Visiting Singapore: What are the best things to do and see in the city-state island, nicknamed the “Garden City”?

Singapore is an independent city-state consisting of 63 lush but densely populated islands south of the Johor Straits at the end of the Malay Peninsula. Its warm and humid equatorial climate all year round does not scare the 16 million tourists who visit Singapore each year. Singapore – one of four Asian dragons (along with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea) – is a tax haven often praised for its economic success. Also, the state is among the most developed in the world. It is also a mosaic of cultures from all over the world: 5.535 million people made up of Chinese (75% of the population), Malays, Indians, and various other nationalities.

But what to do in Singapore? Traveling or stopping expatriation or work-holiday visa, here are our top 10 must-sees to visit Singapore.

1. Boat cruise

Here’s what some would call a tourist trap, but we assume: boat cruises to admire the skyline from the Singapore River – Singapore River – might well surprise many. From the water, we go by boat to contemplate various atmospheres: a forest of skyscrapers tickling the clouds, the Marina Bay Sands, a symbol of unbridled capitalism, adjacent to the Boat Quay district, the old fishing port and its Shop Colorful houses.

2. Gardens By The Bay

The park is subdivided into three gardens, Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. Here, we know why the city-state is called “City Garden”. It attracted 6.4 million visitors in 2014, so much so that it is very busy all year round. The goal is to make the city a lush garden, featuring tropical horticulture. In the Cloud Forest, enjoy an imposing artificial waterfall. In addition, the Flower Dome showcases thousands of flower species.

3. Merlion Park and its statue

Created in 1964, the statue marks the entrance to the city at the mouth of the Singapore River. It is a sculpture with a lion’s head and a fish body, spitting out water. Today, it is a commercial emblem and symbol of the city present on all the photos and postcards. Photograph it, by the way, it’s the Singapore Eiffel Tower.

4. Marina Bay Sands

What to do in Singapore of unusual? At the top of Marina Bay Sands lies the Infinity Pool, literally “infinity pool”, you will have a breathtaking view of the skyline of Singapore. Be careful, however, you must be a guest of the luxury hotel to go swimming up there. The Marina Bay Sands is the weird building of three buildings with a curious plateau that you can not miss unless you suffer from blindness: this is a huge hotel complex of 2,560 rooms, a casino, a museum and the famous infinity pool (146 meters) on its roof.

5. The Singapore Flyer

Do you think fairgrounds in small towns in France are ridiculous or boring? Ride on the Singapore Ferris wheel, preferably at sunset to be carried to 165 meters high and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and perhaps even the islands of Malaysia. It’s the biggest attraction in Asia so expect to see a lot of people there!

6. Visit Chinatown

And yes, even if Singapore is Sinophone or three-quarter populated with Chinese, there is as in all capitals of the world, a Chinatown. How to feel like in the Night Market of Taipei (Taiwan) or China under an equatorial climate? Chinatown in Singapore is like visiting Ali Baba’s cave: it’s one of the best places to visit Singapore. These are silk shops, colorful materials, technology stalls, oriental food restaurants – the famous food courts and a Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman. Near the center and the quays, many Buddhist and Taoist temples adjoin the bars, restaurants, and hotels of the area.

7. Visit Padang

The district of Padang is the one that has most preserved the colonial architecture of yesteryear: as if the British had not left. There are many colonial buildings typical of the time of the British Empire: the Victoria Theater, City Hall, the former seat of Parliament, the Supreme Court, St. Andrews Cathedral and the Empress Place Building – made -y in passing the museum of Asian Civilization. What to do in Singapore? Next to the Padang, a plethoric number of museums, bars, and hotels to stay.

8. The Botanical Garden

The Singapore Botanical Garden is a lush paradise of 63.7 hectares, open daily from 5 am to midnight. This cultural site to visit Singapore includes six gardens: the National Orchid Garden, a jungle, the Garden of Evolution, the Ginger Garden, the Tanglin Gate, and a Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. The gardens are home to a wide variety of landscape features, plantations, and historic buildings. Established in 1859, it is an important center for research and conservation of plants in Southeast Asia.

9. Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is one of the last non-urbanized areas of Singapore. The island is home to thousands of tourists, attracted by the natural site of Chek Jawa, a few minutes boat ride from the main island of Singapore. Here, there is no concrete, no buildings, and dense jungle, with a small village in the mangrove: it is, indeed, to visit Singapore under a wild and preserved angle! The island can be visited very well by bike and offers beautiful walks in the middle of lush vegetation.

10. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is often overshadowed by travel blogs. Yet, it is a must-see for things to do in Singapore, as it is vast, natural and beautiful. It extends over 164 hectares on the slopes of the eponymous hill and is covered with equatorial forest, offering beautiful walks in nature just 12 kilometers from the business district of Singapore.

Tips for accommodation in Singapore

If you come to visit Singapore for 4 or 5 days, the location of your hotel is not essential. The choice of where to stay in Singapore will depend more on your budget or your preferences (neighborhoods that move, quiet neighborhood, central district). The city is quite large, if you are in Singapore only one or two days, it is better to stay in a central area. Note that Singapore is well served by the subway, which will allow you to move easily. You can find a cheap hotel in Singapore by searching for this hotel comparison.

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