Uniquely Singapore!
Singapore has excellent shopping and fascinating museums; a wide variety of wildlife watching opportunities; world-class theme parks; a colourful nightlife and a huge choice of dining options – all packed into one small island nation.
One of the least challenging cities in the world to visit, Singapore offers tourists the most Western of all Asian experiences. A fascinating mix of contrasts, Singapore lies at the crossroads of East and West, and as a result, it hums with a unique culture that is equal parts oriental and western.
Tourists come to Singapore for many reasons and while the quality of shopping is important for some, there are many other reasons. Some like to experience Singapore’s spectacular attractions with their many parks and rides, other the delicious range of cuisines especially the local Chinese, Malay and Indian dishes; or it could be the variety of accommodation options including some exceptional hotels that is the draw; or perhaps the multiculturalism which can be explored in various districts such as Chinatown, Little India or Kampong Glam. There are also some amazing natural spaces that are home to a wide variety of plants and animals.
Leading the new direction in tourism are two integrated complexes of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands that offer the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas as well as exciting theme park activities.
This ensures that Singapore is no longer a place to transit through onto more distant parts although Changi International Airport is one of the world’s busiest. Despite its small size, Singapore offers a comprehensive range of holiday activities for extended stays. And whatever the focus of your visit, you can rely on the fact that everything is run with great efficiency and destinations are reached with ease by local public transport.
Top Reasons to Visit Singapore
GLOBAL CUISINE
A world food capital, Singapore features cuisines from all over Asia and the World.
Multicultural Singapore offers a smorgasbord of food and dining options. Visitors can dine in celebrity chefs’ signature restaurants like France’s Joël Robuchon or slurp a bowl of Singapore noodles in hawker centres such as Newton or Maxwell Food Centres. Singapore is considered one of the world’s most vibrant food cultures with ever-changing culinary horizons.
While it’s possible to dine on food from around the world, local dishes are those that appeal most to Singaporeans as well as inquisitive visitors. From Nyonya to Chinese, Indian to Malay, the wonderful array of local cuisines is proof of the collage of cultures that make up Singapore’s population.
Must-try Singaporean cuisine:
EXCELLENT SHOPPPING
Singapore’s mania for shopping almost rivals its obsession for food, and Orchard Road is the city’s shopping mecca.
Singapore is a shopper’s paradise. Scores of shops at every turn offer almost unlimited choices. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the plush shopping arcades of Orchard Road or Raffles City, or scour the flea markets and back alleys of the ethnic quarters, Singapore caters to all tastes and budgets. Best known for its attractively priced electronics goods, such as computers, mobile phones and cameras, Singapore also offers luxury brands, art, antiques, curios, jewellery, and more. Away from the exclusive stores and boutiques, some of the most exciting shopping can be found in Little India, Chinatown, Arab Street, and Holland Village.
Best places to go shopping:
FUN-FILLED ATTRACTIONS
From museums and gardens to theme parks and wildlife parks, Singapore is packed with amazing and wonderful attractions for everyone to enjoy.
For its size, Singapore is rich in museums, gardens and a variety of other attractions for the entire family to visit. The museums focus on history, cultural traditions, artistic forms brought by the immigrants that made up Singapore’s early population, while Singapore’s parks and gardens range from the world-class Singapore Botanic Gardens to ‘Gardens by the Bay’, three waterfront gardens that showcase horticulture and garden art. Other popular attractions include the very impressive Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park, one of Asia’s largest bird parks; the Science Centre, rated one of the top ten of its kind in the world and Haw Par Villa, a theme park based on macabre Chinese mythology.
Don’t miss these fun-filled attractions:
COLOURFUL NIGHTLIFE
Step aside New York City. Once-boring Singapore has stolen your ‘city-that-never-sleeps’ mantle.
The once-staid entertainment scene in Singapore has erupted into life, with new megaclubs and beach parties placing the city on Asia’s nightlife map. Singaporeans love their nightlife and its increasingly eclectic mix of venues – jazz clubs, blues bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, and traditional pubs – will satisfy all tastes. From small, poorly lit watering holes to thumping all-night clubs, the island has plenty to offer visitors looking for bars and clubs seven nights a week.
Main destinations to visit for nightlife:
Best Time to Visit Singapore
Any time’s a good time to go to Singapore. There are cultural events and festivals all year round, from fashion to film to food, and because Singapore is home to so many ethnic communities, you can hardly step outside without bumping into a festival.
Practically on the equator, Singapore is constantly hot (the temperature never drops below 20°C), humid and gets fairly steady year-round rainfall. The wettest months are supposedly November to January, when it’s also a degree or two cooler, while the driest are supposedly May to July, but in reality there is little distinction between the seasons. Similarly, there is no high and low tourism season as such, though during local school holidays and major cultural festivals things become noticeably more crowded.
Where is Singapore located?
Bordered by Malaysia to the north and Indonesia to the south, the island nation of Singapore lies just north of the Equator off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula between the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Her territory includes 59 tiny islands that lie off her southern coast. Land reclamation along Singapore’s southern shores has increased the island’s size by 10 percent to 714 sq km (276 sq miles), running 42 km (25 miles) east-west and 23 km (14 miles) north-south.
