We spent a weekend in Singapore and managed to pack in far more than we expected. Two days is short, but this city is built for it.
The headline act was the Night Safari at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, a nocturnal animals show, walking trails and a safari tram that lets you watch animals that only come alive after dark. It’s unlike any zoo visit we’ve done.
Food never disappoints here. Hunting for breakfast we passed a Sri Lankan restaurant before settling on an Indian place serving both North and South Indian food, dosa was an easy choice, and Chinese food is on practically every street. Later we found a Harry Potter-themed café for dessert: magical snacks, cocktails, smoke effects and actual fire at the table.
The itinerary
In between: the Mustafa Centre, a massive 24-hour complex where six floors hold everything from chocolates and electronics to gold jewellery (with tax refunds on site); VivoCity at HarbourFront, Singapore’s largest mall and the gateway to Sentosa, with a festive lunch at a pet-friendly Aussie café; and Kampong Glam’s Arab Street, full of murals and small shops, crowned by the golden dome of the Sultan Mosque.
We wrapped up at Changi Airport Terminal 4, calm, modern and beautifully designed, and honestly a fitting final sight for a city that gets the details right. If you had one weekend in Singapore, what would you add?
There’s more from this trip on our YouTube channel, we film the real sights and sounds, no fluff. You’ll also find us on TikTok and Instagram.