A Garden City of Supertrees and Skylines
Singapore is an island city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, known for its futuristic skyline, lush green spaces, multicultural neighbourhoods and some of the best food in Asia. It became an independent republic in 1965 and has since grown into one of the world's leading business and aviation hubs, yet remains remarkably green. Gardens by the Bay, with its towering Supertrees and glass conservatories, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, inscribed by UNESCO in 2015, show how nature and design sit side by side. Few cities are as easy to explore, with an efficient metro and walkable districts.
Marina Bay is the postcard view, a waterfront ringed by the Marina Bay Sands hotel, the Merlion statue and the ArtScience Museum, with a nightly light show over the water. Heritage is never far away: the Raffles Hotel, which opened in 1887, is a colonial landmark, and the districts of Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam each have their own temples, mosques and flavours. Travellers often pair the city with Thailand and Bangkok, or add the beaches of Phi Phi for a relaxed finish.
Hawker Centres, Chilli Crab and Sentosa
Food is Singapore's great unifier. Hawker culture, recognised by UNESCO on its intangible heritage list in 2020, means that Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow and satay can be enjoyed at open-air food centres for a few dollars, right beside Michelin-recognised restaurants. Chilli crab, the national favourite, is best eaten with fried buns to mop up the sauce, and kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs is the classic breakfast. Tea, coffee and tropical juices complete the table, and the Peranakan cuisine of the Katong area adds a distinctive, colourful cooking style.
Beyond the table, Singapore is a place for families and curious travellers. Sentosa island offers beaches, golf and attractions, the Singapore Zoo and its Night Safari draw wildlife lovers, and Pulau Ubin gives a glimpse of rural life by bicycle. Hotels range from heritage addresses to riverside boutiques, and a airline building a long-haul route finds in Singapore a natural star, as its Changi Airport is itself a destination with gardens and a butterfly habitat. Onward, Shanghai and Japan are an easy flight away.
Read the full Singapore guide on Visit Travel Group, or see YourSingapore.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.