If you’re eager to know what makes Singapore the best in Asia Pacific, explore the vibrant city and its thrilling attractions opening this year.
World-class attractions, vibrant food scene, clean and safe environment—truly, nowhere else in the world is like Singapore. Beauty is found in every part of the city-state, from its cutting-edge infrastructure and diverse cultural landscape to high-income economy.
With its close proximity to Manila, it’s no wonder that Singapore became the third most-visited country by Filipinos in 2024. This, in addition to its world-class status, also made Singapore the best city in Asia Pacific for 2025, according to the study conducted by global real estate and tourism advisor Resonance Consultancy.
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Based on the ranking published on Feb. 12, Singapore earned the top status from how it has “undergone a remarkable transformation to emerge as one of Asia’s most modern, well-organized, and captivating urban centers” since its independence in 1965.
The island nation excelled in the three main factors that determined the final results: livability, lovability, and prosperity. Livability refers to a city’s sights and landmarks, nature parks, and price-to-income ratio; while lovability was determined from data about shopping, as well as Google trends and Tripadvisor reviews. Lastly, prosperity covers GDP per capita, airport connectivity, and unemployment rates, among others.
The ranking highlighted Singapore’s commitment to greenery and sustainable urban planning, with 40% of the city’s land dedicated to green spaces. When it comes to shopping, Singapore was able to establish a “consumer-driven retail landscape” out of the “glitzy malls of Orchard Road” to its iconic 24-hour Mustafa Centre. Its dining scene is likewise dynamic, with its humble hawker centers and the Air CCC (Awareness, Impact, and Responsibility Circular Campus and Cooking Club) launched in April last year.
Singapore reigns across all of Resonance’s economic indicators in 2025, taking the top spot in its Prosperity index and GDP per Capita subcategory. According to the firm, Singapore’s GDP increased to a staggering 51,337 percent from a modest US$974 million in 1965 to a whopping $501 billion in 2023.
All these led Singapore to pull ahead of Tokyo, Japan (#2); Seoul, South Korea (#3); and Hong Kong, China (#4) which all happen to be in the Top 10 most-visited countries by Filipinos last year. Other cities in Resonance’s top 10 include Beijing (#5), Bangkok (#6), Shanghai (#8), and Kuala Lumpur (#10) together with Australian cities, Sydney (#7) and Melbourne (#9). On the other hand, the Philippines’ very own Manila falls down to the 53rd spot on the list of 100 countries.
Related story: Singapore is world’s fifth smartest city, Manila drops six places to 121st
If you’re eager to know what makes Singapore the best in Asia Pacific firsthand, or simply want to explore more of the vibrant city-state’s unique offerings, read on for the new attractions coming to the country this 2025.
Singapore Oceanarium
If the SEA Aquarium in Sentosa swept you away with its astounding collection of 49 different habitats, wait till you see the Singapore Oceanarium. The upcoming marine park will replace the SEA Aquarium, which ran for 12 years since 2012, with a floor area that’s triple the SEA’s size.
The new Oceanarium is set to be the world’s largest aquarium, surpassing China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, and will feature 800 species of marine wildlife, including the largest collection of manta rays in captivity. Here, visitors will get to dive deep into the marine ecosystem through multi-sensory exhibits, educational touch pools, and habitats offering an experience of being one with sharks, seahorses, moray eels, and many more.
Get ready to swim through a new under-the-sea adventure when the park opens in early 2025.
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Escape Singapore
Forget about roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and condors. Malaysia’s Escape theme park is coming to Singapore to show you that real fun is found in low-tech rides.
At Escape Singapore, thrill seekers can expect to get their fill of excitement from the park’s nature-based and adventure-oriented experiences featuring low-tech, self-powered rides. The park offers a unique alternative to traditional amusement parks not only with its rides, but also with its immersive greeneries and other outdoor activities.
Escape Penang is best known for its 1.1-kilometer waterslide, which is the longest of its kind in the world. That’s why the park’s opening in Singapore is definitely one we should all look forward to in early 2025.
Haven XR Cinema
Sure, we all love watching movies—whether streaming them in the comfort of our homes or paying for a night out in theaters. But just when you thought visual experience is all movies have to offer, Haven XR Cinema steps in to unravel the wonders of actually being a part of the action.
The upcoming high-tech, cinematic storytelling experience will not just transport you to the scenes of the movie but rather enable you to take part in shaping its plot. Haven XR uses location-based virtual reality goggles, as well as changes the theater’s temperature and scents, to let you control the plot of a 30-minute adventure movie.
Haven XR promises a different adventure every time, so buckle up and get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience when the cinema opens sometime this year.
Rainforest Wild
Another highly anticipated attraction this year, Rainforest Wild is Asia’s first wildlife park built to give you the thrill of hiking through a Southeast Asian rainforest filled with the region’s iconic species and greeneries.
The 13-hectare nature park offers various activities for any type of thrill seeker, from “sedate universally designed walkways” to “high adrenaline scrambling paths and guided climbing adventures.” What’s more, adrenaline junkies can pay additional fees to join action-packed activities such as free-falling from a platform or crawling through a dim cave tunnel.
You can enjoy all that while marveling at the variety of species, from tigers to sun bears and langurs, roaming the extensive habitat. It is set to open on March 12 as part of the attractions found at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore.
Related story: What to expect in Asia’s first wildlife park when it opens in Singapore
Disney Adventure Cruise Line
All aboard, Disney fans! The Disney Adventure Cruise Ship is finally setting sail from Singapore on December 15, 2025.
The much-anticipated cruise experience offers fans an experience like no other, with the ship’s seven themed areas that bring the magic of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel into the sea. This includes the Disney Imagination Garden where you can join the “Let’s Sail” dance party and watch live performances of your favorite Disney and Marvel heroes, the Toy Story Place where you can jump into towering slides, and the Marvel Landing which will take you on a breathtaking ride on Disney’s first roller coaster on a cruise ship.
In true Disneyland fashion, guests climbing aboard the Disney Adventure Cruise Ship can look forward to meeting Mickey Mouse and his gang as they roam around the ship, having a magical dining experience at its themed restaurants, and many other unique experiences you can check out in the link below.
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