Singapore is a world class country I’ve heard a lot about.
People told me the streets were super clean, transport systems were reliable, food was reasonably cheap, and all the residents speak English.
This certainly made it easier to communicate with locals when I got lost!
The main reason for visiting, of course, was to see all their high tech attractions.
The flights from Sydney were also fairly cheap, so it was the perfect destination for an attraction fest holiday.
Day 0: Landing in Singapore
7pm Singapore Airport
As expected from the brief research I did, the checkout process at Singapore Airport was pretty quick.
I also rushed through the crowd and beat everyone to the waiting line so that helped.
With only a few hours left before bed time, tonight was really about preparing for the adventure ahead and the famous Orchard Road was the perfect location to start.
First stop, Mandarin Orchard hotel!
8pm Mandarin Orchard Hotel
There were a few reasons why I chose this hotel.
Firstly, it was practically a stone’s throw to all the major shopping centers on Orchard Road.
More importantly, 313@Somerset where I had to go to collect the iVenture attraction pass was only a 2 minute walk, and after a long flight, I definitely didn’t want any complications with further travelling at that time of the night.
Also, the SAEx (Singapore Attraction Express) bus to the animal theme parks stopped right outside the hotel; and lastly, since most of the 4 star hotels were practically the same price, why not go 5 star!
9pm Picked up iVenture Card & explored Orchard Road
Most of the shops close fairly late (around 10pm) so there was plenty of time to pick up the attraction passes at the Concierge Services in 313@Somerset.
My first impressions of 313@Somerset and Orchard Road – busy but clean, great atmosphere, colorful, high tech, good variety of food…so far so good.
I had more time to explore Orchard Road the next couple of days and from what I’ve seen so far, looks like I’ve got a lot more exploring to do.
Apparently there were 22 shopping centers on the road!
Day 1: Singapore Birds and Science
10am Jurong Bird Park
This was one of the most impressive zoos I’ve seen that only featured birds.
Some memorable moments: free roaming birds, High Flyers show, and the man made waterfall.
Unfortunately, I missed the King of the Skies show at 10am due to traffic.
There was a second show, but I had to move onto the next attraction.
- Tip – Make sure you have the correct bus stop and be there at least 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. Being the first day on my quest to see all the Singapore attractions, I wasn’t even sure if the SAEx bus was coming… plus I didn’t know what to look for. When it arrives, jump straight on. A staff member will collect the bus fare on the way to Jurong Bird Park.
2:30pm Science Center
A great place for childish adults like me, but the layout was a bit confusing.
I had a tough time finding access to 2nd floor exhibits, and had no idea there was an outdoor area called Ecogarden so I completely missed that zone!
It would have been nice for the staff to give out a brochure with show times as well (if they have one?).
I managed to stumble across the Fire Tornedo show and Climate Change show by accident.
On a positive note though, the Science Center did have a lot of interactive exhibits and I’m sure kids would learn a lot from this visit.
- Tip – The SAEx only goes to the Science Center on weekends and times can change. I was planning to catch the 2:30pm bus from Jurong Bird Park direct to Science Center but on this particular day, it was heading out at 2pm. Double check the timetable with staff before you go into Jurong Bird Park.
4pm Snow City
Probably the worst attraction on this trip.
Despite having the iVenture attraction pass, I still had to pay for gloves, pants and a locker (no bags allowed).
No photos were allowed either since they wanted to rip off customers with their “professional” photographers.
Anyway, I made the most of it.
Slid down the ice slope twice on a giant rubber tyre and that was enough. Got a bit too cold after 10 minutes.
Day 2: Singapore Animals
- Note – If you’re crazy enough to see 3 zoos in 1 day, bring water, comfortable shoes and get plenty of rest the night before.
10am Singapore Zoo
The start to one of my favorite days since I’m a huge fan of wildlife.
Three major animal attractions at one location and Singapore Zoo was the biggest one out of the three (and in the country).
I only just managed to see all the animal exhibits, live shows and have lunch at Ah Meng Restaurant within 5 hours.
Its a well run theme park on a massive 26 hectares of land.
The only other zoo that tops this, in my opinion, is Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo (who is also my idol!).
3pm River Safari
Unlike most typical Aquariums, where you walk through tunnels and see fish in mediocre tanks, the River Safari had all their fish in massive tanks with extreme makeovers.
The surrounding decor, restaurants, exclosures, building structures and restaurants were very clean.
I enjoyed the open-air setup, giving clear views of the main river and natural bushland.
Even when it rained, the experience wasn’t dampened since there was overhead cover along the main path.
If only the Amazon River Quest boat ride was open. Some memorable moments:
- Mekong Giant Cat Fish
- Celebrating Panda birthdays
- playful Squirrel Monkeys
- and the Manatees
6pm Night Safari
The park didn’t open til 7:30pm but it was nice to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a good meal at the food court outside the Night Safari while watching The Thumbuakar Performance.
When the park opened, everyone rushed to the Safari ride so I decided to watch Creatures of the Night show first.
It was an entertaining 20 minute animal extravaganza but for some reason, I actually expected more.
From here I went through the 4 different walking trails (since there was still a queue for the safari ride).
In most of the enclosures, there was enough lighting to see the animals, but for some, I had to be a bit more patient to spot them.
After a whole day’s worth of walking, the Safari ride was the perfect way to end a day of animal overdose!
Day 3: Singapore Landmarks
8am Ya Kun Kaya Toast
While my girlfriend was still sleeping, I snuck out for some Singaporean brekky. Ya Kun Kaya Toast was the only shop open at the time.
If you ever go to Singapore, you have to try this sweet bread in sweet dip thing, with super sweet coffee.
Sugar overload!
I was buzzing for the rest of the day!
9:30am Mint Museum of Toys
Not exactly an attraction I was busting to see but it was part of the iVenture card, so why not.
After my initial research, my expectations weren’t great.
There were only 4 floors of toys.
I skimmed through the different exhibits and was done in 30 minutes, maybe less.
Anyway, it was a pleasant start to the day.
Going to a toys museum was something different I guess.
10:30am National Museum of Singapore
This was where I learned a few things about Singapore as a country itself.
I’m not a huge fan of history and I’m usually too lazy to read brief descriptions on plaques, but the mobile audio guide that came with the admission ticket was very handy.
Each exhibit had a matching audio number and explained the significance of events, people and industrial impacts on Singapore.
To see how the country grew from its war-torn days to the advance society it has in place now, was a real eye-opener.
Well done Singapore!
12pm More Orchard Road shopping
I was planning on visiting the Philatelic Museum, but I thought the shops at Orchard Road would be more interesting.
Plus I had to get some souvenirs and there were a few bargain gift shops at Lucky Plaza.
2pm Marina Bay Sands
I’ve never spent $450 for 1 night at a hotel, but since this building was in almost every Singapore related travel advertisement, I had to stay for at least 1 night and see what the big deal was.
At the entrance, my jaws dropped. The lobby stretched across all three towers and I could barely see the roof which was about 50 levels up.
Staff hurried towards me to collect my luggage while, in the background, three ladies dressed in traditional clothing greeted visitors with music played on their Chinese pianos.
It took me a good 10 minutes, glaring at the enormous interior, to realize how big this structure was, and to top it off, I somehow got a free room upgrade!
Obviously, I had to check out their famous infinity sky pool.
It was another “WOW” moment.
A 150-meter swimming pool 57 stories high with views that could match any skyscraper around the world.
I then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Check Rooms Check Tours Official site
6pm Singapore Flyer
Seeing the city lights shining at night from an air-conditioned cabin on the giant Ferris wheel was not the only highlight here.
What made it an even better experience were the interactive exhibits and displays in their new attraction “Journey of Dreams” which did a good job introducing how the Singapore Flyer came about.
Before going to the flyer, I had dinner at the hawker food court on the first floor where there was a variety of food, desserts, and alcoholic beverages.
There were also other shops and activities on the second floor like 6D ride (it’s really just 4D…what are the other 2 dimensions?) and plane simulator.
Overall, a pleasant atmosphere and memorable skyline viewing from the Singapore Flyer.
8pm Marina Bay Sands SkyPool
Time to catch a cab back to Marina Bay Sands.
I was pretty tired, but I still found enough energy to check out the casino nearby.
Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside.
Sometimes I’d play dumb at museums, but at a casino with over 100 cameras capturing everything inside those doors, I wasn’t going to take the risk.
After that, I spent hours until midnight at the scenic sky pool to check out the Singapore night view again.
Day 4: Gardens by the Bay
10am ArtScience Museum
The building structure was worth seeing. The temporary exhibits on display though were a bit pricey.
I didn’t think it was worth $20+ so I only chose 1 exhibit to see: the Mummy.
There was a short 20-minute introductory 3D movie before doors opened to a variety of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the mummy featured in the documentary movie.
There wasn’t too much interaction.
Simple exhibits displayed and lots of reading.
I wasn’t in the mood to read and left within the hour.
No photos were allowed inside either so that was even more of a letdown.
12pm Gardens By The Bay
Probably one of the best attractions in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay was definitely a place I wanted to see up close.
The highlights: walking on the Supertrees OCBC Skyway, seeing thousands of colorful flowers at the Flower Dome, and breathing in the fresh air as I walked down from the artificial mountain in Cloud Forest.
Both domes were completely air-conditioned and incredibly maintained.
As for the rest of the Gardens by the Bay, I took the lazy option and cruised around the different zones on the Outdoor Gardens Audio Tour.
Gardens by the Bay Deals Official site
5pm Siloso Beach Resort
It’s the last hotel stop for this Singapore trip.
Even though it was classed as “5 stars”, it didn’t feel like a 5-star hotel, especially after leaving Marina Bay Sands.
The room looked old, the carpet was a bit dirty, and the shower had patches of mold.
The decoration was non-existent as well.
Nonetheless, it was the cheapest accommodation I could find on Sentosa Island and it was close to the beach.
Having a breakfast buffet included was a plus, however, if you want the better experience, I’d recommend checking out other hotels.
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7:40pm Sentosa Water Show
This was something I’ve never seen before.
At the time, I watched Songs of the Sea (now “Wings of Time”).
It had a cringe-worthy storyline, but the lights, water, and fire display were amazing.
All these elements were well choreographed with the music.
It’s only a 20-25 minute show, so the rest of the night, I strolled around Beach station watching Buskers perform.
Day 5: Resorts World Sentosa
9:30am Adventure Cove Waterpark
I bought a 1-day pass for Adventure Cove WaterPark and SEA Aquarium.
It was a short line for the WaterPark in the morning.
With the hot and humid weather conditions in Singapore, this was the perfect attraction for me to relax.
I wasn’t really interested in lining up for any slides, although I did line up for Rainbow Reef where there were hundreds of colorful coral fish.
Surprisingly the park didn’t have many slides compared to other water theme parks I’ve been to.
My absolute favorite was the Adventure River.
It was a peaceful and gentle stroll on a floating tube down a river, passing waterfalls, tunnels, caves, and fish exhibits.
2pm Maritime Experiential Museum & SEA Aquarium
From an attraction point of view, size does matter!
And there were 2 real highlights at both these attractions: the massive ship at the entrance and seeing the biggest fish tank in the world!
SEA Aquarium was a bit crowded but I still managed to see each exhibit since most of the fish were in big tanks.
As with all areas in Singapore, both attractions were extremely clean, nicely decorated, and organized.
It would have been nice if the 4D Typhoon Theater movie was free though (or at least a bit cheaper).
Day 6: Universal Studios
10am Universal Studios
Before entering, I was already told that the 2 rollercoasters at Sci-Fi City were closed for maintenance.
If I was still a teenager looking for thrills, I’d probably be upset, but I was more than happy to just go on the other rides and take in the atmosphere.
Each zone had 3 or 4 major attractions.
There were quite a few kiddy rides, especially in Madagascar and Far Far Away.
Even though the rollercoasters weren’t available, there were still some fast-paced rides like Revenge of the Mummy.
This took you on board an indoor rollercoaster, speeding through a maze of ancient Egyptian exhibits in total darkness.
The Transformers Ride deserves a special mention. It was the most insane 3D action sequence I had ever experienced!
The automobile swung from left to right, crashed through skyscrapers, tunnels, robots, and ultimately dropped from a high-rise building.
It was the only ride I went on twice.
Insane experience!
If I didn’t have the express pass, I would have waited for an hour for this.
There were also 2 shows worth highlighting.
In the New York zone, “Lights, Camera, Action” show had a crazy hurricane sequence and demonstrated how special effects were created for big-budget movies.
At Lost World, the Waterworld show had live stuntmen jumping from high platforms and perform action sequences.
Everyone sitting at the front of the stadium was guaranteed to get wet from comedians squirting water.
It was definitely one of the most entertaining and interactive shows I’ve seen at a theme park.
Check my guide – Cheaper USS Tickets: 16 Things You Should Know Before You Go
5pm Vivo City Shopping Center
Time for some retail therapy at Vivo City shopping center, the entrance to Sentosa Island.
Like most Singapore shopping centers, Vivo City was massive.
The shops were mostly affordable international brands.
There was also a hawker food court right near the entrance of Sentosa Station.
Day 7: Sentosa Island
10am Merlion
First stop, Singapore’s iconic half lion half mermaid, Merlion!
It was the closest attraction near Imbiah Station.
I bought a nice vanilla ice block before heading through to the exhibits.
A short movie explained how the Merlion came about.
Then up to the roof for a few scenic photos.
10:30am Images of Singapore & Madame Tussauds
This was like a real life comic strip explaining Singapore’s history.
There were countless exhibitions of wax figures portraying celebrities, different events and some allowed visitors to step inside for photo opportunities.
You’ll also get to experience a magical boat ride as you see Singapore’s sparkling history on this journey.
12pm Cable Car
Another scenic ride, but this time, cruising between Sentosa and Singapore mainland in a cabin.
I could see dolphins training at Adventure Cove and some really nice hotels with private pools and water views.
The cabin wasn’t air-conditioned but there was a decent breeze coming through.
At Mount Faber station, I casually explored the area in 15 minutes then hopped back into the cabin for the return trip.
There was a function so I felt like I was intruding.
I think the restaurants were all booked out for a wedding.
1:30pm Lunch
Grabbed a quick bite outside the Butterfly Park.
There were only a couple of options and the cheapest was pizza.
The other restaurants were a rip-off!
2pm Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom
More negatives than positives at this park.
It didn’t quite meet the high standards of most Singapore attractions.
For a “Butterfly Park” there were barely any live butterflies (lot of dead ones in picture frames though); I also remember a poor rabbit looking extremely sad in its enclosure; and the general environment looked a tad dull.
3pm 4D Adventureland
Three 4D rides here and I didn’t have to wait too long to experience all of them.
The “Dead or Alive Desperados” was my favorite since it was so different to other typical 4D movies.
There were 30 people in the theatre sitting on their own fake horses competing to see who could shoot the most coyboys.
Riding on a fake horseback and shooting the baddies was fun, but I think my gun was faulty!
I’m pretty sure I was on target!
4pm Sentosa Nature Discovery
By this point, I was absolutely exhausted.
The Nature Discovery was free, so I strolled down to have a quick look.
No one was around, no staff…nup, stuff it, my legs can’t handle a bush walk right now.
I’m sure I would have enjoyed this if I had a bit more rest.
4:15pm Skyline Luge
This was basically my express pass to the bottom of the hill where Silosa Beach hotel was.
The line was long, but it moved pretty quick.
Within 10 minutes, I was at the front, jumped in a luge, and off I went.
I chose to stroll down the advance course since I’ve done it before in New Zealand.
If I wasn’t running out of time, I probably would have gone back up the chair lift for another ride.
4:30pm Gogreen Segway
Its the last attraction! Might as well get the most out of the Sentosa attraction pass, even if my body was about to shut down.
I got a quick lesson on how to ride the segway from an instructor.
I did 1 lap around their mini-course and that was it. Done! I’m outa here.
Sentosa Tour
As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do on Sentosa Island.
If you prefer to have everything organized for you, it’s best to book a tour where a personal guide will show you the way to all the attractions.
On the way Home: Random thoughts on Singapore
- Toilets – All toilets in the world should follow Singapore standards. Most of them had at least one side open to the outside. No more smelling farts, pee or other body secretions. And yes, someone gave me a confused look for taking a photo of the toilet. At the Night Safari, they even had an aquarium outside for visitors. Why Not!
- Floating Baby – I saw this at Gardens by the Bay. Wierd…
- Leaking Roof – Water spilling from a dome inside the shopping center near Marina Bay Sands. This was a “WTF” moment…
- Orchard Road Shopping Centers – 22 shopping centers on one road. Hmm, sure that’s enough?
- Macdonalds – is this the smallest Macdonalds in the World? I had a chuckle to myself when I saw this.
- No Rubbish – What would happen if I accidentally dropped a piece of paper?? Would I be arrested? Would the locals think I’m a dirty foreigner?
At Gardens By the Bay, I injured my knee on an escalator.
On the way down, I stupidly ran back up to try and capture a photo of a giant screen, which I only noticed after descending a couple of meters.
The result, a deep cut strait into my knee and it didn’t stop bleeding for the next 4 days. It bloody hurt!
But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the rest of the trip, even if I had to endure the pain.
Singapore has literally left a mark on me, and I’d be happy to visit again one day.
Next time though, I might take it easy on the attractions.
I definitely went overboard for this 7 day Singapore itinerary.
If you’re not sure how to plan your next Singapore itinerary, let me know and I’d be more than happy to assist! Just leave your comments here.
Or you can have a look at other amazing tours on offer.
Also read:
- 15 Best 5-Star Romantic Hotels in Singapore with Bathtubs
- 12 Singapore Hotels with the Best Free Breakfast
- 27 Romantic Things to do in Singapore for Couples
- 6 Best Areas to Stay in Singapore with Family
- 16 Best Singapore Food Tours & Dining Experiences
