Extraordinary experiences, made in Singapore

27 November 2023

A vibrant, utterly intoxicating metropolis but one also blessed with lots of eco-friendly open spaces, Singapore offers something for every type of traveller. If ever there was a destination with ‘something for everyone’, it’s this island-country and city-state with its vast culture, outdoor activities, fabulous food scene, and superb shopping. Spend a few days, a week, or more here, and you’re sure to agree.

Extraordinary experiences, made in Singapore

For families...

Lots of people associate Singapore with its contemporary architecture, and it’s true that there are some dazzling displays of it here. But this is also a very green place thanks to its many parks, gardens, and nature reserves. Among them are Gardens by the Bay, a unique nature park and greening project with state-of-the-art glasshouses, sci-fi-like Supertrees – vertical gardens illuminated by night – and a fun Children’s Garden delighting and educating younger visitors in equal measure.

Meanwhile, Sentosa Island off Singapore’s southern coast blends beaches and tropical landscapes with attractions, including the world’s largest wind tunnel for indoor skydiving, Southeast Asia’s steepest zip wire, a floating aquapark, a Nature Discovery trail, and one of the largest oceanariums on the planet. Even getting there - by cable car, boardwalk, or monorail - is a thrill for all ages.

Other must-visits with kids are Bird Paradise, the Night Safari (with rare species including Nile hippos and Malayan tapirs in a natural setting), the ArtScience Museum Future World Exhibit, the fun and colourful Museum of Ice Cream, and a ride on a bumboat (an old sea-going barge).

For couples…

As well as Gardens by the Bay, lovers of green spaces and plant life have the huge treat of the UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, which was established in 1859 and includes attraction such as the National Orchid Garden, where you can see the world’s largest orchid display.

And urban exploration doesn’t get any more exciting than in Singapore’s four distinct cultural enclaves: Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam, and Katong-Joo Chiat. Chinatown, Singapore’s largest heritage neighbourhood, brings together cultural treasures, architectural gems, and hip haunts, including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Come here for a weekend brunch and to watch elderly locals playing Chinese chess and checkers.

North of Chinatown, Little India is another lively enclave with brightly painted shophouses, temples, and mosques, and an art trail with murals telling the story of its parrot astrologers, dhobi (washermen), and other labourers.

Singapore also has over 50 Michelin-starred restaurants, so you won’t be short of contenders for a special occasion meal. There’s Odette’s contemporary French cuisine, Burnt Ends for a high-end take on a hip barbeque joint, CUT by Wolfgang Puck (Singapore’s only Michelin-starred steakhouse), and Esora where the Head Chef embraces a deep appreciation of the seasons and only uses ingredients when they are at their peak flavour, to name just a few highlights. The city’s bar scene is something else, too, with lots of rooftop venues for cocktails with a view, and a visit to one of the city’s superb spas is never a bad idea.

For solo travellers...

Singapore is a great place to visit as a solo traveller, with plenty to see and do, including the above, and lots of sociable spaces. Top of our list is a tasting jaunt around the city’s street-food Hawker Centres – listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Other top spots are MacRitchie Reservoir Park, with its lush rainforest populated by long-tailed macaques and flying lemurs, and the island of Pulau Ubin, reached by ferry and transporting you back in time to 1960s Singapore with its traditional Kampung villages. The Chek Jawa Wetlands is also not to be missed. In this unique location six major ecosystems – sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves, and coastal forest – meet.

Walking, cycling, and Vespa sidecar tours are all great ways to take in many of the sights of Singapore, ensuring you don’t miss a thing. Don’t miss the excellent museums and cultural venues in which to immerse yourself in art and history, including the National Gallery of Singapore, with the world’s largest collection of Southeast Asian art. Also, check out the performances at the waterfront Esplanade, many of which are free.

To book your holiday in Singapore, call your Travel Counsellor today.

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