Welcome to Singapore, a fascinating city-state in the heart of Southeast Asia. Famed for being reassuringly safe, spotlessly clean, and extremely well organized, this is a destination that warrants a spot on everyone’s travel bucket list. A blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western influences shapes the architecture, art, and food in this interesting country, while its flora and fauna beguile visitors with natural beauty. Add to this unique museums, buzzing nightlife, and impressive options for shoppers, and it’s no surprise that Singapore attracts travelers from around the world.
Once you have had a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel, admired the view from the top of Marina Bay Sands, and taken a night safari at world-leading Mandai Wildlife Park, then follow us down the side streets of Chinatown, through Singapore’s vibrant green spaces, and toward the hawker markets tempting visitors with a range of snacks for every appetite. Our expert travel guide to Singapore will take you to the very best places in the Lion City.
WHERE TO STAY IN SINGAPORE
The Historic One
Right in the center of the business district, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is a striking neoclassical building that once housed the General Post Office, The Exchange, Chamber of Commerce and The Singapore Club, and is now listed as Singapore’s 71st national monument.
Transformed into a 400-room hotel, this stunning property has a rooftop pool which overlooks the Singapore river, an angular atrium where visitors can enjoy a splendid afternoon tea, and five-star rooms with views over Marina Bay or the river. Pro tip: Get up early and take a shot with one of Singapore’s most photographed monuments—the Merlion—before all the crowds arrive.
The Tall One
One of Southeast Asia’s tallest hotels, Swissotel the Stamford, is right in the heart of the city. With two Michelin-starred JAAN by Kirk Westaway, and refined grill restaurant SKAI on the 70th floor, guests can enjoy fine dining with panoramic views of Singapore, Malaysia, and the nearby islands of Indonesia.
Sustainability is a core ethos, and Swissotel’s urban aquaponics garden, created in 2019, supports Singapore’s goal to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. Growing fresh quality produce (and tilapia fish) while optimizing space, conserving water, and minimizing waste means that guests can feel happy that some of the food they consume is grown right there on the property.
The Nature-loving One
Align with nature at Conrad Singapore Orchard, where you can go to sleep to the sound of gongs, wake and set intentions by the pool with a yoga expert, or join a foraging trip with a botanist who will help you identify edible plants along the sidewalks and within the nearby Botanic Gardens. And if all that wholesome activity works up a hunger, then visit the hotel’s one-Michelin-starred Summer Palace restaurant for some elevated Chinese food.
The Tranquil One
Set among 27 acres of verdant gardens, close to Tanjong beach, yet also equipped with an enticing pool and spa, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is the perfect spot to escape the urban overload and de-stress in a peaceful environment. An ideal base to explore the quiet island of Sentosa, this restful resort will restore tired souls.
The Budget One
Close to Clarke Quay with its buzzing nightlife, and within walking distance of Chinatown, Ibis Budget Clarke Quay is a small but perfectly formed hotel. Rooms are competitively priced, yet you won’t need to miss out on a little bit of luxury – pop up to the rooftop pool to cool off from the heat.
WHERE TO EAT IN SINGAPORE
Best for Street Food
Singapore has some of the best street food in the world served on stalls by traders known as “hawkers.” In fact “hawker culture” is listed as an “intangible heritage” by UNESCO. But the best thing about Singapore’s cheap eats is that you don’t have to pound the pavement hunting for them across the city. There are more than 100 “hawker centers”—purpose-built, immaculately clean buildings with lines of stalls, each selling a different local delicacy. Whether you crave stingray, satay, chili crab, or the famous breakfast dish “Kaya toast,” you can find these and multiple other savory and sweet offerings in the many street food dining destinations across the territory.
Recreate the hawker scene from Hollywood blockbuster “Crazy Rich Asians” at Newton Food Centre, where a vast open-air seating area comes alive at night, or pop to the Chinatown Complex, which gets busy during the day. The quality of stalls at Singapore hawker centers is so great that some have their own listing in the Michelin guide. Just make sure you turn up hungry.
Best for Innovative Fine Dining
Singapore has so many award-winning fine dining restaurants representing local and international cuisine, that it has become a global fine dining destination. There are some truly exciting chefs working in the territory producing imaginative, wonderful cuisine. One-Michelin-starred Born, a recent opening by Malaysian chef Zor Tan, whose tasting menu shows influences from France and China is one example. Housed in an early twentieth century rickshaw depot, guests can sit up at the counter around an open kitchen and watch the chefs at work. Or enter the intriguing world of “Crossroads Cuisine” with Chef Ivan Brehm at Nouri, where his thoughtfully researched plates transcend geographical boundaries in a cozy dining room that feels very much like entering his home. Or visit the attractive Singapore EDITION, which is home to FYSH, an extraordinary “steakhouse” specializing in carefully aged cuts of fish, where nothing is wasted. Case in point: Fish eyes are used to make (extremely delicious) ice cream.
Best for Sunday Brunch
Sundays in Singapore don’t get more indulgent than the steak and seafood brunch at 665°F. This gourmet experience offers diners the chance to enjoy premium meats and certified sustainable seafood while taking in views of the city on the 38th floor of Andaz Singapore. Washed down with free flow champagne or an impressive selection of fine wines by the glass, make sure you save room for the dessert trolley.
Best Regional
Peranakan cuisine is, broadly speaking, a combination of Chinese cooking techniques and ingredients with Malay and Indonesian flavors (more on that later). This creates complex flavor profiles in dishes, like Laksa, a famous spicy noodle soup with a creamy coconut milk base. Singapore has wonderful places to try this unique cuisine, from the first ever Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant Candlenut to Godmama’s comforting homestyle cooking.
WHERE TO DRINK IN SINGAPORE
Best Historic Pub
Close to the busy shopping paradise of Orchard Road is the peaceful neighborhood of Emerald Hill. Once a nutmeg and fruit orchard, in the late nineteenth century, rows of beautiful shophouses replaced the crops. Today, this very desirable neighborhood is mostly residential, but with a hidden gem of a bar. Number Five Emerald Hill is a buzzing pub, set over two floors in a carefully restored Peranakan shophouse, bedecked with lanterns and jars of interesting liquor. Offering a range of beers, wines and cocktails – settle in for a fun evening.
Best for Bar Hopping
Boat Quay is a great destination for a lively evening. Rows of restaurants and bars line the waterfront, many with seats close to the water’s edge. Fancy a pint of Guinness? Pop into famous Irish pub Molly Malone’s. Then move on to Singapore institution Harry’s. Feeling posh? Then take a walk to the nearby National Gallery for a fancy cocktail at Smoke and Mirrors. It’s less busy than nearby Clarke Quay, but just as fun.
Best Views
Mr. Stork, named after the tall bird that nests in high places, is an al fresco rooftop bar on the 30th floor of Andaz Singapore. Enjoy a great cocktail list, superb wines by the glass, and accompanying bar snacks, and don’t forget to drink in the 360-degree view. Want a bit of shade? Then take refuge in one of 10 tipi huts.
Best for Natural Wine
RVLT is one of the most hipster, fun, and exciting bars in Singapore. It’s led by a friendly team who really know about natural wine, so you can simply choose a bottle from the shelf and enjoy the industrial-cool interior and lively atmosphere. Not a big natural wine fan? Don’t worry. This bar also offers a range of excellent craft beers and some delicious plates to soak up the booze.
Best for Edgy and Sustainable Cocktails
Tucked down Amoy Street in Chinatown, Fura is the hottest bar in town with a cool sustainable ethos. Drinks at this unusual cocktail bar have a low carbon footprint. The team makes use of delicious local fruits, but gets daring with the use of invasive species. Jellyfish Martini, anyone?
WHERE TO SHOP IN SINGAPORE
Best All-Rounder
Orchard Road is a 1.6-mile boulevard, lined with shopping malls which feature practically every brand imaginable. One of Singapore’s top tourist destinations, this is a place to take plenty of time to explore. Make sure to stop at ION Orchard, a mall whose futuristic architecture is worth a visit in itself. However, this building is just as exciting inside as out, with more than 300 stores and an impressive observation deck.
Best Historic Location
One of Singapore’s most beautiful neighborhoods is a little off the tourist track. Tiong Bahru is home to the oldest public housing estate in Singapore: a selection of Art Deco apartment blocks that have been carefully restored and preserved as wonderful examples of early 20th-century style. Today, this neighborhood has become a hipster enclave, with gorgeous independent shops, restaurants, and cafes to explore among its leafy, quiet streets. Perhaps the jewel in the crown is Tiong Bahru market; the ground floor perfumed by a colorful flower market, the upper floors home to a marvelous hawker center.
Best for Souvenirs
Chinatown street market is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and features stalls specializing in Chinese crafts. Look out for calligraphy, puppets, clothing, and lacquered fans, all of which make delightful keepsakes and gifts. If you’re in Singapore during Chinese New Year or Mid-Autumn festival, be sure to visit. The decorations and cultural activities available are not to be missed.
Best for Instagram
Haji Lane is one of the most dazzling streets in the whole of Singapore, lined with shophouses plastered in colorful murals. Browse the many independent stores and cafes along this photogenic street and soak up the lively atmosphere.
Best Quirky
Three historic Singapore streets have been reimagined into a shopping center with a difference. Bugis Street, Malay Street and Hylam Street—complete with their original shophouses that have been carefully rebuilt—have been covered with glass, air-conditioned, and turned into a retail mall known as Bugis Junction. It’s a great way to escape the heat while feeling like you’re still outside.
WHAT TO DO IN SINGAPORE
Explore the City by Night on a Bicycle
Make the most of cooler evening temperatures and combine light exercise with stellar sightseeing on a nighttime cycle tour of Marina Bay. Ride in the company of a local guide along the Kallang River, past the National Stadium toward the famous Marina Bay. Each evening a dramatic light and music show takes place on the promenade. The tour continues past a giant Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer and along the Formula 1 racetrack.
Explore the Natural Beauty of Sentosa Island
Just 15 minutes from central Singapore, Sentosa Island is a relaxing getaway from city life. With golden beaches, theme parks, and impressive golf courses to explore, visitors can also get close to nature by walking the rainforest trails, or enjoy an open-air panoramic ride on the gently rotating SkyHelix.
Learn about Peranakan Culture in a Historic Building
Housed in a former school building, Singapore’s Peranakan Museum takes a deep dive into the unique culture of mixed-heritage communities in the region. There are permanent galleries focusing on origins and roots of Peranakan culture, ceramics, textiles, food, and family life as well as visiting exhibitions. Take a free guided tour to get the most out of a visit.
Visit Two Contrasting Gardens
Singapore is famed for its remarkable greenery, as the humid tropical climate lends itself well to exotic foliage and blooms. Singapore’s Historic Botanic Garden, which dates back to 1859, is the first and only tropical botanic garden on UNESCO World Heritage list. With some wonderful heritage trees, a fragrant frangipani garden, and the National Orchid collection, this colorful scent-filled oasis is a true haven.
In contrast, the modern and daring Gardens by the Bay transports visitors to an otherworldly realm. With a flower dome filled with plants from unique habitats, architectural structures like the Supertree Observatory, and one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls, these are gardens that will take your breath away. Pro tip: When visiting both gardens, be sure to look out for Singapore’s famous otter families, who roam these green spaces during the day and night.
