Singapore City Breaks

A guide to Singapore

Singapore is an exhilarating melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western cultures, making for a fascinating short break in the Far East. Those for who the squalor of Delhi or the chaos of Hong Kong are too much to bear will love this city. Ultra-modern and futuristic, Singapore is a high-tech city with sci-fi trains, non-existent traffic and soaring skyscrapers. This modern façade masks the metropolis’ older, Eastern roots, which can be seen in the rambling stalls and street-carts of Little India and Chinatown, as well as in the myriad of Chinese shrines, Hindu temples and Islamic mosques found throughout the city.

Fantastic shopping opportunities

Singapore is a shopper’s paradise, with people from all over the globe coming to take advantage of the huge air-conditioned malls, fashionable boutique stores and traditional markets. The night market at Bugis Village has an authentic Singaporean charm, while Pagoda Street market and Trengganu Street are best for gifts and souvenirs, as well as bargain Chinese clothing. For shopping malls, Orchard Road is the central shopping district, lined with department stores and speciality stores. The nightlife in Singapore is robust; there are many trendy bars and clubs catering for party-goers, the liveliest of which are to be found on Mohammed Sultan Road, with nearby Robertson Quay boasting several classy waterfront venues as well. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are popular with both expats and tourists, and offer rambunctious, lively bars overlooking the river.

A Far-Eastern melting pot

The city boasts a huge range of budget accommodation throughout the city, including backpacker hostels and guesthouses, as well as inexpensive hotels found virtually everywhere, including Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, and even on the upmarket Orchard Road. There is a good range of things to do in Singapore; sightseeing options include visiting Sentosa Island (a purpose-built island theme park), Jurong Bird Park (the largest bird park in the Asian Pacific) and the Singapore Flyer (an enormous Ferris wheel). Singaporean cuisine is mouth-watering; visitors here can wander the colourful streets of Little India or Chinatown, and sample some of the delicious street-hawker food on offer.