What to do on the Weekend in Singapore
Many locals and expatriates working in Singapore look forward to the weekends, and rightly so, especially after five long working days. On weekends casual wear, such as jeans, T-shirts and shorts are donned in place of sleek power-suits and uniforms, as both locals and expats partake in popular weekend activities – from shopping to sun tanning – on the island.
Hitting the Malls
As many Singaporeans would probably tell you – a weekend spent at the mall is a day well spent. Many locals and expats often head to one of the many malls around the island for their shopping fixes, lunches or dinners and movie dates. There are several popular malls, which are often crowded on the weekends, such as VivoCity, which is Singapore’s largest shopping mall, and Ngee Ann City, home to Japan’s popular retail store, Takashimaya. Regardless of whether the shopping mall of your choice for the weekend is in the suburbs or in the heart of the city, you will often find that the mall will suffice your needs. Several of the popular shopping malls in Singapore, such as Marina Square and Downtown East, are equipped with luxurious cinemas screening the latest movies, bowling alleys, play areas for children, and well-known restaurants, fast food joints and cafes, such as McDonald’s and Starbucks, making it a one-stop destination for the weekend.
Chilling at the Beaches
While Singapore may not have white sandy beaches like its neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, it does have an iconic partially man-made beach within the popular offshore island of Sentosa. Those who are in need of a suntan and a fun day out in the sun pack their beach bags and pop over to the island either via car, train or cable car. You will find many Singaporeans and expats just lounging by the waters or tossing a Frisbee with family and friends, at one of the three beaches on Sentosa Island. There are also other natural beaches that you can head to across Singapore, such as East Coast Beach, Changi Beach and West Coast Beach. However, these beaches are more suited for a day of barbecuing, cycling and roller-blading – which are also popular weekend activities – rather than tanning and swimming.
Food Junkie
Now, it is no hidden secret that one of Singaporeans favourite pastime is eating – so what better way to spend the weekend than to pig out and enjoy the wide variety of cuisines available at your disposal? With three main meals in a day, and several additional smaller ones, Singapore will be paradise for the food gourmand in you! On the weekends, many restaurants and cafes offer promotions that aim to draw customers to their outlets. You might also chance upon special menus that are only prepared on the weekends by the chefs, so look out for these!
Clubbing
The weekends are great to ease the weekday tension away – so what better way to do that then to party the night away? Like Vegas and New York, Singapore can be considered as a country that never sleeps, especially when it comes to the partying scene. If you think that Singaporeans work hard, you will come to realise that they party even harder – especially on the weekends. On Friday and Saturday nights, popular clubs such as Zouk, Avalon and St James Powerstation will be packed with party-goers, all ready to let their hair down and dance and drink all night long. Clubs in Singapore open till pretty late, with some operating till 6am. The plus side about clubbing in Singapore is that you not have to worry about having to drive home sloshed (which by the way, is a crime in Singapore), as public taxis are usually readily available to take you home from the clubs, so that you can nurse that hangover on Sunday and be ready for work on Monday!