New attractions in Singapore 2023
As the year winds down, we’ve seen many new attractions in Singapore in 2023. Here’s a recap of all the freshest spots you might have missed out on. There’s a good range to satisfy preferences of all kinds, whether you’d like to hustle at a co-working space with rescued cats, or let loose at cool themed clubs.
If your New Year’s resolution is to be more active, there are lots of choices as well – from indoor skiing and surfing arenas to a water park obstacle course to make you forget that you’re exercising. With 5 long weekends in 2024, these openings will do nicely to fill them with activity.
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1. Bird Paradise – Walk-through aviaries with over 400 species of birds
As Singaporeans prepare for Le Le’s return to China, there are still plenty of inhabitants at Mandai Wildlife Reserve to fill the panda-shaped void. The newest kids on the block come in the form of around 3,500 fine-feathered arrivals to the new Bird Paradise, having shifted from the OG Jurong Bird Park.
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Take your time to explore the 8 different walk-through aviaries, each designed to mimic the birds’ natural habitats – from tranquil Balinese rice terraces to the lush rainforests of New Guinea.
Make sure to swing by the cool blue Penguin Cove if you have a fondness for flightless birds who look like they’re waddling around in cute little tuxedos. You can even sign up for the Glamping with the Penguins experience which just launched in November, where you’ll be able to stay the night in the actual enclosure and see what these adorable birdies get up to after hours.
2. Trifecta by The Ride Side – Skate, ski, snowboard & surf in 1 spot
As far as skateparks in Singapore go, the ramps and rails behind in Somerset are a frequent haunt amongst skateboarders. Newly opened just a stone’s throw away is Trifecta by The Ride Side, a sports facility that packs different arenas and simulators in a single spot.
Choose between cruising through their full-fledged skate park, catching some man-made waves in their surf pool, or hitting the artificial slopes in either skis or a snowboard. Feel free to have a mix bag of all 4 activities while you’re there; you might discover a new hobby to pursue for the rest of 2024.
The height of the waves are adjustable based on the surfer’s skill level, as is the incline on the skiing and snowboarding slopes.
Fret not if you’ve never so much as set foot on a board or pair of skis. Trifecta offers classes, and will take care of all the necessary equipment and protective gear as well. Head down to town free and easy to get started, no need to swing by Decathlon to buy an actual board just yet.
3. Lazarus Island – Sea sports centre & tiny houses for staycays
Don’t worry fellas; while your sergeants might argue that Pulau Tekong is a “resort”, the offerings over on Lazarus Island are much more comfortable.
For Singaporeans, an island getaway that doesn’t require air travel can only mean a couple of places: Pulau Ubin or Sentosa. But there’s a lesser-known island near Singapore that deserves to be on your radar: Lazarus Island.
Accessible via a 30-minute ferry ride, this small island southeast of Sentosa has all the amenities that make it an ideal destination for a quick escape from the city. Rent a waterbike, kayak, or paddle board from the Lazarus Sea Sports Centre to explore the waters, and spend the night in one of Big Tiny’s Tiny Away Escape sustainable cabins.
Each of these quaint accommodation units is equipped with a TV, air conditioning, and the all-important Wi-Fi to document your island adventures. Paw-rents will be pleased to know that not only are pets allowed on the ferries to Lazarus Island, there are also 2 pet-friendly cabins so you can include your furkids in your trip.
Book a ferry ticket to Lazarus Island.
4. HyperDrive – 3 storeys of neon-lit go-karting
If you’re still experiencing F1 withdrawal symptoms, HyperDrive might be just the place for you to get your racing fix. One of the new attractions in The Palawan @ Sentosa, this 3-storey indoor go-karting track is packed with twists, turns, and tight corners for you to channel your inner Max Verstappen. That’s the 2023 F1 world champion, for the uninitiated.
Since the go-karting circuit is situated indoors, it’ll be light’s out and away we go – rain or shine. Helmets are provided for safety, and lockers provided for your belongings. There’s also a cafe on the grounds for racers to refuel their bellies after their racing sessions.
Now, the question on everyone’s mind: do you need a driver’s licence for this? Nope, all are welcome for go-karts which can clock up to 30km/h. But if you actually own a licence and would like to gear up for some Tokyo driftin’, you can opt for the Advanced Level vehicles which go up to 50km/h.
5. Tipsy Unicorn – Closest thing to an IRL Barbie clubhouse
Further down the shoreline at Sentosa, you’ll find Tipsy Unicorn beach club – Tipsy Collective’s latest establishment. Head to this vibrant Siloso hangout to find furnishings clad in purple and pink hues, with neon signs and uber cool lighting illuminating the beach after dark.
Not only is the space used for eating, drinking, and merry-making, there’s even a space on the rooftop that hosts fitness classes and yoga sessions in the daytime. Don’t worry, there are towels and showers available so you can freshen up and get the party started afterwards. Ballers can book their private suites that come with a jacuzzi, in-house bar, and KTV system.
IG-worthy set-ups aside, there are also impressive offerings on the menu. Their cocktails ($22) spotlight tropical ingredients like coconut and pineapple, which is befitting for the island location.
Food wise, the curious looking Mystical Unihorn ($18) dessert is shaped as an edible unicorn horn. Ready your phone camera, because part of this dish is that the chocolate shell horn gets lit on fire to reveal the treats within.
6. Aqua Adventure – Indoor water park with high elements
Think water parks in Singapore, and the usual suspects would be Adventure Cove in Sentosa and Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East. Aqua Adventure is the latest to open, and it’s fully indoor so you can splash about regardless of the weather forecast.
Located within HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, the play space has a high elements course, gamified rock climbing walls, and Singapore’s longest indoor water slide so far.
After your session of water play, there are plenty of other activities to get up to in the new HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse. Find indoor playgrounds, function rooms equipped for karaoke, pool, darts, and foosball, and even gaming consoles in the compound.
When all that recreation tires you out, consider spending the night at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir East Villa – it’s like a chalet, but way more atas and packed with amenities.
7. Bishan-to-City Link – PCN route with artsy murals & food stops
Park connectors are a win-win: joggers can get their steps in without having to siam deceptively quick PMDs, and cyclists can enjoy a leisurely ride without attracting judgemental glares from pedestrians.
Even better if the journey includes pleasant surprises along the way, like the case of the Kallang Park Connector which was unveiled in November as part of the Bishan-to-City Link. The path is lined with lots of creative murals that pay homage to Singapore’s history and culture. Not only is it like visiting a mini museum, they’ll serve as great backdrops for your fitspo snaps.
They say it’s all about the journey, not the destination. Well, it’s definitely easier to stay active when you know that there’s a plethora of solid makan haunts at the end of your cardio session.
Along the Bishan-to-City Link is a wide range of eateries, including Pronto Prata for mamak fare, and Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre, which is home to a Michelin Bib Gourmand-certified KL chilli ban mian stall.
8. ARK11 – Take your clubbing to intergalactic levels
While some people keep their heart healthy with exercise like jogging and cycling, dancing also counts as cardio. At ARK11 nightclub – the latest addition to Singapore’s bars and clubs – you’ll be grooving to untz untz beats on a spaceship. A simulated one, anyway, at Level 11 of Orchard Central.
If you’re a fan of games like Cyberpunk 2077, or movies like Blade Runner 2049, this club has to be on your list of nightlife spots to visit in the new year. They have the regular offerings like Ladies’ Night promos on Wednesdays and guest DJs on rotation, but very few places will give you the same vibe and aesthetics.
On top of the hella Insta-worthy sci-fi decor, they also have a bar manned by androids. Patrons are able to send in orders through their phone, and collect it from Mr Robot Bartender when their drinks are ready. Gone are the days of queueing at crowded bar counters, and we’re living for this technological advancement.
9. Sonic Bowl SAFRA Choa Chu Kang – VIP rooms with private lanes
Switching lanes to something more family-friendly, Sonic Bowl at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang is anything but your average bowling alley.
Having opened back in June, the facility has plush leather sofas for you to lounge on in between turns, instead of plain ol’ plastic chairs. Those who book their VIP room will be treated to reactive AR graphics projected onto the lanes, a level-up from just regular screen displays showing your scores. What a way to rev up the squad each time you smash those pins down!
When they say VIP, they really mean it. The spacious room comes with a karaoke zone as well, so everyone can hop between turns at the alley and on the mic. There’s an in-house bar and bistro called Paradise Now should you get peckish, and dart machines if bowling isn’t enough to satisfy your competitive streak.
10. Kulnari Mystery Golf – Travel back to 1920 to tee off
Image credit: @kulnarimysterygolf via Instagram
While Holey Moley might have closed their shutters permanently in 2022, there are still places in Singapore to have a putt putt party without actually heading down to a golf course. UltraGolf Sentosa is one such option, but if you’d like to add a bit of spice to your mini-golf experience, give Kulnari Mystery Golf a shot.
It’s everything you love about mini-golf, set amidst old-timey scenes and incorporating a murder mystery to solve.
Image adapted from: @iamvionavalencia & @vchongxo via Instagram
Be transported back to the 1920s where you, armed with a trusty putter, must conquer 18 holes while searching for clues hidden along the indoor course. This golf-based whodunnit takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete but if you’re a keen-eyed observer, you could be sipping celebratory cocktails at the in-house bar long before then.
11. Rink @ Punggol East – Indoor space to skate or scoot
Image credit: Rink at Punggol East Facebook
The first thing you’ll notice at Rink @ Punggol East is probably the vibrant rainbow colours, guaranteed to put a smile on all the sk8er bois and gals’ faces. You won’t have to lug along your own gear either, as roller blades, skateboards, and bicycles are available for rent here.
Their range of equipment is impressive – you can even choose from longboards and penny boards if you prefer certain styles of movement control. Meanwhile, kids can pick from scooters and pedal go-karts that are perfect to simulate a friendly Mario Kart match IRL.
Image credit: @lisatanfam via Instagram
This family-friendly spot even has a 20m-long tube slide for the little ones to zip down on. If safety is a concern, the slopes and inclines aren’t very steep, plus they also offer helmets and pads for extra protection.
In good weather, you can also take your rented equipment out to cruise along the Punggol waterfront and even Coney Island.
12. Inmers Escape Room – Play “the floor is lava”, levelled-up
The game of The Floor Is Lava is beautifully simple, but requires child-like imagination to fully get into. After all, you don’t see many grown adults springing from one piece of furniture to the next, because the stakes are not as high as compared to when we were wee tots. Located within ORTO West Coast, INMERS Escape Room is here to instil that sense of thrill, for real.
Gameplay involves navigating a floor made out of LED squares. A strip of red will chase players around, and that signifies the digital lava you’ll have to avoid. Hop to safety by carefully advancing to the blue squares, which will grant protection from the red strip of doom.
To advance to the next level, you’ll have to tap on the blue squares spread all around the arena to clear them. It might sound like child’s play, but a lot of agility and even stamina is involved – especially when you reach the harder levels where multiple red strips ambush you from various directions.
13. Meownistry of Meow – Like a WeWork, but with cats
Image credit: @violetirislove via Instagram
Cat cafes are big overseas and domestically, but the Meownistry Of Meow doubles as a co-working space. Yes, we are 100% fur real – from $10/hour you can work while being surrounded by around 15 adorable felines at any given time.
Some of these kitties are rescues and are being fostered here before they get adopted, so your patronage actually benefits their rehabilitation – a win-win.
The Open Lounge. Not pictured: Mala, Beanbag, Taupok, and other felines with equally funny names.
Image credit: Meownistry of Meow
When you clock off from work, there are private rooms equipped with karaoke systems, console games, and movies for you to de-stress with. The cats can’t leave the confines of the open lounge, though, but you can still take breaks from your recreational activities to visit them and give them cuddles. Definitely a stress-buster all around.
14. Climb@T3 – Family-friendly rock climbing gym at the airport
Image credit: @ngpeiru via Instagram
Rock climbing and bouldering gyms can be found all around town these days, but the last place we would expect to find another is within the airport. Adding to the long list of reasons why Changi Airport is world-renowned, Climb@T3 offers bouldering and high wall routes for newbies and experienced climbers alike, of all ages.
If you have little to no bouldering experience, there are 1-hour guided sessions ($30) for people who want to learn the ropes – pun intended. Meanwhile, seasoned climbers can secure unsupervised sessions at $19 per 2-hour slot.
Image credit: @sharon.n.ming via Instagram
Because there are walls of different heights and difficulty levels, children from as young as 2 can get in on the fun, which is a great way for nimble kiddos to expend their energy be it before a flight or just as part of a family outing – what with all the kid-friendly things to do at Changi Airport.
15. Slingshot & GX-5 Extreme Swing – Human catapult at Clarke Quay
Anyone who’s ever been to Clarke Quay’s riverside area this decade would have noticed the unmissable steel pylons of Slingshot. The ride – currently crowned as the tallest human catapult ride in Asia – returned in September after a hiatus over the pandemic to once again launch thrillseekers 70m skywards.
Image credit: @panpacifichotels via Instagram
Also making a comeback in the same space is the GX-5 Extreme Swing, capable of speeds over 120kph as you soar through the sky. The bungee-like cords will have you dangling 40m in the air over the Singapore River.
So if swaying above the waters in an open-air steel capsule sounds like fun, you know where to go. And for those who have a fear of heights, perhaps 2024 will be the year to nip acrophobia in the bud?
Check out these new attractions in Singapore 2023
There you have it, 15 brand new attractions that have freshly opened on our little island. There are establishments catering to animal lovers and adrenaline junkies, clubbers and sports enthusiasts, as well as friend groups, couples, and families alike.
Now you’ve got plenty of activity ideas to fill the upcoming year with. Perhaps you can treat yourself to a staycation at one of the many new hotels in Singapore as well, for sleek new digs.
For more things to do in the coming year:
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