I recently hit my one-year mark of arriving in Korea and throughout the year I have explored over 30 cities and counties. Most of this was due to my desire to scope out all the hidden corners this country had to offer. The other part was the inability to leave the country due to the pandemic. But as restrictions decreased and summer break started approaching, I wanted to venture out.
Even before coming to Korea, I had always thought Singapore would be an amazing country to visit. Luckily, my friends had the same thoughts. So, we booked our tickets and our hotels and jetted off to one of the tiniest and most luxurious countries in the world.
Read more: One Week in SingaporeDay 1
We took off from Incheon at 10:45 and arrived in Singapore at 3:45 local time. The total flight takes about 6 hours!
Before leaving the airport, we went to buy sim cards and transportation cards. We didn’t realize that any credit or debit card with touchless pay will work for all transportation, but I am glad we got the bus card anyway as a backup. We also picked up a sim card for roaming service, a must in a new country. It was $50 for unlimited data. We were told it would also roam in Malaysia but it didn’t unfortunately so if you also are going to Malaysia you might want to do more research on sim cards for both countries before.
After getting the essentials, we got a taxi to our hotel.
TIP: Have the Grab App downloaded and set up BEFORE leaving the airport. We made the mistake of taking a regular taxi and they charge extra for a hailing fee making it quite expensive. Grab is just like Uber and you can select how big of a vehicle you’ll need based on how many people or how much luggage you have.
For the first four days in Singapore, we stayed at Hotel Chancellor. The location was the main factor but besides that, it was a nice and relatively cheap place to sleep. It’s situated right in the middle of Orchard Street which is the downtown of Singapore and gave great access to the other areas we wanted to explore. We ran into a couple problems in our room like our bathroom light not working but nothing major!
Although we were pretty tired from our day of travel, we gathered the energy to walk over to Merlion park and take in the amazing night views by the bay.
We soon learned that if you want to eat and drink on a budget in Singapore, the Marina Bay area is not the place to be. We were pretty shocked at the $25 for a pint of beer but hey, a beer with the view of the Marina Bay Sands in the night breeze? I can splurge this once.
Day 2
Our second day started off well with a trip to Starbucks. I know, not the most unique option, but it does the job of getting me caffeinated for the day. Plus, the amount of veggie and alternative meat options is always a plus.
One latte later and we were off to Gardens by the Bay. Anyone who goes to Singapore has to visit here. You can walk around the gardens for free if you’re wanting to stay on a budget. There is also the option to buy a ticket for the supertree grove and the cloud forest. We bought a bundle ticket for both and started at the supertrees.
If you have a fear of heights, these metal trees may not be for you. Suspended high above the ground, you can get some amazing shots of Singapore and its cityscape. You are encouraged to only spend 20 minutes up there to clear congestion though so be quick on your picture-taking time!
After we left the grove we walked over to the cloud forest. The gigantic greenhouse can be spotted miles away. The giant glass dome holds the second biggest indoor waterfall in the world, second only to the Jewel at the Singapore airport itself! The greenery in there is breathtaking with some of the prettiest flowers I’ve ever seen. We could’ve spent hours walking around and up and down this forest but our hunger got the better of us so we left to grab a snack before getting to our next spot.
Just a short bus ride away from the Gardens is Chinatown. Chinatown was just the first of our visits to the many cultural neighborhoods in Singapore. What makes Singapore so unique and special is the amount of diversity that leads to a hub like China Town. We traversed many of the alleys and malls throughout the neighborhood.
Once we started to get hungry again we went just outside of Chinatown to the Maxwell food centers. Budget travelers and foodies alike, listen up! Food centers will be your savior in Singapore. At a food center you can choose from a plethora of food stalls for drinks, snacks, and meals all at a very low price. There are also many throughout Singapore so wherever you are, there should be a food center nearby. I got chicken and rice and soup dumplings for starters. I had Thai tea for a refreshingly sweet drink and tapioca pancakes for dessert. All of it was delicious and cheap, leaving me happily full!
Although we had just eaten a ton of food, we saved enough room to try something on my Singapore bucket list: durian. Durian is a tropical fruit commonly grown in Southeast Asia. It can be easily spotted by its spiky outer skin but even without seeing a durian, you will be able to smell it. It is regarded as the most fragrant fruit in the world and not in a good way. Many might describe it as a rotten smell.
After hearing about this fruit, I knew I had to try and see if it was as smelly as everyone said. We went to a durian dessert café to try our durian in a more palatable way for the first time.
The durian roll cake was my favorite but overall I don’t think durian is as putrid as some make it out to be. It’s a bit strange, I admit but I found it to be just fine. Overall, 6/10!
After some more exploring through Chinatown and our stomachs were already wanting more food so we agreed upon Thai. The prices in Chinatown were much more reasonable than around Marina Bay so we could enjoy some beers with our dinner comfortably to finish out the night.
Day 3
Day 3 started with the simple Singaporean breakfast, kaya toast. I mapped out the closest kaya toast spot and saw we were a 6-minute walk from a place called Killiney Kopitiam. It was a small hole-in-the-wall place but seemed popular. After finding a table, I found online that this specific place was the oldest Hainanese coffee shop in Singapore. This ethnic minority has gone down over time, but its influence is still seen in Singapore. I recommend reading more about the café’s story on its website!
Kaya toast is a simple toast with kaya butter (coconut, egg, and sugar) that you can eat alongside soft-boiled eggs. After adding pepper and soy sauce you can mix up the eggs. Some like to dip the toast in the eggs, others prefer it separately and I enjoyed both ways very much. This is a must when you come to Singapore!
Our next stop was the bright and colorful neighborhood of Kampong Glam. This is the Muslim Quarter of Singapore but also a shopping hub for trinkets and textiles alike. If you tour around the area you will find Haji Lane, a street filled with trendy cafes and boutiques. And in the center, it is impossible to miss the Sultan Mosque. This large mosque has a gigantic golden dome that is surrounded by intricate mosaics. Street vendors will try to pull you in and I can’t deny I bought a couple of useless items (the 2 dollar fan did save me in the heat for an hour or two!).
The best part for me was the food in Kampong Glam. We got to snack on some Turkish delights before sitting down at a Mediterranean restaurant for some large helpings of hummus and falafel dishes.
Farther out from the city center is the Haw Par Villa. Constructed by the Aw brothers (founders of Tiger Balm), the villa was created with an art deco theme but was unfortunately bombed in World War II. After the brothers were separated, one of them passed away and the other decided to build thousands of statues in place of the villa depicting Chinese folktales. What stands today is that park with some modern restorations and the newly opened Hell’s Museum.
I can only describe Haw Par Villa as…odd. The statues are brightly colored like children’s toys yet will depict gruesome scenes at the same time. You can lose track of how many humans with animal heads you come across. Hell’s Museum discusses different religions’ life after death which was insightful but quite morbid as well, so be warned.
We ended our day at Clarke Quay for some drinks. If you want to party for a night or two in Singapore, this is the place to be. Right along the river is lined with bars, clubs, and pubs all of your choosing. The prices are high but the atmosphere might just be worth it. I unfortunately forgot to take any pictures but here is a walking tour!
Day 4
Off the southern coast of Singapore is a tiny Island called Kusu Island or otherwise known as Tortoise Island. We wanted to have an excursion off the mainland and this seemed like a perfect place to go.
To get to Kusu Island you need to go to the Marina South Pier and take a ferry that will last about an hour. You can choose from two companies to buy tickets; the prices were the same. It was $10 if I remember correctly. The ferry will stop at St. Johns Island first, but my friends and I wanted to go straight to Kusu to save time.
I’ll be honest, the ferry was not enjoyable. It can get quite hot on board and if you get sea sickness, it might be difficult to get through. Pair that with screaming children and it’s the perfect nightmare concoction. But it was all worth it when we stepped off the boat into the fresh island air.
Kusu Island is very tiny but the scenery is gorgeous. If you wanted to spend more time, I would recommend bringing a picnic or even a swimsuit to get into the crystal clear water.
There is a legend that two shipwrecked sailors were saved when a tortoise turned its shell into an island and that became Kusu Island, hence the nickname. However, there is also a turtle sanctuary in the center where you can view, and if you’re lucky to get there at the right time, feed them as well!
Our time in Kusu was up and we arrived back on the mainland in need of food. What better place to have a large feast than Little India? Bustling and colorful is the perfect way to describe this neighborhood. We found a corner restaurant on arrival to sit and order way more food than we needed. We finally had enough energy to walk around the streets and view some amazing temples and shophouses before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for the rest of the day.
On the first day we arrived, our taxi driver informed us that we were lucky enough to plan our trip during the week of Singapore’s Independence Day. We had no clue that we happened to plan our trip around the day when Singapore became independent from Malaysia in 1965. We also learned there would be a big fireworks show over Marina Bay to celebrate.
We joined the crowd of people proudly dressed in red and white to view the show. As expected, it was grand and beautiful. My phone was terrible at taking photos at night so you’ll just have to believe me when I say it was a spectacular show. It was not planned but I am so happy we came during this time. If you want to plan your trip around that, I highly recommend it. Singapore’s Independence day is August 9th!
After the fireworks show, we walked to the Raffles Hotel. Have you had a Singapore sling? Ok, but have you had a Singapore sling where the signature cocktail was invented? If not, then grab a seat at the Raffles Hotel Bar.
The Singapore Sling has an interesting history that you can read about while you wait. Over time it has dwindled down to a simple cocktail abroad but at Raffles, they still treat it with artisan respect. There was also an Independence Day special where you could order the original and a special Sling based off of different generations.
Be warned, this is an expensive cocktail. You are looking at a USD 26 price tag to indulge in one of these sweet concoctions. But the experience is totally worth it in my opinion.
Day 5
On day five, we had some time before our flight to Malaysia, so we checked out the National Gallery. It is quite a large building with many permanent and temporary exhibitions. If you wanted to, you could spend an entire day looking at every piece of art. We had to be more concise in our time, but we still got to see amazing art installations that were both beautiful and culturally significant. If you need an indoor activity to escape the heat and humidity for a while, this is the place to go. It is $30 for an all-access pass to every gallery.
Day 6 and 7
Upon arrival back in Singapore, my group only had one thing left on our Singapore bucket list: take in all of Singapore from one of the most glamorous pools in the world. Yes indeed, we splurged and booked two rooms at the infamous Marina Bay Sands.
Even though we chose the most budget-friendly option, every staff still treated us like a VIP. The check-in process is smooth and easy despite hundreds of people going in and out every day. The room was what you would expect from a luxury hotel. Automated curtains, soft linen, and a waterfall shower.
However, we didn’t come for the rooms, we came for the pool. At 57 stories high and spread across three towers that make up the hotel. This infinity pool is the longest elevated pool in the world.
It is also only available to hotel guests, and you need to fill out an entry form that will be emailed to you 24 hours before check-in. Once you’re in, you can grab a towel and find a lounge chair to start your relaxation in luxury.
I was surprised to find it didn’t feel crowded or busy and it was quite easy to find a set of chairs for me and my friends. It’s also easy to flag down the staff for drinks or dinner. The kitchen and bar close quite early though (8 if I can remember correctly) so make sure to get your orders in before then. We spent our entire night taking in a breathtaking view right at the edge of the pool. (FYI: the edge is a visual trick, and it is impossible to fall off the edge for those readers afraid of heights)
Not only did we spend our night by the pool, but we also woke up early on our last day to see the sunrise from high above. I think the pictures can speak for themselves.
I can confidently say the Marina Bay Sands is worth the price. If you are going to go all out on one thing in Singapore, spend just one night here. The hype is worth it.
Our time in Singapore was coming to a close and all we had left to do was get back to the airport. We had a lot of time to spare in the airport, so we had time to walk around this massive and fun airport. The most iconic part is the giant waterfall in the center coined “The Jewel”. It is gorgeous any time of day but try to find time to view it at night for the spectacular light show.
Finally, it was time to board and say goodbye. Singapore is a unique country with so much to uncover. No matter what type of traveler you are, you can find what you are looking for here. I hope I can visit again in the future, but I think this itinerary is packed with most of the essentials and I feel so fulfilled by my time in this amazing country!
Carly in Korea 