From the colonial grandeur of the Civic District's City Hall to
Chinatown's busy mix of Buddhist and Hindu temples, Singapore has an
easygoing multicultural mix. No wonder its cuisine is a world-famous fusion of Asian
nations. In Little India, traders sell spices and flowers from traditional
shop-houses, while packed Orchard Road is wall-to-wall shopping malls inside
gleaming skyscrapers.
Background
On this sunny island state, British Colonial days are reminisced with cricket matches
on the grassy Padang, surrounded by graceful monuments. But
Singapore's cutting-edge architecture around the Central Business
District reveals its progressive, business-savvy love of designer shopping
and a thriving party culture along the river in Clarke Quay. With four
official languages, and an easy blend of Malay, Chinese and Tamil cultures, this is
an island of many faces, festivals and flavours.
Urban
Along Singapore River, gleaming skyscrapers form a backdrop to the traditional
shop-houses. Here, Singapore's best museums cluster, including the Asian
Civilisations Museum, plus the chichi bars of Clarke Quay. The
graceful Civic District is home to the old Supreme Court and the
Peranakan Museum. Busy Chinatown shows off Singapore's
cultural blend, with Buddha Tooth Relic Temple's scarlet pagoda, and
stone carvings on Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple. Near the golden Sultan
Mosque, new boutiques hide on backstreets in the Arab Quarter, still
famous for its textile traders.
Rural
In Tanglin, the Singapore Botanic Gardens show off their famous orchid
hybrids. Go west for walks in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, with primary
rainforest minutes from the city. After a short boat trip south to Pulau Ubin
island, cycle around the village or go on a guided tour of Chek Jawa
Wetlands. On tourist-friendly Sentosa Island, it's easy to
escape the crowds on peaceful Tanjong Beach. Around Kranji's
countryside, tranquil Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is the place to spot
migrating birds.
High-tech, stylish and multi-award-winning, Singapore Changi Airport is a major hub
of South East Asia and usually voted the world's best. It flies around 40
million passengers a year, and the journey 20 km southwest to downtown Singapore
takes just 20 minutes.
The one-to-four minute journey on the Skytrain links Terminals 1, 2 and 3, operating
every couple of minutes. Travellators also provide links inside the
Departure/Transit area. A free shuttle bus service links Terminal 2 with the Budget
Terminal.
Airport parking
There are good-value car parks at all terminals. The open-air car park is handy for
Terminal 1, two multi-storey car parks are opposite Terminal 2 and two basement car
parks are by Terminal 3. All are payable with the Electronic Parking System
(EPS).
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We cannot guarantee that the same hotel room or car rental option will still be available if you have to cancel and make a new booking.
