About

About ULTIMATE Singapore City Guide

ULTIMATE Singapore City Guide is an independent guide for visitors to Singapore. We publish 14 curated lists: restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels, sights, museums & shows, parks, walks, shopping, spas & health, property, developments, motoring and getting around. We cover Marina Bay and the Civic District, Orchard Road, Tanglin and Nassim, Sentosa and the southern waterfront, Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar, Kampong Glam, Little India, Dempsey Hill and Bukit Timah, with day trips to Sentosa, Pulau Ubin, Johor Bahru, Bintan and Batam.

Our editor

Jai Michael is Editor-in-Chief of the ULTIMATE City Guides. With more than 25 years in the media industry, he founded ABSOLUTE brighton and London TV, and has worked with leading luxury brands around the world.

How we choose

Every place in our lists has been checked against its own website or an official source: NParks, the National Heritage Board, ICA, IRAS, the Singapore Land Authority, URA, the Council for Estate Agencies, the Land Transport Authority, Changi Airport Group and the MICHELIN Guide. We never accept payment for inclusion, and we don’t publish ratings or property prices.

Before you go

Opening hours, entry rules and timetables change. Please check directly with each place, and with official sources, before you travel. Prices are in Singapore dollars.

For venues

Run a venue in Singapore and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• The cream facade of the Asian Civilisations Museum at Empress Place, by Actuall7, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The atrium of the National Gallery Singapore under its glass roof, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum on the edge of Marina Bay, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, rising above the gardens, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Long Bar at Raffles, with orange bar stools, a dark wooden bar, palm-leaf fans and a patterned tiled floor, photo: Courtesy of Raffles Singapore.
• The cable-stayed Barelang Bridge in Batam, by Cabajar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Marina Bay and the Central Business District at dusk, seen from above the Marina Bay Sands promenade, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The shophouses of Boat Quay along the Singapore River, with towers behind, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The white bandstand among tall trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tiered red and gold roofs of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, by Jakub Hałun, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A path through dense rainforest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, by Zairon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A path through dense rainforest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, by Zairon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palms against the white colonnaded facade of Raffles Singapore, by LBM1948, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Marina Bay and the Central Business District at dusk, seen from above the Marina Bay Sands promenade, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Johor–Singapore Causeway across the strait, by ZKang123, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Cavenagh Bridge over the Singapore River, with the towers of Raffles Place, by Marcin Konsek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The departure hall of Changi Airport, with its patterned ceiling and checked floor, by Sharon Hahn Darlin, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The coastal boardwalk at Chek Jawa running out over the sea, by Alexey Komarov, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A plate of Hainanese chicken rice with cucumber and chilli sauce, by Misaochan, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A plate of chilli crab in its red sauce, by Dekcuf, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Painted shophouses on a Chinatown street, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Painted shophouses on a Chinatown street, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The domed former Supreme Court, now part of the National Gallery Singapore, by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The planted mountain and waterfall inside the Cloud Forest conservatory, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The suspension bridge and towers on the islet off Palawan Beach, Sentosa, by Nkon21, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A dining room at COMO Dempsey, with white lanterns, wrought-iron chairs and a chequered floor, photo: Courtesy of COMO Dempsey.
• The Rain Vortex falling through the glass dome of Jewel Changi Airport, among trees, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• One of the spiked domes of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, lit at blue hour, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Beds of red and pink flowers under the glass roof of the Flower Dome, by Allie Caulfield., licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Singapore Flyer and the Supertrees above a pond at Gardens by the Bay, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fort Canning Centre beyond the lawns of Fort Canning Park, by janebelindasmith., licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Fullerton Hotel lit up at night beside the Singapore River, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The reception hall of The Fullerton Bay Hotel, with a chandelier and a polished floor, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The double staircase in the lobby of The Fullerton Hotel, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A twin treatment room at the Raffles Spa, with draped windows, pink orchids and pale timber, photo: Courtesy of Raffles Singapore.
• The Helix Bridge lit red at night, with Marina Bay Sands beyond, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The wave-shaped timber ribs of Henderson Waves above the forest, by This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images,, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina Bay, by Bijay Chaurasia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The reception hall of The Fullerton Bay Hotel, with a chandelier and a polished floor, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The double staircase in the lobby of The Fullerton Hotel, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The curving glass and steel canopy of ION Orchard, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque in Johor Bahru, lit at night, by Lim Lik Wei, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Rain Vortex falling through the glass dome of Jewel Changi Airport, among trees, by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden dome of Masjid Sultan at the end of a palm-lined street in Kampong Glam, by Chainwit., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Kaya toast sandwiches on a white plate, by Pinklily08, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The green cast-iron arches under the roof of Lau Pa Sat, by Schnobby, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Restored shophouses with coloured shutters in Little India, by Marcin Konsek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Restored shophouses with coloured shutters in Little India, by Marcin Konsek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The glass Crystal Pavilion of the Louis Vuitton Island Maison on the water, with Marina Bay Sands behind, at blue hour, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The glass Crystal Pavilion of the Louis Vuitton Island Maison on the water, with Marina Bay Sands behind, at blue hour, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The suspension bridge of the TreeTop Walk above the MacRitchie forest, by Drew Tarvin, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, seen across Marina Bay, by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum at blue hour, reflected in the bay, by Someformofhuman, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The low roofs of Maxwell Food Centre with the towers of Tanjong Pagar behind, by Aaaatu, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Merlion spouting water at night, with Marina Bay Sands across the bay, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Cable cars over the trees of Mount Faber, with the harbour beyond, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The atrium of the National Gallery Singapore under its glass roof, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Alhambra in Granada in the evening light, by Jebulon, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos Hill, by Giles Laurent, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the Bahamas, by Rüdiger Stehn from Kiel, Deutschland, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open sea, by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grand Palace reflected at dawn, by Nawit science, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sagrada Família lit up at night, by Maksim Sokolov, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunset, photo: © ULTIMATE International Media.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, by Gzzz, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hour, by Robert Bock, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key West, by Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es Vedrà, by Beni Marull, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Baie des Anges, Nice, by Tobi 87, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Helsinki Cathedral above the South Harbour, by Ввласенко, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria Peak, by Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sun, by Charles from Port Chester, New York, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening light, by Nserrano, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behind, by Petar Milošević, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the Thames, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, by Alek Leckszas, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran Vía, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la Mar, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, Menorca, by Markus Trienke, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbour, by iMahesh, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock, by Dillan Payne, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, by Berthold Werner, edit by Böhringer, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu River, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina Bay, by Bijay Chaurasia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Matterhorn in winter above Zermatt, by JoachimKohler-HB, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at night, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening sky, by Jose Ligero Loarte, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, Kandy, by Daniel Liabeuf, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue sky, by BBB2021, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’Orcia, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its pool, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper Town, by Jorge Láscar from Australia, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The twin towers and fountain of Ngee Ann City on Orchard Road, by Chainwit., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The stained-glass dome of the Rotunda at the National Museum of Singapore, by alex.ch., licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The curving glass and steel canopy of ION Orchard, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A path under arches of climbing plants in the National Orchid Garden, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The suspension bridge and towers on the islet off Palawan Beach, Sentosa, by Nkon21, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The white bandstand among tall trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The ornate facade of the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Woven lanterns hanging above the dining room of Candlenut, with Peranakan tiles and painted pots, photo: Courtesy of Candlenut.
• A dining room at COMO Dempsey, with white lanterns, wrought-iron chairs and a chequered floor, photo: Courtesy of COMO Dempsey.
• A crab dish at Labyrinth, plated as a beach with a paper umbrella and a “Beware crab!” sign, photo: Courtesy of Restaurant Labyrinth.
• The Long Bar at Raffles, with orange bar stools, a dark wooden bar, palm-leaf fans and a patterned tiled floor, photo: Courtesy of Raffles Singapore.
• The entrance of Odette, with a pale stone lectern, sheer curtains and a pink paper sculpture, photo: Courtesy of Odette.
• The entrance pavilion of Raffles Sentosa at dusk, behind a lit fountain bowl and tropical gardens, photo: Courtesy of Raffles Sentosa Singapore.
• A twin treatment room at the Raffles Spa, with draped windows, pink orchids and pale timber, photo: Courtesy of Raffles Singapore.
• The reception of the Remède Spa at The St. Regis Singapore, with a sculpted ceiling light, gold pedestals and leaf murals, photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis Singapore.
• The dining room of Thevar, with curved ochre walls, red banquettes and pendant lamps, photo: Courtesy of Thevar.
• Marina Bay and the Central Business District at dusk, seen from above the Marina Bay Sands promenade, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palms against the white colonnaded facade of Raffles Singapore, by LBM1948, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Marina Bay and the Central Business District at dusk, seen from above the Marina Bay Sands promenade, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The green cast-iron arches under the roof of Lau Pa Sat, by Schnobby, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palawan Beach and its islet on Sentosa, seen from above, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Palawan Beach and its islet on Sentosa, seen from above, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The vaulted glass roof and galleries of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The vaulted glass roof and galleries of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A gun and the stone wall at the entrance to Fort Siloso, Sentosa, by Apetrov09703, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina Bay, by Bijay Chaurasia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum at blue hour, reflected in the bay, by Someformofhuman, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gopuram of Sri Mariamman Temple, covered with sculptures of Hindu deities, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden dome of Masjid Sultan at the end of a palm-lined street in Kampong Glam, by Chainwit., licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A wetland pool and mangroves at Sungei Buloh under a blue sky, by FN-082, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, rising above the gardens, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The long tiled roofs of Thian Hock Keng on Telok Ayer Street, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The departure hall of Changi Airport, with its patterned ceiling and checked floor, by Sharon Hahn Darlin, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A wooden stilt house on the shore of Pulau Ubin, by alex.ch, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall with the clock tower, lit at night, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The wave-shaped timber ribs of Henderson Waves above the forest, by This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images,, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina Bay, by Bijay Chaurasia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The double staircase in the lobby of The Fullerton Hotel, by Basile Morin, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Asian elephants beside a pool at Singapore Zoo, by Jakub Hałun, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.