My partner and I Will be staying for 4 nights in Singapore in couple of weeks time. I have already booked a hotel in chinatown which is very central. I was wondering what are the must see places/tourist attractions for 4 nights? Apart from all the eating, we would like to go to the observation deck of Marina Bay Sands, Changi War museum.
I feel that Sentosa and Universal studios are way too touristy and expensive for what they are worth and also don't want to waste 2 whole days doing these.
Any other suggestions for must see spots, free activities, shopping tips on what to buy and where etc., will be appreciated.
Also, info on their public transport, ticket purchases and any tips will be handy.
Thanks in advance.
Sentosa/Universal Studios are pretty average and IMO not really a "must see". Very touristy and overpriced like you said. The Universal Studios is quite small for a theme park, but if you've never been to one before then it's an ok experience. Marina Sands skydeck is a bit pricey to go up, but the views are unrivalled on a clear night.
Gardens by the Bay is next to Marina Bay Sands and is highly recommended. I found the (fully air-conditioned) domes to be super impressive. The ticket price for both domes is very good value too.
The OCBC Skyway in the Gardens is quite nice too, just make sure you get there before it closes (last entry around 9 or 10pm I think). I'd recommend going to the Gardens near sunset as a) it's not as hot and humid, b) by the time you're done walking through the domes it will be dark and all the lights in the gardens will be on - looks a lot better all lit up at night than under the usual overcast Singapore sky during the day.
Stay away from the Singapore Flyer (the ferris wheel thing) - it's expensive and the views are crap anyway. Bugis street markets are another tourist trap.
Shopping it depends on what you're after…if you want good quality clothes at a decent price I reckon the H&M store on Orchard road is good value. Orchard road itself is a nice stroll, but most of the shops along it are very expensive/flagship type stores. For an OzBargainer, I definitely recommend stopping by one of the $2 shops called DAISO - it's really good fun and the items are of pretty good quality! In general though the shopping in Singapore isn't cheap - even electronics are sometimes more expensive than Australia prices.
Food - if seafood is your thing definitely try out the crab at Jumbo Seafood along the East Coast Parkway. Otherwise there are food courts a plenty and cheap eats everywhere. Make sure you try out the local delicacies!
Transport - you can get around nearly everywhere via the MRT train system and walking. The train lines are pretty easy to follow, not a mess like other countries. Depending on how much travel you intend to do, you can either buy a one-use standard ticket (which is about $1.50-$2 per trip) or get an EZ-Link card with value stored on it (and slightly cheaper fares).
Taxis are pretty cheap too, unless you take them in peak hour and get stuck in bad traffic.
Apart from that there's not much more touristy things to be done. Singapore life is pretty much eat, shop, eat, shop, eat, shop, sleep & repeat haha.
Oh, and don't forget to bring your 28 Degrees Card if you have one! ;)
Hope that helps, happy travels :)