First Stop Singapure
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Singapore
3 Days | First Stop of Our World Trip
Singapore was the first stop of our travels, and we could not have imagined a better place to start our journey! We found it wonderfully clean and modern, yet full of culture waiting to be discovered.
In the following we share a little overview of our short three-day stay.
Accommodation
Ibis Budget Joo Chiat
Rating: 6.5 / 10
We chose this hotel because we did not want to stay in a hostel after our first long-haul flight. The price was reasonable and the room had everything we needed, but nothing more. There was no breakfast included (and we love not having to search for a place to eat in the morning), no window, and therefore no fresh air. While the room was generally clean, there was some mould in the bathroom.
We arrived early and early check-in was possible for an affordable additional charge. The hotel is not located near the city centre, but we actually liked the neighbourhood as it felt like an authentic part of Singapore.
Food
Rating: 8 / 10
You can find any kind of cuisine in Singapore, from Western to Asian. We mainly ate Bánh Mì sandwiches during our stay, as there were many Vietnamese places near our hotel. The best one was:
Joo Chiat Banh Mi Ca Phe
This was also the only truly affordable restaurant we visited. Everything else was mostly at European price levels, or even slightly above, when it came to costs.
Attractions
Clarke Quay · 8 / 10
We went to Clarke Quay for dinner. It is a spot right in the centre of the city that feels like a little island amid the bustling urban life, with plenty of restaurants and bars. It would definitely be a great place to go out if you are not travelling on a tight budget as we were. We really enjoyed our time there.
Marina Bay · 7 / 10
Marina Bay is an impressively shaped skyscraper hotel with a huge mall beneath it. If you enjoy shopping, it is probably a great place to visit. We considered going up to the rooftop bar, but there was an entry fee, so we decided to skip it. We stayed until nightfall for the lights and water show Spectra, which takes place every evening at 20:00 and 21:00.
Gardens by the Bay · 10 / 10
Our absolute favourite was Gardens by the Bay with its fascinating metal trees. We have never seen anything like it anywhere else. It is truly astounding. The park itself is also beautifully designed with so many lovely details that you do not know where to look first!
We also visited the Flower Dome, which was a pleasant experience. However, since the gardens outside are so remarkable on their own, we would recommend saving the money on the ticket and skipping the indoor attraction.
Conclusion
Because we were short on time, we did not get to see every place our friends had recommended, such as the Treetop Walk or Pulau Ubin island. These are definitely on our list for a future visit.
You do need to be prepared for higher prices in Singapore. But if you are willing to spend a little more on accommodation than we did, and are not bothered by the humidity, we can only recommend a visit. Singapore is a remarkable city.