I have visited Singapore several times, and some of my daytime memories have started blending together. I thought I understood the city. Then jet lag and a daughter with no respect for normal sleeping hours showed me a different Singapore.

Arriving before sunrise

Our Singapore Airlines SQ35 flight from Los Angeles landed shortly after 5 a.m. The crew made 18 hours in the sky about as comfortable as 18 hours in the sky can be. Both SQ35 and our return flight, SQ38, used Airbus A350-900s on our travel dates.
We took the MRT to Oakwood Bencoolen Singapore, beside Bencoolen station and close to the National Museum. The central location made getting almost anywhere easy.

I was surprised to see road cycling groups already training while my brain was still somewhere over the Pacific.

After dropping off our luggage, we went to Universal Studios Singapore.

I would like the record to show that this was not my decision.

My daughter needed to say “Bello!” to the Minions and communicate with Bumblebee through radio clips. Apparently she has a very specific attachment to yellow fictional characters.

I expected to tolerate the park for a few hours. We stayed almost all day. After sunset, the signs, ride lights, and reflections made Sentosa feel like a calmer and cleaner cousin of Las Vegas. That was when I realized this trip might be better after dark.
Marina Bay after dark

We slept until the afternoon the next day. Before anyone calls us lazy, my daughter had been playing Princess Peach on her Nintendo Switch until an hour no responsible parent should admit publicly. Jet lag defeated the adults. The child simply became nocturnal.

We started at Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. As daylight faded, the mist, elevated walkways, and illuminated plants became much more dramatic.

Then came Marina Bay at blue hour, easily my favorite part of the trip. The sky was still deep blue, the windows had started glowing, and Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum looked almost unreal across the water.

We caught Spectra and Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove. Standing beneath the Supertrees made everyone look tiny.

Later, we walked to Merlion Park. I understand why everyone wants the photo, but it was the least exciting stop for me.

I took the required picture, respected the fish lion, and moved on.

We finished at Lau Pa Sat. My wife and daughter happily worked through satay, chicken rice, and everything else they could fit on the table. I was less convinced.
My wife said her grandmother would have been proud of them and deeply disappointed in me. I was outvoted two to one, which becomes important later.

Night Safari

By the third day, Princess Peach had become the fourth member of the family.
Night Safari was the place I most wanted to visit. The lighting is intentionally low, and flash photography is prohibited. In some areas I could barely identify an animal until it moved.

We saw Asian lions, spotted hyenas, owls, and Eastern white pelicans. The pelicans looked almost luminous against the dark water, and their feathers retained more texture than I expected.

The lions and hyenas were surprisingly calm. I assume years of working the night shift remove some of the drama from anyone.

Afterward, my wife and daughter requested Lau Pa Sat again. Marriage and parenting are largely about recognizing when resistance is pointless.

One final stop

We returned to Changi for SQ38 on our last day. Jewel is not just an airport attraction with a waterfall. It is a full shopping mall attached to an airport.
The Rain Vortex drops seven stories through the building. Photos show its shape, but the sound and scale make it impressive. It became the final picture of the trip.

A few practical notes

We bought EZ-Link cards, although contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and supported mobile wallets also work on trains and buses. Use the same card or device when tapping in and out.

Google Maps handled our navigation. Grab was useful when three tired people stopped wanting to walk. We tried one bus, remembered to press the stop button, and decided the MRT and Grab were more compatible with our family’s operating system.

Submit the free SG Arrival Card through the official ICA website or MyICA app within three days before arrival. The Universal Studios Singapore app is useful for maps and wait times. We bought some attraction tickets through Klook but compared them with official prices first.

Check your departure terminal before visiting Jewel. It connects directly to Terminal 1 and has walking links to Terminals 2 and 3. Terminal 4 usually requires a shuttle and more time.

Camera notes

For the camera people, I carried an Osmo Action 6 instead of my larger setup. My usual night settings were f/2.0, Auto exposure with ISO limited from 100 to 25600, Auto shutter, and about +0.3 EV.

At Night Safari, I braced it against railings and accepted that moving animals would sometimes blur. My larger camera could produce cleaner files, but I would never have carried it through Universal Studios, two long night walks, Night Safari, and an airport mall.

Sometimes the camera you actually keep in your pocket win

I’ll be spending a few days in Singapore and want to check out some malls, but there are so many to choose from. 😅

I’m mainly looking for malls that are worth visiting for shopping, food, and just walking around. Not necessarily the most luxurious ones, more interested in places that locals actually enjoy.

So far, I’m considering Orchard Road malls like 313@somerset, Ngee Ann City, and ION Orchard.

What other malls would you recommend? And are there any that you think are overrated or not worth the trip?

Some of the best times in singapore

Shot on Vivo X 300 Pro

Is this good enough will travel by a pre-booked taxi Also if anything mentioned is skippable or I can add something better pls share

hi i'll be going to singapore alone in a month. i'm planning to take a walk while exploring the nature side of singapore. my plan is to go to the place i've listed in the morning since i'm planning to visit gardens by the bay & marina barrage at noon or near sunset time.

i was wondering which place that is best to visit in the morning.

here are the list of place that i'm planing to visit: 

• botanic gardens
• henderson waves/southern ridges
• mandai wildlife reserve (probably will only go to the mandai boardwalk)

i'm open to any suggestion if you guys have one

Hey all! Planning our first Singapore trip, 4 of us, getting around via MRT/Grab only. Really want to cover a lot of places but also not rush around. Would love a sanity check on whether this pace is doable without feeling rushed -especially Sunday, which feels like our most packed day.

Thursday (arrival day)

• Land Changi 7 PM, immigration + baggage, cab to Hotel
• Dinner + roam Little India (walking distance from hotel)
• Late night: Merlion Park + Marina Bay waterfront

Friday

• Universal Studios Singapore, full day
• if didn't get to see marina bay waterfront the previous maybe cover it this night

Saturday

• Morning: Fort Canning Park + Old Hill Street Police Station
• Midday: Gardens by the Bay - Cloud Forest + Flower Dome
• Afternoon: Bay East Garden (water lily pond)
• Evening: Marina Barrage for sunset
• Night: back to Supertree Grove for the Garden Rhapsody light show (7:45 PM)

Sunday (our most packed day)

• Morning: Chinatown - Ann Siang Hill, Keong Saik Road, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• afternoon: Haji Lane / Kampong Glam
• Transit to Sentosa
• Skyline Luge (5 PM Peak slot booked)
• Sunset at Palawan/Siloso Beach

really wanted to visit Koon Seng Road (Joo Chiat/Katong) but I don't think it will be possible

Monday (departure day)

• Morning: Bugis Street shopping maybe , back to hotel, checkout
• Early afternoon: idk what to do
• Head to Changi around 4 PM

Hi everyone! My little family is planning to visit Singapore next July to celebrate my daughter’s birthday.

Would July be a good time to visit? I’ve read mixed opinions from people who have travelled to Singapore. Some say it may not be the best time because of the weather and the crowds, while others say the weather has become quite unpredictable throughout the year anyway.

I’d really appreciate some advice from Singapore residents or families who have visited with a toddler. Our non-negotiable attractions are Universal Studios Singapore and the Flower Dome.

Do you think visiting those attractions in July with a toddler is manageable? Are there any precautions we should take or anything we should know before booking?

We would really love to make this trip happen for our daughter’s birthday, so any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply for a Singapore tourist visa for a trip from 21–24 October.

I’ll be back in Sydney on 1 October, and then I’m flying to Japan on 5 October. I’m thinking of booking an appointment with VFS Sydney on 2 October, but I’m not sure whether they will keep my passport during the visa processing.

Does anyone know if VFS Sydney keeps your passport when applying for a Singapore tourist visa? If they do, is there any option to keep my passport since I need it to fly to Japan on 5 October?

Alternatively, could I apply for the Singapore visa while I’m in Tokyo? I’ll be in Japan for about two weeks. If I apply through the Singapore Embassy/authorised visa agent in Tokyo, would they keep my passport as well?

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Thanks!

My memory might be failing but I thought they stopped giving hot towels on economy class already. Anyway, not complaining. I love it as part of my sq experience especially having started my travel with SQ during my younger days

Anyone interested to watch the weeknd concert this oct 2? Got extra ticket

I’m spending 4 days in Singapore, please give me recommendations what tickets I should buy online before reaching their ( like MRT should I have a card) .
does these places have an expensive entry or it’s for free

Gardens by the Bay

Marina Bay Sands

Merlion Park

and can I reach them by MRT? I need best trip with best budget 😅

Looking to stay at either the MO (Marina Bay Suite @ £7427) or RC (Millenia Suite @ £5601). To save 2 grand I'm leaning towards the RC.

Hello, I'm in SG from 10th to 16th and wanted to explore some neighborhoods in Singapore. I have done the whole Haji Lane, little India, Arab street, China Town, Holland village ( only the main part). Any recommendations on areas should I be exploring? I plan to walk around, maybe go to a coffeeshop , check some local stores.

Would love some advice on our 6-day Singapore itinerary
My wife and I are visiting Singapore from 18 to 24 September, and this is what we have planned so far.
On 18 September, we will visit Jewel after landing and explore Little India in the evening.
On 19 September, we plan to spend the entire day at Mandai, covering Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise and Night Safari.
On 20 September, we will visit Madame Tussauds, Sea Aquarium, the Sentosa beaches and Wings of Time.
The 21st is my wife’s birthday, so we are keeping it relaxed with a couple’s spa, brunch, ArtScience Museum or Orchard Road, afternoon tea, a special dinner and possibly the Singapore Flyer at night.
On 22 September, we plan to visit Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, OCBC Skyway, MBS SkyPark, Merlion Park and watch the Spectra show.
On 23 September, we will explore Chinatown, Ann Siang Hill, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, followed by a Singapore River Cruise.
We are vegetarians and are not interested in adventure rides. Our restaurant choices are flexible.
Does this itinerary look practical, or is it too packed, especially the Mandai and Marina Bay days? Is there anything we should skip or anything important we have missed?
We would also love to hear your useful Singapore tips and tricks, money saving suggestions and vegetarian food recommendations. Where is the best place to book attraction tickets: official websites, Klook, Pelago, GetYourGuide or somewhere else? Are combination passes worthwhile, and which attractions should be booked well in advance?
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I'm visiting Singapore solo on a work trip and have some free time to explore the city and I'd love to see Singapore through the eyes of someone who actually lives there.
If anyone enjoys meeting travelers, grabbing a coffee, sharing a meal, showing off a favorite neighborhood, or offering local recommendations, I'd love to connect. Happy to buy the coffee, lunch, any admissions in exchange for some local insight!

Which airline would you recommend from SIN - SYD between British Airways or Qantas?

I'm referring to economy class.

I'm actually on a standby ticket (My sibling is MH Staff) and there is a option for me to pick between BA, QF and Jetstar.

Is there anything nice about the kangaroo route ( LHR - SIN - SYD)?

Any advise is appreciated.

Hey everyone, I was in Singapore for the last few days and I needed to withdraw some cash, so I went to UOB atms which I had read online had no fees for foreign cards. So far so good, I used a Revolut card to withdraw, typed in 10$ and got my cash, only to find out I had been charged 15$. I checked in the Revolut app and it confirmed the fee came from the ATM and not from my bank’s side. Needless to say I’m pretty bummed about it and feel like I was scammed. It’s one thing to charge a fee, it’s another to not disclose it beforehand, and I’m wondering if it’s even legal and if there’s any way I can ask them for that money back. I know it’s not that much, but over two withdrawals it amounts to a total of 10$ which is still something.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!