Singapore, Singapore — Where to Go
Singapore Sightseeing Overview
Despite a lack of natural resources, Singapore has capitalized on the energy, enterprise and skills of its inhabitants to create something approaching a tourist mecca. Although most tourists only stop over for a couple of days in transit, many are beginning to stay longer and Singapore is determined to keep them, with a range of new attractions under construction, particularly around Marina Bay. The Singapore Flyer, the world's tallest Ferris wheel, opened here in 2008, and the giant Marina Bay Sands casino, hotel and entertainment resort is due to open in late 2009. Other new attractions include new Botanic Gardens south of Marina Bay and the Marina Barrage with its futuristic curving pedestrian bridge across the bay.
Singapore is a city where the first impression is that of man's achievements; the efficient and aesthetically pleasing Changi Airport is repeatedly voted the world's best. But here, world firsts are becoming commonplace, for example Suntec City boasts the biggest man-made fountain, the Night Safari is the first night zoo, and the world's highest man-made waterfall, at 30m (98ft), is at Jurong Bird Park.
Heat and humidity notwithstanding, the most efficient way to get to know local culture is on foot, particularly around Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam in the heart of the city. These areas especially illustrate how Singapore's successful economy is based upon ancient traditions, and multicultural influences. It is usually this combination that entices people, but for a healthy dose of pure consumerism and entirely modern architecture, Orchard Road is where the best shopping is at.
Singapore is not all urban landscape as first appears, and in keeping with its 'Garden City' label, there are many areas of natural beauty, albeit with a little help from humans. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore Zoological Gardens, the Night Safari and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are all hugely popular.
For history lovers and culture vultures, there is also an impressive selection of museums, exhibitions and architectural heritage, like the superb National Museum of Singapore, the Asian Civilizations Museum, Peranakan Museum and the Singapore Art Museum. New attractions include the MINT Museum of Toys and Aramsa Garden Spa for resting weary feet.
Singapore Tourist Information
Singapore Tourism Board(STB)
Orchard Road, at junction with Cairnhill Road
Tel: 1 800 736 2000.
Website: www.visitsingapore.com or www.stb.com.sg
Opening hours: 0930-2230 daily.
STB visitor centers can also be found at the following addresses: Changi, Arrivals Hall Terminals 1, 2 & 3, 0600-0200 daily, and Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, 0830-1830 Mon-Fri.
Singapore Sightseeing
The main pass in Singapore is the Electronic Smart Card known as ez-link card (www.ezlink.com.sg), which may be used on any MRT, LRT or bus journey, and can be purchased and topped up from general ticketing machines at all MRT, LRT and bus stations, as well as online.
Singapore Sightseeing
The main pass in Singapore is the Electronic Smart Card known as ez-link card (www.ezlink.com.sg), which may be used on any MRT, LRT or bus journey, and can be purchased and topped up from general ticketing machines at all MRT, LRT and bus stations, as well as online.
Key Attractions in Singapore, Singapore
Raffles Hotel
Built in 1887 and declared a National Monument a century later, Singapore's most famous landmark is one of the world's greatest Victorian hotels. A favorite retreat for Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, Noel Coward and Charlie Chaplin, it oozes colonial grace, enhanced by its extensive facelift in 1991, which cost S$160 million. Afternoon tea or a Tiffin Curry Buffet in the Tiffin Room, a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar and a drink under the cool high ceilings of the Bar & Billiard Room are all part of the Singapore experience. In addition, the stylish arcade contains shops, restaurants, a Victorian-style playhouse and a museum housing fascinating Raffles memorabilia.
1 Beach Road
Tel: 6337 1886.
Website: www.raffleshotel.com
Free admission.
Chinatown
Chinatown's history dates back to 1821 when the first Chinese junk carrying immigrants arrived from Fujian province. Much of it has been rebuilt and the colorful old shop-houses restored. It remains one of the most interesting areas to explore, with a lively street scene rich with traditional architecture and customs. The Chinatown Heritage Center, 48 Pagoda Street (tel: 6325 2878, www.chinatownheritage.com.sg) showcases this fascinating historical story in full. Chinatown's four main districts all have their own distinctive flavor: Kreta Ayer (eating and shopping), Telok Ayer (temples and Speakers' Corner), Tanjong Pagar (nightlife and the scaled-down model of the city at URA Gallery) and Bukit Pasoh (Chinese cultural and clan associations). The lively paved Smith Street is known as Food Street, open 1700-2300 weekdays and 1700-0100 Friday, Saturday and the eve of public holidays, and is close to fantastic clothes and souvenir shops.
Little India
The streets of Little India, inhabited by the original Indian immigrants brought over by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, has been a thriving commercial area for over a century. Today's attractions are mainly shopping, eating and temples, especially along the main hub of Serangoon Road, with spicy aromas emerging from shop-houses and wonderful Indian food to be devoured in the many informal restaurants. The Little India Arcade and Zhujiao Center (also known as Tekka Center) are newly converted shop-houses selling handicrafts, saris and spices, with more commercial wares at the 24-hour-open Mustafa Center. During Hindu festivals, the area comes to life especially around the thriving temples.
Night Safari
The award-winning Night Safari is billed as the world's first night wildlife park. As 90% of animals are nocturnal, this safari shows animals at their most active by using clever lighting techniques. Spread over 40 hectares (100 acres) of lush forest, more than 1,000 animals, covering 100 exotic species, live in eight zones recreating geographic regions, including the African savannah and South American pampas. There are three walking trails, plus a 45-minute tram ride, cocktail safari express and limo buggy trail. The 'Creatures of the Night' show sees employees grappling with some of the less dangerous species.
180 Mandai Lake Road
Tel: 6269 3411 (24-hour information).
Website: www.nightsafari.com.sg
Opening hours: Daily 19.30-2400 (last admission 2300).
Admission charge.
Jurong Bird Park
The largest bird park in the Asia Pacific, covering over 20 hectares (50 acres), this is home to more than 9,000 birds from 600 different species worldwide. Highlights include African Waterfall Aviary, at 30m (98ft) the world's highest man-made waterfall; the Penguin Exhibition, with a panoramic viewing gallery to watch the 200 penguins feeding; the Southeast Asian Birds Aviary, where a thunderstorm is simulated every day at noon; the African Wetlands Exhibit; and Jungle Jewels, featuring dazzling hummingbirds. At the Lodge on Flamingo Lake, visitors can dine in a three-story glass restaurant surrounded by 1,001 flamingos. An air-conditioned monorail covers the entire park.
2 Jurong Hill
Tel: 6265 0022.
Website: www.birdpark.com.sg
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1800.
Admission charge.
Singapore River
Once the lifeline of Singapore, and first port of call for its first immigrants, the river takes in many sights. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay have buzzing nightlife with lively waterfront bars and restaurants, while Robertson Quay is more refined and tranquil. Parliament House, originally a colonial mansion built in 1827 and now The Arts House, has been a venue for contemporary arts since 2004. Places of worship include Tan Si Chong Su Temple, an ancestral Hokkien temple built in 1876, and Omar Kampong Melaka Mosque. There are several riverboat services for leisurely cruises (see Tours of the City). Clarke Quay is also home to the stomach-churning G-Max Reverse Bungy. Singapore River is being further developed into a 24-hour waterfront precinct.
Singapore Art Museum
Transformed from a 19th-century boys' school built by Irish Catholic monks, this is one of Singapore's most striking structures. Now home to the Singapore Art Museum, its exhibits are predominantly 20th-century Southeast-Asian art, with paintings, sculptures and installations. Although specializing in regional art, the museum has recently broadened its field. Free guided tours in English are available.
71 Bras Basah Road
Tel: 6332 3222.
Website: www.nhb.gov.sg/sam
Opening hours: Sat-Thu 1000-1900; Fri 1000-2100.
Admission charge; free on Fri 1800-2100, weekends 1200-1400 and major public holidays.
National Museum of Singapore
Housed in a whitewashed Palladian mansion with a stunning contemporary glass adjunct at the back, this is simply one of the best history museums in Asia. The museum houses a superb, interactive Singapore-history exhibition that visitors can self-guide their way through using a hand-held PDA device, plus four permanent Living Galleries, detailing the histories of Food, Fashion, Film and Photography in Singapore, plus two cutting-edge temporary art galleries. The magnificent building itself is worth a visit, and there are also excellent fine-dining restaurants, cafes and an excellent museum shop.
93 Stamford Road
Tel: 6332 5642.
Website: www.nationalmuseum.sg
Daily 1000-1800, 1000-2000 (Living Galleries).
Admission charge (free admission to the Living Galleries 1800-2000 daily).
Singapore Cable Car
Spanning over 1,750m (5,740ft) and rising up to 93m (305ft) above sea level, this is Southeast Asia's first ever cable car. It stops at three stations (visitors can board at all three), each with beautiful, and very different, views: Mount Faber is the second highest hill in Singapore and an equatorial rainforest; Cable Car Towers is the rooftop of a skyscraper, near the HarbourFront Center and above the busy harbor; the third station is on the island of Sentosa. Some cars are glass-bottomed, making the journey even more spectacular. The Jewel Box atop Mount Faber is home to a suite of excellent restaurants overlooking the city.
109 Mount Faber Road, Cable Car Towers, 3 Maritime Square, or Sentosa Island
Tel: 6270 8855.
Website: www.mountfaber.com.sg
Operating hours: Daily 0830-2300.
Admission charge.
Asian Civilizations Museum
This intriguing museum housed in the restored Empress Place Building focuses on a broad and in-depth perspective of pan-Asian culture and civilizations. It houses 11 galleries containing over 1,300 artifacts from civilizations of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Islamic societies of West Asia. Free guided tours in English are available. The location of the museum was once a government office and overlooks the mouth of the Singapore River.
1 Empress Place
Tel: 6332 2982.
Website: www.acm.org.sg
Opening hours: Mon 1300-1900, Tues-Sun 0900-1900 (until 2100 Fri).
Admission charge.
Peranakan Museum
Formerly an adjunct to the Asian Civilizations Museum, the Peranakan Museum reopened in 2008 in the magnificent former Tao Nan school building. The museum tells the fascinating stories of the mixed-culture Peranakan peoples of the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang and their links with other communities in Southeast Asia. The beautifully restored three-floored building houses stunning historical artifacts, ranging from wedding outfits to jade ornaments and exquisite hand-painted porcelain to religious icons.
39 Armenian Street
Tel: 6332 7591.
Website: www.peranakanmuseum.sg
Opening hours: Mon 1300-1900, Tues-Sun 0930-1900 (until 2100 Fri).
Admission charge.
Changi Chapel & Museum
A harrowing monument dedicated to the 50,000 soldiers and civilians who were killed during Japanese occupation (1942-45), Changi Chapel, a replica of many built at this time, is housed within the courtyard of the new museum. The museum contains letters, drawings and personal effects of the prisoners of war, with a replica of the Changi Murals and several video screenings. Services are held every Sunday from 0945 to 1100 in the chapel (visitors welcome).
1000 Upper Changi Road North
Tel: 6214 2451.
Website: www.changimuseum.com
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700.
Free admission.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
As a perfect respite from the city's urban landscape, the gardens epitomise the island's luxuriant parks with a combination of primary jungle and elegantly laid-out flowerbeds and shrubs, serving to educate and conserve. With over 3,000 species spread over 52 hectares (128 acres), the National Orchid Garden has the world's largest orchid display, with over 60,000 plants in total. The gardens are also a venue for outdoor concerts.
1 Cluny Road
Tel: 6471 7361.
Website: www.sbg.org.sg
Opening hours: Daily 0500-2400; daily 0830-1900 (National Orchid Garden).
Free admission; charge for the National Orchid Garden.
Sentosa Island
Billed as a 'tropical isle of peace and tranquility', Sentosa Island is a purpose-built island theme park, with attractions including Underwater World, a huge tropical oceanarium with 2,500 marine creatures in an 83m (272ft) submerged tunnel; Dolphin Lagoon, a water show with a pink dolphin; and the 37m (121ft) Merlion. Museums include Images of Singapore, with waxwork figures depicting Singapore's history, and Fort Siloso, recreating bunkers and underground passages used for defense during the war. The viewing platform at the top of Tiger Sky Tower offers a great panoramic view of Singapore, gently revolving at 131m (430ft) above sea level. Meanwhile, Sentosa 4D Magix is Singapore's first and Southeast Asia's largest cinema of its kind, and boasts state-of-the-art projection technology and sound system. The Sijori WonderGolf is an 18-hole miniature golf course, certified by the Minigolf Sport Federation. Beaches, golf courses, hotels, entertainment and restaurants are dotted throughout Sentosa, and a giant new casino and integrated resort is also under construction. A lightrail and bus tour the island and visitors can jump off at any station.
Tel: 1 800 736 8672.
Website: www.sentosa.com.sg
Opening hours: Attractions vary; usually daily 0900-1900 (or as late as 2200).
Admission charge.
Singapore Flyer
This enormous Ferris wheel, towering above Singapore, offers panoramic views across the Marina Bay, downtown skyscrapers and the city beyond. Standing at 165m (541ft), the graceful curve described against the Singapore skyline, artfully lit at night, is an attraction in itself. A ride in one of the wheel's 28 pods will take just over 30 minutes, and there are in-capsule guided tours of the sights below and beyond.
30 Raffles Avenue
Tel: 6333 3311.
Website: www.singaporeflyer.com.sg
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1030.
Admission charge.
Former Supreme Court and City Hall
These two supremely photogenic buildings sit in the heart of Singapore's Civic District, opposite the old ‘Padang' sports field. Dating from 1939, the Supreme Court is one of the finest buildings from British Rule in Singapore, with a striking green dome modeled on St Paul's Cathedral in London and impressive Italian murals. The adjacent City Hall, built in 1929 and lied with 18 Corinthian columns, was the site of the Japanese surrender to Lord Mountbatten in 1945 and also where Singapore's Independence from Malaysia was declared. The interiors are currently being refurbished as the buildings will jointly reopen in 2013 as the National Art Gallery.
1 Supreme Court Lane
Further Distractions
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
This 164-hectare (405-acre) reserve, 12km (7.5 miles) from the city center, is one of the first forest reserves established in Singapore and one of the city's few natural attractions. With more species of trees than North America, it is great for hiking or cycling along its well-marked paths, alongside a wonderful variety of plants, animals and insects, including flying lemurs and anteaters. Within the reserve is Bukit Timah Hill, at 164m (538ft) Singapore's highest point.
177 Hindhede Drive
Tel: 6468 5736.
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1900 (Visitor center 0830-1800).
Free admission.
