We fell in love with Singapore in our few days there. We stayed right in the city center and had three full days to explore. With the heat and the size of the city, we were not able to see everything, but we did cover as much ground as possible in our short time.
I split up our favorites in the city based on geography. We already shared our time at the Gardens By The Bay. Today, I’ll cover our Singapore highlights north of the Singapore River. Many of the hotels in the area are just north of the river and that was where we stayed as well.
Here is the link to the hotel we stayed in. The room was small, but we expected that in a big city. It was clean and comfortable and had great restaurants right downstairs. I would definitely recommend the hotel.
Now, let’s get to the fun stuff.
Top Things to Do in Singapore
Wander through the Street Markets
Have you watched Street Food on Netflix? They have an entire episode on Singapore and we actually got to eat one of the featured dishes. Putu Piring is a dessert (shown below) originated in Singapore. We took the train and found our way to the Haig Road Market to find the exact stall they featured. Being vegetarian, we cannot eat a lot of the street food we see, so we did not want to miss our chance here.
We enjoyed wandering and exploring a few different markets while in town. Bugis Street was our favorite because it is huge and has everything you could ever imagine. There was one section that was like walking through infomercials complete with microphones and cheesy “as seen on TV” products. There were tarot card readers, fortune tellers, and Karaoke booths that looked like ATMs. This area has been through many changes in the past 50 years and has quite a history – read more here if you’re interested.
Walk Along the River Near Clarke Quay
This colorful area is located right on the Singapore River. There are tons of restaurants and bars. Some will look familiar to you and cause some eye rolling (aka Hooters), but there are some great places to stop and people watch in this area and multiple river cruises departing from this location as well.
Find Your Way to Haji Lane
This narrow lane is filled with great shops, restaurants and bars. It is one of the most colorful places in Singapore which is saying a lot because everything is colorful. Most nights, musicians set up on the street and play covers. We watched one of the best guitar players we’ve ever seen one night here.
My favorite meal in Singapore (read more about it in my recap) was just around the corner from this street at the Flying Monkey.
Enjoy the Sights of Sultan Mosque & Kampong Glam
This is the larger neighborhood around Haji Lane. You will find amazing Middle Eastern food and the most famous Mosque in Singapore. I wish we had more time to tour the building itself, but again, our timing was off a little. Definitely take the time to explore this neighborhood and take a tour of the Mosque if you are able.
Try the Flavors in Little India
This area is a quick walk from Haji Lane. With tons of restaurants and markets to walk through, it’s no surprise that this is a popular area for tourists. There are free walking tours in this area, but we were there on the wrong days of the week and we missed out.
Take Pictures at the Insta-Famous Peranakan Houses
This is the new popular area for Instagram influencers. Luckily, only two photoshoots were happening when we arrived. If you can avoid the people modeling outfits, you will be able to appreciate these houses, which are still in the region’s original style. Peranakan refers to a person of mixed Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage, and it dates back to the 15th century when Chinese traders married local women. The details and colors are magnificent. They are still private homes, so please respect that when walking around and taking photos.
It may be the most popular spot on Instagram right now, but it’s worth a visit. The surrounding area is wonderful and has lots of great restaurants, bars and shopping.
Sip a Singapore Sling at The Raffles Hotel
Last but not least is the Long Bar at the famous Raffles Hotel. This specific location is the home of the Singapore Sling—a gin-based drink that tastes like vacation. They were created back when women were not supposed to drink in public and were made to look like fruit juice. This historic hotel is right near the center of town. The Long Bar is on the second floor and serves free peanuts and expensive drinks, but I thought going for one was worth it.
Want More Singapore Information?
I’ll have the second half of our Singapore highlights up tomorrow covering the south side of the Singapore River.
