Must See

Singapore City

Founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company, it was he who devised the idea to set aside pockets for different ethnic groups. These areas still exist as Chinatown, Arab Street, Serangoon Road (Indian), and Padang Square (colonial). The different architectural styles and customs of these areas contrast wildly with the lavish but bland luxury shopping in the modern arcades of Orchard Road and Raffles City. Having toured these areas, take a break in the famous Raffles Hotel, for the de rigueur Singapore Sling in the Long Bar - though purists find its modern makeover rather dull. Clarke Quay is a complex of warehouses turned into bars, cafes and clubs: doing the Riverside Walk here gives the best sense of old Singapore.

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is Singapore City's vibrant shopping hub; the 'Oxford Street' or 'Fifth Avenue' of Singapore. In the vast shopping complexes of glass and steel, many upscale stores are neighbours to restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and art galleries.

Arab Street

Another favourite place for shopping is Arab Street, the centre of the Arabian quarter of Singapore. Arab Street showcases textiles such as batik, clothing, ethnic jewellery and perfumes in bazaar-style shopping. The golden domes of the Sultan Mosque, Singapore's chief Muslim place of worship, dominate the area.

Chinatown

Chinatown is another bustling and colourful area with shops, restaurants and teahouses, along with some beautiful temples, such as the Temple of the Calm Sea and the Fuk Tak Ch'i in Telok Ayer Street. The characteristic architecture of Singapore - the shop-house with a moulded front, shuttered upper floor and an arcaded street front - is much in evidence. In this vibrant area, the ancient crafts of calligraphy, papermaking and fortune-telling are practised, and traditional foodstuffs and goods can be bought.

Raffles Hotel

Built in 1887, Raffles is one of the world's last grand 19th century hotels, and is now a national monument. Raffles' excellent food and service is framed within a setting of classical architecture and tropical gardens, and a multi-million dollar face-lift has brought back the hotel's colonial charm. Enjoy a Singapore Sling (a head-spinningly good cocktail that was concocted here) in the Long Bar, or relax in the Writers' Bar, which provided inspiration for, amongst others, Rudyard Kipling, Noel Coward, Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham.

Clarke Quay

Former shop-houses and godowns (warehouses) along the Singapore River have been restored and reinvented into fashionable restaurants and shops. A huge night bazaar features carts laden with finger foods and knick-knacks.

Fort Canning

Set on a hill overlooking busy Orchard Road, Fort Canning was a stronghold of Singapore's defence, and was once an ancient fort of the Malay kings. The citadel built by the British in 1859 is now the home of the Singapore Dance Theatre, whilst the Battle Box, the underground command bunker of the WWII defence of Singapore, is now a museum. Other attractions include Sir Stamford Raffles' personal bungalow, the Spice Garden (a replica of Singapore's first experimental botanic garden), and the 19th-century Christian cemetery.

Parliament House

Located near the Singapore River is Parliament House, the oldest government building in the country, the core of which dates back to the 1820s. Much of it however was built in 1999, blending the old and new architecture and incorporating a modern design with the distinctive colonial details. During Parliament sittings, which are open to the public, simultaneous interpretation of proceedings are available in English and other languages.

Sentosa Island

The largest off-shore island, close to the mainland, is a multi-million-dollar pleasure island, served by a monorail, with lavish attractions, restaurants and beaches. These attractions include the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom Museum, the Carlsberg Sky Tower, the Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, and Sijori WonderGolf. Many people however prefer to skip the theme park attractions and head straight for the island's beaches (built with imported white sand), such as Tanjong, Siloso and Palawan, where a wide range of watersports is available.

Churches and Temples

There are a diverse range of places of worship around Singapore, including mosques, Anglican and Catholic cathedrals and Buddhist and Hindu temples. The Al-Abrar Mosque, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, St Andrew's Cathedral, the Sri Mariamman Temple, the Chettiar Hindu Temple and the vast and ornate Kong Meng Sang Phor Kark See Temple Complex are just a few of these.

Parks, Gardens and Reserves

Botanic Gardens

To the west of the city lie 128 acres of landscaped parkland and primary jungle - the Botanic Gardens, home to many animals and plants, including the National Orchid Garden with the world's largest collection.

Bukit Timah Reserve

The Bukit Timah Reserve, located northwest of the Botanic Gardens on Bukit Timah Road, was established in 1883. It is home to Singapore's last stretches of original rain forest, which includes clearly marked trails which lead up to Bukit Timah, the highest hill in Singapore.

Jurong Bird Park

The Jurong Bird Park, built on the western slope of Jurong Hill is home to South-East Asia's largest collection of birds. It also has the world's largest walk-in aviary, with more than 1,500 free-flying birds. Visitors may jump aboard the Panorail, the world's only monorail that runs through an aviary. Also within the aviary is Jurong Falls, the tallest man-made waterfall in the world at 30 metres high. There's also the 'World of Darkness'; a nocturnal bird house that features a system of reverse lighting, converting day to night. Visitors may take a quiet nocturnal walk along a starlit jungle path, watching birds in their nocturnal surroundings.

Singapore Zoological Gardens

North on the island is the Singapore Zoological Gardens, a 70-acre open zoo that uses natural barriers such as streams, rock walls and vegetation to separate the animals from the visitors. It's home to over 3,000 mammals, birds and reptiles, including orang-utans, Sumatran tigers, Komodo dragons and clouded leopards. Night Safaris can be taken, which allows visitors to view the animals in their nocturnal setting with the aid of special illumination that replicates moonlight.