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The island city-state of Singapore is a must-visit for travelers of all kinds whether you are an urban explorer, foodie, or adventure-seeker. As a society built on a mixture of cultures, Singapore celebrates many festivals throughout the year that are occasions to have a glimpse of diverse traditions.

Following Bali, our trip to Singapore was the second part of my sister’s birthday celebrations earlier in September. We stayed 4 days in this buzzing city, read on to find out what to expect for a first-time visit to Singapore and tips to plan your own trip.

When is the best time to visit Singapore?

The Lion City experiences hot and humid weather all year long. True to its location in Southeast Asia, Singapore has a dry season and wet season. During the dry season from February to August, you can expect to catch some rains but less than other months of the year. However, due to burning in nearby Sumatra, it is common to observe smoke and haze in the sky from May to August.

National Day and religious events such as Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan, have a major impact on transportation and accommodation rates. Take this in the count when planning your trip to Singapore.

We had a short stay in Singapore in mid-September during the wet season and luckily we did not experience any rainfall. Also, we left right before the famous Grand Prix that affects hotel rates and traffic in the city center. The best time to visit Singapore depends on the type of experience you want to live in terms of weather, festivals, and religious events to name a few.

How to get around in Singapore?

You can visit all the sightseeing and get around Singapore via its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). This modern and clean underground network has lines that cover all areas of the city. MRT also offers bus routes, which is a convenient way to enjoy Singapore architecture. Once you arrive at your desired station or bus stop, you can easily walk around.

Where to stay in Singapore?

Despite Singapore being among the world’s most expensive cities to live in, there is a wide range of accommodations to opt for from luxury hotels to budget guesthouses. Also, thanks to its diversity and cultural background, Singapore has many unique neighborhoods such as colorful Little India, historic Chinatown, or impressive Marina Bay.

For a first-time visit in this tiny island city-state, we would recommend to chose a central location as Colonial District, Marina Bay, or the Quays so you can easily walk to nearby attractions.

We stayed at the 5-star Ritz-Carlton Millenia set in Marina Bay with sweeping Singapore views. We had a deluxe suite with a separate bedroom and living room, a luxurious marble bathroom, and a panoramic view of Marina Bay.

In addition to fine Cantonese cuisine served at the one Michelin-starred Summer Pavilion, the Ritz-Carlton Millenia also invites you to rejuvenate your senses with luxurious spa treatments. Devoted to wellness and beauty, the spa offers an extensive menu of massages; La Mer facials and ESPA body therapies. We spent an entire afternoon relaxing and reviving at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, it was divine!

5 restaurants to try in Singapore for plant-based dining

Despite that we prefer vegan restaurants to avoid having to worry about meat or dairy in our food, we have to admit that Singapore has interesting plant-based options in vegetarian and regular restaurants. Here are 5 restaurants to try in Singapore offering delightful vegan food.

Wholesome Savour

Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day. You can count on Wholesome Savour to get you covered with healthy vegan breakfast items. Located inside Palais Renaissance building on Orchard Road, Wholesome Savour serves delicious and simple vegan food packed with nutrients. Moreover, all ingredients are ethically sourced in their most natural form to create chef-inspired dishes.

I opted for the Abj Pancakes made of buckwheat banana pancakes served with seasonal fruits, coconut whip, almond butter and chocolate sauce. My sister went with a lighter meal by choosing the superfood Skinny Avocado smoothie bowl.

Besides to be tasty, each item has unique health benefits such as increasing metabolism, uplifting mood, and much more.

Afterglow by Anglow

If you plan to explore Chinatown, why not stop at Afterglow by Anglow for lunch? Located on Keong Siak road, this health-conscious restaurant offers a menu sourced from local farms and food artisans. In addition to the dining experience, Afterglow provides food workshops with renowned personalities to inspire you to make your own food.

They recently launched a new menu and some items that we tried during our lunch are still available as for example the Teriyaki Meatballs made of mushroom and the Bruschetta assorted with pesto and salsa.

It is worth trying and we will be back for more next time!

Herbivore

Another interesting option for lunch, if you are around the Colonial District is Herbivore by Zen Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant. Herbivore serves vegetarian cuisine featuring a wide variety of choices using organic ingredients.

The menu is presented on a tablet with pictures of each item and a legend indicating if it’s dairy-free or gluten-free. From vegan sushis to mock meat, everything was delicious. Herbivore proves that vegetarian cuisine does not mean that you have to give up on tasty food.

Chef’s Table at the Capella Hotel

Afternoon tea is one of our rituals when my sister and I are reunited. Since it was her birthday, we were looking for an upscale restaurant where we could celebrate this special occasion. While browsing on Google, I read on Buro blog that Chef’s Table at the Capella Hotel located on Sentosa Island offers vegan afternoon tea on demand every Friday.

I contacted the Capella team to make a reservation and luckily we found a table at our desired time. Set up in home-style kitchen, Chef’s Table has a dining space for up to 20 people and menus are prepared live to immerse guests in a gastronomic experience.

The five-course menu started on a savory note with crispy bean curd, rice paper roll made of tempeh and Portobello mushroom, and cucumber roulade. My favorite instant was the blueberry and cashew cheesecake that was perfectly creamy and rich. We finish on a sweet and fresh note with a lemongrass-infused aloe vera gelée.

Among all the afternoon tea we have tried in 5-star hotels, Chef’s Table is the best I had so far. Check out our Singapore story on Instagram for the highlights of this gourmet experience.

Empress

Located in the iconic Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress is a Chinese restaurant offering a lively dining experience in a contemporary setting with both indoor and outdoor alfresco options by the Singapore River.

Among their menus, they have a vegetarian menu a la carte featuring plant-based options. We started with a teapot soup, pan-fried gyoza, wok-charred broccoli salad, and crispy bean curd.  For the main, we opted for the fried brown rice medley and the wok-charred cauliflower. We ended up with a sweet matcha cake made of a chocolate cookie base and topped with a mousse of green tea and coconut, absolutely gorgeous!

Overall, Empress exceeded our expectations – the place is lovely and the food is good. We also loved the jazz music playing in the background.

What to do in Singapore?

It is not an easy task choosing what to do in Singapore when visiting for the first time. There are so many things to do and see from impressive attractions to the lively cultural neighborhood. Whenever you are in Singapore for a stopover or a longer trip, here are suggestions of things you do not want to miss.

Gardens by the Bay

Explore plant life from around the world at Gardens by the Bay. This huge and colorful award-winning park is a fun destination for both adults and children. The park is open daily from 5 am to 2 am and admissions to the outdoor gardens are free, while charges apply to the Cooled Conservatories, Floral Fantasy and OCBC Skyway (ticket starts at 8SGD = 5.3EUR/7.7CAD).

When night falls, the Supertrees come to life with a spectacular light and sound show at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm. If you want to enjoy this magical atmosphere a bit longer, you can choose between one of the dining options offered on-site featuring local delights and international flavors.

MacRitchie Reservoir Park

The MacRitchie Reservoir Park is an ideal spot for nature lovers with 12-hectare of greeneries. The park is a great place for recreational activities, both on land and in water, like bird watching, hiking, kayaking and canoeing. The park entrance is free and you can rent equipment on-site for water sports.

For those who are not afraid of heights, you should hike over to the Treetop Walk. This 250 meters long freestanding suspension bridge towers 25 meters above the jungle forest floor. Adrenaline rush guaranty!

Marina Bay Sands

During the day, enjoy a walk around the Marina Bay where you will admire the famous Merlion Park on Fullerton Promenade. Around 6 pm find a spot on the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade to watch the sunset.

Later at 8 pm discover the magic of Spectra, a free nightly outdoor displayed over the water. This 15-minute show is a beautiful symphony of dancing fountain jets, colorful visual projections, and mist effects that tells a story. Finish your evening with a drink on the Marina Bay Sands rooftop.

ArtScience Museum

Once strolling around Marina Bay, it is difficult to miss The ArtScience Museum designed like a white lotus flower. This museum hosts international exhibitions exploring the mix of technology and culture. FutureWorld: Where art meets science is their permanent exhibit that has become very famous through social media.

If you have time, we also recommend visiting the National Gallery and the National Museum, which are great places to have an overview of Singapore’s local culture and history.

Cultural neighborhoods

A rich part of Singapore’s heritage lies in its cultural neighborhoods: Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam.

In Chinatown, get lost in the narrow streets and immerse in Chinese culture and tradition. Stop at the Chinatown Heritage Centre on Padoga Street for a glimpse of early life in Singapore. Before leaving Chinatown, visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum set on 4 floors (do not miss the rooftop) to learn about Buddhist culture. Admission to the temple and weekly-guided tours are free of charge.

Located east of the Singapore River, Little India is one of the smallest districts in Singapore and many of the best things to see there are within walking distance from one another. Little India has a lot of colorful buildings and religious sites including Hindu and Buddhist temples. A feast for the eyes!

Known as the Malay-Muslim quarter, Kampong Glam has a rich history, living traditions, and excellent eateries. Main streets to explore there include Haji Lane, Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street where you will find rows of conserved shophouses, colorful graffiti-tagged, restaurants, and the well-known Sultan Mosque.

Sentosa Island

We went to Sentosa Island for the afternoon tea at the Capella Hotel where we had a delightful experience. Located 15 minutes away from the city center, Sentosa Island is a recreation destination featuring forest adventures, sandy beaches, the Universal Studios amusement park, and much more.

Orchard Road

In the heart of Singapore, Orchard Road is one of the city’s most iconic streets. This sparkling shopping avenue is filled with shining shopping malls, restaurants and hotels.  Even if you do not plan to do shopping, just go there to enjoy a short walk and feel the bursting city atmosphere.

Our stay in Singapore was very short but next time we visit we plan to cycle around the island, explore Singapore’s niche museums, catch a local performance, and head to one of the offshore islands of Singapore archipelago for a day trip.

To conclude, here are additional tips to prepare your trip to Singapore:

• Money – the local currency is the Singapore Dollar (1 SGD = 0.65 EUR/0.96 CAD).
• Entry Requirements for tourism – Canadian and French citizens do not need a visa (free entry, maximum stay 30 days).
• Safety – due to the strict rules and regulations against crimes, Singapore is very safe for solo or group traveler.
• Chewing gum – be aware that chewing gum is subject to strict regulations. As a visitor, you are allowed to bring chewing gum with you but make sure to chew discreetly and discard it carefully.

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