Singapore: the Lion City

For those planning to visit Singapore, these are my recommendations if you have 3 - 5 days in Singapore

Basic Information

You do not really to take a cab, as public transportation is very convenient
Bus stops have lists of destinations
But I suggest, just take the MRT as it's the easiest way and you won't get lost
From the Airport?

Take a cab to the city which will cost around 20+ SGD (Singapore Dollars)
OR just take an MRT and will just cost you like around 2.50 SGD :)

What to bring?

It really is hot! So bring "Summer" clothes and comfortable shoes (or flip flops).
A lot of Sun-Screen!
Umbrella - around Jan and Feb, it can rain a lot so bring one. Singapore has micro-climates as well so might suddenly rain in one area.

Going Out of Singapore

You can take budget flights to Malaysia, Thailand, or other SEA countries
I recommend though to take a 3-day trip to Malaysia as follows:

Genting (Casino) and Kuala Lumpur (Capital of Malaysia) - 3 days / 2 nights
Malacca (former portuguese settlement) and Kuala Lumpur - 3 days/ 2nights

You can book via this site or just call a travel agent - it's really cheap

http://www.grassland.com.sg/public_html/genting.html
This is by bus. 4 - 5 hours from Singapore to KL or Genting, 3 hours to Malacca. 1 hour to KL from Genting or Malacca.

Day 1

Bugis

Get off at Bugis MRT Station along Green Line.

You can check out
1. Bugis Parco Junction (it's just a mall, though I like the shops, looks like a "street" area converted into a mall.
2. Pasar Malam. It means night market though it is open early in the morning till only around 9.30 PM.
3. SimLim Building - ask around, it's just like 3 minute walk from the Pasar Malam. This is where you can get electronics stuff, but BE CAREFUL as you have to haggle and people can get nasty if you try to bargain without buying in the end!!!

Orchard

Get off at Orchard Station along RED Line.

Of course, what else should we do in Singapore but to SHOP! There are so many malls and shops along orchard street. Check out the three major shops: ION Mall, Takashimaya (Ngee Ann City) and Paragon.

Food Options:

Din Tai Fung (Orchard MRT)

I suggest Grabbing Lunch in Din Tai Fung in the basement of Paragon Mall. Yummy Taiwanese Dumplings. The Xiao Long Pao (soup dumpling, it's a dumpling with a bit of soup inside and not a soup with dumplings) is highly recommended and for dessert, get the YAM dumpling!

Lau Pah Sat, Walk along boat quay and Clark Quay

Get off at RAFFLES PLACE INTERCHANGE and follow the signs going to Lau Pah Sat. (IT's the largest hawker center in Singapore)

After that, Walk along Boat Quay and Clark Quay and you can grab some drinks or stay late :)

Food Options:

Lau Pah Sat (just a few minutes walk from Raffles Place MRT)- Grab some Satay, Sting Ray, and Teh Tah Rik (means pulled tea and ask for the COLD one as it's extremely hot in Singapore) for a taste of local Singapore Cuisine.
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (from Clark Quay Station) - Pork Ribs Soup (with lotsa Garlic). This place is famous for this.

http://www.songfa.com.sg/chapter.html
11 New Bridge Rd Singapore 059383
+65 6533 6128

NO Signboard (Clark Quay)

I love their Chili Crab and Coffee Pork Ribs
http://www.nosignboardseafood.com
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817, Phone Number: 6221 9959

Day 2

City Hall Area (Chijmes, Suntec, Raffles Hotel)

Get off at City Hall MRT along the Green Line.

You might wanna grab Brunch or Lunch in the Flutes:
http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg/

There's a couple of the things around that area as well. You can check the Singapore Philatelic Museum, MITA Building, and National Archives of Singapore.

Continue your walk to the area near City hall MRT.

You can check out the following:
1. Raffles Hotel - You might wanna grab SINGAPORE SLING in the long bar. Singapore is proud to have this AWARD-winning cocktail.
2. National Library
3. Armenian Church
4. Chijmes (though it's better to do this at night)
5. Check OUT City Hall

Take the City Link and go SUNTEC. Make sure you see the largest Man-made fountain in the world!!! and make a wish. www.suntec.com.sg

Esplanade and One Fullerton Area

From Suntec we can walk to ESPLANADE and see What Singapore has that rivals Sydney Opera House. They have Esplanade by the Bay :). You can have Local Food in Makan-Sutra in Esplanade. Afterwards, you can walk to the One-Fullerton area and see the original Merlion and then walk to Fullerton Hotel

Day 3

National Museum

Get off at Dhoby Ghaut Station along purple OR Red Line.

Visit http://www.nationalmuseum.sg for more information.

Afterwards, grab Lunch in Fish & Co in the Glass House near Park Mall (right opposite Plaza Singapura. Or you can find a lot of restaurants and shops in Plaza Singapur.

Zoo and Night Safari

Alight at Ang Mo Kio station (NS16) along the RED Line and take bus service 138.

Make sure you grab these special

Park Hoppers Special (admission only)

3-in-1: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park
Adult S$45.00 (saves $13)
Child (3 to 12 years old) S$22.50

2-in-1: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park (any 2 parks)
Adult S$32.00 (saves $4)
Child (3 to 12 years old) S$16.00

You'll probably spend the entire afternoon in the zoo and the evening in Night Safari. Check out http://www.zoo.com.sg/.

Day 4

Little India (optional)

Get off at Little India MRT Station along the purple line and just walk around. There's nothing really particular that you need to see but just walk around and see the shops.

According to "Uniquely Singapore Site", Today, Little India is the focal point of Singapore's Indian community. Its spice-scented streets beckon you to a cornucopia of ethnic jewellery, jasmine garlands and silk saris. From the large Tekka Centre and Little India Arcade to the small provision shops, Little India is packed with interesting things to discover. During Deepavali (usually between Oct/Nov), the Indian Festival of Lights, Little India is transformed into a fairyland of gaily decorated, brightly lit streets bustling with shoppers. Witness also the faith of devotees during the colourful and ritualistic Thaipusam in Jan/Feb each year

China Town

Get off at Chinatown MRT Station along the purple line.

What you need to see are the shops along the Trengganu Street. You can buy souvenirs here as I think it's the cheapest in Singapore. Try to bargain (not so much) if you are going to buy a lot.

Make sure you check out the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road and

Where to eat? Grab something along Smith Street. There are a lot of food stalls there.

Vivo City (optional)

Get off at Harbourfront MRT Station along the purple line. This is basically a new mall and you can just go around and see some shops and grab lunch or snacks here :)

Sentosa (Singapore's very own theme park)

Get off at Harbourfront MRT Station along the purple line.

There are three options to go to sentosa.
1. Take the Monorail from Vivo City (3rd Floor)
2. Take the Bus from Harbourfront Interchange
3. Take the Cable Car

I would recommend #3 Cable Car. But do ask if you can go to Faber Park first, which is to the other end of the cable car (Normally you pay the same thing), so that you can have a good view of the entire Sentosa and Singapore. Get good pictures and take the cable car back to Sentosa.

Check the site www.sentosa.com.sg to check out for PROMOTIONS as they usually have packages.

Among these, I would recommend you try out: songs of the sea, Underwater world, and Merlion.

You can grab dinner here or just take the bus or monorail back to Vivo and grab dinner there. There's a restaurant which is similar to Nando's (for Peri Peri Chicken YUMMMY!)

Universal Studios (optional)

Need I say more? It's the same as the ones in LA and Florida but a lot smaller. You can skip this if you have been in LA and Florida as you might just get disappointed as it's really small comparatively.

Fullerton Hotel