Singapore City Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Singapore City, Republic of Singapore)

Singapore City has a diverse collection of tourist attractions and you really need to plan to get to see the best of them. Tourists will agree that Singapore is perhaps one of the best turned-out cities in the world for sheer attention to detail and value for money.

The shopping at Orchard Road is an attraction in itself, as are the districts of Chinatown and Little India, while the Colonial District displays the grandeur of British Singapore. For thrills and views, take a ride on the Singapore Flyer - the loftiest observation wheel on the planet.

Singapore Flyer

Address: 30 Raffles Avenue, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6333 3311
One-up from the London Eye is the Singapore Flyer - currently ranking as the world's biggest observation wheel, measuring in at a staggering 165 metres / 540 feet in height (42 storeys). The Flyer opened in 2008 and sits in Marina Bay over the water, boasting views that go for miles on a clear day, as well as taking in the skyline and harbour scenery. Trip time is 30 minutes and the air-conditioned cabins are all glass, rotating with the motion of the wheel, as with the London Eye.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 22:30
Admission: charge, discount for children

Orchard Road / Shopping

Address: Orchard Road, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Orchard Road is an attraction, landmark and shopping experience all in one. It is the epitome of shopping and a slice of Singapore that every visitor should experience, loaded as it is with mall after mall along a stunning, tree-lined boulevard. The world's top designer labels are here, along with food courts, restaurants and bars.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Raffles Hotel

Address: 1 Beach Road, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6337 1886
Raffles Hotel is a Singaporean icon. First and foremost the Raffles a grand hotel. It is also a popular shopping plaza and has a public bar, the Long Bar, where you can down a Singapore Sling. It is the epitome of colonial style and is beautifully decorated and maintained, with five-star quality and suites throughout. If you are staying here, be sure to check for a tiger under the billiards table. Legend has it that the country's last tiger was shot in this very spot more than 100 years ago.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Colonial District

Address: Connaught Drive, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6736 6622 (Padang)
The Colonial District has reminders of the British supremacy of the 19th century, with its collection of well-preserved colonial buildings adding balance to Singapore's modern, glitzy side. This is a place of large spaces, grand buildings and important architectural attractions, including the Padang Cricket Pitch, City Hall, Parliament House, the Supreme Court and the Victoria Concert Hall.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Chinatown

Address: 335 Smith Street, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6372 0478
Chinatown is close to the Colonial District, yet couldn't be more different. It is a bustling neighbourhood of traditional Chinese quarters, consisting of a maze of streets with shop houses and vendors galore. Chinatown is good for handicraft shopping, as well as for eating traditional dim sum, and is a must-see during Chinese New Year.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Little India

Address: Serangoon Road, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Another buzzing part of Singapore is colourful Little India, just north of downtown. The attraction is the chaos of multicoloured shop houses, market vendors and the hubbub of Indian life in Singapore, and the best time to visit is in the evening and on Sundays. Both Serangoon and Bencoolen streets serve as the main thoroughfares and are good places to look for some authentic Indian cuisine.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Esplanade / Theatres on the Bay

Address: Esplanade, Singapore City, Republic of Singapore, SG
Located in the downtown district and just a short distance to the north of the river mouth, the stylish waterfront Esplanade is where you will find the vast Theatres on the Bay complex. There is much to do and see at this centre for the performing arts, including a Concert Hall with exceptional acoustics and a seating capacity of around 1,600 people, as well as a larger theatre capable of accommodating audiences of some 2,000. Also onsite is a well-stocked themed arts library and various outdoor theatre / performance spaces, while the Esplanade Mall is the place to come for shopping and eating. Opened towards the end of 2002, the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay cost an estimated SG$600 million.
Open hours: daily - hours vary according to performance
Admission: charge for most performances