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Singapore is a compact island city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, established as a British trading post in 1819 and independent since 1965. Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian communities shape its languages, religions and, above all, its food. Careful planning has made it famously clean and green, with parks and nature reserves threaded between office towers and public housing estates.
Gardens by the Bay, with its Supertrees and cooled conservatories, sits on reclaimed land beside Marina Bay, and the waterfront path continues past Merlion Park to the colonial civic district, where National Gallery Singapore fills the former Supreme Court and City Hall. Chinatown mixes temples with shophouses and hawker stalls, Little India smells of spices and jasmine garlands, and Kampong Glam surrounds the golden-domed Sultan Mosque. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers shade and orchids. Walkers follow the Southern Ridges over the undulating Henderson Waves bridge, while Sentosa island holds beaches and resorts. In the north, Mandai Wildlife Reserve brings together the zoo, the Night Safari and the bird park.
Singapore makes an easy introduction to Southeast Asia for families, food lovers and first-time visitors. The climate is hot and humid year-round, with frequent showers. Hawker centers are the best place to eat well for little money, and the MRT reaches nearly every sight.
WiserMap travel guideSingapore Hawker Centres Gardens by the Bay and Little IndiaPlan a Singapore trip: Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, the Botanic Gardens, hawker centres, Jewel Changi and how to use the MRT.Read the guide
The Merlion, a statue with a lion's head and a fish's body, spouts water into Marina Bay opposite Marina Bay Sands. The promenade around the bay links the Esplanade, the Fullerton Hotel and the Helix Bridge. Come in the evening for the free Spectra light and water show at Marina Bay Sands.
The ship-shaped deck on top of the three Marina Bay Sands towers, 57 floors up, with an observation deck open to the public and the famous infinity pool reserved for hotel guests. It gives wide views over the bay, Gardens by the Bay and the strait. Go at dusk and book tickets online.
A huge waterfront garden with the Supertree Grove, tree-like vertical gardens linked by a skywalk, and two cooled conservatories, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest with its indoor waterfall. The outdoor gardens are free. Watch the Garden Rhapsody light show at the Supertrees in the evening.
A UNESCO World Heritage garden founded in 1859, with lakes, a rainforest patch, heritage trees and the National Orchid Garden, which holds the world's largest orchid display. Most of the gardens are free and open from early morning. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.
A 10 km chain of parks and walkways linking Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge. Highlights include the wave-shaped Henderson Waves bridge and the Forest Walk through the treetops. Start at Mount Faber or HarbourFront and walk in the early morning or late afternoon.
Housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, the gallery holds the world's largest public collection of modern Southeast Asian art. Rooftop gardens and restaurants overlook the Padang. Allow a few hours, and look for free guided tours and children's programs.
A district of restored shophouses with the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple and the Chinatown Heritage Centre. Maxwell Food Centre and the Chinatown Complex hawker center are famous for chicken rice and other cheap dishes. Evening is best for food and the street market.
A colorful area around Serangoon Road with Hindu temples such as Sri Veeramakaliamman, spice and flower garland shops and the 24-hour Mustafa Centre. The Tekka Centre sells cheap Indian food. It is very lively on Sunday evenings and especially festive during Deepavali.
Singapore's historic Malay and Muslim quarter, centered on the golden-domed Sultan Mosque. Arab Street sells textiles and carpets, and Haji Lane is lined with murals, indie boutiques and bars. Dress modestly to enter the mosque, which provides robes, and avoid prayer times.
A resort island linked to the mainland by cable car, monorail and boardwalk, with Universal Studios Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium, beaches such as Siloso and Palawan, and Fort Siloso. You can spend a day or more here. Walking in over the Sentosa Boardwalk is the cheapest way across.
A wildlife area in the north of the island with the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise, known for open, natural enclosures. The Night Safari opens after dark with a tram ride. Combined tickets save money, and the shuttle from nearby MRT stations is easy.
A small island off the northeast coast reached by bumboat from Changi Point, preserving a slower kampung village way of life. Rent a bicycle to ride past quarries, mangroves and the Chek Jawa Wetlands boardwalk. Bring cash, water and insect repellent, and check Chek Jawa tide times.
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