We only just made our flight. Despite leaving in plenty of time, we arrived 20 mins before boarding closed. M25 you are a fugly slut.
After 4 hours in the car, I’d resigned myself to missing the flight and had started googling to see if our travel insurance would cover us getting new flights (abso no they wouldn’t). But by some miracle we got through security in record time.
Any hope of aesthetic airport pics or an extravagant airport lounge lunch was destroyed so I ended up with a Starbys toastie and red wine in a plastic cup. She is beauty, she is grace.
Sorry I’ll stop yapping now and be useful just had to set the scene iykyk.
Singapore Travel Guide: Changi Airport
Let’s be honest, airports are soul-sucking pits of despair. But Changi Airport in Singapore? That’s a whole different story.
Having not slept on the flight, I emerged from the plane, resembling a creature from a B-movie horror film. But then I stumbled into the world’s tallest indoor waterfall…
Is this real life? I wondered, clutching my passport like a security blanket. Maybe I’d died and gone to… well, an airport with a waterfall, apparently.
This place basically has everything you could ever want: a forest, a butterfly garden (because butterflies?) spa’s, shops, slides and even a 24-hour cinema – the perfect place to catch some z’s imo.
Sadly, we only had a few days in Singers, so the airport visit was fleeting and once we’d grabbed our luggage it was time to head into the city. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is apparently super convenient and cheap, but we grabbed a taxi which cost roughly £28 because I couldn’t walk in a straight line (see lack of sleep).
Travel tip: Get to the airport early on your way back and wait for your flight in the pool… I kid you not. How to find the airport pool: https://www.changiairport.com/en/at-changi/facilities-and-services-directory/swimming-pool-with-jacuzzi.html
Singapore Travel Guide: Where to stay
Forget jetlag, the Mondrian Singapore Duxton will slap you awake with an explosion of style in the heart of Duxton Hill.
Walking into the Mondrian Singapore was like stepping into a Jo Malone perfume bottle. Chic furniture, lush greenery and that killer Singaporean humidity had me feeling like I was in a rainforest.
The time difference had me wrecked, but this hotel was an instant mood booster – the coffee also helped. With a restaurant, cafe, bars, a rooftop pool, and even a club they have everything you could possibly need, but as the only clubs I’m into these days are sandwiches, by 11pm I was officially horizontal and horizontal only.
My only regret is not booking a longer stay to lounge around and soak in the sunsets by the pool but as usual there was a whole bunch of things to see and no time, enter the itinerary…
Travel tip: Stay here: Mondrian Singapore Duxton | Modern Luxury | Mondrian Hotels
Maxwells Hawker Centre
Concrete jungle where snacks are made of. That didn’t even make sense but make sure you start your day with a traditional Singaporean breakfast at a hawker center. Or realistically lunch if, like me, you like to play the snooze game. These open-air food courts are a dime a dozen in Singapore, and they’re the best places to try local specialties like chicken rice, satay, and chili crab – prices range from £1-4 per dish.
Travel tip: If like me you don’t tend to carry cash, download the GrabPay app and preload money onto it to pay (they don’t take regular card payments and this will save you a bunch of translation trouble).
Singapore Travel Guide: Gardens by the Bay
Avatar or Singapore? The park’s iconic Supertrees, towering vertical gardens, and stunning conservatories create a dramatic afternoon of explores, and the best part about visiting – it’s free. You can easily spend 4-5 hours here strolling the waterfront promenades, supertree groves and heritage gardens. And not to be all “see it, say it sorted” but take some water with you, nobody likes a dehydrated queen.
While entrance to the park itself is free, you’ll need to purchase tickets for attractions like the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, and OCBC Skyway. We visited the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome which included an impressive Monet experience (£45pp) which was 110% worth doing. We swerved the OCBC skyway, because I’m vertically challenged enough without adding a 22metre viewpoint into the mix.
Travel tip: Stop by in the evening for the free light and sound show – twice nightly at 7:45pm & 8:45pm
Satay Street
Picture this: Early evening at the Canary Wharf food markets, the sun is setting on a skyline of glass buildings stacked against a candy pink sky, wafts of exchange rate waffle, mixed with Dior Sauvage and truffle fries’ envelopes you, as you dodge a stray wink from Barnaby the broker…
Now remove the gilets, dramatically reduce the cost of food, add in the aroma of sizzling skewers, swap the flashy watches for a glowing tan and indulge in easy chatter in a shared dining experience set against a forest of steel and glass, and you have Satay Street.
Open from 7pm-3am – we headed to Satay Street for a quick bite after a long day of explores after not being able to resist the smoke signals of peanut sauce slathered over grilled meat and there were no regrets.
Travel tip: You can generally expect to pay around £1.50 to £2.50 per skewer. While some stalls accept card it’s a good idea to have some cash on you (ATMs are located near Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat).
Raffles
A historical luxury hotel infamous for birthing the Singapore Sling in 1915 and hosting famous writers, including Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway and now me, ahem.
Head to the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling and enjoy interiors inspired by Malayan life in the 1920s’s. Embrace the unique tradition of tossing peanut shells on the floor – a quirky custom exclusive to the Long Bar (and potentially the only place littering is encouraged in Singapore).
You’ll expect to pay around £22 for a cocktail at Raffles and there’s likely to be a queue, but as the bar is set over two-storey’s you’ll get seated pretty quickly. Is it spenny and a bit of a tourist trap? Yezzir. Would I go back because they give you a whole sack of monkey nuts to munch whilst sipping your sling. Also, big yes.
Travel tip: Make sure you have a go at cranking the iconic “Singapore Sling Shaker” machine on the bar which allows you to shake what your mamma gave you and mix multiple cocktails at once. A must do for the cocktail aficionados amongst you.
Singapore Travel Guide: Little India
Averaging 20k-20k steps a day in Singaporean heat is no joke especially after a cocktail at Raffles but a girl gotta eat, and where better than taking a dip into Indian culture right in the heart of the city.
Hashtag no filter needed; Little India is a technicolour dream. Think saffron yellow shops, fiery orange drapes, and ruby red street signs. It really is sensory overload in the best way possible! The air is filled with an eclectic mix of Bollywood music and scents of fresh turmeric and cardamon ready to get your appetite typing.
Don’t miss the Tekka Centre, a bustling wet market where you can feast on murtabak (savoury stuffed pancakes) and roti prata (flaky Indian flatbreads). Between mouthfuls, wander through the ornate Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and soak in the spiritual vibes.
Travel tip: Download a taxi app like Grab. Singapore’s public transport is fab, but sometimes you’ll want to hop between the many delicious hawker centres scattered throughout the neighbourhood.
Marina Bay Sands & Marina boulevard
Initially I wanted to stay at Marina Bay Sands but being pretty darn scared of heights paying £800 a night to be terrified in an infinity pool 191 meters above sea level seemed a tad ridiculous even by my standards.
Although we vetoed the stay, a visit to Singapore wouldn’t be complete without exploring Marina Bay Sands with its unique design of three soaring towers crowned by a gravity-defying “ship” holding the iconic SkyPark and Infinity Pool.
A stroll along the Marina Boulevard is also a must. The boulevard is within walking distance of the Singapore ArtScience Museum, the National Gallery Singapore, and the Esplanade. Head here for golden hour to enjoy the iconic skyline views with a cocktail. Trust me, your Instagram feed will thank you.
Travel tip: Shop till you drop at “The Shoppes” located inside Marina Bay Sands, home to practically every shop you can think of, or glide through the Gucci-lined canals on a sampan and see the latest Hermes collection by boat.
Singapore Travel Guide: Chinatown
Where the air smells like a delicious fight between a durian and a spice rack. As I wandered through the maze of stalls, the aroma of sizzling char kway teow and fragrant laksa practically sent a text straight to my stomach.
Forget your boring, beige shopping malls – this is where you need to eat. With overflowing markets with enough jade to make Elizabeth Taylor jealous, incense that’ll clear your sinuses faster than a breakup text, and enough street food to feed a small army it’s a straight up serve.
Keep an eye out for the stunning Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, and the majestic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where you can almost hear the whispers of ancient wisdom. And let’s face it I need all the wisdom I can get with my questionable decision making.
Travel tip: Skip the tourist traps and head to the back alleys for the most authentic and delicious hawker stalls.
Singapore River Cruise
No trip to Singapore is complete without a boat trip. We took a river cruise on a bumboat (behave) from Clarke Quay, and it was flipping magic. It takes roughly 40 mins and takes you across the river to Boat Quay and Marina Quay finishing off back at Clarke Quay.
The Singapore River itself is incredible at night. All lit up and shimmering like a scene out of Blade Runner it’s the perfect vantage point to see the cities iconic landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, and the Merlion.
Travel tip: You can see the route you’ll take here: https://rivercruise.com.sg/ tickets can be purchased in advance on site (roughly £23pp) would 100% recommend cruising at night for the extra wow factor.
3 days in Singapore: Isn’t enough…
I didn’t expect to love Singapore as much as I did, and although chewing gum and CBD oil are banned (there goes my anxiety coping mechanisms lol) l left wanting more. As always, hope you enjoyed my Singapore travel guide and if there’s anything I’ve missed or you have any questions about the activities, weather, what to pack etc. pop me a DM on insta. Ciao bella x
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