Founded as a British colony and since becoming one of the most affluent countries, Singapore has flourished into a great tourist destination. From towering skyscrapers to sprawling gardens to explore, and from street food at Hawker centres to Michelin star gastronomic experiences, Singapore has it all.
Keep an eye out for: Merlions – This mythical creature with a lion’s head and the body of a fish has become the national icon of Singapore. There are five official merlions across Singapore with the most famous one located in Merlion Park opposite Marina Bay Sands.
How to get to Singapore
By plane – The easiest way to get to Singapore is by plane as Singapore is South East Asia’s largest aviation hub, offering direct flights to many destinations in Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East. Singapore is also a popular stopover point for flights travelling from Europe to Australia or New Zealand. For those with a stopover 5-24 hours long Singapore offers free city tours to highlight some of the main sights of the city, and if you fancy staying put there’s plenty to do in the airport to help you survive a layover in Changi airport.
Changi airport has been named the best airport in the world and in terms of efficiency I have to agree, from landing to leaving the airport in no time at all! To get into the city it is easiest to grab a taxi, as although there is a metro stop you need to change at Tanah Merah to get into the centre of Singapore.
By bus – There are buses between Kuala Lumpur and other Malaysian destinations via the Woodlands Checkpoint in the North and Tuas Checkpoint in the West. As there is no central bus terminal in Singapore different companies leave from different points over the city so be sure to check your pick-up/drop-off point carefully.
By ferry – Being a major port city, Singapore has five ferry terminals offering routes to the neighbouring Indonesian islands and Malaysia. Mostly the ferries service beach locations and paradise islands, perfect for a get away!
Where to stay in Singapore
Hotel Indigo Katong – Inspired by Peranakan culture and the vibrant Katong neighbourhood, each of the rooms in this hotel feature gorgeous tiling in the bathrooms and quirky art murals. Plump for a room with a premier view and bathtub so you can soak away the day looking out across the rooftops of Singapore. Speaking of views the rooftop infinity pool also has an excellent view of Singapore
Lloyd’s Inn – Taking a minimalist approach to create an escape from the city Lloyd’s Inn has been carefully created to blend the urban cityscape with nature. Pick a room type that matches your personality although it doesn’t get much better than a bath under the starry Singapore sky in the big sky room!
Naumi – Another hotel with another awesome infinity pool, Naumi is a fabulous haven located in the centre of the CBD. All rooms are modern and sleek containing the ultimate finishing touches including glass bathroom doors that change to opaque at the touch of a button and in-room scenting! Worth the upgrade, the Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol inspired suites are of course the best rooms to stay in.
Villa Samadhi – Within this colonial hotel you can find just 20 black and white rooms nestled in Labrador nature park. Some rooms offer an outdoor plunge pool or indoor whirlpool perfect for relaxing after a busy day. Small touches including the carafe of port and chocolates left on the bed in the evenings and a free cocktail in the Library bar at happy hour echo the luxury vibe.
Wanderlust Hotel – Created by a team of design agencies Wanderlust features 29 quirky rooms ranging from monotone minimalist rooms to whimsical rooms with giant spaceships. With a rainbow coloured hot tub and boutique wine shop you never need to leave!
Where & What to eat in Singapore
What?
Kaya Toast – The traditional Singapore breakfast. Two slices of toast with a slab of butter inbetween and slathered in kaya, a sweet creamy spread made from coconuts and pandan.
Chilli or Pepper Crab – There are now many variations on this classic dish but the two most traditional are served in a spicy tomato sauce or black pepper sauce. Served alongside fried mantous (bread) to dip in the sauce.
Rojak – This mish mash of ingredients is very popular with locals and tourists alike. A traditional mix tends to include beansprouts, pineapple, radish, cucumber and fritters smothered in a fermented prawn paste.
Hainese Chicken Rice – One of Singapore’s most well known dishes is a simple dish of chicken served with rice. The chicken tends to be boiled in bone stock to enhance the flavour and served with a chilli sauce.
Ang Ku Kueh – One for those with a sweet tooth, these coconut coated glutinous rice balls are filled with either peanuts or rice beans that explodes in your mouth!
Where?
Alma – Located within the prestigious Goodwood Park Hotel, Alma offers diners European dishes with a modern Asian twist. The food here is amazingly presented (and with great lighting it’s perfect for Insta!), the wine list extensive and the service slick. With creative Asian infused dishes you can see why Alma was awarded a Michelin star.
Bistecca – Italian for steak it’s no surprise that Bistecca is famed for their steaks, and with good reason. Their feature dish of a sharing wagyu T-bone steak is a must try for any meat lover, we almost came back a second night!
Artemis – For a dinner with a view head to Artemis on the 40th floor of CapitaGreen. Enjoy fresh and delicious Mediterranean inspired dishes overlooking the glittering lights of Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, you can even witness the nightly shows if you time your meal correctly.
Labyrinth – This modern twist on traditional Singaporean dishes won Labyrinth a Michelin star in 2017. Each dish tells a story of LG Han’s childhood taking diners on a gastronomic journey through Singapore. He continues to challenge himself and the team with a goal to use 80% Singaporean produce in the future, something never attempted in the Singapore fine dining circuit.
Pollen – Set within the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay Pollen is the perfect place to dine whilst exploring Singapore’s famous gardens. Expect carefully crafted dishes utilising local produce presented perfectly. When you dine at Pollen you receive complimentary access to the flower dome, and a buggy service from the entrance for the full VIP treatment.
Maxwell Hawker Centre – To try true local food you have to eat where the locals eat, and hawker centres are those such places. You can pick up a variety of local dishes for a fraction of the price of restaurant dishes and truly experience Singaporean cuisine. There are various hawker centres across Singapore although I would recommend Maxwell for its location and authenticity.
Where & What to drink in Singapore
What?
Singapore Sling – Singapore’s favourite cocktail, created at the Long Bar in Raffles is one cocktail you must try during your trip to Singapore. A gin-based cocktail other ingredients vary dependent on the bartender but likely include pineapple juice, grenadine, lime juice and Dom Benedictine.
Milo Dinosaur – This Singaporean version of an iced hot chocolate is made from Milo powder (malt-chocolate drink). Perfect for sticky days you can get a Dinosaur (topped with Milo powder), Godzilla (topped with whipped cream) or T-Rex (topped with ice cream).
Bubble Tea – Now so popular you can find bubble tea shops in most cities worldwide, these sugary drinks are originally from Taiwan. Made of sweet milk tea and chewy tapioca pearls you can find a wide range of different flavours in Singapore.
Where?
LeVeL 33 – Boasting the world’s highest urban craft brewery, the views of Marina Bay from this rooftop bar are incredible. With five freshly brewed beers on offer at one time you can choose a paddle tasting to try them all, and accompany this with some bites from the delicious beer dining menu. Book a table at 6pm to enjoy a pint as you watch the sun go down and the lights of Singapore flicker to life.
Nutmeg & Clove – Named one of Asia’s Top 50 bars in 2017 it’s worth seeking out this speakeasy in Ann Siang Hill. Sip on Singaporean interpretations of modern cocktails using 12 herbs, spices, fruits and flowers inspired by the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History drawings.
Raffles – One cannot leave Singapore without having a Singapore Sling, and there’s only one place to try this iconic drink: at its birthplace, The Long Bar at Raffles. Although Raffles is currently under renovation you can still enjoy a Singapore Sling at their pop up bar, the real Long Bar is expected to reopen in late 2018.
Atlas – Set within Parkview Square, Atlas is a celebration of Art Deco glamour and fine drinks where parties go on into the wee hours. With over 1,000 gins and 250 champagne varieties you may struggle to pick a drink, some are so rare that only one serving is permitted per visit! Book ahead to secure a table and journey back in time.
What to see & do in Singapore
Take a tour to discover the real Singapore – Tribe tours offer private tours hosted by locals to allow visitors to connect with the real Singapore and experience local foods and customs. We visited various temples, tried traditional dishes at a Hawker Centre, learnt about the process of creating soy sauce and even visited our guide’s HDB home.
Marvel at the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay – With over one million plants, the world’s largest indoor waterfall and 18 iconic supertrees you can spend all day wandering around Gardens by the Bay. Step inside the climate controlled Cloud Forest or Flower Domes for a welcome break from the heat or climb up high to walk along the Skyway linking some of the Supertrees to get a new perspective. One of the most photogenic spots in Singapore you can read some of my Gardens by the Bay photography tips here.
Even if you’re only in Singapore for a night layover you should still get out the airport to see the supertrees and Singapore skyline lit up at night!
Take a walk on the wild-side at the Zoo – Take a trip out of the city centre to get up close and personal with lemurs, spy rare white tigers and admire orangutans swinging through the trees at Singapore Zoo. Hop across to the River Safari to explore inhabitants of the world’s waterways including adorable giant otters and massive manatees.
Immerse yourself in a futuristic world at the ArtScience museum – Explore interactive artworks representing Nature, Town, Park and Space at the Future World exhibition and prepare to be awed as light, art and magic come alive before you.
Take a thrilling trip down the Luge – Over on Sentosa, an island of fun for young and old alike, there are many attractions to explore. To get your adrenaline pumping and have a great time grab a tray and race to the finish. With four different routes to take you can race time and time again, like they say ‘once is never enough’!
Wander through Singapore’s historic districts to discover perfect photospots – Each of the districts of Singapore has its own unique culture and heritage to explore including some incredibly photogenic spots. You can spend hours wandering through Singapore stopping at the shop houses in Katong, the former Old Hill police station and Bali Lane. Exploring these awesome places is one of my favourite free things to do in Singapore.
Escape to a desert island – Just off the port of Singapore lie several paradisaical Indonesian islands perfect for a mini break. Head to one of the private islands like Pulau Joyo where you can hire the whole island for you and your friends to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
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