Get spooked, release your rage and explore alternative museums with our list of unique things to do in Singapore.
Bored of the usual weekend brunch and trips to the beach? Or tired of showing your visiting buds the same old Merlion-and-Marina-Bay routine? Abandon your comfort zone and leap into the unknown with these fun and wacky activities. Who says there aren’t any unusual and unique things to do in Singapore? We’re veering off the beaten track…
[Note: With the ongoing Covid-19 situation, opening hours and details may change due to safety measures. Do check the official websites before you head over.]
Unique things to do in Singapore
Visit the weirdest theme park in the city
So you’d like a tour of Haw Par Villa? Welcome to hell. This theme park might make you feel more uncomfortable than excited, but it’s thrilling nonetheless. Revolving around Chinese folklore and mythology, Haw Par Villa is home to intricately hand-painted statues and sculptures – some even displaying bloody and decapitated figurines. If that doesn’t freak you out yet, visit the iconic Ten Courts of Hell attraction for a nightmare to remember. You may not want to come here alone, just sayin’.
Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118628
Kayak through a mangrove forest
If you think you’ve seen every inch of Singapore, we’re here to tell you otherwise. Explore the waters of Singapore with Kayakasia and glimpse gorgeous sights. The St. John’s Trail features an island hike and a glimpse of Pulau Tekukor, while the Sungei Khatib Bongsu adventure takes you through the waterways and lagoons of Singapore’s largest mangrove river habitat. You can also wander through the Northern Islands on a coastal expedition or embark on a wild and wet adventure through Pulau Ubin. Beginners are welcome, so grab your friends!
Kayakasia, register online
Make a date with offbeat museums
We’ve got amazing museums and galleries in Singapore for you to get your culture fix. But if you’re thinking of the unconventional, skip your regular date with the National Gallery and try out a new experience. For instance, The Intan collects all things Peranakan and displays them gorgeously in a home setting. Each tour includes a dive into the culture’s history, heritage and traditions, complemented by tea and Nyonya light bites. Oh, and did you know we’re home to The Gem Museum? You’re welcome to step into the world of gemstones, rocks and minerals at this space. Other intriguing spots include the Singapore Chinese Opera Museum and The Vintage Cameras Museum.
Sweat it out, but not at the gym
Who else hates the treadmill? We’re totally with you. It’s not for everyone. To get your heart pumping – and have loads of fun at the same time – opt for alternative fitness workouts instead. Besides aqua spinning, trampolining and surfboard yoga, you can also try aerial yoga, pole dancing and even combat saber sessions, Star Wars-style, by the likes of SaberFit and The Saber Authority.
Have a smashin’ good time, literally
The only place where your tantrums will be entertained, The Fragment Room is perfect for all you ill-tempered souls out there. It’s definitely one of the most unique things to do in Singapore! Release all your frustrations with a bat and some very fragile items. Simply choose a preferred playlist, put on your safety gear and brace yourself for some rage-fueled destruction. It can be therapeutic if that’s your sort of thing. Plus, not having to clean up after yourself just makes your stress melt away instantly.
The Fragment Room, 490 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368198
Listen to a choir of… exotic birds
At Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club in Ang Mo Kio, you’ll watch exotic birds chirping beautiful melodies all at once – something relatively unheard of in Singapore. Perched on the foot of Ang Mo Kio Town Garden and Block 159, the popular (and largest!) songbird display in Singapore is quite a delight to the eyes and ears. Admire these songbirds in uniquely crafted cages hoisted 20ft up on poles as they showcase their tunes at this quiet, hidden heartland gem.
Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club, Blk 159 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Singapore 560159
Hunt down haunted spots
Stranger things alert! Singapore’s home to haunted spots, that we all know. But have you explored ‘em all? To get you started on your ghostly adventures, our list of haunted places will come in handy. Spine-tingling, spooky spots include Bedok Reservoir, Old Changi Hospital, Caldecott Hill (yup, the former Mediacorp headquarters) and Woodneuk House. Go get your freak on!
Lose yourself in a countryside farm
We’re not all skyscrapers and modern architecture here. Take a break from Singapore’s cityscapes and feast your eyes on lush greenery. We’ve got several farms in our far-out countryside to visit, including Quan Fa Organic Farm (for fresh veggies), Hay Dairies (for goat milk) and Jurong Frog Farm (to meet and greet the amphibians). One of our faves? Bollywood Veggies, which is located in Kranji and rightly bills itself as ‘paradise on earth’. It’s been around since 2000 and houses a museum, bistro and shop on its premises.
Float in a futuristic space pod
Bored of the usual rub-downs and facials? Allow your worries to sink while you float at Palm Ave Float Club, which immerses you in your very own private pod filled with Epsom salt. Drift away and enter a deep, meditative state that will help you improve mental clarity. Besides being one of the more unique things to do in Singapore, it’s also extremely relaxing.
Palm Ave Float Club, #05-01, 66 Kampong Bugis, Singapore 338987
Have a taste of the kampong life
Do you find yourself yearning for the simple life? You might be surprised to find there are remnants of kampong houses still standing on our mainland. Kampong Lorong Buangkok is a relic where time seems frozen, giving you a glimpse of the 60s with cats, dogs and chickens roaming freely, and dirt roads connecting houses mainly made out of wood and zinc roofs. Just keep in mind not to disturb the residents if you’re visiting.
Kampong Lorong Buangkok, 7 Lorong Buangkok, Singapore 547557
Get your feet nibbled on by fishes
Looking for a fishy form of foot therapy after all that walking around the island? Pop by Qian Hu Fish Farm along Jalan Lekar and check out its fish spa. All you have to do is persevere through the tickles while these Garra Rufa fish devour the dead skin off your feet! It’s natural exfoliation at its best – and a great stress-reliever ‘cause you’ll be busy giggling out loud with your friends and fam.
Qian Hu Fish Farm Trading, 71 Jalan Lekar, Sungei Tengah, Singapore 698950
Have a snow day out
Living on a tropical island can be paradise, but when the sun’s scorching rays get to you, beat the heat at Snow City. It’s Singapore’s first permanent indoor snow centre, a family-friendly spot that takes you to the North Pole without hopping on a plane. Cool down quick at the Arctic snow playground, listen in on a storytelling session at the snow field, slide down the 60m-long snow slope and saddle up in bumper cars to drift on ice.
Snow City, 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Singapore 609433
Done exploring all the unique things to do in Singapore? Next stop: After-dark fun with midnight activities and late-night eats.