Singapore is known worldwide for iconic tourist attractions, including Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa, and Marina Bay Sands. 

But travellers who look beyond these iconic locations will still discover a tapestry of stories hidden in quiet neighbourhoods, back alleys, heritage corridors, artistic spaces, and cultural centres.

These less commercialised experiences reveal a deeper, more intimate side of the country – one perfect for visitors searching for interesting places to visit in Singapore that go beyond the usual tourist itinerary!

History and Culture 

1. Tiong Bahru: One of Singapore’s Oldest Public Housing Estates

A rare blend of 1930s Art Deco architecture, indie bookstores, old kopitiams, and trendy bakeries. The place is perfect for travellers looking for interesting places to visit in Singapore that owe their appeal to local character and nostalgia. 

Tiong Bahru is one of Singapore’s earliest public housing estates, built in the pre-war era. Head to Tiong Bahru Market and its surrounding eateries to reveal the local culinary identity. 

Other places worth visiting are the indie bookstores (like BooksActually) and cultural shops. There are also various murals showing kampong-era stories – perfect photo ops if you drop by!

2. Bukit Brown Cemetery: Histories & Atmospheric Nature Trails

One of the largest Chinese cemeteries outside China. This is a peaceful sanctuary for those who seek heritage tombs, wildlife, and quiet stories experienced in offbeat ways. 

Bukit Brown is a historic cemetery where generations of Singapore's early pioneers were laid to rest. Pivotal local businessmen, philanthropists, and community leaders are among them. 

The tomb designs alone are worth seeing, showing different dialects and beliefs. It’s a location where one can find a more contemplative part of Singapore’s history.

Yet it’s also a place teeming with life. The cemetery has surprising biodiversity, and it’s not uncommon to see hornbills, butterflies, monitor lizards, and jungle fowl on your visit.

3. Labrador Nature Reserve: Coastal Defence Stories

A place that combines natural landscapes with colonial-era war relics. The former British military sites remain here, including machine gun posts and secret tunnels.

You'll find boards throughout the site detailing what the coastline looked like during World War II. Military and history buffs can recall the Battle of Pasir Panjang and early colonial maritime strategies here too.

And if you'd like to also reconnect with nature during your visit, head to the high cliffs overlooking the sea and lush secondary forests filled with butterflies and birds for a surprising (hidden) coastal retreat!

Labrador Nature Reserve blends natural landscapes with remnants of Singapore’s coastal defence history. Along its trails, you can find preserved World War II relics, such as machine gun pillboxes and fort structures, which once formed part of the British coastal fortifications. These sites help tell the story of how the shoreline was defended in the years leading up to and during World War II.

The reserve also contains underground tunnels believed to have been used for ammunition storage; these are closed to the public but can be visited on guided tours organised by NParks.

Beyond its history, the reserve sits beside the sea and coastal secondary forest and supports a surprisingly rich ecosystem. You’ll see a variety of bird species, butterflies, and other wildlife, as well as coastal plants along the trails.

The area features the only publicly accessible rocky sea cliff on Singapore’s main island, and there are informative signboards and paths that make it a rewarding mix of nature and heritage for visitors.

4. Chinatown’s Hidden Corners & The Chinatown Heritage Centre

Many visitors to Chinatown tend to miss the deeper stories in its alleys and heritage blocks.

Try the historic lanes of Sago Street and Trengganu Street, where you can find traditional trades and memorial shops as well as street life and old buildings dedicated to Chinese opera. Or head over to Smith Street to discover old hawker food and culture!

Many of Chinatown’s quiet buildings preserve dialects, traditions, ancestral worship, and artisan knowledge. For example, the Chinatown Heritage Centre (CHC) offers a detailed reconstruction of migrant living quarters from Singapore's early years. 

These places are a must-visit for travellers looking to explore Singapore's cultural depth beyond the usual sights. Places like the CHC offer emotional, immersive storytelling through guided tours that contextualise the entire district.

For a deeper look at Chinatown’s history, consider joining the Chinatown Free Walking Tour with Monster Day Tours, conducted by expert local guides who share captivating insights into the area’s heritage and hidden corners.

Nature, Outdoors and Eco Experiences

5. Pulau Ubin: A Kampong Frozen in Time

A rustic island village untouched by high-rise buildings and modern urbanisation. It’s a chance to experience Singapore as it was in the 1960s. That means a rare glimpse of how the country looked before independence, complete with wooden kampong houses, fishermen repairing nets, and cats sleeping on porches. 

In the area are also the Chek Jawa Wetlands, which offer six diverse ecosystems (coral rubble, seagrass lagoon, mangroves) to explore for nature lovers.

There are boardwalks for wildlife spotting where you can try to find horseshoe crabs, mudskippers, and wild boars. Bicycles can also be rented on the island, so you can take a ride through its old quarries too!

A floating restaurant, accessible via a separate bumboat ride, offers a medley of seafood dishes, and Jejawi Tower nearby offers a panoramic view of the canopy and the surrounding sea. It’s a chance to see a more nostalgic and different world just 10 minutes from Changi. Just a note here that you'll need to make a reservation before heading over to the restaurant!

Kranji Countryside, Singapore — Image from traveloka.com

6. Kranji Countryside: Rural Life in Singapore

A side of Singapore most travellers never see, Kranji offers a rare glimpse into Singapore’s farms, wetlands, and nature reserves!

Some of the best things to visit here are the local goat farms, vegetable farms, organic papaya plantations, and the Kranji War Cemetery & Memorial.

The former allows visitors to experience eco and rural tourism. The latter allows you to learn more about local history!

Immersive Play, Art and Creative Experiences

7. Sentosa Sensoryscape: A Multi-Sensory Play Haven 

A playful, immersive environment designed to engage all five senses. Sensoryscape is an experiential, interactive installation that both young and adult travellers can fall in love with.

The place encourages visitors to touch, feel, listen, smell, and explore with curiosity. It’s built around the idea that environments can spark wonder and learning through sensory engagement.

Visitors encounter tactile gardens, sound-activated paths, scent trails, and light installations that adapt to their movement. It offers a new way to engage with the environment and discover Singapore.

Museum of Ice Cream, Singapore — Image from singapore-tickets.com

8. Museum of Ice Cream: Whimsy, Colour and Sweet Surprises

A delightfully unique twist on the traditional museum visit. If Instagram-worthy visuals and immersive art spaces are on your travel checklist, the Museum of Ice Cream Singapore is a must.

Unlike conventional exhibition spaces, this museum combines art with tactile installations in a playful, dessert-inspired theme. Every room and environment is full of whimsy.

The Sprinkle Pool is arguably the most iconic attraction, a giant pool filled with millions of colourful biodegradable sprinkles.

Potong Play, on the other hand, is a tribute to traditional Singaporean ice cream, offering a nostalgic twist for locals and an introduction to local flavours for visitors.

For travellers seeking unique places to visit in Singapore that blend art and playfulness, this museum delivers an unforgettable adventure!

Urban Culture and Lifestyle

New Bahru, Singapore — Image from cntraveler.com

9. New Bahru: Vintage Charm Meets Modern Flair

An emerging lifestyle destination in Singapore that brings a fresh urban sensibility to the city’s neighbourhood experience. Housed in an old school building, this area brings together 40 homegrown brands spanning food, retail, wellness, and art.

Come here to experience craft coffee alongside sustainable fashion, or to attend creative events that combine music with food and design.

For travellers in search of more authentic, human-scaled urban experiences beyond landmark sights, New Bahru offers one of Singapore’s most interesting places to visit.

It reflects the evolving face of Singapore’s urban culture, and allows visitors to enjoy the city not as tourists but as participants in everyday community life

Explore Singapore’s True Charm Today 

Singapore’s charm lies not only in its major attractions but in the quieter districts, heritage sites, nature trails, and cultural pockets that shape its identity. Travellers seeking unique places to visit in Singapore will find endless stories beyond the usual tourist routes!

If you'd like to do a deep dive into Singapore's history and culture, begin with the Chinatown Heritage Centre, where Singapore’s migration stories and rich heritage are carefully preserved, forming the foundation of much of what we see today.