Itinerary of A Happy Tummy: A Food and Travel Guide of Singapore
I’m publishing this article in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. While travel isn’t allowed yet, let’s continue to dream and plan. Let’s keep on praying that the crisis will be over soon, that our lives will be near (if not totally return) to normal, and that we may see the world again!
I realized that a majority don’t travel primarily for food like I do. Their itineraries are filled with the usual tourist spots and that’s perfectly fine. While some of them want to experience true local cuisine, they miss out on it due to loaded schedules and lack of planning. They end up with mediocre food or Western food chains (nothing wrong with the latter as I love trying them abroad, but you’ll miss out a lot if this is all what you eat).
I want YOU to avoid this trend, save your stomach space from useless calories, and be “food wise” in your travels. After all, this is what my blog is all about. So I’m launching a new series called Itinerary of A Happy Tummy. It’s a collection of travel guides that includes tourist sites to visit and food experiences to try.
So what can you expect from this guide? First, I’ll list down the food experiences that you can include in your itinerary. Second, I’ll list down the areas (with its attractions, museums, and/or shopping spots) that you can visit and add where the nearest recommended food spots are. Third, I’ll come up with a sample itinerary. Lastly, I’ll give you tips to maximize your food-wise travel.
But what can you NOT expect from this guide? I’ll exclude accommodations, transportation, visas (if applicable), and whatever else is not included above. Let’s manage expectations ;)
So the first guide is on Singapore, my favorite country abroad and favorite food destination so far. (Warning: This is a long article!)
Food Experiences to Try
Instead of dishes to try, I’ll list down food experiences instead. You will get to sample different dishes in some experiences anyway (but I will single out dishes that made an impression on me). I will also list down the places where to have these experiences. Take note that I’ll include experiences and spots that I have tried and haven’t tried. I’m trusting the local and international food b/vloggers’ recommendations.
Here are the food experiences you can try (click the links for related articles and sites):
Bak Kuh Teh. Literally “meat bone tea'“, Bak Kuh Teh (BKT) is a Chinese pork ribs soup that’s popular in Singapore. It has two common varieties: Hokkien—which has soy-based, herbal broth—and Teochew—which has a clear, garlicky, and peppery broth (Hokkien and Teochew are Chinese ethno-linguistic groups). This dish is best paired with rice, youtiao (deep fried dough fritters), and beancurd skin. Teochew-style is the more common kind of BKT across Singapore and this web site lists the good spots that I know.
Song Fa’s Bak Kuh Teh
My favorite BKT version so far is from Song Fa Bak Kuh Teh. The broth is nicely garlicky and peppery, while the meat is tender. Couple it with rice, dip the meat in chili and dark soy sauce, slurp the flavorful broth, and it’s the perfect comfort meal! (BKT used to be my favorite Singaporean dish!)
Chilli Crab. This is one of the quintessential dishes in Singaporean cuisine. It’s basically a stir-fried crab with a tomato-and-egg gravy. It’s sweet, sour, and spicy, and best paired with fried or steamed mantou, a Chinese bun. The best places to try this are at JUMBO Seafood and Long Beach Seafood Restaurant (the latter prides itself to be the creator of the Black Pepper Crab, another popular crab dish). Unfortunately, I’m allergic to crustaceans so I haven’t tried the dish.
Fish Head Curry. This dish is truly a Singaporean dish, a result of combining Chinese (fish head) and Indian (curry) influences. It was invented by an Indian immigrant who wanted to please his Chinese customers. What was once just a product of entrepreneurial spirit became a staple in Singaporean cuisine.
Banana Leaf Apolo’s Fish Head Curry. I should’ve removed the coriander so you’ll see the eye. LOL.
There are two restaurants along Little India’s Race Course Road that are famous for their fish head curry: Banana Leaf Apolo and Muthu’s Curry. I went to the former because Mark Wiens recommended it. (Next time, I will visit Muthu’s Curry since it was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand status in 2018. In fact, I’m thinking of comparing between the two fish head curries.)
For my fish head curry experience, read my article here. By the way, this is my favorite dish in all of Singapore!
Hainanese Chicken Rice (a.k.-simply-a. Chicken Rice). Accepted as Singapore’s national dish, it has 3 main components: The chicken (which is boiled), the rice (which is cooked using the chicken stock), and the soup (which is also the stock). It’s usually served with 3 dips: Chili sauce, ginger puree, and a soy-based sauce. You’ll find this in food courts, hawker centers, and restaurants. I haven’t done chicken rice crawl because of 2 reasons. First, there’s just too much good food in Singapore that I don’t want to focus on just one dish. Second, food experts differ greatly when they list down their favorite chicken rice spots, which deters me from doing a crawl. But I think this web site has a good list and it’s just limited to 5 so you won’t get overwhelmed.
Hawker Centers. A food trip to Singapore won’t be complete without a visit to a hawker center, where there is a high density of food awesomeness. These are open-air complexes of hawker (vendor) stalls offering affordable food (compared to airconditioned food courts or restaurants). Here, you can find a wide variety of food, from classic Singaporean dishes such as chicken rice, fish ball soup, and hokkien mee, to international cuisines such as Japanese and Western food. Almost consistently, the top hawker centers are Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre (link coming soon), and Tiong Bahru Food Centre.
At Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Laksa. This is another quintessential Singaporean dish. It’s a noodle soup dish that’s popular across Malaysia and Singapore, and it has regional varieties. In the Lion City, the popular kind is the Katong Laksa (named after the area of origin), which has a broth flavored with coconut milk and dried shrimp, short noodles, and toppings such as cockles, fish cakes, and shrimp. Unfortunately, I still haven’t tried this because of my allergy to shrimp. So I’m trusting Daniel Food Diary’s list.
Indian Food at Little India. Singapore, being a multi-racial nation consisting mainly of the Chinese, Indians, and Malay, has a diverse culinary scene. While all three cuisines are equally amazing, my favorite is Indian food because of the spectrum of flavors. There are many Indian food spots throughout the island. But Little India is my go-to when I have cravings. I have 2 reasons: First is Tekka Centre, which is a market and hawker center combined. Here, you will find Chicken Tandoori, Naan, and Nasi Biryani at affordable prices. Second (and you know this already) is the Fish Head Curries at Race Course Road (check my article here).
Allaudin’s Briyani Nasi Biryani
Local Breakfast. You can have noodles, Nasi Lemak (a Malay coconut rice dish), or Roti Prata (flat bread) as breakfast. But I think the most common kind of traditional breakfast is a toast set composed of the toast or a bread with Kaya (a coconut-infused spread) or peanut butter spread, Kopi (coffee with condensed milk), and soft-boiled eggs. You can have this in Kopitiams (traditional coffee shops) found across the island. But many hawkers and food chains also specialize on this. Killiney, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, and Toast Box are among the popular chains.
Kopi and Peanut Butter Toast
For local breakfast spots, Singapore Foodie has a good list.
Local Desserts. Like other Asian countries, Singapore has its own shaved ice desserts and sweet rice cakes collectively known as Kuih. For shaved ice desserts, the popular ones are Chendol (a shaved ice dessert topped with pandan-flavored, worm-shaped jellies and sweet red beans, then drenched with coconut milk and gula melaka or palm sugar syrup) and Ice Kacang (literally “iced beans”, it’s a colorful shaved iced dessert with beans, jellies, and even sweet corn).
There are many kuih spots across Singapore. But for accessibility, I’ll just recommend the chain Bengawan Solo. They even have a branch at Changi Airport for your souvenir kuih.
Michelin-Starred Hawkers (link coming soon). How good is hawker food? It’s so good that they have received a recognition from the Michelin Guide. Majority of them are Michelin Bib Gourmand awardees. Two stood out and were even awarded one Michelin Star each in 2016. So Singapore is now the home of the cheapest Michelin-starred food in the world.
One of those hawkers is Hawker Chan Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. Formerly named Liao Fan, Hawker Chan started as a stall at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, specializing in Cantonese roast meats. Even before the Michelin Star, the stall already had a loyal following, with patrons queuing even before the stall opens. Now, it has expanded to several branches across the island and even abroad, including Bangkok, London, and even Manila!
The Roast Meats of Hawker Chan
The other hawker is Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, which is popular for their Bak Chor Mee (minced pork noodles). Unlike Hawker Chan, this stall only has a few items in its menu, focusing on what it does best—bouncy noodles dressed in a nice sauce and topped with a lot of ingredients!
Hill Street Tai Hwa’s Bak Chor Mee
Peranakan Cuisine. Literally “native born”, the Peranakans largely refer to people who have Chinese and Malay ancestry. So just imagine cuisine’s blend of flavors, highlighting on spice and tang. Popular dishes include Ayam Buah Keluak (chicken stewed with black nuts), Babi Pongteh (pork braised in fermented bean sauce), and even Beef Rendang (beef stewed in coconut milk and dry spices). You can find Peranakan food sold in hawker centers and restaurants, in which one has a Michelin Star. Candlenut is the first and only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant in the world.
SETHLUI.com made a good list of Peranakan food spots.
Supper. Singapore has a supper culture where a meal is eaten late at night until the wee hours of the morning. This is typically done on weekends by groups of friends catching up with one another and probably getting their hangover cure. I have yet to do an extensive supper crawl in Singapore. But so far, my favorite supper spots at Beach Road Scissors Cut Curry Rice and Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant (for dim sum, although I love their “golden lava” bun or steamed salted egg yolk custard bun more).
Beach Road Scissors Cut Curry Rice
SETHLUI.com made an extensive list of supper spots, as well as Ladyironchef and MissTamChiak.com.
Zi Char (also spelled as Cze Char or Tze Char). Literally “cook fry”, this refers to Chinese home-style dishes or meals that are cooked upon order. You can find these in eateries and kopitiams, and its price range falls in between the prices of hawkers and of higher-end Chinese restaurants. Some popular zi char places are Kek Eng Kee Seafood, Kok Sen Restaurant, and New Ubin Seafood. See DanielFoodDiary.com’s list and SETHLUI.com’s list.
If you still want dishes more than food experiences, check out the lists of DanielFoodDiary.com, Mark Wiens, and Seth Lui himself.
Areas to Visit
I decided to list down areas instead of individual activities, attractions, museums, and shopping spots because I want you to maximize your visit at a particular area and help you save resources. In other words, I want to help you save some time and fare. Convinced? However, I will list down highly-rated and/or personally-recommended activities to do per area or near the area.
So pick that areas that you want to visit, the activities you want to do there, and the food experience/s you want to try there as well.
Bugis
Formerly a red light district, Bugis is now known for shopping. You can head to malls like Bugis Junction and Bugis+ for your retail fix, or to the iconic Bugis Street Market for souvenirs.
Recommended Food Spots: Albert Centre Market & Food Centre (hawker center)
Changi Airport (Plus Changi City Point)
Hailed as the world’s best airport for 7 consecutive years since 2013, Singapore’s premier gateway is a destination in itself. Where else can you find an airport with an outdoor pool, themed gardens, and tall indoor slide, among many other cool amenities?! Here’s what else you can see:
Changi City Point (Shopping): This is a mall with a lot of outlet stores. Because this is just a station away from the airport, you can make a stop here to do your discount shopping before heading home.
Jewel Changi Airport: The world’s best airport has gotten better with the opening of Jewel Changi Airport on April 2019. Simply called Jewel, it is a mixed-use development housing retail stores, dining spots, recreational attractions, and even a hotel. It’s a 10-storey development covering 3.5 hectares of land, and it costed a whopping USD1.7 billion! Is that the reason they call it Jewel? LOL. (By the way, you don’t have to pass through outbound immigration just to get here.)
Jewel Changi Airport
Canopy Park at Jewel (Amusement): Located at the topmost floor of Jewel, Canopy Park is an attraction that includes gardens, playgrounds, and even mazes. For SGD5, you will have access to many family-friendly attractions (for additional fees, you can access more).
Changi Experience Studio at Jewel (Attraction): Changi Airport has gone through a ton of improvements to attain its status as the world’s best airport. You can learn interactively about these developments through the years at this attraction.
Changi Experience Studio
HSBC Rain Vortex at Jewel (Attraction): This is what Jewel is most famous for. The HSBC Rain Vortex is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Truly an engineering masterpiece, it is located at the heart of Jewel, measuring 40 meters high. If you’re there at night, don’t miss the light and sound show!
Recommended Food Spots: A&W, Bengawan Solo (for kueh), Burger & Lobster, Dian Xiao Er (for herbal roasted duck), Emack & Bolio’s, JUMBO Seafood, Old Chang Kee (for curry puffs), Shake Shack, Song Fa Bak Kuh Teh, Putien (for a Michelin-starred Fujianese food), Tiger Street Lab (for interesting collaborations). Check my Jewel food crawl here.
Chinatown
Singapore’s Chinatown is probably one of the country’s highly touristy areas. Once the enclave of the Chinese immigrants, it is now the home of retail stores, religious sites, and amazing food spots. Here’s what you can see in this area:
Chinatown Heritage Centre (Museum): Housed in three beautifully-restored shophouses, this museum retells the stories of its original tenants and the life in 1950s Chinatown. The guided tour will show you how difficult the life of the Chinese back then. Also, this museum shows the plight of the Chinese back then. (Article link coming soon!)
Harmony in Diversity Gallery (Museum): Singapore, being a multi-ethnic nation, has a wide diversity of religions. How the major religions get along is best explained by this gallery. It promotes the appreciation of Singapore’s religious harmony, which took years to achieve.
At the Harmony in Diversity Gallery
Pagoda Street (Shopping): If you want to buy keychains, ref magnets, and other typical souvenir items, then this is the place to be. You will also find retail stores and restaurants lined up in this street. But prices tend to be at the higher side because of the tourist concentration.
Religious Sites: Chinatown highlights the country’s cultural and religious diversity. In one street, you’ll find the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum (Buddhist temple), Masjid Jamae (mosque), and the Sri Mariamman Temple (Hindu temple). Just a few minutes away is the Thian Hock Keng Temple (Taoist temple).
Singapore City Gallery: This gallery will help you learn about Singapore’s urban development. I like this spot because it has a massive scale of the country’s city center.
A massive scale model of Singapore’s city centre at the Singapore City Gallery
Recommended Food Spots: Amoy Street Food Centre (hawker center), Chinatown Complex Food Centre (hawker center), Hawker Chan (Michelin-starred hawker), Kok Sen Restaurant (for zi char food), Maxwell Food Centre (hawker center), Tong Ah Eating House (kopitiam), Tong Heng (for egg tarts and other traditional Chinese pastries)
Civic District
This is an area at the city center that is home to cultural centers, historical structures (which are mostly converted into galleries and museums), and memorials. Here are spots you can visit:
Asian Civilisations Museum: This museum showcases the rich artistic heritage of Asia. It also shows the historical connection of Asian cultures to one another, as well as to those outside Asia. It is housed in the historic Empress Place Building, a neo-classical building near the Singapore River. (Article link coming soon!)
A gallery at the Asian Civilisations Museum
Fort Canning Park: This is a hilltop park where Malay royalty used to live and where the British Army was once headquartered. Now, it is a public space that includes gardens, a hotel, and venues for cultural performances. It’s also the home of the Battlebox (more on this later).
Fort Canning Park
Memorials: There are several memorials scattered throughout the area, commemorating the lives of the heroes and casualties of both World Wars I and II. These include the Lim Bo Seng Memorial, the Cenotaph, and the Civilian War Memorial.
National Gallery of Singapore: This houses the world’s largest collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern visual arts. It’s also located in 2 historic structures: The City Hall and the former Supreme Court.
National Museum of Singapore: Started in 1887, this museum is the oldest in Singapore. It’s probably the best museum to visit if you want to learn the history and culture of the island nation.
Peranakan Museum: This museum showcases the art and culture of the Peranakan communities in Southeast Asia. However, it only focuses on the Chinese Peranakans. It is also housed in the Tao Nan Building, an eclectic-classical building which was a former Hokkien school and the former home of the Asian Civilisations Museum.
The Battlebox Tour: This tour tells the fascinating story of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in WWII, which is considered “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history.” Rated as the number one museum in Singapore by TripAdvisor, the tour happens inside a renovated British command center found underneath Fort Canning Hill. If you like history, especially WWII events, you’ll definitely enjoy this tour!
The Battlebox Tour (Unfortunately, photos aren’t allowed inside the Battlebox)
Recommended Food Spots: Since this area is near Chinatown, I recommend to just go there to eat.
Clarke Quay
If you’re into nightlife, then head over to Clarke Quay, where a plethora of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs can be found. I can liken Clarke Quay to Manila’s Eastwood City or Tomas Morato Street.
Clarke Quay
I’m not into nightlife but I went there because the jetty of the Singapore River Cruise. It’s a relaxing 40-minute cruise that will let you see the Merlion Statue, the Singapore skyline, and the Marina Bay Sands. Now that’s my thing!
Recommdended Food Spots: I haven’t eaten at any food spot at Clarke Quay yet. I won’t also recommend that you eat there, as there are other food experiences to try in the city. But if you decide to eat there, then Eatbook’s list might be helpful.
Kampong Glam (or Gelam)
If Chinatown was once the enclave of the Chinese, then Kampong Glam was of the Malays. Literally “gelam (a kind of tree with many uses) compound”, this area is now home to hip bars, cafés, and boutiques. Here’s what you can see in this area:
Haji Lane: This alley is lined up with hip bars, cafés, and boutiques. Also, there are many colorful murals, perfect for your Instagram fix.
A mural at Haji Lane
Malay Heritage Centre: This is the place to learn about Malay culture and history. It is housed in the Istana Kampong Gelam, which was once the royal seat of the Malay sultans in Singapore. My visit here was interesting, as there are lots of similarities between Filipino and Malay cultures. As with any Malay household, we were even asked to remove our shoes upon entering the building. (Article link coming soon!)
Malay Heritage Centre
Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque): This is probably the most iconic mosque in all of Singapore, partly because of its architecture and its golden dome.
Recommended Food Spots: Bhai Sarbat Stall (for teh tarik or pulled milk tea), Golden Mile Food Centre (hawker center), Hjh Maimunah (for Nasi Padang, an Indonesian meal), Kampong Glam Café (for Malay and Western food), Selfie Coffee (for coffee with your selfie printed on the foam!), Singapore Zam Zam (for martabak, a kind of stuffed roti)
Little India
Finally, this is the third ethnic enclave in Singapore. Be amazed by the colorful sights and fragrant smells of this area. Here’s what you can see in this area:
Hindu Temples: As expected, there are a lot of Hindu temples in the area. You’ll be fascinated with its colorful architecture.
Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple
Indian Heritage Centre (Museum): If you want to learn about the history and culture of Indian and South Asian communities in Southeast Asia, then this is the place to go. It’s also housed in massive building, which in itself is a sight to marvel. Its architecture is a blend of traditional Indian and modern designs. (Article link coming soon!)
Little India Arcade (Shopping): This is a shopping center housed in cluster of shophouses with a history that goes all the way back to 1913 (Little India Arcade opened in 1995). Today, you’ll find stores selling clothes, curios, and even sweets. Don’t forget to grab Indian sweets at the Moghul Sweet Shop. I love their Gulab Jamun (deep-fried milk balls covered in sugar syrup)!
Mustafa Centre (Shopping): If you don’t have time for shopping due to a loaded day, you don’t need to worry. Mustafa Centre is a massive department store and grocery that’s open 24 hours! Yes, you read that right!
Recommended Food Spots: Banana Leaf Apolo, Bismillah Biryani, Komala Vilas (for Southern Indian vegetarian food), Muthu’s Curry, Moghul Sweet Shop, Tekka Centre (hawker center).
Marina Bay
This area is home to Singapore’s architectural marvels and iconic landmarks, mostly sitting on a massive reclamation area (that itself is an engineering feat!). Here’s what you can see in this area:
ArtScience Museum: Located beside the iconic Marina Bay Sands, this museum is where art, science, culture, and technology meet. Here, you can interact with the humanoid Nadine, a female social robot developed by the Nanyang Technological University, and try ice cream eaten by astronauts (honestly, it’s just like a meringue). The museum also hosts special exhibits, even tying up with groups like Disney and Marvel in the past.
The ArtScience Museum with the Singapore skyline in the background
Gardens by the Bay: This highly-rated tourist attraction is “a world of gardens”. Home to over 220,000 species of plants from different continents, the Gardens has a couple of cooled conservatories (the misty Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome), themed outdoor gardens, and the Supertree Grove where 25- and 50-meter plant-covered Supertrees are located. It’s best to visit the Gardens near sunset, so you’ll enjoy the place in sunlight and nighttime. There’s also a light-and-sound show at the Supertree Grove in the evening.
Helix Bridge: This is the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore modeled after the DNA structure. It’s one end is at the Marina Bay Grandstand and the other is at the entrance to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, which is near the ArtScience Museum (was that coincidental?). When you walk through it, you’ll get a picturesque view of the Singapore skyline. It’s nicer in the evening.
Helix Bridge
Marina Bay Sands and The Shoppes: This spaceship-like structure is one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks (probably next to the Merlion Statue). It is an integrated resort that has a hotel, casino, and the shopping mall The Shoppes, which is the most beautiful mall I’ve ever been to, full of designer brands (although I’m too poor to purchase anything here!).
The Marina Bay Sands (back) and The Shoppes (front)
If you’re not checked-in and therefore have no access to its famous rooftop infinity pool which overlooks the Marina Bay, you can still get a panoramic view at the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck. At night, you can watch Spectra, a free 15-minute light-and-water show. Believe me, this will make your Marina Bay Sands visit worth it!
Merlion Park and Statue: This is probably the most visited (and Instagrammed or selfied) spot in all of Singapore. The statue represents a merlion, a mythical creature that has a lion head and the body of a fish, considered the Lion City’s national icon.
Singapore Flyer: This is claimed to be the world’s largest observation wheel, with a diameter of 150 meters.
Recommended Food Spots: Rasapura Masters (food court which has a branch of Ng Ah Sio Bak Kuh Teh), restaurants by celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck, Satay by the Bay (hawker center)
Orchard Road
This area is the shopping capital of Singapore. Get your retail therapy at malls like ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City (which has Takashimaya, a Japanese luxury department store chain), and Plaza Singapura. If you have extra budget to spend on accommodations, you can check-in at known 5-star hotel chains in the area to add convenience to your shopping spree. And if you visit on June or July, you’re in for a treat because it’s the annual Great Singapore Sale (GSS).
Recommended Food Spots: As Orchard Road is a higher-end area, the food is more expensive than in hawker centers, obviously. But you don’t have to settle for restaurants because there are plenty of food courts at the malls, offering decently-priced local food. If you still want a truly local experience, you can head over to Newton Food Centre (hawker center), which was featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians.
Sentosa Island (with Universal Studios)
Located at the south of the main island, Sentosa Island (or simply Sentosa) is the getaway place for Singaporeans. It is home to family-friendly attractions, luxurious hotels, man-made beaches, and of course, Universal Studios Singapore. While majority of tourists flock for the amusement park, there are tons of other attractions in the island. Some are:
Fort Siloso (Historical Site/Museum): This used to be a fort for coastal defenses in the WWII. Now, it serves as a museum that retells Singapore’s wartime past. An important part of the museum is the Surrender Chambers, which has wax figures detailing 2 surrenders: The British to the Japanese and the Japanese to the Allied Forces.
An Artillery at Fort Siloso. Where are the Japs?! LOL.
Madame Tussauds Singapore (Attraction): This famous international chain of wax museums features athletes, celebrities, and local personalities such as the late Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. (This attraction is bundled with other activities, including Images of Singapore Live, which is an actor-led retelling of Singapore’s history. The fee is worth it!)
A wax figure of Bruce Lee at Madame Tussauds. Next time, I’m bringing Jacky Chan and Jet Li with me! LOL.
S.E.A. Aquarium: This used to be the largest oceanarium in the world, home to more than 100,000 marine creatures of 1,000 species. Be mesmerized by its massive aquarium and be calmed by watching the sea creatures, a truly therapeutic experience. If I wasn’t in a hurry during my visit, I would spend more time here.
Trick Eye Museum Singapore (Amusement): This features 3D exhibits that uses optical illusion and even augmented reality. I can imagine that this will be fun for the family. I really enjoyed my visit here!
Skydiving? No, it’s just at the Trick Eye Museum!
Universal Studios Singapore (Amusement): This American amusement park needs no further introduction!
Recommended Food Spots: Because Sentosa is a touristy place, restaurants and food in general are more expensive. So if you don’t want to end up with Western fastfood, just head to Resorts World Sentosa’s Malaysian Food Street, which is a cluster of stalls offering Malaysian hawker food. Of course, don’t expect hawker prices. But it’s still cheaper than dining out in restaurants in the area.
Other Areas and Attractions
Johor Bahru, Malaysia (with Legoland): Many tourists cross the border and do a day trip at Johor Bahru (JB) for Legoland. If you are a Lego lover and/or have kids with you, this is a good idea. But if not, you might get bored. Also, consider doing an overnight at JB to sample its food such as Hainanese Chicken Chop and it’s own version of fish head curry (check out my JB food trip here). By doing so, you get to somehow save money, as Malaysian prices are lower than Singapore’s.
IMM (Shopping): This is Singapore’s largest outlet mall. It’s just a bit far from the city center.
Joo Chiat Area (with Peranakan Houses): If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city (center), head over to this quiet neighborhood that is home to the Peranakans. Be sure to take your Instagram shot at the colorful Peranakan shophouses.
Feeling crazy rich in front of the Peranakan shophouses! LOL.
Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, and Singapore Zoo: If you like aviaries and zoos, then these are the places to go.
Sample Itinerary
Before I show you my sample itinerary, here are few things to take note of:
The sample itinerary is for a trip of 4 days and 3 nights. For me, this is the minimum length for a trip to be enjoyable. If your trip is longer, then just fill in the additional days.
I included the areas, attractions, and food experiences that you should visit/do for a first-time visit.
Because we all desire to maximize any trip, I assumed that you’re arriving Singapore in the morning and leaving in the evening.
I didn’t consider the operating days and times of the attractions and food spots listed in the itinerary. So please do some research and take note of them. Adjust as needed. You don’t want to end up with the attraction or food spot closed.
In the end of the day, it’s your time, money, and trip. So feel free to change anything in the itinerary. If you want to splurge for an activity or food experience, go for it. If you want to sleep in or take a nap in the middle of the day, go for it. Enjoy your trip in the way you want to!
Tips
Finally, let me give you some tips to maximize your explorations and foodventures:
It’s best to start the day at 8AM with a breakfast to further maximize the day. I’m a big believer in breakfast. I have 2 reasons: First, it’s always good to load some energy for the whole day. Some activities can be strenuous, like climbing up hundreds of steps, doing a day hike in the city’s trails, or just walking kilometers within the city. Second, there’s always the tendency to skip lunch or have no food for a long period of time if the day gets too busy or an itinerary stop takes longer than expected.
When visiting hawker centers, make sure to bring a packet of tissue with you. You can use this to “chope” (reserve) seats (actually, any item like a tumbler or umbrella will do). For foreigners (and some locals), this can be viewed as inconsiderate or rude. But it’s the culture in Singapore.
I have given you a good amount of resource to plan for your exploration and foodventures. But if you still end up in a place where you’re unsure where to eat, try a trusted technique: Look for a place with a lot of customers or where there is a queue. There’s a high chance that those places serve good food.
Sunset at Singapore is usually at 7PM (this is unusual for someone from the Philippines). So take note of that if you’ll maximize the daylight (for photography purposes) or catch the sunset.
Leave some room for spontaneity. Sometimes, the best experiences happen when we least planned it. But don’t leave too much room lest you end up wasting resources.
Did you find this guide helpful? Is there anything I need to add? Comment them below!
It’s my first time to make an extensive food and travel guide of a city. So I’d really appreciate your feedback!