Singapore is known for its shopping, cuisine and cleanliness. But despite its very practical image, Singapore can also be a romantic place to visit.
Alongside Singapore’s shops and squeaky-clean streets are unique opportunities to show your special someone just how much you love him or her. Here are a list of 10 great destinations and activities you can indulge in as a couple during a romantic Singapore getaway.
An Orchid by Any Other Name: Gardens by the Bay
Contemplate nature and your beloved amongst the blooms at Singapore’s state-of-the-art Gardens by the Bay. Exhibiting native and exotic plants in both indoor and outdoor settings, the Gardens by the Bay allows for happy ramblings up a man-made mountain biome, under energy- and water-conserving Supertrees, and through a series of nature trails.
The Gardens are located on Marina Gardens Drive, near the Marina Bay Sands. For inexpensive romance, visiting the outdoor gardens is free, while entrance to the conservatories costs between SGD$8 and $28.
Go Chic or Go Home: The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark’s KU DÉ TA and The Chocolate Bar
One of Singapore’s must-see sights is the unique architecture of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Opened in 2011, the hotel-resort complex is now a signature part of the Singaporean skyline. Consisting of three towers topped by a one-hectare terrace called the SkyPark, it’s almost 200 meters high.
While looking at modern architecture might not be everyone’s definition of a romantic activity, two of the venues located on the SkyPark definitely make the grade for swooningly romantic places for a lovers’ rendezvous, an intimate meal, or even a proposal.
KU DÉ TA, a restaurant and club lounge on the SkyPark, is probably the best venue in all of Singapore to watch the sunset while sipping a cocktail. If you’ve already got evening plans, even a simple lunch on the terrace overlooking the city will help you foster that feeling of get-away-from-it-all. Visiting KU DÉ TA in the evenings is also a great excuse to dress up: “stylish chic” is the stated dress code for visitors after 6 p.m.
Or, for sweet-toothed sweethearts, a buffet at The Chocolate Bar in the Sands SkyPark will make a date to remember. For SGD $38 per person, try up to 57 hand-crafted sinfully sweet desserts.
Their signature delicacy? The “Botanica,” a tribute to the neighboring Gardens by the Bay. It’s described as “Sicilian Sable baked with fresh raspberries, topped with white Chocolate-Marigold Whipped Ganache and sprinkled with an edible flower.” In a word? Decadent.
Love is a Wheel: The Singapore Flyer
Most visitors to Singapore focus on the street-level: shopping, eating and history. So it makes sense that romantic getaways in the city-state are ones that take you above it all. One great option to get in a view while holding hands is a ride on the Singapore Flyer. This 42-story-high Ferris wheel sits on the reclaimed land of the Marina Centre. During its 30-minute rotation, visitors get a 360-degree vista of the city and its historical landmarks. On a clear day, you may see all the way to the Straits of Johor and the Indonesian Spice Islands. One rotation for an adult costs $33. Watching the sunset while spinning above the city is a good start to a romantic evening out.
And, if you’d like some refreshment while watching the city spin by, the Singapore Flyer offers a cozy four-course meal-and-flight package for two. This includes two full rotations (“flights”)of the wheel, with dessert, coffee and tea. It costs $269 per couple.
If that seems a bit too pricey to be truly romantic (you don’t want the worry about paying your credit card bills to get in the way of contemplating your future together), you could indulge in the less expensive High Tea Flight for SGD $99 per couple, or try one of the cocktail flights. The cocktail flight’s SGD $69 fee per person includes a signature cocktail souvenir glass. You can choose between a Singapore Sling or a “Signature” cocktail. Or, for the same price, you can have a Moet & Chandon Champagne Flight while nibbling on strawberries and chocolates.
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River Romance: A Cruise of the Singapore River
Water lovers will want to take in the Marina Bay Sands’ laser light show (at 8 and 9:30 p.m. on weeknights) as they drift along the Singapore River. Or, hop a boat in the daytime to see the city’s skyline and historic elements from the water. Being on the river is a breezy and fun way to spend time with your loved one as you snap photos of the city sights.
There are several tour companies offering river cruises, for example the traditional “bumboats” cruise, leaving from many points throughout the city. You can find several cruises at Clarke Quay or the Esplanade, or ask at your hotel front desk for their recommendation.
Hearts in History: Fort Canning Hill
At only 60 meters above sea level, Fort Canning Hill won’t provide you and your honey with a marvelous vista. But it will allow you to stroll arm-in-arm in one of Singapore’s famous spots for lovers. If you’ve got a mind to follow a trail, the National Parks system provides a self-guided tour map depicting points of Singaporean history on the hill.
Or, take a cue from the locals and just wander the grounds together before seeking out a quiet bench and staring deeply into each other’s eyes.
Fly Away with Me: Dinner for Two on a Cable Car from Mount Faber
Mount Faber is a tourist destination blessed with great views at any time of day. At night, the city lights 100 meters below make Mount Faber an extra-special place for an evening stroll or a romantic dinner in one of the hilltop restaurants.
For an all-out declaration of love, book the Jewel Box’s SkyDining experience: a three-course meal in your very own cable car shuttling over the city between Mount Faber and Sentosa. When booking, you can also choose to have the car draped in flowers. Dinner with the floral option costs SGD $488 per couple, while a regular cabin costs SGD $218 per couple.
A Sensual Treat: Spa Botanica’s Couples Package
Why not pamper your love? Vacations are fun, but they’re not always relaxing. Take the stress out of your sightseeing by spending a “Spa Two-Gether Day” with your beloved at the tropical Spa Botanica on Sentosa.
This package allows the two of you to indulge in a series of relaxing treatments simultaneously. Enjoy a body scrub, Vichy shower, body wrap, massage, and petal bath with an intermission for a light lunch. This might be the perfect way to soothe your bodies and renew your commitment to a harmonious life together.
Teamwork for Two: Rent a Tandem Bike on the Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network
Prove what a good team you and your lover are by renting tandem bikes and cycling along Singapore’s Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network.
The network links up the city’s parks and nature sites in a 42 km green sweep, with plenty of places to stop and smell the orchids. If you’ve never tried it before, tandem cycling is great fun, but a little bit challenging. Some tips: put the most experienced cyclist on the front seat. This “captain” is in charge of balancing and steering the bike–so it should be a good measure of your trust in each other! The rider in the back, “the stoker,” won’t have to steer, so should be in charge of encouraging words, light shoulder rubs, and taking plenty of pictures.
Bikes can be rented along the Connector Network, for example at East Coast Park or Changi Beach.
Snuggle Up: Take a Trishaw Tour
Get to know the city while you snuggle up to your sweetie on a trishaw tour of Singapore. Trishaws, also called cycle rickshaws or pedicabs, are bicycle-powered carts that seat two people behind the driver. The cycle rickshaw was first used in Singapore in the 1920s, and the invention quickly spread to neighboring Asian nations. Now, nostalgic trishaw tour routes encompass Bugis, Little India, and the Singapore River. This popular tourist jaunt lets you experience sights and sounds of street-side Singapore that you would miss on a motorized tour, and the small seats give you a great excuse to wrap your arms around each other in public.
Whether you’re in Singapore for a quick weekend away, or whether you have a longer period of time to explore the city, there are plenty of opportunities and places to add a romantic vibe to your trip. What are your favorite romantic places in Singapore? Tell us in the comments!
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