These destinations are filled with unique yet peaceful activities for a short trip from Singapore!
We know, sometimes life can be tough and we just need a break to unwind. And by unwind I don’t mean going to a nearby cafe for some R&R. I’m talking about hopping on a flight to a faraway destination to forget about your problems.
But in reality, it’s hard to actually do that, so a short trip from Singapore less than 2.5 hours away sounds more doable!
From beautiful cityscapes to stunning nature — here are some destinations where you can unplug and relax in style on a quick getaway 👇
*Pro-tip: AirAsia is having their 23rd birthday sale with 23% off all flights to these places 🥳 Read till the end for more deets!
Read also: 5 Underrated Weekend Getaways from Singapore That’s Not JB or Batam
1) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 1hr
Look past the towering skyscrapers and you’ll find that Kuala Lumpur is full of hidden gems — one being a giant Instagrammable bookstore.
Located in REXKL (a downtown cinema now turned creative community hub), BookXcess has over 80,000 books with different genres like fantasy and romance. We spent hours exploring the shop and taking photos at every corner!
And in the same building lies Piying Dream, an immersive digital art experience inspired by Chinese shadow play. It’s a really interesting show with animation and sound effects covering every area of the room.
For all you shopaholics, check out Kedai KL — an artsy mall featuring cafes, handmade pottery shops, thrift and even film camera stores. We visited one called Film Gazing which included camera wires and batteries for each vintage camera sold!
And skip the usual street market for something more unique! ARAS Revolving Restaurant lets you enjoy your meal with a 360° view of the city. The food ranges from local delicacies to fresh seafood, and they even have a yong-tau-foo self-service station 🤯
Read also: 15 Trendy Things to Do in KL for First-timers — incl. Must-visits and Hidden Gems
2) Jakarta, Indonesia — 1hr 50mins
Photo credit: Wonderful Indonesia
One of the busiest capitals in the world, Jakarta is usually more known as a transit and business travel destination. But that’s because not many people know all the fun things they can do there!
Photo credit: Wonderful Indonesia
Visit its old town, Kota Tua, which is home to many unique museums housed in Dutch colonial buildings. Some include the Jakarta History Museum, the Wayang Museum and the Fine Arts and Ceramic Museum.
You’ll learn the history of the city through various artefacts like furniture used in the 18th century, Indonesian traditional shadow puppets, and paintings by famous local artists like Raden Saleh.
Photo credit: Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is another interesting attraction — it’s a huge theme park featuring replicas of traditional houses and iconic landmarks for each province in Indonesia! Take the free shuttle bus to tour around the area or the cable car for a panoramic view.
Photo credit: Jakarta Aquarium
For animal lovers, drop by the Jakarta Aquarium with a wide variety of marine life like jellyfish, sharks and penguins! Highlights here are the daily theatre shows, live animal feeding sessions, and a 5D exploration ride.
Read also: 5 Underrated Places in Indonesia to Consider for Your Next Getaway
3) Siem Reap, Cambodia — 2hr 10mins
Cambodia is an ideal destination for cultural buffs, with many beautiful historical attractions to see. Siem Reap is the gateway to some famous sites like Angkor Wat — the largest religious structure in the world. According to the Guinness World Records, it spans 162.6 hectares!
While you’re here, don’t miss Ta Prohm Temple and Bayon Temple too.
The former is surrounded by giant tree roots and was featured in Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, while the latter is known for the many mysterious faces carved on its towers.
*Pro-tip: Visit all three temples on an Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour with a local guide to show you around!
Once you’ve visited all the temples, explore Siem Reap’s vast countryside on a relaxing bike tour and learn about Cambodia’s history from a knowledgeable guide. You’ll get to see the local life and interact with the people there, pass by street markets, rice fields and more.
Read also: 7-Day Cambodia Itinerary Under S$600 — An Epic Journey of History, Adventure and Tranquility
4) Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia — 2hr 20mins
Yes, most travellers (us included) often fly to Kota Kinabalu to climb the tallest mountain in Malaysia (4,095m) — Mount Kinabalu. But there are plenty of chill activities in the city too!
Check out its largest mosque, City Mosque, which can accommodate up to 12,000 people at a time! Fun fact: It’s also nicknamed “floating mosque”, as it’s surrounded by a lagoon which gives the illusion that it’s floating.
Wander around town and spot colourful murals on certain buildings. Some of our favourites are: Wisma Sabah by one of Malaysia’s most famous street artists, Kenji Chai, and a mural of Mount Kinabalu opposite Todak Waterfront, along Hyatt Regency’s exterior.
For those with more time, join a wildlife safari tour at Klias Wetland, a 2-hour car ride from Kota Kinabalu city. This is your chance to spot the unique Proboscis monkeys, known for their pendulous noses (for males).
This species can only be found in Borneo and is sadly endangered due to habitat destruction. While wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed, bring a pair of binoculars for a higher chance of seeing these elusive creatures.
Read also: 20 Things to Eat-See-Do in Sabah’s Capital Besides Climbing Mount Kinabalu
5) Bangkok, Thailand — 2hr 25mins
Cute animal cafes, affordable street food and so many shopping malls to choose from — Bangkok is one of our favourite spots to chill and unwind. Not to mention, it’s only a short trip from Singapore, under 2.5 hours by plane!
While visitors might be more familiar with dog cafes like Corgi in the Garden and TrueLove at Neverland, did you know that there’s a cafe called Happy Bird’s Day where you can hang out with parrots, chickens, and ducks?!
As for street markets, Chatuchak is Bangkok’s largest weekend market with a wide variety of food and clothes, while Jodd Fairs is a cosier market with around 20 hipster shops, twinkling lights and live music.
And other than just shopping at Platinum Mall or ICONSIAM, must-do activities in Bangkok include indulging in a relaxing onsen spa or going for a Thai cooking class to create dishes like pad thai or green curry!
Read also: 4D3N Bangkok Itinerary — Where to Eat, Classic Attractions, and Hidden Gems
Enjoy flight discounts for your next short trip from Singapore
Photo credit: AirAsia
So if you need a short getaway from work and responsibilities Singapore, check out these places to chill and unwind at your own pace!
And here’s a pretty good deal: AirAsia is having a “Greatest Sale of All Time” 23rd Birthday Sale with 23% off all seats, all flights to places like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Siem Reap, Kota Kinabalu, Bali, and Phuket ✈️
The promo will run from 25 November to 1 December 2024 — book on the AirAsia MOVE app for convenience! Psst, on the spirit of spontaneity, why not book weekday flights — it’s cheaper and you can clear any remaining annual leave too.
*Note: The travel period is from 6 January to 30 June 2025. T&Cs apply.
Or for those who’ve already been to these places, take a longer trip to other interesting cities such as Labuan Bajo, Cairns, Almaty, Nairobi, Silangit, Chiang Rai and more! They offer unique experiences like swimming in the Great Barrier Reef and roaming through animal safaris 🦁
Plus, these are Fly-Thru destinations, meaning that your luggage will be checked all the way through for any layover flights.
Read also: 5 Lesser-Known Destinations for Your Year-End Getaway from Singapore
Which of these places are you planning to go to for your next short trip from Singapore? Share with us in the comments below!
This post is brought to you by AirAsia.
