Singapore welcomed 13.6 million international visitors in 2023, a figure that grew in 2024 and 2025 as the city-state secured its reputation as one of Asia's top short-break destinations.
Clean streets, exceptional public transport, world-class food, and a concentration of blockbuster attractions within a compact city-state make Singapore one of the most efficiently delightful travel destinations. These are the top seven places to visit and what to know before you go.
Table of Contents
- Best Places To Visit in Singapore for First-Time Visitors
- 1. Marina Bay Sands: The Icon That Defines Modern Singapore
- 2. Sentosa Island: Singapore's Playground
- 3. Gardens by the Bay: Nature Reinvented at Scale
- 4. Universal Studios Singapore: World-Class Theme Park Thrills
- 5. Merlion Park: Singapore's Most Famous Free Attraction
- 6. Chinatown: Where Singapore's History Lives
- 7. Orchard Road: Shopping, Food, and the Full Singapore Experience
- Quick Reference: Top 7 at a Glance
- Singapore Delivers in Every Direction
Best Places To Visit in Singapore for First-Time Visitors
Prices below are listed in Singapore dollars (SGD).
1. Marina Bay Sands: The Icon That Defines Modern Singapore
The Marina Bay Sands integrated resort is Singapore's most photographed structure. Three 55-story towers connected by a 1,100-foot-long SkyPark at the top make the building visible from almost anywhere in the city.
What To Do
- SkyPark Observation Deck - entry from SGD 28 for non-hotel guests; sweeping views across the city, harbor, and into Malaysia on clear days.
- SkyPark Infinity Pool - accessible to hotel guests only; 57 floors above ground.
- ArtScience Museum - 21 gallery spaces in a lotus-shaped building; rotating international exhibitions on art, science, and innovation.
- The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands - luxury retail including Louis Vuitton, Prada, and over 280 other stores, with a canal running through the basement level where gondola rides operate.
- Spectra Light Show - free nightly light and water show at Event Plaza at 8 PM and 9 PM (Friday-Saturday: 10 PM addition).
2. Sentosa Island: Singapore's Playground
Sentosa is a small resort island connected to the mainland by cable car, boardwalk, and bus. It has Singapore's highest concentration of entertainment per square kilometer.
Key Sentosa Attractions
- Universal Studios Singapore - 7 themed zones including Battlestar Galactica (one of Asia's tallest dueling roller coasters), Jurassic World, and Transformers: The Ride.
- Adventure Cove Waterpark - Singapore's premier waterpark with Riptide Rocket (Southeast Asia's first hydro-magnetic coaster), Adventure River through 14 themed zones, and snorkeling with 20,000 tropical fish at Rainbow Reef.
- S.E.A. Aquarium - over 100,000 marine animals across 50 exhibits; the Open Ocean tank is the largest single aquarium panel in the world at 36 meters wide.
- Palawan Beach - the southernmost point of continental Asia, connected to a small offshore islet.
- Madame Tussauds Singapore - wax figures of over 80 global celebrities and interactive experiences.
3. Gardens by the Bay: Nature Reinvented at Scale
Gardens by the Bay spans 101 hectares of waterfront parkland and has welcomed more than 50 million visitors since opening in 2012.
The Gardens by the Bay Tickets and Attractions
| Attraction | Adult Ticket | Child Ticket |
| Outdoor gardens (incl. Supertrees) | Free | Free |
| Flower Dome | SGD 14 | SGD 10 |
| Cloud Forest | SGD 14 | SGD 10 |
| Flower Dome + Cloud Forest combo | SGD 28 | SGD 15 |
| OCBC Skyway (elevated walkway) | SGD 11 | SGD 8 |
The Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at the Supertree Grove runs nightly at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM - free for all visitors.
Best for: Families, photographers, and anyone wanting a genuinely different perspective on what a modern city park can be.
4. Universal Studios Singapore: World-Class Theme Park Thrills
Universal Studios Singapore (USS) is the only Universal Studios in Southeast Asia and consistently ranks as one of the region's top theme parks. Located on Sentosa Island, it covers 49 hectares across 7 distinct zones.
Universal Studios Singapore Tickets 2025-2026
| Ticket Type | Adult | Child (4–12) | Senior (60+) |
| One-Day Standard | SGD 83 | SGD 63 | SGD 63 |
| Express Pass (unlimited) | From SGD 50 add-on | Same | Same |
| Annual Pass | From SGD 228 | From SGD 188 | — |
Must-Do Rides at USS
- Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs CYLON - Asia's tallest dueling roller coasters at 42.5 meters, running simultaneously on opposing tracks.
- Jurassic World Rapids Adventure - a circular raft ride through jungle terrain with prehistoric encounters.
- Transformers: The Ride - 3D motion simulator combining real sets with high-resolution screens.
- Puss in Boots' Giant Journey - a family roller coaster perfect for younger visitors.
Tip: Purchase Universal Studios Singapore tickets online at least three days in advance. Weekend queues for popular rides frequently exceed 60 minutes.
5. Merlion Park: Singapore's Most Famous Free Attraction
The Merlion - a half-lion, half-fish statue - is the national symbol of Singapore and the city's most photographed landmark. The original 8.6-meter Merlion statue at Marina Bay was installed at its current location in 2002, with a smaller companion statue at nearby Sentosa.
Entry is free. The best time to visit is at sunset for golden-hour photos with Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore skyline behind the statue.
6. Chinatown: Where Singapore's History Lives
Singapore's Chinatown Heritage Centre preserves the story of the first Chinese immigrants who arrived in the 1820s. The neighborhood remains one of the city's most atmospheric walking areas.
What To See and Do
- Sri Mariamman Temple - Singapore's oldest Hindu temple (1827), located on South Bridge Road - is a vivid example of the Dravidian style in a Chinese neighborhood.
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - a Tang Dynasty-style temple completed in 2007, housing a sacred tooth artifact of the Buddha.
- Chinatown Food Street - an outdoor hawker complex on Smith Street with some of Singapore's best value hawker food: char kway teow, oyster omelet, and roast meats.
- Pagoda Street market - souvenirs, traditional clothing, antiques, and local snacks in a preserved shophouse setting.
- Tong Heng pastries - founded in 1920 and still producing the city's finest traditional Cantonese egg tarts from the same shophouse.
Chinatown is also one of the best neighborhoods for travelers looking to experience Singapore on a budget, thanks to its affordable hawker food, walkable streets, and free cultural attractions.
7. Orchard Road: Shopping, Food, and the Full Singapore Experience
Singapore's 1.4-mile Orchard Road retail corridor is lined with more than 22 shopping malls and has more shopping floor space per kilometer than almost any other street in Asia.
What Orchard Road Offers
- ION Orchard - a 218-meter tower anchoring the Orchard MRT junction; ION Sky observation deck offers views toward the Botanical Gardens.
- Takashimaya / Ngee Ann City - a Japanese department store occupying an entire city block; the basement food hall is one of Singapore's best for Japanese imports.
- Orchard Central - a vertical mall with a massive rooftop garden and a free-falling rock climbing wall.
- The Hereen / 313@Somerset - mid-range retail popular with younger shoppers and dining.
- Street Food near Somerset MRT - Somerset and surrounding streets have excellent hawker centers within a 5-minute walk of the main retail strip.
Quick Reference: Top 7 at a Glance
| Attraction | Entry Cost | Best For | Nearest MRT |
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark | SGD 28 | Skyline views & photography | Bayfront |
| Sentosa Island | Entry via Sentosa Express or walking routes | Theme parks, beach | HarbourFront to Sentosa Express |
| Gardens by the Bay | Free–SGD 28 | Nature, photography | Bayfront |
| Universal Studios Singapore | From SGD 83 | Thrill rides, families | HarbourFront to Sentosa |
| Merlion Park | Free | Photography, iconic photo | Raffles Place |
| Chinatown | Free to explore | Culture, food, heritage | Chinatown |
| Orchard Road | Free to explore | Shopping, food, lifestyle | Orchard |
Singapore Delivers in Every Direction
From Gardens by the Bay tickets unlocking one of the world's most spectacular botanical experiences to Universal Studios Singapore tickets for the region's top theme park, Singapore packs more world-class experiences per square kilometer than almost any destination on earth.
13.6 million visitors chose Singapore in 2023. These seven places are a strong start to understanding why.
This story was published in partnership with redBus.
