Singapore - One of a Kind Travel Guide

SINGAPORE

A one of a kind luxury travel guide

Marina Bay, Singapore

from the editor

One of the world’s smallest but most stylish cities, Singapore may best known for its iconic architecture and state-ofthe-art attractions, but this clean, green and inspiringly diverse destination has so much more up its sparkly sleeve that visitors our assured of stumbling across a bounty of truly happy moments.

An ever-evolving city of passion and possibility, Singapore is less a melting pot and more an extraordinary cultural mosaic. You’ll find its diversity of ethnic influence proudly showcased in dazzling

and delightful enclaves from Little India and Chinatown to Kampong Gelam.

A culinary utopia, rich in Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, gastronomic experiences run the gamut from Michelin fine dining to revered street eats. Then there’s the highend shopping, world-class galleries, wealth of lavish hotels and extravagant experiences. Add glorious green spaces and a whole-of-nation ethos that makes it a sustainability superstar, and the Lion City is a truly irresistible destination that

“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.”

– LAWRENCE BLOCK

will sink its teeth into you, as it has me on every one of my 15 visits. With more than 300 experienced agents drawing on years of industry experience, extensive destination knowledge and a genuine passion for travel, Travel Associates’ travel experts understand that every client is unique. Whether you’re drawn to urban adventures, culinary quests, or immersive traditional experiences, they can personally curate a travel itinerary packed with hidden gems and tailor

made, one of a kind experiences. Best of all, the support of a Travel Associates expert to elevate your Singapore escape to the extraordinary means you can travel with confidence, knowing that every detail will be taken care of.

To inspire your next journey, we’re delving beneath its shiny surface to soak up Singapore’s sights, scents and secrets to show you a destination that’s like nowhere else on earth.

Yours in travel

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Singapore’s hidden gems

Edgy, exciting and ever evolving, there’s so much hidden up Singapore’s sophisticated sleeve than you could ever hope to experience in a few short days. It’s one of the world’s smallest cities, and while many might assume that clean, green Singapore can easily be explored in just a few days, we beg to differ. Packed with hidden gems, from the bizarre to the beautiful, there’s so much more behind the city’s urban façade than meets the eye.

Synonymous with sensational food, Singapore’s culinary offerings run the gamut from Michelin-starred fine dining to some of the world’s most revered street food. The best way to sample the local cuisine is at a Hawker Market – covered food markets that offer a true taste of Singapore. You’ll also find delectable dishes hidden in the laneways of Singapore’s distinct cultural quarters – Chinatown, strewn with Peranakan shophouses and hawker markets; Kampong Gelam, home of the impressive Sultan Mosque; and Little India, a beacon of vibrant temples, markets and fiery food. Safe and easy to access thanks to the city’s world-class MRT public transportation system, a visit to these buzzing neighbourhoods is a must.

Even the most affluent of Singaporeans use the MRT to get around, but if you’re after the VIP treatment, you can wheel around Singapore in a convertible Rolls-Royce, or

upgrade to a supercar for a spin around the official F1 circuit.

Home to many world-class galleries, art lovers can also take to the city’s sidewalks to explore the art-filled laneways of Little

Universal Studios, Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore

India, Kampong Gelam, Everton Park and Tiong Bahru for incredible street art. For something completely different, take the MRT to Pasir Panjang and Haw Par Villa where, amongst a surreal and sometimes startling collection of statues depicting scenes from Chinese folklore, there’s a boat ride and performances of Chinese legends.

Singapore is also a sustainable superstar, woven with ribbons of green. From its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Botanic Gardens to the futuristic, Supertreestudded Gardens by the Bay, there are over 300 parks and nature reserves. Go green on a bicycle ride along the meandering river in central Singapore’s Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. There’s also Fort Canning Park with its 18th century gateways and gazebos leading to stunning gardens, green spaces, and colonial-era relics hidden in leafy nooks and crannies. Or enjoy a peaceful nature walk along undulating pathways through the forest at Bukit Batok Nature Reserve, a haven for Singapore’s wildlife.

The island resort of Sentosa is famed for its tropical beaches, luxurious hotels and wellness spas, however you can also take the Cable Car over to enjoy big-ticket attractions like Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium and Madame Tussauds, or high-octane adventures like the HydroDash floating aqua park and SkyHelix Sentosa, an

Street Art, Kampong Gelam, Singapore

open-air gondola that rotates as it ascends to a height of 79 metres above sea level.

While famous, Sentosa is just one of Singapore’s 63 islands. You can take the bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to Pulau Ubin, a jungle-strewn paradise that is home to one of Singapore’s last kampongs (villages) and 10 kilometres of international standard mountain bike trails. Kusu Island is another island steeped in local myth and folklore – it is said a magical tortoise turned itself into the island to save two shipwrecked sailors. Today, the pretty spot is accessible by ferry and very popular for its beaches, Malay kramats (shrines), Chinese temple and Tortoise Sanctuary. Our favourite recommendation however, is to hire a luxury yacht for a serene and secluded beach getaway on one of Singapore’s cluster of quiet Southern Islands, such as blue-ringed Lazarus Island, one of its best-kept secrets.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

Singapore

From Michelin-star restaurants to local delicacies, Singapore is one of the world’s most gastronomically gratifying cities.

A country where food is intrinsically tied to its national identity and eating is almost a national sport, Singapore boasts a culinary scene as diverse as its people.

Influences from Malaysia, China and Indonesia, India and Europe have melded to create a vibrant food culture that is as familiar as it is unique.

Whether you prefer to eat with forks, chopsticks or fingers, Singapore’s 115 hawker centres – fuss-free open-air food courts with fastidious hygiene standards – are an integral part of Singaporean life, and the best place to begin exploring Singapore’s most iconic dishes.

Enjoy satay at Lau Pa Sat’s sizzling Satay Street, oyster omelettes at Newton Food Centre, or slurp on seafood-stuffed laksa, chilli crab and fish head curry at East Coast Lagoon Food Village. Between the colourful wall art murals of Tiong Bahru, you’ll find bouncy chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes with preserved radish) and Hainanese chicken rice, Singapore’s succulent national dish. While at Chinatown Food Centre, the city’s biggest hawker market, you’ll find a dizzying

Lau Pa Sat, Singapore,

selection of local dishes from char kway teow and dim sum to frog porridge, and the world’s cheapest Michelin-star awarded menu at Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle. Singapore’s other Michelin-starred hawker stall is Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork noodle in Crawford Lane.

There’s more on the menu in this multicultural melting pot. In Kampong Gelam, Singapore’s Muslim Quarter, halal Malay and Middle Eastern reign as the supreme cuisine amongst its 19thcentury shophouses. Or you might prefer to add a little spice at one of a multitude of fragrant Indian eateries secreted between the heady spice stores, saris and flower garlands of Little India.

On the flipside of Singapore’s celebrated street food scene is its galaxy of fine dining stars, of the Michelin variety, serving up epicurean delights in sumptuous style. Leading the charge with three Michelin stars are Odette, a timeless fine diner showcasing French cuisine with Asian influences, and Zén’s next level neo-Nordic cuisine with a Japanese twist.

Two Michelin stars have been awarded to Thevar’s creative multi-course menu of Indian flavours transformed with European techniques, and Cloudstreet, where creative cuisine fuses western and Sri Lankan cooking. And for a sublime taste of Singapore, Candlenut, the world's first Michelinstarred Peranakan restaurant, is a must.

You can’t visit Singapore without sipping on exquisite teas and Champagne over afternoon tea towers of soft scones, delicate sweets and savouries at the Raffles Singapore. Stop in afterwards at the hotel’s Long Bar for a little iconic imbibing with a Singapore Sling, first created here in 1915 and considered Singapore’s national drink.

Masjid Sultan, Singapore

ATLAS, Parkview Square, Singapore

HOW TO SAVOUR

While we’re on the subject, Singapore is a quaffer’s delight, with a slew of sultry speakeasies and quirky cocktail bars. Start with the classics –Manhattan is the original sexy Singapore hotel bar and ATLAS is an impossibly grand art deco beauty housing the largest collection of gin in the world. For a sublime cocktail with an Asian twist, Mama Diam Speakeasy Bar is a hidden gem secreted behind the façade of an old school mama shop. For a one of a kind experience, Native fuses Asian spirits with fresh local ingredients in cool cocktails like Ants, which combines lemongrass gin, coconut yoghurt, basil and an acidic zing from foraged ants.

If you want to bring a little taste of Singapore home for later, pick up a bar of Fossa chocolate. The bean-to-bar chocolatier infuses the flavours of the city – from satay sauce to salted egg – into their internationally acclaimed chocolates.

WE RECCOMEND:

GOURMET SINGAPORE

Enjoy a four-night gourmet experience at the luxurious The Outpost Hotel at Sentosa, a secluded five-star sanctuary right in the heart of Sentosa, with complimentary breakfast, lunch at Noka Restaurant and a Discova Urban Farming Experience.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

Gin cocktail

Singapore

Enjoy the guilt-free goodness of a holiday in Singapore that puts health first.

Buzzing, brilliant Singapore is an unexpected wellness gem, where rest, relaxation and rejuvenation await. With its mix of fitness, yoga and Pilates, mindfulness, nature and natural therapies, Traditional Chinese medicine and massages, plus world-class clean eating and plant-based cafes, you’ll find a pathway to recalibrate, repair and restore mind and body in Singapore.

It’s a city that’s made for walking, woven with great green spaces, and surrounded by incredible hiking trails through jungle-strewn nature parks and reserves where you can share the nurturing environment of mother nature with cheeky longtailed macaque monkeys, and the shy and retiring flying lemurs and pangolins.

Hidden in quiet corners around the city are one of a kind wellness experiences from floatation and meditative singing bowl therapies to aromatic escapes and art therapy.

Labyrinth Restaurant, Singapore

Singapore is famous for food, and there are plenty of clean and plant-based eating options. Little Farms, an exceptional café grocer hybrid with a good selection of ethically curated produce and The Living Café, a one-stop shop for everything that could possibly make you feel well, are standouts. As is Whole Earth, Singapore’s first and only plant-based restaurant to be awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years.

Speaking of Michelin awards, one Michelin starred Restaurant Labyrinth, is an elegant fine diner pushing boundaries with its healthy contemporary menu. And COMO Shambhala offers a menu of high-end, nutritionally-calibrated dishes, developed in the belief that food should be both delicious and nutritious.

Urban wellness centres offer holistic health programs as well as more bespoke treatments centred around everything from weight-loss, detox and anti-ageing to meditation and mental health.

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, conveniently positioned on Orchard Road, offers a city escape with a healthy dose of wellness. One of Singapore's most exclusive wellness centres, you’ll find a variety of holistic health activities and fitness classes from yoga and Pilates to qi gong, mindfulness and meditation, as well as naturopathy, preventative health, massage therapy and facial acupuncture.

Pablo Blau, located in Raffles City Shopping Centre, is Singapore’s first luxury spa offering specialised treatments in a salt room environment. One of Singapore’s unique wellness gems, the plush spa is home to specialist salt treatment rooms and a saltslathered movie room so you can cosy up with a film as you enjoy the healing effects and anti-inflammatory properties of salt.

Pablo Blau Salt Room, Singapore

Cocooned within 12 hectares of tranquil rainforest on Sentosa Island, Auriga Spa at Capella Singapore is the perfect place to rest and rejuvenate. A curated menu of results-oriented treatments and luxuriously appointed spa areas featuring a vitality pool, herbal steam room and ice fountain are just a few reasons why Auriga is the first spa in Singapore to receive five-star status from Forbes Travel Guide.

With nine locations scattered across the city, the award-winning Natureland Spa and Wellness is one of Singapore’s leading wellness brands. Natureland offers a variety of spa services as well as traditional Tui Na

Chinese Medicine bodywork treatment, Gua sha Chinese healing, reflexology and therapeutic body and foot massages, all carefully curated to balance your mind, body and soul.

A one of a kind holistic immersion within the lush greenery of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Aramsa Garden Spa’s 17 uniquely designed treatment rooms blend seamlessly into its surrounds, bringing the outside in. Aramsa Garden Spa’s nurturing wellbeing spaces provide

Aramsa Garden Spa

the perfect sanctuary for their holistic therapies and yoga practice.

WE RECCOMEND:

CAPELLA SINGAPORE

Enter a serene private world of luxurious indulgence and wellness on an island sanctuary, just 10 minutes from the heart of the city at Capella Singapore, one of Singapore’s finest luxury hotels.

RAFFLES SINGAPORE

Relax and rejuvenate in five-star style at Raffles. Soak up the legendary ambience and charm of this heritage hotel – a true Singapore icon – and unique restorative treatments of the new Raffles Spa.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

Capella, Singapore

Raffles, Singapore

Accommodation Guide

Singapore’s best luxury stays as recommended by our expert travel advisors

Whether you’re imagining a bygone Singapore of rickshaw rides and refined afternoon teas, a colourful cultural immersion, relaxing at a glamorous beach resort, or even living like a crazy rich Asian, there’s a luxury hotel in the Lion City to match.

Travel Associates’ travel advisors, drawing on decades of experience and their passion for travel, can custom design your entire holiday, right down to hand-picking a one of a kind luxury hotel that will make your holiday dream a reality.

The St. Regis Singapore

by The St. Regis Singapore

Chinatown, Singapore Singapore River, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Singapore

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

The magnificent The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is one of the city’s grand dames. Housed in a neoclassical landmark building that has played a pivotal role in Singapore’s history for almost a century, the stunning hotel artfully blends rich heritage with contemporary style and seamless service. Located in the heart of the financial and arts districts, the hotel oozes luxury from its opulent public spaces to fresh and stylish rooms and suites. Leisure lovers can spend a languid day by the hotel’s infinity pool or visit the enticing Fullerton Spa, while epicurean travellers will enjoy the hotel’s sumptuous culinary offerings.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore Photo by The Fullerton Hotel

The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

The St. Regis Singapore

Lavish and lovely The St. Regis Singapore exudes old world opulence. Surrounded by world-class shopping and overlooking the city’s botanical gardens, guests can expect impeccable hospitality and an oasis of calm. Elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites feature exquisite furnishings, hand-painted Chinoiserie silk wallpaper, chandeliers and grand marble bathrooms. The hotel’s Remède Spa, a confection of crystal and marble with outstanding facilities, is one of Singapore finest. And the personalised St. Regis Butler Service will ensure you live your best luxe life.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

The St. Regis Singapore

Photo by The St. Regis Singapore

The St. Regis Singapore

Photo by The St. Regis Singapore

The Clan

A cool and contemporary 30-storey design-led hotel in buzzy Chinatown, The Clan pays homage to Singapore’s rich heritage with traditional elements such as a welcome tea ceremony and local hawker fare served in tingkat carriers right to your room. Eat, drink, see and be seen at QIN, where classic culinary gems are infused with a modern twist. Make waves in the hotel’s rooftop Skypool and soak up the city views in the green oasis of Terrace@Level4. Or enjoy bespoke experiences from private cultural tours to cooking workshops and food tours, curated just for guests.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

The Clan Hotel, Singapore

Photo by The Clan Hotel

The Clan Hotel, Singapore

Photo by The Clan Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

From its dramatic vaulted mother-of-pearl glass ceiling to its shiny marble floor, the 32-storey Ritz-Carlton Millenia is a work of art. Located at Marina Bay, the lavish hotel is also filled with it. Boasting one of the largest contemporary art collections in Southeast Asia, the hotel is home to works by David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Dale Chihuly, Frank Stella and Zhu Wei. Along with opulent accommodations offering some of Singapore’s best views, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa offering luscious La Mer treatments, guests of The Ritz-Carlton Millenia can also enjoy Michelin-starred Cantonese cuisine at Summer Pavilion and international dining at Colony.

Andaz Singapore

Atmospheric Andaz Singapore hotel – a concept by Hyatt – offers a fresh perspective on a luxury Singapore holiday. Located in DUO – a striking pair of towering skyscrapers in the arts, heritage and cultural district of Bugis, the unabashedly stylish Andaz Singapore sleek interiors are an organic, fluid masterpiece. Guest rooms and suites offer stunning views over the Singapore skyline from floor-to-ceiling windows. After enjoying all that Singapore has to offer, kick back with a cocktail by the rooftop infinity pool or enjoy a range of five-star culinary experiences with a side of glitzy city view.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

Photo by The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

Andaz Singapore Photo by Andaz Singapore

sustainably

in Singapore

Big experiences come with small footprints in smart and sustainable Singapore.

Clean, green Singapore has sustainability in its DNA. With scarce natural resources, Singapore was an early adopter of sustainable development, and continues to refresh, reimagine, and evolve as it works towards its vision of becoming a City in Nature.

Guided by the Singapore Green Plan 2030 – a whole-ofnation movement that seeks to rally bold and collective action to address climate change over the next decade – the city’s sustainability vision is making Singapore a

vibrant, urban destination of choice for environmentally conscious travellers.

Integrating more sustainable practices and technology, the city’s innovative lowcarbon attractions, green accommodation, sustainable retail outlets, and farm-to-table dining experiences are just a few ways the city is embracing new possibilities.

Supertree Observatory, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

At just 10-years young, Gardens by the Bay is already a global sustainability superstar. One of the city’s most beloved attractions, having welcomed more than 50 million visitors and tourists from around the world, the dazzling Gardens by the Bay is an urban oasis of magnificent conservatories, lakes and themed gardens, including a grove of steel Supertrees, some standing 16 storeys high.

Behind the towering tangle of green are groundbreaking technologies that are blazing a trail in sustainable urban design. Ahead of its time, Gardens by the Bay followed an ecologically oriented approach to ensure sustainable cycles in energy and

water. Horticultural waste is collected and reused as energy for cooling the conservatories, solar energy is used to bring the Supertrees to life and rainwater is captured in the lakes, cleaned by aquatic plants, and used for irrigating more than one-million plants on site.

Restaurants are doing their bit too with hip urban farm and restaurant, Open Farm Community leading the pack. Showcasing mostly plant-based food, locally sourced or harvested directly from the establishment’s edible garden,

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

the glasshouse-style urban farm and dining concept aims to do right by the planet. After you’ve eaten, join an Open Farm Community tour for urban farming inspiration.

Green Common is a one-stop plantbased eatery and marketplace encouraging mindful consumption. Committed to sustainable and responsible products, the cruelty-free, fair-trade eatery believes that every meal provides an opportunity to inspire a more holistic and healthier mindset towards food. Kausmo is another eatery challenging guests to make more conscientious choices. Under the helm of award-winning Chef Chew Shian, Kausmo is crafting creative cuisine with thoughtfully sourced ingredients such as seafood from small farming

communities, overlooked cuts of meat, over-ripened and oddly shaped fruits and vegetables, and native greens and florals.

Even shopping gets a green tick at Funan Mall, in the heart of the CBD, where you’ll find eco-friendly retailers including The Green Common, a bright, airy space with more than 35 green vendors offering a range of products ranging from home gardening and composting to sustainable fashion. There’s also a 1670-square-metre rooftop urban farm operated by Edible Garden City with dozens of types of fruits and vegetables.

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

You can sleep sustainably too at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, an iconic hotel that is literally green, thanks to the 15,000-square-metre tropical high-rise garden that envelop it. Designed as a hotel-in-a-garden, 50 different plant varieties – from ferns and palms to overhanging creepers – cling to its every wall, absorbing heat, shading surfaces and naturally improving air quality. But the hotel’s cuttingedge environmental practices don’t end there. Clever open-sided design and high-performance glass invites in an abundance of natural daylight, while the short building depth also maximises the amount of daylight reaching internal spaces. The hotel’s restaurant does its bit too with a plant-based a-la-carte menu, biodegradable napkins and potato starch straws.

Another state-of-the-art retail gem in Singapore’s sparkling sustainability crown is Jewel Changi Airport. Awarded a Green Mark Gold Award by the government of Singapore, at its sustainable centre is a spectacular fivestorey Rain Vortex waterfall, fed by rain. Inviting visitors to breathe in nature, the water is reused to maintain its inside forest and lush terraced gardens, and its vapor repurposed to ventilate and cool the interior. It is another one-of-a-kind example of Singapore’s smorgasbord of sustainability solutions.

Changi Airport, Singapore

TRAVELLING

SINGAPORE LUXURY & GARDENS BY THE BAY

Enjoy three nights of indulgence at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort, a hidden five-star gem set atop a hill above Tanjong Beach, with breakfast and a tour of Gardens by the Bay including the beautiful glass-domed Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

PARKROYAL COLLECTION PICKERING SINGAPORE

Enjoy a clean, green three-night stay in a one of a kind five-star hotel within a garden at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, a hotel inspired and enfolded by nature, just steps from Chinatown and the Singapore CBD.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort

Photo by Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort

Photo by PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

leanings

A contemporary culture that combines Asian and European tradition, Singapore’s national identity is both familiar and unique.

For a nation that is only just over 50 years old, Singapore’s mélange of Malay, Chinese, South Asian, Southeast Asian, European and Peranakan traditions and religious ideals have all played an important part in shaping its culture. Despite this melting pot, the country has an identity of its own, driven by an enviable ideology of racial and religious harmony.

English is the most widely spoken language, but keep an ear out for Singlish, a charming jumble of words drawn from English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Malay and Tamil languages that are frequently injected into casual conversation.

Singapore is known for its impeccable cleanliness and low crime rate. Unfailingly polite, friendly and courteous, Singaporean culture is based around respect, particularly when dealing with older and more senior people. Ethnic communities maintain their unique ways of life while living in multicultural harmony with their fellow Singaporean citizens. To fully immerse yourself into the traditions and influences of Singapore’s cornucopia of cultures, explore the cultural quarters of Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam and Geylang Serai.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Singapore

Dragon lantern, Singapore

Chinatown

The former enclave of Singapore's Chinese immigrant population is a buzzing maze of narrow roads lined with historic temples, street markets, hawker stalls and hip bars hidden in old Peranakan shophouses.

Baba House showcases the city’s Peranakan history, architecture and heritage. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum offers visitors an introduction to Buddhist culture and art and houses The Buddha Tooth Relic in a giant stupa made from 320 kilograms of gold. Visitors will also find the historic Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple sitting in harmony alongside mosques, churches, synagogues and Buddhist temples.

Packed with some of the city’s best hawker markets, including the Chinatown Complex, Maxwell Food Centre and Amoy Street Food Centre, you won’t go hungry. Just save room for dessert at Tong Heng in South Bridge Road, for tasty traditional egg tarts and mooncakes.

Little India

The hub of Singapore’s Indian community, Little India’s historic tangle of incense-scented streets are peppered with temples and market stalls heaving with saris, spices and sunshine-hued flower-garlands.

Learn about the history and traditions of Indian Singaporeans at the Indian Heritage Centre and deepen your understanding of Hinduism at the spectacular Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu Temple, an elaborate shrine dedicated to the fearsome goddess Kali. And pack your Prada sunglasses for a visit to the wildly colourful House of Tan Teng Niah, a centuries-old home steeped in more than a hundred years of history.

Come with an appetite so you can fill up on South Indian vegetarian delights, tandoor-cooked North Indian fare and local favourites such as roti prata (buttery flatbread) at the Tekka centre, an Indian-infused Hawker market. Then pop into Serangoon Road’s Moghul Sweets for a box of luscious laddoos.

Little India, Singapore

Kampong Gelam

Centred on busy Arab Street, culturally vibrant Kampong Gelam is Singapore's oldest urban quarter. Now one of Singapore’s coolest neighbourhoods, the Muslim Quarter as it is known, it’s packed with dynamic street art, knick-knack-filled shophouses and the quirky boutiques of graffiti-tagged Haji Lane.

Dating back to 1824, Sultan Mosque, with its glowing golden dome, is Singapore’s biggest mosque and a must visit. For more cultural connections, head to the

The Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan), Singapore

Malay Heritage Centre, housed in an old colonial-style building, where 10 galleries trace the rich history of Singapore’s Malay community.

Hungry after all your exploring? You’ll find delicious Halal Middle Eastern and Malaysian cuisine on offer alongside cool cocktail bars and fashionable cafes. For a taste of tradition head to Zam Zam, who have been serving up Singapore’s best biryani and murtabak (stuffed fried bread) for more than a century.

Geylang Serai

One of the oldest Malay settlements in Singapore, Geylang Serai is undergoing a thoroughly modern transformation. But its restored shophouses, religious establishments and traditional eateries, help preserve the area’s heritage.

The Kampong Ubi Community Centre showcases rich Malay culture with its gallery and traditional activities, while The Intan, a post-war terrace residence, has been converted into a museum to share the area’s stories, traditions and history.

Geylang Serai Market is one of the busiest wet markets in Singapore. The two-storey centre is a great spot to watch traditional Singaporean life in action, and to expand your experience of traditional Malay cuisine on its second floor. If you haven’t already filled up on satay, head to Joo Chiat gem, Indian Muslim Bakery and Confectionery, the oldest Muslim bakery in Singapore, for curry puffs and buns.

Little India, Singapore

Geylang Serai, Singapore

in Singapore

Travel expert Kellie Woodward’s one of a kind Singapore itinerary

Singapore may be tiny in size, but this ever-evolving destination offers such an abundance of experiences and attractions a week is barely enough time to scratch its vibrant surface. But with the right advice from a seasoned travel expert, visitors can enjoy a holiday that takes them from an urban adventure to a beach break in five nights and still have time to uncover some of the city’s multitude of quirky local secrets and hidden gems.

The good news is that getting around in Singapore is a breeze. Squeaky clean, safe and convenient, Singapore’s Rail network, the MRT, is consistently rated as one of the best worldwide, and is easy to navigate. Purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP), from Changi Airport on arrival, or at select MRT stations, for unlimited travel over one, two or three days. Add local buses, river taxis, and the Sentosa Express monorail and you’ll be zipping around the city. Taxis are a little more challenging as they are only allowed to pick up at designated taxi stands and can be hard to find during peak times. Alternatively, download the Grab or Comfort taxi app to get a ride at your fingertips.

Singapore Business District MRT Singapore

The picturesque Marina Bay is a great base for exploring. The Fullerton Hotel , located on the bay, within walking distance to the many excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs at Clarke and Boat Quay would be my recommendation. The property itself is stunning. With Virtuoso benefits, an upgrade would see guests enjoy breathtaking views toward Marina Bay Sands. The Fullerton’s guest rooms are all fresh following full renovations in the past year, and the opulent hotel also offers an incredible traditional afternoon tea experience, and an award-winning spa.

Start your morning with a stroll around Marina Bay to visit Singapore's iconic Merlion: a massive mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish that shoots water into the bay. Then take the easy 10-minute stroll for lunch at Lau Pa Sat, a covered Victorian hawker centre that’s bursting with local delicacies and international food stalls. In the afternoon, a visit to Gardens by the Bay should top your to-do list. Beautiful by day and dazzling by night, take the time to explore its fantastical indoor conservatories, mist-filled Cloud Forest and surreal Supertree grove, towering steel structures that lights up in a spectacle of light and sound as darkness falls.

Get a fix of culture visiting one of Singapore’s many world-class museums and galleries including the National Gallery Singapore, which boasts the largest public display of modern Southeast Asian art in the world and the ArtScience Museum. Housed in a lotus-like building near the Marina Bay Sands Resort complex, this one of a kind museum sees art, culture and science collide in spectacular fashion. And, if you prefer your art streetside, take a wall crawl through the lanes of Little India, Kampong Gelam, Tiong Bahru and Chinatown to spot incredible installations and murals.

Finish you day flexing your credit cards along Orchard Road, a shopping district that is Singapore’s answer to London’s Oxford Street. Lovers of designer labels will want to visit ION Orchard and the Paragon Shopping Centre, which are virtual shrines to luxury fashion brands, while Design Orchard is the latest spot for shops and accessories by Singapore designs.

Marina Bay, Singapore

Then it’s time for a few days of laid-back island bliss on Sentosa. You can very easily access the mainland and Singapore city by road or monorail, but I prefer the cable car for bird's eye views across the harbour. A variety of luxe resorts mean you can just flop and drop with a cocktail by the pool. Or enjoy all the entertainment and activities on offer, from meditative nature walks through Imbiah Forest Reserve and underwater adventures at S.E.A Aquarium to kicking back on the oversized beach beds at the Tanjong Beach Club , Singapore's best.

Sentosa Singapore

Sentosa, Singapore

Thrill seekers might even like to tackle the rip-roaring rides at Universal Studios Singapore or the heart stopping, 75-metre high, 450-metre long, 60kph MegaZip at Mega Adventure Park . The tiny island makes it easy to do it all with a free local bus and beach shuttle.

When it’s time to say goodbye to the lovely Lion City, don’t forget to leave a few extra hours to explore Jewel Changi.

The airport game-changer has hundreds of dining, shopping and entertainment outlets weaving its way around a seven-storey indoor waterfall and an indoor forest with suspended walkways.

TALK TO A TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ADVISOR TO FIND MORE HIDDEN GEMS IN SINGAPORE ON A PERSONALISED HOLIDAY DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU ›

Singapore Cable Car, Singapore

Universal Studios Rollercoaster, Singapore

Find your local Travel Associates office

Australian Capital Territory

Travel Associates Belconnen Belconnen 1300 080 864

Gungahlin Travel Associates Gungahlin 1300 784 753

Jamison Plaza Travel Associates Macquarie 1300 103 192

Reis & James Travel Associates Manuka 1800 739 288

New South Wales

Travel Associates Balgowlah Balgowlah 1300 668 291

Davis & James Travel Associates

Beecroft 1800 054 096

Travel Associates Shellharbour

Shellharbour 1300 102 109

Travel Associates Toronto Toronto 1300 765 323

Wye & James Travel Associates

Travel Associates Turramurra

Travel Associates Shellharbour

Turramurra 1800 111 238

Turramurra 1300 837 681

Shellharbour 1300 102 109

Travel Associates Turramurra Turramurra 1300 837 681

Travel Associates Blues Point North Sydney 1300 519 173 Queensland

Travel Associates Cronulla Cronulla 1300 143 516

Travel Associates Coffs Harbour Coffs Harbour 1300 650 326

Press & James Travel Associates Mona Vale 1800 601 032

Travel Associates Mosman Mosman 1300 238 472

O'Sullivan & Turner Travel Associates Newcastle 1800 392 098

Low & James Travel Associates Neutral Bay 1800 005 065

Travel Associates Blues Point North Sydney 1300 519 173

Jones & Turner Travel Associates Paddington 1800 236 667

Maria, Fellowes & Turner Travel Associates Penrith 1800 040 744

Travel Associates Rouse Hill Rouse Hill 1300 650 301

Kennedy & Turner Travel Associates

Dare & Turner Travel Associates

Brisbane 1800 221 270

Broadbeach 1800 242 613

Travel Associates Burleigh Heads Burleigh Heads 1300 636 946

Travel Associates Caloundra Caloundra 1300212896

Chirn Park Travel Associates Chirn Park 1300 023 584

Travel Associates Cleveland Cleveland 1300 839 873

Egan & Turner Travel Associates

Edge Hill 1800 889 875

Travel Associates Hawthorne Hawthorne 1800 852 199

Travel Associates Castletown Hyde Park 1300 234 029

Yee & Turner Travel Associates

Kenmore 1800 053 356

Travel Associates Mackay Mackay 1300 234 946

Trendell & Turner Travel Associates Manly 1800 735 697

Travel Associates Mountain Creek Mountain Creek 1300 667 603

Ross & Turner Travel Associates Paradise Point 1800 257 226

Noller & Turner Travel Associates Rosalie 1800 002 670

Travel Associates Rockhampton Rockhampton 1300 217 924

Travel Associates Runaway Bay Runaway Bay 1300 841 072

Travel Associates Townsville Townsville 1300 230 176

Travel Associates Victoria Point Victoria Point 1300 841 486

South Australia

Bellamy & Turner Travel Associates

Brighton 1300 049 117

Tasmania Travel Associates Hobart

Travel Associates Sandy Bay

Victoria

Wolf & Turner Travel Associates

Hobart 1300 362 541

Sandy Bay 1300 206 963

Blackburn 1800 689 142

Ashmore, Harris & James Travel Associates Canterbury 1800 460 462

Ackerfeld & Goldberg Travel Associates Elsternwick 1800 625 888

Travel Associates Geelong Geelong West 1300 765 059

Travel Associates Hampton Hampton 1300 093 483

Travel Associates Kew Kew 1300 094 105

Connelly & Turner Travel Associates Malvern 1800 655 368

Gannon & Turner Travel Associates Prahran 1800 911 259

Freedman, Langhorne & James Travel Associates Sandringham 1800 681 342

Travel Associates Glenelg Glenelg 1300 847 289

Perchalla & Turner Travel Associates Hyde Park 1800 136 037

Lewis & Turner Travel Associates

North Adelaide 1800 332 078

Travel Associates Norwood Norwood 1300 847 658

Chrisakis & Turner Travel Associates

West Lakes 1800 056 159

Travel Associates Toorak Toorak 1300 802 476

Travel Associates Williamstown Williamstown 1300 610 073

Western Australia

Houston & Turner Travel Associates Applecross 1800 891 653

Travel Associates Cottosloe Cottesloe 1800 734 786

Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay