Top 5 extraordinary things to do in Singapore

There are many things you can do in Singapore and these things are listed quite well in countless "Top 5 things to do in Singapore" articles. In this post, we will not list these "ordinary" attractions. There are also unique and quite extraordinary things to do in Singapore.

Indoor Skydiving at iFly Sentosa

This is the next best thing to sky-diving. iFly Sentosa will let you experience true free-fall conditions, just like a real skydive in the comfort and safety of a wind tunnel. This virtual skydive is designed to last as long as a 12,000 to 3,000 feet fall. It also cost only 20% of the real thing.

Measuring 16.5 feet in diameter with a flying height of 56.5 feet, the equivalent of five storeys, iFly Singapore is the world's largest themed vertical wind tunnel. It can accommodate up to 20 flyers at the same time. Website : http://www.iflysingapore.com

Where is iFly Sentosa? Here is the address: iFly Singapore, 43 Siloso Beach Walk #01-01 Singapore 099010

Indoor Skydiving at iFly Sentosa

Ultimate Drive

Have you ever drive a supercar? If not, Ultimate Drive may help you to drive one. With the motto of "“Everyone can drive a Supercar", Ultimate Drive offers micro-rental packages starting from as low as $198 for a 15 minute ride and also have membership packages that allow members to use the cars for longer periods. Their supercar fleet has McLaren MP4-12, Porsche 911, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Lamborghini Huracan, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari California and Merc S Class.

You can have more info at http://www.ultimatedrive.com/

Ultimate Drive allows you to drive a supercar in Singapore.

Flight Experience Singapore

Have you ever dreamed about being a pilot or at least experiencing to fly a commercial plane? Well, you can at least try something closest to the real experience : Flight Experience Singapore. The company lets you to be a pilot in a state-of-the-art, professional flight simulators based on the Boeing 737-800. Although this is a fixed-base simulator, it is 100% scale and is a fully enclosed cockpit.

Flight Experience Singapore is at Singapore Flyer (30 Raffles Avenue #02-06 Singapore 039803). And here is its website http://flightexperience.com.sg/

Flight Experience Singapore lets you to pilot a real flight simulator.

SKI360degree!

SKI360degree! Singapore's first and only Cable-Ski Park located in East Coast Park. This system, Cable-Skiing or Cable Wakeboarding, is basically water skiing or wakeboarding using the pull of a cable system that goes continuously around the lagoon. All you need to bring is some sun block, boardshorts.

You can find out more here http://www.ski360degree.com/. The park is located at 1206A East Coast Parkway Singapore 449891.

SKI360degree! Singapore's first and only Cable-Ski Park

Wavehouse Sentosa

Wave House Sentosa  is a 70,000 sq ft beachfront venue that offers exhilarating wave rides and the ultimate beach lifestyle experience in Singapore. The centerpiece of Wave House Sentosa is “The Wave” - a fully-flowing, FlowBarrel® sheet wave that approximates a roaring, 10-foot wave when it’s cranked to setting 11. The system is invented by a surfer named Tom Lochtefeld, the founder and CEO of Wave House,

For more info, visit https://wavehousesentosa.org/

Wavehouse Sentosa

How to get to Singapore Zoo?

Singapore Zoo is probably one of the best tourist attraction Singapore offers to its visitors. Nested on 26 hectare wild park which is set in a larger rainforest reservation area on a peninsular in a large water reservoir, Singapore Zoo hosts many wild animals and attractions.

The easiest and most convenient way to get to the Singapore Zoo is Safari Gate. For $7 per adult and $5 per child you can get from city center to Mandai (where the Zoo is) and for $5 per adult or child from Mandai to the city. It passes through some popular and central Singapore hotels like Orchard Hotel, Marriott Hotel, Mandarin Hotel, SVC@Orchard, Orchard Plaza, Rendezvous Hotel, SAM/Carlton Hotel and Raffles City/Swissotel.

For Singapore Zoo bus time table and details of Safari Gate, you can visit Safari Gate web page.

Singapore Attractions Express (SAEx®) Service is another convenient and  popular way to access Singapore Zoo. 2-way trip between city and Singapore Zoo costs $10 per adult and $5 per child and you can also only purchase one way trip. SAEx buses passes through Orchard Hotel, DFS Galeria, Sheraton Towers, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mandarin Orchard, Concorde Hotel, Hotel Rendezvous, Little India Arcade, Gemini Travel, Farrer Park MRT Station, Quality Hotel and Ibis Singapore Novena.

For Singapore Zoo bus time table and details, you can visit SAEx Service web page.

Singapore Zoo is deep inside Singapore island but it can be relatively easily reached by public transport network. If you are planning to go to Singapore Zoo, you need to get at minimum an MRT ride and then change to a bus to reach to the Zoo.

The nearest MRT stations to the zoo are Ang Mo Kio MRT Station (NS16) or  Choa Chu Kang MRT/LRT Station (NS4/BP1) on North South Line (or the Red Line as popularly known in Singapore). If you are coming from the city, the best is Ang Moi Kio MRT Station. This station is adjacent to a bus interchange from where you need to take Bus 927. The bus you need to take from Choa Chu Kang is 138.

On Sundays and public holidays, bus 926 also buses from Marsiling MRT Station (NS8) and Woodlands MRT Station (NS9) which are also closed to the Singapore Zoo.

Another way to access Singapore Zoo is to mix public transportation and SAEx (see above) and go to Farrer Park MRT Station and then get a SAEx bus.

If you are heading Singapore Zoo by taxi, you can calculate the cost by taxi fare calculator. Currently, taxi fare calculator shows a 24 minutes taxi trip which costs 15.28 Singapore Dollars from Orchard Hotel (a central hotel) to Singapore Zoo at normal flag down fare (no peak hour).

A sample taxi fare calculation for Singapore Zoo

Top 10 Things to Do in Singapore

My friend Dilek recently visited Singapore before flying to Thailand for a Bangkok and Phuket trip. I requested her to compile a to-do-list in Singapore and here is what she has written:

Singapore attracts many visitors, travelers and tourists into the region combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a tropical climate, with tasty food, and good shopping malls. The culture of Singapore is composed of mainly Chinese, Indian, British, and Malay cultures. There are many things you can do in Singapore. During your first visit, you can start with these top 10 things to do in Singapore.

1. Going to Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. It is located along Marina Bay waterfront with 3 cascading hotel towers, 2,560 rooms, Sands SkyPark, floating crystal pavilions, lotus-inspired ArtScience Museum, shops, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Sands SkyPark offers 360-degree views of Singapore’s skyline. You may buy tickets for Sands SkyPark Observation Deck online http://www.marinabaysands.com/Sands-SkyPark/Tickets/ Observation Desk is open 7 days a week (Mon-Thurs:09:30 am-10:00pm/ Fri-Sun: 09:30 am-11:00pm).
Marina Bay Sands Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Sands SkyPark is on the deck hovering at the top of 3 hotel towers

2. Riding The Singapore Flyer

Standing at 165 meters above the city, The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel in Singapore that was constructed between 2005 and 2008. It is located near the shore of Singapore’s Marina Bay. The Flyer’s height is of a 42-storey building  and it is taller than famous London Eye. If you ride on  the world’s tallest observation wheel, you will have chance to catch the magnificent view of Singapore’s iconic and historical landmarks as well as views from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and the Padang.

3. Going to Night Safari

The Night Safari is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. Actually it is the world’s first nocturnal zoo.(Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day.) The 40-hectare park houses 1,040 animals representing 120 species, of which 29% are threatened species. The length of visit recommended is 2-3 hours. You may explore the park either walking on foot or riding on the tram. You can purchase your night safari tickets online http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/ Indeed by buying online tickets, you can save around 5%. Just visit Night Safari Park, catch the animals of the Night Safari before they go to sleep.
View from Night Safari Photo by Dileka

4. Visiting Singapore Botanic Gardens

The 150-year old Singapore Botanic Gardens attracts many visitors as well as the local residents. This Gardens has an array of botanical and horticultural attractions with a rich history and a wonderful plant collection of worldwide significance. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 am to 12 midnight every single day of the year. Admission to the Gardens is free except for the National Orchid Garden. There are different sections at the garden. These are National Orchid Garden, Rainforest, Evolution Garden, Ginger Garden, Healing Garden, Botany Center and Tanglin Gate and Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. You can find more than 10,000 types of plants, many heritage trees, and three lakes, namely Symphony Lake, Eco-Lake and Swan Lake. Since there are many sections, you may spend 2-3 or more hours at Singapore Botanic Gardens.

5. Visiting Jurong Bird Park

Another tourist attraction in Singapore is Jurong Bird Park managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Like its motto, it is Where Colour Lives. Jurong Bird Park has an area of 202,000 square meters and it is currently the world’s largest bird park in terms of number of birds, and second largest both in number of bird species and land area. There are 5,000 birds of 380 species in Jurong Bird Park. The park is separated for different exhibitions. These are Waterfall Aviary, Dinosaur Descendants, Birds of Prey, Southeast Asian Birds Aviary, Jungle Jewels, Lory Loft, Hornbills & Toucans, Royal Ramble, Scarlet Ibis, Spoonbills, Penguin Coast,  World of Darkness, Pelican Cove and Parrot Paradise. Don’t be surprised, if you encounter magnificent birds in front of you while you are walking.

6. Going to Sentosa Island

You should visit Sentosa Island definitely. Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore and it is visited by some five million people every year. Sentosa offers a variety of attractions, museums and other facilities to provide a variety of experiences, recreation and entertainment to visitors.

7. Being at the Southern Most Point of Continental Asia

While you are in Sentosa Island, do not forget to visit The Southern Most Point of Asia. It stands at the edge of continental Asia right on Palawan Beach at Sentosa Island. It is accessible via a suspension bridge. Actually the bridge has very nice view. After you reach at the Southern Most Point of Continental Asia, you can spend some time for viewing the island.

8. Spending time at the Orchard Road

Visiting and going around Orchard Road is another suggestion. Spanning almost 2.2 kilometer-long, Orchard Road is the retail and entertainment hub of Singapore. Orchard Road is a one-way boulevard including distinctive and iconic shopping malls, restaurants and hotels. It attracts many tourists.

9. Visiting Little India

As its name promises Little India is the center for the large Indian community in Singapore. It is shopping destination for many travelers visiting Singapore. Since in Little India, Singapore, you may have chance to see many spice stores, restaurants, backpacker hostels, art galleries, sari shops and Bollywood record shops. It is known for many festivals and it is one of the most colorful and attractive places to visit in Singapore.

10. Going to Chinatown

Singapore’s Chinatown is an ethnic neighborhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. I’m sure you will enjoy your experience in Chinatown since it is full of many little shops selling everything from plastic Buddhas to the products you name it.  Furthermore, you can purchase souvenirs from Chinatown because it is where the cheapest souvenirs are. Chinatown Heritage Centre is located in Pagoda Street and all buildings are so colorful which provides you with some great photographing opportunities.

Singapore Flight Simulations

We have previously written about the Flight Experience Singapore, unique experience of being in a Boeing 737 cockpit. There is one more company offering flight simulations in the town, in Orchard Central, it's name is SG Flight Simulations. The company offers customer to be the captain of an Airbus A320 and fly from busy Changi to challenging Kai Tak, from deserts to the tropics. There will be a flight instructor with you while you are "flying" and the experience appeals to enthusiastic amateurs as well as professional pilots.

The simulator, Airbus 320 Training Device, is a replica of one of the most common and successful aircraft of the aviation history, Airbus A320-200. The device, which is developed primarily for entertainment, is fixed-based (do not have hydraulics to bend the device while flying) but it offers 180-degrees round visual system with 3 projector setups. There is a room for extra passenger in the back of the simulator to watch you while you are flying.

30 minutes flight simulation package, which allows you to fly around an airport, basic controlling, take-off and manual landing, is priced $69.50 while a 90 minutes flight, which allows you to have full control of the aircraft while testing your jet airliner flying skills, will cost you $195. With extra $20, you can record your flight on a DVD.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark - 360 degree view of Singapore

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark offers the third best panoramic view of Singapore cityscape ( see Top 5 best rooftop views in Singapore ) and paying a visit to this man-made marvel was a top item in my to do list once I arrived back to Singapore. Today, about 2 weeks after my arrival and just several days after visiting the skybridge of Pinnacle@Duxton I had a chance to visit the Sands Singapore Skypark (See the link to how to get to marina bay sands).

Sands Skypark sits on the top of the three 55-storey Marina Bay Sands Hotel towers and offers a 360 degree view of the Singapore city from 200 meters hight. The Skypark is 340 meters long, longer than the Eiffel Tower laid on one side. It is 1.2 hectares.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel Towers from Marina Square.
Sands Skypark connects their roofs

I had walked there from Bugis Junction but it is only 10 minutes walk away from Promenade MRT Station on the Circle Line. The enrtance fee is 20 Singapore Dollars per adult and 17 SGD per senior. A fast climbing lift from the entrance takes you up to the skybridge in less then 15 seconds.

The Sands SkyPark Public Observation Deck, is open to the public from 10 am-10 pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 10am-11pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Sun Aura on Sands SkyPark Observation Deck

Sands SkyPark Entrance

The view from Sands Skypark is just fantastic but is also a little depressive as well if you live in Singapore. You can easily see the west, east, north and south ends of Singapore and once more realize how tiny is the island. Unlike Pinnacle@Duxton skybridge, whose east view is blocked by Singapore CBD, there is virtually nothing blocking the observation on the Sands Skypark. But I must admit, the Pinnacle@Duxton provides a better bird's eye view of central Singapore so pay a visit to there even if you have been on the Sands Skypark.

There is a nice SkyBar on the deck but the best seats with the view are almost always occupied and the bar was very crowded when I was there so I did not give a try to a very expensive beer.

Singapore Flyer, Kallang River from Sands SkyPark

Singapore East Coast from Sands SkyePark

Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool
(Singapore CBD on the right hand side)

Singapore Central Business District from Sands SkyPark

Sands SkyPark Observation Deck (Restaurant on the right hand side)

Marina Bay Sand SkyPark Observation Deck

20 SGD ticket provides you one time access to the marina bay sands observation deck and a view of Infinity Pool but the access to the pool is restricted to the Marina Bay Sands hotel guests (and their guests). It is not allowed to use tripod on the skypark and opening up an umbrella is also not allowed. The observation deck is also closed when the whether is bad.

Gardens by the Bay, three distinctive waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central spanning a total of 101 hectares, are still under construction. When they are completed, they will be in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown Marina Bay, encircling the Marina Reservoir like a green necklace.

Gardens by Bay waterfront gardens under construction

Related Articles: Top 5 best rooftop views in Singapore and Pinnacle@Duxton skybridge

Flight Experience Singapore

Have you ever wonder how does it feel to be an airliner pilot? Sitting in the captain's seat, planting your feer on the ruder pedals, right hand clamped to the thrust levers, left hand on the control column.With permission from Air Traffic Control, you advance the throttles and your Boeing 737 hurtles down the runway and takes off, climbing to 2000ft before banking into a 45° turn away from the airport.

Well if you are not a real pilot or an extreme Microsoft Flight Simulator addict with a home-made flight deck in your living room, there are very few places you can do this. One of them is Singapore Flight Experience located in Singapore Flyer.

After trying Flight Experience Australia, Captain Michael Caston and his wife Joanna Caston brought the Flight Experience franchise to Singapore which is a must do in Singapore. This is the next best thing to be in a real commercial airliner cockpit for many of us. The flight simulator is based on Boeing 737-800NG cockpit. You will experience flight with a fully qualified instructor who will take you through all aspects of your flight with as much or as little guidance as required. So this is not a game. As Captain Caston says "this is an edu-teinment". The simulator is a legitimate training ground, it has auto pilot, auto-throttle and fully functioning flight management system.

Flight Experience Singapore

Flight Experience is similar to the flight simulators that airlines use to train their commercial pilots, and its 100% authentic replica cockpit delivers a total immersion virtual reality environment. The 180° wraparound visuals, high-fidelity sound and cooling systems, along with a slight seat vibration, all combine to fool your senses into believing you are actually captaining a jet airliner.

A 30 minutes flight experience package will cost you $175 while the most popular package, 60 minutes fun is around $275. You do not need prior flying experience and you will fly the simulator as much as you can cope with. Each flight is conducted one on one with you and your instructor. But you can bring a friend with you, there is seating for two extra people to join you for your flight and there is no extra charge for it.

If you have fear of flight, the flight experience has a program, named Fear of Flying, which can benefit you. Joanna Caston, co-owner of the flight experience with pilot husband, has experience helping the people overcome their flight fear and uses her experience in the simulator.