Dips in sky-high infinity pools. Walks around fantasy-like botanical gardens. Foodie thrills around every corner.
Singapore has evolved exponentially from its reputation as a simple stopover. Here we reveal why the city state should be on your bucket list, and the best time to visit Singapore.
The best time of year to visit Singapore
The Little Red Dot
It may be small, but the little red dot is no shrinking wallflower with a pioneering green masterplan and a focus on the new. Yes, there are the high-profile hotels, futuristic spaces and dazzling restaurants, but Singapore is also blooming with parks, gardens, rainforest and tangles of greenery.
Singapore is a year-round tropical destination, so you can come at any time. The dry season between February to August still sees a little rain – February, March and April offer spring-like conditions and low rainfall making it the best time to come weather-wise. June and July are school holidays and super busy. The wet season is September to February, with more intense spells of rain.
Top five districts in Singapore
Mix up your stay in Singapore and explore its eclectic neighbourhoods, from gleaming Marina Bay to buzzy Little India. Singapore is small and compact and if you plan in advance, you might just tick off all the sights on your list.
Marina Bay
Innovative neighbourhood
Singapore wouldn’t be Singapore without this innovative neighbourhood, lorded over by the statue of Merlion, the city state’s national icon. Dynamism swirls about the streets, from its gleaming skyscrapers to the emblematic triple-towered Marina Bay Sands – a vast resort with a 57th-floor infinity pool. Don’t miss the astounding, 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay – a fantastical botanical garden.
Chinatown
World’s #1
Arguably the greatest Chinatown in the world. Wander around the hot and hazy markets, the beautiful Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and the rainbow-bright Sri Mariamman Temple – the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. And gaze at the chess-playing elders and the murals painted by Yip Yew Chong as you chow down on dumplings from one of the smoky street stalls.
Little India
Spicy and colourful
The fragrant scents of spices will hit you as you mooch along the sidewalks of this colourful quarter. There are gritty market stalls, piled high with Indian spices, sari tailors hidden behind reams of material in workshops, and Indian sweet shops selling sticky gulab jamun and cardamom biscuits.
Orchard Road
Glitz and glam
Orchard Road is all about high-end fashion houses, restaurants dishing up menus of culinary wizardry, and fancy bars and lounges where the cocktails are as bold as the prices. Head up to the 55th floor of ION Orchard for sprawling (and free) views of the city and dip into the mall’s galleries with works by Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol.
Sentosa Island
Feel-good island
Singapore’s feel-good island revolves around brazen fun and giggles. Tick off the shows, shops, rides and rollercoasters of Universal Studios. Gaze at the aquatic creatures in the SEA Aquarium. And for beach bragging rights, discover its curves of sand – from kid-friendly Palawan Beach to Tanjong with its sharp-looking beach club.
Dive into Singapore
Meet the locals
The term melting pot gets bandied about a lot. But in Singapore’s case, it’s absolutely spot on. For all its innovation and brand-spanking new everything, its colonial past and the eclectic immigrant cultures that shaped this energetic young nation are worn like a badge of honour.
The Chinese, Malay and Indians have all left their indelible mark, from buzzing Chinatown to Little India. But nab a table at one of its hawker centres where every sort of Singaporean gathers, united by their love for food, to see the ‘real’ Singapore in a place that was once just a humble fishing village.
The best events in Singapore
Whether you want to gaze at electric pyrotechnic displays, dance on the sidelines of a parade or deep dive into its extraordinary food scene, arrive in the city state for one of its cultural festivals. Here we reveal the best events in Singapore to add to your diary.
Chinese New Year
Chinatown
January
Also known as Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events on the Chinese calendar. Head straight to Chinatown where streets are strung with lanterns, luminous decorations hang from shop doorways, and fireworks, parades and shows take over the quarter for the annual extravaganza.
Hari Raya Puasa
Geylang Serai
10 April
To mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, also known as Hari Raya Puasa. Pitch up at Geylang Serai for streets covered with fairy lights and crescent moons, lively cultural shows and dozens of foodie stalls selling ketupat.
Cultural facts
Spitting, chewing gum and littering is illegal in Singapore.
Always be on time: punctuality is a given here.
Avoid public displays of affection.
Deepavali
Little India
October, November or December
Little India glitters during the Festival of Light, where thousands of decorations and large illuminated sculptures are fixed everywhere. Go with an appetite too: its Deepavali food bazaar is legendary with stalls laden with Indian sweets and spicy snacks.
Great Singapore Sale
City-wide
September
Love a bargain? Time your trip with this almighty shopping event when the city transforms into one huge marketplace, slashing prices by up to 70%. For the best bargains, head to the fashion houses and luxe brands on Orchard Road.
Singapore Food Festival
Osaka (September)
City-wide
July
To truly grasp the complexities and intricacies of Singapore’s incredible food scene, arrive hungry to this culinary festival. You’ll find stalls dishing out everything from spoonfuls of peppery pork rib soup to immaculate fine-dining plates.
National Day Parade
City-wide
9 August
Embrace the Singaporean spirit for the riotous party that is National Day, commemorating the city state’s independence from Malaysia in 1965. Expect flag waving, patriotic songs, aerial displays and military parades, topped off with almighty fireworks displays across the city.
Where to stay in Singapore
Decadent grande dames to cool and contemporary boltholes for design lovers.
Singapore may only be tiny, but it packs an enormous punch when it comes to places to stay. Here’s our pick of the top four hotels in Singapore.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay
The star turn of this iconic grand dame is high up on the 57th floor: the world’s biggest infinity pool, where guests lean on the edge to gaze across Singapore’s skyline. But there’s also a Banyan Tree Spa, daily sunrise yoga, dozens of restaurants – from celeb chef offshoots to Michelin-starred spaces – and a whopping 270 shops.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
CBD
You’re in Singapore and you fancy a high-end drink. Where do you go? You go to Raffles, pulling up a pew in its moodily lit Long Bar and order a Singapore Sling. Everything about this legendary hotel smacks of class, from the immaculate service to its pristine rooms and Champagne served in its leafy courtyard.
Andaz Singapore
Kampong Glam
Hong Kong-based architect and interior designer Andre Fu was at the helm of the design team behind this stylish pad – all artwork and witty details celebrating the colours and charms of Singapore. Drop your bags in your room with jaw-dropping views and head straight up to the rooftop bar.
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
CBD
Classy and old-world but without a sniff of stuffiness, the Fullerton is a truly memorable destination. A former government building that’s been lovingly restored with crisp classic rooms combining heritage with contemporary touches. There’s also a lovely spa and the Jade restaurant draws hungry guests to its legendary dim sum buffet.
Average costs in Singapore
On your trip to Singapore, you can expect to pay:
Entry ticket to Universal Studios: SGD 79
Dining at a mid-range restaurant: SGD 20-40 per person
Car hire: SGD 70-100 per day
Taxi ride from Changi Airport to the city centre: SGD 20-35
Night safari ticket: SGD 49
Sky-high infinity pools. Achingly cool hotels. Thrilling cultural festivals. And a food scene firing on all cylinders. Everyone falls a little bit in love with Singapore at any time of year.
Thinking of travelling to Singapore? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels and car rental deals for your next trip.
