8 reasons Singapore’s not just for layovers anymore
Singapore is a city with multiple personalities – 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’s 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.
But behind the super-clean urban façade (let’s not forget that in this city-state, it’s 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’s famed hawker centers to the colourful lanterns and after-hours buzz of Chinatown’s Night Market, there’s plenty to see and do here – whether you want to eat chili crab with your bare hands or glam it up on the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands.
1. Ride Singapore Flyer
This giant observation wheel, which was the highest in the world until being recently dethroned by Las Vegas’ 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, or opt for a high-flying dining experience with dinner served in one of the glass-enclosed capsules.
2. Go on a Night Safari
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 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.
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