139 Best Sights in Singapore

Constructed in the 1860s as a courthouse, the huge, white, Neoclassical Empress Place building is now home to the nation's first museum to look comprehensively at the all Asian regions, each of which has its own timeline and permanent displays. Spread over three levels, the 11 galleries have state-of-the-art interactive features, and there's also an educational center for kids.

Beautiful by day but especially lovely by night, Chinatown’s most iconic landmark is tiered in ornate red and gold, the design inspired by the Buddhist mandala, a symbol of Buddhist culture that represents the universe. The temple takes its name from what’s thought to be the left canine tooth of the Buddha, recovered from his funeral pyre in India and displayed inside the temple grounds.

Stretching along the riverfront, Clarke Quay is canopied by space-age umbrellas and filled with a smorgasbord of entertainment venues, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Come nightfall, the pedestrian-only streets are packed with a mix of visitors and locals hitting up the latest eateries and bars. With its bright lights and festive nightlife, the river along the quay is a world away from the sleepy waterway it was when Sir Stamford Raffles first arrived. Get a view from the river by boarding one of the many bumboats that offer daily 30-minute cruises. Thrill seekers will love the GX5 Extreme Swing, a ride at the river's edge, open from 4:30 pm.

A lesser-visited gem of a park in the northeast of Singapore, uninhabited Coney Island (aka Pulau Serangoon) boasts hidden white-sand beaches and plenty of mangrove-draped trails through coastal forests, casuarina woodlands, and grasslands filled with flora and fauna. Start at Punggol Point Park, where boats and a bridge go to Coney Island Park. There are five main beach areas, and the 2.5-km-long Coney Island Park Connector to explore by bicycle or walking. GoCycling at Punggol Jetty rents bikes for S$10 an hour. On selected Saturday mornings in the months of June, November, and December, National Parks volunteers conduct two-hour guided walks. Amenities: toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking; cycling.

The government-funded, large-scale gardens next to Marina Bay Sands opened with much well-deserved pomp in 2012. Highlights include a futuristic grove of "Supertrees"—giant vertical gardens—and two armadillo-shaped conservatories. The Flower Dome is home to plants from the Mediterranean and subtropical regions, while the Cloud Forest is veiled in mist and houses the world's largest indoor waterfall. The OCBC Skyway is a 420-foot (128-meter) walkway that connects several of the Supertrees and offers a great view from above. While hefty fees apply for the Skyway, the SuperTree Observatory, and conservatories, visitors can wander around the Gardens until 2 am free of charge.

Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge is a fantastical, wave-like span suspended 118 feet above lush rain forest. It was built in 2008 to connect Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park and quickly became a social media photo phenomenon thanks to its distinctive shapes and undulating design. It's just under 1,000 feet long, making it fairly quick to cross, but you'll want to allow extra time to capture the cool shapes on camera. Come early in the morning to avoid crowds.

Following the colonization of Singapore in 1819, Indians began to make their way over to Singapore, and today they form the country's third-largest ethnic group. Inside the stunning Indian Heritage Centre, the history of the Indian and South Asian communities is detailed through five permanent exhibitions. Other showcases include opulent gold jewelry from the Saigon Chettiars’ Temple Trust, personal heirlooms, and intricately carved doorways and frames, one holding as many as 5,000 carvings. Free guided tours in English, Tamil, and Chinese are offered. Before leaving, take time to admire the building, modeled after a baoli (Indian stepwell)—it's especially eye-catching at sunset.

ION Sky offers panoramic views of Singapore from the 56th floor of ION Mall, 718 feet above the ground. It's free to enter, but only after spending S$50 in ION Mall (you need to download the ION Orchard app, then scan your receipt to receive your QR ticket). Your admission includes a complimentary welcome drink at 1-Atico Lounge. Alongside the great views are a number of interactive exhibits, including films screened on the glass walls and historic portrayals of how Singapore once looked.

This market is the largest Victorian cast-iron structure left in Southeast Asia. Already a thriving fish market in 1822, it was redesigned as an octagon by George Coleman in 1834 and again redesigned, as seen today, in 1894. It now serves as a food court, with hawker stalls that are busy during the day with office workers. After 7 pm, Boon Tat Street is closed to traffic, and the mood turns festive: hawkers wheel out their satay carts, and buskers often perform.

This 30-acre park is a lush green wilderness, crisscrossed by a 10-km (6.2-mile) walking trail that loops around the reservoir. The trail is mostly flat and shaded, with only the warbling of birds and chatter of the park's many monkeys to break the peaceful reverie. Pick up the trail from MacRitchie Reservoir Park in the south, near the trail's main car park, where you can grab a drink from the cafés and kiosks before heading off. From here, you can follow signs towards the TreeTop Walk, which lies at around midway mark in the north of the park. This 820-foot-long suspension bridge soars above the trees, with spectacular views across the wild rain forest to the city skyscrapers in the distance. After completing the TreeTop Walk, continue following the trail towards Jelutong Tower—another spot with scenic views that lies in the west of the park—before looping back to the MacRitchie Reservoir Park along the picturesque waterside boardwalk.

One of the most iconic structures on the Singapore skyline, Marina Bay Sands includes the biggest hotel in Singapore; The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, a glitzy mall filled with top fashion brands and its own casino; celebrity-chef restaurants; and the cavernous Marquee nightclub. Don't miss out on the atelier Louis Vuitton, set on an island accessible via a tunnel, and the state-of-the-art Apple Store Marina Bay Sands, an all-glass dome sphere floating on water and offering 360-degree views of the city's skyline. There's also the SkyPark, an observation deck that's 660 feet (200 meters) high and home to the hotel's much-Instagrammed, 150 meter-long infinity pool—the world's largest outdoor elevated body of water.

A restoration and integration of Singapore’s former City Hall and Supreme Court, this Southeast Asian visual arts museum is a work of art in itself. Immerse yourself in its extensive collection of modern art from the region—the world's largest public display—before grabbing a bite at one of the many globally acclaimed restaurants on site.

Also known as Newton Circus, this is one of the best-known hawker centers in town. (The "circus" refers to a roundabout, as in Piccadilly Circus.) It's a great place to visit at night, when the atmosphere is buzzing, and it's usually very busy no matter which evening you go. Food vendors here often get pushy with their menus, so walk with confidence if you don't want to be accosted. Note that you can sit anywhere: it can feel strange buying food at one stall, then sitting down in front of another, but that's the practice. In fact, it can sometimes be hard to find a table, so grab whatever you can get. The barbecue seafood stalls are famous here, though things like tiger prawns and chilli crab are priced by weight, so have the bill tallied up ahead of time to avoid expensive surprises.

On the main campus of the National University of Singapore, the NUS Museum is the nation's oldest university museum. At any one time, it displays some 1,000 of its roughly 8,000 artifacts and artworks, which were first introduced by museum curator Michael Sullivan as a teaching collection in 1955. The works are split across four major exhibits, including the South and Southeast Asian Collection and the Straits Chinese Collection. Temporary exhibitions also pop up from time to time, alongside educational workshops. If you can't make the trip to the museum itself, you can also view more than 2,000 of the fascinating artifacts via the museum's online database.

Formerly the Tao Nan School, built in 1910, this grand colonial building now houses the first museum in Southeast Asia devoted to the story of the Peranakans, the descendants of 17th-century Chinese and Indian immigrants who married local Malays. Its 10 galleries display artwork, jewelry, furniture, and clothing from members of the community.

Take a 10-minute ride on a bumboat (a small launch) from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to be transported back in time on this boomerang-shaped island. It's best explored by bicycle, which can be rented on the island. There are three trails that lead past old plantations, mangrove swamps, forests, the occasional wild boar, and abandoned granite quarries that look surprisingly picturesque. You should also consider a visit to the Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems, to wander the 1-km (0.62-mile) boardwalk (Mangrove and Coastal Loops) and take in views from the 66-foot Jejawi Tower. There's also the Ketam Mountain Bike Park, a 10-km (6.2-mile) park around the Ketam Quarry. Before heading back, cool off with a fresh coconut drink or order a kampong-style meal from one of the small seafood restaurants near the jetty.

The 24-kilometer-long former rail corridor is one of the best walking, running, and cycling routes in Singapore, shrouded in greenery and birdsong. Stretching from Tanjong Pagar up to Kranji in the north, it follows what was once a railway line that linked Singapore to Malaysia. While you could tackle the whole trail for a great workout, the most scenic parts are found around the non-operational Bukit Timah Railway station, first built in 1932.

One of the world's largest aquariums, this underwater wonderland with seven themed zones provides views of more than 1,000 species from around the world. Gaze into a shipwreck habitat; walk through a tunnel surrounded by various shark species; and gape at goliath groupers, Napoleon wrasses, and a squadron of magnificent manta rays. There are educational shows on dive feeding and understanding dolphin behavior scheduled throughout the day. VIP tours can be organized.

Aviation, nuclear science, robotics, astronomy, space technology, and Internet technology are entertainingly explored through audiovisual and interactive exhibits housed in the 14 galleries here. You can walk into a "human body" for a closer look at vital organs, test yourself via computer quiz games, or settle into the Omni Theatre, where movies and planetarium shows are screened. Other fascinating exhibitions include the Ecogarden, a living laboratory of flora and fauna in natural habitats, and "Climate Changed," which shows what life will be like if global warming continues—and what we can do to prevent it.

Housed in an old industrial port building, this large, airy art museum showcases contemporary southeast Asian art, with a regularly changing lineup of exhibitions and residencies. Permanent exhibit "The Everyday Museum" commissions art that interacts with local communities, giving a unique perspective into some of the areas you may have already visited. The museum also hosts an ongoing selection of weekly programs, including family art classes, live music, and art wellness courses—check the website for more information.

The first site in Singapore to gain UNESCO Heritage status is also the first and only tropical botanic gardens in the world to make the list. Once you start to explore the winding trails of the enormous park, which sprawls across more than 128 acres of lush greenery, you'll understand why. It is neatly segmented into different gardens featuring all the hallmarks of Victorian design—gazebos, pavilions, and ornate bandstands included. Highlights are the National Orchid Garden, showcasing over 1,000 species of brightly colored blooms, and the Ginger Garden, where several hundred varieties of ginger grow. Try to time your visit to coincide with the free guided tours that almost always take place around 9 am on Saturday (see the National Parks website for more details).

Sprawling over 65 acres of a 220-acre natural rain forest, this zoo has stunning views of nearby reservoir lakes. The zoo uses an open-concept design, with spacious enclosures using minimal glass and fencing to separate animals from zoo-goers: a 3-foot-deep moat, for instance, will keep humans and giraffes apart, since a giraffe's gait makes even a shallow trench impossible to negotiate. In total, there are about 4,200 animals from around 300 species here, spread across zones from Australasia to Wild Africa. The Asian elephant and Bornean orangutan enclosures are definitely worth a visit, but there's joy in stumbling across species less well-known as you wander through the park. The zoo is renowned for its conservation work, and up to 34% of the species living here are threatened in the wild. Make sure to ask for animal feeding times and keeper talks at the entrance.  To save a bit, you can buy a combo ticket for access to all four wildlife parks (Bird Paradise, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and River Wonders) or two of your choice, to be used within seven days of purchase.

Singapore's oldest Hindu temple has a pagoda-like entrance topped by one of the most ornate gopurams (pyramidal gateway towers) you're likely to ever see outside of South India. Hundreds of brightly colored statues of deities and mythical animals line the tiers of this towering porch; glazed concrete cows sit, seemingly in great contentment, atop the surrounding walls. The story of this temple begins with Naraina Pillay, Singapore's first recorded Indian immigrant, who arrived on the same ship as Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819 and set up his own construction business, often using convicts sent to Singapore from India, quickly making a fortune. The first temple, built in 1827 of wood and attap (wattle and daub), was replaced in 1843 by the current brick structure. The gopuram was added in 1936. Inside are some spectacular paintings that have been restored by Tamil craftsmen brought over from South India. This is where Hindu weddings, as well as the firewalking festival Thimithi, take place.

Dedicated to Vishnu the Preserver, the temple is easy to recognize by its 60-foot-high monumental gopuram, with tiers of intricate sculptures depicting Vishnu in the nine forms in which he has appeared on Earth. Especially vivid are the depictions of Vishnu's manifestations as Rama, on his seventh visit, and as Krishna, on his eighth. Sri Srinivasa Perumal is very much a people's temple, with services that include Prasadam Offering and Term Archanai. Inside, you'll find devotees making offerings of fruit to one of the manifestations of Vishnu. This is done either by handing coconuts or bananas, along with a slip of paper with your name on it, to a temple official, who'll chant the appropriate prayers to the deity and place holy ash on your head, or by walking clockwise while praying, coconut in hand, around one of the shrines a certain number of times, then breaking the coconut (a successful break symbolizes that Vishnu has been receptive to the incantation). Dress conservatively—shawls can be provided—and be ready to take off your shoes before you enter.

The first mosque on this site was built in the early 1820s with a S$3,000 grant from the East India Company. The current structure, built in 1928 by Denis Santry of Swan & Maclaren—the architect who designed the Victoria Memorial Hall—is a dramatic building with golden domes and minarets that glisten in the sun. The walls of the vast prayer hall are adorned with green and gold mosaic tiles on which passages from the Koran are written in Arabic. The main dome has an odd architectural feature: hundreds of bottle ends are jammed in between the dome and base. This unusual feature originated as a way for lower-income Muslims to donate during the mosque's construction so that all could contribute. Five times a day—at dawn, 12:30, 4, sunset, and 8:15—the sound of the muezzin, or crier, calls the faithful to prayer. At midday on Friday, the Islamic Sabbath, Muslims from all over Singapore enter through one of the Sultan Mosque's 14 portals to recite the Koran. During Ramadan, the month of fasting, the nearby streets, especially Bussorah, and the square in front of mosque are lined with hundreds of stalls selling curries, cakes, and candy; at dusk Muslims break their day's fast in this square. Non-Muslims, too, come to enjoy the rich array of Muslim foods and the festive atmosphere. The best view of the Sultan Mosque is at the junction of Bussorah Street and Beach Road. Walk-ins are welcome Saturday through Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm. 

The Sungei Buloh wetlands are a true breath of fresh air in Singapore. They lie at one of the most north-westerly points of the island, a sprawling 500-acre ecological site of mangroves and mudflats. Migratory birds, crabs, and mud lobsters can be found in abundance, viewable from the trails or observation posts that dot the park. The site was designated as a nature park by the government in 1989, before being designated Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003. Stroll the raised boardwalks, watch a prawn-harvesting demonstration, or pick up a free guided tour from the visitor center.

Also known as Po Chiak Keng, meaning "protection of the innocent," the ancestral hall of the Tan Clan is a well-preserved example of traditional Hokkien architecture. Colorful ceramics were used to create sculptures of dragons, tigers, and flowers, and the intricately carved granite columns at the main entrance are rare among temples in Singapore. Tradition dictates visitors enter from the Dragon’s Door (入龙门) gate and leave via the Tiger’s Gate (出虎口) to ensure the deity’s blessings are bestowed.