Travel Information
Singapore is definitely worth a visit. The city offers numerous attractions and is an ideal travel hub to explore the entire region.
Chinatown has evolved in the early 19th century with first people from mainland China settling down south of the Singapore River. Flanked by beautiful shop houses, the streets are packed with food and drinks vendors, stalls with clothing as well as fashion accessories. Next to a major Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and mosque can be found along South Bridge Road, while the next Christian church is not far away either.
Popular places for tourists are the Chinatown Night Market at Pagoda Street, the Food Street selling local delights at hawker stalls and the nicely designed Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Little India is another ethnic quarter with colourful houses, interesting smells of spices and flowers and vendors of saris, silverware and brassware. The Little India Arcade offers small shops while Mustafa is a 24-7 shopping mall with goods to fit all needs.
What you also should not miss is Kampong Glam, the former historic seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. From Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Singapore, you can stroll along Bussorah Mall with excellently restored shop-houses towards Arab Street, where lots of ornamental fabrics, stones and tailors wait for customers.
A walk along Marina Bay is memorable for absorbing views of the Central Business District (CBD), the Esplanade or the Merlion, Singapore’s icon symbol. Nearby at Boat Quay, small houses with restaurants and bars are snuggled alongside the skyscrapers of the CBD. From there it’s only a short walk to the bustling Clarke Quay – the nightly entertainment centre where numerous bars, clubs and eateries can be found.
Since 2008 you can also take a ride in the Singapore Flyer, the giant observation wheel.
By car, bus or monorail you can reach Sentosa, the themed attraction island with tropical resorts, beautiful spas and of course beach, sun and palm trees. Besides the Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon or Fort Siloso can be viewed.
Deemed one of the best zoos in the world, the Singapore Zoo as well as the world’s first Night Safari are worth a trip as well.
Art & Culture
Some renowned museums are the National Museum of Singapore, where contemporary galleries as well as permanent historical exhibitions and artefacts can be marveled at. Also worth a visit is the Asian Civilisations Museum, right next to the Singapore River. Here the heritage of Asian cultures is displayed.
The Esplanade -Theatres on the bay is one of the world's busiest arts centres. Its program line-up spans all genres to encompass music, dance, theatre and visual arts, with a special emphasis on Asian culture.
Shopping
The probably most favourite activity of Singaporeans – shopping – can be pursued in numerous malls across the lion city. Along the shopping belt Orchard Road you can find one mall after the other, from signature brands in Paragon and Takashimaya to lower-priced items in Lucky Plaza. Other giant malls are Marina Square near CBD or VivoCity at Harbour Front. Further malls can be found here.
Cuisine
The favourite small talk topic, food, is very dear to Singaporeans. There is a grand variety of cuisines available in a city which calls itself the ‘food capital’ of South East Asia. From Indonesian, Malay, Chinese or Indian, Western and fusions of these cuisines – any food can be found here. Popular open-air food centres are Lau Pa Sat, situated under a Victorian cast-iron structure in the CBD, or Newton Food Centre where you can indulge in local delights and seafood. A list of hawker centres can be found here. For a review of the best Singaporean bars and restaurants, check out Singaporean’s views on www.hungrygowhere.com.
Parks & Get-aways
Singapore is a very green and lush city. Among the recommendable nature get-aways is the MacRitchie Reservoir, where you can get interesting views along the tree top walk, or the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with Singapore’s highest point at 164m above sea level. For a day out of the city visit Pulau Ubin – an island where time stands still and you can explore a charming place by renting a bike. Alternatively, East Coast Park offers space and equipment to indulge in water sports, run or ride along the seaside.
Other destinations
With the lion city as an ideal starting point for travelling in the region, many destinations can be reached fast and easily. Tourist spots in Malaysia are only short rides or flights away, such as Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Langkawi or the Sabah. Also the Indonesian islands Bintan and Batam, which are reachable by ferry, serve as relaxing weekend getaways for Singaporeans.
For more information, visit www.visitsingapore.com or check out http://www.changiairport.com/ for the latest flight deals. |
