Tourist Ranks Singapore Attractions According To 6 Tiers, And Only One Local Attraction Made It To The Top "King" Tier

A Chinese tourist who visited Singapore during the Chinese New Year break has taken to Xiaohongshu to share her top must-see spots here. But it's not just the usual coverage of must-see spots here.

While many of the attractions in her list are expected, she systematically ranked them by tier, offering a handy guide for travellers looking to prioritise their time.

While emphasising that the ranking is purely her personal opinion and “isn't meant to imply anything official,” she wrote: “I've visited many of Singapore's attractions multiple times, so I've ranked them based on my own preferences.”

She also added: “I just got back from Singapore, and thinking about it now, I can’t help but praise how smooth it was exploring the city with this guide — it felt effortless, almost like being a local!”

She then shared her list, ranking the attractions according to six tiers: “King” being the top, followed by “stellar”, “diamond”, “gold”, “silver” and finally, “bronze”.

Only one attraction made it to the top level king tier, and that was Changi Airport, which she described as a “must-go” spot. While it’s hard to imagine visiting Singapore without passing through the airport, it’s easy to see why it's a hit with visitors, with Jewel and attractions like the Butterfly Garden and The Wonderfall.

Merlion Park and Gardens by the Bay made the “stellar tier” of "will-visit" spots.  

Following close behind in the “diamond tier” are Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore, and the Singapore Oceanarium. If you’re already heading to Sentosa, why not make a full couple of days out of it?

Next are the less crowded, but still popular spots. In the gold tier are Old Hill Street Police Station, Chinatown, Spectra – A Light & Water Show, and the Singapore Flyer. The silver tier includes the National Museum of Singapore, Orchard Road, Night Safari, Clarke Quay, and the National Gallery.

Finishing in the bronze tier, but still "worth considering", are the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, St Andrew's Cathedral, Haji Lane, The Helix Bridge, and Skyline Luge.

While some appreciated the OP’s recommendations, others critiqued both her list and, well… what Singapore has to offer.

While a few bluntly claimed that “you can see all of Singapore in two days”, another commented, “Such a messy list, completely unreliable. How on earth did Changi Airport rank above so many others?”

If you tried to follow her full list, we’re pretty confident you wouldn’t be able to see all the spots in just a couple of days.

Some also asked whether it’s easy to get around without speaking English (the answer: yes) and if there are attractions suitable for kids. Helpful netizens suggested places like the Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, and River Wonders, as well as spots from her list such as Universal Studios Singapore and the Singapore Oceanarium. 

There was also one netizen who came in with constructive advice, penning: "So it's Xiaohongshu that made Singapore seem boring. Merlion Park is easily accessible. Haji Lane is near the cluster of Eurpoean-style buildings around City Hall, close to Clarke Quay and the Singapore River. These are remnants left by the British."

"Chinatown, Haji Lane, Kampong Glam, and Little India were also historically gathering spots for different communities during the colonial era," they added. 

In addition to mapping out a good route, they also shared recommendations for food spots, writing: “Nyonya cuisine and Sichuan food aren’t really Singaporean specialties. Also, no Singaporean actually goes food-hunting in food courts, especially at Marina Bay Sands. If you don’t mind the heat, go to a hawker centre, and if you do, stick to restaurants. Food courts just serve ordinary food.”

Do you agree with this tourist’s picks? What would be on your own Singapore must-see list?