been perfecting for years, if not generations. Some of these stalls will boast Michelin Guide signs, magazine features, and multiple different awards that you can peruse while you wait in line, because if you are going to try these delicious creations, you will most definitely be waiting in line. Honestly, the best way to pick the stalls you want to eat at is to find the ones with the longest lines, as you know they will be good. Split up if you can to tackle multiple lines at once. These centers get quite busy starting around 5pm so if you plan on doing dinner here, just know it will take some time. Tables will also fill up quick but they can be community style, so feel free to ask to share a table if you see open seats. Once you get your food, grab yourself a Tiger beer and help yourself to an open table to enjoy your meal!

Some of the most famous centers, with a higher number of Michelin Guide stalls, are the Old Airport Road Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, or Newton Food Centre if you are looking for the one that was featured in Crazy Rich Asians.  

Chinatown/Little India/Muslim Quarter:  One of the unique aspects to Singapore is that they have multiple neighborhoods that center around other cultures, think Epcot center using a Metro pass. It is a perfect way to see how this melting pot of a city has incorporated so many different cultures into one tiny island. We highly recommend taking a stroll through each of the different neighborhoods and enjoying some of their cuisine while you are there!