Top Things to Do in the Singapore | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Singapore

Istana Change Of Guards

The Istana Park is located in front of the Presidential residence, Istana. A gateway to Singapore's Civic District Trail, the park is an education and information hub of Singapore's rich history. The main highlight of the park's main gateway is the Changing of Guards Ceremony that happens every month. Every month during the Ceremonial Changing of Guards, a squad of 20 guards from the Armed Military Forces Police Command takes over the duties of the former guards who were patrolling for the previous month, and a new unit of guards are stationed and signified by this ceremony. Sentry duty is the primary role of the Istana Ceremonial Guards that are stationed at the entrance of the Istana building. This ceremony was first conducted in 1969. It is held on the first Sunday of every month except for July and August. Based on the ceremony of Changing Guards at the Buckingham Palace, this ceremony also has two commanders and a total of thirty-six guards involved in running the ceremony. These guards are especially chosen from many and are trained extensively for their turnout, bearing and drill. The new troop of guards march in from the Koek Road to meet the foregoing troop near the main gateway entrance of Istana, where the Changing of Guards Ceremony is conducted amidst military bands and Rifle Precision Drill Performance. Read More

The Istana Heritage Gallery, located within the Istana Park is just opposite Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore. The gallery contains a number of displays that highlight the historical importance of Istana. It was opened to the public in 2016 and can be reached by travelling along the Orchard Road. The exhibits trace the history of Istana that served as the Governor’s House during the Colonial period to its present-day role of being the Presidential office. The artefacts at Istana Heritage Gallery include a number of items used by the State and a variety of artwork. The gifts that had been presented to the President and Prime Ministers of Singapore are also put on display. The Gallery adds a special feature to the guided tour of the Istana Open House. Moreover, it also showcases the different responsibilities of the President (constitutional, ceremonial & for the community) while revealing the special status of Istana in the history of Singapore. The Istana's special role in the ceremonial, constitutional and community duties of the President are also beautifully highlighted in the Istana Heritage Gallery. Read More

Istana, meaning 'Palace' in Malay, is the office and official residence of the President of Singapore and the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. The grand, whitewashed, neoclassical building is set in 16 hectares of ground on the Orchard Road. Built by the British between 1867 and 1869, The Istana is open to visitors on five selected statutory holidays in a year: Chinese New Year (January/February), Deepavali (October/November), Hari Raya Puasa (Eid - marking the end of Ramadan festival), Labour Day (May 1) and a chosen date before the National Day (7 August). There is a very eventful changing of guards on the first Sunday of every month which is the best time to visit Istana. The Istana ground and six functions rooms are often the venues for state functions and ceremonial occasions like swearings-in, investitures and presentation of the credentials by heads of foreign missions. On the days when Istana is open to the public, one can stroll past the nine-hole golf course, through the mesmerising terraced gardens into the stunning reception hall. The Istana Open days also has various entertainment sections, educational activities like the 'Display of Reptiles by the Wildlife Reserves of Singapore', 'Guided Tour by National Heritage Board' and Nature Guided Walks. Local schools and youth groups showcase their music and dance skills through various performances. The rest of the time, access to the Istana is restricted to the heavily-guarded gates on the Orchard Road. Read More

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden

A part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is Asia's first garden dedicated solely to children. Themed on 'Life on Earth Depends on Plants', this kid-centric garden has varied interactive zones along with a play area with a farm, an orchard and a forest with streams and ponds. The other attractions for the young ones are the suspension bridge and the treehouses. At Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, the kids are encouraged to observe how the plants grow and learn simple gardening techniques. The unique garden hosts Botanic Gardens Children's Festival every year. In this two-week-long festival, children get to learn about farms, compost and propagation techniques. Kids are open to participation in daily hands-on activities and demonstrations. The festival encourages children of all ages to get in touch with nature through play, craft, investigations, storytelling and walks. Read More

Jalan Besar is a one-way road in Singapore, connecting Kallang to Rochur. Meaning 'wide road' in Malay, Jalan Besar has been increasingly developing as one of Singapore's newest and most popular hipster joints. Earlier known for its rubber factories and industrial plants, Jalan Besar is now popular for delicious cupcakes, seafood, artisanal coffee and even traditional Singaporean food. Alongside these cafes, the Jalan Besar Stadium also draws many visitors to this area. This treasure trove is located in the heart of the city, tucked between Little India, Bugis and Farrer Park, and is thus often crowded with visitors who drop by after a tiring day of exploring the attractions in the vicinity. From full hearty portions of main courses to classic French pastries, you can literally spend a whole day here just exploring the different cuisines and foods. As a bonus, Jalan Besar is also well known for its amazing Third Wave Coffee that is served at numerous cafes. There are also several massage parlours, karaoke bars and crafts workshops, making it a popular destination. Read More

Jamae Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Singapore, located in Chinatown, Central Area. Also known as Masjid Jamae, Chulia Mosque, and Periya Palli by the local Tamil-Muslim community, this two-hundred-year-old place of worship is an iconic landmark in Chinatown, standing out with its distinctive Indo-Islamic architecture among the Oriental buildings. The first mosque built by the south Indian migrant Chulia Muslim community, this shrine is frequented by pious tourists and locals, history buffs, and architecture enthusiasts. Masjid Jamae became a popular tourist location after it became the subject of postcards, illustrations, and photographs in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries – the building still retains its original frame and has not been rebuilt. Famed for its eclectic, unique style of architecture, the Chulia Mosque features a Dravido-Islamic style entrance gate, Tuscan and Doric columns, a neoclassical prayer hall, French windows, winding stairways, Romanesque arches, and minarets with an onion dome. This juxtaposition of Eastern and Western architecture makes the shrine a sight to behold! Gazetted as a national monument in 1974, the carefully preserved Chinese glazed tiles and meticulously designed spires make this mosque a great sightseeing spot. Read More

The Jejawi Tower stands at a soaring height of 20 metres and is situated at the Chek Jawa Wetlands in Singapore. The chirp of birds in the thick canopy of the lush forests, the chatter of monkeys up to some mischief, and the breathtaking view of the tropical forest and the ocean below are what make this place an ideal spot for nature enthusiasts. Majestic birds like the kingfisher and the rare white-bellied eagles can be sighted from the Jejawi Tower, along with parakeets, herons and other birds. The gorgeous landscape is not the only thing that will mesmerize you, as one is also privy to witnessing aeroplanes preparing to land at or take off from the nearby Changi Airport. The stillness of the area, the mangroves underneath, and the beautiful sight of yachts peppered across the horizon near the Changi Sailing Club make this place one of a kind. The construction of this magnificent, seven-storeyed structure reached completion in 2007 and has been acting as an observation deck since then. The railings of the wooden structure are constructed using aluminium so that it can withstand the harsh weather changes in the wetlands. The Jejawi Tower gets its name from the native Malayan Banyan tree which grows in close proximity to it.A maximum of twenty people are allowed to climb the tower at a time, and you can feel the vibrations of every little movement once you reach the top. If you wish to find solace in the bustling city-state of Singapore, this is the place to be. Read More

Jurong Bird Park, located on Jurong Hill in Singapore, is Asia's largest bird park housing over 5000 birds from around 400 varied species. Spread across 20.2 hectares, the major highlight is the Waterfall Aviary - the world's largest walk-in aviary. Started in 1971 and managed by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the other major attractions at the bird park are Lory Loft Forest Enclosure (feed the vibrant lories and lorikeets at this world's largest walk-in lory flight aviary), Penguin Coast (home to adorable penguins), Flamingo Lake (brimming with playful flamingos), and Pelican Cove (housing world's most complete collection of pelicans). The Kings of the Skies Show and High Flyers Show is pretty popular among the kids, though it has been discouraged by many animal welfare groups. The stunning Jurong Bird Park also houses a bird-themed waterpark called Birdz of Play. This park is set to relocate to Mandai by 2020. Read More

Found in the busy district of Jurong East, the shopping malls of Jurong East have earned recognition worldwide as being entertainment centres of global standards. One can see a variety of facilities such as Singapore's first Olympic-size ice rink, IMAX theatres, cineplexes, sky parks, a marine-themed playground, a gym with swimming pool, and other kinds of themed playgrounds, all concentrated in one area. Shoppers and visitors will be delighted by the diverse range of retail stores and the numerous food and beverage options found within these massive malls. There are five malls in the Jurong East area district named Jurong East Mall (JEM), Big Box, IMM, JCube and Westgate, of which the CapitaMall Trust runs the last three. Big Box is said to be the largest warehouse retail centre in Singapore. Many international and luxurious brands and chains can be found in these malls, enabling shoppers to buy anything they could think of under the sun. These malls can be a great place to spend a day picking up souvenirs or chilling out indoors at one of the many restaurants while in Singapore, a great way to take a break from the long itinerary of sightseeing during your visit to Singapore. Read More

Singapore is home to a variety of unconventional places, with surprises around each corner for the uninformed tourist. Jurong Frog Farm is one of them, with a number of fun-filled activities revolving around its central frog theme, from feeding frogs to eating frog meat. Formerly situated at Jurong, this frog farm was later relocated to a 1.2-hectare farmland in Lim Chu Kang where it stands till date. It was founded by Wan Bock Thiaw in 1981 and has witnessed immense growth since then. With a staff of thirteen people, the Wan family breeds the American Bullfrog. After realizing that operating merely as a breeding farm would not cater to the growing demand for frog meat, Wan Bock Thiaw started importing bullfrogs from other places, mainly from Malaysia. On reaching the farm, you can request for a Show and Tell session by the Frogology Pte Ltd, which costs SGD 10 per person. This informative session is ideal if you wish to know about the farm's history, how it works, its objectives and so on. The person in charge of this session also takes time to enumerate the different parts of a frog along with details about its life-cycle. There is a small frog enclosure filled with shallow water where people can enter and try to scoop up frogs and release them right after. One can also purchase pellets to feed the adorable amphibians.Apart from frog meat, Hashima and crocodile meat are also up for sale at the shop in this farm, being the only local manufacturer of Hashima with American Ginseng, and Dried-Snow Jelly. It also sells its amphibians to various supermarkets and restaurants across the city. At present, they have also opened an online store to expand their business and make the farm produce more accessible. Read More