Singapore , The City of the Future

Without a doubt, Singapore is the city that can be described as the city of the future. Its name in the local dialect means "Lion City", and since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, it has been considered the "Switzerland of Asia".

It is known not only for its technological achievements but also for its social ones, as it managed to develop within 50 years more than perhaps any other country in the world, while its population consists of 4 different nationalities: Indians, Malays, Chinese, and Eurasians.

Getting around Singapore is excellent. The metro has more than enough stops to visit all attractions without any effort. To truly discover the city, you have to walk it, something we did quite a lot during our days there. And when we eventually couldn't, we used bicycles.

Located almost on the Equator, Singapore is one of the most developed cities in the world and one of Asia's major economic powers. It's a verdant city, famous for its amusement parks, high technology, and superstores.

In the bustling streets of Chinatown, fortune tellers and mystics, calligraphers and temple worshippers continue to be part of daily life. In Little India, you can buy the world's best fabric saris, fresh spices, or a picture of your favourite Hindu god.

In the small shops on Arab Street, where the Imam's call echoes from the nearby Sultan Mosque, you can haggle for hours over everything. Here you can have a suit made in a few hours, find the best electronics in the world, and expensive watches and jewellery at such good prices that your trip might end up costing you nothing.

Book your flights through Travelo and let's explore Singapore!

[lwptoc numeration=”roman”]

Accommodation

The city offers a plethora of hotels, with the famous Marina Bay Sands being the flagship. This hotel is housed in two skyscrapers, featuring the "Infinity pool", the world's largest rooftop pool – available exclusively to guests!

 

Food

The variety of food in Singapore is truly amazing. Prices for street vendors and traditional shops range from $3 – $5 per person, at fast food outlets $4 – $7 per person, while in restaurants it's $10 – $120 per person, depending on the place and time you dine.

Dress in casual, cotton and linen clothing. The secrets of Singaporean cooking come from its immigrants. Culinary influences stem from China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Chinese food: You'll find all types of Chinese cuisine, from the subtle Cantonese to the spicy Szechuan.

Cantonese: Original. Subtle and light flavours. The best Cantonese restaurants can be found in the shopping centres of Orchard Road and Marina Bay.

Hokkien: Fried Hokkien Mee is one of Singapore's top dishes. A rich mixture of wheat noodles, sautéed with garlic, prawns, pork, squid, bean sprouts, eggs, and Chinese chives with a pork broth sauce.

Teochew: The secret of Teochew cuisine is its method of roasting or boiling in fat with spices. A unique dish is its clear soup with a light flavour. Try fish soup and slow-cooked duck or goose.

Hainanese: Hainanese chicken rice is ideal for European visitors. Simple, extremely tasty, it's a combination of chicken with sesame oil and soy sauce, served with rice cooked in chicken broth and a spicy garlic sauce.

Hakka: Hakka cuisine is simple, often using beans instead of meat as a main ingredient. Homemade wine is used for hearty soups and to cook chicken and meat. Among the best Hakka dishes are beef soup and Yong Tau Foo – bean sauce and vegetables with chopped fish.

Peking: Chinese cuisine characterised by lamb dishes, but its most famous recipe is the renowned Peking duck.

Szechuan: Strong and spicy flavours, such as chicken or prawns garnished with spicy sauces, fried pork slices, and smoked duck with tea leaves and camphor.

Herbs: Herbal recipes are very popular as many Chinese in Singapore rely on herbs for their health. The best dish is Bak Kut The, a herbal soup containing pork and served with fried dough fritters.

Seafood: Singapore's seafood pride is undoubtedly the Chili Crab. Fresh crabs with their shells are fried with garlic, sugar, tomato and soy sauce, spices, and eggs, creating a wonderful sauce that is eaten with bread. The most famous seafood restaurants are located at East Coast Parkway and the UDMC Seafood Centre. You'll find plenty of restaurants with good seafood throughout Singapore.

For vegetarians: There are several Chinese and Indian vegetarian restaurants in Singapore, near Serangoon Road. Closer to the city, in Orchard Towers and the Excelsior Hotel, you will also find such restaurants.

Western cuisine: Most popular Western restaurants are scattered in areas such as Holland Village, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and the hotel zone on Orchard Road, where you'll find many French, English, Mexican, and Mediterranean restaurants, all with excellent food. There's even a Brazilian restaurant in Bukit Timah.

 

Entertainment

Singapore offers endless entertainment day and night.

During the day: Concerts, performances by music groups, choirs, theatre companies. Cinemas with the latest films from America, Europe, and Hong Kong in superb picture/sound quality.

At night: Chinese opera by street performers, nightclubs, classical music by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and dance performances (classical & modern) by the Singapore Dance Theatre. Exciting bars, clubs, discos, karaoke, and entertainment venues across the island.

 

River

Boat Quay: A beautiful and renovated row of colourful shops along the Singapore River, Boat Quay is known for its excellent outdoor restaurants, charming bars, and cafes.

Clarke Quay: Good food, lively entertainment, and interesting shopping and other opportunities. In the evening, pubs and bars ranging from classic rock to hard rock and 60s music.

 

Orchard

Orchard Road! For many, Orchard Road is the heart and soul of Singapore's nightlife. Together with the neighbouring areas of Scotts Road and Tanglin Road, they form the city's hot spot with bars, discos, and clubs to suit all tastes. Jazz lovers, choose between Cuppae Place and the Singapore Marriott Hotel, which often host live jazz band performances.

 

Marina

Marina South, eighteen cosmopolitan restaurants, pubs, clubs, wine bars, cafes, and discos are the attractions of this area. The range of food is amazing; you'll find everything from authentic Australian fish to Indian restaurants offering a blend of Southern and Northern Indian cooking under one roof. You can also find traditional Italian pasta, a huge variety of Singapore's famous Chili Crab, Black Pepper Crab, and other seafood.

 

Bugis

Bugis Street is another entertainment location offering bars, discos, and Broadway-style cabarets with a theatre-type lounge. It also has an underground video arcade with the latest video games, billiards, and other fun games.

 Chinatown

Tanjong Pagar: With its narrow, cool pathways and renovated historic buildings, Tanjong Pagar is a shopping paradise during the day and an enchanting place after sunset. The area also offers a rich collection of pubs, bars, and karaoke, many of which open into the early hours.

Chinatown: The hustle and bustle in Chinatown begins before sunrise and lasts until late at night. The new Chinatown Point shopping centre offers air-conditioned shopping and comfortable dining, with a collection of food outlets in the basement courtyard. The combination of food and entertainment in the bars of nearby Tanjong Pagar creates a vibrant atmosphere.

Key rules in Singapore? Chewing gum is prohibited, as is littering, consuming alcohol and food on public transport, and smoking outside designated areas! If you… break the law, the fines are quite strict. Perhaps as much as your stay in this beautiful and spotlessly clean city!

You can discover more about Singapore and other regions on Katerina and Konstantinos' travel blog Justbooktheticket.travel