Singapore
Where East meets West at its very finest
Why Visit Singapore?
Singapore punches well above its geographical weight. A city-state the size of a small county somehow contains some of the world's best airport, one of the globe's most celebrated airlines, a UNESCO-recognised hawker food culture, and a skyline anchored by the extraordinary Marina Bay Sands resort. Singapore is simultaneously one of Asia's most efficient and liveable cities and one of its most quietly extravagant — a place where a hawker stall can hold a Michelin star and where the airport has a waterfall inside it.
Best Time to Visit
Recommended
February to April
Singapore is equatorial and warm year-round (27–32°C), but the northeast monsoon ends in February, making the period through April the driest and sunniest. The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix in September is a major luxury travel moment.
Worth Noting
November to January sees heavier rainfall from the northeast monsoon, though the city remains functional and indoor attractions are unaffected.
Top Experiences
Marina Bay Sands
The iconic three-tower resort with its sky park bridge is Singapore's most recognisable landmark. The infinity pool at 57 storeys is for hotel guests only — one of the most photographed in the world. Below, the Shoppes at MBS contains luxury brands, a casino, and several celebrity chef restaurants including Spago and Cut by Wolfgang Puck.
Gardens by the Bay
The Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay are one of the world's great contemporary landscape achievements — 18-storey vertical gardens that come alive at night in a light and sound show. The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories (air-conditioned to delight) contain rare plants from across the globe.
Jewel Changi Airport
Changi Airport's Jewel terminal contains the world's largest indoor waterfall (40 metres, visible from every floor), a forest canopy walk, and over 280 shops and restaurants. Arriving through Changi is itself a luxury experience — consistently voted the world's best airport.
Hawker Culture & Michelin Street Food
Singapore's hawker centres (open-air food courts) represent one of the world's great democratic dining cultures. Chan Hon Meng's Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle holds a Michelin star and costs under £3. The UNESCO recognition of Singapore's hawker culture in 2020 confirmed what visitors already knew: this is serious food.
Sentosa Island
Sentosa connects to the southern tip of Singapore by cable car, monorail, and bridge. The island contains Universal Studios, a casino, Resorts World Sentosa, the Capella Singapore resort, and the private Tanjong Beach Club. It was also the location of the 2018 Trump-Kim summit at the Capella.
Where to Stay
Marina Bay
Iconic, futuristic, financial district
Ideal for: First-time visitors, luxury hotels, skyline views
Orchard Road
Shopping boulevard, upscale, central
Ideal for: Luxury shopping, international brands, hotel strip
Kampong Glam & Little India
Multicultural, street art, heritage
Ideal for: Cultural immersion, street food, boutique hotels
Sentosa
Resort island, beaches, leisure
Ideal for: Families, beach holidays, theme parks
Getting There
12h 45m · Business Class
Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways
from £3,480
7h 30m · Business Class
Emirates, Singapore Airlines
from £2,600
7h 00m · Business Class
Singapore Airlines, ANA
from £2,400
Local Tips
- The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the cleanest, coolest, and most efficient urban rail system in Asia — use it everywhere
- Singapore is strict on littering, chewing gum, and jaywalking — fines are real and enforced
- Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber) is reliable and cheap for anywhere the MRT doesn't reach directly
- Dress light — the heat and humidity are constant, though every indoor space is aggressively air-conditioned
- The GST Tourist Refund Scheme allows visitors to claim back 9% GST on purchases over SGD 100 — keep your receipts
- Hawker centres close early (many by 9pm) — plan your evening food stops by 8pm at the latest
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Plan your Singapore trip
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