Things to Do in Singapore 2026 — Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa, Hawker Food & More

Destination Guide

A City-State That Punches Above Its Size

Singapore is small, spotless and superbly connected — which makes it both the ideal stopover between Australia and Europe or Asia, and a rewarding short break on its own. Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures meet in its temples, street art and, above all, its food.

Named one of the top cultural destinations for 2026, the Little Red Dot has just added a run of major new attractions. Here's how to make the most of two to four days.

🛂 Entry & fees — 2026

Australian passport holders visit visa-free; you must submit the free SG Arrival Card online within three days before you arrive, and hold a passport valid for at least six months. New for 2026: the expanded Singapore Oceanarium, the IMBA Theatre at Gardens by the Bay, the Disney Adventure cruise ship homeported at Marina Bay, and Rainforest Wild Adventure at Mandai. Confirm current entry rules before booking. General information only, not travel advice.

12 of the Best Things to Do in Singapore

Supertrees and skylines, hawker feasts and new-for-2026 attractions — the experiences that make a great Singapore stopover.

🌳Marina Bay

Marina Bay

Gardens by the Bay

The city's signature sight — the towering Supertrees (lit nightly in the free Garden Rhapsody show), the misty Cloud Forest with its indoor waterfall, and the cool Flower Dome.

Tip: Time your visit for the 7:45pm Garden Rhapsody light-and-sound show beneath the Supertrees.

🌃Marina Bay

Marina Bay

Marina Bay & the Skyline

The postcard heart of the city — the SkyPark observation deck atop Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion, and the nightly Spectra light-and-water show across the bay.

Tip: Walk the bayfront promenade at dusk for the skyline, then catch the free Spectra show.

🍜Citywide

Dishes at a bustling Singapore hawker centre

Citywide

Feast at a Hawker Centre

Singapore's soul is on a plate — chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice, laksa and satay at hawker centres like Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell, some of the best cheap eats on earth.

Tip: Follow the longest local queues, and 'chope' (reserve) a seat with a packet of tissues, as locals do.

🎢Sentosa

Sentosa

Sentosa Island

The resort island of theme parks and beaches — Universal Studios (with its Minion Land zone), a scenic cable car, luge rides and the sands of Siloso and Palawan.

Tip: Buy Universal tickets ahead; the cable car in is more fun than the boardwalk or monorail.

🦈Sentosa

Sentosa

Singapore Oceanarium

Newly reborn and three times larger, the Oceanarium is one of the world's biggest aquariums — a headline 2026 opening with vast ocean tanks and one of the largest jelly habitats anywhere.

Tip: A great rainy-afternoon or with-kids option; pair it with the rest of Sentosa.

🦁Mandai

Mandai

Mandai Wildlife Parks

A cluster of world-class parks — the open-concept Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Bird Paradise, and the newly opened Rainforest Wild Adventure, plus the pioneering Night Safari after dark.

Tip: Do the Night Safari for something different; buy a multi-park pass if you're visiting more than one.

🏮Citywide

Colourful shophouses in a heritage district of Singapore

Citywide

Chinatown, Little India & Kampong Glam

The city's cultural quarters — temples and dim sum in Chinatown, garlands and spice in Little India, and the street art, boutiques and mosque of Malay-Arab Kampong Glam.

Tip: Each has a distinct food scene — graze your way through all three across a day.

🍸City Hall

The colonial facade of Raffles Hotel, Singapore

City Hall

A Singapore Sling at Raffles

Sip the cocktail where it was invented, in the Long Bar of the storied colonial-era Raffles Hotel — a peanut-shells-on-the-floor institution and a slice of old Singapore.

Tip: It's a splurge, but a classic; go for the history as much as the drink.

🛍️Orchard

Orchard

Orchard Road Shopping

The city's famous retail belt — a tree-lined run of malls and flagship stores, plus the basement 'depachika' food halls that are a destination in their own right.

Tip: Duck into the department-store food basements for some of the best (and coolest) eating on the strip.

💧Changi

Changi

Jewel Changi Airport

The world's best airport doubles as an attraction — the four-storey Rain Vortex indoor waterfall, a canopy park and gardens, all worth a visit even on a layover.

Tip: Build in a couple of extra hours on your way out to actually explore Jewel.

🌿Henderson

Henderson

The Southern Ridges Walk

A leafy escape from the city — a treetop walkway linking hilltop parks, including the sculptural Henderson Waves bridge, with views over the harbour and skyline.

Tip: Walk it early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat; it's free and family-friendly.

🌙Mandai

Mandai

Night Safari

The world's first nocturnal wildlife park — explore by tram or on foot along dimly lit trails as lions, tapirs and pangolins go about their after-dark business.

Tip: Book an earlier timeslot and do the walking trails as well as the tram for the best of it.

Beyond the City

A little more time? These add depth to a Singapore stop.

Pulau UbinA boat ride to old-kampong island life and mangrove trails.

National GallerySoutheast Asia's art in a grand restored civic building.

Katong / Joo ChiatPeranakan shophouses, laksa and colourful heritage streets.

Haw Par VillaA gloriously offbeat park of Chinese-mythology dioramas.

Johor BahruMalaysia across the causeway — a new rail link is due late 2026.

BintanA quick ferry to Indonesian beach resorts off Singapore.

Practical Singapore

🗓 When to go

Singapore is a year-round destination — hot, humid and tropical, with short showers possible any time. It's slightly drier February–April and wettest around December. It works perfectly as a 2–4 day stopover in any season.

📅 How long

2–4 days covers the highlights and makes an ideal stopover, or an easy pairing with Malaysia, Bali or a Bintan beach break.

🏨 Where to base

Base in Marina Bay for the attractions and skyline, Orchard for shopping, or characterful Chinatown or Kampong Glam — everything is close by MRT.

🚗 Getting around

The MRT is fast, cheap and spotless — tap in with a contactless card. Grab handles door-to-door trips, and the city is genuinely walkable in the cool of the morning and evening.

Singapore — FAQ

What is the best time to visit Singapore?

Singapore is a year-round destination — hot and humid with short tropical showers possible any time. It's slightly drier from February to April and wettest around December, but the weather rarely disrupts a trip, and it makes an ideal stopover in any season.

How many days do you need in Singapore?

Two to four days covers the highlights and makes an ideal stopover. It also pairs easily with Malaysia, Bali or a short Bintan beach break if you have longer.

Do Australians need a visa for Singapore?

No — Australian passport holders visit visa-free, but you must submit the free SG Arrival Card online within three days before arrival, and hold a passport valid for at least six months. Confirm current requirements before you travel.

Is Singapore a good stopover?

One of the best — Changi Airport is world-leading (and an attraction in itself), the city is compact and easy, and two or three days is enough to see the highlights on the way to or from Europe or Asia.

Is Singapore good for families?

Excellent — it's safe, clean and easy to get around, with Sentosa's theme parks, the Mandai wildlife parks and Night Safari, the new Singapore Oceanarium, and Gardens by the Bay all high on the list for kids.

How do you get around Singapore?

The MRT metro is fast, cheap and spotless — just tap in with a contactless or EZ-Link card. Grab covers door-to-door trips, and much of the city is walkable, especially in the cooler morning and evening hours.

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