If you’ve got a stopover in Singapore, or if you’re planning a visit and have heard that it is a strict, clean and dull city then you’ve heard wrong. Instead, Singapore is an intriguing and wonderful melting pot of Malay, Indian, Chinese and western cultures and it is a city that is well worth exploring, both for its history, its mix of cultures, its food and its architecture (not forgetting the shopping too!) It has an abundance of wonderful tropical scenry and the locals are very welcoming. It is a city that prides itself on its vibrant nightlife, world-class accommodation, extraordinary landscape and delectable dining options amongst many other things. Consequently, Singapore has emerged as one of the most prosperous countries and one of the busiest ports in the whole world.
From the moment you arrive you’ll recognize the intriguing combination of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Apart from its Malay, Chinese and Indian population there are also large groups of workers as well as expatriates from all over the world in Singapore. Due to this, it became recognized as a microcosm of Asia itself. If you want to get a feel for this variety, just try sampling the food – Singaporean food is legendary for sheer variety. If you’re in the mood for Chinese cuisine, head over to Chinatown; for Indian flavours, go to Little India. And if you want to sample the Malay/Arab cuisines, Kampang Glam is the best place. Lastly, the East Coast also offers some quite delectable seafood options.
When it comes to the nightlife, things have really opened up in recent years. You can now do whatever you want (within reason) in bars all night long. From being an extremely efficient business hub during the day-time, Singapore transforms into a buzzing network of nightclubs and bars at night. If you really want to take the pulse of the Garden City, then clubbing and pubbing should definitely be included in your list of activities here. On the down side however, alcohol can be quite expensive. Still, if you’ve got money to burn, some of the most famous night spots to consider are Harry’s Bar, Brix, Muddy Murphys, Indochine and Bar None.
Also worth a look is the Singapore Marina Bay – there you’ll find the Marina Bay Sands Casino which is an iconic landmark in the area with its 500 gaming tables, over 30 private gaming rooms and 1,600 slot machines. It is the place to go for jaw-dropping panoramas of the city and is truly captivating. Singapore is well known for its fascinating skyscrapers and the view from here takes them all in.
Surprisingly, Singapore also has some fine beaches. Most tourists prefer those on Sentosa and the East Coast but they are never overcrowded. As, nature and wildlife seem to be a big part of Singapore, you should also check out the world famous Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, the Botanical Gardens and the wonderful Night Safari. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is also a good place to find different plant species and other wildlife.
Lastly, of course there is the shopping which, if you’ve got the money (cos it ain’t cheap) is some of the best in the world. Temples of shopping can be found at Suntec City and Orchard Road. Other shopping districts are found in Marina Bay and Bugis.
Singapore is definitely a remarkable place to visit and should be afforded more than a couple of days. Its wide range of sights, activities, dining and shopping offer a busy holiday to travellers and one they will never forget.
Alex is a journalist and travel writer. He loves to write about staying in fancy hotels on exotic islands but is normally stuck staying in Scotland using his Travelodge discount code .