I’ll be honest with you—I didn’t expect travel to Singapore to mess with my head the way it did.
I thought it’d be clean. Efficient. Maybe a little… stiff? Like a place where you whisper instead of laugh. Where rules are laminated and smiling feels scheduled.
LOL. Wrong.
Singapore is chaos wrapped in order. A city where a $2 hawker meal can emotionally destroy you (in a good way) and a futuristic light show happens casually after dinner like it’s no big deal. It’s a place where I kept saying, “Wait—this is still the same city?” about once every hour.
I’m a Queens kid. I grew up dodging puddles, listening to three languages on one subway ride, and eating food from places that barely have signs. So maybe that’s why Singapore felt… weirdly familiar. Different planet, same vibe.
Anyway. I made a list. Not a neat list. A human one. Here are 12 unmissable experiences in Singapore, told the way I’d tell you over coffee—interruptions, side stories, and all.
1. Get Emotionally Attached to Hawker Centers (Then Pretend You’re Not)
If you travel to Singapore and don’t eat at a hawker center, I don’t know what to tell you. That’s like going to NYC and skipping pizza because “you’re not hungry.”
I walked into Maxwell Food Centre thinking I’d grab “something light.”
Three meals later, I was sweating, smiling, and questioning every life choice that led me to believe mall food courts were acceptable.
Chicken rice. Laksa. Char kway teow. Satay that smelled so good I literally followed the smoke like a cartoon character floating on scent lines.
There’s this moment when you sit at a plastic table, elbow-to-elbow with strangers, and everyone’s silently focused on their food like it’s sacred. No small talk. Just chewing. Respectfully.
2. Marina Bay Sands (Yes, the Pool—Don’t Pretend You’re Above It)
Listen. I tried to be cool about it.
“I don’t need to see the infinity pool,” I said.
“I’ve seen pictures,” I said.
Then I stood at the top, city stretching out below me like a video game map, and I immediately shut up.
It’s ridiculous. Over-the-top. Slightly absurd. And absolutely worth it.
You don’t even need to stay there to enjoy the area. Walk around Marina Bay at night. The lights. The reflections. The vibes.
I stood there thinking, “How is this real life?” while also worrying if I left my phone on airplane mode for three days straight.
3. Gardens by the Bay Will Make You Feel Small (In a Nice Way)
Those giant Supertrees? Yeah. They’re not just Instagram bait.
I went during the evening light show, fully expecting a tourist trap moment. Instead, I just stood there with my mouth open like a confused raccoon.
Music. Lights. Metal trees glowing like they’re alive.
It felt futuristic but somehow calming. Like nature and technology called a truce.
I should probably be embarrassed, but I got a little emotional. Not crying. Just… misty. Is that worse?
4. Walk Orchard Road and Immediately Lose Track of Time
Orchard Road is shopping. But also… not just shopping?
It’s malls stacked on malls stacked on malls. Some feel luxury or chaotic. Some feel like you accidentally wandered into a spaceship food court.
I went in for socks.
I came out with no socks, a coffee I didn’t remember ordering, and a vague sense that three hours had passed.
You ever do that thing where you walk into a store just to “look” and then suddenly you’re holding a bag like, “Well. Guess this is my life now.”
Yeah.
5. Take the MRT and Feel Personally Attacked by How Efficient It Is
As someone who rides the NYC subway daily… this was humbling.
Trains on time. Clean platforms. Clear signs. No mysterious delays blamed on “signal problems.”
I kept waiting for something to go wrong. It never did.
At one point I whispered to myself, “Why is this so nice?” like it was suspicious.
Travel to Singapore will ruin public transportation for you. Just warning you now.
6. Chinatown Is Not One Thing—It’s Like Five Different Moods
Singapore’s Chinatown isn’t frozen in time. It’s alive. Changing. Layered.
One minute you’re walking past a temple with incense smoke drifting into the street. The next minute you’re staring at a neon cocktail bar playing 2000s hip-hop.
I ducked into a tiny shop selling tea and somehow left with life advice from a man who didn’t know my name.
That happens a lot here.
7. Little India Will Hit You With Color (And Smell—and Noise—in the Best Way)
Little India felt like my brain woke up.
Spices. Fabric. Gold jewelry glittering under fluorescent lights. Music blasting from shops like everyone agreed silence was canceled.
I stood there overwhelmed and happy and completely unsure which direction I was walking.
Eat here. Seriously. Eat everything. Even if you’re full. Especially if you’re full.
8. Sentosa Island Is Basically a Cheat Code
Beach. Theme parks. Cable cars. Resorts.
Sentosa feels like Singapore said, “You want fun? Fine. Here’s ALL of it.”
I took the cable car over and immediately regretted not doing it earlier. The view alone is worth the mild fear of heights.
It’s touristy. Yes. And sometimes touristy things are fun. Let them be fun.
9. Clarke Quay at Night Is Controlled Chaos
Bars. Music. River views. Neon everywhere.
It’s loud without being gross. Busy without feeling stressful.
I grabbed a drink, sat by the river, and people-watched like it was my job. Tourists dancing badly. Locals laughing. Someone definitely on their third round pretending they weren’t.
Honestly? Great energy.
10. Try at Least One Fancy Restaurant (Then Immediately Go Back to Hawker Food)
Singapore has insane fine dining. Michelin stars everywhere.
I splurged once. White tablecloth. Tiny portions. Food that looked like art.
It was amazing.
Then I went back to a hawker stall and spent $6 and felt equally satisfied.
That’s the magic here. No food hierarchy. Just good food.
11. Walk Without a Plan (Seriously, Just Wander)
Some of my favorite moments happened when I stopped trying to “do” Singapore.
Random side streets. Unexpected cafes. Murals I didn’t Google beforehand.
You don’t need a packed itinerary. The city rewards curiosity.
Also—safe. Like, walk at night without clutching your bag safe. Which, coming from Queens, felt illegal.
12. Realize Singapore Isn’t Just One Thing—and Neither Are You
This might sound cheesy. Sorry in advance.
Travel to Singapore made me think about identity. How cultures blend or rules and creativity can coexist. How a place can feel strict and warm at the same time.
It’s not just futuristic skyscrapers or street food or shopping.
It’s layers. Like people.
I left feeling lighter. Inspired. And very hungry again.
Outbound Links (Optional but Fun)
- Anthony Bourdain on Singapore food (worth revisiting)
