Carly checks out the gardens, shopping, and amazing dim sum in a backpacking trip to Singapore!
Trip To Singapore
Activities
Gardens by the Bay
I loved Gardens by the Bay. Aptly compared to the world of Avatar, this impressive park is a beautiful place to go visit at night. The unique tree-like sculptures are actually disguised smoke stacks that make-up the unique view. During the day, there is also a flower dome and cloud forest that are worth the visit on any trip to Singapore.
The Shoppes
The malls in Singapore are next level and make most others look like childs play. One of the most impressive is The Shoppes, which has many high-end stores, a canal, several delicious food options (specifically dim sum!), and an ice rink. It also has a beautiful view of downtown on one side and the Marina Bay Sands hotel on the other. I would recommend visiting after dark to see the buildings light up. Also, you can access the Gardens by the Bay by walking through the seriously impressive Marina Bay Sands hotel.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Singapore Botanic Gardens
If you like nature even a little bit, then the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a must on any trip to Singapore. The gardens are massive and beautiful, covering a variety of gardening styles, plants, and structures. You can wander through on the paths, go to the National Orchid Gardens (which have an impressive history in themselves), see concerts, or just lounge by the swan pond or picnic in the grass. If you do nothing else in Singapore, I would recommend this.
Restaurants
Banana Leaf
Banana Leaf is excellent Indian food, located within Little India and 100% worth it. Be careful not to fall for its knock off that has a similar sign, but different name if you look closely.
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
The Chinatown Complex Food Centre is one of several Hawker centers. These open-air complexes have a variety of stalls that sell inexpensive food. The hawker markets are highly regulated and are just as clean/safe/good as restaurants. There is a famous stand that has actually been awarded a Michelin star, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, and it’s one of 2 stands to have ever done so. It sells chicken rice and you can tell which it is by the line. If you go to the stall next to it, it is run by the chef’s protégée and is just as good without the wait. Also try the carrot cake (it will not be anything like what you are expecting, but is amazing nonetheless). Definitely worth eating here on a trip to Singapore!
Juice!
I cannot stress this enough. Juice in Southeast Asia is a great way to stay hydrated and enjoy the fruits that you can’t find elsewhere. Also, it is super cheap and delicious. The only issue is that it is also filling, so be aware if you are also about to eat a big meal!
Din Tai Fung at the Shoppes
Din Thai Fung is Dim Sum at its best. This place is excellent, though plan on spending a bit more than the other places recommended. Dim sum is similar to tapas, or small plate, dining where you order several delicious dishes and somehow get way too full. The line is usually long, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Prioritize eating here on your trip to Singapore.
Pro-tip: the way you order is to fill out a form indicating how much of each thing you want. You can ask for a form when you sign up on the wait list. You have to specifically order water and once they take your form, they will not come back to the table. Because it is so busy, the waitstaff has little patience, so make sure to have your decisions made by the time you get to your table. As an idea, for two people, plan on spending between $40-$60 dollars.
Transportation
I took a taxi from the airport, but used the metro to get around the rest of the time. Pro-Tip: very few train cars have seats, and they take littering VERY seriously. Make sure you don’t take up more room than you have to and keep your stuff with you. Also, standing to the right and walking to left is pretty enforced on the escalators.
Travel Tips For A Trip To Singapore:
Culture/Rules – Pay attention to the marked rules and, as always, notice if you are doing something that goes against the crowd. Singapore is very safe, but this also means that the laws are taken very seriously. If you are unsure about whether something is against the rules or not, don’t do it.
Tissues – If you see a tissue on a table (especially in the hawker market), it is not trash, that is how you save a table. That means two things – don’t sit there if you see something on it and don’t leave behind trash.
Language – One of the main languages in Singapore is English so I got around easily.
Weather – It is very hot, very humid and rainy in Southeast Asia.
– Pack a thing of wet-wipes. It will be hot and you will be so so sweaty. Having these in your travel bag can be a God-send, especially if you are coming off the street to a temple or museum, or nice restaurant. Some restaurants will have these on the tables – you DO have to pay for them if you use them.
– Bring one of those water bottles that keep the water cool for 24 hours. I brought a knock off one (it held the temp for about 6 hours) and it was so worth it. After hours of walking around in the heat, you’ll be so glad to have something cool to drink.
– Bring a pair of shoes that you are comfortable wearing in the rain (NOT rain boots) and can get wet. Plastic sandals, nice watershoes, or those croc flats with the holes in them are good options.
– If you bring a raincoat or poncho, make sure it is light and breathable. It will rain, but it will also be super humid and hot. Also, have an umbrella and a rainsack to cover your bag with.
– Sunscreen is pretty expensive over there so bring your own. Pro-tip: Get one of those sunscreen sticks. They look like deodorant and are solid, so you don’t have to worry about the 3oz rule if you are carrying-on.
Follow the rest of Carly’s trip Backpacking Southeast Asia Here:
Hanoi & Hue, Vietnam – Female Travelers’ Guide to Backpacking Vietnam
Bangkok & Koh Samet, Thailand – Solo Traveler’s Guide to Backpacking Thailand
Tokyo, Japan – Explore the Culture of Tokyo
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