Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world making it is one the safest and also most developed. I recently spent three glorious days in Singapore and tried to visit as many attractions as possible.
Getting to Singapore from South Africa
Airline
We booked our trip once again through STA Travel, so our trip included two countries Thailand and Singapore. We flew into Singapore after 7 Days in Phuket on Singapore Airlines.
Visa requirements
As a Zimbabwean Citizen visas are not required when travelling to Singapore for up to 30 days.
Currency at the current rate
1 Singapore Dollar
10.43 – South African Rand
1 Singapore Dollar
0.74 United States Dollar
Getting Around
MRT and buses are probably the cheapest ways to travel around the city however you need an EZ Link card which you can get at any 7 Eleven store.
Accommodation
We once again booked our trip through STA Travel and stayed at the Furama RiverFront Hotel.
Day 1.
Visited the Gardens by the Bay
Gardens By the Bay gives true meaning to the words “City in a Garden” to one side there are views of the famous iconic Super Trees to the other side the is an amazing view of the Marina Bay Sands. At 7:45 pm and 8: 45 pm daily you can watch the Garden Rhapsody Light and Sound Show, so it is really worth setting aside a few hours to explore.
Day 2
Talk a walk around China Town
On Day 2 we took a bus to China Town. There is a lot to do in China Town, you could probably spend an entire day exploring. One of the main attractions in China Town is the Buddha Relic Tooth Temple which was built in 2007.
China town is also one of the places where you can find great bargains for souvenirs and eat the local cuisine at very reasonable prices. If you are daring you should try the Durian Fruit, I still haven’t tried it, I just couldn’t.
Kampong Glam & Little India & Haji Lane
A walk around Kampong Glam and Little India & Haji Lane are the ultimate districts in Singapore to learn and experience some of the rich history of Singapore. They are filled with colorful streets, shops, cafes, religious centers and Street art.
Haji Lane
Singapore River Cruise
The Singapore Boat cruise starts at Clarke Quay and takes about 40 minutes sailing down the river along the iconic Singapore Skyline. We bought our tickets at a discounted rate at the China Town Visitor Center, tickets can also be purchased at Clarke Quay. You can hop off at Merlion Park or do the round trip which takes you back to Clarke Quay.
Day 3
Marina Bay & Merlion Park
Orchard Road Shopping
Whether you just want to window shop or actually shop, Orchard Road is definitely a must see. Orchard Road has all kinds of malls, stretching for more than 2km. On one side we found all the Luxury Brands in ION Orchard and bargains on the other side at the Lucky Plaza.
Changi Airport
Changi Airport should definitely be added to the list of places to visit in Singapore, so you need to set aside sometime to explore before your flight. Our last stop was obviously the newly opened “The Jewel” in Terminal C which we barely had time to explore as it takes more than 10 minutes to get it from the Check in counters. We did enjoy the light show in the Rain Vortex which is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world.
My overall experience in Singapore was a great one, I was able to see many of Singapore’s Top places to visit even on a small budget. I would definitely recommend visiting this beautiful country.
