From neon man-made forests to virgin rainforests, the unique city of Singapore has impressive versions of both. It would be a shame to ignore the diverse culture and beauty of this city, so take a look at these top attractions and start your journey.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Whether you need a new place to relax, or a literal breath of fresh air, slip on your walking shoes and take some paths through Singapore’s virgin rainforests. The Botanic Gardens are open from 5 a.m. to midnight teaming with joggers, dogs, and tai-chi practitioners. It is a retreat for many with various gardens including the National Orchid Garden’s multi-coloured collection of 1,000 orchid species with 2,000 hybrids. When you tire from admiring the gorgeous beauty of these gardens, drop into the food court near Tanglin Gate for a traditional local breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, coffee, and toast with coconut jam.
The Singapore Flyer
The 165-meter-high Flyer is Singapore's answer to the London Eye. For the moment, it is one of the world’s largest observation wheels. Despite much fanfare and hype, the locals have never really taken to the Flyer. Lucky you, since this means you'll almost never have to wait in line. The best time to hitch a ride is at dusk when the entire row of downtown skyscrapers is softly lit. Back on the ground, head for a dinner of chili crabs at Seafood Paradise.
Singapore Night Safari
Singapore Night Safari is truly a unique attraction. It is not only an interesting place worth a visit but a leading conservation and research centre in Asia. As a zoo it offers an unusual glimpse into the nocturnal animal kingdom, with more than 59 exhibits and 1,000 animals to be seen from around the world. These include Himalayan griffon vultures, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, wildebeests and gazelles. You can simply start with the ‘Creatures of the Night’ show for a good 20-minute overview of the animals that you can see.
Bay Sands
Singapore’s very own slice of Las Vegas, the gigantic Marina Bay Sands ‘integrated resort’ features the city’s biggest casino and a shopping mall so big it has its own canal offering gondola rides - not to mention the boat-like structure perched atop its three enormous curved skyscrapers which houses the world’s highest rooftop pool. While you’re there, visit the Garden by the Bay, which has been crowned World Building of the year at the world Architecture Festival 2012. The famous Supertree structures offer an impressive skywalk over the gardens, over-sized seashell-shaped greenhouses recreate chilly mountain climates and there are hundreds of trees and plants to discover, making this destination great fun for all kinds of personalities.
Chinatown
Another icon of Singapore, Chinatown is great for shopping with some of the cheapest souvenirs you can find, and also to see all kind of historical attractions and authentic Chinese food. There are countless restaurants and food vendors to choose from. Learn more about the history of the area from the Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street. Its main focus is on the Chinese immigrants who lived a hard life but were the main group of people who founded Singapore. Other attractions include Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest temple in Singapore, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and Maxwell Road Food Centre.
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