Singapore, or the Republic of Singapore (officially), is a beautiful country located in Southeast Asia, is one of the perfect places to travel to as a Muslim traveller.
This lively city is also known as the “Lion City” and has a blend of Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, Arab and English cultures.
It is also one of the most Muslim-friendly cities in the world since it has a great Muslim community and history. You will enjoy your halal travel there and will not have any difficulty in finding halal food or mosques to pray.
In just one generation, the city has grown from a swamp state to a crown city and has installed itself as one of the world’s megacities.
Here you can see the perfect amalgamation of history, culture, lifestyle, religious diversity and great food.
Most locals speak English and Malay. Other languages spoken are Mandarin and Tamil.
Although most Muslims prefer Arabian countries because of halal food options, mosques and support for the halal lifestyle.
However, fourteen per cent of Singapore’s population is Muslim, and Singapore has lots to offer to Muslim travellers.
Best Time To Visit Singapore
The best time to visit is in between the months of December to Early March.
December is the wettest month in Singapore, and when the atmosphere is very festive and joyful.
You can be a part of the Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year, falling between the month of December and the start of January. If you want to visit during Ramadan you will find plenty of places to celebrate and markets to enjoy your iftar at. Although depending on the time of the year it might be hot and humid.
Feb to April are the dry months with the lowest rainfall and humidity levels. And if you want to avoid the crowd, July to November will be great for you.
Getting there and getting around in Singapore
Most flights will land at the Changi Airport, and you can access three different modes of transportation from here.
Bus service is available from 6 AM to 12 AM. You can also access a train through the subway station using terminals 2 and 3.
Taxi (Grab taxi) is the best option during the day.
Inside the city, public transport is easy and affordable.
The price depends on where you want to go and usually scales between S.G.D. 4(USD 3). If you plan to visit the entire city, then Singapore Tourist Pass can be a great deal for you. It gives you unlimited travel time for a set period.
There is no Uber in Singapore but there are several popular options you can choose from such as Grab, Gojek and Tada.
Things to do in Singapore
Despite being dotted with skyscrapers all around, Singapore has maintained its natural beauty.
Singapore is home to several fantastic places that are a must-see, including Little India, Chinatown, The Financial District, and the most famous Sentosa Island.
Arab Street / Arab Quarters
As a Muslim traveller, you cannot visit Singapore and not spend a day exploring the Arab Stree or Arab quarters. Arab Street actually refers to the area including Bussorah Street, Haji and Bali Lanes and Muscat Street.
The Area has a richly coloured heritage from the Yemeni traders that used to trade in the city, now it is a vibrant hub with markets, cafes, shops and plenty of halal food options.
At the end of the day of course you can stop and pray at Sultan Mosque which is located in the area.
Joo Chiat
It is a historic neighbourhood and a perfect place to get yourself clicked with the colourful Peranakan houses.
It is an arterial road located between Geylang Serai and Marine Parade road.
Once you visit Joo Chiat, you will see colourful houses on both sides of the road while walking on the road.
Botanic Gardens
This tropical oasis garden is 162-year-old and is loved by many locals and tourists coming to the place.
With over 10,000 species of flora, this garden is responsible for Singapore’s status as the major exporter of cut orchids.
If you like plants and gardening, it is heaven for you.
Sentosa Island
This big resort-style Island is a playground for most Singaporeans off the southern coast.
It has some theme parks, golf courses and a fantastic Coast Line.
You can spend a day at Universal studio and enjoy amazing rides with your kids. Sentosa beaches are also worth your time.
Other places to visit in Sentosa include Sentosa Golf Club, Images of Singapore Museum, Palawan Beach, S.E.A. Aquarium, Siloso Beach, Crane Dance and more.
Sentosa Island is worth a few days of your trip you are travelling with family.
Marina Bay Sands Skypark
This Hotel has one of Singapore’s most iconic sites.
It has a sky-high infinity pool. You cannot get access to the swimming pool without staying at the hostel, or else you can buy a ticket and access the observation deck for the once in a lifetime view of the cityscape.
Asian Civilizations Museum
This museum is a beautiful building. Here you can find the findings from the ancient Asian civilizations dating back to the 9th century.
You can see everything from the storage jars, Tang shipwreck, pottery to ceramics, gold, silver vessels to paintings, board games and religious diversity.
It is a must-visit for history lovers and kids.
Chinatown
Chinatown has some of the most fabulous shops, night markets and an exceptional dim sum variety. If you want to know Singapore’s best, you should visit Chinatown for sure.
It is a maze of narrow roads, which includes Chinatown Food Street as well.
The restaurants that serve traditional fares like Hainanese chicken rice, noodles and the famous satay.
Gardens by the Bay
Unlike the Botanical Garden, Gardens by the Bay has a mad-made vibe. This park spans over 101 hectares and consists of three waterfront gardens.
The gardens include a children’s park, Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, Conservatories, Horticultural themed gardens, Bayfront Plaza, and Floral Fantasy. It is beautiful and worth a visit.
Entry ticket: €12.64/adult.
Nicole further says, If you are in Singapore, you should see every part of it.
The Bazaar
One of the fancy places I have heard about is the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar which is usually called “The Bazaar” by residents.
You’ll find tons of food stalls to try Halal food. With beautiful lights and amazing vibes all around, it is a must-visit during Ramadan.
Every year, during Ramadan, Singaporeans will flock to the Bazaar regardless of their race or religion.
This place is famous for its trendy food and traditional clothing. It is a food and shopping haven.
You will not want to miss this annual event in the city.
Plenty of halal food eateries on Arab street
Halal Restaurants in Singapore
Singapore has the most incredible food collection on the planet! You can not miss the opportunity to have some local cuisine at the hawker centres around the city.
Some dishes worth trying include the local chicken rice, mango shakes, chill crab roast and many more.
Searching for Halal food options in Singapore is not a tedious task here, almost every place has Halal food options.
McDonald’s also serves Halal food here. You can try the nasi lemak burger and the most famous cendol ice cream here.
Let’s talk about some of the best restaurants in Singapore.
Perdana Muslim Seafood
It is a low profile restaurant located at Toa Payoh estate. They serve delicious halal dishes like Chicken Paprika rice, Chicken rice, Fried rice, and Wanton noodle.
It is fun to try halal seafood options. I highly recommend it.
Al-Azhar Restaurant
Al-Azhar has an impressive ambience, excellent service and serves savoury halal dishes.
They claim to use high-quality ingredients and are definitely worth a try.
Botak’s
A place to try the Halal pizzas! I love the restaurant, customer service and the food here.
Hawker Centers
Food courts, also known as Hawker Centers, are perfect for delicious halal food.
Cajun on Wheels
A Halal-certified Louisiana-style seafood place fashioned out of a gourmet food truck.
Try their Olympian Bucket: a juicy concoction of crabs, prawns, white clams, mussels with sides of corn, and potatoes.
Cajun on wheels is located at the orchard road, ten minutes away from the Al-Falah Mosque.
4Fingers
For fried chicken lovers, you are in for a treat.
4Fingers is a Singaporean fast-food chain with stores across Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and even the United States.
The eatery offers free-range Asian-style fried chicken in soy or spicy sauce. 4Fingers is also situated at the Orchard road.
Bismillah Biryani restaurant.
Another popular restaurant with fine dining is the Bismillah Biryani restaurant.
Here you can get all the halal food you want. This restaurant is located on Little India road, and it is one minute away from the Abdul Gafoor Mosque.
Bismillah Biryani is the only biryani restaurant in the world with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
The seasoned rice and marinated meat here is cooked together in a pot on a charcoal fire.
For drinks, you must try their mango lassi (yoghurt, water, and spices drink).
Mosques to Pray in Singapore
Singapore offers plenty of stunning mosques.
All mosques in Singapore offer private prayer and ablution areas, as well as prayer garments for females.
Sultan Mosque
Probably one of the most famous mosques in Singapore, also considered the national mosque of Singapore, it is located on 3 Muscat street in the Arab quarters.
The beautiful building with the golden domes holds great significance for the Muslim community. It was initially built in 1832 for Sultan Hussein Shah and then renovated in 1932 by Singapore’s oldest architectural firm.
Masjid Al-Ansar
The al-Ansar Mosque is among the first few Mosques built under the Mosque Building Fund programme.
This mosque was completed in 1981 and is located at Chai Chee Street and Bedok North Avenue junction.
It is one of the few mosques that offer teachings in Tamil and is one of the two mosques that allow a full-time Welfare officer.
Masjid Al-Falah
This mosque was built in 1987 and is located at Bideford Road, a two-minute walk from Orchard Road.
While it has a tiny architecture to speak of, it is still recognized as an important place.
Masjid AL-Istighfar
The Al-Istighfar mosque is located in Pasir Ris and was a mosque that was completed in 2000.
This three-storey mosque is one of the mosques built under phase three of the Mosque Building Fund programme.
Transportation
One of the best ways to move around the city is by the metro as traffic can be bad, especially during peak working hours. Since the city is small you can stay pretty much anywhere and still easily explore it.
There is also a fantastic guide from Visit Singapore on Muslim friendly things to do in the city that is worth checking.
