Singapore is quite hot and sunny therefore do carry your sun glasses, light clothing as well as lots of sun block lotion. If you plan to visit temples or formal restaurants and shows do bring proper formals and shoes. Singapore is considered strict when it comes to drugs. Therefore do carry your medicine prescriptions as Singapore has very strict anti-drug laws.

Singapore is known for its culture and heritage. One can find some examples of fine colonial architecture along the Bras Basah end which is incidentally also famous for shopping. There are many museums along that road as well. The Battle Box museum and the National Museum of Singapore are perfect destinations for those who want to understand and know more about the history of the country. The Orchard road near Bras Basah end is a very popular shopping destination.

The Singapore River is a very popular destination amongst travelers as there are many attractions in the city. The Merlion, the symbol of Singapore is found on the mouth of the south bank of Singapore River. Besides the Merlion, one can also find the Cavenagh Bridge across the Singapore River. The Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest bridge in Singapore; it was built in the late nineteenth century and the original signboard forbidding cattle to cross the bridge is still there.

Singapore is paradise for swimmers as it has a really large number of public pools as compared to its size.  These pools can be accessed by paying a nominal fee and are open from eight in the morning till nine at night. If you want a little more than just a simple swimming pool then you can head towards Jurong East Swimming complex where one can get water slides, wave pool and Jacuzzi for like two dollars. One can always check into a cheap Singaporean hotel without any pool facilities or spas but can easily enjoy them outside the hotel at affordable rates. In Singapore, one can also enjoy the beautiful beaches. The East Coast Park and the Sentosa islands are known for their beaches. One can also indulge in a variety of water sports including cable-skiing and wave surfing.

Best Time to Visit:

If planning a budget tour, it is always preferable to avoid peak seasons to travel Singapore that starts around December end till June. Rest of the months can be considered good for visiting Singapore within specified budget. December and January are the months of New Year, Christmas celebrations and June is the month when schools are off for vacations. It is advisable to go to Singapore between February to October because you will find lot of vacant low budget hotels and conveyance for trips to well known places in Singapore.

Affordable Accommodation and Attractions:

During off season, almost every hotel is affordable. Generally cheaper hotels are away from airport, railway stations and bus terminals but enclose all general facilities. You can find such hotels on different Singapore travel websites. Some cheap attractions in Singapore include:

Chinatown:

Chinatown is the most colorful and soothing place and crowded all the time. This area is a hub of Chinese culture and a variety of traditional sea food is available here.

Clarke Quay:

People who like to party at night can enjoy an outing here. This place is famous for bars, restaurants and amazing discos. There are many shopping centers where one can shop for conventional handcrafts and dresses.

Underwater World:

Singapore is the proud land of largest underwater world of Asia with 2500 species of fishes located in Sentosa Island. Golf courses and fountains are the main attractions here. It is also called “Dream Heaven”.  Uncommon creatures of this place fascinate the tourists across the globe.

If you are a tourist in Singapore, your trip will be incomplete if you don’t visit the beautiful museums in the city. These museums in Singapore are decorated with loads of artifacts, paintings and artworks to provide a complete idea about the rich culture and history of the country. The museums in Singapore can be segregated into categories like heritage museums, national museums, art museums and more. Whether enjoy a vacation with family, friends or alone, these museums are sure to enrich your knowledge about this beautiful island city-state.

Asian Civilisations Museum

The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is one of the finest museums in Asia that present an integrated and broad perspective of pan-Asian civilizations and cultures. It is one of the National Museums of Singapore that work for a better understanding of the rich cultures that make up the multi-ethnic society of Singapore. The artifacts in this museum are housed in two separate buildings. The museum first opened at the Armenian Street in 1997. But later in 2003, the museum was shifted to the Empress Place Building. The Armenian Street building is now the home of a brand new ‘Peranakan Museum’. The Asian Civilisations Museum now houses 11 galleries that showcase more than 1300 artifacts on the civilizations of Southeast Asia, China, South Asia, and West Asia. There is a café and a restaurant, a museum, a fully-equipped auditorium in this museum. The tourists also enjoy the spectacular view of the Singapore River from here.

Singapore Art Museum

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is actually built on an 18th century school building called ‘Saint Joseph’s Institution’. The restoration of the institution to an art museum started in 1992 and in 1996, The Singapore Art Museum was opened to public as the first international standard museum in Singapore specialized in art. This museum currently enjoys the world’s largest public collection of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian artworks. The Museum has a collection of over 7,000 Southeast Asian and Singapore modern and contemporary works of art that includes works from some of the 20th century greats like Roy Lichtenstein and Frank Stella. The museum spread its wings in 2008 with 8Q SAM, a modern art space where the people can directly communicate with the ideas and works of contemporary artists. The museum is open daily between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the entry is free of Fridays.

Singapore History Museum

The Singapore History Museum was the former name of the National Museum of Singapore between 1993 and 2006. The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest museum in Singapore with its rich history that dates back to its inception in 1887. The famous exhibition here, “Riverside Point” exhibits the history of Singapore through stories of people who lived along the Singapore River. The Living Galleries in this museum reflects the adoption of cutting-edge techniques to present history and culture and revolutionize the conventional museum experience. The Museum hosts numerous vibrant events and festivals each year like live performance, the famous Night Festival, film screenings and more. The members of this museum can avail online bookings from its official website as well.

Chinatown Heritage Center

Chinatown Heritage Center, a joint effort of the National Heritage Board and the Singapore Tourism Board showcases lots of untold stories and memories of the Singapore’s early forefathers and their perilous journey from faraway places to settle in this area. Located along the Pagoda Street, this Chinatown Heritage Center is made of three newly restored shop houses at Chinatown’s ethnic quarters. Each of the levels in this Centre takes a trip to the different time in the history of Chinatown. You can learn about the rich history of Chinatown through the exhibits that describes the real life stories of the former residents here. Guided tours are available to explore this place better. You can always take a break to have an aromatic cup of coffee and local snacks at the Centre’s ‘Kopi Tiam’ or Coffee Shop. There is also a souvenir shop inside the museum. It is open daily between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Check out some other activities in Singapore

The city has an array of tour destinations such as the Sentosa Island, Singapore River, Parliament House, Chinatown, Supreme Court, Orchard Road, Raffles Hotel, City Hall and many more along with 63 small islands within the territorial waters of Singapore. Singapore is also known for showcasing an exceptional blend of Malay, traditional Chinese and Hindu cultures that were introduced long back and gradually established on this wonderland.

Best Time to Visit: It is quite interesting to know that you don’t need to wait for a particular time of the year to visit Singapore. So the best idea is to coordinate the visit to coincide with the spectacular festivals and events of Singapore. In January, the Chinese population of Singapore celebrates the Chinese New Year on a grand scale. China-town, one of the popular attractions of Singapore, wears a festive look with colorful decorations during this time of the year. The lovers of art and traditional culture can visit Singapore in June.

The famous Art festival, a major attraction in Singapore is conducted this time of the year with music troupes performing in the Esplanade Theater. The Malay Muslims celebrate “Hari Raya Puasa” in November which is also considered as a major festival in Singapore. Chinese Lantern Festival and Christmas in Singapore can be a great experience as well. This makes Singapore busy with tourists throughout the year.

Singapore Sightseeing: Singapore is a well designed tourist destination where Mother Nature and technology co-exists. The country uses modern science to nurture the natural habitats and maintain the eco balance. So shopping malls and skyscrapers synchronize well here with natural beaches and lush green forests. So an escorted full day sightseeing tour to Singapore will be an excellent idea. It gives a brilliant overview of the key tourist spots. Comfortable clothing and footwear is a must while exploring the city.

Jurong Bird Park: The Jurong Bird Park is an open-concept park on 20.2 hectare land. It is the largest in the Asia Pacific and one of the finest bird parks in the world. Jurong Bird Park has a collection of more than 8,000 birds from 600 species. It offers the visitors an experience that is entertaining as well as educational.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens: The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a living monument to the foresight of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founding fathers of Singapore. The Gardens at its present site was founded in 1859 by an Agri-Horticultural Society. Planned as a leisure garden and ornamental park, the Society used to organize flower shows and horticultural fetes. Today, the Garden is geared towards entrenching itself as an internationally renowned tropical botanical institution, a key tourist destination and a flagship park.
The Singapore Zoo: The Singapore Zoo is acclaimed as one of the most spectacular zoos in the world. Spreading over 28 hectares, the use of natural barriers like streams, rock walls and vegetation here to separate animals from visitors enhances the “open” zoo concept. It is home to over 3,600 mammals, birds and reptiles, including rare and endangered species.

Sentosa Island: A former fishing village turned British military base, Sentosa Island was transformed into a perfect island resort in 1972 for the enjoyment and recreation of everyone. One of the key attractions, the aquarium, is still pretty impressive if you like fish, with its walk-through Plexiglas underwater tunnel. They also have a decent dolphin show.

Discover Singapore Fly KLM and arrive in good shape.