SINGAPORE
A tiny country to be enjoyed and not rushed, this city-state has a lot to offer. Experience the variety of cuisine in Little India and Chinatown. Explore the city centre where colonial buildings blend with ultra-modern skyscrapers. Discover vast tropical gardens filled with exotic flowers and treetop views.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN SINGAPORE
- Explore the city’s urban Gardens By The Bay
- National Orchid Garden
- Enjoy a drink at the top of the world at Ca La Vie rooftop bar
- Dive into the heart of Singapore cuisine and eat at one of the many hawker stalls
- Shop on Orchard Road, one of Asia’s most famous shopping boulevards
ICONIC DRINKS & STUNNING VIEWS
Singapore Sling
As tradition dictates, visit the iconic Long Bar at Raffles Hotel for this signature cocktail. Alternatively, indulge in afternoon tea (served daily from 3.00pm to 5.30pm) in a beautiful colonial setting.
Sunset Drinks
Marina Bay Sands is a modern icon of Singapore. It’s a hotel, shopping mall (with a man made canal running through it), and hosts the world’s largest atrium casino. The enormous SkyPark sits on top of the three towers and offers the most incredible views of the city. Tickets are available to visit the observation deck however, I would recommend going the rooftop bar Ce La Vie for sunset. You will pay for a voucher that can be exchanged for a drink at the bar. There is no time limit so you can stay until the bar and club closes if you want to. Note – There is a smart casual dress code at all restaurants and bars. Make sure you take your passport for ID if you’re planning to go into the casino.
URBAN GARDENS
Gardens by the Bay
An absolute must see. You could easily spend a day exploring the various attractions, most of which are totally free. Take a leisurely stroll around Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes or sit amoungst the flowers. The giant conservatories which house beautiful flowers and rare plants have entrance fees. Supertree Grove is spectacular at the nightly light shows (7pm and 9pm). Either stand on the balcony overlooking the grove or lay on the floor under the trees and enjoy the music and colourful lights.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Established in 1860, this now UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a quiet place to walk around and escape the busy city. These gardens are much more traditional and calm compared to the Gardens by the Bay. I absolutely loved visiting the National Orchid Garden. Entry to the garden is S$5 and completely worth it. I was expecting something small, but the garden actually holds over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids, including the “VIP Orchids” which have been named after famous visitors to Singapore.
You can catch the bus or metro to the gardens or walk.
FOOD & DRINK
Diverse food choices include Chinese, Indian, Malay old school classics. Hawker stalls offer very affordable options and are normally family run.
Satay
Indonesian inspired turmeric-marinated meat skewers, served with a peanut sauce. Choose from pork, chicken, beef or mutton.
Mee Goreng
Noddles
Curry Laksa
A spicy noodle soup made with a chilli paste and coconut milk featuring shrimp, fish cakes, egg and chicken meat
Bak Chor Mee
Translated as minced meat noodles, this dish of flat egg noodles
Singapore Chilli Crab
Whole crabs (usually mud crabs) are cooked in a thick, savoury sauce with tomato and chilli. Despite its name, it’s not that spicy.
STAY
Raffles Hotel
Iconic colonial hotel opened in 1887. Underwent a large restoration project in 2018.
Marina Bay Sands
One of the most famous buildings in Singapore. Opened in 2010 it includes a 2,561 room hotel, shopping mall, and casino. The enormous SkyPark sits on top of the three towers and offers the most incredible views of the city. Everyone wants to visit the infinity pool and this is exclusive to hotel guests.
TRAVEL
Air
Singapore Airlines have direct flights from London Heathrow and offer free entry to galleries, city tour and more! Plenty of operators offer flights from around Southeast Asia.
Road
Buses run daily between Malaysia to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur being the most popular destination. You will get off the bus at the boarder and your passport will be stamped to exit Malaysia, you’ll hop back on the bus for another 10 minutes and then will need to get off again to be stamped into Singapore.
Rail
By 2026 there will be a high speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Visited April 2017
Little Amy Tours
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Little Amy Tours 