Soph’s Scribbles

Singapore is a city that hits all the senses at once; vibrant, humid, colourful, and endlessly exciting. Steamy Singapore takes you along on our four-day adventure through one of my favourite cities in Southeast Asia. From the iconic Jewel Changi waterfall and bustling hawker centres to jungle-like zoos, futuristic museums, and unforgettable light shows, this trip was a full sensory experience. Expect humidity, incredible food, spontaneous moments, and a city that constantly surprised us, in the best way.

Day 1: Arrival in Singapore & Exploring the City

After a long-haul flight, we finally landed at Singapore Changi Airport, which somehow manages to feel calm and futuristic at the same time. Before heading anywhere else, we made our way through the airport to the Jewel, home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall. Seeing it in person was genuinely breathtaking; water cascading from the ceiling, surrounded by lush greenery, with people standing quietly just taking it all in. It felt like stepping into another world and was the perfect introduction to Singapore.

From the airport, we hopped on the MRT and headed to The POD, a cosy and well located hostel that would be our base for the first part of the trip. After checking in, dropping our bags, and freshening up, we were far too excited to rest; so straight back out we went.

Our first proper stop was the iconic Raffles Hotel, where we treated ourselves to a classic Singapore Sling. The hotel felt grand, elegant, and steeped in colonial history. While the cocktail price (£30!) definitely made us wince, it felt like one of those once in a lifetime travel moments you just have to say yes to. We sat back, soaked in the atmosphere, and may (definitely did) eat far more than our fair share of the complimentary nuts.

From there, we wandered over to Fort Canning Park, one of Singapore’s green spaces tucked right into the city. By this point, the heat and humidity were really starting to sink in. Every step felt heavier, sweat unavoidable, but there was something quite fun about leaning into it and accepting that being hot was just part of the experience.

On our way back to the hostel, we stopped for a quick drink. This was a decision that turned out to be perfectly timed. Moments later, the sky darkened, parasols popped open, and the rain began to pour. This was our first taste of Singapore rain, and it felt completely different to anything at home. Warm, heavy, dramatic, it transformed the streets instantly and had us laughing as we dashed for cover.

That evening, we headed to Maxwell Food Centre near Chinatown, one of Singapore’s most famous hawker centres. The smells alone were incredible. We ordered a selection of skewers: chicken, pork, and beef. Simple but packed with flavour. I made a small mistake by ordering noodles without realising they contained prawns (which I’m allergic too!), so I ended up swapping plates and eating George’s pork instead. After such a long travel day, we headed back to the hostel, exhausted but buzzing from our first day.

Day 2: Singapore Zoo, Tropical Downpours & Gardens by the Bay

After a solid night’s sleep, we woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed and completely free of jet lag. With a full day ahead, we got ready and set off for the Singapore Zoo, something we’d been really looking forward to after hearing so many glowing reviews.

The journey took around an hour, broken up by a quick snack stop where George grabbed a garlic chicken hotdog, an unexpected but very welcome breakfast addition. When we arrived, the weather was perfect: warm but manageable, with just enough cloud cover to keep things comfortable.

The zoo completely exceeded expectations. Although they recommend spending three to four hours there, we stayed for nearly six — a testament to just how immersive and enjoyable it was. We walked over 20,000 steps, exploring different zones including Australia, Wild Africa, and the Reptile Kingdom. One of the highlights was stumbling upon elephant feeding time and catching The Wild live show. The whole place felt incredibly natural, with bats flying overhead, animals roaming freely, and lush greenery everywhere you looked.

Eventually, we stopped for lunch. I went for chicken dumpling ramen, George chose chicken noodles, and we shared a strawberry, lemon, and cucumber iced tea that was unbelievably refreshing in the heat.

Back at the hostel later that afternoon, Singapore did what it does best, the skies opened without warning and we were suddenly caught in a full tropical downpour. We got absolutely soaked! I warmed up inside while George somehow found the energy to run to the stadium and back (still not sure how).

That evening, we made our way to Gardens by the Bay for the famous light show and it completely blew us away. The scale, the music, the atmosphere, everything exceeded expectations. The inclusion of Borealis-style effects gave the whole show a Northern Lights feel, and seeing Marina Bay Sands glowing nearby felt surreal.

Afterwards, we were starving, so we headed straight to Satay Street, sitting roadside with skewers and a cold beer. I ordered duck noodles, George went for pork, and we finished with a chocolate pastel de nata from the market. Without a doubt, our favourite day so far.

Day 3: Gardens by the Bay Domes & ArtScience Museum

We packed up and said goodbye to The POD, knowing we’d be returning to Singapore later in the trip for one final night. Before leaving, we stopped at Toast Box for breakfast. I ordered floss on toast with two boiled eggs; sweet, savoury, and oddly reminiscent of cheesy candy floss. Unexpected, but surprisingly good!

We then returned to Gardens by the Bay, this time to explore the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest properly. The Flower Dome was hosting Tulip Mania, filled with bright colours and endless varieties of tulips, but the real standout was the Cloud Forest. Walking inside and being met with misty air, a towering indoor waterfall, and layers of greenery was incredible. The elevated skywalk offered stunning views and made the whole experience feel almost otherworldly.

Returning to Singapore: Art, Architecture & One Last Adventure

We were up bright and early, full of excitement as we headed back to Singapore for our final day before flying home. After a smooth journey, we made a quick stop for noodles, the perfect refuel. We then checked into the Grand Pacific Hotel, a brilliant base right in the heart of the city and ideal for soaking up our last moments in Singapore.

Stepping back outside was an instant reminder of just how intense Singapore’s humidity is. It honestly felt like walking straight into a steaming hot shower; thick, heavy air that wraps around you immediately. Singapore really does have a climate entirely of its own.

That afternoon, we finally visited the ArtScience Museum, something we’d been looking forward to since our very first stop in the city. It was absolutely worth the wait. We explored the Iris van Herpen exhibition, showcasing the work of the renowned fashion designer whose pieces have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. The designs were breathtaking; futuristic, sculptural, and almost otherworldly, blurring the line between fashion and art.

We also made our way through Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind, which quickly became my favourite exhibition of the trip. You begin by choosing a door, each leading to a completely different immersive experience. From a mirror maze to interactive installations exploring memory and perception, it was both playful and thought-provoking. One section on collective memory especially stood out to me, a full-circle moment, considering I wrote my dissertation on the subject.

Final Evening in Singapore

We stopped for coffee at Marina Bay Sands, perfectly timed to catch sunset over the skyline. With Gardens by the Bay just nearby, we couldn’t resist returning for the light show one final time. This version had a musical theatre theme, packed with classic show tunes: joyful, nostalgic and as spectacular as we remembered, perhaps even better! 

To end the evening, we headed back to Maxwell Market for dinner. We had salt and pepper ribs, a Vietnamese Banh Mi (our favourite!), and some dumpling noodles, though we only realized they had prawns when they arrived. I also got a fresh mango smoothie, made right in front of me,  the lady peeled and sliced the mango on the spot, which was super cool to watch.

Our final day; Sentosa Island

We started our final day bright and early, determined to make the most of every moment. Our first stop was breakfast at Toast Box, we were surprised by how busy it was! After a lengthy queue, we finally got our hands on some traditional Singaporean toast with soft-boiled eggs and iced tea. It was delicious, though the eggs were a bit too runny for our liking! By the end, we were left with a small bowl of soggy egg soup!

Originally, we had planned to visit the aquarium, but it was temporarily closed. So, we made our way to Sentosa Island, known as the “fun island”, and it absolutely lived up to its name. It felt like stepping into Orlando! We wandered around, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere, and decided to check out the new Harry Potter: Visions of Magic experience, since we didn’t have enough time for a full Universal day.

We were each given a wand and guided through iconic locations from the films, like the Room of Requirement, the Ministry of Magic, and the Chamber of Secrets. The wand lit up and revealed magical effects in each room, truly a magical experience!

Afterwards, we explored more of Sentosa, popped into the LEGO store, then caught the monorail to the nearby shopping centre. It was full of high-end boutiques like Chanel, which we browsed before stopping for a quick sandwich.

Finally, we hopped on a bus to the airport, making one last stop at Terminal 1 to see the iconic Jewel waterfall, a perfect way to wrap up our trip. On the way there, we reflected on our highlights, both agreeing that Singapore and Langkawi were our favourites. From the zoo and the light show to Raffles, our boat trips, there has been so many unforgettable moments!

Is Singapore Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Singapore is bold, steamy, fast-paced, and full of contrast; blending nature, innovation, culture, and food effortlessly. This four-day Singapore itinerary was packed with unforgettable moments, and it’s a city I’ll happily return to again and again.