Singapore
Destination Guide

The Ultimate Guide Before You Plan for your Next Trip

The glittering Singapore skyline beckons you to have an extravagant trip in the land of urban lavishness and natural beauty. Be it sunny beaches with turquoise sea or lush green gardens or fascinating amusement parks, Singapore is ready with its many amenities to welcome you whole-heatedly. The beaches and the bays of Singapore are always bursting with life as the magnificent skyscrapers has their own kind of entertainment in store for you. Enjoy various rides and the splashes of the sea by spending the ultimate holiday in Singapore. Bars and restaurants galore as Singapore brings the best of the oriental to its visitors.

Attractions in Singapore

From stunning skyscrapers to glittering bays there are many attractions in Singapore that will give you an enthralling vacation.

River Safari

The famous River Safari of Singapore will let you see the natural side of the country with this fabulous river-themed zoo open for the tourist to enjoy. It is basically a boat ride allowing you to witness the various animals kept in many open exhibits throughout the entire open area of the park. Starting from dangerous anaconda snakes to the cute American beavers, you will get to meet many animals out in the open in their natural habitats. You can also witness plenty of marine animals along with freshwater crocs, giant pandas, and golden monkeys. You can come really up-close to nature witnessing the Brazilian tapirs and the colorful flamingos.

Singapore Night Safari

Singapore houses a massive conservation and research center and this Night Safari park is a dream-come-true for any animal lover. The entire area comes to life during the night as the authorities here house more than 1000 nocturnal animals carrying on with their nightly life. There are as many as 59 exhibits in this place and a tour of the entire area will allow you to witness the animals in their actual habitat. Starting from wildebeest and gazelles to the sinister looking Himalayan griffon vultures, Burmese cattle, and rhinoceros, you will encounter many creatures of the dark at this place.

Raffles Hotel

Built back in the year 1887 this building is indeed an iconic landmark of Singapore. It is a heaven of upper-class luxuries in the island city and the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and also the Queen of England have come and stayed in this hotel. The hotel has as many as 103 suits for the guests and you can also choose amongst 18 fabulous restaurants to dine. Apart from the fascinating eateries the place also have some nice boutique shops and exotic bars offering the best quality of Singapore Sling in the entire country. The colonial architecture of this place is simply mind-blowing and you can have a nice afternoon visit.

Sentosa

The southern tip of the island of Singapore is developed into a leisure beach dedicated to the relaxation and entertainment of the tourists. The entire bay is lined with various hotels, resorts, restaurants, and pubs along with many other amenities to keep you engaged. There are many theme parks and golf courses, lots of shopping centers and exotic spas. The best part is that you can reach the place through a cable car enjoying a fascinating view of the place. The place contains many landmarks like the Tiger Sky Tower, the Universal Studios, and also the famous Singapore Butterfly and Insect Kingdom.

Clarke Quay

The picturesque water-front of Singapore is a delight for the traveling tourists. The entire area is lined with top quality restaurants and bars along with many boutique shops for the tourists to explore and enjoy. The ultimate place to experience the exotic oriental nightlife this place will lead you to a futuristic jelly-like terrace where you will find many eateries and pubs to enjoy. The place is always bursting with people as you can enjoy a fascinating dinner at the famous Bamboo Bar and the Try Bar Cocoon. This is one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city which brings together the locals and the expats to have a fabulous time.

Universal Studios Singapore

The Universal Studios is the first amusement park, of its kind, in entire South East Asia and it is definitely one of the major tourist attractions in Singapore. The entire park has as much as 20 themed zones, designed for tourist attractions, and they include the likes of New York, Hollywood, the Ancient Egypt, the Lost World of the dinosaurs, and also the Disney character Shrek's "Far Far Away". There are more than hundred rides for the kids and the adults to enjoy and they include several water-themed roller coasters which will make you screech with glee. This park houses one of the world's tallest roller coasters and you can well imagine the hype surrounding it.

Singapore Flyer

This flyer is basically the world's largest observational wheel. A ride on this wheel offer you a one-of-a-kind experience as the architecture is 150 meters in diameter and as much as 165 meters high, making it even more higher than the famous London Eye. So you can well imagine the scope of the area that it covers and the range of the view you can enjoy. Once you ride it the flyer will start moving at a speed of 0.21 meters per second and you will get to see many famous Singapore landmarks like the Raffles Palace, the Marina Bay, Empress place, and also Padang.

Marina Bay

The famous river bank of Singapore is pitted with amenities offering fun and frolic for the tourists. The place is well-known for its nighttime activities and the hundreds of discos and pubs which is all set to give you a wild night of adventure. The restaurants and the pubs in the area are mind-blowing and you can also enjoy a superb view of the river. The famous Marina Bay Sands is hard to miss out on as the casinos and the nightclubs will all tempt you to have a fabulous night of enjoyment. Each night around 10 o'clock there are arrangements for many light shows which is a spectacle in its own right.

River Safari

Singapore Night Safari

Raffles Hotel

Sentosa

Clarke Quay

Universal Studios Singapore

Singapore Flyer

Marina Bay

River Safari

Singapore Night Safari

Raffles Hotel

Sentosa

Orchard Road

This iconic road of Singapore is an Eastern equivalent to London's Oxford Road. Lined with supermarkets and shopping centers this place will tempt you to go absolutely crazy with your buying ideas. There are both international as well as some domestic department stores on the both side of the road along with the small boutique shops and luxury spas for the tourists to enjoy. Along with these there are also some fabulous restaurants and pubs where you can spend an afternoon after shopping in the Orchard Road for the entire day. Read more Apart from the shopping centers you can also spot some kind of an activity or the other going on there with musicians and performance artists displaying their skills to an amused audience. Read less

Chinatown

Chinatown is yet another great shopping destination for the tourists in Singapore and it is indeed the street from where you can get the cheapest souvenirs in the entire city. The shoppers here are more open to bargain, making this place a liveware of hawker-customer interaction. Variety of items are available around the corner as this place is also known for its superb collection of restaurants and eateries. Starting from authentic Chinese dining venues to lively noodle stalls maintained by the hawkers, foods galore in this corner of the city. You must also visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre located at the Pagoda street in order to enlighten yourself about the history of Chinese immigrants in the city.

Little India

Just like the Chinatown Singapore also has a small section dedicated for the Indian immigrants who have settled in this place, for years. The tourists can avail the famous Little India Heritage Walk which will allow them to explore the rich Indian traditions which are still being practiced in this part of the town. It is like a home away from home for all the Indian travelers. The Tekka Market is a special place where you will find all sort of things from fancy Indian handicrafts to exotic garments as the entire area is lined with many Indian restaurants and eateries serving you hot and scrumptious food, just like how you have it back home.

Kampong Glam

It is the place where you can find Singapore's Mediterranean connection. The busy alleys of Kampong Glan will make you believe that you are inside an Arabian Night storybook. The magnificent Sultan Mosque brightens up the place as you will find many Turkish and Mediterranean food stalls lining both sides of the street. There is always magic in the air, as far as this place is concerned, as you will find various flea markets operating here during the weekends. Located at the north of the Singapore River, this place is really a art and cultural hub of this island nation. You can witness how the different communities of Singapore live harmoniously here in this locality.

Siloso Beach

Singapore is not just an urban hub full of dazzling skyscrapers and theme parks but it is also a magnificent island boasting its forest covers and beautiful beaches. Siloso beach is one such enchanting escapade where tourists can come and gather to have a decent time with their friends and family. The beach has a very hip vibe as you can find various party loving youngsters gathering here on a regular basis. The Palawan Beach, nearby, is also another spectacular location for the tourists to have wild nightlife out in the open. If you are looking for some quite time then you can visit the various quaint little restaurants bordering the beautiful beach.

In the Spotlight

The food obsessed island of Singapore is pitted with several fascinating eateries. Stretched from the north of the city to the southern banks, you will find hundreds of restaurants offering quality food. If you are yet to be bowl-over by fact that Singapore has one of the best Chinese restaurants in the entire orientals then you should also know that Singapore is famous for its Middle-Eastern and European restaurants which have won the hearts of many, through the last few decades. A multi-cultural environment ensures a vibrant restaurant scene and wherever you go you will not be disappointed.

Corner House : Located inside a beautiful tropical garden of Singapore is an enchanting colonial eatery which is run by a very passionate chef called the Jason Tan. Read More

He has a magical ways with the leafy greens and the other vegetables as he prepares the most fabulous fusion cuisine combining both British and Cantonese delicacies. Vegetables play a major role in his signature dishes as they are very vividly displayed with the scrumptious main courses like the New Zealand cod, the fabulous Maine lobsters, and the most famous Japanese Toriyama beef. It is high-end fine dinning venue where you can have a romantic evening in the middle of the garden. Read less

Open Farm Community : If you are seeking an affordable alternative to fill your tummy then the Open Farm Community is perhaps a perfect solution. Read More

Located in the Orchard Road this place really focuses on the quality of ingredients it puts in the cooking. From mint leaves to curry leaves, from parsley to dill, everything is plucked fresh from the nearby garden farm, adjoining the restaurant and apart from the seafood delicacies you can also enjoy various vegetarian alternatives. The place also serves several Southern Chinese items like clams and barramundi, but you can also find normal fish and chicken if you are not willing to explore too much. Read less

Hua Bee Restaurant: Now if you are looking for some authentic Singaporean dishes then Hua Bee Restaurant is the place for you. Known for its famous vinegar-laced bak chor mee, Read More

which is basically a noodle with minced meat, this 50 years old establishment evokes a lively charm which you are bound to enjoy. During each night the area back at the tiled room gets converted into a Bincho, serving the guests with yakitori and chicken fried on authentic binchotan coals. The Japanese-expat chef Asai Masashi has blended the traditional Singaporean cuisines with the Japanese delicacies and the place is also known for its several Japanese cocktails. Read less

Candlenut : The Singaporean cuisine scene is strongly influenced by the Peranakan heritage which is a Chinese ethnic group who came and settled in the country during the 19th Century. Read More

Candlenut as a restaurant celebrates that heritage and it offers its guests a perfect Peranakan flavors in all of their signature dishes. The authentic spicy, tangy, and savory flavors are evident in most of their offerings as you can choose from the buah keluakfry up, the famous starter comprising of berico de Bellota and many other original Peranakan recipes which will keep you hooked for hours. Read less

Tom Yum KungFu : This classic Thai restaurant keeps the fire alive in Singapore as you can find the authentic mookata joints, allowing you to savor delightful steamy barbecues. Read More

This eastern version of the barbecues used to be very popular once in Singapore but now as other cuisines have taken over the place the number of mookata joints have become less. However, this eatery will allow you to sit with your friends and family and enjoy this superb barbecue with fresh tiger prawns or pork, slow cooked and turning golden-brown just in front of you. They will also provide you with some hot red sauce to go with it. Read less

The currency of Singapore is Singapore Dollar (SGD) and it is a more expensive currency when compared to the Indian Rupee. That is why it is critical that you convert your money to SGD before traveling to Singapore. A limit of SGD 20,000 is imposed on by the immigration authorities of Singapore, during the time of entry. However, you can convert more money upon reaching the country. In case if you find it daunting to convert your INR to SDG, you can first convert your INRs to USDs first before traveling as in Singapore's FOREX offices you will get good exchange rates for the USDs.

Special Tips

Singapore is a half cashless economy as you can commute from one place to another by paying no cash. However, in order to get the transportation cards you need to pay a deposit, which needs to be in cash.
If the hotel bill and the transportation are already paid-off then you will require around SDG 200-300 per person per day on food and entertainment.
The amount can reach up to SDG 500-600 per person per day in case you are planning on shopping and also commuting in a cab.
All the theme parks, gardens, and other touristy experiences are charged in cash and so you need to plan your expenses accordingly.
Try and keep the daily food cost within SDG 100-150 per meal as the city offers a number of eateries to explore.

Entertainment & Event

The truly multi-cultural city of Singapore celebrates everything from Diwali to Christmas.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

Flora and Fauna

Singapore has a wide variety of flora scattered all around the city. Also a large number of flora are present in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve where a huge amount of vegetation are being harvested. The main plant which flourishes in abundance is the hardwood timber which covers the northern part of the country. However, on the southern coastlines of Singapore is covered in dense mangrove forestation. Apart from the big trees there are also smaller spice plants and orchids in different parts of the country.

As far as the fauna population is concerned Singapore is blessed with 80 different kinds of mammals including the Common Tree Shrew, the Malayan anteaters, the Malayan flying lemur, and also the long-tailed Macaques, which are very common in the jungle areas of the country. Apart from the mammals Singapore also has wide variety of reptiles including the geckos, snakes of different kinds, Black-bearded Flying Lizard can be sighted in the country. Singapore is also the home to 300 different species of birds.
Festivals

Festivals

Festivals

As a multi-cultural hub of the East, Singapore celebrates all sorts of festivals that falls in the Chinese and also the European calendars. Some of the Indian and Buddhist traditions are also celebrated widely in Singapore. The magic of Singapore is that it as place where both New Years Day and Chinese New Years Day is celebrated with same passion and importance. Then there is the Vesak Day, which is a Buddhist festival held in the month of May. You might be delighted to know that Singapore also celebrates Diwali quite enthusiastically and it will be a treat for every Indian if they visit Singapore during that time of the year.

Considering the strong presence of the Muslim community the country also celebrates Hari Raya Puasa, which is known world-wide as Eid Ul Fitr. Marking the end of the month-long Ramadan this festival is celebrated across the communities helping people bond together. This festival is normally celebrated during the month of September or October after which Singapore prepares itself for the massive Christmas celebration.
culture

culture

Culture

Singapore is a cultural melting-pot with Chinese, Indian, and Malay people living together in harmony. Also the influx of foreigners from Europe and the United States also has made the island city even more cosmopolitan. The magic of Singapore is that each of the ethnic groups maintain their own cultural identity and follow their customs whilst living side-by-side harmoniously. That is why Singapore has a very vibrant art and food scene which comprises of all the kinds of cultural influences. Apart from the obvious East Asian influences Singapore also has a very dominant Eurasian influence which makes it even more appealing.

It is for these reasons that Singapore is often associated with nicknames like "East meets West", "Easy Asia" and also the "Garden City". The vibrant cultures of Singapore makes the country multi-lingual and they are very open to the foreigners. In fact the cosmopolitan nature of the city makes it very difficult for someone to differentiate between a local and a foreigner. The people of Singapore are very focused on decorating and beautification of their home and surrounding and it is reflected in the overall ambiance of the city and especially the gardens.