Closer Lives | Travel Blog Destinations | Asia | Singapore
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Nighttime skyline of Singapore featuring the Art Science Museum, illuminated Supertree Grove, and skyscrapers, with text "your guide to visiting Singapore.

Explore Singapore: Your complete guide to the Garden City

We spend three epic days exploring the best of this incredible city state including Chinatown, Little India and of course the famous Gardens by the Bay! We crammed so much in, and we cannot wait to share the likes of Hawker Chan, the Monochrome Cafe, the epic Jewel at Changi Airport and more.

 

Not just about top destinations, we have also put together the ultimate guide including interesting facts and things to know before you go - stats, currency, health and safety, transportation, connectivity, food, customs and much more. Plus you can even watch all of our specially curated YouTube videos. Plan your adventure in the country known as the Jewel of Asia right here and save having to research yourself!

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Our interactive map & guide to Singapore

Check out all of the places we visited in Singapore courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.

Wanderlog is a free travel planning app that allows users to create trip itineraries, organize flights, hotel and car reservations, view places to visit on a map, and collaborate with friends. It is super handy and has made a big impact on our travel planning. It saves time and is super easy to use!

Interesting Facts

Here are 12 interesting facts about Singapore. Some may just surprise you!

1. City in a Garden: Singapore is often referred to as the "City in a Garden" because of its extensive green spaces and commitment to environmental sustainability. It's home to numerous parks, gardens, and nature reserves, including the stunning Gardens by the Bay.

2. Small But Mighty: Despite being one of the smallest countries in the world, Singapore is a global economic powerhouse. It has a highly developed economy and is known for its financial services sector.

3. Cultural Diversity: Singapore is a melting pot of cultures. It has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. The diverse population includes Chinese, Malay, Indian, and other ethnic groups, each contributing to the country's vibrant culture.

4. Food Paradise: Singapore is renowned for its food culture. Hawker centers offer a wide variety of delicious and affordable dishes, including Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and chili crab. The city-state has also earned Michelin stars for its fine dining establishments.

5. Strict Laws: Singapore is known for its strict laws and regulations. Chewing gum was banned for many years, and there are heavy penalties for littering, vandalism, and drug-related offenses. The country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

6. Efficient Public Transport: Singapore has an excellent public transportation system, including buses and trains. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is known for its efficiency and cleanliness, making it easy to explore the city.

 

7. Marina Bay Sands: The iconic Marina Bay Sands resort features a rooftop infinity pool that offers breathtaking views of the city. It's one of the most recognizable landmarks in Singapore.

 

8. Clean Streets: Singapore is incredibly clean, thanks to strict cleanliness and anti-littering campaigns. The "Keep Singapore Clean" movement has contributed to its pristine streets.

 

9. National Orchid Garden: Singapore's National Orchid Garden is home to a vast collection of orchid species

and hybrids. It's located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

 

10. Singapore Sling: The Singapore Sling is a famous cocktail that was invented at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel. It's a refreshing drink made with gin, cherry liqueur, pineapple juice, and other ingredients.

 

11. Merlion: The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, and it's often considered the symbol of Singapore. The Merlion statue, located at Merlion Park, is a popular tourist attraction.

 

12. No Natural Lakes: Singapore is one of the few countries in the world without any natural lakes. Its freshwater supply comes from reservoirs, and the largest one, MacRitchie Reservoir, is a popular spot for hiking and outdoor activities.

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Things to know when visiting Singapore

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Our FIRST IMPRESSION of Singapore! 🇸🇬 We are SO SURPRISED!
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Our FIRST IMPRESSION of Singapore! 🇸🇬 We are SO SURPRISED!

This is OUR first day and FIRST TIME ever in SINGAPORE! We fly into the FAMOUS Singapore Changi Airport. We show you our first impressions of Chinatown, eat at the famous Hawker Chan at the Chinatown Complex Hawker area, we take the MRT and learn the transport system in Singapore and of course we had to walk along the water and explore Gardens by the Bay. We also check out the city at night! We visit TWO EPIC FREE Light Shows, first the Garden Rhapsody Light & Sound Show at Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay. We then walk over the highway and into the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel, going through its impressive The Shoppes Mall to get to the bay itself. The mall features its very own Changi Airport style 'mini Jewel' water fountain, a nice treat just before the main deck, where you can pick a spot and wait a short while for the next FREE event, the brilliant Spectra Light and Water Show. All while admiring the famous bay, complete with the vibrant Singapore skyscrapers and one of the most unique Apple Stores you will be likely to see. This is a must-do when in the city! We did SO much in our first day! Come and explore with us! #singapore #SingaporeVlog #GardensbytheBay #supertreegrove #travelvlog 00:24 arriving at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) 01:25 Exploring Chinatown 03:17 Hao Lai Wu Restaurant 04:30 Chinatown Complex 05:40 History of Chinatown Complex 06:07 Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre 06:35 Hawker Chan in Singapore Chinatown Hawker centre 10:00 Mooncake at The Mini Toast House 10:45 1950’s Coffee tasting Copi and Copio 12:30 Sri Verma Buddha Tooth Relic Temple 13:04 Maxwell MRT Station 13:23 www.closerlives.com 14:00 Singapore MRT 15:02 Gardens by the Bay 16:39 Satay by the Bay 18:05 Children’s Garden 18:08 Marina Bay Sands Hotel 18:30 Silver Garden 20:00 The Supertree Grove, Observatory and Walkway 23:14 Garden Rhapsody at The Supertree Grove 25:00 Marina Bay Link Mall 27:12 Spectra a Light & Water Show 📸 TRAVEL BLOG www.closerlives.com 📧 EMAIL(business inquiries only) contactus@closerlives.com INSTAGRAM @jennandleontravel JENN @_a_broad_perspective LEON @leon.gregori213 FACEBOOK JennandLeonTravel
2 can eat for $3!?? 🇸🇬 Everyone says SINGAPORE is SO EXPENSIVE? Cheap meals at ChinaTown Complex !
24:45

2 can eat for $3!?? 🇸🇬 Everyone says SINGAPORE is SO EXPENSIVE? Cheap meals at ChinaTown Complex !

Singapore's BIGGEST street food complex with the KINDEST local people!! We show you some MUST try foods, sweets and drinks to eat on a budget! You WON'T believe the portion size AND MEAT included in WHAT you can get for only $1.50 each meal! AND EVEN IF YOU AREN'T on a budget you can find SO many delicious itens for under $5! People told us SINGAPORE was SO EXPENSIVE and it can be but it DOESN'T have to be. You should definitely add a visit to the Chinatown Complex Hawker Centre to your Chinatown itinerary because the food is just THAT delicious! Honestly, much better than the meal we paid $100+ for right across the street from the complex the night before! We also try what HAS to BE Singapore's BEST COFFEE too! Join us in this natural unedited food vlog where we show you how it was to visit a hawker hall and give you our thoughts and feelings on the food taste, quality and over all experience! China Town Food tasting and Walking Tour through Klook: https://bit.ly/3xooRXK 👩🏻‍💻READ OUR TRAVEL BLOG and FIND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY! ✍🏻 BLOG & WEBSITE https://www.closerlives.com/jennandleontravelblog 💼Business inquiries 📧 EMAIL contactus@closerlives.com 📧 JENN abroadperspective@closerlives.com 📸 INSTAGRAM @jennandleontravel https://www.instagram.com/jennandleontravel/ 💁🏻‍♀️JENN https://www.instagram.com/_a_broad_perspective/ 🙋🏻‍♂️LEON https://www.instagram.com/leon.gregori213/?hl=en FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/JennandLeonTravel Check out our Amazon Travel Must Have’s Board on Our Amazon Storefront here: https://amzn.to/3PJajs5
The EXPENSIVE side of SINGAPORE!🇸🇬
12:49

The EXPENSIVE side of SINGAPORE!🇸🇬

Singapore! This city gets a reputation around the world for being AN EXPENSIVE CITY! And it certainly can be! But is it still worth the visit? Look at all of these incredible things you can do while in the city! This city just keeps on GIVING! We found the TRENDIEST, COOLEST, MUST SEE cafe in the CITY! Today we explore more of Singapore and walk around the much talked about little India but first we have a bite to eat at the famous Cafe Monochrome in Chinatown. We were impressed by the quality and portion size of the food here! We took the MRT to little India where we explored the streets and shops . We also visit the beautiful hindu temple Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. We walked the streets and made our way to Marina Bay Sands Hotel where we explore the lobby and make our way to Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck and we made it there just in time! But we did get rained on! Finally we return to our hotel to give you a small room tour of where to stay in Singapore for your 24 hours stay! Save 55% on the Klook Singapore pass here: https://bit.ly/3TNRh4K #singapore #singaporevlog #travel 00:01 Cafe Monochrom, Chinatown, Singapore 02:10 Chinatown MRT 02:18 Little India 03:13 Kalyani Flower Shop Kerbau Road 04:14 Walking on Serangoon Road, little India 05:03 Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple 06:45 Back up flower nursery 07:00 General thought on Singapore 07:58 Marina Bay Sands Hotel Lobby 09:59 Sand Sky Park ticket center 09:19 Marina Bay Sand Sky Park Observation Deck 11:15 Hotel 1888 Collection, Chinatown, Singapore Room Tour 12:39 outro

Check out other countries in Asia

Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia reflected in water under a blue sky, with "Cambodia" superimposed at the bottom.
An illuminated traditional Chinese pavilion and bridge in front of modern skyscrapers, with a large Chinese flag overlay at the base.
Large metal sculptures of a man and woman beside a Ferris wheel, with the word "Georgia" and the country's flag visible. clear blue sky in the background.
The Taj Mahal at sunset with "India" text overlay and a reflection in the front water canal.
Monas tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a tall white spire atop a symmetrical platform, surrounded by a circular patterned courtyard under a clear blue sky.
A person in traditional Japanese clothing and a large hat walks through the red torii gates at Fushimi inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
A collage of Malaysian landmarks featuring the Petronas Towers, a modern building with a blue dome, and the "Malaysia" logo, set against an evening sky.
View of Fort Santiago's entrance in Manila with the Philippines flag overlayed at the bottom.
A traditional Korean palace with intricate wooden architecture under a blue sky, framed by blooming pink cherry blossoms. the words "South Korea" are overlayed at the bottom.
Vibrant street scene in Taiwan featuring a bustling market with colorful signs, traditional architecture, and the Taiwan flag.
Golden buddha statue in a meditative pose with "Thailand" text superimposed, set against a vivid blue sky and lush greenery.
Terraced rice fields in Vietnam, featuring vibrant green layers with a bold red area in the center, surrounded by lush hills under a sunny sky.
A couple taking a selfie on a beach in Thailand.

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