Four days is not a very long time to get to know a country, even if that country does only consist of a city, yet still I managed to find some new favorite places while in Singapore.
Walking tour of Singapore
I spent most of my time in Singapore simply walking around – to the point where the bottoms of my feet started peeling off. Gross.
I had forgotten how much I love big Asian cities – Tokyo and Bangkok are longtime favorites – simply walking around, taking photos of the impressive skyscrapers, and oh so much people watching. It’s enough to make me want to get a fancy business job so I can be one of those women rushing around in beautiful suits and heels. Well, almost.
Gardens by the Bay
This must be one of Singapore’s best tourist spots, or at least the one I had heard about the most before going. Turns out this is for good reason!
While there’s an entrance fee to see the garden domes and walk along the skywalk, simply wandering around the Supertree Grove is free, and oh so beautiful!
This is one of those times when I regret not developing proper photography skills, because my photos in no way capture the beauty of these giant trees.
The trees reach up to 16 stories high, designed to keep in balance with the towering skyscrapers of the Marina Bay area.
Fun fact: some of the Supertrees are imbedded with photovoltaic cells to harvest solar energy. Maybe every city should have a grove of Supertrees?
The trees are the main attraction of the Gardens, but I found myself equally fascinated by this giant statue of a seemingly floating baby.
I went to the gardens in the afternoon, but when I realized there would be a light show at night I just had to stick around. And oh what a light show!
As the Supertrees pulsed through different colors along to music I wandered around in absolute awe, sometimes bumping into other visitors who were similarly staring up as if in a trance. Oh Singapore, you are so cool!
Visiting Singapore’s Chinatown
For my last two days in Singapore I moved to the more budget-friendly iStay.inn, right in the heart of Chinatown. I loved wandering around Chinatown’s lantern-covered streets, taking in all the delicious (and bizarre) smells wafting from the stands.
Shopping on Orchard Road
Yes I have to carry everything I have on my back, and yes I’m on a budget, but with all of Singapore’s glittering malls filled with Western favorites, how could I resist? Though I did manage to make it out with only one added t-shirt and new shampoo (it smells like cinnamon!), phew.
Orchard Road is the place to go for shopping in Singapore, plus it makes for a pretty walk! 
Haw Par Villa (Tiger Balm Gardens)
This was definitely the strangest tourist spot I visited in Singapore, and probably one of the most bizarre I’ve been to anywhere. Do you know what it is? Have any of you been there?
I’ll write about it in my next post, but here is a preview:
The Best Hotel and Hostel in Singapore
I first stayed at Hotel G Singapore, which is a really unique lifestyle hotel in the Bugis area. I loved the location, and all of the unique elements of this hotel. Highly recommended! Check current rates and availability here
If you’re looking for a hostel in Singapore, I highly recommend staying at iStay.inn. The hostel is conveniently located down the street from the Chinatown MRT station, its white dorm rooms are spotless, and, most importantly, the beds are super comfortable!
Connie, the manager, was very friendly and helpful, and the complimentary breakfast was perfect – toast with jam and peanut butter, tea or coffee, and cornflakes with milk (anyone who’s been in Southeast Asia for a time will know that cereal at a hostel is a pretty big deal).
However, comfy beds and yummy breakfasts aside, my favorite part was all of the urban art adorning the common area walls, done as part of a collaboration with a street artist from Hong Kong.
Check current rates and availability here
……………………………..
Many thanks to iStay.inn for hosting me in Singapore. As always, you will only ever receive my honest opinions, regardless of who is footing the bill!
PIN IT!
jennifer says
I am trying to stop adding things to my “WANNA GOOOOOO” list because it is too long. But you are forcing me to add Singapore. I just love those trees!!
Silvia says
Yesss you have to go! I’m seriously so grateful that my flights worked out that way, otherwise I probably never would have thought of making a trip to Singapore.
Ashley | Ashley Wanders says
I’m dying to visit Singapore! The Gardens by the Bay looks so impressive in photos, I can’t imagine what it’s like in person!
Silvia says
They’re so incredibly magical! I could have spent all day at the Gardens just staring at them. Well, maybe if it hadn’t been quite so boiling hot outside.
Rebekah says
those trees are crazy! its so cool. I’m not sure how I feel about the floating baby though, that a bit scary I think. A hostel that has cereal is a big deal in my book. I haven’t had any in about 8 months now.
Silvia says
Haha I was a bit taken aback when I turned a corner in the park and saw a huge floating baby in the distance. Definitely a little trippy, but so cool! And oh my goodness, I think I had like four bowls of cereal. A little embarrassing.
becky hutner says
this is as appealing as singapore has ever been to me. extra swoon for the trees that harvest solar energy. so many cities are killing it right now with their bad-ass green ideas.
Silvia says
Right? I would love it if Supertrees end up being our answer for harvesting tons of solar energy. Though I also wondered if all that energy is being used on the light shows at night… ha.
Jo says
Two days and I’ll be there 😀 I’m so excited to see the Gardens By The Bay, it looks amazing!
Silvia says
Yay, I hope you enjoy Singapore as much as I did!
justine says
Whoa, those gardens look super trippy. I never would have thought something like this existed in Singapore. And it’s free too? I’d heard of the Tiger Balm Gardens but honestly I have no clue what they actually are. I’m super intrigued to read about them in your next post!
Silvia says
Definitely trippy – the the Tiger Balm Gardens were even crazier. And super creepy! (And also free!)
Kaleena's Kaleidoscope says
Yes, I absolutely LOVED the super trees! I felt like no matter what I did I couldn’t capture the beauty of them on camera either. But that’s actually what makes it so special, it’s the kind of thing that you have to really experience for yourself. That baby thing is (kind of creepy) interesting! Must have missed it haha.
Silvia says
I stumbled on the baby when I was wandering deeper in the park (read: totally lost) and it was a bit of a surprise! haha
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
I love your photos Silvia, don’t worry about that!
I have been to Singapore but it was 15 years ago and at the time I didn’t like it, as I considered it a bore and kept bumping into expats everywhere! However, I was young and inexperienced in those days, and knowing what I know now, and judging by what I’ve been seeing, I might change my mind LOL!
Silvia says
Singapore is full of expats, but I definitely didn’t find it boring. It probably helped that I was coming from a couple months in sleepy Chiang Mai, so I was a little desperate for a dose of the big city. Which Singapore certainly is! haha
kami says
I’ve never really been interested in Singapore but I just love how quirky it looks and sounds in this post! You definitely made me interested in going there, hopefully one day!
Silvia says
I know that most all cities have a quirky side, but I admit that I was doubtful squeaky clean Singapore would. After I visited Haw Par Villa I realized that it definitely does!
Yixiong says
Great to know you enjoyed my country! I hope you managed to try out all the great food we have as well.
Silvia says
I ate SO much while in Singapore! I just didn’t blog about it because I never managed to take a photo of my food before devouring it, ha.
Timothy W Pawiro says
Aaahh .. you didn’t visit Arab Street? 😉
Anyway, love the Supertree Groove too, especially during the lightshow!
Silvia says
There are so many places I’d still like to see in Singapore. At least now I know that I would like to go back someday!
Hamilton says
Those trees are amazing! I’ve never seen them in any images from Singapore. Thanks for sharing. Happy travels!
Silvia says
The Super Trees were seriously magical! I would say they should be the focal point of any tourism campaign in Singapore 🙂
stephanie says
I have not been to Singapore yet, so some of these places i put on my list for the future 🙂
x