Singapore is about the centre of the world. At least, it might feel like it to some if you’re booking a long haul flight from Australia. Since Singapore Airlines fly all over the world there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself flying through the Little Red Dot. If you pass through and have the time, it’s worth staying a few days. For such a small country there is so much to see, and the Singapore Explorer Pass is the perfect way to see a lot in a short amount of time.
On my last trip I had a 3 day Explorer Pass Plus and got such good value out of it. Here are some of my favourite activities I used on the Explorer Plass Plus.
Universal Studios Singapore
We are big theme park fans so when we saw that Universal was included in the Explorer Pass Plus we carved out the best part of a day to ride roller coasters and get lost in a fantasy land of make-believe.
We helped Optimus Prime save the city in a thrilling 4D car ride, watched Donkey from Shrek do a stand-up routine, and watched the Waterworld stunt show (which made a lot more sense than when I saw it in Hollywood now that I’ve seen the movie). My highlight, though, was the twin Battlestar Galactica roller coaster, which went upside down no less than 5 times.
Sentosa Island Cable Car
Of all the ways to get onto Sentosa Island, the Cable Car is by far the most fun. The cable car line begins at Faber Peak, passes through the 15th story of a building at Harbourfront Station, then continues on to Sentosa Station. The Singapore Explorer Pass gives you a return pass onto the island and back, giving you a birds-eye view of both Singapore Harbour and passes right over the Adventure Cove Waterpark.
Singapore Zoo and River Safari
The Singapore Zoo is hands down the best zoo I’ve ever been to. The zoo has animals from all over including elephants, rhinos, giant tortoises, red pandas, and giraffes. They run regular shows and feedings where you can get really close to some of your favourites.
You also have the option to choose instead the Night Safari, which is a night tour of many nocturnal animals.
National Orchid Garden at the Botanic Gardens
If you love the outdoors and more importantly, if you love flowers in bloom then make the National Orchid Garden a key stop with your explorer pass. We got off the train at the Botanic Gardens MRT stop and had a lovely wander through the park before arriving at the Orchid Garden. On the way there not only did we see a wide variety of greenery, but a colony of otters munching on some fish they had just hunted took our attention for some 10 minutes.
The Orchid Garden is a wonderland of colour with bunches of bright orchids lining every path. Even a light appreciation of nature will have you cowing in awe.
Singapore River Cruise
Who doesn’t love cruises? Relaxing while bobbing along, watching the world go by. And the Singapore River Cruise is an excellent way to get a different perspective of the Singapore metropolis. Go under bridges, skirt the spitting Merlion, and look right up at the immense Marina Bay Sands. It’ll take about 45 minutes and is a great way to get a summary of the city.
Chinatown Heritage Centre
In the heart of Chinatown lies a small museum preserving the way of life of early Chinese settlers of Singapore. You’ll learn about the founding of Singapore and how the early Chinese settlers lived with lifesize recreations of the rooms like they would have lived in. So many people left China in search of a better life in Southeast Asia and many ended up in Singapore.
Singapore Flyer
Across the river from Gardens by the Bay is a giant observation wheel. The wheel sits out on its own away from the highrise of downtown and is the highest of its kind in Asia, so the view of the skyline and Marina Bay is just spectacular. I’ve ridden the Flyer in the evening and during the day and they are both excellent. If you can time it right (which would be difficult), being on the wheel for sunset would be the ultimate time, but just know whenever you go it will be great.
Gardens by the Bay
Built entirely on reclaimed land, Gardens by the Bay is everything Singapore stands for. It is home to 2 large greenhouses: the Cloud Forest, which is a vertical tropical forest complete with a 35 metre waterfall; and the Flower Dome, which holds gardens upon gardens of more varieties of flowers and plants than you can imagine.
Outside is Supertree Grove, where twelve large artificial trees reach toward the heavens, mimicking the functions an actual tree would perform such as harvesting solar energy, exhaust relief for the greenhouses, and collection of rainwater. While Supertree Grove is free, your Explorer Pass will get you entry into both greenhouses.
Food is also included!
To give you a true Singapore experience, included in the Explorer Pass are a few set meals from some Singapore institutions. I had a breakfast toast set from Ya Kun Kaya Toast. If you didn’t know (like I didn’t), kaya toast is Singapore traditional breakfast with lightly toasted bread, thick butter, and kaya, a jam made from eggs, coconut milk, sugar, and pandan leaves. A toast set comes with a side of egg and a coffee. You can read the misadventure on how I learnt this in my article from last year.
Another great option is from Komala’s, a well-known restaurant in Little India. While I didn’t get there myself, I happen to know that it is Little Grey Box Phoebe’s favourite place to eat in Singapore.
Many, many other options
So these are the attractions I made it to that are included in the Singapore Explorer Pass but there are so many more. You could also visit the India and Malay Heritage Museums. You can take a walking tour and/or a night bus tour of the city. There are loads more galleries and museums you can choose from including the National Gallery Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, and the Science Centre Singapore.
And we’ve barely touched Sentosa! As well as the cable car and Universal, you have access to the SEA Aquarium, Maddam Tussaud’s, 4D Adventureland, the Luge, and a kayak on the bay.
You couldn’t possibly do everything on the list — it’s not designed for that — but it does allow you to see a lot for less than if you were to buy the tickets all individually. Sometimes it’s a simple financial decision, so look at the list, add up the ticket prices of everything you plan on doing, and if the Explorer Pass is cheaper than your maths, then you have yourself a winner. I hope you enjoy seeing Singapore as much as I did.
As part of #squadsq, my time in Singapore was hosted by Singapore Airlines but the fun I had was 100% real.
