The best Singapore attractions to visit that both tourists and locals will love

New Bahru is Singapore's biggest lifestyle opening in 2024. Masterminded by The Lo & Behold Group, this new lifestyle and creative cluster will be home to at least 40 homegrown brands across dining, retail, and wellness when it fully opens in September this year. Housed in former Nan Chiau High School, classrooms and canteens are now the site of some of the most exciting local brands: Sojao, Soilboy, Curious Creatures, Kotuwa, The Coconut Club, Huevos, and more. Over the next couple of months, look forward to the likes of Beyond the Vines, PPP Coffee, OM, and concepts by Keirin Buck and Mirko Febbrile. Need more time to explore? There's even a serviced apartment called Alma House that you can clock into to stretch your Ner Bahru adventure over a couple of days. 

The Sisters’ Island Marine Park is the first of its kind here, with 40 hectares of maritime flora and fauna – and over 250 species of hard corals – that prove the biodiversity found in Singapore is, honestly, pretty staggering. The best way to take in the sights is to hop on the twice-monthly guided tours, organised by the National Parks Board. Register early, too, as only 45 nature lovers tops are allowed on each walk. 

You’ll need to travel quite a bit for this one. But if you go on the guided tour, boats from the mainland will be chartered for you at no cost.

With 26 awe-inspiring hectares to explore, it's unlikely that you'll be able to cover Singapore Zoo in its entirety in a day. But give it a good go. Unlike traditional zoos, which keep its animals in cages, this place was the first in the world to implement the 'open concept', which has animals in individually landscaped enclosures. There are more than 4,200 animals to see across 12 zones, including Wild Africa, Primate Kingdom and Frozen Tundra. There's over 300 species, so honestly, all sorts of things you'll never see anywhere else. Visit the world's largest captive colony of orangutans, feed the friendly Asian elephants and see the rare white tiger. You can also feed giraffes, if you're tall enough. It's a zoo done properly. 

If you've just got off the plane, don't have to leave the airport just yet! Instead, entertain yourself at Jewel Changi Airport. This majestic dome is home to over 280 dining and retail outlets, with some open around the clock – think dining at ungodly hours at American fast-food chain A&W or food court Five Spice, or killing a couple of hours with a movie at 24-hour Shaw Theatres. You can also catch the hourly light and sound show at the HSBC Rain Vortex, the mall’s 40m-tall indoor waterfall, from 7.30pm to midnight. Honestly, this place is ridiculous. Arguably worth the flight just to see this. Not a sad pasty shop in sight. There's even play attractions for the little ones – including trampolines! Hell, you could even add a day onto the stay and use the on-site hotel. Sure makes checking in a little sweeter. 

The stuff of nature-lovers’ dreams, Gardens by the Bay is a truly magnificent site. The 250-acre green haven is filled with huge, flora-wreathed towers connected by ‘skyways’ and two enormous conservatories. Opened in 2012 as part of a drive to bring more greenery into Singapore, the gardens are free for guests to explore but you'll need an admission ticket for access to the flower domes that house rotating floral exhibitions. Needless to say, this is a non-negotiable must-see. There's also membership passes so you can visit its key attractions again and again. You'll want to, as it's absolutely massive. And beautiful. 

A sad goodbye to Jurong Bird Park and an enthusiastic hello to Bird Paradise. This new 17-hectare park has eight stunning, walk-through aviaries modelled after the different biomes of the world. Think African rainforests, South African wetlands, and Australian dry eucalypt forests. This is where you can walk among free-flying birds, including some of the world's most threatened species and one of the largest populations of Hornbills under human care. 

The new park comes with refreshed programmes too. Visitors are in for a treat at new avian shows like Predators on Wings and Wings of the World, as well as behind-the-scenes tours at the Avian Healthcare and Research Centre and the Avian Breeding and Research Centre (with more to come). Otherwise, get up close with bird friends at special feeding sessions; the $8 fee will go to conservation programmes across the region that are supported by Mandai Wildlife Group. 

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a jewel among the many beautiful parks and gardens in Singapore. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features attractions like a swan lake where visitors can feed the black Australian swans and the Evolution Garden Walk, a well-landscaped plot containing the fossilised remains of ancient trees. It's also home to the world's largest collection of orchids – some 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, plus the national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim – at the National Orchid Garden. During weekends, tours to its rainforest patch are available, while outdoor concerts are often held at Symphony Lake. And with the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, where children can run wild and explore the farm, orchard, and forest which has its own stream and ponds, this nature spot is family-friendly. 

Set in lush secondary rainforest, the Night Safari is a must-see for visitors. The world’s first night zoo (opened in 1994) allows you to witness what 900 nocturnal animals from close to 100 species get up to after dusk, in naturalistic habitats and without barriers, via the use of special lighting techniques. Lions? Check. Rhinos? Check. Leopards? Check. Flying squirrels? Check! There's animals from seven geographical regions, and you get to see the lot without much work (you'll ride a tram all the way through). 

Take a walk on the wild side as you step foot on one of Singapore’s most popular off-shore islands. A sprawling 1,020 hectares, Ubin boasts lush greenery and abundant wildlife, drawing nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to explore the many wonders of the granite island. There are plenty of activities to get up to here: go birdwatching at Pekan Quarry, wander through nature trails, and hike 75 metres up Puaka Hill for a breathtaking panoramic view of the islet. The sea-and-mangrove route will be a breeze for moderate kayakers (it's a word) and will be an accessible challenge for beginners. So go on, enjoy the chill vibes on this throwback offshore island. 

Singapore’s oldest nature park is continuously filled with joggers, families and weekend strollers. You can get into the reservoir’s rainforest via the MacRitchie Trail, which offers straightforward boardwalk treks and more ambitious, longer hikes. There’s plenty of wildlife here, from flying lemurs to tree frogs and pangolins – but they do tend to hide out of sight. The one exception are the long-tailed macaque monkeys that hang about. Be warned, though: having been fed by less responsible visitors, they can be aggressive little terrors. Don't feed them, or wave about snacks. They're cute when behaving though, so do come along to the big green lung right at the heart of Central Catchment Nature Reserve. It's one of the most significant, untouched, bits of land on the entire island. 

When Singapore Art Museum first opened in 1996, it was the first art museum in Singapore. Housed in a former Catholic boys' school, it exhibited intimate, Southeast Asian contemporary art shows in its small, unusual and hidden gallery spaces. Now at a new location in Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore Art Museum continues to be a prime stop for 20th-century Asian visual art, often drawn from the museum's own collection of Southeast Asian 'pioneer' art. 

Opened in 1937, this weird and wonderful park was named after its owners, Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, the brothers who made their fortune from the acclaimed cure-all ointment Tiger Balm. Multicoloured statues and tableaux – some looking rather neglected – depict scenes from Chinese mythology. The highlight is the Ten Courts of Hell (responsible for childhood nightmares for generations of Singaporeans) where dioramas showing human sinners being punished in a variety of hideous and bloodthirsty ways – in extremely gory and graphic detail. It’s a safe bet that you will never see anything like it anywhere else. There is the infamous 10 Courts of Hell to navigate, but don't worry, it's not too scary. You can go in groups of up to 25 if you believe the whole 'strength in numbers' thing. 

The former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings have been refurbished to become Singapore’s National Gallery. It is the largest visual art gallery in the city-state and is mostly dedicated to local and Southeast Asian art from the 19th century to the present day. So all the pretty modern and contemporary stuff then. Many of the works on display are drawn from the permanent National Collection but there’s also a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions to check out. So, there's always something new to see, even if you've been before. 

Few buildings have created such a stir in Singapore as the Esplanade. Opened in 2002, the eye-catching bayfront complex has been dubbed ‘the durians’ by locals because of its resemblance to the spiky (and stinky) tropical fruit. It’s the city’s most prominent performing arts centre and the programme bears an eclectic mix of Western and Eastern influences. Book a gig, concert or theatre show in advance and make a cultural evening of it. There's usually around 3,500 events at this venue every year, so you'll find something you like. There's also a lovely park nearby for those of you who enjoy a post-production stroll. 

This outpost of Universal Studios' theme park empire on Sentosa Island has an array of world-class rides across its various regions. There's Transformers: The Ride (a 3D adventure where you have to protect the Allspark), Battlestar Galactica (twin roller coasters that are sure to get your heart racing), Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (everyone's favourite water ride), Enchanted Airways, Canopy Flyer and Revenge of the Mummy. Your kids will obviously never forgive you if you don’t let them run amok here. There's fun for all the family here though, whether you like thrill-seeking rides or chilling with the cast from Madagascar, it's all going on. 

Another animal exploration! This time it's the watery (and other) ones. Manatees, crocodiles, flamingos and monkeys are just some of beasties (numbering over 11,000 specimens!) you’ll encounter in this river-themed wildlife park, which boasts the world’s biggest freshwater aquarium and a panda exhibit housing the cuddly couple Kai Kai and Jia Jia. So good they named them twice, twice. River Wonders is split into two zones: the Rivers of the World, which showcases animals from eight rivers including the Congo and Yangtze, and Wild Amazonia, where you can come face-to-face with over 30 animals from the rainforest on a boat ride aptly named Amazon River Quest. You can also see ancient-looking creatures, from a time long before we all started visiting zoos and stuff. 

Once a convent school, CHIJMES has transformed into a hip lifestyle enclave brimming with bars, restaurants and cafés. It’s currently undergoing a revamp – and it’s more than just a cosmetic update. A fleet of new F&B joints are flocking to the old school, including El Mero Mero and Prive. Whether you want to just chill on the lawn, get your yoga on, or just eat and drink basically everything you've ever eaten, you can do it here. An essential stop while you're in Singapore really. Especially if you want to just be in a place doing stuff. 

The 2,500 rooms at this hotel offer views of the South China Sea or Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline, but let’s be honest: the Moshe Safdie-designed SkyPark is the real crowd-puller, sitting atop the three hotel towers 200 metres above ground level (that's high up, that is). Non-hotel guests have to pay for the privilege of enjoying unfettered views from the Observation Deck across the city – but it’s definitely worth it to take that selfie to make all your friends seethe with envy, if nothing else. We're talking proper panoramic views, from the Gardens by the Bay to the Supertree Grove sculptures, and of course that skyline. You can see the lot from up here. Well worth catching at various times of day. 

An airport doesn’t sound like much of an attraction – more a series of interminable queues filled with tetchy flyers and shrieking babies. But Singapore’s Changi Airport is consistently voted the top airport in the world – and there’s much to marvel at here. Butterfly habitats, Balinese-style rooftop pools, 24-hour cinemas, spa centres, and the highly-raved Jewel Changi Airport – trust us, this ain’t your average airport. There are far worse stopovers during a long-haul flight. I mean, you read about Jewel Changi Airport, didn't you? This is the airports-are-a-great-place epicenter of the world. A lot of the long-haul flights go out of here too. You can just rock up very early, get a massage, have a little swim, the obligatory pre-flight drink at any ridiculous hour, and then you're jetting off. Stress free. Alternatively, when you turn up to the airport just forget the hotel for a few extra hours and chill. It's a holiday no? 

Once home to an orchard of fruit trees, this area of Singapore is now widely known as the shopping district. Stretching out over two kilometres in the centre of the city, Orchard Road is home to numerous coffeeshops, beauty salons, art galleries, hotels, designer and discount outlets, restaurants and nightclubs. Come armed with cash, and plenty of it. This is a 1.6 mile road full of amazing places to part-take in the old retail therapy. Whether you're looking for fantastic dining, beautiful shops (such as The Grande Whisky Collection, which has a nice 4,500 of the oldest whiskies in the world), and more. There's also some decent hotels, like the Four Seasons.