Explore Singapore with Changi Recommends
Singapore remains as a top destination in Asia.
With its futuristic architecture, preserved heritage sites, famous hawker centers, new attractions every year, and world-class airport, there’s always a reason to come back.
Speaking of airport, if you’re visiting Singapore for the first time, on a layover, or even a returning visitor, do check out the Changi Recommends booth in all Changi terminals.
They provide SIM cards/WiFi, transport passes, and discounted attraction tickets and tours not just for Singapore but to other destinations as well like Australia, Korea, Japan, UK, Europe and more.
Singapore Travel Essentials
I bought discounted tickets to Gardens by the Bay, 2 EZ Link cards, M1 Tourist SIM, and booked the XploreSG day walking tour online prior to our trip, so I just presented the email voucher at their booth.
Redemption was hassle-free although I was a bit confused at first since I had to claim the M1 SIM from the Meet & Greet booth. My bad, really, because I didn’t read the redemption instructions in the email. We arrived at 2:30 am, so I was still a bit groggy! Anyway, the Meet & Greet booth was just a few steps away.
M1 Tourist SIM Card
I don’t know how I survived my previous Singapore trips without getting the M1 Tourist SIM.
It’s just so convenient to have because it kept me connected all throughout our trip. We got to easily contact our relatives who are based there because we have 500 minutes worth of calls/100 SMS credits. The fast 4G connection was perfect for posting IG stories too!
Just don’t forget to have the staff register the SIM before you leave the airport, otherwise, it won’t work.
EZ Link Card
I love taking public transportation overseas. It’s just so efficient and comfortably takes you from one place to another, so an EZ Link card is a must-have in Singapore. I love that I can use it for purchases too e.g. 7-11.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay tickets are at SGD28, but I got them for only SGD25.
We first checked out the Flower Dome. I was initially excited to see how it was decked because I know they change the floral display, and I was bit bummed that we missed the sunflower field by just a few days. The ‘Christmas decor’ was also a bit meh, so we didn’t spend much time here.
Cloud Forest, on the other hand, was awesome! We checked out all the levels from the Cloud Walk to the Tree Top Walk. I wish we went in the late afternoon. It must be nice to watch the sun set from up there. I’m pretty sure it looks surreal at night too!
XploreSG Walking Tour
While I do love exploring on my own, I also enjoy joining walking tours. I get to meet people from around the world plus get to know the history behind each place.
The 3-hour walking tour promptly started from Raffles Hospital/Bugis MRT, the meeting place, at 4:00 pm.
Our first stop was Kampong Glam where our guide explained its origins as a port town, the various communities that settled in the area, the architecture of Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque), and how the streets got its names. Of course, a stop at Haji Lane is also a must for those Instagram-worthy spots.
The next half of the tour was more on the Central Business District, a brief tour of Fullerton Hotel – passing through its halls giving a glimpse of its days as the post office in colonial times, then emerging onto Marina Bay with a commanding view of Marina Bay Sands, no less.
Finally, we reach the Merlion statue before hopping on a very relaxing river cruise that ended in Clarke Quay.
If you have limited time in Singapore, I highly suggest joining the walking tour as you’ll get to see a lot of sights in a short time. 🙂
Here’s a snippet of our Xplore SG day walking tour:
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