Attractions Nearby Singapore City, Day Trips and Excursions

(Singapore City, Republic of Singapore)

Some of Singapore's highest profile attractions are located outside of the city, being ideal for day trips. They include the much vaunted Night Safari and Zoo, and the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Sentosa Island is another hotspot - so hot, in fact, that it is now the most visited attraction in the whole of Singapore.

For less touristed areas, East Coast Park is perfect for getting away from it all to enjoy the sea and walking, as are the beaches of Sentosa Island. Another extremely popular excursion is the Jurong Bird Park to the west of the city, which is home to one of the world's largest walk-in aviaries.

Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island is Singapore's top attraction, with millions of visitors every year. There are many unique places of interest spread around this island resort, including cable cars, scenic beaches, miniature golf, an adventure park and a freestanding observation tower (Tiger Sky Tower), measuring around 110 metres / 360 feet in height. There are also many further attractions on the island, such as the huge oceanarium (Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon), an insectarium (Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom) and a British garrison from the 1800s (Fort Siloso).

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6269 3411
Singapore Zoo and the associated Night Safari sit in the centre of the island amid a lush rainforest setting, where it is often known as the Mandai Zoo. Founded in 1973, this is nothing short of a world-class facility, being an open-concept zoo featuring well-landscaped areas with hardly-visible barriers.

Expect to find African lions, Asian elephants, cheetahs, chimpanzees, giraffes, jaguars, leopards, mountain lions, polar bears, spider monkeys, Sumatran orangutans, white rhinos, white tigers and zebras, amongst many other animal attractions.

Guided trams run through the dimly-lit complex at night taking in African jungles, the Himalayas and other themed areas. Ride time is 45 minutes and combination zoo / safari tickets are the best bet.
Open hours: daily - 07:30 to 00:00 (last ticket, 23:00)
Admission: charge, discount for children

East Coast Park

Address: East Coast Park, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6222 7741
The lesser visited East Coast Park goes from Marina Bay right over to the airport and is mainly an area of recreation for locals. East Coast Park runs right along the shore and comes with a lengthy beach, miles of parklands and paths, and very decent windsurfing. There are many other leisure attractions available, along with entertainment and seafood eateries.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Address: 177 Hindhede Drive, Bukit Timah Hill, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6468 5736
This incredible place is up near the Zoo and Night Safari, amid genuine primary rainforest. Covering some 395 acres / 160 hectares, the huge canopy is home to a vast range of birds, mammals and plant species, and comes with excellent trails enabling visitors get right up close. You can access Singapore's highest point here, the Bukit Timah Hill, which stands at just over 160 metres / 525 feet. Principal attractions within the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve include hiking and mountain biking, as well as adventure sports, such as abseiling and rock climbing. Visitors may like to keep their eyes peeled for the Bukit Timah Monkey Man, a legendary figure from folklore history.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 18:30
Admission: free

Singapore Beaches

Many visitors don't even give the beaches of Singapore a second thought. There are, however, a handful of accessible beaches on Sentosa Island where you can sunbathe, swim and enjoy side attractions, plus East Coast Park's long beach, Siloso.

Central and Tanjong beaches are the best known ones on Sentosa, where you can rent loungers or go for a boat ride.

Jurong Bird Park

Address: 2 Jurong Hill, off Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Republic of Singapore, SG
Tel: +65 6265 0022
Off to the west of the city centre and Sentosa is the Jurong Bird Park and the nearby Japanese and Chinese Gardens. Great for families, the bird park features birds from around the region, with numerous talkative parrots and extremely friendly rainbow lorikeets. Off to the east, the manicured Japanese and Chinese Gardens sit on islands amid a large lake. Combined tickets can be had with the Zoo and Night Safari. Next door, you may also like to pay a visit to the Jurong Reptile Park, where giant tortoises, snakes and amphibian creatures await.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discount for children under 12 years, children under three years free