Yes.
We have flown via Singapore Changi Airport numerous times on the way to other countries in Asia or Europe but had never visited and explored Singapore itself.
This time we decided to take a look. Unfortunately, all we could get was two full days and three nights. This is not enough time to visit Singapore!
We stayed down the south end of Singapore on Sentosa Island. This island is a dedicated resort island. It’s not a bad place to stay, as you can easily walk or cycle all over the island.
We barely scratched the surface of all the offerings that Singapore has, so we will have to come back.
Singapore: Hotel
With only two days to look around, we chose Sentosa Island as the place to stay. This small island has many family attractions plus access to the beaches. We booked into the Village Hotel Sentosa, located near the center of the island.
It’s a short walk from the hotel to the beaches, the main transit line, and the tourist attractions. This includes Universal Studios and the Oceanarium.
This hotel is amazing, especially the pool areas, but I would say that the double rooms, while very well appointed, must be some of the smallest I have stayed in.
Singapore: Airport
Singapore Changi Airport, (SIN) is massive, with four terminals, and it’s our favourite airport. The airport is just over twenty kilometers from the city center. There is access to buses, taxis and the MRT trains that can be used to get to all over Singapore.
Changi to Sentosa by taxi takes about forty-five minutes and was cheaper than equivalent Australian or European taxis.
Changi Airport has terminal hotels to stay in if you have a long overnight stopover. The big advantage is that you can catch some sleep, without having to check out through customs.
The Jewel, a massive entertainment hub, with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, is located between terminals 2 and 3. You do have to go through customs first though, because it is in the public area. If you are flying with Singapore, you can check in early and relax at the Jewel, before walking to the airport via the link bridge.
What we did in Singapore
Sentosa Island
We only had two full days in Singapore. We planned for one day on Sentosa Island and the second day on the Singapore mainland.
This was simply not enough time to explore much of Singapore. We will have to come back again.
Just to cover the whole of Sentosa Island, two full days would be needed to view the major attractions without rushing.
We first walked down to Siloso beach, exploring Siloso Beach Island and found a great restaurant for a leisurely lunch.
We then took the Sensoryscape cable car across to the Fort Siloso skywalk, towards the historic Fort Siloso. After this we walked back by the trails down to the Sentosa Resorts World, and the Singapore Oceanarium.
We did not have enough time to get to Universal Studios, Palawan Beach, or to any of the attractions on the south half of Sentosa island. Another day would have been nice!
Mainland Singapore
On the second day, we crossed Keppel Harbour to mainland Singapore. There are two ways of crossing to the Harbour Front on the main island. There is the Sentosa Gateway, using the Sentosa express train, or the much more scenic Sentosa Cable Car. The views from this very high cable car crossing the channel are fantastic.
After exploring the Harbour Front, our goal was the Gardens by the Bay. This was only two short MRT train rides away. The Singapore MRT, a fully automated Mass Rapid Transport railway network, covers pretty much all of the entire island.
Gardens by the Bay has several places of interest including the Cloud Forest, the Flower Dome, the OCBC skyway, the Supertree Observatory, and the Dragonfly & Kingfisher Lakes. Be prepared to walk quite a bit as these areas are large and impressive, with spectacular walks and views. There is so much to see and explore in Singapore. A great holiday research resource is the official Singapore Tourism site.
Best time to visit Singapore
Singapore does have a tropical monsoon climate. However, with essentially two monsoons, the northeast and the southwest, this makes the weather slightly more unpredictable.
Dry Season: February through to October
This period has warm to hot days, with clearer sunny skies, and fewer rainy days per month. June through to September has the lowest average rainfall. February is also a low rainfall standalone month.
It is hot and humid particularly through March to June. Average max daily temperatures throughout the year are above 30 degrees.
Wet Season: November through to January
This period is wet with high humidity. The rain, when it falls, is substantial and can be hard to predict. Planning any outdoor activities carries a bit of a risk.
Monthly rainfall during these three months is heavy, two to three times higher than June or September.
We visited Singapore in January. We had one clear day with some clouds, and one day mostly overcast with some rain. Consider the wet season to be a high risk period for exploring or beach weather.
Practical Tips before booking Singapore
Where to stay in Singapore?
This really depends on both on the time of year, and whether you are young family. During the drier part of the year, with a young family, Sentosa Island is a great option with beaches, the aquarium, and Universal Studios all within walking distance. From Sentosa, it is relatively easy to get to the rest of the main island using the MRT, Singapore’s train network. Of course, the reverse is also true, its easy to get out to Sentosa for the day if you want to get to the beaches.
The more central neighborhoods, anywhere along the beating heart of Singapore, Orchard Road, or even along the Singapore River from Marina Bay, are better for central access and for a lively street vibe and dining.
How long should you stay in Singapore?
We stayed in Singapore for three nights, only as a stopover from another trip. Singapore is without a doubt a destination on its own merits. The island may be a small country, but it has a lot of history and there is a lot to explore.
Four to five nights would be better, allowing a full three or four days to explore. Sentosa, by itself, could take up two days, if you want a day on the beach, plus a visit to some of the attractions, like the Oceanarium or Universal Studios. Visiting Marina Bay, the Gardens by the Bay, Orchard Road, and the Singapore River, can easily take another couple of days. Then there are still other options in the northern part of Singapore or neighbourhoods like China Town.
Should you take the local tours?
The public transport system here is excellent. You can probably get to most places on the island quicker with the MRT than using a tour bus. City tours may not add much value. The boat tours, including outer islands like Pulau Ubin, Saint Johns Island, or the trips along the Singapore River, would be worth their value.
Do you need a Singapore city street map?
Having data in Singapore would be handy just so that you can use google maps when you get out of the MRT to get your bearings. Quite a few of the islands have online walking and transport maps available, which you can download ahead of time. You can also download Singapore’s MRT Map, (their automated mass transport network), however, you can also find the same map in every station.
Final Review of Singapore
My feeling is that we made a mistake coming to Singapore and staying on Sentosa Island, especially as a first off trip in the wet season.
Staying more centrally in Singapore would have had several advantages, allowing evening exploration and a larger choice of restaurants each day.
Marina Bay is the ultimate tourist hub in Singapore. Orchard Road giving the best retail therapy and an endless selection of dining options.
For slightly less expensive options, there are the neighbourhoods, China Town, just south of the Singapore River, and Bugis or Bencoolen, just north east of Orchard Road. These are both close to the tourist center but with slightly less of the premiums.
For Australians, this is a fairly significant island country close to Australia. This adds to the value of visiting. If this island was far away, and thus much more expensive to fly to, it might be harder to justify the total cost of coming here. This is especially true with the other major Asian capital cities like Bangkok, Jakarta and Hanoi nearby. With those cities, you really do feel like you are somewhere different.
Is it safe in Singapore?
Singapore ranks as one of the safest countries in the world. As usual, always be careful and vigilant. Make sure you are aware of the local rules, as littering and jaywalking for example, are enforced fairly strictly. Of course, there is pretty much zero tolerance to drugs.
