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Malaysia Tours from Singapore
14 Tours and Activities
The modern city-state of Singapore makes a perfect home base to explore its Asian neighbors, especially the jungle and cities of the Malay Peninsula. For some great single- and multi-day trips to Malaysia from the island, here are some can’t-miss options.
Malacca Tours
Like Singapore and much of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a fascinating mix of ethnic groups and religions, and nowhere are these different influences more evident than in the historic city of Malacca (sometimes spelled Melaka). On a city tour of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, learn about the region’s colonial history at points of interest like the Red Clock Tower, Cheng Hoon Temple, Porta de Santiago (A Famosa), and St. Paul’s Church.
Johor Bahru Tours
Even closer to Singapore, just across the strait in fact, is the city of Johor Bahru. This booming frontier town features the familiar jumble of influences, evident in the Moorish-style Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque and Royal Mausoleum as well as the colonial English administrative building. Due to its proximity to Singapore, Johor Bahru can be visited in as little as half a day.
Legoland Malaysia Tours
Those traveling with young children (or young-at-heart adults) should plan to spend a day at the colorful Legoland Malaysia theme park. This kid-friendly, highly interactive amusement park has seven themed areas filled with rides, shows, and attractions. A day tour from Singapore typically includes hotel pickup and drop-off and admission to the park.

How to Spend 3 Days in Singapore
16 Tours and Activities
With three days in Singapore, you have enough time to check off the must-see sights, soak up the city-state’s unique culture, get out into nature, and even try out a few fun-filled activities. From daredevil thrills at theme parks to wildlife-viewing experiences, here’s how to make the most out of your 3-day Singapore sojourn.
Day 1: Essential Singapore Sights
Today is the day to see Singapore’s most famous sights. A hop-on hop-off bus tour or an amphibious water-and-land tour provides a good introduction to Singapore and views of key city attractions, from the Singapore Flyer wheel and the half-lion half-fish Merlion statue to the 3-towered Marina Bay Sands.
Come afternoon, it’s time to explore Singapore’s ethnic enclaves. Take a guided tour of Chinatown, Little India, or the Islamic-influenced Kampong Glam. Then continue your sightseeing with some bargain-hunting at the bustling Bugis Market or by catching the Garden Rhapsody light show at Gardens by the Bay. For dinner, head for Albert Centre at the back of Bugis Market, where street food vendors sell Asian and Indian cuisine, or for Satay by the Bay at Gardens by the Bay, which has about 30 stalls offering everything from biryani to barbecued seafood.
Day 2: Thrills and Spills
Singapore offers thrills aplenty with several theme parks within easy day-tripping distance of the city. Families hoping for a day of fun may want to make the journey to Legoland in neighboring Malaysia, where more than 70 rides and attractions, a waterpark, and Miniland—which features Lego-built miniatures of well-known landmarks—await.
For a no-passports-needed day trip, head to Sentosa Island. Here, Universal Studios offers a fix of movie-themed magic, while Adventure Cove Waterpark is packed with slides, rides, and watery attractions.
That evening, chat with a local family over a home-cooked dinner made by your host. Dine on chili crab, rice, vegetables, and soup in their home in a residential area of northeast Singapore, and hear first-hand about life in the island-city-country.
Day 3: Wildlife and High-in-the-Sky Views
Swap the urban bustle for a quiet morning in one of Singapore’s nature-filled spaces. Just a 15-minute boat ride from the mainland, the neighboring island of Pulau Ubin is unspoiled and undeveloped. Join a kayaking trip and paddle around the mangroves, scanning the waters for otters and pods of pink dolphins. For guaranteed wildlife sightings, visit the excellent Singapore Zoo, the River Safari wildlife park, or Jurong Bird Park.
For your final night, finish on a high note with a special sky-high experience. Enjoy dinner with a view of Singapore’s sparkling skyline on the Singapore Cable Car on Mt. Faber, or feast on street food at a down-to-earth hawker center. Then head for the rooftop observation deck at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, which affords 360-degree views of the Gardens by the Bay and the dazzling Singapore skyline.

Things to Do in Singapore This Spring
10 Tours and Activities
Singapore is steamy, humid, and tropical year-round. Yet March, April, and May make great times to visit, as the weather is a little cooler and drier than usual: ideal for anyone who likes to get outdoors and into nature. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Soak up the city lights by night aboard a hop-on hop-off bus.
Take a day trip to Malaysia to see the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, or Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Feed your face at the city’s celebrated hawker courts on a Singapore food tour.
Immerse yourself in a world of tropical plants at Gardens by the Bay.
Beat the heat at a waterpark.
Get up close and personal with Asian animals at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo, or the groundbreaking River Safari.
Discover the Singapore River on a sunset sailing cruise.

How to Spend 1 Day in Singapore
10 Tours and Activities
Cosmopolitan and cutting-edge Singapore is one of Asia’s most rewarding urban destinations. Measuring just 26 miles (42 kilometers) wide and 14 miles (22 kilometers) long, the island-nation is wonderfully compact, making it easy to get around without wasting hours in transit. Here’s how to experience the best of Singapore in just one day.
Morning: Gardens or Wildlife
Singapore christened itself the Garden City and is increasingly living up to that moniker, with architects and designers integrating greenery into new developments in unexpected and often innovative ways. Discover the ingenious urban-meets-nature designs of Gardens by the Bay, home to the vertical gardens of Supertree Grove and the Cloud Forest Conservatory. If it’s wildlife rather than plant life you want to see, visit the world-renowned Singapore Zoo or the Jurong Bird Park instead.
Afternoon: Urban Exploring
Grab lunch at a hawker center: Tiong Bahru Market and Maxwell Food Centre offer authentic eats at low prices. Next up, continue your day with a guided tour of Singapore’s must-sees, from the Merlion—the half-fish, half-lion sculpture on Singapore's waterfront—to Chinatown’s ancient Thian Hock Keng Temple. Alternatively, take a hop-on hop-off bus tour that lets you choose which sights you want to prioritize, getting on and off along the route at your leisure. After exploring at ground level, ride the lift up 57 floors to the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark to soak up 360-degree vistas of Singapore from on high.
Evening: Dazzling Lights, Night Markets, and Singapore Slings
Singapore is one of those cities that only gets livelier after dark. See its attention-grabbing architectural landmarks lit up dramatically from the top deck of a nighttime hop-on hop-off tour bus. For even more spectacular after-dark vistas, go for a late-night spin on the Singapore Flyer wheel. Alternatively, opt for a guided nighttime tour. Some tours include sit-down dinners, while others include samples of street food from hawker centers, such as Telok Ayer. And almost all nighttime tours give guests the chance to try the city-state’s legendary signature cocktail: the Singapore Sling.

Guide to Singapore's Hawker Centers
6 Tours and Activities
In Singapore, eating is practically a national pastime, and the best place to experience the depth and diversity of the nation's melting pot gastronomic scene is at a hawker center. Similar to a mall food court (but way better), a hawker center brings several food vendors under the same roof, so you can sample favorites like chilli crab, Hainanese chicken, fish head curry, and chicken satay all at the same table.
Lau Pa Sat
This giant hawker center, located in the heart of Singapore's financial district, houses nearly 100 vendors with enough seating for more than 2,000 people. Its location inside a restored Victorian structure from 1894 is a charming bonus.
Chinatown Complex
The Chinatown Complex Food Centre ranks among the largest in Singapore, with more than 260 food stalls selling all the must-try dishes, from chilli crab and barbecue stingray to chicken rice and dim sum.
Tekka Center
Set in Little India, it's easy to spend hours munching on South Indian tiffin, tandoori breads, and biryani at the Tekka Center. A smattering of Chinese vendors also sell dishes with mainland influences.
Geylang Serai Market
This is one of Singapore's biggest and busiest wet markets, known as a great place to sample Malay and Indian flavors. The food stalls are on the second floor—don't miss the spicy stingray, fried fish, or banana fritters.
Marine Parade Food Center
A favorite for hungry locals and visitors near the east coast, Marine Parade has resisted efforts to renovate, lending it a classic feel. Popular dishes here include Malaysian-style beef noodles,nasi lemak, and Chinese-style chicken curry puffs.
Maxwell Food Center
Located in Chinatown, this hawker center features 100-plus stalls specializing in Chinese-influenced dishes, such as Singapore's iconic Hainanese chicken rice, Chinese porridge, and seafood fritters.
Newton Food Center
Due to its convenient proximity to Orchard Road, the Newton Food Center is one of the most accessible hawker centers for tourists. Over 80 stalls serve a range of foods, but seafood and satay dominate the scene.

Where to Find Wildlife in Singapore
12 Tours and Activities
Singapore isn’t exactly known for its nature reserves or national parks. Yet the island-nation is a great place for animal lovers due to its excellent zoo and wildlife parks, where visitors can observe animals in amazingly natural habitats. Here are our top picks for wildlife spotting in Singapore.
Jurong Bird Park
Stepping into Jurong Bird Park means stepping inside the world’s largest walk-in aviary. Encompassing a 49-acre (20-hectare) swath of jungle, the bird park provides a home to some 8,000 birds representing more than 600 species. An air-conditioned tram connects the various exhibits, which are also accessible on foot.
Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo, considered to be one of the best zoological parks in the world, is home to 2,800 animals of more than 300 species and the world’s most successful orangutan breeding program. The philosophy of the rainforest–themed zoo includes thoughtfully landscaped habitats, minimal caging, and special viewing features, like elevated platforms or underwater windows to maximize your chances at seeing the animal residents.
Singapore Night Safari and River Safari
The Singapore Zoo also operates two safari experiences outside the bounds of the zoo itself. The most popular of the two is the Night Safari tour, where you embark on an after-dark safari into the jungle by tram and on foot to observe nocturnal critters in their naturalistic habitats in the world’s first nocturnal zoo. On the River Safari, a newer offering, you enjoy a boat trip along the great rivers of the world to see the animals that live in and around the globe’s freshwater environments.
Pulau Ubin
If you’re craving a more natural animal encounter, consider a day trip to nearby Pulau Ubin. The mangrove forests of this island off Singapore’s shores are home to a host of wildlife, including water monitors, hornbills, and pink dolphins. Keep an eye out for these and other animals during an eco-friendly kayaking tour.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Singapore’s first Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park comprises wetlands, ponds, mudflats, and mangrove forests. An important habitat for migratory birds, the biodiversity-rich reserve has a new visitor center as well as several nature trails for spotting the park’s resident animals.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Situated on a high hill only a short way from Singapore’s city center lies Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, one of the last areas of primary rainforest in the country. Some 40 percent of Singapore’s native flora and fauna reside within this park.

How to Experience iLight Marina Bay in Singapore
6 Tours and Activities
iLight Marina Bay, Asia’s only sustainable light art festival, takes place at the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore, illuminating the area with 20 light art installations designed by artists from around the world. Here’s what you need to know about attending this dazzling free event.
When to Go
Founded in 2010, iLight Marina Bay is now an annual festival in Singapore, lighting up the riverfront throughout much of the month of March. Due to the nature of the event, it’s best to see the light installations after dark.
What You’ll See
At the core of the festival are 20 illuminated art installations by Singaporean and international artists, all using eco-friendly materials like recycled bottles and energy-saving lighting. The event’s theme changes from year to year, but past installations often include audio-visual projections on major Singapore landmarks (like the ArtScience Museum and Merlion Park), interactive art pieces that respond to motion and physical touch, optical illusions, and giant 3D-printed installations.
How to Go
Many city night tours include a cruise down the Singapore River, where you can learn about iLight from your guide as you pass the city’s glowing sights with unobstructed views. You can also combine a night cruise with a traditional dinner in Chinatown, or opt for a tour that includes stops at the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck and Gardens by the Bay to catch the synchronized light and music show from multiple angles. For a view from above, hop aboard the 541-foot-tall (165-meter-tall) Singapore Flyer observation wheel.

Raffles History Tours in Singapore
8 Tours and Activities
Singapore owes its existence to Sir Stamford Raffles, and if you spend any time at all in the country, you’ll see businesses, streets, and monuments named after the British imperial administrator who was so closely tied to the city. Here’s how to delve into Raffles history on a Singapore tour.
Raffles History
On Jan. 29, 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles set foot on the banks of the now-named Singapore River on a sparsely populated island of the top of the Malay peninsula—and there he founded the city of Singapore. By establishing a trading port in the Straits of Malacca, Raffles was able to boost British trade in the region—a direct challenge to Dutch trade restrictions in the area. The port was successful, and today Singapore remains one of Asia’s most diverse, thriving metropolises with a rich colonial history.
Raffles Hotel Tours
Named after Singapore’s founder, Raffles—the island-nation’s most famous hotel—was built in 1887 and quickly became the epicenter of colonial high society. The Long Bar, situated within the historic hotel, was where the Singapore Sling cocktail recipe was first concocted. A trip to Singapore wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the hotel, whether for an iconic cocktail or for high tea in the Tiffin Room.
Historical Walking and Biking Tours
Follow in the footsteps of Sir Stamford Raffles on a historical walking or biking tour of Singapore. Many city tours include a stop at the Raffles Landing Site where Raffles first made ground in 1819. Continue through the Colonial District, where each building speaks to the time of British rule over Singapore.

World War II Monuments in Singapore
9 Tours and Activities
You find numerous World War II sites and memorials in Singapore, all of which serve as a poignant testament to the Japanese occupation of the country from 1942 to 1945. To learn about Singapore’s wartime history, here are a few key locations to visit.
Former Ford Factory
This old Ford Motor Company manufacturing plant served a base for the Royal Air Force to assemble fighter planes until 1942, when it was seized by Japanese forces. It’s also the site where the British surrendered to the Japanese—the largest surrender of British-led forces in history. Today, the Former Ford Factory houses a permanent exhibition on the war and its legacy in Singapore.
Fort Canning Park
British forces in Singapore made the difficult decision to surrender the island to the Japanese at their army barracks atop Fort Canning Hill. Now a sprawling park, the site also hosts a small museum where you can learn about Battlebox, the former British underground command center.
Changi
During the occupation of Singapore, the Japanese built several prisoner-of-war camps here, now memorialized along the Changi WWII Trail. Monuments of interest include the Changi Prison Chapel (a replica of one built by POWs during the war), the Sook Ching Memorial Monument commemorating a massacre of Chinese males by Japanese secret police, and the Changi Prison Museum with its collection of drawings, sketches, and photographs of life inside the war camps.
Kranji War Memorial
Situated in Northern Singapore, the Kranji War Memorial honors the men and women of the Commonwealth who lost their lives fighting in World War II. The serene hillside cemetery houses more than 4,400 white gravestones in neat rows, as well as a hilltop memorial bearing the names of 24,346 Allied soldiers killed in the line of duty with no known graves.

How to Spend 2 Days in Singapore
11 Tours and Activities
With its soaring skyscrapers, futuristic parks, traditional temples, atmospheric ethnic enclaves, and phenomenal food scene, Singapore is a delight to discover. From marveling at the city-state’s striking architecture to learning how to cook Singaporean-style dishes, here’s how to best enjoy a 2-day stay in Singapore.
Day 1: Singapore’s Must-Sees
Morning: The best way to get your bearings is with a guided highlights tour, or—if you want more flexibility—a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Whichever option you choose, you won’t want to miss Marina Bay, the waterfront Merlion Park, Chinatown, and Little India.
Afternoon: With theme parks, ziplines, an aquarium, and several beaches, there is no shortage of entertainment options at Sentosa Island. Guided tours of the resort island often include transportation via cable car and admission to multiple attractions. Alternatively, explore Sentosa by Segway tour, cruising by beaches, a 19th-century fort, and a more than 11-story skywalk trail that puts you at treetop level.
Evening: As darkness falls, discover Singapore’s wild side on the Night Safari. This nocturnal open-air wildlife park has tigers, lions, and elephants who roam in naturalistic enclosures designed to replicate the animals’ natural habitats. There’s also an on-site restaurant offering a buffet dinner.
Day 2: Singaporean Culture and Cuisine
Morning: Singaporean cuisine is the stuff of foodie legend. Find out how to re-create Singaporean staples for yourself with a cooking class. Learn how to concoct the perfect bowl of laksa (noodle soup), satay, or Hainanese chicken rice before sitting down to eat your freshly cooked creations.
Afternoon: With your stomach sated, it’s time to feed your mind with a historical tour of Singapore that focuses on its harrowing World War II history. Visit sights such as the Changi Museum, and learn about the Japanese treatment of Allied prisoners of war. For a more light-hearted alternative, tour the Tiger Brewery and sip samples of different beers produced by the popular Asian brand.
Night: Go all out for your final night in Singapore. Step aboard a bus for a gourmet food tour, where you’ll be served multiple plates from a Michelin-starred Singaporean restaurant. For an even more romantic option, take dinner to new heights with a 4-course meal aboard the Singapore Cable Car on Mt. Faber.

Things to Do in Singapore This Fall
9 Tours and Activities
In autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, the nights are drawing in. Yet in tropical Singapore, just 90 miles (145 kilometers) from the equator, September, October, and November are steamy hot with velvety nights. Here’s how to enjoy those sultry days.
Cherish the long, warm evenings with a night tour, perhaps including a trishaw ride through Chinatown, a visit to Gardens by the Bay, or a classic Night Safari.
Soak up the views from Sentosa Island ’s observation decks.
Feast on a gourmet dinner suspended above the city on the Singapore Cable Car.
Beat a rainy day with a sightseeing tour by coach.
Discover Singapore’s dark World War II history at the Kranji War Memorial or the Changi Memorial and Chapel.
Get to the heart of the city on a Singapore River cruise.

City Sightseeing Tours in Asia & the Pacific
Visiting Singapore for the first time? Ditch the hassle of planning your own itinerary and transportation, and instead join a City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off tour to discover the city with ease.
You'll enjoy 360-degree views of the city as you travel by open-top, double-decker bus, with photo opportunities around every turn. Ride along specially designed routes that hit major places of interest and take advantage of multi-lingual commentary to learn about the sights you see.
You'll also receive a handy city map, so you can orient yourself and mark the attractions you’re interested in. There are lots of stops along the way, plus you can choose from multiple routes highlighting different areas of the city.
Asia/Pacific City Sightseeing tours at a glance:
Singapore
Pass Options: 24-hour pass
Stops: 22
Top Attractions: Chinatown, Kampong Glam

Exploring the Singapore Quays
19 Tours and Activities
Since Sir Stamford Raffles first landed in Singapore in 1819, the Singapore River has been the beating heart of the island. Like the nation, it’s changed with the times. The traditional “bumboats” that ply the river now carry more tourists than they do provisions, while its quays are home to bars, restaurants, hotels, galleries, and more. Here are some ways to explore Singapore’s quays.
Boat Quay The first of the three quays upriver from Marina Bay, Boat Quay was once Singapore’s commercial center—and it stayed in use right up until the 1960s. Today, the brightly colored shophouses once home to Chinese merchants house a vibrant dining and drinking scene that competes with Clarke Quay upriver.
Clarke Quay The converted warehouses and shophouses of Clarke Quay, the second of the Singapore River quays you encounter as you cruise inland, have made it a nightlife mecca for visitors (and expatriates) since the early 21st century. Between clubs, bars, pubs, restaurants, and the odd fun boutique, good times are pretty much guaranteed.
Robertson Quay The most low-key of the Singapore River quays, Robertson Quay has a more modern and high-end feel than either Clarke Quay or Boat Quay—there’s even an InterContinental hotel here. Besides eating and drinking, the quay offers attractions including the Singapore Tyler Print Institute gallery. The Hong San See Temple stands on a small hill behind the quay.

Johor Bahru Tours from Singapore
7 Tours and Activities
Singapore’s small size and proximity to other Asian destinations makes it a popular base for exploring the region. One of the closest and most convenient excursions is to Johor Bahru, southern Malaysia’s largest city. Here’s what you need to know about visiting peninsular Malaysia from Singapore.
Half-Day Tours
Singapore is one of the few places in the world from where you can visit an entirely different country on a half-day trip. In only five hours, you can cross the Singapore-Malaysia border and catch all of Johor Bahru’s top attractions, including Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, the Royal Mausoleum, Lido Beach, and a craft village where batik paintings are produced.
Full-Day Tours
If you have a full day to spare, you can not only see the major attractions of Johor Bahru, but also experience a bit of the Singaporean countryside. Depending on the option you choose, this might involve touring a local organic farm, watching fireflies illuminate the night in a mangrove forest, or comparing the two cities by touring Singapore’s top sights as well.
Things to Know
Half- and full-day trips to Johor Bahru can last anywhere from five to eight hours.
Most tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in Singapore.
Don’t forget your passport and Singapore arrival immigration card—you’ll need them to cross the border into Malaysia.

Things to Do in Singapore This Winter
10 Tours and Activities
The northern winter, from December to February, makes a fantastic time to visit Singapore. Not only can you escape the icy weather for velvety tropical heat, but the city comes alive in lights for two epic celebrations: Christmas and Lunar New Year. Here are a few ways to make the most of it.
Take an open-top bus tour of the Christmas lights.
Thrill to epic rides at Universal Studios, one of Asia’s top theme parks, or treat the kids to Legoland Malaysia.
Beat the long lines with skip-the-line entrance to Night Safari.
Head to the S.E.A. Aquarium to discover more than 1,000 different marine species.
Savor afternoon tea —and a tour—at the historic Raffles Hotel.
Soak up the sights at your leisure with a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Save money on Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer, and more by booking a city pass.

Food in Singapore
5 Tours and Activities
Singapore is truly a melting pot, with cultural and culinary influences coming from Malay, China, Indonesia, India, Portugal, and the Middle East. With such a depth and diversity of flavors, it's no wonder many Singaporeans eat five or six times a day.Here are a few foods and activities you won't want to miss.
Must-Try Dishes
If you only have time to try one dish in Singapore, make it chilli crab, made with fresh crab that getsstir-fried in a sweet, spicy, tangy sauce. Noodle lovers must try laksa, rice noodles served in a spicy coconut curry soup with chicken, shrimp, egg, or fish cakes, while locals also love char kuay teow, made from broad white noodles served in a soy-based sauce with fish cake, clams, and Chinese sausage. Hainanese chicken rice, a Chinese-influenced dish, comprises steamed chicken served on a bed of rice cooked in chicken stock.
Must-Do Experiences
Head to the nearest hawker center—the Singaporean equivalent of a food court—and go crazy with cheap, tasty dishes
Burn off some calories with a full-day bike and food tour
Learn to prepare your favorite Singaporean dishes in a cooking class
Tour Chinatown, the Geyland Serai Market, Little India, or Katong on a food-centric city tour
Get an authentic taste of Singapore with a traditional home-cooked dinner in the home of a local family