Singapore City
Top Tips
Here are our favourite things to do in Singapore:
back to topSights
Siong Lim Temple
A short taxi ride from the centre of Singapore, in the residential
area of Toa Payoh, this peaceful and elegant Buddhist temple is one
of the few where monks can still be found in Singapore (and the
story of its foundation is quite remarkable). Right next door is a
bustling Taoist temple where the Chinese obsession with luck and
money can be witnessed. Side-by-side, the 2 sites of worship
represent completely contrasting views of material wealth,
mirroring Singapore society.
Raffles Hotel
The iconic symbol of colonial Singapore. Enjoy a Singapore Sling in
the splendour of the Writer’s Bar.
The Asian Civilisations Museum
Spread over 11 galleries within the city, the ACM gives a high-tech
tour of Asia's culture and history, as well as displaying
incredible objets d'art and porcelains. Based in Empress
Place and open every day. See
ACM for more
information.
Hock Keng Temple
A stunningly restored Buddhist temple, surrounded by shophouses and
backdropped by the imposing skyscrapers of the banking
district.
Serangoon Road
The must-visit shopping street in Little India, for saris,
jewellery and textiles. Witness men in loincloths smashing coconuts
in the ornate and colourful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, also on
this street.
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
An impressive new arts venue on the waterfront overlooking Marina
Bay, where you can watch fantastic music, theatre and dance
performances. Lunchtime concerts give you a casual taste of what's
on offer, and the dome-shaped building itself is worth a
gawp.
Ridley Park
Visit the 'black and white' mansions of a bygone era - a short walk
from Orchard Road.
Singapore Flyer
Enjoy the spectacular view from this wheel, similar to the London
Eye - you can see as far as Indonesian islands like Bintan and
Batam, and Malaysia.
MacRitchie Reservoir
A perfect place to relax outdoors, with stunning scenery and
surroundings. Don’t be surprised if a monkey joins you for a
sit-down under the trees. Just as beautiful are the tropical fauna
and flora in the Botanical Gardens. Beautifully manicured
lawns run down into lakes edged by heliconias and monkey-puzzle
trees.
Singapore Zoo (80 Mandai Lake Road)
If you normally find zoos oppressive, you'll love this ethical
idea; animals are kept in spacious open enclosures, with large
moats separating them from the visitors!
Holland Village
Once an expat enclave but now a trendy area of shops, bars and
restaurants.
Pulau Ubin
Take a day trip to this small tranquil island in the northeast of
Singapore. One of the only areas still safe from urban development,
its wooden house villages, abandoned granite quarries and lush
green pathways are a joy to wander through.
Restaurants and Bars
If your stay includes a weekend, the 'Sunday Brunch' institution is
a must. All the major hotels host sumptuous buffets with
free-flowing champagne. The Hyatt, The Four Seasons and The
Fullerton rate amongst the most impressive but book early as these
are a hugely popular with the more affluent of Singapore. Our other
favourite haunts include:
Bar Asia
(£££) (floor 71, Swissotel The Stamford, tel:
65 6837 3322).
Stunning views across the city and the river front. Book a window
table at Equinox (on the 69th floor; same phone number) for 7pm and
watch the sun set over the South China Sea and the surrounding
Indonesian islands. Strictly for the hip and chic. A cover charge
may apply.
IndoChine (££)
(Empress Place, tel: 65 6339 1720).
The place to go for excellent fusion food and a chance to sit by
the river. Evenings are best as the cool breeze off the water makes
it comfortable to sit outside. Enjoy pre- or post-dinner drinks at
the chic Opium Bar (Tel: 65
6339 2876) next door, or cross the river to Boat Quay and sink a
few at the infamous Harrys Bar
(28 Boat Quay, tel: 65 6538 3029).
Club Street
This beautiful street of shophouses is set between Chinatown and
the Hock Keng Temple. Home to a wide range of shops, cafés,
bars and restaurants, it's good for lunch or dinner. Not on the
usual tourist trail and well worth a visit.
Lau Pa Sat
A hawker centre in the middle of the financial district (Raffles
Quay) and set under a large ornate Victorian cast-iron canopy. In
the evenings the adjoining street (Boon Tat Street) is closed to
traffic so diners can sit outside and additional food carts are set
up. Fat Man Satay (£) (number 1 cart) can be found
here at this time and is reputed amongst locals as the best satay
in Singapore. It is worth noting that all stalls must be government
rated (for hygiene and cleanliness) and clearly display these (A
being the best and D probably best avoided).
Jalan Merah Saga
Known locally as Chip Bee Gardens, this is a back street in Holland
Village (behind the post office). Several restaurants can be found
here, all of which are popular with locals and expats alike. Try
Sistanas (££) for pizza/pasta; Da Paolo's La
Terrazza (££) (tel 56 6476 1332) for great Italian,
and its sister restaurant The Pizza Bar (£) (tel: 56
6479 6522) with its cow-skin lined ceiling. The vegetarian
restaurant Original Sin (££) (tel: 65 6475 5605)
is also excellent.
Au Jardin (££££) (The Botanical
Gardens, tel: 65 6466 8812)
If you've got something to celebrate during your stay then dinner
in the Botanical Gardens is the top spot. Imaginative French
cuisine (think scallops with pistachio and coriander followed by
chocolate souffle with earl grey ice cream) served in elegant
surroundings. Service impeccable, dress smart-casual.
Takashimaya (£)
(391 Orchard Road, tel: 56 6738 1111)
If you're shopping on the Orchard Road, then this department
store's basement food hall offers upmarket hawker-style stalls, all
of which are excellent for a quick lunch. For something a little
more elegant try The
Marmalade Pantry (££) (Palais Renaissance, 390
Orchard Road, Tel: 65 6734 2700). A favourite haunt amongst the
Singaporean ladies who lunch. Booking ahead is essential.
back to topShopping
Orchard Road
Lined wall-to-wall with sleek, modern shopping malls. If time is
short then head for Ngee Ann City, home to the large
Japanese department store Takashimaya. All the exclusive brands
such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Tiffany's and Cartier can also be
found in this mall if you fancy a snoop or your wallet is bulging.
On the upper floors is the exclusive Chinese fashion house
Shanghai Tang, with its gorgeous traditional-meets-Western
hybrid clothes, and a bespoke tailor.
For quick-snap digital cameras, iPods, laptops and all things
electrical, head to Pari Silk in Holland Village. Prices
change daily to keep ahead of the competition but don’t
expect to haggle and be prepared to wait your turn, especially at
the weekends. Techno geeks should head to the Funan Centre behind
Orchard Road - floors and floors of electronics stores selling
software through to SLR cameras.
For inexpensive Chinese arts and crafts and pashminas, check out
Lim's (211 Holland Avenue, tel: 65 6467 1300) in Holland
Road Shopping Centre. If you have time, browse all the floors in
this old-fashioned higgledy-piggledy shopping centre and pick up
unusual gifts and mementos.
For chic and contemporary Asian ornaments (think Chinese dragons,
Buddha heads, Ganesh the elephant god and punishment frogs) head to
Origins on the South Bridge Road in Chinatown (opposite the
Sri Maramman Temple). Also sells larger pieces of furniture.