A wealthy, highly-developed city with a rich and fascinating history, Singapore is the perfect jumping-off point for first-time visitors to Southeast Asia—for while it remains distinctively Asian, it has all the attributes of a first-world city including the region’s finest public transportation network, the world’s best airport, cosmopolitan nightlife, and English as an official language. Its varied history means its Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arabic and British influences remain strong in its architecture, culture and cuisine, and it is indeed one of the world’s great food destinations. The ‘Lion City’ also boasts a huge range of parks, museums and other visitor attractions making it a great destination for a family holiday. There's also a huge range of hotels, from small boutique shophouses to legendary properties such as Raffles and Marina Bay Sands, to suit all budgets and travel styles.
Visitors can get a feel for Singapore’s history by visiting Chinatown, Little India, and the Arab District, as well as some of its excellent museums including the Asian Civilizations Museum and National Gallery. Families will love Universal Studios and Sentosa Island. And there’s plenty here for nature lovers too including the fantastic Gardens by the Bay, the historic Botanical Gardens, and the untouched jungles of Pulau Ubin. Gourmets can sample Chinese, Indian, Malay and Arabic cuisine either at upscale restaurants or in the city’s great value hawker centers, and night owls will love the vibrant bars and clubs of Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay. For shoppers, there are numerous upscale malls, particularly in the Orchard Road area, as well as great street markets in Chinatown and Little India.
Singapore is a great destination in its own right, and its location and transport links make it a great base for exploring the rest of Southeast Asia, with flights to most Asian cities and buses/trains to nearby Malaysia and Thailand. An easy yet fascinating introduction to this amazing part of the world!