Singapore attractions

Built in 1946 following the conclusion of World War II, Kranji War Memorial commemorates the SIngaporean and allied soldiers who fought and died protecting Malaysia and Singapore from invading Japanese forces. The site includes a cemetery with some 4,400 headstones and a memorial with names of 24,000 more servicemen.

Shaped like a lotus with 10 petals (or fingers), ArtScience Museum is a striking and iconic cultural institution at Marina Bay. The largest private museum in Singapore, ArtScience features 21 galleries, which host a mix of permanent and special exhibitions that explore the intersection of art, science, technology, and culture.

With its grand neoclassical pillars and enormous mint-green dome, Singapore’s City Hall (formerly the Municipal Building) is an architectural feast. But inside the national monument, things get even more aesthetically pleasing—the recently restored building houses the National Gallery Singapore, which boasts an 8,000-strong collection of Southeast Asian art that’s among the largest in the world.

A highlight of the luxurious Marina Bay Sands resort, the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark is a gigantic rooftop complex balanced atop the resort’s three towers. The SkyPark, which stretches over 1,115 feet (340 meters), has gardens, restaurants, a huge infinity pool, and spectacular views over Singapore.

If you believe the legend, Kusu Island—‘Tortoise Island’—was created when a giant tortoise transformed itself into an island to save a local fisherman from drowning. Myths aside, the island provides an idyllic getaway off Singapore’s south coast, dotted with sandy beaches, lagoons, and sacred temples.

Wild Wild Wet, one of Singapore’s largest water parks, has everything you’d want and expect in a water-themed amusement park. The park’s dozen or so rides and attractions range from waterslides and a wave pool to kids areas and the relaxing Shiok River, where guests can float leisurely around the perimeter of the park.

This towering, high-tech structure in the heart of downtown Singapore is the nation’s largest library. Seven floors of the 16-story building house the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, which focuses on Singapore; the Central Public Library (currently closed for renovations) occupies the basement.

Despite its conservative setting—housed in a pair of restored 19th-century Catholic school buildings—the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is anything but traditional. Focusing on contemporary art, exhibitions change regularly and feature innovative works from local creatives and artists across Asia.

Abandoned in 1973, Bukit Brown Cemetery is Singapore’s oldest municipal cemetery—but modern life is encroaching on this eerie wilderness, and the site is set to be completely redeveloped by 2030. For now, you can still wander crumbling paths between overgrown tombs and spy the graves of famous locals who have yet to be moved.

Situated in Singapore’s bustling Marina Central District, the Suntec City Mall is one of the largest shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes in Singapore. The spacious mall is home to more than 360 shops and food and beverage outlets, along with lifestyle and entertainment options, and a massive central Fountain of Wealth.

An oasis of primary rainforest amid Singapore’s skyscrapers, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve boasts 403 acres (163 hectares) of tropical plants, home to monkeys, butterflies, and more. Established in 1883, the focal point is Bukit Timah, one of Singapore’s highest hills, which stands all of 535 feet (163 meters) above sea level.

The southernmost of Sentosa Island’s three beaches, Tanjong Beach hosts sleepy vacationers beneath its shady palms. Bookended by breakwaters where you’ll often spot locals fishing, its double crescent of white sand often sports kids building sand castles while families splash together in its protected cove. Connected to its northerly neighbors, Siloso and Palawan Beaches, by an inland walkway, Tanjong stretch is quieter and less crowded. Here, there are more leafy trees than bars and restaurants. Tanjong Beach Club, the beach’s sole commercial enterprise, has a right-off-the-sand pool, lounge chairs, cabanas, bar and restaurant. At night DJs spin tunes that keep the party going late.

Built in 1835 by George D. Coleman, the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator is the oldest Christian church in Singapore. A towering all-white structure, the church is adorned with crafted pillars and features an entrance framed with classical pediments.

If you want to see a Singapore largely devoid of tourists, head to the new town of Ang Mo Kio (AMK) in the north central region of Singapore. While considered a new town, AMK was originally settled by rubber plantation workers in the late nineteenth century and has since matured into a thriving (and densely populated) community.

A highlight of any visit to Ubin Island (Pulau Ubin), the Chek Jawa Wetlands sprawl across 250 acres (100 hectares) of the island’s southeast corner. Six natural ecosystems meet here, while expansive boardwalks let you explore without trampling, and the 65-foot (20-meter) Jejawi Tower is bird-watching heaven.

As you walk through Little India in Singapore, a large structure topped with minarets and an onion-domed cupola might catch your eye. This impressive building, completed in 1910, is the Abdul Gafoor Mosque (Masjid Abdul Gafoor), a mosque originally built for the community of South Indian Muslim merchants in the area.

The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is a colonial-style villa in Singapore that played a crucial role in the Xinhai Revolution in the early 20th century. Today, the hall is a museum commemorating Sun Yat Sen, the founding father of the Republic of China. It serves to highlight the influence Dr. Sun’s revolutionary activities had on Singapore, as well as Singapore's own contributions. Ideal for history fans, this two-story museum is divided into five galleries and features around 400 artifacts, including paintings, statues, photographs, books, and calligraphy works. Highlights include a bronze wall mural spanning some 60 meters depicting Singapore's history over a 100-year period, from the 1840s to the 1940s. The bronze statues in the hall’s gardens are also particularly impressive. The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is included in the Singapore ultimate attractions pass, which allows you to explore the city’s top attractions at your own pace with a pass that is valid for two, three, or five consecutive days.

Located in MacRitchie Reservoir Park, the MacRitchie Nature Trail encompasses a series of boardwalks and hiking paths between 2 and 7 miles (3 and 11 kilometers) long that wind throughout the tropical rainforest. The TreeTop Walk, one of the park's main draws, is a suspension bridge walking trail high up in the trees. Walking the 82-foot (25-meter) high, 820-foot (250-meter) long trail provides a bird’s-eye view of the forest below. There’s more to Singapore than its high-rise cityscape, and the MacRitchie TreeTop Walk is proof.

Enjoy a day filled with learning, fun, and adventure at Kidzania Singapore. Located on Sentosa Island, KidZania Singapore is a kid-sized mini-city where children can learn important life skills and gain valuable experience by role-playing different jobs and taking part in a range of interactive and fun educational activities.

Singapore’s first marine park, the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park spans the two “Sisters’ Islands” (Pulau Subar Laut and Pulau Subar Darat) as well as reefs off St. John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor. A turtle hatchery and coral nursery help rehabilitate the waters, while dive trails and intertidal guided walks keep visitors informed.

Sample a range of Singaporean cuisine at the Singapore Food Treats attraction. The food hall—with many different food stalls, hawkers, and small shops—is located at the base of the Singapore Flyer, an enormous Ferris wheel. Stop by for a snack or a full meal before or after sightseeing in the area.

The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens, with more than 1,000 orchid species and thousands of hybrids displayed across outdoor gardens and climate-controlled houses. Walk through orchid collections organized by color and habitat, see rare hybrids developed in Singapore, and visit the garden’s high-elevation Sembcorp Cool House filled with species that normally grow in tropical mountain climates.

Mega Adventure is where adventure enthusiasts can satisfy their craving for excitement. Offering a range of activities suitable for kids and grown-ups alike—from soaring high above the trees to free-fall jumps—this Singapore park is a must-visit if you’re after outdoor fun and adrenaline rushes.

The MINT (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys) Museum of Toys opened in 2006 as the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to toys and children’s memorabilia. The private museum is owned by Mr. Chang Yang Fa, a citizen of Singapore and passionate collector of toys.

Haw Par Villa is undoubtedly one of the most unique attractions in Singapore. Located along the Pasir Panjang Road, this mythological theme park contains more than 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology and various religions. Built in 1937 by the Aw family, the inventors of Tiger Balm (the park was originally called Tiger Balm Garden), it was intended to serve as a place to teach traditional Chinese values. As Singapore became more modern over the years, however, Haw Par Villa gradually became more of an attraction for curious tourists.

Beat the heat and humidity, and escape to a winter wonderland at Snow City Singapore, the only indoor snow park in the country. Featuring a 12,917-square-foot (1,200-square-meter) snow chamber maintained at a chilly 23˚F (-5˚C), Snow City gives you the rare opportunity to play in the snow while vacationing in the tropics.

This theater inside the Marina Bay Sands, one of Singapore’s most iconic and luxurious hotels, can seat 2,155 people on three separate levels, all with excellent views of the stage. The rotating schedule of events at the Sands Theatre includes some of the world’s most popular productions and musicals.

Chettiar Temple (Sri Thendayuthapani Temple) is arguably the most important Hindu temple for Singapore’s sizable South Indian community. A distinctly South Indian 75-foot (23-meter) ornate monumental tower entrance, called a gopuram, depicts scenes from Indian folklore, mythology, and the Hindu pantheon in brightly painted carvings.

Singapore’s very own army museum relates the history of the army and the contributions of National Service men through a collection of over 500 sets of artifacts, which consist of medals, personal memos and a trainee bunk, for example. The Army Museum of Singapore gives visitors the chance to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s pre-independence turbulent days in a highly sensory way. Visitors intrigued by the daily life of a soldier can truly experience what it feels and smells like while watching the 30-minute interactive video “A Day in the Life” in a special effects theater, which depicts a modern army during a battle. Many other interactive activities take place throughout the museum, like the mini obstacles course called Adventure Land which showcases how soldiers are trained for combat fitness. Young soldiers will enjoy both the “Army Operations” activity, in which they will attempt to decipher the codename of army operations, and the crowd-pleaser “Robot World”, where they will get a chance to control their own mechanical agent. The key exhibition and, incidentally, one of the most poignant, is undoubtedly the “Making of a Soldier”, which portrays the life of a National service marine back in the 1970s post-British occupation, including an original military bunk bed from the Pulau Tekong training camp and several pieces of military hardware.

If you’ve ever daydreamed of racing through the streets of a Formula 1 race, Singapore’s Ultimate Drive might just be able to fulfill your fantasy. Take control of a Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, or Porsche; these convertible vehicles top out at about 186 miles (300 kilometers) per hour.