🇸🇬 Singapore in 72 hours: guide for your first visit
Asia combines the modern and the colonial, combining the old with the new. The south-eastern part of Asia is represented by the unique Singapore. Grand hotels, huge skyscrapers, attractive parks and boulevards, shopping centers – the “garden city” really has it all. At first it is difficult to decide what to watch first. There is so much to see there that it makes your eyes wide open, starting from the airport. Therefore, I have specially prepared the top 8 must-see attractions for visiting tourists.
Changi Airport
The first thing you see when stepping off the plane is a 10-story residential center that seamlessly connects to the terminals and combines art, architecture and nature into a cohesive whole. Changi Airport is considered a world-class aviation hub and is a tourist destination to visit. Singapore ‘s award-winning main airport boasts gardens, waterfalls, shopping, dining and entertainment.
To see the most spectacular of sites, be sure to stroll to Jewel Changi and admire the HSBC Rain Vortex, a 40-metre high indoor waterfall surrounded on all sides by exotic plants and over 2,000 trees. If you want to admire a tropical paradise, then look into the garden of butterflies, sunflowers or cacti. There are more than 100 species of arid plants represented there.
There's never a dull moment at Changi Airport. Each airport terminal has its own charming array of activities for the whole family, including indoor play areas, the island's tallest slide and a family area. Adults traveling with teens can enjoy the interactive corner, which features Xbox games and vintage amusement machines. Or you can send the kids to watch a movie at one of Changi's two cinemas while you do some shopping. All international brands from Apple to Zara are represented there.
Jewel Changi has over 100 eateries. Of these, more than 30 operate 24 hours a day, and each of the four terminals boasts its own selection of restaurants, food halls and food courts.
Gardens by the Bay
Once in Singapore, I advise you to immediately go and admire the Gardens by the Bay. This amazing 100-hectare site next to the Marina Bay Reservoir is filled with giant entwined structures with living greenery – “supertrees”.
Some of them are connected by an aerial path that serves as an observation deck. There are two winter parks on the territory. They are located in large greenhouses that look no less futuristic than a grove of trees.
The park opened its doors to visitors in 2012. It was created as part of a project to improve Singapore. Tourists can walk around the garden absolutely free of charge. An entrance ticket is only required to access the Flower Domes, which host various exhibitions. Needless to say, this place is a must visit.
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Universal Studios Singapore
This park on Sentosa Island is part of the Universal Studios empire of theme parks scattered around the world. It includes 24 attractions, entertainment shows and six themed areas, such as Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, and “Far, Far Away.” The last zone was made based on the “Kingdom Far, Far Away” from the cartoon “Shrek”.
There are a variety of world-class attractions here. The most popular of all is a 3D adventure-like ride where you have to protect a Transformers energy cube. The park also features double roller coasters and a Jurassic Park-themed water area.
Singapore Ferris Wheel
The giant 165-meter Ferris wheel at Marina Bay attracts crowds of tourists and locals. People come here to admire the panoramic view of the city from 28 booths. Its height is comparable to a 55-story building, which is 30 m higher than the London Eye.
Previously, the Singapore wheel was considered the tallest in the world, but in 2014 it was surpassed in height by an attraction in Las Vegas. On a clear day, even the neighboring countries of Malaysia and Indonesia are visible from the top point. Each rotation of the wheel lasts about 30 minutes. It is built into a three-story terminal building containing shops, bars and a restaurant.
Temple of the Tooth Relic
Asians have three temples in memory of various gods. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is no exception; it is a Chinese Buddhist temple and museum complex in Singapore. As you may have guessed, it represents the living Buddha and his power in the world.
The temple was dedicated to an important relic – the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. There are only four teeth in the world, left after the cremation of his body. They were sent to various holy places. They are considered the most important relic of Buddhism – they are credited with magical powers that bestow power, which is why Buddha's teeth were often owned by members of royal dynasties.
The temple complex also includes a theater where various cultural events, talks and film screenings are held. And in the dining room in the basement, vegetarian snacks are offered to everyone. You can move between the floors of the temple using a special elevator.
If you need a quiet place to take a break from the constant bustle of Chinatown, then the temple, with its rooftop garden, pagoda and prayer wheel, is one of the best places to do it.
Merlion Park
The main attraction of Singapore is located near the Central Business District. The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, which is widely used as the national mascot of Singapore.
His 8.6 meter tall sculpture weighs 70 tons and spews water from its mouth. Nearby is a “baby Merlion” only two meters tall, but weighing as much as three tons. There are five more similar structures throughout the city.
Clark Quay
This historic waterfront in Singapore is set against a backdrop of skyscrapers. The building facades are painted in colors that look stunning at night when the area is fully illuminated. Clarke Quay is the main epicenter of nightlife.
Now here in five restored buildings there are nightclubs, restaurants, and some of them have been converted into floating pubs. During the daytime, Clarke Quay turns into a pedestrian alley.
National Museum of Singapore
The National Museum of Singapore is the country's oldest museum, inspiring people with decades of history around the world. Its doors opened in 1849, and to this day the museum is visited by crowds of tourists. This facility is the largest museum on the island.
It includes several galleries, including the historical part of Asia and modern life in Singapore. It focuses on four main themes – food, fashion, cinema and photography. What is interesting is not so much the exhibits on display as the museum building itself, represented by an impressive neoclassical structure and complemented by modern glass inserts.
