TOP 12 Singapore Attractions: Costs and Location included

Singapore is a bustling hub for both leisure and business travellers. As one of Asia’s most modern cities, it offers a mix of cultural attractions, shopping districts, and outdoor experiences. Whether you’re here for a few days or a few weeks, there’s plenty to see and do. In this article, I’ll guide you through the top tourists spots in Singapore, ensuring you make the most of your visit. From iconic landmarks to my personal favourites, here’s a list of must-visit places in the city.

1. Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is probably the most iconic building in Singapore. It stands out as three pillars capped with a giant boat (observation deck and pool), stark in the Singapore skyline.

Marina Bay Sands

Contained within Marina Bay Sands is a hotel, casino, shops, and restaurant. To top it all off there’s the observation deck that gives you amazing views over the city.

Attraction	Cost
Hotel	S$580 per night
Observation Deck	S$32
ArtScience Museum	S$49

To access the infinity pool you must be a guest of the hotel. For more details on pricing, such as for families and children, check out the Marina Bay Sands website here.

Personally I like to recommend visitors try to get a booking at the restaurant/bar Spago located at the observation deck. For a similar cost as the observation deck ticket, you can at least get a drink to go with your view.

Marina Bay Sands is located on the edge of Marina Bay. To get there, I recommend one of the following:

MRT to Bayfront MRT station (Circle line or Downtown line)
Taxi, all taxi drivers will know how to get to to Marina Bay Sands
Bus, routes 97, 106, 133, 502, and 518 stop at Marina Bay Sands
Walk, it can be a pleasant walk to reach Marina Bay Sands if you’re coming from CBD areas like the Merlion or Lau Pa Sat

2. Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a green oasis amidst Singapore’s urban landscape. I feel it’s a must visit for nature lovers and first-time visitors alike. The Gardens are home to the famous supertrees, lakes, green spaces, a cloud forest, the flower dome, and more.

Gardens by the Bay

While most of the gardens are free to visit, some of the areas do have costs associated with them:

Attraction	Cost
SuperTree Grove	FREE
Skyway at SuperTree Grove	S$12
Flower Dome	S$20
Children’s Garden	FREE

More details on the prices of tickets (including combo tickets and family tickets) and how to book can be found on the Gardens by the Bay website here.

Gardens by the Bay is also home to Satay by the Bay, an outdoor hawker centre home to a variety of food stalls selling local Singaporean food. Thanks to being outdoors, it’s relatively affordable (though be careful if ordering seafood, it can get expensive).

The gardens can be accessed via:

Bayfront MRT station on the Circle Line or Downtown Line
Gardens by the Bay MRT station on the Thompson-East Coast Line
Taxi
Walk from Marina Bay Sands
Cycle, Gardens by the Bay is well integrated into Singapore’s Marina Bay and East Coast cycling networks

While there is a bus stop for Gardens by the Bay, I don’t really recommend it as there aren’t many routes that use this stop.

3. Bird Paradise

The brand new Bird Paradise is a haven for bird enthusiasts, families visiting Singapore, and anyone wanting to get a feel for wildlife in a tropical country. Out of all the wildlife attractions in Singapore, the bird paradise is probably my favourite to bring visitors to. (note: This used to be called Jurong Bird Park, but it was recently relocated to Mandai and upgraded to a Bird Paradise)

Some highlights of the Bird Paradise include:

Aviaries - homes for over 5,000 birds across 400 species
Bird shows - entertaining and informative shows where birds fly around above you
Discovery centre - a place to learn about the birds, great for kids

Tickets for the Bird Paradise cost S$48 and includes complimentary use of the in-park shuttle service.

The Bird Park is located in Mandai and the easiest way to get there is by taxi (roughly S$30-40 depending on where you are coming from). You can also take the MRT to Khatib station and then take a shuttle bus (roughly S$1.50 per person for the MRT, and then S$1 per person for the shuttle bus).

For more detail on pricing and how to get to the Bird Park, check out their website here.

4. Orchard Road

Orchard Road is Singapore’s premier shopping district. It stretches for over 2km and is filled with malls, restaurants, and entertainment. I’ve found the real highlights of Orchard Rd to be its availability at the high-end, dozens of shops available with a focus on fashion and luxury.

When visiting Orchard Road, check out:

Tangs - a high-end department store
ION Orchard - a mall filled with luxury goods and fashion
Takashimaya - a department store specialising in Japanese and luxury goods

If you are hunting for bargain prices, check out Far East Plaza or Lucky Plaza for their variety of eclectic shops and wears.

I also enjoy buying an ice cream from the street sellers here. It’s something I’ve only really found in Singapore - a slice of ice cream is cut from a block and sold to you wrapped in a piece of bread (or a couple of wafer biscuits). Costs around S$2 and I’ve found it a great quick relief form the heat.

Using the MRT is a great way to get to Orchard Road as traffic can be quite bad by taxi. I usually recommend visitors arrive at Orchard MRT station, then walk through the malls and shops down to Somerset MRT station to leave again.

5. Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is recognised as one of the world’s leading rainforest zoos. It provides a unique experience with its open-concept enclosure design.

Some of the encounters you can have at Singapore Zoo include:

Wildlife - over 300 species of animal housed in naturalistic habitats
Animal shows - daily shows of animals showcasing their natural talents in efforts of teaching about conservation
Conservation initiatives - detailed education about the zoo’s conservation efforts

Tickets for the zoo cost S$48 for an adult with discounts available if you’re visiting more than one park (Zoo, Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders).

The Zoo is located at Mandai, right next to the bird park. Similarly, you can take a taxi to get to the zoo or take the MRT to Khatib station before taking a shuttle bus across. Details of how to get to the zoo can be found here.

6. Cultural districts

Rooted in Singapore’s rich multicultural past, the three cultural districts are now interesting insights into the unique modern culture of Singapore.

The three cultural districts are:

Chinatown - home to street markets, incredible Chinese restaurants, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Little India - with vibrant streets, the Indian heritage centre, and late night shopping haven Mustafa
Kampong Glam - where the Sultan Mosque, Arab Street, and Haji Lane reside

While I generally recommend visitors check out all three, I usually take visitors to Little India first. I feel it’s an exciting contrast to the rest of Singapore and a good opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Singapore’s history

All three districts are well connected by bus and MRT, and are of course free to visit and wander around (though be prepared to spend some money on shopping of course ;) )

7. Night Safari

The Night Safari is the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park, home to over 900 animals and a unique experience. I like recommending visitors the night safari as it is often cooler and more relaxing to explore Singapore at night.

Key attractions include:

The tram ride - a guided tram journey taking you through the various geographic zones home to the wildlife
Walking trails - self-guided trails where you can get up close with the animals
A night show - an interaction opportunity with some of the resident nocturnal animals

The Night Safari is a little more expensive than the others, costing S$55 for an adult. There are discounts available if you plan on visiting multiple parks.

It is also located out in Mandai with the same transport options available (taxi or shuttle bus from Khatib MRT).

8. Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are one of my favourite places to bring visitors to Singapore. With so much open green space the gardens are a welcome relief from the concrete jungle of the downtown area.

A UNESCO world heritage listed site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a lush, 161-year old tropical expanse located just to the west of the core city.

Some of the attractions to check out in the gardens include:

Swan lake - the oldest feature of the gardens, a serene spot to watch swans glide across the water
National orchid garden - home to the world’s largest orchid display, featuring over 1000 species of orchid
Rainforest - older than the gardens itself
Children’s garden - dedicated area for young visitors with interactive installations
Healing garden - full of plants traditionally cultivated for their medicinal properties

It is free to wander around and enjoy the gardens, including specialty gardens such as the Healing Garden or Children’s Garden.

There are some paid areas, such as the Orchid Garden, that costs S$15 to visit.

To get to the Botanic Gardens, I like to recommend:

Botanic Gardens MRT station on the Circle Line
Napier MRT station on the Thompson-East Coast Line
Taxi

There are also bus routes available running in parallel to the aforementioned MRT lines.

9. Merlion

A symbol of Singapore’s origins as a fishing village, and as the Lion City, the Merlion stands as a testament to the city’s humble beginnings and its transformation into a bustling metropolis.

I like to bring visitor to the Merlion if they don’t have much time in the city. It is conveniently located, easy to get to, culturally important, and (most importantly) free to visit.

Merlion

The Merlion sits 8.6m tall and spouts water from its mouth into Marina Bay. Fun Fact: Singaporeans can use merlion as a verb such that if one is said to merlion it means they are throwing up.

Visiting the Merlion gives you panoramic views across Marina Bay, including the Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, and the Singapore CBD.

The easiest way to get there is by bus, or by taking the MRT to Raffles Place MRT station and walking through the underpass in the Fullerton building (yes you’re allowed to do this, and do read the interesting history of Singapore when you do).

10. Sentosa

Sentosa is the mystery island of fun located off Singapore’s south coast. It’s home to hotels, restaurants, a casino, thrill rides, and the best beaches in Singapore.

Sentosa offers the following for visitors to Singapore:

Universal Studios Singapore - a world of movies, rides, shows, and themed zones including Jurassic Park and Ancient Egypt
SEA Aquarium - home to over 1000 species of marine animal and one of the world’s largest aquariums
Fort Siloso - dive into Singapore’s wartime history with guided tours and interactive exhibits

While it is possible to enter Sentosa for free (by walking or cycling across the bridge), it is easier to enter using the Sentosa monorail from HarbourFront shopping mall, or by taking a taxi.

11. Singapore River

Winding its way through the heart of the city, the Singapore River tells tales of the nation’s past (there are photos of it lined with boats) while pulsing with the vibrant energy of the present. The river is historically significant to Singapore where it facilitated trade and growth in its colonial past.

Some highlights along the river I like to show visitors include:

Clarke Quay - a lively riverside hub for dining, nightlife, and entertainment
Boat Quay - a blend of tradition and modernity, with alfresco dining and bars adjoined to preserves shophouses
Robertson Quay - a more laid-back area with relaxed dining and boutique shopping (I like the raclette here oddly enough)
Jubilee Bridge - panoramic views of the river, connecting Merlion Park to the Esplanade and waterfront promenade

The river is free to walk along and explore, though you’ll probably want to duck in to shops or restaurants along the way and spend money.

You can also take a short river cruise to see the sites, these cost S$28.

It is easy to get to the river as it runs right through the heart of Singapore. Plenty of bus stops and MRT stations are adjacent. Try the Clarke Quay or Raffles Place MRT stations for the most convenient access (in my opinion).

12. Raffles Hotel

A colonial-era luxury hotel, Raffles is an enduring emblem of Singapore’s rich history and a testament to its timeless elegance. The hotel opened in 1887 and boasts a blend of classical architecture with tropical landscape; it’s very photogenic.

The famous thing here every tourist asks me about is the Singapore Sling. At home in Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar, the Singapore Sling is a sweet gin-based cocktail. It costs S$39 before tax so be prepared for an expensive evening if you’re drinking here.

An alternative I like to recommend to visitors is to order the drink when flying on Singapore Airlines. Even in economy, the flight attendants will be more than happy to whip you up a Singapore Sling without charging you extra. It’s not quite the same (it comes from a pre-mixed bottle) but it is far cheaper.

Staying at the hotel attracts a rate of at least S$1500 per night.

Bottom Line

Singapore is home to dozens of sites, sounds, tastes, and experiences for a wide variety of travellers. These have been some of the ones that I like to share with visitors, and some of the costs and transport options involved with each one. Hopefully this guide makes it a little easier for you to plan your trip to Singapore.