First Time in Singapore? 10 Experiences You MUST Do in Singapore!

Visiting Singapore for the first time?

Singapore may be small, but there is a lot to see. Modern skyscrapers, colorful neighborhoods, beautiful gardens, temples, amazing food and different cultures all come together in one city.

Singapore is also very easy to explore. But there is a big difference between simply seeing a place and understanding what makes it special.

Here are 10 experiences you shouldn’t miss on your first trip to Singapore — and if you want to get more from them, let one of our fantastic Fiesta Tours local guides show you the stories behind the places you visit.

1. Explore Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam

If you want to understand Singapore, start with its historic neighborhoods.

Explore the temples and traditional shophouses of Chinatown, experience the colors and energy of Little India, and discover the beautiful Sultan Mosque and historic streets of Kampong Glam.

You can easily visit these neighborhoods alone, but many of their best stories are hidden in plain sight.

Want a better experience? Explore them with one of our Fiesta Tours guides. We’ll show you the small details, explain the different cultures and religions, and help you understand how these communities helped create modern Singapore.

2. See the Merlion and Marina Bay

Yes, the Merlion is touristy.

But it’s your first time in Singapore. You have to get that photo!

From Merlion Park, you’ll also get a fantastic view of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore’s famous skyline.

Don’t take your photo and immediately leave. Walk around Marina Bay and explore the surrounding area.

Want to know what you’re actually looking at? Let one of our guides take you through the area. Behind Singapore’s futuristic skyline is an incredible story of how a small trading port became one of the world’s most successful cities.

3. Eat at a Hawker Centre

You haven’t really experienced Singapore until you’ve eaten at a hawker centre.

Try chicken rice, laksa, satay, roti prata or char kway teow. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never heard of.

Hawker centres are also one of the best places to eat well without spending a fortune.

But walking into a busy hawker centre for the first time can be confusing. What should you order? Which stall should you choose? And what exactly is that thing everyone else seems to be eating?

Come hungry and let us help. Our guides can introduce you to local favorites, explain the dishes and help make your first hawker centre experience much easier — and much more delicious.

4. Experience Gardens by the Bay

The giant Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay are one of Singapore’s most famous sights.

The outdoor gardens are free to explore, while attractions such as Cloud Forest and Flower Dome require tickets.

Try visiting in the late afternoon so you can experience the gardens during the day and after sunset.

5. See Singapore at Night

Singapore becomes a different city after dark.

Watch Garden Rhapsody beneath the Supertrees before heading towards Marina Bay Sands to see Spectra, the outdoor light and water show.

Then simply enjoy the skyline.

It’s one of the best evenings you can have in Singapore.

Want us to make the evening easy? Join one of our customised experiences and let our guides take care of the route while you enjoy the city, hear the stories and discover some of Singapore’s best nighttime views.

6. Visit Singapore’s Temples

Singapore has beautiful Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist and Muslim places of worship.

You’ll find some of the most interesting ones in Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.

But here’s the problem.

It’s very easy to walk inside, take three photos and walk back out without having any idea what you’ve just seen.

This is where a local guide completely changes the experience.

Our Fiesta Tours guides can explain the symbols, traditions and stories behind these places in simple language. Suddenly, something you might have spent five minutes looking at becomes one of the most interesting parts of your trip.

7. Escape to the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Need a break from the skyscrapers?

Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walk through tropical gardens, relax beside the lakes and enjoy a quieter side of the city. The main gardens are free, while the National Orchid Garden requires a ticket.

You can happily wander around by yourself.
Or let one of our guides bring the gardens to life, showing you interesting plants, explaining Singapore’s relationship with nature and sharing stories you would probably never discover walking alone.

8. Ride the MRT Like a Local

Yes, we’re putting public transport on the list!

Singapore’s MRT is clean, fast, affordable and incredibly easy to use once you understand it.

And you really don’t need to take taxis everywhere.

Our guides use Singapore’s public transport too. On many of our walking tours, we’ll show you how easy it is to move around the city using the MRT and buses.

After that, you’ll feel much more confident exploring Singapore by yourself for the rest of your holiday.

9. Try Something You’ve Never Eaten Before

Be adventurous with food in Singapore.

Have kaya toast for breakfast. Order a kopi at a local coffee shop. Try satay. Discover Peranakan flavors. And if you’re feeling particularly brave, there’s always durian!

Don’t understand the difference between kopi, kopi-o and kopi-c?

You’re definitely not the first visitor!

Ask your Fiesta Tours guide. Food is a huge part of Singapore’s culture, and our guides love helping visitors discover what to eat, where to find it and how to order it.

You might even discover your new favorite dish.

10. Take a Walking Tour Early in Your Trip

This might be the most useful tip on the entire list.

Don’t wait until your last day to take a walking tour.

Do it near the beginning of your Singapore holiday.

Why?

Because a good local guide doesn’t just show you attractions.

We help you understand the city.

You’ll learn about Singapore’s history, cultures, religions, food and everyday life. You can ask questions, get recommendations and learn how to use public transport.

Then you can use everything you’ve learned to explore Singapore by yourself for the rest of your trip.

At Fiesta Tours Singapore, we don’t want our tours to feel like a classroom.

We want them to feel like you’re exploring Singapore with a knowledgeable local friend.

Ask questions. Take photos. Try food. Learn some history. Have a laugh.

That’s what travel should be about.

How Many Days Do You Need in Singapore?

For your first visit, 3 to 4 days is a good amount of time to experience many of Singapore’s highlights.

Explore Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. See Marina Bay. Visit Gardens by the Bay. Eat at a hawker centre. Ride the MRT. Explore the gardens and experience Singapore after dark.

But don’t spend your entire holiday rushing from attraction to attraction.

Some of Singapore’s best experiences happen between the famous sights.

The old shophouses.

The tiny temples.

The food stalls.

The side streets.

The stories you’d never know were there.

See Singapore Differently with Fiesta Tours

You can visit every place on this list by yourself.

Singapore is safe, easy to navigate and a fantastic city to explore independently.

But if you want to understand what you’re seeing instead of simply looking at it, let us show you around.

Our fantastic Fiesta Tours guides know the streets, the stories, the food and the little details that most visitors walk straight past.

We’ll show you the famous Singapore.

We’ll also show you the Singapore you might otherwise miss.

Because years after your holiday, you probably won’t remember every building you photographed.

But you’ll remember the stories behind them.