Even if you’re not going abroad, you can look to our very own humble abode for fun things to do and places to explore. Singapore isn’t just about Orchard Road or Gardens by the Bay. We’re almost as sick of these places as you are!
Well, fret not! Come the weekend, you can look forward to something else to do! Here are 10 interesting and uncommon places to visit for a different kind of fun.
1. Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle & Dragon Kiln
Dubbed one of Singapore’s most well-kept secrets, the Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle is a place that combines heritage, history, discovery, and fun. It gives vibes of an old museum and you can actually buy proper pottery and art at a reasonable price!
There’s also the Dragon Kiln (a furnace/oven for burning pottery), one of the oldest surviving brick-built kilns in Singapore for wood firing. If you’d like to learn more about pottery, Thow Kwang also hosts a series of workshops that will give you your Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze “Ghost” pottery moment.
- Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle
- Address: 85 Lorong Tawas, off Jalan Bahar
- Contact number: +65 6268 6121
- Operating Hours: Daily, 9am-5pm
- Website: Thow Kwang
- Facebook: Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle
2. Lazarus Island
Are you looking for a beach to visit, but find that those at Sentosa are overpopulated? Why not try Lazarus Island instead? Accessible by a causeway from St John’s Island, Lazarus Island is home to an untouched tranquil beach.
You could take a dip in the clear turquoise waters, and bring along a picnic basket for a picnic on the pristine white sand. For the best beaches in Singapore, read this.
3. The Observatory at Science Centre
Stargazing, anyone? With a location near the equator, Singapore has an advantageous location. It allows stargazers to catch a glimpse of the constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres. If you happen to be in the west, drop by the Science Centre to check out the exhibits and end off your visit with a sky full of stars!
- Science Centre Observatory
- Address: 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, 609433
- Contact number: +65 6425 2500
- Operating Hours: Friday 7:45pm- 10:00pm
- Facebook: SCOB
4. Pulau Ubin
There is much to see and do on Pulau Ubin. From camping to cycling, catching the sunrise, or even catching some fish at a kelong, this island literally spells fun under the sun!
It’s a great destination for those who would like to escape the hustle and bustle of the city (especially from the crowd!). Just swap the MRTs for rental bikes and enjoy nature.
5. MegaZip Adventure Park
Up for an adventure with your buddies? Head down to Sentosa’s MegaZip Adventure Park to get your adrenaline going. Hang 450-metre high up and swing across a jungle, beach, and the sea at a speed of up to 60 kilometres!
Not a fan of swinging across Sentosa? Check out Climb Max, an obstacle course consisting of three levels of aerial ropes at 15 metres high. That sure sounds like the next Singapore Ninja Warrior course!
- MegaZip Adventure Park
- Address: Imbiah Hill Rd, Sentosa Island, 098967
- Contact number:+65 6884 5602
- Operating Hours: Daily, 11am-7pm
- Entrance fee: $50++
- Website: MegaZip
6. Bounce Singapore
The thought of hanging around Orchard as something fun to do probably did not cross your mind. But how about bouncing around the latest indoor adventure park that is strategically located in Orchard?
Bounce Singapore is an epic urban playground that consists of interconnected trampolines, Freerun Terrain Park (like the one on American Ninja Warrior), and “Leap of Faith” – jump on a raised platform and leap out to catch hold of the trapeze. Best part of all? It’s indoors and you won’t get sunburnt from all that fun.
- Bounce Singapore
- Address: Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road, #09-01
- Contact number: +65 6816 2879
- Operating Hours: Sun-Thurs (10am – 10pm), Fri-Sat (10am – midnight)
- Entrance fee: $24++ (general admission), $19++(student discount)
- Website: Bounce Singapore
- Facebook: Bounce SG
7. Singapore Botanic Gardens
Feeling broke? Head to Singapore Botanic Gardens and appreciate the landscaped gardens. With the exception of the National Orchid Garden, this UNESCO Heritage World Site charges zero admission fees for tourists or locals every day.
While you’re at it, check out the small tropical rainforest inside the garden. Fun fact: Singapore is one of the only two major cities with a tropical rainforest within its city limits.
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
- Contact number: +65 6471 7138
- Operating Hours: Daily 5am-12am
- Website: Singapore Botanic Gardens
8. Mint Museum Of Toy
You’re never too young or too old for toys! This toy museum will delight both adults and kids with its vast collection of vintage toys and memorabilia from around the world.
With over 50,000 pieces of vintage toys, this collection is considered one of the finest in the world. Even the five-storey building that houses the museum is a work of art and has gained international recognition at Architectural Awards.
- Mint Museum Of Toys
- Address: 26 Seah Street, 188382
- Contact number: +65 63390660
- Operating Hours: Daily 9:30am-6:30pm
- Entry fee: $15
- Website: Mint Museum Of Toys
9. Changi Chapel & Museum
There’s only so much that textbooks and Wikipedia can tell you about Singapore’s history. If you’d like to know more about the country’s past, what’s better than visiting a war museum and an actual chapel where prisoners used to attend?
Don’t worry, there’s nothing spooky about this place. Just a whole lot of educational value and exploring to do!
- Changi Chapel & Museum
- Address: 1000 Upper Changi Rd N, 507707
- Contact number: +65 6214 2451
- Operating Hours: Daily 9:30am-5.00pm (last admission at 4:30pm)
- Entry Fee: Free admission
- Website: Changi Museum
10. Singapore City Gallery
Now that you’ve learnt about Singapore’s history, head down to Maxwell Road to learn more about the Singapore today. Unlike every other gallery and museum, the Singapore City Gallery is the only permanent exhibition in the country that showcases Singapore’s physical transformation in the last 50 years. It shows our journey to becoming one of the most liveable cities in Asia.
It has 10 thematic areas and more than 50 audiovisual and interactive exhibits occupying the first three floors of the Urban Redevelopment Authority building.
- Singapore City Gallery
- Address: 45 Maxwell Rd, The URA Centre, 069118
- Contact number: +65 6321 8321
- Operating Hours: Monday- Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
- Entry Fee: Free admission
- Website: Singapore City Gallery
With 10 uncommon places to check out with your friends for a different kinda fun (and some really pocket-friendly ones), which one would you visit first? While you’re at it, also check out The Singaporean Bucket List – 10 Challenges You Die Die Must Complete.
Header image source: CNN/ Darren Soh Singapore Tourism Board, words by editor
Also, read Tiny Pieces Of Paper & Quirky Imagination Was All It Took For Instagrammer To Make SG Fun Again
