What to See in Singapore When You are Short on Time

My friend Elena came to visit me in Singapore on her way to New Zealand. She stayed only a few days, but I feel like we did a lot and saw a lot of the good Singapore stuff. 

I’m thinking about writing a Singapore guide, or a few, for different purposes. For example, where to shop for local or sustainable fashion, where to eat healthy, places to work from, etc. But for now, I’m gonna give you a glimpse of what a day in Singapore looks like if you have a short amount of time to see it all. 

What to wear for a day of tourism in Singapore

Singapore is hot. And humid. Like big time. If you’ve been in Miami, it’s probably similar, or maybe worse. People here joke that there are 3 seasons: hot, hotter, hell. It also rains quite often, but it’s still hot. 

Tip: take an umbrella

So if you go out and about in Singapore, first check the weather. You will need an umbrella anyways, either to protect yourself from the burning sun or to protect yourself from the rain. So grab one before you walk out the door. And while you are at it, don’t forget a good pair of sunglasses and put on some sunscreen. 

Wear something comfy and breathable. Wearing long tight jeans is probably a bad idea. Think of airy, roomy clothes that won’t stick to your skin too much when you start sweating. Think of natural fabrics like cotton or linen, and don’t wear anything with lycra or polyester because it can get smelly really quick when you sweat. Cause you will sweat. A lot.

For a full on tourism day I love wearing anything Matter Prints. They just know how to do travel clothing that’s also cute, sustainable and original. My favourite piece that I own from them is the All Day Jumpsuit in green. It’s so comfy and hides all sweat patches so well! I wear it a lot around the city. 

For shoes it’s clear for me, either Converse or Birkenstocks. I was in need of a pedicure so I chose Converse this time. Had to cover up those toes.

What to see in Singapore when you are short on time

Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where people from different races, culture and religion, live together in peace. There are public holidays from hindu, muslim, christian and buddhist religions that are applicable to everyone. 

As a result of the legacy of colonial times and the mix of cultures, Singapore is full of colour and history. There is something for everyone and there is a lot to see. 

To me, the places you can’t miss if you are in the country for only a few days are Little India, Arab Street and Haji Lane, Tiong Bahru, the CBD and the East Coast. 

With the visit of Elena we put this to test. We gave walking around a preference, instead of museums or indoor exhibitions. Very little aircon and a lot of heat. And this was the result. 

A stroll around Little India

Little India has to be one of my favourite places for food and atmosphere. This quarter of Singapore is ALWAYS buzzing. It’s one of the few areas where you can find food late at night (think 11pm onwards) and it’s full of temples, picturesque buildings and Indian shops. 

I’ve never been to India, but they say that Little India is as close as it gets, minus the chaos everyone talks about when they visit India. 

We just walked around the area, checking out the street shops and visiting a few temples, for which you have to take off your shoes and leave them outside. Don’t worry, nobody will steal them. Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. 

Arab Street and Haji Lane

 

The Arab quarter of Singapore. Full of restaurants with amazing arab food, loads of cute shopping streets and the impressive Sultan Mosque! 

Haji Lane is the most picturesque street, full of little shops and painted walls that are the perfect backdrop for an Instagram pic 😉

Tiong Bahru

My favourite place to go for a good brunch and different scenery is Tiong Bahru. I love the architecture and the hipster vibe in this neighbourhood. There are many restaurants and cafes, but my favourite in this area is Plain Vanilla Bakery. The avocado toast with poached eggs is the best I’ve tried in Singapore, the pesto pasta is super tasty, and their cupcakes are a delight if you want to treat yourself! Check out the cool shops and libraries in Yong Siak street, they are one of a kind. 

Sorry for the lack of pics here, we were kinda busy eating and shopping. Maybe I’ll edit this later on to add a few! 🙂

The East Coast

Some of the prettiest colonial houses in Singapore are in this area. Not all of them are well preserved, but you are able to see a long street full of them. 

There are also nice shops and temples to visit here. If you have some extra time, rent a bike and ride along the coast!

The CBD

It’s Singapore’s financial center and an area that shows a big contrast with the rest of the city, which makes it a must see. 

Singapore is one of Asia’s tigers and the CBD reflects the powerful economy that Singapore is. Skyscrapers, the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay… Don’t miss the boat tour, it’s my favourite thing to do whenever someone comes to visit. 

I hope you liked your visual story! Let me know what are your favorite places in Singapore, I always discover something new in this beautiful island.

Besitos

Elisa