Roaming the Lion City: a luxury guide to Singapore

Marina Bay Sands

Three, 55-storey towers connected by Sands SkyPark perched at its tip make Marina Bay Sands a distinctive landmark on Singapore’s cityscape.

Merlion Park

This unmissable iconic statue at the water’s edge at Merlion Park, at One Fullerton, represents the city’s national icon – a mythical creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion, symbolising the city’s origins as a fishing village. The head is symbolic of the city’s original name Singapura, meaning ‘lion city’ in Sanskrit.

Old Parliament House

These days, the Old Parliament House is known as The Arts House. It is thought to be the oldest surviving colonial structure in Singapore, designed and built as a neo-Palladian residence in 1828 by architect G.D. Coleman.

Orchard Road

Stroll or shop at the legendary 2.5km, tree-lined boulevard of Orchard Road in central Singapore, the retail heart of the city with thousands of internationally-recognised brands and boutiques.

Getting around

Seamless and efficient transport makes exploring the city easy. Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system is one of the fastest ways to get around. Most of Singapore’s popular attractions are just a short walk from an MRT station.

Singapore’s bus system encompasses an extensive network of routes covering most places in Singapore. You can purchase 1, 2 or 3-day stored-value cards, cards that can be topped up, or cards that include travel on both the MRT and buses.

Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced or try Grab (the equivalent of Uber) by downloading the app.

Must do

Get a different perspective

Take the time to explore Singapore’s most vibrant areas by riding around on a pushbike or experiencing a Singapore Sidecar tour, going off the beaten track down Singapore’s more secretive locations in a vintage Vespa sidecar. Journey on the cable car over to Sentosa Island to enjoy this Singaporean, beach playground.

Sample street food

Singaporeans love their food and with good reason. Visit any of the five iconic hawker centres to immerse yourself in the local culinary custom of savouring a melting pot of deliciously fresh and authentic food at very affordable prices.

Aerial views

Take in the vantage points of the city from above by either a slow-ascending ride in the Singapore Flyer, up 56 levels from the ground at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark observation deck; or the Supertree Observatory at Gardens by the Bay, located at the tallest Supertree’s canopy.

Little India

The vibrant district of Serangoon Road and its neighbouring streets is known as Little India. This area was once a racecourse but today is an eclectic mix of traditional trades and modern eateries, arts groups and a mix of Hindu and Chinese temples, mosques and churches.

Art and culture

There are several fine museums such as the National Gallery of Singapore or the ArtScience Museum, whose distinct architecture is said to represent a form of a lotus flower and an extended, welcoming hand.

The distinct Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, a 60,000 m² performing arts centre, is known as ‘The Durian’ by Singaporeans, due to the spikes of its architectural exterior.

Spend hours wandering past a wide array of street art in the Kampong Glam area.

Natural beauty

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore’s oldest garden is a national treasure and is also the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.

Gardens by the Bay

Roam the flower displays and lush, tropical gardens over more than 100ha at Gardens by the Bay at the Marina Bay Waterfront in central Singapore.

Wine and dine

Singapore Sling

Head to a national monument, the legendary Raffles Hotel, to enjoy a famous Singapore Sling cocktail in the Long Bar, first invented in 1915. Or take a traditional high tea in its Grand Lobby, or settle in for fine dining at either La Dame de Pic or OSTERIA BBR by Alain Ducasse.

Hawker dining

Do as the local Singaporeans do and devour authentic street food at any of the five hawker centres: Amoy Street Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, Adam Road Food Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre or Changi Village Hawker Centre.

Fine dining

A fusion of both local and international flavours can be sampled at any of Singapore’s numerous a la carte fine dining restaurants, including Odette, Claudine, Waku Ghin or ‘penthouse destination’, 1-Atico.

Local Cuisine

Singapore’s multi-ethnic influences converge in signature Singaporean cuisine styles, best sampled at restaurants such as National Kitchen by Violet Oon (at National Gallery Singapore); Michelin-starred Candlenut; and Banana Leaf Apolo.

Sustainable dining

Singapore offers a range of sustainably minded eateries including Analogue, with a 100 per cent plant-based menu; and Native for vegetarians and pescatarians.

Zi char

Locals adore their zi char, which means “cook and fry” in Chinese. Taste it for yourself at eateries that typically offer a menu of more than 100 dishes, including their own signature specialities. Sample zi char at KEK Seafood in Bukit Merah, or New Ubin Seafood at Chijmes.

Staying here

Parkroyal Collection Pickering was designed by world-renowned architects, WOHA. This landmark ‘hotel-in-a-garden’ concept incorporates energy-saving features and a 15,000m² tropical urban high-rise garden.

The historic, 135-year-old Raffles Hotel, a treasured icon of the city, is rich in history in every corridor. Royalty, athletes and movie stars have all stayed here. In 2019, the hotel unveiled an extensive refurbishment.

Fullerton Hotel Singapore is located in a neoclassical landmark building on the water, constructed in 1928. The heritage building was once the site of Singapore’s General Post Office.