Places to go in Singapore

13 places

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  ArtScience Museum

  Shaped like an unfurling lotus flower on the Marina Bay waterfront, the ArtScience Museum blends creative culture with scientific innovation. Visitors wander through dynamic, interactive digital installations—most notably teamLab’s permanent exhibition, where vibrant light and soundscapes respond directly to human movement. It offers a captivating, hands-on experience for anyone interested in the intersection of contemporary art, design, and technology.

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  Asian Civilisations Museum

  Housed in a neoclassical heritage building along the Singapore River, the Asian Civilisations Museum explores centuries of artistic and cultural exchange across the continent. Visitors come to trace historical trade routes through masterfully curated galleries featuring ancestral sacred art, imperial textiles, and rare maritime cargo recovered from the 9th-century Tang Shipwreck.

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  Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

  Dominating Singapore’s Chinatown with its striking Tang-dynasty architecture, this four-story temple houses what is revered as a sacred tooth relic of the historical Buddha. Visitors can explore richly gilded prayer halls filled with thousands of miniature statuettes, an extensive Buddhist culture museum, and a peaceful rooftop garden featuring a massive prayer wheel.

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  Restaurant

  Candlenut

  Set in lush Dempsey Hill, Candlenut holds the distinction of being the world's first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. Chef Malcolm Lee honors his heritage by reimagining traditional Straits-Chinese home cooking into refined multi-course menus featuring aromatic curries, sambals, and slow-cooked meats. It is a premier dining destination for anyone eager to explore the complex, centuries-old culinary tapestry of Peranakan culture.

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  Fort Canning Park

  Rising above downtown Singapore, Fort Canning Park is a historic hilltop landmark layered with centuries of heritage, from 14th-century Malay kings to a British World War II command center. Shaded walking paths lead through lush spice gardens, past archaeological sites, and down to the underground Battlebox bunker. It offers visitors a peaceful, leafy retreat from the surrounding city alongside a compelling look at Singapore's origins.

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  Haw Par Villa

  Haw Par Villa is an eccentric outdoor cultural park renowned for its collection of over a thousand vivid, life-sized statues and dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese folklore, mythology, and history. Visitors come to explore its surreal landscape, anchored by the famous Ten Courts of Hell exhibition detailing graphic depictions of karmic punishments in the afterlife. It is a uniquely unconventional destination that offers a fascinating look into traditional morality tales and Singapore's heritage.

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  Merlion Park

  Merlion Park is anchored by Singapore’s national emblem, an iconic statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish spouting water into the bay. Positioned along the water's edge, it provides unobstructed vantage points across Marina Bay toward Marina Bay Sands and the downtown skyline. Visitors gather here to see the historic civic symbol up close and stroll along the open waterfront promenade.

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  National Gallery Singapore

  Housed within Singapore’s former Supreme Court and City Hall, the National Gallery showcases the world’s largest public collection of modern Southeast Asian art. Visitors can wander through expansive galleries tracing regional visual history, connected by an airy glass canopy that fuses neoclassical architecture with modern design. The rooftop terrace also offers sweeping views across the Civic District and the Marina Bay skyline.

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  Restaurant

  National Kitchen by Violet Oon

  Housed inside the National Gallery Singapore, National Kitchen by Violet Oon showcases the rich, layered flavors of Peranakan and Singaporean heritage cuisine. Diners visit to savor signature classics like dry laksa, beef rendang, and kuay pie tee within an opulent setting lined with vintage tiles, dark timber, and historic photographs. It offers an elegant yet deeply authentic immersion into the city's complex culinary traditions.

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  National Museum of Singapore

  Housed in a 19th-century neoclassical building fused with modern glass architecture, the National Museum of Singapore is the nation's oldest cultural institution. Visitors can explore comprehensive multimedia exhibits that chronicle the island's transformation from a regional trading port to a global metropolis. Rich historical artifacts and immersive digital installations make it an essential stop for understanding the country's heritage and identity.

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  Restaurant

  Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

  Song Fa Bak Kut Teh is renowned for its traditional Teochew-style pork rib soup, a Singaporean culinary staple simmered to peppery perfection since 1969. Diners come to savor tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs steeped in a fragrant, garlic-heavy broth that attentive staff continuously refill at your table. Paired with crispy dough fritters and braised side dishes, it offers an authentic and deeply satisfying taste of local comfort food.

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  Sultan Mosque

  Anchoring the historic district of Kampong Glam, Sultan Mosque is Singapore's premier Islamic landmark, instantly recognizable by its massive golden domes and striking Indo-Saracenic architecture. Visitors come to admire the intricate craftsmanship of the grand prayer hall, learn about the nation's Malay-Muslim heritage, and experience the lively cultural hub surrounding its gates.

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  Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

  Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is a legendary hawker stall in Singapore, famed for its incredibly succulent poached chicken and fragrant rice. Visitors flock here to experience an authentic and celebrated rendition of Singapore's national dish, often considered one of the best.