Visiting Singapore: The Top Attractions You Must See

Even though Singapore is Southeast Asia’s smallest country, it is FULL of history, culture and fabulous sightseeing opportunities.  An island city-state, Singapore lies off of the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.  You can easily travel to and from Malaysia by car, bus or train as the 2 countries are now connected by a superhighway.   Getting to Singapore is easy!  The country’s signature carrier, Singapore Airlines, was named the World’s Best Airline in 2008.  Singapore Airlines has flights to Singapore from most major cities around the globe.  This country is a popular destination for Americans and other Westerners because there is so much to see in such a compact area, and as a bonus- English is one of three primary languages spoken.

Singapore is known for its cultural and religious diversity stemming from it’s unique history.  In 1819, Sir Thomas Raffles signed an agreement with a local Malay ruler that enabled the East India Company to establish a trading post at Singapore.  Before the British arrived, Singapore had been a prime trading base successively controlled by kingdoms such as Sumatra, Java, Siam and Malacca.  Even with this multicultural heritage, modern-day Singaporeans of different ethnicities live together harmoniously and celebrate a variety of colorful festivals throughout the year.  Be aware that many of these festivals follow the lunar calendar, so always check with the Singapore Tourism Board for the exact dates.

Festivals:

If visiting Singapore in January or February, the 2-week festival celebrating Chinese New Year can’t be missed.  Chinatown is decorated with bright lights; and red, the color of good luck, is everywhere.  During Chinese New Year, the Chingay Parade, (a Chinese version of Mardi Gras) travels down Orchard Road.  Later in June, both the Singapore Festival of the Arts and the famed Dragon Boat Festival and Race are must-sees.  Hindus celebrate Deepavali in October or November.  Little India is alive with decorations and lights as Hindus mark Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.  A triumph of good over evil.

Top Attractions:

Raffles Hotel: A beautiful and historic landmark consisting of an arrangement of white colonial-style buildings. The hotel’s Long Bar is where the famed “Singapore Sling” was first created in 1915.

Singapore River: Stretching only 4.1 kilometres (2.5miles) from its mouth at Anderson Bridge to Kim Seng Bridge at the other end, Singapore River flows under 12 bridges and sees numerous historical buildings on its banks.  Take a river cruise and and you’ll get great views of Boat Quay, the Parliament Building and other beautiful landmarks along the way.

Orchard Road: In the mid 1800’s, Orchard Road was a sleepy stretch of dirt road intersected by a railway.  It was lined with orchards and dotted with burial grounds.  Today, it is Singapore’s most famous shopping avenue.  It is now lined with numerous modern shopping malls.  Even if you are not a “shopper” you should make it a point to visit just to see some of the most modern and unique mall architecture in the world!

Chinatown:  The heart of Chinatown is a colorful clustor of narrow streets where there are wonderful examples of shophouse architeture, reminicent of the “old” Singapore.  It is now an official conservation area that has been carefully restored.  It is home to numerous bars, restaurants, and shops.  The food stalls are immaculately clean and serve delicious and inexpensive Chinese fare.

Singapore Zoological Gardens:  The zoo is set in 250 acres of lush, peaceful surroundings.  This world-famous, award winning attraction is worth spending an entire day.  Visitors can even have breakfast or tea with orangutans! There is a children’s section as well as a unique Night Safari.

There are so many more sights to see in Singapore!  Give yourself time and be mindful of the warm weather that is prevalent year round.  Shorts and short sleeved tops are ok except if you will be entering a religious temple or are walking around certain ethnic neighborhoods.  Use good judgment and common sense and you will be just fine.  A good travel guide with a map, comfortable walking shoes and clothing and a little planning will ensure you have a great visit.

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