Singapore is one of the safest and cleanest places in the world, so it’s an absolute no brainer for a solo traveller. It’s also super compact and easy to get around, which is a plus for any holiday destination, but particularly when you’re doing it alone.
There’s no shortage of hawkers’ centres, shopping malls, incredible feats of architecture and Instagrammable sights to be seen, so you’ll be too busy having fun to notice you’re doing it unaccompanied.
Here are eight things to do in Singapore if you’re travelling solo.
#1 Kick Things Off At The Airport
Normally we’d advise any traveller to hot foot it out of the airport the minute they touch down, but Singapore is different thanks to the newly opened Jewel Changi Airport. Featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall (at 40 metres high), an indoor forest complete with walking trails, and over 280 food and retail outlets including a cinema and terrace garden, with more opening soon. You could and should spend hours here, in fact the locals are even coming to the airport without having to get on a flight. Grab your tickets right here.
#2 Eat Your Way Around The Hawkers’ Centres
If there’s one thing Singapore is good at, it’s food, especially the food in their Hawkers’ Centres. Solo eating hawker-style is a breeze, firstly you won’t be the only one doing it, and secondly, it’s a cheap way to try lots of different things; something solo travellers don’t always get the pleasure of doing. There is a plethora to choose from, and most of them are no frills, but the Adam Road Food Centre in Bukit Timah is one of the best. Head here for a decent fill of some of Singapore’s best nasi lemak. Changi Village is another good spot to check out on your way to or from the airport, highlights include the chicken chop horfun. You can also check out the only two hawker stalls to ever receive a Michelin Star: Crawford Lane’s Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle and Chinatown’s Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle.
If you're looking to score a discount on bookings or for more foodie ideas in Singapore, head over here.
#3 Shop ‘Til You Drop
What better activity to tackle on your lonesome than shopping? Let’s be honest, you don’t need any deadweight between you and your next purchase. Before heading to one of the many amazing indoor shopping malls, hit up Haji Lane. This colourful laneway in Kampong Glam is where you’ll find Singapore’s indie vibes. Loaded with boutiques, bars and cafes, though Haji Lane is short, you could spend hours here ducking in and out of the fashion, homewares and jewellery shops. There’s even a tattoo studio called Visual Orgasm if you’re looking to get inked.
#4 Get Sweaty
It’s pretty hard not to get sweaty in humid Singapore, but if you’re looking to up the clammy factor, get outdoors at Gardens by the Bay. This spot is high on every Singapore traveller’s list for good reason. Kick off by wandering around the Supertree Grove and OCBC Skyway, before heading to The Meadow and checking out some of the incredible sculptures. Planet is the most ‘Gram-worthy, featuring a nine-metre-wide by three-metre-tall baby that looks like it’s suspended in mid-air. Loop past the Serene Garden and then past the Heritage Gardens on your way to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Here you can finally cool off in these incredible glass dome constructions. Flower Dome is the biggest glass greenhouse in the world and houses blooms from around the world, while Cloud Forest contains a 30 metre indoor waterfall, loads of tropical plants and a treetop walk. On your way out have a sticky beak in the Marina Bay Sands next door to see how the other half live and scope out the view of Singapore from the observation deck. Grab your tickets here.
#5 Take Yourself To Pamper Town
Singapore is no stranger to a spa, and you shouldn’t be either. After all of that sweaty work through the Gardens by the Bay you will likely need a foot rub and some R&R. An outdoor spa garden, rock saunas and Turkish Hammam await at ESPA in Sentosa, but if you would prefer to get indoors the Yunomori Onsen and Spa at the Kallang Wave Mall will see your sore muscles soaking away in no time at all. With 11 onsen baths and Thai massages on the cards, you’ll leave feeling refreshed and ready for more action. Serena Spa in Orchard is another dreamy option, and you can also check out the award-winning Ikeda Spa with dedicated Hinoki onsen.
#6 Unleash Your Inner Child
Let us introduce you to the ultimate activity for singles: Singapore Zoo. You’ll want to get the Park Hopper and make a day of it because it’s about a 30-minute drive from all of the action in Singapore, and why wouldn’t you want to see all of the animals, they make for the best company after all. Grab tickets right here.
If you’re looking for more fun, there’s also this place called Universal Studios.
#7 Do It For The ‘Gram
If you don’t ‘Gram something as a solo traveller were you even there? Well, the good news is Singapore is filled with colourful walls and incredible architecture. Some of our favourite spots to snap a pic are at Tan Teng Niah’s house in Little India, Geylang (just avoid this spot at night time), Haji Lane, Chijmes, Koon Seng Road, Gardens by the Bay and the Old Hill Street Police Station.
#8 Explore Some Museums
Namely, the ArtScience Museum which you’ll find in the building that looks like a lotus flower at Marina Bay Sands. Here you can catch one of teamLab’s latest exhibitions—Future World: Where Art Meets Science. This high-tech, immersive experience blends the natural and digital worlds by means of projections and lights. Space, a glittery, crystal universe featuring over 170,000 LED lights, will completely amaze. Book your museum tickets here.
Never travelled solo before? Here are our top tips to get you through without any hiccups.
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Image credit: Mike Enerio, Jewel Changi, Lily Banse, Bna Ignacio, Coleen Rivas, @verniecenciso,Teodor Kuduschiev, Vernon Raineil Cenzon and June Wong