Unlock Singapore’s insider gems on your next getaway

Beat the crowds and explore the city like the locals do
Singapore
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Time Out Singapore in partnership with Trip.com
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Don’t be fooled by its size – Singapore packs a punch for every kind of traveller. The city is where sleek skyscrapers meet century-old shophouses, and Michelin-starred restaurants sit just streets away from sizzling hawker stalls. It’s vibrant, dynamic, and endlessly entertaining. Whether you're booking a flight to Singapore for a weekend getaway or searching for the best hotels in Singapore for a longer stay, this compact city offers something for everyone.

If you’ve read our previous article on Trip.Best, you’ll know it’s Trip.com’s AI-powered ranking system that spotlights the most loved, most booked, and most talked-about travel experiences across Asia. Updated monthly using real traveller reviews and expert insights, Trip.Best takes the guesswork out of curating your itinerary – and the best-of-the-best from this year were just honoured at the Trip.Best Awards in Shanghai.

So, where do you start in Singapore? Right here, with a list of top-rated restaurants, attractions, hotels and hidden gems that have all earned their place on Trip.com’s Trip.Best.

1. Burnt Ends

For fine dining with an approachable, meaty twist

This isn’t your backyard barbecue – Burnt Ends turns up the heat with a slick open kitchen concept, where you can watch the chefs char, smoke, and sear juicy meats on its custom four-tonne, dual cavity oven and elevation grills. The menu changes daily, so every visit feels like a fresh new flavour trip, earning them a spot on the World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants – and a feature on Trip.Best’s top fine dining picks in Singapore.

2. National Kitchen by Violet Oon Singapore

For elevated local flavours in an art gallery

Helmed by the doyenne of Peranakan cuisine, Violet Oon, National Kitchen is a love letter to Singapore’s rich culinary heritage. It’s also the perfect pit stop after exploring the artworks at National Gallery Singapore. Treat yourself to her famed beef rendang in an elegant dining hall steeped in charm or head to the verandah for local bar bites, sunset cocktails, and sweeping views of the city skyline.

3. HighHouse

For sunset cocktails with the best aerial views

Take your sundown plans sky-high – 61 floors up, to be exact – at HighHouse. Enjoy panoramic skyline views, a tasty menu of bites and cocktails, plus a rotating lineup of live music and DJs. Plush booths and dining tables line the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Marina Bay and the Padang. Time Out tip: head up to Nova, Trip.Best’s pick for Singapore’s highest rooftop bar, for a next-level view with your nightcap.

4. Singapore Botanic Gardens

For a lush, UNESCO-worthy stroll

A crown jewel in Singapore’s green scene, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens is a lush escape packed with gems. Feed black Australian swans at Swan Lake, journey through the Evolution Garden, or explore the world’s largest orchid collection – including the iconic Vanda Miss Joaquim – at the National Orchid Garden. Weekends bring rainforest tours and concerts by Symphony Lake, while kids can run wild at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.

5. Skyline Luge Sentosa

For a thrilling ride down the tracks or above the trees

It’s no mystery why the Skyline Luge is a firm crowd favourite – and it’s ranked on Trip.Best’s list of top attractions for families and thrill-seekers. Buckle up for a ride that’s part go-kart, part toboggan. Grab the kids or your thrill-seeking mates and race down four action-packed tracks, each packed with hairpin bends, tunnels and speedy slopes through Sentosa’s lush greenery. When you hit the bottom, hop on the Skyride for sweeping views of the Singapore skyline and South China Sea.

6. ArtScience Museum

For interactive, otherworldly art exhibitions

Blending art and science under one futuristic lotus-shaped roof, the ArtScience Museum pulls off a tricky balancing act with special, interactive displays and creative workshops for the curious. Its permanent exhibition Future World: Where Art Meets Science, created with Japan’s teamLab, has just had a glow-up, featuring brand-new immersive works alongside crowd-favourite interactive installations and dreamy soundscapes. The unique building recently made it onto Trip.Best’s list of most Instagrammable museums, and it’s worth a gawk on the outside, too.

7. The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

For a luxe stay in a heritage landmark

The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore makes its grand home in two restored icons – the neoclassical Capitol Building and Venetian Renaissance-style Stamford House. Right in the heart of the civic district, it’s the ideal crash pad for museum-hopping downtown. Expect lofty corniced ceilings, dramatic archways, and street-facing windows in its plush rooms. It’s also one of Trip.Best’s top-rated heritage hotels, with five-star service to match. Don’t miss 15 Stamford by celeb chef Alvin Leung, where Asian flavours get a bold, globe-trotting twist in a glam, Art Deco-inspired setting.

8. The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore

For a waterfront base near iconic attractions

Perched on the edge of Marina Bay, The Fullerton Bay Hotel is a knockout – and not just because of the postcard-worthy views. The grand lobby, set in the historic Clifford Pier, stuns with its soaring arches, while every room offers a front-row seat to the bay. Make the most of it with the Bay View room, which has a bathtub positioned perfectly to soak in those skyline views. You're also minutes from icons like the Merlion and Esplanade, but don’t rush off – the rooftop pool and bar deserve your time too.

9. Ya Kun Kaya Toast

For breakfast done the Singaporean way

A true Singapore icon, Ya Kun Kaya Toast has been fuelling mornings and afternoon kopi breaks since 1944. Step into one of its retro-style coffee shops and order up the OG combo, featuring crisp bread slathered with rich kaya and a slab of butter, paired with soft-boiled eggs and a strong cup of kopi. It also tops the Trip.Best list of must-try local breakfasts, and once you taste it, you’ll know why.

10. Jigger & Pony

For award-winning, local-inspired cocktails

A stalwart of Singapore’s bar scene, Jigger & Pony ranks an impressive fifth on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list – and it's a consistent Trip.Best top pick for craft cocktails. It nails the art of the classic cocktail, adding just the right touch of reinvention. Favourites like the espresso martini and yuzu whisky sour still shine, while the new Embrace menu brings bold surprises like the savoury Peanut Alexander and herbaceous Basil Smash.

11. MARQUEE Singapore

For a party with an indoor Ferris wheel and slides

When it comes to throwing a big bash, no one does it quite like MARQUEE – Singapore’s largest nightclub. Tucked inside the iconic Marina Bay Sands, this supersized club sprawls across 2,300sqm and three towering levels, with 30-metre-high ceilings and an actual indoor Ferris wheel overlooking the dancefloor. Bring your best moves: resident DJs and global heavyweights keep the beats pumping on a cutting-edge Funktion One system.

12. Explore more with Trip.com

There’s plenty more in Singapore to discover, so let Trip.com and Trip.Best be your go-to travel companions. From user-approved attractions to top-rated stays and curated itineraries just like this one, everything you need for an unforgettable vacation is right at your fingertips. Whether you're in the mood for city thrills, cultural deep dives or a bit of both, Trip.Best helps you explore Singapore – and beyond – with confidence and ease. Find out more here.

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