Top Ten Tourist Destinations in Singapore

Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, at a staggering 6,400 people per square kilometer.

Singapore is a popular tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region. Its multicultural heritage is reflected in its vibrancy and diversity. With an area of 274.1 square miles, Singapore is slightly bigger than Chicago, but the sheer number of tourist attractions it has to offer, means that one doesn't run out of options.

Although there have been settlements in Singapore as early as the second century AD, the credit for founding modern Singapore goes to Sir Stamford Raffles, a British statesman. Singapore is a Buddhist-majority state, with Muslims, Christians, and Hindus being the other major dominant religions.

This versatility makes it a culturally diverse country, that appeals to most tourists around the world. Singapore also earns brownie points because of the fact that English, which is one of its four official languages, is widely spoken and understood around the country.

Singapore has a thriving economy, and many international brands have their presence there, earning it the sobriquet 'Shopping Capital of Asia'.

All in all, Singapore has numerous tourist attractions, which can appeal to everyone from a laid-back backpacker to somebody on a business trip with some time on his hands. Here's our take on Singapore's top ten tourist destinations.

Marina Bay is one of the most favorite destinations for tourists and local visitors alike. The scale and grandeur of the place makes it one of the best places to visit, for people not only in Singapore, but from all over the world. The thing that appeals to most tourists is the fact that Marina Bay offers several attractions within its vicinity.

You can check in at the famous Marina Bay Sands resort, from whose rooftop, one can have a panoramic view of the city of Singapore. Marina Bay Sands is an avant grade resort, boasting of a 2,561-room hotel, and several malls and theaters.

But what sets the resort apart from the competition is its rooftop swimming pool, designed as an infinity edge pool, and from where one can have a view of Singapore's amazing skyline. The hotel room prices start at S$360 per night.

Marina Bay is one of the most favorite destinations for tourists and local visitors alike. The scale and grandeur of the place makes it one of the best places to visit, for people not only in Singapore, but from all over the world. The thing that appeals to most tourists is the fact that Marina Bay offers several attractions within its vicinity.

Merlion Park is in the center of Marina Bay, and is one of the major tourist attractions in Singapore. The park has two Merlion statues. Merlion, known as the unofficial mascot of Singapore, has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. There are two such statues in Merlion Park.

The original one is 8.6 meters tall and weighs over 70 tons. The other one is around 2 meters tall. The Merlion, with a jet of water constantly flowing from its mouth, has become one of the widely recognizable symbols of Singapore.

ArtScience Museum is an important landmark of Singapore because of its spectacular 'lotus-like' design. It has the distinction of being the first art and science museum in the world. The museum has a permanent exhibition, known as the ArtScience Gallery.

A visit to the museum is both entertaining and educative, and it being in the vicinity of Marina Bay area, a lot of tourists make it a point to visit this museum.

The Esplanade Theatre has the capacity of hosting around 1,600 people in the concert hall, while the performing arts theater can accommodate 2,000 people. The Esplanade Theatre takes its name from the nearby waterfront location - Esplanade.

It hosts some of the best performing arts exhibitions in the world. The other attractions at the theater are the art exhibitions at the Esplanade Jendela, a performing arts library, and a shopping mall.

Each ride on the ferris wheel lasts for around 30 minutes, which provides ample opportunity to take in the beautiful landscape of Singapore. Singapore flyer particularly becomes a hub of tourist activity during the Singapore Grand Prix, as it offers a fabulous view of the circuit.

What is also amazing is the fact that, from the highest point of the Singapore flyer, one can see as far as neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia. The flyer is built on a three-storied building, which houses several restaurants, pubs, and shopping malls, from where one can shop for some really impressive souvenirs.

When you are at the flyer, don't forget to gorge on some authentic Singaporean food at Seafood Paradise @ Flyer. The restaurant is particularly famous for its chili crabs and drunken prawns! The ticket prices for the Singapore flyer are S$33 for adults, and for children up to 12 years of age, it is S$21. The flyer is open daily from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM.

The town is known for its high concentration of ethnic Chinese, because of which, it gets its historical and cultural heritage. The region is popular among tourists for the numerous attractions it provides in close vicinity.

Chinatown is one of the biggest shopping regions in Singapore, with prewar shops and modern malls competing with each other to attract the behemoth number of tourists that arrive there each year.

There are several tourist attractions in Chinatown, notable among them being the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, and Sri Mariamman Temple.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is one of the most well-known religious sites in Singapore, and enshrines the holy tooth of Lord Buddha. It is a four-storey building, and has a place of worship, a Buddhist library, and a museum.

The rooftop of the temple has been built as a garden, where one can sit peacefully and meditate. Tourists can buy amulets and robes from the temple's museum.

Address: 244 S Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
Admission: Free
Timings: 7:00 am - 12:00 Noon, 6:00-9:00 pm (daily)

Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest temple in Singapore. Built in 1827, the temple is an important religious place for Tamil Hindus, who are one of the prominent ethnic groups in Singapore. One of the major highlights of the temple is its ornamental facade, or gopuram, which depicts various Hindu deities.

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Admission: Free for Singapore Botanic Garden & S$5 for National Orchid Garden
Timings: 5 am to 12 midnight (daily)

If you are visiting Singapore, the Botanic Gardens should be on top of your itinerary. The garden opens pretty early in the morning (5 am), and is open until midnight. Entry is free, except for the National Orchid Garden, which is one of the major attractions there.

Sentosa Island is one of the most popular tourist attractions for foreigners and locals alike. The island plays host to around 5 million people every year. Some of the attractions of the island are Tiger Sky Tower, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, Resorts World Sentosa, and Fort Siloso.

The island is known for its three artificial beaches - Palawan, Siloso, and Tanjong. Resorts World Sentosa has recently been constructed, and has a Universal Studios theme park.

The island is also a hit among visitors for the famous unofficial mascot of Singapore, the Merlion Statue. Among the other attractions are the museums - Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon. Sentosa also has one of the best golf courses in Asia - Serapong - which plays host to the Barclays Singapore Open.

Address: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897
Admission: Citizens and permanent visitors are allowed free entry to all the galleries, while foreign tourists are charged S$15.
Timings: Daily - 10 am to 6 pm (History Galleries) and 10 am to 8 pm (Living Galleries)

The National Museum of Singapore is a must-see travel destination for international tourists, as it stands for the spirit of modern Singapore. Since its establishment in 1887, the museum has been an important source of repository about Singapore's rich cultural heritage.

The museum underwent massive renovation, and was opened to public in 2006. Blending Singapore's extraordinary history with modern technology, the museum offers a splendid experience for visitors to know Singapore's 11 National Treasures, including the Singapore Stone.

Some of the best attractions at the museum are the Singapore History Gallery, Singapore Living Gallery, Goh Seng Choo Gallery, and the Stamford Gallery. The museum also hosts several restaurants and cafés, which offer various cuisines to tourists.

Tourists who want to sense Indian flavor must spare some time to make a trip to Little India. The town has a unique distinct identity of its own, and the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple gives a spiritual touch to the whole atmosphere.

Little India is also known as an affordable shopping center to most locals, and one can buy anything from electronic gadgets to exquisite Indian spices.

Masjid Sultan is among the most prominent mosques in Singapore. The mosque stands out for its impressive architectural design. The mosque was constructed by Sultan Hussain Shah in 1824, but due to the burgeoning number of devotees, it was reconstructed in 1924 by eminent architect Denis Santry of Swan and Maclaren Architects.

The interior of the mosque is simply scintillating, with verses from Quran inscribed on the walls. The mosque convenes numerous events throughout the year, but the festivities reach a feverish high in the holy month of Ramadan.

After Senota Island, Pulau Ubin is the most picturesque island in Singapore. It is located to the northeast of the country, and is known for its flora and fauna. Tourists who prefer spending their time away from the hustle and bustle of the city will find Pulau Ubin an attractive destination.

Many Singaporeans call Pulau Ubib the 'the last kampung', which translates to 'the last village'. To really take in the ambiance of Pulau Ubin, one needs to spend some time walking through the village amidst the huge coconut trees.

Chek Jawa, an intertidal region in Pulau Ubin, is a treat for nature lovers, as it is home to some of the rarest plants and animals. The place is in complete contrast to the cosmopolitan nature of Singapore, and this is what makes it truly special.

Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, also known as Siong Lim Temple, is a National Monument of Singapore. It is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Singapore, and an architectural marvel, as its design is based on the ancient Chinese building style.

The monastery is known for its peaceful and harmonious ambiance. It has been around 100 years now, and has witnessed Singapore's tremendous growth, from being a fishing country under the British, to becoming one of the world's wealthiest nations.

Jurong Bird Park has the reputation of having the world's largest collection of birds. There are more than 8,000 birds from over 600 species in the park. The park is notable for the fact that there are various endangered species of birds there.

A visit to Jurong Bird Park can be specially entertaining for kids, because of attractions such as the Snakes and Ladders playground and the Ludo garden. Adults will find the opportunity to indulge in numerous recreational activities, such as cycling and inline skating.

(Note: Admission fee and timings are subject to change as per the discretion of the concerned authorities.)