Singapore

Celebrating its melting pot of cultures, Singapore has that spark, and it's fast becoming one of Asia’s hit-list destinations.

Here, There, Everywhere

Whizzing around Singapore can take a matter of minutes, thanks to one of the world’s most efficient and widespread public transport systems. Hankering for breakfast in Little India, but want to visit the temples in Chinatown before lunch? No problem, you’ll be there in a jiffy using the sparkling MRT system – and why not stop at Marina Bay for a spot of shopping on your way? Plus, with new metro lines opening practically every two years, this island just keeps on becoming easier to explore.

The Island of Feasting

Food in Singapore is taken very seriously. From cheap hawker fare to Michelin-starred fine dining, food-enamored Singaporeans will line up for it, Instagram the hell out of it and passionately debate whether it is up to the hype. Don’t fret about finding a place to chow down, as each neighborhood is home to local hawker centers and coffeeshops dishing up some of the island’s best meals for just a couple of bucks. Simply follow your nose or join the longest queue – whatever morsels lie at the end, they are almost guaranteed to be scrumptious.

A Green City

The concrete jungles that once dominated Singapore’s skyline are slowly giving way to green skyscrapers, which look more like living ecosystems than business hubs. Fervently working towards its "City in a Garden" dream, the nation is ploughing money into becoming more sustainable and, well, green. Head out of town a little and you’ll find plenty of walking trails, treetop jungle bridges, wildlife galore and the city's green jewel, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Singapore Botanic Gardens: these are the lungs of Singapore.

Shopping Frenzy

When the sweltering outdoor heat gets too much, Singaporeans love ducking inside for a spot of retail therapy and a good dose of air-conditioning. Orchard Rd is the queen of shopping malls: with all the high-street brands, plenty of high-fashion houses, and a few discount outlets thrown into the mix, everyone’s needs (and more often wants) are catered for here. If you prefer your shopping a little less mass-market, head out to local neighborhoods for independent designers, quirky art galleries, bustling markets, Chinese medicines, Persian carpets and a sari or two.

Must see in
Singapore

  • Asian Civilisations Museum

    Travel back through time at this engrossing ode to Asia's cross-cultural connections, developed through Singapore's position and history as a port city. Having recently undergone a radical transformation, the galleries are like visiting a sprawling, glittering attic, heaving with ancient pottery, religious sculptures, silver tea sets, whimsical puppets and mystical weaponry. You'll find the region's most comprehensive collection of pan-Asian treasures within its walls, and the recently recovered treasures from the Tang Shipwreck need to be seen to be believed.

  • Gardens by the Bay

    Spanning a whopping 101 hectares, Gardens by the Bay is Singapore's hottest horticultural asset. The $1 billion 'super park' is home to almost 1.5 million plants, not to mention awe-inspiring contemporary architecture. Two giant conservatories rise beside Marina Bay like futuristic shells, one home to ancient olive trees, the other to a towering, tropical mountain. To the north are the Supertrees: futuristic, botanical giants connected by a commanding Skyway and glowing hypnotically each night during the Garden Rhapsody sound-and-light show.

  • National Gallery Singapore

    The breathtaking National Gallery Singapore is the jewel in the crown of Singapore's art scene. Art-lovers could spend hours wandering the world-class collection of 19th-century and modern Southeast Asian art housed across two of the city's most iconic heritage buildings, while kids are kept busy at the Keppel Centre for Art Education. Some of Singapore's newest, highly acclaimed restaurants are also tucked within the gallery's wings, and the rooftop bar delivers jaw-dropping views along with its impressive cocktail list.

  • Singapore Zoo

    The Singapore Zoo is one of the world's most inviting, enlightening animal sanctuaries, where open-air enclosures allow for both freedom for the animals to roam and unobstructed visitor views. It is one of the few places outside of Borneo or Sumatra where you can stand under the trees with orang-utans above your head, or where mouse deer and lemurs scamper across your path. The zoo is also well known for it's educational, conservation and sustainability efforts, across Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.

  • Orchard Road

    What was once a dusty road lined with spice plantations and orchards is now a 2.5km torrent of magnificent malls, department stores and speciality shops. You'll find every brand imaginable, from emerging local designers to global high-street heavyweights and coveted European couture. Indeed, you can shop until you drop, pick yourself up, and continue spending some more. When you've stashed your purchases back at the hotel, duck out to Emerald Hill for Peranakan architecture and happy-hour bar specials.

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