Singapore Travel Guide
Overview
This small country has so much packed into it, it’s easy to think it’s larger than it’s area of 704 km². One minute you could be in a suit and tie at a meeting in the central business district and only 15 minutes later be with drink in hand on the beach, or even just 5 minutes later be dining along the beautiful Singapore river.
Food and Drink
You could never go hungry in Singapore, even if you only have $3 in your pocket, or are up at 4:00am you will always be able to find something to eat. Singapore is known as much for it’s inexpensive hawker fare as it is for it’s fine dining, there is something for everyone.
To taste the local cuisine, try one of the many outdoor food centers like Lau Pa Sat and Newton Circus. Even the food courts in malls are worth a visit and the Food Republics usually offer the best experience. Many of the tourist destinations have their own themed food centers including the Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa and The Singapore Food Trail under the Singapore Flyer. To try a little bit of everything in a nice restaurant, many hotels have great Singaporean food buffets including The Good Ol’ Days of Singapore at Rasa Sentosa, the Ellenborough Market Cafe at Swissotel Merchant Court and Straights Kitchen at Grand Hyatt Singapore. Then there is one of the most popular restaurants for Singapore’s famous chilli crab, Jumbo.
Fine dining options are abundant in Singapore, with many celebrity chefs having an outlet here. Some of the highest end restaurants can be found at Marina Bay Sands and Dempsey Hill, while nice but not fine dining options can be found in areas like Chijmes.
- PasarBella - Shop, Dine, Unwind Finally a permanent European style farmers market opens in Singapore and PasarBella incorporates Singapore's love of eating out with lots of great dining options. Not only can you stop by to pick up hard to find food items like organic groceries, impo...
- Si Chuan Dou Hua - Spice and Everything Nice Sichuan cuisine to many translates to tongue-numbingly spicy dishes, or rather this is what we are told by another guest of The Petites Selection tasting session who exclaims "Sichuan cuisine is very spicy." My husband Tom and I arrive at Si Chuan Dou...
- Mariko's Restaurant and Bar- Ramen, Sake and a Bit of Sass With two red lights glowing outside a renovated shop house in the former red light district turned hot spot of Jiak Chuan Road Singapore, Mariko's seems to be a fitting concept for a Japanese restaurant in the area. Looking like a dark and seductive J...
- Flavours of Kolkata - Authentic Flavours in Singapore Ah, the flavours of Kolkata. The capital of West Bengal that conjures up images of seafood, fish curries and sweets - the food the area is known for. Indian food lovers get ready for a flavour explosion as Swissôtel Merchant Court borrows chefs from t...
- Seafood Fiesta at Plaza Brasserie - Seafood Indulgence Seafood lovers get ready for a feast of unbelievable variety and proportions. Imagine crab, baked whole salmon, scallops, mussels, clams, prawns, sea bass, and stingray cooked in a variety of sauces and styles all ready for your indulgence in unlimite...
- Drop the T - High-Tea With a Twist at W Singapore High-tea usually conjures up thoughts of classical music, ornate furniture, scones and english accents. That has all changed now that W Singapore-Sentosa Cove has launched Drop the T², a high-tea with attitude. You'll still find scones at this high-te...
- Sunday Garden Party by the Sea at Shangri-La Sentosa There is something about Sentosa that even though it's only minutes from Singapore's CBD, as soon as you step onto the island, it feels like you are far away in another country. The view of the beach, the sea breeze, tourists and locals enjoying the a...
- POLLEN - Fine Dining in the Flower Dome Opening to much fanfare in June of 2012, POLLEN helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton has been the talk of the town for some time. During a visit to Gardens by the Bay, it was time for my husband Tom and I joined by our friends Pam and John t...
Nightlife
Nightlife in Singapore can compete with the big players like Hong Kong, London and New York, just make sure your wallet is full because taxes on alcohol are high in this country. The main nightlife district is Clarke Quay, while hot nightlife can also be found at Avalon and Pangaea at Marina Bay Sands. For casual drinks at a pub, Boat Quay and Chijmes are the places to go.
- 1-Altitude 1-Altitude is the world tallest al fresco rooftop bar and boasts the Best View of Singapore. From this bar you actually look down on Marina Bay Sands and Swissotel The Stamford offering a 360 degree view of the city. Not only is the view amazing, the ...
- Ku De Ta Club Lounge- Singapore Every time someone visits us in Singapore and we ask them where they want to go, the answer is always, "I want to go to the top of the building with the ship looking thing and look at the infinity pool!" Yes the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands has m...
- Avalon - Singapore The crystal pavilion really is the perfect name for the building that houses the Avalon nightclub. Here you can dance to the hottest DJ's while enjoying amazing views through the glass walls of the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bays Sands and the ...
Beach Clubs
Singapore might not be known for it’s beaches, but an island getaway is only 15 minutes away from the city center.
- Mambo Beach Club - Meet the New Kid on the Block A new player in Singapore's beach club scene has opened up and you are going to want to check this one out. Taking over the space that Cafe del Mar used to occupy, Mambo is a completely revamped, tropical retreat reminiscent of Bali. Teak loungers and...
- Tanjong Beach Club - Good Food, Good Vibes, Good Looking People Tanjong Beach Club is definitely the hottest beach club on Sentosa, and the only place you want to be on a Sunday afternoon. With a DJ spinning a hot mix of music, the beach is packed with beach lovers soaking up the sun. Whether you are by the bar, i...
- Wave House Sentosa Singapore might not have any natural waves, but don't let that stop you from surfing in the island country. The Wave House, located right on Siloso beach on Sentosa offers two wave simulation machines, the Double FlowRider and the FlowBarrel. The Double...
- Sentosa Beach Clubs Azzura Azzura is perfect for lounging by the beach while listening to an international DJ or try out one of the hydro sports on offer. They have a pool, hot tub, lots of loungers and large seating groups making it great for big groups. Check out thei...
Hotels
Since Singapore is so small, you can stay almost anywhere and still be close to all of the action, just beware, hotel prices are high in this country.
- Hotel Fort Canning - Historic Getaway in Singapore City The Hotel For a city getaway set in the middle of nature, we headed to the historic Hotel Fort Canning. This hotel is full of history, once used as a base for the British Far East Command during World War II and most recently converted from a country...
- Pan Pacific Singapore - New Look Revealed After five months and S$80 million spent on renovations, Pan Pacific Singapore has unveiled an impressive new look that includes exciting dining options, refreshed rooms and an exclusive Pacific Club that you will definitely want access to. With the use of iPads, check-in is now easier than ever and you can opt to grab a drink in The Atrium while being checked-in in style.
- W Singapore-Sentosa Cove - Luxury Design Hotel The Hotel The first W Hotel was conceived in New York City with a real New York rawness of sleek interiors and funky furniture. Over 50 hotels later and W Hotel has opened its third hotel in Southeast Asia on the shores of Singapore's Sentosa Cove. W S...
- Luxe in the Bay at Fullerton Bay Hotel Set in a contemporary building jutting into the Singapore Bay, The Fullerton Bay Hotel exudes sophistication. Contemporary takes on classic furniture line the passageway leading to the front desk and provides space to lounge at The Landing Point. Spar...
- Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa Location Discover an island getaway that is Singapore's only beachfront hotel, Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa. Uniquely located right on Siloso beach, guests can enjoy their getaway in a tranquil oasis of coconut trees and peacocks roaming th...
- Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Sands SkyPark The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is an exciting addition to the Singapore hotel scene. It is one of the most complex hotels ever built, consisting of three sloping towers which are connected at the top by the Sands SkyPark. The hotel is the biggest in Singa...
- The Fullerton Hotel The Fullerton Hotel is in the middle of the city in Singapore, allowing guests to enjoy all the entertainment, art, and business opportunities it has to offer. The hotel is a true heritage icon, as it once housed the General Post Office, The Singapore...
- Swissotel Merchant Court Location Located in the center of the action along the Singapore River, Swissotel Merchant Court is a perfect home base for sightseeing and business. A multitude of restaurants and shops surround the hotel, while exciting dining and nightlife options c...
Activities
For such a small country, there are endless activities in Singapore. Our suggested tourist activities include a boat ride along the Singapore river and drinks at the top of Marina Bay Sands at Ku De Ta.
- PasarBella - Shop, Dine, Unwind Finally a permanent European style farmers market opens in Singapore and PasarBella incorporates Singapore's love of eating out with lots of great dining options. Not only can you stop by to pick up hard to find food items like organic groceries, impo...
- Malay Heritage Centre Located in Kampong Glam, the newly reopened Malay Heritage Centre offers an opportunity to learn about the history of the area as well as Singapore. The exhibit is made up of a variety of videos displays, photos depicting old ways of life, and samples...
- The Flying Trapeze Siloso Beach on Singapore's Sentosa island hosts tonnes of outdoor activities, including this must try Flying Trapeze. Get a taste of what it's like to be a circus performer, as you are strapped into a harness and climb to a platform to try the daring tra...
- Art Science Museum at Marina Bay Sands The Art Science Museum at Marina Bay sands is a very unique museum, it is modern and surrounded by an extensive lily pond and resting on the edge of the bay. Resembling a lotus flower, the museum has been called "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore". The ...
- Singapore Slings in the Historic Raffles Hotel The iconic Singapore Sling, made famous by countless travel shows and travel magazines, but what's all of the hype about? The Singapore Sling was first created by a bartender at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel in the 1900's, at a British Colonial’s requ...
- Singapore Tour by Boat There is nothing more beautiful than sitting back in a boat as it cruises around the river passing by some Singapore's most popular attractions. Take in Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, The Esplanade (Durian Building), Fullerton Hotel, Marina Bay Sands, and th...
- Ski360 Singapore For a fun day in the sun, head over to Ski360 located along east coast beach. You can either try your hand at cable wakeboarding and cable skiing or just sit back and enjoy the action as regulars flip in the air and beginners splash on their face. Eit...
- Sentosa Beach Clubs Azzura Azzura is perfect for lounging by the beach while listening to an international DJ or try out one of the hydro sports on offer. They have a pool, hot tub, lots of loungers and large seating groups making it great for big groups. Check out thei...
Travel Tips
Location
The lion city is the gateway to Asia with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand only a short flight away.
