Suggestions for first time in Singapore

[kiwitripper64]

I am arriving at Singapore on QF10 arrive 17.30
Dept next day about 19.30 on JQ *class special to AKL

Any suggestions for a first timer to Singapore.

 

[Mal]

A few suggestions:

The view from the SkyPark at the Sands is very good:
Sands SkyPark | Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Singapore | Attraction in Singapore

My recommendation would be to go early in the morning, not later in the afternoon as the queue does seem to grow during the day.

The Night Safari is something you should visit at least once in your life:
Night Safari

Doesn't really start until about 7:30/8pm at night - so plenty of time for you to get to hotel, shower, change etc.

Sentosa Island is an interesting distraction. Has gotten better over the years, but I wouldn't spend too much time there:
www.sentosa.com.sg/

And, if you're REALLY running out of things to do, there is this activity which I find is rarely on tourist lists:
Singapore Education : Corporate Training Programmes : NEWater Visitor Centre

Visit the factory where they convert sewerage into drinking water (Ok, I'm only joking about this one ... )

 

[thewinchester]

Assuming you are a single traveller and given your short itinerary, the following must-do items in the following order;

1. As Mal said, drop gear at hotel and get refreshed.
2. Night safari (buy the double ticket for Bird Park next day).
3. Explore Boat Quay/Clarke Quay for dinner
4. Return to hotel
5. Next day, Jurong Bird Park
6. EITHER Sentosa Island (specifically Fort Siloso, and/or the Skyride/luge) OR Marina Bay Sands observation deck OR Singapore Flyer.
7. Fort Canning and the Fort Canning Boxes (WWII military installation).

That should give you a solid schedule to fill 24hrs in Singapore. PM me if you need info on specifics.

Also, there's transfer services available from most city hotels to the Bird Park and Zoo/Night Safari that'll save you some time, drop you at the door and only for a few more dollars compared to the MRT.

 

[tuapekastar]

Second the Night Safari suggestions.

For eating, try Lau Pa Sat, or Newton Circus (both of these places for satay or other food), or East Coast Seafood Centre (chilli crab, black pepper crab)...each a little different in price and outlook. ECSC probably entails a cab ride wherereas the others don't.

A wander around Chinatown (e.g. Sago St and Sago Lane), and Little India, and up Orchard Rd as well.

 

[kiwitripper64]

thanks to all.These look good. I thought I might even stay at the Sands.

 

[Mal]

thanks to all.These look good. I thought I might even stay at the Sands.

If you stay at the sands, no need to go for the observation deck tour... You get better access than the plebs who pay $SG20 or so

I also agree you HAVE to eat some hawker food while there, but wasn't going to suggest any particular locations.

 

[munitalP]

I would...

After landing @ 1730, you should be in your hotel checked in by 1830 - 1845, ready to head out by 1900.

A 1/2 hour taxi ride will get you to the night safari (I have been 3 times now) - excellent entertainment: NIGHT SAFARI

Following the safari - taxi back to newton circus hawkers centre for a meal - NEWTON CIRCUS - see Mrs ?? (help me out here oz_mark, at stand 70

oz_mark in the clutches of the stall holder - great food, great service - great prices!

I would then taxi to Clarke Quay and enjoy Pump till I needed sleep: Pump, this is one of my FAV night spots in Singapore - caters for young and old! (er)

Next morning, I would be up and about and head into little India for a look at the Mustafa Centre. I would then taxi to China town, and spend a couple of hours wandering the back alleys looking at the antique shops and speciality shops. There's a building close where on level 2 or 3 there's another hawkers centre, that would be my destination for lunch for a Malaysian inspired lunch.

After lunch, I would head to the singapore flyer - this is a good waste of an hour or so, and what a view from 165 meters up - Singapore Flyer.

By the time you have resurfaced, it will be time to collect your luggage and head out to Changi.

 

[Keith009]

The fantastic shopping! Orchard Road (the new ION Mall is awesome!) and the Marina areas are both great shopping locations.

A good hawker center I like is Glutton's Bay which is next to the Esplanade. Very good satay.

For some good coughtails, Loof at Odeon Tower is a rather trendy place to be these days.

 

[burmans]

Second the Night Safari suggestions.

For eating, ....East Coast Seafood Centre (chilli crab, black pepper crab)...each a little different in price and outlook.

Will be taking this one up, visting Singapore for the first time in years (well first time out of the airport anyway) and was wondering where to eat. What sort of damage would this be pricewise.

 

[tuapekastar]

Will be taking this one up, visting Singapore for the first time in years (well first time out of the airport anyway) and was wondering where to eat. What sort of damage would this be pricewise.

Afraid I have no recollection whatsoever - - I was with a large group. Someone else will probably be able to give you a rough idea.

 

[Mal]

Will be taking this one up, visting Singapore for the first time in years (well first time out of the airport anyway) and was wondering where to eat. What sort of damage would this be pricewise.

East Coast Seafood Centre is a strip of seafood restaurants side by side. See East Coast Seafood Centre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While there is good food there (but can't give any prices as I don't tend to eat there), I prefer the hawker centres for my seafood fixes. ECSC is about 200m from one of my favoured hawker villages - East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Park#East_Coast_Lagoon_Food_Centre)

Horses for courses really. Some people don't like Hawker food, some people have expense accounts and don't care about price, some people want a more 'local" experience etc etc etc.

But, unless on an expense account - my advice is to avoid eating at Clarke Quay like the plague.

 

[burmans]

Horses for courses really. Some people don't like Hawker food, some people have expense accounts and don't care about price, some people want a more 'local" experience etc etc etc.

Never understood really the idea of going to a foreign country and not experiencing at least some of the "local" life, sure some people are on business and perhaps don't really want to be there, but if you've chosen to travel to a country, some exposure to the local food, culture, street life is an integral part of the expereince to me.

Sure there's local and there's local, but if you follow the (local) crowds and take advise from some of these forums to avoid obvious mistakes/scams/ripoffs some of my best eating experiences have been in hakwers markets/street food type places. And for some of those who turn up their noses at the hygiene aspects of these type places would have to say that while I've been very sick overseas a few times, ALL of these happened at some very respectable hotels i.e. big respectiable hotel is no guarantee of food quality, at least with street food you get to see the food preparation all in front of you!

 

[thewinchester]

thanks to all.These look good. I thought I might even stay at the Sands.

As I advised before, based on the expeirences of trusted friends - do not stay at the Sands.

A quick search of my posts will explain why, but the long and the short of it is that the property isn't up to scratch, poor services and quality of delivery.

 

[Major]

East Coast Seafood Centre is a strip of seafood restaurants side by side. See East Coast Seafood Centre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

While there is good food there (but can't give any prices as I don't tend to eat there), I prefer the hawker centres for my seafood fixes. ECSC is about 200m from one of my favoured hawker villages - East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre (East Coast Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Horses for courses really. Some people don't like Hawker food, some people have expense accounts and don't care about price, some people want a more 'local" experience etc etc etc.

But, unless on an expense account - my advice is to avoid eating at Clarke Quay like the plague.

One thing you never do is visit the east coast hawker centre at the same time as ://www.singaporepassionrun.com/
It took about an hour to get out there and ages to find a table. However the food is still fantastic.