When you find yourself comparing travel destinations to loved ones in your life, perhaps the time has finally come to hang up your proverbial passport.
As the parallels started to pound my overactive imagination, I could recall the destination that made me feel at home, no matter how great the distance, no matter how much time lapsed. I could recall the glamorous cities that glitter, always energising those in their presence. I could recall the destinations that remain unpredictable, the ones that have left me with both intense frustration and puppy-dog comfort. And I could visualise the people in my life, who so snugly occupy each of these moulds.
For Singapore though, I was stumped, perhaps because this was a country I connected with for far more superficial reasons that usually fail to inspire me. Singapore was not a destination, where I felt a seamless bond with the locals, nor was it a country where any specific sites resonate on in my mind. I would willingly re-visit if circumstance took me back but I would lack the intense longing to return that occurred with Bali, New York, with Tanzania, Italy or Argentina.
Singapore, rather, was a destination that swept me up into its web of tantalizing, eclectic flavours from hawker stall cereal prawns to waterside crab feasts. It was a destination that amazed me with its technological advancements and a digital e-world that made my city, London, seem archaic. And mostly, it was a city whose illustrious skyline views at night would catch my fixed gaze and leave me wondering how a collection of twinkling skyscrapers could engage me with such force.
Singapore Skyline Views at Night
During my visit to Singapore, it was the views and the food that stood out the most, particularly at night when the contrast of the fuel-consuming neon strokes vividly illuminated the charcoal skies. Singapore, like Hong Kong and Seoul, was a place I much preferred through the night-time lens than the daytime one and it was at these spots that I found the night views to be most glorious.
The Light Show at Marina Bay Sands
As Singapore’s most renowned centrepiece hotel, characterised by 3 towering peaks, the Marina Bay Sands skyscrapers are topped with an impressive infinity pool 57 levels above ground, which is exclusively for use by hotel residents.
Luckily for the rest of us, the Marina Bay Sands Wonder Full Light and Water Show is open to all, free of charge and on every night of the week. Naturally, you and your loved one will be competing for a spot on the steps by the marina with several hundreds if not thousands of other light-gazers but this 15 minute burst of rainbow lights and lasers is a visual feast not to be missed.
Don’t even think about heading straight back to your hotel once it’s over though, as a few more steps on the pedometer around the marina will prove to you that in the heartlands of Singapore, most roads lead to sparkle.
Skyline Views from Rooftop Restaurants and Bars
As I mentioned earlier, what made Singapore memorable for me were the views and the food/drink scene so it was no surprise that we spent an evening combining the two with a drink at one of the rooftop bars at Marina Bay Sands, Ku De Ta, which has seen been reborn under the name of Ce La Vie.
Singapore has no shortage of bars and restaurants with a view but if you have the desire to bag a bar seat in time to watch the sunset, find one where you can book ahead or arrive early to avoid disappointment. We took our seats nearly an hour and a half before sunset to watch the skyline views of Singapore transition from daylight to dusk to a palate of twinkling studs in the dark.
Orchard Road Illuminations At Night
We were in Singapore a few weeks before Christmas and if the light displays on Orchard Road were anything to go by, energy conservation was most definitely not high on the agenda. It might not appeal to the environmentally cautious folk but it certainly made for an exhilarating, festive ambience, which is something I didn’t expect to experience in the muggy humidity of a November in Singapore.
Those of you with an insatiable Christmas curiosity can read more in my previous post on Singapore’s Christmas Lights.
Gardens by the Bay
The highly acclaimed Gardens by the Bay was one of the more innovative open spaces I have come across on my travels. As an award-winning urban garden that spans around 250 acres, it is certainly distinguishable from any other garden or park I have seen, although my personal view was that it was perhaps a tad over-hyped.
That said, when I got a glimpse of the bird’s eye view over Gardens by the Bay with its glistening, splaying tree branches, I regretted not visiting at night instead, when I think the sense of magic about the place would have been heightened (especially for a nocturnal owl like me!)
Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay
As two of the wharfs by the Singapore river, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay were lacking in any real sense of hustle and bustle by day with the exception of a few locals milling around, a few restaurants open for business and some run of the mill shopping malls in the vicinity.
By night though, against the backdrop of the kaleidoscopic hues emanating from the Alkaff Bridge these riverside quays took on a new persona with the palpable buzz of friends and families unwinding with drinks by the water, the volume on the walkways elevated and restaurant waiters were seem flitting between congested tables in al fresco set ups.
Have you been to any cities or countries, which you much preferred exploring by night?
Why Waste Annual Leave? 
Oh boy, Shikha, I need to take some tips from you on night photography – so many stunning photos! And I’m definitely bookmarking this post for when J and I finally visit Singapore!
Aww thank you Nano! So sweet of you to say! I love a good skyline view and there are lots in Singapore – but then again, you already get some fabulous ones like this with all the lit up skyscrapers in Tokyo! ☺
Gutted I missed the Marina Sands light show but I did get to see the sound and light display at the Gardens by the bay. I visited mid Dec so the xmas vibe was just kicking off and I remember lying on the ground in the centre of the mega trees using my bag as a pillow and watching the lights flashing in time to Mariah Carey’s all I want for Christmas! With the Singapore heat it was a very surreal experience but I loved it!
Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean Keri! It was the strangest thing seeing all these Christmas trees & baubles everywhere whilst walking around in shorts breaking a sweat in the humidity! They do put on a good display for Christmas though!
I really loved exploring roof top bars in Singapore.
I think they’re an essential part of a trip to Singapore for anyone who loves a good nightscape Angie – or a good cocktail!:mrgreen:
Really stunning photos!!! I also find that Singapore really lights up at night time….I really loved visiting the Night Gardens…it took me back to my childhood and made me feel like I was in some sort of Disney dream!
Aww thank you so much for your lovely comment – I’m so pleased you liked the photos ☺ There’s something really fantastical and mystifying about these urban gardens all lit up at night – can totally see why it would have made you feel like you’re on a Disney adventure!
Great post! I’m heading to Singapore in October so this came at the perfect time. I remember loving the Christmas decorations on Orchard Road on my last trip, too.
Thanks Julie! That’s so exciting that you’re heading back so soon & look forward to hearing all about the new discoveries you make there this time round! When I think of places being “Christmasy”, Singapore isn’t usually what springs to mind, which was why the Orchard Road lighting came as such a pleasant surprise!
Oh wow these photos are really spectacular, I missed out on Singapore on my South East Asia trip but definitely need to head back there one day!
I think the good thing is that because it’s much smaller than places like Thailand or Vietnam, you can explore quite a lot even with a few days Becky plus it’s a great transit stop to so many other Asian destinations or when heading down under so I’m sure you’ll make it soon ☺
Oh this makes me want to go back to Singapore so much! I’m sure most of this wasn’t around when we visited 8 years ago (or at least I wasn’t the organised blogger/planner then that I am now) so I think a return trip is definitely required!
Honestly, I think it’s the kind of place where I could just camp inside the hotel or a shopping mall by day (sooo humid) & then just stay up into the early hours to see these stunning skylines & enjoy the swish restaurants & bars! I like going back to places several years down the line as you do get to see them in a new light as your own interests evolve as well as the destination itself ☺
I’m yet to visit Singapore but we have friends who live there and it would be great to see them and the Marina Bay light show too!
You should definitely kill two birds with one stone Suze and visit if and your friends at the same time in that case as it’d be a fabulous place to enjoy with friends with so many great bars & restaurants!
These are great tips on how to find the best skyline spots in Singapore at night! It is such a gorgeous place to visit! Stunning pictures!
Miriam
http://www.londonkitchendiaries.com
Thank you so much Miriam! ☺ I’m a sucker for s great view – especially by night so I loved trotting around these different locations. It’s such a fun place to visit & quite different in style to most of the other SE Asian destinations I had previously visited.
I’m not a city girl but these views are just so stunning. Whenever I’m going out to dinner in the city I love to go at dusk to see the changing colors and to see the lights slowly come on. Gorgeous.
YES! My favourite time to be by an aerial view, Carolann, is also at dusk with the changing colours. I really didn’t particularly want to get to the bar that early but it was worth it to grab a table in time to watch it evolve through the sunset. ☺
I know what you mean about Singapore, it is great but definitely doesn’t have the same draw for a return visit like New York. I loved the bar at Marina Bay Sands near that famous infinity pool. It gave such a great view of the city. I also like some of the smaller bars that have rooftop gardens like Southbridge.
Oh thanks for the tip Ash! I’ll try to check out some of the smaller bars if I ever make it back but yes, NYC will always have a big piece of my heart above everywhere else (apart from home!)
I loved the nightlife (specifically, the late night shopping and the hawker stalls!) in Singapore! Your photos captured this beautifully, Shikha!
Thanks so much Jaime! The skylines there are some of the prettiest I’ve seen anywhere and I’m totally with you on the hawker stalls – I just loved the smells & flavours – wanted to try one of everything they were selling. It’s foodie heaven in Singapore isn’t it?! ☺
Your night shots are fabulous – I can never seem to get the hang of night photography but you’ve nailed it. I loved HCMC at night – we were the at New Year so the lights and p’zazz were full on.
I remember reading your account of new years there and it sounded absolutely amazing Suzanne! I think my hubby is getting miffed that I haven’t mentioned that he took some of these so in the interests of full disclosure (and marital harmony!) some of these were taken by him!
Beautiful photos! Those colours are beautiful Shikha. 🙂
Thank you Katie! So pleased you like the pics ☺
Yeah, until 5 years ago, it was a little more sterile here (Singapore that is). It is slowly changing as the city tries to move towards being more like London or NYC. It will take time!
Singapore is great place for photography. Thanks for sharing.
It really is! And I thought so especially at night! Thanks for reading Ben
nightime really enhances singapore, doesnt it? 🙂 great shots!
definitely Andy, I’d have quite happily explored the whole place just after dark to be honest. The skyline views were pretty spectacular!