Top 5 Singapore Activities for Malaysians

Hi guys, today I'll be sharing a little throwback of my Singapore trip last year and sharing the top 5 things to do when you visit the Lion City!

1. Snap a shot at The Rain Vortex

Assuming you fly into Singapore and you don't drive in through the Johor-Singapore causeway, you'll definitely be passing by Changi Airport. Linked to three of Changi's terminals is the famous Jewel, a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex on the inside of Changi Airport.

Its centrepiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, which is surrounded by a terraced forest setting:

It's definitely a must-visit! If you're visiting Singapore, I recommend flying in during the morning and flying out at night. This way, you can take pictures at the Rain Vortex during the day when the lighting is great + the vegetation is visible, as well as at night when the LED lights and music shows are on.

2. Enjoy Singapore exclusive food chains

I think most Malaysians would prefer local food like char kuey teow, wantan mee or chicken rice from Ipoh, Penang or even KL. I would recommend instead to scour the Lion City for franchise food chains/restaurants that aren't available in Malaysia! On the top of my list of recommendations would be Shake Shack:

As of 2021, Shake Shack is yet to open in Malaysia. Jewel in Changi itself has Shake Shack and lots of other cool food spots like Arabica Coffee & Potato Corner. 

3. Visit Gardens by the Bay

One of Asia's foremost garden destinations, Gardens by the Bay is another must visit. Home to the world's largest glass greenhouse (the Flower Dome), it's a great place to visit, especially with friends and family.

From what I know, the flowers are curated and changed via theme every now and then. It's also home to plants from all over the world, so it's a great place to see and experience the world.

4. Shop till you drop at The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands

Long iconic before it's appearance in Crazy Rich Asians, Marina Bay Sands is the Singapore landmark that all millennials want to visit. Although a lot of people book rooms at Marina Bay Sands so they can snap a picture at the infinity pool, I advise against it as its quite crowded at all times of the year and snapping that wide, infinity pool shot will be near impossible. (Read more about my hotel tips below!)

Instead, I recommend limiting your time and energy to exploring the multiple luxury shops that the mall below has to offer. With a curated collection of over 170 luxury and premium brands, Shoppes is home to staples like Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. I really like the curation because they also have stores like Cos, Charles & Keith, Coach, etc.

If you're looking to do productive shopping/browsing, I recommend visiting the stores that do not have any physical/flagship stores in Malaysia like Moynat, Gentle Monster & Sandro. Since the only Celine store in Malaysia (located in Pavilion) shows no sign of every opening (lol), it might be worthwhile to pop in and take a look as well.

5. Book a room with an Instagrammable view

Booking hotel would be the second thing you do after booking your plane tickets to Singapore. If you can afford it, definitely stay at a hotel with a nice view that is not Marina Bay Sands.

The reason why I say this is because MBS is so iconic that you'd want it to be in your skyline/view. If you stay in MBS itself, your skyline will be missing one iconic building and it will virtually be indistinguishable!

Having MBE in the view is important (at least to me) because having it can make your Singapore staycation shot...

Staycation Singapore

...and not having it can turn your shot into any old hotel shot hahaha:

Literally none of the buildings are recognizable if you aren't a local

A lot of factors like location and price point can come into play of course. If you can, I highly recommend the Ritz. I had a fabulous experience and the room, service and view were just top-notch. 

And that's it for this post! I hope you guys found it helpful and informative.

See y'all in my next post!