{"id":468,"date":"2015-07-02T06:35:38","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T06:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/8-reasons-singapores-not-just-for-layovers-anymore\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:20:44","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:20:44","slug":"singapore-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/singapore-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"8 reasons Singapore\u2019s not just for layovers anymore"},"content":{"rendered":"

Singapore is a city with multiple personalities \u2013 and we mean that in a good way. Once a tiny British colony, this (still tiny) modern metropolis is now a booming international business hub. It\u2019s an ideal meeting point for East and West both in terms of geography and attitude. Here, skyscrapers crowd the riverfront and suited ex-pats sip Singapore Slings in posh restaurants and posher-still casinos. Visitors flock to the high-end retail boutiques along Orchard Street and it seems that you can quite literally walk anywhere without ever leaving the air-conditioned comfort of a thousand interconnected shopping malls.<\/p>\n

But behind the super-clean urban fa\u00e7ade (let\u2019s not forget that in this city-state, it\u2019s illegal to even buy chewing gum out of concerns it would dirty the pristine sidewalks), there are plenty of cultural treasures to discover. From pockets of colourful colonial buildings, the eclectic chaos of the Mustafa Center in Little India and the street food-peddling stands of the city\u2019s famed hawker centers to the colourful lanterns and after-hours buzz of Chinatown\u2019s Night Market, there\u2019s plenty to see and do here \u2013 whether you want to eat chili crab with your bare hands or glam it up on the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands.<\/p>\n

1. Ride Singapore Flyer<\/h2>\n

This giant observation wheel<\/a>, which was the highest in the world until being recently dethroned by Las Vegas\u2019 High Roller, overlooks Marina Bay in the heart of modern, waterfront Singapore. Go for a spin to see views out over the entire city and the super trees of the park-like Gardens by the Bay<\/a>, or opt for a high-flying dining experience with dinner served in one of the glass-enclosed capsules.<\/p>\n

2. Go on a Night Safari<\/h2>\n

Singapore Zoo is worth a visit by day, but the real appeal is after the sun goes down. On the famous night safari, you can tour the zoo after dark<\/a> for a peek at the evening antics of nocturnal animals including the babirusas, leopards, and flying foxes. You can make a night of it, too, sticking around the zoo after the safari for a bite to eat or to catch a live show with music and dancing.
\n<\/p>\n

3. Have a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel<\/h2>\n

Nowhere else conjures up the sultry elegance of colonial-era Singapore like the historic Raffles Hotel. This stately white edifice sprawls through downtown \u2013 it\u2019s worth a visit just to roam among the columns and greenery-filled atriums. Restaurants housed within the hotel host\u00a0high tea<\/a>, which is an appropriate nod to the city\u2019s British influence, or you can opt to sip the city\u2019s namesake cocktail \u2013 the Singapore Sling \u2013 for a tropical take on cocktail hour in the historic Long Bar.<\/p>\n

4. Marina Bay Sands<\/h2>\n

Perhaps the most iconic building in Singapore\u2019s modern core, the Marina Bay Sands rises like a giant ship suspended above the city. A world-class casino fills the ground floor of this contemporary hotel, while the rooftop swimming pool, restaurant and bar lure visitors seeking both the spectacular view and the opportunity to see and be seen. Grab a bite to eat in one of the hotels\u2019 in-the-clouds eateries, or roll the dice with Lady Luck at the elite casino downstairs.<\/p>\n

5. Check out the nightlife on Clarke Quay<\/h2>\n

Stretching along the riverfront, historic Clarke Quay is packed with bars and restaurants and lined with Chinese tongkang \u2013 boats that have been converted into (you guessed it) more bars and restaurants. Spend an afternoon at the Asian Civilisation Museum; then take a leisurely stroll along the water, crossing bridges as you make your way up the quay in search of the perfect eatery, whether you want to tuck into a plate of chicken rice or throw back a pint or two at an Irish pub.
\n<\/p>\n

6. Get lost in Chinatown<\/h2>\n

The heartbeat of the city, Chinatown is Singapore\u2019s cultural core. You can\u00a0eat around the clock<\/a>\u00a0and the Night Market in particular is always abuzz. Shop for souvenirs and Asian wares in the hodge-podge of colourful shops, stand in line for a plate of Singapore-style carrot cake (no cream cheese frosting here\u2014this hot and savory version is made with eggs, daikon, and sometimes oysters), and grab a coconut to sip on with a straw as you roam under glowing red lanterns, soaking up the pleasantly chaotic bustle of this otherwise overtly orderly metropolis.<\/p>\n

7. Flex your credit card on Orchard Road<\/h2>\n

Die-hard shoppers could spend weeks on Orchard Road and never see the inside of every boutique. Designer names from around the globe share square footage with luxury malls and shopping centers at every price point, from the super cheap to the astronomically expensive. Shop and people-watch your way up the street and when your new shoes start to hurt, hop in a cab for a ride out to the Botanic Gardens for a quiet change of pace.<\/p>\n

8. Be entertained on Sentosa Island<\/h2>\n

Accessible by footbridge, cable car, light rail or tram, Sentosa is Singapore\u2019s closest holiday escape, offering pretty much any entertainment activity you can think of. There are pretty beaches here, where you can take a dip in the balmy waters or build sandcastles on the shore.\u00a0Universal Studios<\/a>\u00a0is on the island, as well as a multitude of shops, restaurants, movie theaters and other entertainment venues. There\u2019s a water cannon and laser light show, indoor bungee jumping, a Wave House for surfing, ziplines, museums, dolphins, and a waterpark, aquarium, a 4-D theme park, monkeys, a bird aviary \u2013 basically, everything needed for fun for the whole family. Grab a\u00a0day pass<\/a>\u00a0and go for it.<\/p>\n

For more things to do in Singapore, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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