Gardens By The Bay

Begin your first day with a bang at the Singapore Zoo where you can spend breakfast with friendly orangutans. More than 2,800 animals call the Zoo home, and you can spot lions and zebras in Wild Africa, feed free-ranging kangaroos in the Australian Outback, and marvel at flying foxes and ring-tailed lemurs in the Fragile Forest. Grab seats at the various animal shows taking place throughout the day, where elephants, seals, and other creatures will showcase their talents and skills.

Nestled between the Zoo and the Night Safari, the River Safari contains the world’s largest freshwater aquarium and features seven distinct zones, such as the Nile, the Ganges, and the Mekong Rivers. Catch glimpses of resident pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia as well as red pandas (which are free to roam), and take a leisurely cruise on the Amazon River Quest, where you will meander down the South American river..

Head down to the Night Safari – aka the world’s first nocturnal zoo – and give your little ones a glimpse of creatures like the fishing cat, the clouded leopard, the spotted hyena, and the sugar glider. Choose between exploring on foot or by tram, and head to the Creatures of the Night show, a 20-minute-long performance that brings to light the innate talents of otters, binturongs, civets, and more.

Little India

Start the day with a visit to the great outdoors…indoors. Gardens By The Bay is a perfect rainy-day activity, but even if it isn’t pouring, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are ideal locales to escape the heat and humidity. Head over the body of water formed by the Marina Barrage to arrive at the Singapore Flyer and get a bird’s eye look at Singapore with a novelty factor.

Alternatively, Jacob Ballas Childrens Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a unique, interactive space designed to harness curiosity and imagination in children up to 12 years old. Here, they can learn about the magic of photosynthesis, play a game of hide-and-seek in the maze garden, dig in the sandpit and cool off under the water fountains.

>Much of Singapore is demure and neatly arranged but for a dose of vibrant colour, you must visit Little India, land of fragrant spices and home to a hodgepodge of textile stalls and others hawking massage oils and more. Get your fortune told by a very intuitive parrot, or pick up a sweet smelling flower garland. There are sights and sounds to entertain everywhere you turn, like the very elaborate Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple with its intricate, colourful carvings. The temple was built by Indian pioneers and is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore. Satisfy your growling tummies at Tekka Centre, which has a food centre, a wet market, and a shopping centre all under one roof. Or visit The Banana Leaf Apollo to indulge in steaming hot platefuls of curry served on (what else) banana leaves.

The streets of Chinatown come alive at dusk. Learn more about Singapore’s earliest Chinese migrants at the Chinatown Heritage Centre, shop for textiles and trinkets at roadside stalls (make sure you drive a good bargain), and snap pictures of the majestic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. For an evening tipple, wander up to Club Street and Ann Siang Hill where the streets are pedestrianised some nights and bars and restaurants spill out on to the street.

Visit Asia’s Favourite Playground

Pack your swimmers and take the monorail to Sentosa’s Adventure Cove Waterpark. Zoom down thrilling waterslides and relax in the Bluwater Bay wave pool. Snorkel in a colourful coral reef filled with 20,000 friendly fish in the Rainbow Reef, and brush the velvety wings of manta rays at the Ray Bay.

Lunch at the picturesque Quayside Isle in Sentosa Cove after your watery escapade. Brussel Sprouts is a great kid-friendly resto that serves up yummy mussels and frites. Or get a caffeine boost at the cheery Kith Café, which offers freshly baked breads and pastries and daily sandwich specials. Take a slow walk along the promenade and enjoy the gentle sea breeze after eating your fill.

Feeling all tuckered out after the day’s activities? Slow down the pace and take time to admire Singapore’s glittering cityscape at the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, located 57 floors above ground. You’ll notice the countless ships in the sea that make Singapore one of the biggest trade ports in the world. as established by Sir Stamford Raffles. Or if you’ve still got energy to burn, shop till you drop on Orchard Road, where endless shopping malls stay open until 9 or 10pm.

Walk Down Memory Lane

Discover more about Singapore’s past at the Changi Chapel & Museum, which brings visitors through a pictorial description of the events that unfolded during the Japanese Occupation.If you have time to spare,visit the Kranji War Memorial, a quiet resting place for those who valiantly gave their lives for Singapore during World War II. Over 24,000 names of allied servicemen whose bodies were never found are inscribed on the memorial walls.

Your trip won’t be complete without checking out one of Singapore’s iconic hawker centres. Lau Pa Sat, which means “old market” in Hokkien, a native dialect, was built in 1894 and now houses a wide range of hawker stalls featuring a wide array of local delights. Tip: use a packet of tissue and place it on your table to ‘chope’ (reserve) a spot like the locals do. Walk off your lunch with a visit to see the façade of the famous Raffles Hotel on Beach Road, or even head inside to the Long Bar to sample a Singapore Sling.

You’ve covered most of all there is to see in the Lion City. Now kick back, rest your weary feet, and down a few pints at Robertson Quay, located along the Singapore River. There are plenty of alfresco dining spots, pubs, and cafes for you to relax and unwind.