Which One to Pick in Singapore

Question 1

Singapore Zoo or River Wonders if I only have half a day?

Accepted Answer

Take the Singapore Zoo, the bigger of the two. A visitor's adult ticket is S$49 at the zoo and S$45 at River Wonders on weekdays, so choosing River Wonders saves only a few dollars. We'd spend the half day at Singapore Zoo and keep River Wonders for a second Mandai day.

Question 2

Universal Studios Singapore or Adventure Cove Waterpark?

Accepted Answer

Pick Universal Studios Singapore for a full day of rides and Adventure Cove Waterpark for a cooler outing. A Universal adult ticket starts at S$76 in the quieter months, against from S$34 at the waterpark. We'd choose Adventure Cove on a hot day with a group of mixed ages and Universal when the group wants rides. See Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark.

Question 3

Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, or just the outdoor gardens?

Accepted Answer

The outdoor gardens are enough for most visits: they open daily from 5am to 2am, and the Garden Rhapsody light show there is free. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest take tickets and open 9am to 9pm. We'd stay outside, with Supertree Grove at dusk, and add the two domes when it rains.

Question 4

Singapore Flyer, SkyPark or ION Sky for the view?

Accepted Answer

SkyPark costs S$35 for an adult before 4.30pm and S$39 from 5pm, the Flyer is one 30-minute turn, and ION Sky opens noon to 4pm. We'd pick SkyPark at dusk, when the deck also looks over Spectra. Take the Flyer, open 10am to 10pm, if you want a seat, or ION Sky, which has no separate ticket, if you're already on Orchard Road. A same-day S$50 mall receipt gets you a welcome drink at 1-Atico.

Question 5

Tourist Pass or a contactless card for a short stay?

Accepted Answer

A contactless bank card suits most short stays, because a one-day Tourist Pass costs S$17 while an MRT ride is about S$1.28 to S$2.57. SimplyGo takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and NETS cards, so the pass saves money only on days with many rides. We'd tap a card and buy the pass only for a long, hopping day across the island.

Question 6

Sentosa Express, cable car or the boardwalk onto Sentosa?

Accepted Answer

Walking the Sentosa Boardwalk is free, the Sentosa Express from VivoCity is S$4 and a Sentosa Line cable car round trip is about S$17 online. We'd walk in along the boardwalk, ride the monorail back when your feet give out and keep the cable car for a clear evening. Sentosa Boardwalk starts at VivoCity.

Question 7

Chinatown, Little India or Kampong Gelam for a first evening?

Accepted Answer

Chinatown suits a first evening best, because two temples and two big hawker halls sit a short walk apart. Little India has banana-leaf rice at Tekka Centre and the aisles of Mustafa Centre, while Kampong Gelam (Kampong Glam) has Sultan Mosque's dome and the murals of Haji Lane. We'd start with Maxwell Food Centre and save the others for later nights.

Question 8

Pulau Ubin or St John's Island for a half day out?

Accepted Answer

Pulau Ubin is the fuller outing than St John's Island: a 10-minute bumboat from Changi Point that typically costs S$4 each way, plus S$2 for a bicycle. St John's Island runs from Marina South Pier, and the ferry operator asks you to arrive 25 minutes before departure. We'd pick Ubin if you want to cycle and St John's if the ferry suits your day.

Question 9

Clarke Quay, Boat Quay or Robertson Quay for an evening?

Accepted Answer

Robertson Quay is our pick for dinner, because upstream the river is calmer and the restaurants are better. Boat Quay is for a dusk walk past original shophouses, and Clarke Quay is the loud one, with bars and a river-cruise jetty. The three sit in a line, so one evening can take in all of them. See Robertson Quay.

Question 10

Hawker centre or food court for a first meal?

Accepted Answer

Choose a hawker centre: NEA manages 123 markets and hawker centres across the island, and UNESCO describes them as community dining rooms. A mall food court is the quick option beside the shops. We'd eat at Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex for the choice of stalls, and use a food court when you are already in a mall.

Question 11

Botanic Gardens or Gardens by the Bay with half a day?

Accepted Answer

Pick the Botanic Gardens for a calm half day, since entry is free every day and only the National Orchid Garden charges, S$15 for an adult visitor. Gardens by the Bay's outdoor gardens run from 5am to 2am, and its domes are ticketed. We'd walk the Botanic Gardens in the cool of the morning and save Gardens by the Bay for the evening.

Question 12

Night Safari or Singapore Zoo if I only have one visit?

Accepted Answer

With only one visit, pick the Singapore Zoo by day at S$49 for an adult on a weekday, or the Night Safari if the evening is free. The zoo opens 8.30am to 6pm, while the Night Safari costs more and runs after dark. We'd choose the Singapore Zoo with one day, and the Night Safari when you have two Mandai visits.

Question 13

Chinatown or Little India for food in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Pick Chinatown for hawker-centre meals and Little India for a sit-down lunch of south Indian and north Indian dishes. Both are easy to walk on foot. We'd eat at Maxwell Food Centre for a first meal in Chinatown, and give Little India its own evening. The Little India guide has the streets to walk.

Question 14

East Coast Park or Sentosa beaches for a beach day?

Accepted Answer

Pick East Coast Park for a long, easy beach day, and Sentosa when you want a beach beside shows and rides. Sentosa costs S$4 on the Sentosa Express from VivoCity, while East Coast Park is reached by bus or taxi from the city. We'd go to East Coast Park by bicycle in the morning, and save Sentosa for an evening with Wings of Time.

Question 15

Southern Ridges or MacRitchie for a morning walk?

Accepted Answer

Pick the Southern Ridges for a morning walk with city views, and MacRitchie for forest shade and a reservoir loop. We'd take the Southern Ridges across Henderson Waves when you want views, and MacRitchie on a cooler day. Check each park's page for closed sections before you set out.