Singapore’s vibrant blend of cultures shines through its food and architecture, adding a unique charm that ranks it among Asia’s top travel destinations.
Step into history at the Battlebox Museum, the former British command post during World War II. Explore the eerie, 26-room underground bunker where life-size figures recreate the dramatic events leading to the surrender to Japanese forces on 15 February 1942. With support from war veterans and Britain’s Imperial War Museum, the site has been meticulously restored to reflect its wartime atmosphere—including original Japanese Morse code markings still visible on the walls. Due to its immersive and intense nature, the tour is best suited for visitors aged eight and above.
Set in 26 hectares of lush rainforest along the Upper Seletar Reservoir, Singapore Zoo blurs the line between botanical haven and wildlife sanctuary. With spacious, naturalistic enclosures and immersive attractions, this world-renowned zoo offers an experience that’s as calming as it is captivating.
Home to over 2,400 animals, the zoo is designed for close encounters—swing by for a Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife, where you can enjoy a buffet alongside orangutans, or stroll through the Fragile Forest biodome to mingle with ring-tailed lemurs, lories, and even sloths. Explore a replica African village, dodge Malaysian flying foxes, or spy on baboons behaving with cheeky abandon in the Great Rift Valley exhibit.
For families, Rainforest Kidzworld is a paradise—packed with slides, swings, pony rides, and a wet play area. Forgot swimwear? Don’t worry; it’s available for purchase on-site.
More than just a zoo, the facility emphasizes conservation and works with global partners to protect biodiversity. While traditional animal shows have largely been phased out—elephant performances ended in 2018—a new educational presentation offers a more respectful look at these intelligent creatures interacting with their environment.
Getting there is easy: take a taxi (around S$30 from the CBD) or hop on bus 138 from Ang Mo Kio MRT. For added value, consider multi-park tickets that include entry to the River Safari, Night Safari, and Jurong Bird Park.
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay is a jaw-dropping 101-hectare, S$1 billion marvel of nature, technology, and imagination. This 21st-century botanical garden dazzles with its iconic Supertrees, soaring OCBC Skyway, whimsical sculptures, and climate-controlled biodomes that redefine the garden experience.
Step into the Flower Dome and wander through arid landscapes inspired by Mediterranean regions, or ascend into misty heights in the Cloud Forest, a breathtaking showcase of tropical montane flora. Don’t miss Floral Fantasy, an enchanting blend of flowers and technology, complete with a 4D ride. Time your visit to catch the Garden Rhapsody light show, when the Supertrees come alive at 7:45pm and 8:45pm.
For panoramic views, stroll the OCBC Skyway, with tickets available at the Ticketing Hub and Supertree Grove. It’s recommended to book Floral Fantasy tickets in advance for your ideal time slot. Bundle deals make it easier to explore all the attractions.
Venture west to the Heritage Gardens, which pay tribute to Singapore’s multicultural roots—Chinese, Malay, Indian, and colonial British influences are beautifully woven into themed landscapes. South of Supertree Grove, marvel at British artist Marc Quinn’s gravity-defying sculpture Planet, depicting a 7-tonne infant floating gracefully above the lawn.
Kids will love the Children’s Garden, packed with a water play zone, treehouse, and adventure playground. The Visitor Centres offer useful amenities like stroller rental (S$2), lockers (S$2–S$6), audio guides (S$4), and access to a garden shuttle tour (S$8 for adults, S$3 for children under 13).
To get around easily, hop on the regular shuttle service between Bayfront Plaza and the conservatories (9am–9pm, unlimited rides for S$3).
Seamlessly uniting the historic City Hall and Old Supreme Court buildings beneath a stunning aluminium-and-glass canopy, the National Gallery Singapore stands as a striking blend of heritage and modernity. This S$530 million institution is home to one of the world’s most significant collections of 19th-century and modern Southeast Asian art.
Art lovers can explore two main spaces: the DBS Singapore Gallery, offering a sweeping journey through Singaporean art from the 1800s to today, and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, which shines a light on the rich artistic traditions across the region. The Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery hosts high-profile international exhibitions in collaboration with leading global museums.
For younger visitors, the Keppel Centre for Art Education offers a vibrant, hands-on space where kids can engage with art through innovative, multisensory experiences.
The gallery’s extensive collection includes masterpieces by Singaporean icons such as Cheong Soo Pieng, Liu Kang, Chua Mia Tee, and Georgette Chen, alongside works by regional greats like Raden Saleh (Indonesia), Fernando Cueto Amorsolo and Imelda Cajipe-Endaya (Philippines), and U Ba Nyan (Myanmar).
More than just a gallery, the venue features a curated gift shop filled with exclusive prints, books, and design items, plus a selection of excellent dining options. Visitors can also enjoy daily guided tours, artist talks, workshops, and lectures—making the National Gallery not just a museum, but a living centre for Southeast Asian art and culture.
MacRitchie Reservoir offers a serene escape into nature, where jungle trails and tranquil waters invite you to slow down and explore. Meandering paths hug the reservoir’s edge and weave through mature secondary rainforest, home to long-tailed macaques and giant monitor lizards. Adventurous visitors can rent kayaks from the Paddle Lodge, but the true highlight is the 11km walking trail, complete with well-marked offshoots and scenic detours.
The crown jewel of the hike is the TreeTop Walk—a thrilling 250m-long suspension bridge that hangs 25m above the forest floor, offering sweeping views of the canopy. The trails continue across wooden boardwalks and earthy tracks, circling the reservoir in a circuit that takes about three to four hours to complete.
Your journey begins near the service centre, where you’ll find changing facilities and a small café. From the bus drop-off point, head right to follow the trail anticlockwise around the reservoir. You’ll pass the Paddle Lodge before reaching the TreeTop Walk approximately 3.5km ahead.
Tucked away in a historic district, Baba House is one of Singapore’s finest examples of a well-preserved Peranakan heritage home. Built in the 1890s and later gifted to the National University of Singapore (NUS) by a descendant of its original owners, this striking blue, three-storey townhouse has been carefully restored to reflect its 1928 grandeur—a year considered by the family as its golden era.
Entry is exclusively by guided or self-guided tours, and advance booking is required.
Inside, visitors are transported back in time with authentic period furnishings, intricate architectural details, and lovingly preserved antiques. The home tells the story of its former inhabitants through original photographs and personal artefacts still displayed on its walls. Upstairs, the richly decorated second-floor bedrooms are a highlight—look out for the ornate tenong, a traditional Peranakan wedding gift box, prominently displayed.
Tours run from Tuesday to Friday, with self-guided visits available on Saturdays.
Housed in the grand Empress Place Building, the Asian Civilisations Museum offers the region’s most extensive collection of pan-Asian artefacts. Its thoughtfully curated galleries trace the rich tapestry of history, religion, textiles, and art from Southeast Asia, China, the Indian subcontinent, and the Islamic world, highlighting the cultural exchanges shaped by Singapore’s legacy as a vital maritime hub.
Among the museum’s standout exhibits is the Tang Shipwreck collection, featuring over 500 artefacts recovered from a sunken 9th-century Arab dhow. Don’t miss the stunning Chinese bronze mirrors, with one dating back more than 2,000 years.
The museum itself is a piece of history. Completed in 1865 and designed by British architect John Frederick Adolphus McNair, the building blends Palladian classical architecture with tropical design features like timber louvres and a wide, shaded veranda. Originally built using Indian convict labour, it once housed colonial government offices.
Step back in time at the Chinatown Heritage Centre, an immersive museum nestled within restored shophouses that unveils the raw, layered history of Singapore’s Chinese community. Through interactive exhibits spread across multiple floors, the centre brings to life the perilous journeys of early immigrants, the rise of clan associations, and the gritty realities of old Chinatown — including its infamous opium dens.
Though compact in size, the museum is rich in detail, making an early visit advisable to avoid crowds. For a deeper experience, join a guided tour led by engaging characters like a Samsui woman or trishaw rider, who share vivid tales from the past. Tours depart from the ticket counter daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm, and 4.30pm (S$7 for adults, S$6 for children).
