Cosmopolitan Singapore is renowned for its reputation as a spotlessly clean economic powerhouse but peel back its layers and you’ll find a city fit to bursting with personality. Take in modern art, local history, verdant national parks, cutting edge technology and, lest we forget, it’s a street food mecca. When you’ve had your fill, head skywards and absorb the city’s bright lights from one of our favourite rooftop restaurants or the Singapore Flyer.
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As the major gateway to Southeast Asia and with one of the world’s best airports, Singapore is a popular stopover. It’s a destination in its own right however, offering a mesmerisingly multi-cultural heritage. The island city-state is an epicentre of diversity, known for its fusion of Malay, Peranakan, Indian, Arab, and European cultures which manifest themselves in the colourful shophouses, traditional food stalls and art-deco style buildings of Little India, Chinatown, the Arab Quarter and beyond.
There’s glamour in spades, whether you’re drinking in the glittering views and evening light shows from Marina Bay Sands, sipping champagne from a trackside VIP suite overlooking the Grand Prix or sampling Michelin-cuisine in high-end dining establishments. Equally, you can wander through the backstreets of off-the-beaten-track neighbourhoods where you’re never far from delicious yet affordable local eateries, their tables spilling out onto the street. Elsewhere, enjoy this modern urban oasis with a stroll around the botanical gardens, treat yourself with a dose of retail therapy along Orchard Road or browse the priceless antiques on Haji Lane.
Wix Squared has some exceptional guides to get you under the skin of the country including:
- Rural guides to take you outside the city for farm-to-table dining experiences and an insight into traditional, low-carbon farming techniques
- Passionate foodies to reveal the array of local cuisines through hawker centres, markets, and private homes
- Historians to lead you through the city by bicycle or e-scooter, spotting classic landmarks en route
- Feng shui masters to explain the secrets in the design and construction of the city’s most famous buildings to ensure fortune and prosperity
- Experts in traditional trades to introduce you to local artisans still using techniques passed down through the generations
- Naturalists to accompany you through the spectacular Botanical Gardens and provide an in-depth understanding of the exotic flora within
- A WWII specialist to teach you about the country’s wartime experience and life during the Japanese occupation
- Cultural connoisseurs to uncover the captivating stories of Singapore’s different ethnic groups
Itinerary Starting Price
Itinerary starting price: From £800 per person, for 3 days including accommodation and private transfers (not including flights).
Random Fact
Singapore is one of only three city-states in the world, along with Monaco and Vatican City.
Festival
Singapore celebrates its independence from Malaysia (9th August) with a parade, fireworks and a public display of its culture and heritage.
What to Eat
Singaporean chili crab is one of the nation’s signature dishes, designed for hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up feasting.
What to Read
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ by Kevin Kwan takes a deep-dive into the extravagant lives of Singapore’s elite.
What to buy
Stock up on Tiger Balm, in its familiar hexagonal tin. This traditional medicinal ointment is used for headaches, colds, and insect bites amongst other ailments.
Historic icons
Steeped in history, 133-year-old Raffles retains its old-world charm and colonial glamour, despite its recent restoration. It boasts distinctive architecture, a resident historian and the iconic Long Bar, birthplace of the Singapore Sling. Alternatively, re-live Singapore’s history at The Fullerton, once the General Post Office; within walking distance to the Marina Bay area, the historic structure conceals stunning Andre Fu-designed interiors.
Boutique retreats
Amongst Singapore’s burgeoning boutique hotel scene, stand out options include the Maxwell and Duxton Reserves, both housed in pretty heritage buildings in colourful Tanjong Padar. In the centre of the action is Naumi, sleek and contemporary with its own international art collection. For a change of scene, opt for riverside retreat, The Warehouse Hotel, a meticulously restored industrial trading house or the tranquil environs of beachfront Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island.
Marina Bay Views
If looking out over the glittering waters of Marina Bay is a must, opt for the fan-shaped Mandarin Oriental where the 527 rooms and suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows, or the Ritz-Carlton with its 4200-piece contemporary art collection. Glass-fronted Fullerton Bay is the place to see and be seen and, for the ultimate wow-factor and Singapore’s finest views, the triple-towered mega-resort, Marina Bay Sands, boasts Sands SkyPark, a 57th floor roof terrace, complete with jaw-dropping infinity pool.
Further afield
Retreat to the outskirts and opt for a peaceful refuge such as Villa Samadhi, tucked away in leafy Labrador Nature Reserve with just 20 individually decorated rooms. Alternatively, the opulence of cliff-top Sofitel Sentosa Island and its 27 acres of tropical grounds overlooking the South China Sea is hard to beat. Bookend your stay in Singapore on board the Eastern & Oriental Express which links the city with Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur and offers superlative service, plus all the magic of a bygone age.
Colourful culture
Step back in time as you wander through the riot of sounds, sights and scents that suffuse the backstreets of some of the island’s most diverse neighbourhoods. Our expert guides reveal cultural relics around every corner, from the Sultan Mosque in Arab Street and the restored shop houses on Pagoda Street, to the colonial grandeur of the iconic Raffles hotel and the heady mix of spices and jasmine permeating the markets in Little India. You’ll come across glittering temples nestling in tiny fishing villages and be introduced to authentic Peranakan traditions.
Green spaces
Not for nothing is Singapore known as the ‘Garden City’. Nearly half the city’s land area is green space, and its numerous parks and wonderful gardens are world class, providing a serene respite from the busy streets. Join our naturalist guide at the Botanical Gardens and enjoy the floral extravaganza of over 1,000 species of orchid, meander through the Gardens by the Bay, home to plants from around the world split into two climatic zones or work up a sweat hiking the MacRitchie Treetop Walk which soars above the jungle canopy.
Foodie fun
With cuisine highlighted as one of the most important aspects of Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage, this is a true foodie’s paradise and, as a melting pot of diverse cultures, the country leaves you spoilt for choice. While away a lunchtime with your gourmand guide at the frenetic yet well-managed open-air hawker centers – the lifeblood of Singapore – where locals jostle for Hainanese chicken rice, wonton noodles and kaya toast; pick up your morning coffee fix from the nearest Kopitiam – a cultural institution – and don’t forget about the city’s ever-expanding fine dining scene.
Family time
High-tech, multicultural Singapore is an ideal destination for families, where children can learn about diverse societies, explore bio-diverse environments, and discover the newest, most exciting technologies. Our hit-list includes KidZania, an interactive mini-city where younger travellers can learn real-life skills through role-playing activities; the ArtScience Museum, where children can use digital media to create their own world; Singapore Zoo for a safari by day or by night and of course a trip to Sentosa Island, where theme parks are followed by sandcastles on the beach.
History and traditions
For such a seemingly modern city, Singapore’s past is rich and fascinating. Our historians can bring it alive, retracing the steps of history through the cemeteries and memorials of WWII, the impressive architecture of the colonial period, when Singapore became one of the world’s busiest ports, and an array of other landmarks that help tell the city’s story. To add colour to these experiences, we can arrange encounters with artisans whose techniques and traditions have been passed down from ancestors who lived through these periods.
Further afield
Singapore’s attractions extend beyond its buzzing cityscape, and we recommend spending a day exploring the nearby car-free offshore islands, home to the city’s last traditional villages where agriculture and fishing play a key part of daily life. Explore the islands by bike and witness the old way of life of Singapore many decades ago. We can also take you into the countryside around the city to learn about today’s sustainable farming techniques from local farmers, rounded off with a farm-to-table lunch.
Discover Malay’s two great cities, beginning your trip in Singapore before continuing to Kuala Lumpur and then heading onwards to discover the rest of the country: the rustic charms of Penang, the un-spoilt natural landscapes in the Cameron Highlands and the beaches of Langkawi.
Combine the exhilaration of urban living in Singapore with beach bliss, cultural excursions or thrilling adventure in the Indonesian archipelago. Singapore Airlines makes the hop to Java, Bali or Lombok a breeze for the classic combination of activity and relaxation.
Link two highly contrasting cities by boarding the Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express, rolling through the countryside from dynamic Singapore to the old-world charm and authenticity of Bangkok. Fly onwards to the white-sand beaches and sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea.
As one of Asia’s prime party cities and the gateway to a wide range of onward travel destinations, Singapore is an ideal setting in which to celebrate with guests from across the globe. Some of the best chefs in the world reside here and the venues are numerous.
This is where our expertise comes into play, by handpicking the best option for you, whether that be a lofty rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city, a private pod on the Singapore Flyer or exclusive use of a private colonial mansion.
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Weather
Singapore is a key entry point to the Far East and the temperature is around 27°C/81°F year round.
The best time to visit is February-July.
The wettest time of year is November-January.
- Although warm, you will experience some rain at this time of year so use Singapore as a stop-over for a night or two before continuing to Southeast Asia where the weather is better.
- The rains have come to a halt, so spend a few days in Singapore and explore the buzzing regions of China Town and Little India for delicious street food experiences. Then head to the western Malaysian peninsula for some beach action.
- March is a popular time to visit Singapore when it is experiencing good weather. Having taken advantage of the dynamic shops and restaurants, continue further east to Japan in time for the cherry blossom season.
- This is a wonderful time to visit Singapore when you should experience warm sunny days. Explore the stunning ‘Botanical Gardens’ and ‘Gardens by the Bay’ as spring-time arrives.
- May is one of the peak times to be in Singapore for the drier weather. We can arrange some wonderful food experiences, private boat trips or hole up for a week on Capella Island – the perfect family holiday destination.
- Singapore is the perfect stopover before continuing to Indonesia or Malaysia for a spectacular honeymoon or family holiday at this time of year.
- With the weather still nice and dry, we suggest spending a few nights in Singapore, then hopping aboard a ferry to the more relaxed Bintan or Nikoi island.
- The Singaporean weather is a little less predictable in August, but it makes a good stop-over to get over your jetlag before continuing to Koh Samui where the weather should be more guaranteed.
- September is the month when the famous Formula 1 comes to Singapore. Advance bookings over this period is vital and hotel prices increase dramatically.
- October is the end of the dry season for most of Indonesia, so we can negotiate some great rates for you here and incorporate a short stopover on the way back home in Singapore, to pick up some last-minute souvenirs.
- This is one of the wettest months of the year in Singapore. So don’t spend too long here before continuing to another more pleasant Asian destination. Bhutan is spectacular at this time of year and there are direct flights between Singapore and Paro.
- High precipitation levels in Singapore means it would be wise to pack an umbrella, though this doesn’t stop the incredible fireworks over the marina for New Year’s Eve or the magical Christmas wonderland at Gardens by the Bay.
