The most unique and unusual things to do in Singapore

Fancy digging into the freshest catch of the day at a modern kelong? Take a 15-minute boat ride to the Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, which floats on the waters between Pulau Ubin and Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Here, you can tuck into a wide spread of seafood including sambal mussel, chilli crab, steamed prawn, calamari, and steamed lobster with pumpkin sauce. A seven-course set menu for five people sets you back $580, and comes with a two-way ferry. If you want to level up the experience, head to the resto's pond and catch your very own seabass or snapper.

Not many know this, but you can actually learn how to pilot an aircraft in Singapore. Adventure takes flight at Seletar Flying Club, one of the oldest active flying clubs on the island. Whether you’re exploring flying as a hobby, considering it as a career, or simply seeking a unique experience, this is the place to start. Head to Seletar Airport, Singapore’s second civil airport, to explore the aviation clubs, catch an aircraft in action, and inquire about a membership trial to experience a trial flight (from $700/hour). Glide over the city’s breathtaking skyline and earn bragging rights for pulling off the coolest outing ever. Find out more here.

This table-for-two affair is not one for the faint-hearted. Elaine Mok runs Tarot on the Moon, harnessing the many dimensions of tarot – as a catalyst for radical self-reflection, a means to reframe marginalised narratives, and a canvas for creative storytelling and artistic expression. If you're wondering whether you'll get married and live happily ever after, then this is not for you. The Gen Z tarot card reader does not predict the future. But if you're happy to be read, do take note that you'll have to make an appointment online beforehand. You can choose from a 15-minute online reading to a 60-minute in-person reading, with prices starting from $30.

There’s never a dull moment with ANDSOFORTH. The award-winning company is known for its immersive theatrical dining experience at a secret venue where you feast on stories over the course of a meal (or two). If you've ever wondered what it's like to tumble down the Rabbit Hole, Wonderland Upside Down by ANDSOFORTH is here to make that fantasy a very trippy reality. And yes, that includes consuming the unexpected like toothpaste, mouthwash, and even cat food. The five-course theatrical dinner comes as part of ANDSOFORTH's 10th anniversary celebration, and starts at $168 per person, with family-friendly sessions on Sundays. Read more about it here.

Pull a mini axe, send it whirling down the lane, and hope it hits a bullseye with a satisfying ‘thunk’. Here at Axe Factor, you score points based on where you bury the axe on the target board, and the bullseye is the moneymaker. This raging new sport not only makes great target practice (which may come in handy if there’s ever a zombie apocalypse) but it’s also a great way to blow off some steam and have some unconventional fun.

Not exactly an escape room per sé, but The Fragment Room allows you to escape from the stress of reality as you pulverise a whole bunch of things like plates, glasses, and electronic appliances with your crew. Suit up, select your weapon of choice (wood or metal bat), and smash every available piece to smithereens. The session is also soundtracked to a killer playlist to amp up the experience. Instant gratification is guaranteed.

To get to this secret speakeasy, look out for a mama shop or old-school provision store. The entrance to Mama Diam comes hidden behind a shelf lined with vintage knick-knacks; pull aside rows of magazines and CDs reminiscent of yesteryears, and step into a retro-inspired drinking hole. The menu is a celebration of familiar flavours: sip on Kopi Cino, a boozy take on a cup of kopi; Childhood Delight made with rum, peppermint, and White Rabbit candy milk; Sng Muay Fizz mixed with vodka and sour plum; and more.

What makes this different from dining at a normal restaurant? Get this: you’ll be having a meal in total darkness without knowing what you’re popping in your mouth – it’s a mystery set menu (from $88). At least you’ll be in safe hands of a specially trained guide, so you don’t even have to worry about finding a waiter or getting lost in the two-storey, shophouse restaurant. Once you give in to the experience of dining in the dark, NOX can be a fun and enlightening gastronomic journey. Plus, it’s great for messy eaters and big talkers – you're pretty much covered in the dark.

Give Peninsula Plaza a miss and head down to this one-of-a-kind museum instead. Boasting a repository of over 1,000 vintage cameras, the museum is the first gallery in Singapore that's dedicated to a collection of the analog instrument – in fact, the building itself resembles a massive Rollei camera. On display are everything from novel old-school spy cameras – think James Bond – to pistol cameras. Besides equipment, the museum also showcases retro photographs, interesting nuggets on photography, and an authentic replica of the first-ever picture taken on a camera.

From one extreme end to another, Haw Par Villa is a themed park filled with gaudy-coloured statues and tableaux that depict scenes from Chinese history and mythology. It was first opened in 1937 as Tiger Balm Gardens by developer Aw Boon Haw (yes, one of the brothers behind the classic pain-relieving ointment) as a way to introduce the cultures he grew up with. The highlight of the park, however, the infamous Ten Courts of Hell where small-scale tableaux show human sinners being punished in a variety of hideous and bloodthirsty ways – the stuff of nightmares.

First discovered back in 1909, the Sembawang Hot Spring was popular among villagers who believed that the water had healing powers. Now, the revamped park is opened for visitors to learn its history and geology, reminisce about the good ol’ kampung days, and of course, soak their feet in hot water at the pool or the wooden basins provided. And if you'd like to try the traditional way of making onsen tamago as they do in Japan (‘onsen’ means ‘hot spring’ in Japanese), you can bring eggs down and boil them in the hot spring water. Pro tip: pack your own slippers.