What It’s Like To Travel To Singapore In 2022
Singapore has long been a favourite travel destination for Australians thanks to its close proximity, incredible food scene and next-level accommodation. But what is the bustling island city like in 2022? We spoke with three travellers who recently returned from Singapore to hear about their adventures, their top local tips – like where to find the best satay sticks – and the secret spots you need to discover.
“This was our first international trip with our son”
For Sydneysider Emmi Manton, Singapore proved the perfect destination for her young family.
“My wife Jessica and I took our 12-month-old son, Harlan, to Singapore for 10 days in April – it was our first international trip as a family. We wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t too far from home and was easy with a baby. Plus, neither of us had been to Singapore so we wanted to see somewhere new – it was just so exciting to travel again!
“We loved our time there. We spent the first four nights at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa – the tropical beach part of town – and then the following six in the city at the Shangri-La Singapore. It was so nice to go sightseeing and just get out and about.
“The Botanic Gardens are amazing – you could spend days there. We loved the night safari at the zoo and riding the cable car over the city. We ate local cuisines at the hawker markets and at the Tekka Centre near Little India. Plus, we found an amazing pizza restaurant at Sentosa called Trapizza. It was delicious!
“Timing wise, Singapore had just opened up so we were told it was quieter than usual but it still felt busy. Singapore is also very kid-friendly so travelling with Harlan was easier than we thought. We’re already thinking about our next international trip. It’s so nice to get back out there!”
Qantas flies direct to Singapore from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Visit our Singapore travel guide to start planning your trip.
“I felt like a kid in a candy shop, rediscovering the city all over again”
For Natasha Blackman, a work trip turned into a chance to explore the island city all over again.
“I went to Singapore for work and squeezed in a mini break in between. It was so amazing to connect with colleagues I’d only met on video calls over the last two years. While I’d been to Singapore previously, I felt like a kid in a candy shop on this trip; everything seemed so new again.
“Getting on the plane at first was a bit of a shock because I didn’t know what the etiquette was! I kept thinking ‘Do I wear a mask when I eat?’ But it was so exciting to just be on that Qantas plane again – it felt so homely. I did need paperwork for my arrival into Singapore but I had all my digital copies and everything in order so I didn’t have any delays. It was fine.
“I love to experience a city by hiring a bike and in such a hot place like Singapore, it’s much easier than walking! I went to the Gardens by the Bay to see the iconic structures and exotic plants and visited Orchard Road. It was such a lovely overload of the senses hearing all the different conversations and languages being spoken there.
“There’s a bar called Atlas that was definitely a highlight. It’s in an amazing Art Deco building and it’s got floor-to-ceiling bottles of spirits. My friend who lives in Singapore also took me to this really cool bar called Mama Diam, which operates as a convenience store during the day but then a door slides open and magically, there’s a bar. It’s finding stuff like this that’s so fun when you’re travelling. This trip has 100 per cent made me excited to book my next holiday.”
“It was the first time we’d seen each other in years”
For Francine Kelly, a trip to Singapore saw her family reunited after years apart.
“I went to Singapore at the beginning of April for a week with my 26-year-old twins, Tom and Alex. We went over for my niece's wedding – it was her second attempt at the wedding because of lockdowns. She’s Australian and her now-husband is English but they live in Singapore. It was the first time we’d seen them in years!
“We had a lot of family events organised while we were there. But taking a couple of 26-year-olds meant we spent our spare time visiting lots of nice bars, like the one at the top of Marina Bay Sands and The Fullerton Bay Hotel.
Find a flight to Singapore
“We went on a river cruise that leaves from Clarke Quay, had drinks at Raffles, ate at hawker centre Lau Pa Sat (try the prawn, chicken and beef satay sticks from stalls 7 and 8) and visited my niece who lives on Sentosa Island. It felt so safe and I’ve already got more trips planned – I’m going to Canada in August. You’ve just got to get on with it!”
With hidden gems around every street corner, don't miss a thing on your next trip to Singapore with our helpful travel guide.
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