Howie721

Battlebox museum is a short 2 hour thing to do

JHattery

http://wikitravel.org/en/Singapore

Guy Betsy

There really is nothing better to do than to EAT in Singapore...!

So much to try... with each local person's preference differ from the next. Don't bother with the Western stuff. Try everything local if you can cos you won't be able to get the really home grown food here anywhere else in the world.

Just Google "Singapore Food" and see for yourself!

1stClassFamily

I am planning a 5 days stay in Singapore in Jan before traveling to Taipei to give my 5 years old an authentic Chinese New Year experience in Asia. I guess I am now a "convert" by this thread to have Singapore as one of our destinations.

uk1

Well done! Glad to have helped!

My next trip is finalised. 5 nights Singapore > 7 nights Sydney - 6 nights Singapore. - just after Chinese New Year. The only warning is of course that Singapore can be a little quieter during festivities ie some food places shut.

1stClassFamily

We will be there the week before Chinese New Year. Hopefully everything, particularlly those food courts you guys mentioned here, are all open and function as normal. That is one of the main attractions we'd like to experience. We were in KL this past March and we tried to sample their food courts, but were stopped multiple times by my cousin, who is local and a journalist of the leading newspaper in Malaysia, for hygienic reason. (we did enjoy our trip to KL very much though). We look forward to make up our food experience in SIN this time. The warm weather in Jan is another reason for us to choose SIN over, say Tokyo. We like to escape the cold New York Jan in a tropical place. We will definitely visit the Botanical Garden, which is always a favorite activity when we travel. I actually had a couple of stopover experience in SIN in the past. Definitely looking forward to experience it as a destination next time around.

dsgtc0408

In general the hawker centres should be open when you arrive - it's when you get to about a couple of days before CNY itself that individual hawkers will begin to close; once you hit mid afternoon the day before CNY, that's it, no one's open for at least one week, two weeks to be back in full operation (quite a few hawkers go on vacation during this period). I suggest that you hit the hawker centres immediately upon arrival to avoid disappointment.

A small tip: local Malay entrepreneurs noting the hungry masses needing their hawker food fix during the CNY period set up portable grills grilling otah - fish chunks with some seasoning, wrapped in pandan leaves and grilled over hot coals (it will look like a foot long flat stick wrapped in a green leaf. These guys can be found say along some heavily trafficked pathway within the housing estates (ie residential areas) or perhaps near the entrance to a MRT (subway) station/bus terminal, again in the residential districts. AFAIK they're not licensed but I've never heard of anyone getting sick from eating streetside otah - plus it's good.

geofflaredo

+1. There's tons of high end food, but if this is an interest of yours and you're even a tiny bit adventurous......visit the famed Singapore food centers. Go to lots of them. Eat everything that looks good to you....and even some things that don't. I highly recommend the Chowhound food forum for lots of great tips and discussion - you can find Singapore info at http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/46.

eucalyptic

Eat! And possibly a side trip to Malaysia.

I love Singapore.

magsmeplease

I do echo the previous poster, the night safari is quite cool.

Mynameismud

One should also consider walking the Southern Ridges http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.p...sk=attractions

~tc~

The botanic garden and park is quite nice, and free! (there is a $5 SGD admission to the national orchid garden)

cattwl

EAT!!! If you can take the heat and humidity, go to the zoo. Its good. I think high end shopping is actually cheaper in Singapore.

totmode

The National Orchid Garden is a MUST!!!

Unfortunately not with the exchange rate of the US$ now; I find things (e.g. Louis Vuitton) are cheaper back here in the U.S.

aragno

Don't bother shopping if from US.

Universal Studios and surrounding area of Siloso Beach.
Sunset and a drink at Ku De Ta.
Night safari.
Aquarium at Sentosa.
Hawker Centers.
River boat tour thing.
Lion King at Marina Bay Sands.
Casino for an hour or two. (more if you gamble)
Zoo
Jurong Bird Park.
Walk along Orchard Rd.
Botanical Gardens.
Day trip or overnight in Batam/Bintan.
Cable car from Mt. Faber.
Canopy Tour.
Eat eat eat. Chili Crab at Long Beach or elsewhere.
Walk around Dempsey Hill (shops, art galleries, cafes, etc.). - very near to Botanical Garden.
Ride one of the hop-on/hop-off bus tour things (at least 2 providers to choose from).
Singapore Flyer.
Art & Science Museum.
Many other museums if WWII and other history interests you.

Zoo, bird park, and night safari tix can be combined for some savings.

That's all I've got.