Singapore - A Travel Guide
Last Updated: August 28, 2025
GETTING TO THE BEST BITS OF BACKPACKING SINGAPORE
HOW TO GET HERE | WHERE TO STAY | THINGS TO DO | WHERE TO EAT | WHERE TO PARTY
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Trees More Colourful than Autumn
Modern-day Singapore is an inferno of high-rise skyscrapers, famous brands, bright lights and glamorous views from rooftop bars and hotels.
Famed for the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore slings, and a mishmash of cultural foods, nightlife, and an East-meets-West attitude to life.
This buzzing stopover location seems to have it all, yet, despite being clean enough to eat your dinner off the floor, glitzy enough to glam up any Broadway show and busy enough to rival London's Underground, something is missing.
Singapore is magical, in a make-believe world kind of way, but it has no soul, no love and no real culture of its own.
Nevertheless, as you'll discover in this guide to Singapore, it has just enough to keep you busy for that forty-eight to seventy-two-hour stop off.
Furthermore, we will discover where to stay in Singapore, where to eat and the best things to do in the city. All this and more from my stopover visits.
What's Singapore Like?
Singapore, as mentioned above, is a modern-day, glitzy, shimmering city, bounded by the Singapore Straight to the south and Malaysia to the north.
While numerous islands make up the city-state of Singapore, the chances are you'll only visit one or two. The main island, Singapore Island, known locally as Pulau Ujong, is a wealthy, urbanised area where shopping malls and office blocks tower high into the sky and become two-a-penny.
Essentially, the city is a busy, diverse rat race where people move from home to the office, to the shops and back home. There's nothing special about the streets, other than how clean they are.
If you took away the cleanliness, the shimmering lights fading into the sky and the Gardens by the Bay, you would simply shrug your shoulders at Singapore and say, "Yeah, it was alright".
To get an idea of what Singapore is like, stand in the middle of the busiest city near you, take a cup of tea, and people-watch. Once you get to grips with that, take out the trash and the litter, clean the streets and add some ruthless, efficient ways of living, a multicultural outlook, and you'll have Singapore.
To put it simply, it's a busy, modern, and vibrant city.
How to get to Singapore
Being an island city-state, there are limited ways into Singapore.
Everyone has probably heard of Changi International Airport, to the east of the city, famed for the world's tallest indoor waterfall and tropical gardens.
Then, there are the numerous passenger docking ports, led by the impressive Port of Singapore to the south.
Finally, there are three land entry points from Malaysia, two of which are road and or rail bridges for travellers to use. They are Woodlands Checkpoint to the north and the Tuas Checkpoint to the west
Sounds easy, right?
Well, yes, if you're driving, life's good. However, if you're taking pubic transport, especially the KTM JB, then think again. Hours will pass before you arrive in Singapore.
In truth, most of us will be arriving in Singapore via the gigantic Singapore International Airport, so let's start there.
How to get to Singapore from the Airport
As with any decent international airport, there are numerous ways to get from the airport to Singapore. Expect to find taxis, the MRT, buses and local Uber-type services through Grab and Go-Jek.
Firstly, let's look at the MRT. The MRT is an impressive and efficient underground system that links many parts of the island, including the airport.
The MRT station is on the basement level between terminals two and three. Trains run from 05:31am until 11:18pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 5:59am to 00:06am on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Jounry times to the city take just under fifty minutes and cost $2, and you can use your visa or Revolut card as if you were home.
You'll have to change at Tanah Merah and jump on the east-to-west train line to Tuas Link. Get off at the city at Raffles Place MRT Station. This is the best station to get off for Marina Bay and Raffles.
Next, taxis, which are again a good option, will drop you from the airport into the city in around thirty-five minutes. Likewise, they're clean, comfortable and more importantly, private.
Price-wise, if there are a few of you, taxis are very competitive. Taxis will use the meter, but all have slightly interchangeable prices based on several silly factors, such as waiting time, airport charges, time of day charges, and the list goes on.
Ride-hailing services such as GoJeck and Grab (discover more about these on our Best Apps Blog) are again available within the airport, and I all but guarantee they will be cheaper than any official taxi.
Finally, buses...
Buses are one of the cheapest ways to get from the airport to Singapore, and you'll find them on the basement level of terminals one, two and three. Terminal four has options, too.
From terminals one, two and three, you can take buses 24, 27 or 36 to the city. Bus 36 is your best bet as it goes directly to the heart of the city. Buses 24 and 27 will mean a change, but as always, the best bus for you depends on the time you catch it.
How to get to Singapore from Tuas Checkpoint
If you're not driving, there is only one real option unless you have an unnatural love of sitting on buses for hours upon hours.
The MRT I mentioned above, from the airport, goes all the way to the Tuas Checkpoint. Well, nearly, there is a short twenty-minute walk from the checkpoint to the Tuas West Road MRT station. Or you can get a taxi for next to nothing.
Therefore, once you board the train at Tuas West Road and head east to the airport, you can jump off forty-two minutes and eighteen stops later at Raffles Place MRT Station.
Life couldn't be easier or simpler. Don't even bother with the buses.
How to get to Singapore from Woodlands Checkpoint
Again, unless you're driving, there is no miracle one train or one bus to Raffles Palace (the centre of most things Singapore).
Therefore, you will have to change at some point, but where, depends on what time you arrive.
The journey will take between an hour and eleven minutes to an hour and forty-eight minutes, depending on which bus you get and where you change.
Using the North-South train line is going to be quicker, but you will have to get from the checkpoint to Kranji train station, which is about a ten-minute bus ride south of the checkpoint. For this journey, you can take the bus 170 or 170X to Kranji and then the train south.
Other similar options include taking bus 950 to Marsiling Station and boarding the same train there, or taking the 911 or 911T to Woodlands Interchange and boarding the same train there.
How to get to Singapore from the Ports
From the Singapore Cruise Centre, you can take numerous buses to the centre, including buses 10, 57, 97, 100 or 131. Life made simple.
From Marina Bay Cruise Centre, you can either walk through the park or take the North-South Line train from just outside the port. The train runs every fifteen minutes and takes less than twenty minutes.
Timing Your Trip
How Long Should You Spend Visiting Singapore?
Ok, so I'm not the biggest fan of Singapore. I think it's too clinical and has no soul.
However, I am not one to shy away from a visit to a city, even more so if you're already passing by. Hence, if you are stopping off at the airport and have a few days spare, I highly recommend staying over.
Therefore, I recommend anywhere from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Any more than that and you'll be retracing your steps, any less and you might feel you haven't seen it all.
The Best Time Of The Year To Discover The Best Things to Do in Singapore
Unlike most major cities, Singapore's weather is fairly consistent year-round. Temperatures range from 25 to 32 degrees, and each month experiences roughly twelve to thirteen hours of sunshine a day.
That said, November to January is considerably wetter.
Therefore, I recommend visiting Singapore between February and October.
Where to Stay in Singapore
Being a major stopover location, Singapore is awash with thousands of hotels, apartments and hostels. You'll struggle to decide on where to stay.
Luckily, I'm here to help. Ultimately, you know what standard you expect and what you want included, but I can assist with the location to help pinpoint your perfect place to stay.
In truth, you'll want to stay in and around Marina Sands and the Gardens by the Bay. However, as you'll discover, this is where the priciest locations are.
If you can afford it, aim for there. Life is much cleaner, easier and prettier. Similarly, you won't have to rush back on the last train or bus.
Yet, if you want to save your pennies and you're prepared to travel, you can find much more wallet-friendly prices just outside the city, in and around places like Little India and Geylang Road. Both of these locations have great links to the Bay and the Airport.
The Inncrowd Hostel
- What: A fun and friendly hostel.
- Where: Just south of Little India. (map)
- Why: It's cheap and cheerful, with a great vibe for younger backpackers.
- Why Not: You enjoy a little privacy and luxury...
The Inncrowd Hostel is located in the Little India district of the city, which is great for travellers. There is an underground station just around the corner, meaning you can move around the city cheaply, easily and efficiently. The hostel's also amid the bars and markets which give the area a bit of atmosphere. Which the rest of the city lacks. Furthermore, the hostel is a short walk from the amazing food halls of Little India.
As a whole, the area is cheap, vibrant and fun, which is what all travellers like to hear. Nonetheless, if you have money to blow, this is not ideal. In that case, I would suggest staying around the Marina Bay area.
The Inncrowd Hostel is by no means a top hostel, but I enjoyed my stay. My friend and I had our own room, which is one of the options open to you. The hostel provides multi-bedded dorm styled rooms to private dorms for one or two persons.
Rates start around 35SGD (£20) a night, which includes a basic breakfast of egg and toast. The hostel provides free scooter tours of the city, ending at the light shows within SuperTree Grove, which is great. If this is something that interests you, I'd book when you book your room as they sell out early.
Further Accommodation
I know some of you are reading this while cleaning the sick in your mouth, just thinking of staying in a hostel.
Therefore, I've added three links I've used and would use again when booking accommodation in Singapore.
Between Airbnb, Hostelworld and Booking.com, you will find something to suit you.
Best Things to do in Singapore
Let's be honest, the reason most want to visit isn't for shopping or whizzing around on the immaculate underground. It's for the Gardens by the Bay, the Flower Dome, Marina Sands, and to knock back a sneaky Singapore Sling. Or 3. Or 6.
These attractions alone are reason enough to leave the airport and explore the city.
As mentioned above, there may not be enough in Singapore to keep you busy for a week. There is plenty to keep you going for two or three days. Just don't expect to have the moment to yourself. The crowds will all have had the same idea as you.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a magical area between Marina Bay and the Singapore Strait. This marvel of nature and engineering is beyond most people's wildest dreams. Opened in 2012, the park has become the most visited attraction in Singapore with over 50 million visitors. Not to mention it is now one of the most famous locations on earth.
The gardens consist of over a dozen attractions, including the outstandingly beautiful SuperTree Grove. Another magical attraction comes in the form of two glass domes, cast to look, from above, like a butterfly. Within these fantastic greenhouses are the wonders of the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.
The epic Cloud Forest walks you through the rare species of plants fast disappearing from our natural mountainous habitats. Through the mist, the majestic waterfalls make for the most beautiful of backdrops. Whilst the enchanting Flower Dome walks you through the colours of the world. With floral displays from around the globe, there is more to see than first meets the eye.
Other delightful attractions include multiple lakes, gardens from around the world and walkways through stunning greenery. The area is more than spectacular, it's pronominal. Gardens by the Bay is more than 'just a garden' it's an educational program about our world's horticulture.
You can easily spend a day exploring the garden's delights. There are numerous activities, restaurants, places to eat, relax and things to see. You should make the most of the area.
That said, it is the night time that the Gardens come alive. The gardens metamorphosis into an entertainment venue, as well as a charming floral attraction. The venue holds concerts and events, not to mention their fantastic musical light shows, which trust me, is a must. It's captivating, magical, and enchanting on every level.
Botanical Gardens
Sticking to our flowery theme, I would like to give a quick mention to the Botanical Gardens. Although, after the fantasy of the Gardens by the Bay, they are slightly disappointing.
The grounds have been beautifully landscaped, and there are numerous species of plant, tree and wildlife on display. The colours on display are sublime, the grounds have 50 shades of green, whilst the flowerbeds look like a rainbow. The lakes add texture and wildlife as well as a wonderful trickle of sound to the warming air.
The Botanical gardens are easily accessible thanks to the Botanical Gardens MRT station to the north of the gardens. Not only are they easily accessible but free, again which is something you don't hear much in Singapore.
Yes, I have been to better Botanical Gardens, but it's free, peaceful and relaxing. It gives you the ability to forget that you're in the middle of a concrete jungle. In conclusion for those reasons, this is a must whilst in the city. Whilst I say the gardens are disappointing in comparison to the Gardens by the Bay, so is everything in Singapore. You cannot beat it
Marina Bay
Marina Bay is a body of water flowing from the Singapore Strait, splitting Bay East and Gardens by the Bay. The marina forks into two, one flowing out to the Kallang region of Singapore. With the other fork forming the marina as we know it, around Downtown Core.
The marina is famous for its nightly laser show, Spectra, which dance through the beautiful fountains within the marina. This wonderful production is free to everyone, and occurs twice nightly, with a third show on Friday's and Saturdays.
Lasers beams from carefully located structures in the shallows make contact with the mist thrown from the many fountains. This creates some quite spectacular results. I will say, however, that whilst it is free, the beers on the marina front are far from cheap.
Away from the epic light show, the bay houses the grand Marina Bay Sands. This elegant building encompasses, surprisingly, a shopping centre, casinos, bars and restaurants as well as a large hotel. However, the crown in the Marina Bay Sands is the rooftop infinity pool and bar. There are 360-degree views of the city to the north and the Gardens by the Bay to the south.
Again, nothing up here is cheap, so make sure you bring plenty of cash.
The area as a whole is one wealth and luxury. Nothing is cheap and everything is fresh, clean and modern, if not ahead of its time. There are numerous art galleries, theatres, museums, restaurants and luxury hotels. Other attractions around the bay include the Flyer Ferris Wheel and the fantastic Merlion statue. The statue/fountain stands on the marina edge and is half lion, half fish which
Eating Cheap in the City
Firstly, yes it is possible
Eating out in the city is usually very expensive. However, if you know where to look, you can eat out for virtually nothing. There are two places I would like to recommend, Little India and China Town. Both are wonderful undercover markets, where smells guide you to the delicious dishes.
I won't go into too many details now. I go into more details in the where to eat section of the blog. That said, both will provide you with a large choice of amazing flavoursome foods.
Other Ideas
There are other options open to you, however, as I haven't done them, I cannot comment with my opinions. That said, friends and family have said that the beaches on Sentosa Island are spectacular. Which as it happens, is where Universal Studios is. I've also heard the Cable Cars provide great views over the city.
Where to Eat in Singapore
As mentioned, you will find many places to eat in the city. Nevertheless, for me, only a couple of places combine both the taste and price that I look for whilst travelling. Here in Singapore, they are Little India food hall and the food centres in Chinatown.
Little India
The food hall is located on the crossroads of Sungei and Serangoon. Within the hall, you'll find a wide choice of shack-like buildings. Each with their own take on Asian cuisines, including Malaysian, Indonesian and Indian.
The tepid amongst you may look and think this must mean food poisoning, but trust me. Not one person I've spoken to, nor myself and Paige had any scary stories. The food halls have so many visitors per hour. My thoughts on that are if it was unhealthy the locals really wouldn't risk it. If it's good enough for them it's good enough for me, and it was.
In short, I love this sort of food hall, I love the excitement, the buzz, the smells and sounds. Overall, it all builds into one exuberant experience. It isn't just about the food, its the way these food halls make you feel, and that's happy. In summary, I highly recommend eating here, not only is it delicious, it's cheap and fun.
Food Centres, Chinatown
Chinatown is a fascinating district to the south of the city. There are numerous amazing and colourful food halls within its boundaries. Each a hype of activity with enthusiastic people ready to dive into a delicious dish.
A couple of these centres include Chinatown Complex Food Centre and Maxwell Food Centre. That said the best place we found in the area was the Chinatown Food Street.
Similarly to Little India, the indoor area has several carts and stalls selling many Asian dishes (mainly Chinese). The cheap dishes are remarkable in every way. In a like manner, the smells and buzz within the halls merge to create a sense of thrill. Overall, these food halls are comparative to Little India, and just as special.
Where to Drink and Party in Singapore
Generally speaking, we didn't drink in Singapore, in part, due to the costs. In brief, drinks are serious money, especially in and around the Marina Bay area.
Drinks in and around the Marina Bay area tend to start around 15SGD (£9) a beer. If only that was for a pint. By in large that is not sustainable for any traveller. However, if sustainable drinking is what you're after, you wouldn't be in Singapore.
These prices appeared to be relatively common across the city. Although Little India seems to have more reasonable prices, again in part, to having a more traveller vibe. Your only other option is to comply with the traveller code. Also known as, buy alcohol in the shops and sneak it back to your hotel for pre-drinks.
There is only one place I can comment on and that's the Prince of Wales.
Prince of Wales
The only pub I have any real experience with is the Prince of Wales in Little India. It is still not 'cheap' cheap but has got sports on every TV, friendly staff and a great atmosphere.
They also put on a top quiz. Furthermore, I cannot mention this pub without a big shout out to Colin ('Yes Colin!'). The mighty quiz-master who made for a really good night and a genuinely nice guy.
Firstly, I will admit, it's nothing special, and never will be. But, it's cheap and cheerful.
What you'll need to blend in
A four-figure salary
A love of shopping
Capable of dealing with high levels of humidity
