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Renowned for its incredible modern architecture, spectacular historic temples, and opulent shopping malls, Singapore is one of the most beautiful urban travel destinations in the world. It has a huge variety of tourist attractions that draw large crowds, but there are plenty of opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle when you seek out the city’s lesser-known attractions.
Here are 23 must-see hidden gems in Singapore to guide your exploration of this extraordinary city.
1. Raffles Marina Lighthouse
Photo Credit: nedla
- Website: www.rafflesmarina.com.sg/about/group-1/rm-lighthouse.html
- Address: 10 Tuas West Dr, Singapore
- Opening hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily
The lighthouse at Raffles Marina is one of Singapore’s last working lighthouses. It overlooks the Tuas Second Link, the causeway that connects the island with Malaysia. This is a scenic spot to visit at sunset, and there are some great restaurants to choose from nearby.
2. Haw Par Villa
- Website: www.hawparvilla.sg
- Address: 262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 9 am – 8 pm daily
Once known as Tiger Balm Gardens, the art deco Haw Par Villa was commissioned in the 1930s by a Burmese-Chinese philanthropist who filled the villa and grounds with mythological statues. It’s a weird and wonderful alternative to Singapore’s flash casinos.
3. Changi Chapel and Museum
Photo Credit: Sam DCruz
- Website: www.nhb.gov.sg/changichapelmuseum
- Address: 1000 Upper Changi Rd N, Singapore 507707
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday
Changi Chapel and Museum is a war museum dedicated to the impact of the Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II. The building once served as a prison camp where both civilians and prisoners of war were interned. The museum tells some of the prisoners’ stories to encourage visitors to remember and reflect on the impact of WWII.
4. Yunnan Garden
- Website: www.ntu.edu.sg
- Address: 12 Nanyang Dr, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24/7
Yunnan Garden in Jurong West is a great alternative to the Singapore Botanical Garden and the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome of Gardens by the Bay. With an 18-foot-tall waterfall at its center, it was inspired by traditional landscaped Chinese gardens and contains many features that pay homage to Chinese literature and culture.
5. Bollywood Farms
- Website: bollywoodfarms.com
- Address: 100 Neo Tiew Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm Thursday & Friday / 7 am – 6 pm Saturday & Sunday
Formerly known as Bollywood Veggies, Bollywood Farm produces high-quality, organic produce using sustainable practices. Follow the trail around the grounds to see fruit trees, vegetable patches, and a peaceful lotus pond.
6. Fort Canning Hill Battlebox
- Website: battlebox.com.sg
- Address: 262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm & 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm Wednesday to Sunday
The Battlebox is a former British underground command center built in 1936 and used to defend Singapore until it was surrendered to Japan in 1942. Learn about this monumental event in Singapore’s history by taking in the Battlebox’s exhibits and video presentations.
7. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Photo Credit: Kirsten Covington
- Website: kmspks.org
- Address: 88 Bright Hill Road, Singapore
- Opening hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily
This monastery, also known as Bright Hill Temple, is the largest of its kind in Singapore. It contains the Buddhist College of Singapore, a crematorium, and one of the largest indoor Buddha statues in Asia.
8. Changi Airport’s Butterfly Garden
- Website: changiairport.com/en/discover/attractions/butterfly-garden.html
- Address: 70 Airport Blvd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24/7
If this isn’t your first time in Singapore and you’ve already visited Changi Airport’s The Jewel (an impressive retail center), check out the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3 on your next visit. This two-story tropical garden is home to more than 1,000 butterflies with 40 species represented.
9. Fort Serapong
- Website: sentosa.com.sg/en/things-to-do/events/serapong-trail/
- Address: 54 Lakeshore View, Singapore
- Opening hours: Tours 9 am – 12 pm every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday
If you’re headed to Sentosa Island to enjoy its many theme parks, consider taking a trip to Fort Serapon, which lies deep in the forest surrounding Mount Serapong. Join a guided tour of the rugged Serapong Trail to experience this fascinating military fort complex, which is quickly being overtaken by nature.
10. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Photo Credit: Hanneke Wetzer
- Website: beta.nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/park-detail/sungei-buloh-wetland-reserve
- Address: 301 Neo Tiew Cres, Singapore
- Opening hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
This nature reserve is set within 130 acres of mangroves, mudflats, and secondary forest. Wander the boardwalks and viewing platforms to spot a huge array of unique wildlife thriving among the greenery. This is an important wintering site for migratory birds, and you can learn all about them at the reserve’s visitor center.
11. Sri Mariamman Temple
- Website: smt.org.sg
- Address: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 6 am – 12 pm & 6 pm – 9.00 pm daily
Although the majority of Singapore’s Hindu temples are found in Little India, Sri Mariamman lies in Chinatown. Having been founded in 1827, it is now a designated National Monument. This beautiful structure is adorned with sculptures of Hindu deities, cultural figures, and exotic beasts.
12. Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum
Photo Credit: EQRoy
- Website: turtle-tortoise.com
- Address: 81 Lor Chencharu, Singapore
- Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily except Tuesday
Singapore Zoo is a popular attraction but the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is a quirky alternative. More than 800 animals call it home with more than 50 different species represented, including the Malaysian giant river turtle and the vulnerable Indian star tortoise.
13. Merlion Statue
- Address: 1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24/7
The Merlion is Singapore’s official mascot. Its fish-like body represents the fishing village origins of the city, while the lion head represents the city’s original name “Singapura” which means “lion city” in Sanskrit. Visit Merlion Park, which overlooks Marina Bay, to see the iconic Merlion statue spouting water from its mouth.
14. Hawker Centres
Photo Credit: Matyas Rehak
Singapore, along with Hong Kong and Malaysia, is renowned for its hawker centers where you can pick up affordable, delicious street food. They are some of the best places to try authentic Singaporean dishes, particularly if you’re traveling on a budget. There are many hawker centers all over Singapore, but here are two hidden gems to check out.
Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre
- Website: chinatown.sg/dine/chinatown-complex-food-centre
- Address: 46 Smith St, Singapore
- Opening hours: 8 am – 9 pm daily except Tuesday
Chinatown Complex began life in 1981 when it housed 300 food stalls, but over the years it has expanded to accommodate 700. Some of the original Chinatown hawkers still operate in the complex’s very center.
Lau Pa Sat
- Website: laupasat.sg
- Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24/7
Lau Pa Sat began life as a wet market in 1894, and it retains some of its original Victorian filigree cast-iron features. Thanks to its location at the heart of Singapore’s business district, it becomes busy with local office workers at lunchtime.
15. Sultan Mosque
- Website: sultanmosque.sg
- Address: 3 Muscat St, Singapore
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5.30 pm Monday to Friday / 9 am – 12 pm Saturday
Sultan Mosque lies in Kampong Glam, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Singapore. Once primarily home to the city’s Muslim community, the area is now a melting pot of cultures from across the world. There are many historic buildings to admire here but Sultan Mosque is one of the most interesting. The base of its dome is comprised of hundreds of black soy sauce bottles.
16. MacRitchie Reservoir
Photo Credit: chonnikarnkamsing
- Address: Lornie Road, Central Water Catchment, Singapore
- Opening hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
MacRitchie Reservoir is bordered by some of Singapore’s last primary forest, and there’s a host of endangered bird and plant species here. Take a relaxing walk along the water’s edge or rent kayaks to enjoy a boat ride well away from the city’s skyscrapers and urban streets.
17. Crystal Pavilions at Marina Bay Sands
- Address: 2 Bayfront Ave, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24/7 to view / Louis Vuitton Store: 10.30 am – 11 pm daily
There’s a lot of impressive architecture to admire in Marina Bay, but don’t miss the Crystal Pavilions, which look like two floating glass islands. Admire them at any time from the outside, or visit the Louis Vuitton store to see what one of these unique buildings looks like from the inside.
18. Lower Seletar Reservoir Park
Photo Credit: DerekTeo
- Address: Yishun Ave 1, Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, Singapore
- Opening hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
The quiet neighborhood of Seletar is home to many sleek restaurants, cozy cafes, and relaxing green spaces. Its reservoir park is a wonderful spot to enjoy nature. It has a rain garden, water play areas, a fishing jetty, and much more. Combine your visit with a trip to nearby Kampong Lorong Buangkok, mainland Singapore’s last remaining traditional village.
19. Coney Island Park
- Address: Punggol Promenade Nature Walk, Singapore
- Opening hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
This 328-acre island lies off Singapore’s northeastern coast between the mainland and Pulau Ubin. It’s a rustic, sustainable park rich in plant and animal life. Walk along its boardwalks to admire mangroves and swamps.
20. Shophouses on Koon Seng Road
Photo Credit: TravellingFatman
- Address: Koon Seng Road, Singapore
- Opening hours: 24 /7
Koon Seng Road’s pastel heritage shophouses date back to the 1920s. You’ll see Chinese, Malay, Peranakan, and European influences in their design.
21. Gillman Barracks
- Address: 9 Lock Rd, Singapore
- Opening hours: 9 am – 11 pm daily
These former military barracks are now home to multiple art galleries featuring works from local and international artists. If you’re visiting Singapore in January, be sure to check out the annual Art Stage Singapore which is a celebration of Southeast Asian art that takes place here.
22. Bugis Street
Photo Credit: 2p2play
- Address: 261 Victoria St, Singapore
- Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily
Bugis Street is a shopping haven and one of the most affordable places to find clothes, accessories, and souvenirs in Singapore. It’s easily accessible by the Bugis MRT station.
23. Bumboats at Changi Point Ferry Terminal
- Address: Changi Point Ferry Terminal, 51 Lor Bekukong, Singapore
- Opening hours: Ferry Terminal 5.00 am – 1.00 am daily / Bumboat schedules vary
Bumboats are traditional, low-slung vessels that were once used to transport commercial goods around Singapore. Now, they’re primarily used as water taxis and private tour vessels. Join a bumboat cruise along the Singapore River to admire the city’s skyscrapers and landmarks from a unique perspective.
Discover Singapore’s Must-Visit Hidden Gems
These sights are sure to take you off the beaten path and help you get to know Singapore in all its glory. Which of these attractions do you plan to check out on your visit to this corner of Southeast Asia?
