Singapore

Overview
Cultural melting pot and dazzling example of the region's economic successes, wealthy Singapore assails the senses of the first time visitor.

The former British trading post and colony has carved a unique niche for itself in its two short centuries of existence, nowadays offering a vivid combination of ultra-modern skyscrapers, remnants of tropical rainforest and colourful ethnic urban areas, each with a character very much of their own.

One of the most noticeable features of this tiny but bustling city-state is its cleanliness - indeed, it is sometimes criticised for its many seemingly petty regulations, such as the banning of chewing gum - but crime is virtually unknown, and it is one of the world's safest places to visit.

Despite its rather sanitised reputation, though, Singapore is anything but dull. The visitor is spoilt for choice, for things to see and do, and in terms of vibrant nightlife, its rich cultural mix, and a whole planet's worth of culinary experiences. Singapore is a veritable feast for the senses, a heady mixture of the familiar and the exotic.

It suits all budgets, too, presenting a happy collision of opposites - grand and expensive at the famed Raffles Hotel, but low-key and cheap (but good) in the food markets of Bugis Junction and Clarke Quay.

Top Things To Do

• Go shopping in Singapore City's Orchard Road - the ‘Fifth Avenue' or ‘Oxford Street' of Singapore, and just as bustling, with its vast luxury malls, shops ranging from megastores to vendors of souvenir tat, as well as cafes and restaurants.
• Take a trip along Singapore River aboard a bumboat. These were once used to ferry goods to and from larger ships moored in the harbour, and nowadays offer an excellent way to see the contrasting historical and modern architectural styles of the city.
• Prop up the bar at the Raffles Hotel, one of the most famous hotels in the world. A ‘Singapore Sling' (a head-spinningly good cocktail) in the Long Bar is almost de rigueur; to sober up, drop into the Writers' Bar.
• Take the short trip across to Sentosa Island, with its many and varied attractions ranging from theme parks to an aquarium, a cable car ride, the Sky Tower, nature trails and plenty of bars and restaurants.
• Explore the National Orchid Garden in Singapore's Botanic Gardens, which has the largest collection of orchids in the world. The Botanic Gardens have over 52 hectares (128 acres) of landscaped parkland and primary jungle.
• Enter the fascinating world of nocturnal wildlife at Night Safari, a little over an hour by bus from Singapore city. Regular animal performances complement the park's extensive zoo collections.
• Take to the water and canoe around the island - there are a number of operators hiring out canoes at Changi point, East Coast and Sentosa Island.
• Hang out with the trendy locals in Chinatown's Club Street, a smart playground for advertising and banking types, with numerous bars and restaurants housed in narrow and historic streets.
• Remember the dark days of Japanese wartime occupation at the Changi Museum and Chapel, a symbolic replica of similar chapels built by prisoners during WWII.

Top Things To See

• Enjoy panoramic views over Singapore island and beyond from the 165m (540ft) tall Singapore Flyer, the world's highest Ferris wheel attraction, opened in March 2008 at Marina Bay.
• Experience a world of religions at Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and Anglican and Catholic cathedrals, which are all likely to be encountered during a comparatively brief walk around central Singapore; such is its splendid diversity.
• Relive the island's past at the refurbished National Museum of Singapore, which offers much more than just static collections telling the island state's colourful history, it is also a focal point for numerous festivals and events.
• Come face to face with birdlife at the Jurong Bird Park on Jurong Hill, home to South-East Asia's largest collection of birds. There is also the world's largest walk-in aviary, a nocturnal house and several spectacular bird shows.
• View what was once an ancient fort of the Malay kings, covering 2.8 hectares (7 acres): Fort Canning Park, on Fort Canning Rise. The colonial ruins of the British citadel can still be viewed, as can a 19th-century Christian cemetery.
• Relive colonial days near the Singapore River, and wander towards the imposing Parliament House, the oldest government building in the country, the core of which dates back to the 1820s.
• Give yourself a chance to meet the President. Open to the public just five times yearly, the Istana (‘palace' in Malay) is the impressive official residence of the Singaporean ruler.
• Tickle your tastebuds at Lau Pa Sat, the largest surviving Victorian filigree cast-iron structure in South-East Asia. The former wet market has been restored and is now a favourite food centre of the locals.
• See the biggest guns ever built outside the UK, installed by the British in 1939 for the defense of Singapore. The Johore Battery is a gun emplacement site consisting of a labyrinth of tunnels. The tunnels were used to store ammunition to support three monster guns.

Climate
Warm and fairly humid summer temperatures throughout the year (approximately 30ºC/86ºF during the day and 23ºC/74ºF in the evening). There is no distinct wet/dry season. Most rain falls during the northeast monsoon (November to January) and showers are usually sudden and heavy.

Required Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens.