A-Z of Singapore :: Features :: Tourists & Visitors

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A-Z of Singapore

	THE OBVIOUS	THE INSIDER
	Asian Civilisations Museum Go back in time as you pore through 1,300 artefacts at ACM.	Actors Flex your vocal chords at this Boat Quay bar without worrying about getting booed off stage.
	Botanic Gardens Immerse yourself in the gorgeous greenery of the Botanic Gardens, including the National Orchid Garden. Regular outdoor performances ensure an afternoon or evening of laid-back entertainment.	Birds singing If you’re an early riser, you’ll have no problem waking up at 8am on a Sunday morning to listen to the birds singing at Wah Heng coffee shop at the corner of Tiong Bahru and Seng Poh roads.
	Clarke Quay Since its facelift, Clarke Quay has become every club-hopper’s dream with MoS, Barfly, Highlander and Attica. A drink (or ten) is only ever a few steps away.	Changi Museum A fantastically well put-together museum to teach you the dark history of Changi during the years of World War II.
	Dempsey The former British army barracks has been strategically transformed into a hub of wining and dining establishments.	Duxton Hill This small, quaint hill located in Tanjong Pagar used to be a nutmeg plantation; it has now cultivated a reputation for seedy nightclubs. Make it past the clubs and you’ll find some gems like Broth, Uluru and The Universal.
	Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay Singapore’s answer to the Sydney Opera House, this steel equivalent to a durian(a fruit with a thorn-covered husk and distinctive smell) contains a 1,600-seat concert hall, a 2,000-seat theatre and outdoor performing centres for free concerts.	East Coast Park Singapore’s largest park is a favourite among locals for weekend cycling, rollerblading and barbecue fun. There are also chalets for rent nearby, so you won’t have to worry about packing up and heading home as soon as the fun’s over.
	Flyer This is Singapore’s (bigger) answer to the London Eye. Offering incredible views, the Flyer can be hired for both exclusive group bookings and private bookings. If spirituality ain’t cutting it, this Flyer will take you higher.	Fort Canning While under colonial rule, this was the site of the Singapore Base District under the British army. It’s since been turned into a park overlooking Orchard Road and performance venue hosting ballet under the stars and rowdy music festivals (like 2007’s Good Vibrations festival).
	Golden Village Gold Class Golden Village cinemas also have GV Gold Class, the ultimate way to watch a movie. Lie back on the electronic recliner seats (think La-Z-Boy), cover yourself with the blanket and press your private call button for service when you’re peckish or thirsty.	Geylang Notorious for being one of the several red-light districts in Singapore, Geylang also has an excellent beef kway teow (rice noodles) and you tiao (deep-fried dough sticks to dip in soy milk or porridge) clay-pot frogs’ legs. Try the cafeterias located along Lorong 9 for the best variety.
	Hawker Centres It’s a fact that Singaporeans love food, and hawker centres are the place to start. Find these cheap-grub hubs scattered around the island (some air-conditioned, some not) – they offer hungry locals and travellers a variety of cheap Chinese, Malay, Western and Indian food.	Haw Par Villa Statues depicting Chinese mythology roam the grounds of this once-grand residence of ‘Tiger Balm King’ Aw Boon Haw. Check out the Ten Courts of Hell, a curious (if not unapologetically bloody) display responsible for the nightmares of generations of Singaporean children.
	Istana Meaning ‘palace’ in Malay, this is the official residence of the President and is only open to the public on public holidays. However, on the first Sunday of the month, there is a Changing of the Guards ceremony (based on the British ceremony of the same name at Buckingham Palace), so stop by to see the action.	Fuji Ice Palace Don’t laugh, but despite Singapore’s 32-degree Celsius average, we do have frozen snow. The Fuji Ice Palace’s rink is ideal for showing off those axel jumps.
	Jurong Bird Park Situated on a slope west of Jurong Hill and managed by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, this 202,000m² park is home to more than 9,000 birds.	Jalan Bahar Clay Studios If you’re at a loose end on the first Sunday of the month, hand over $20, have a cup of tea and join the resident artists in sculpting some clay which you can then fire and take home with you.
	Kampong Glam Kampong Glam is the historic Malay neighbourhood best explored on foot (try a tour organised by The Original Singapore Walks. Stroll down the pretty, pedestrianised Bussorah Street while the smell of spices permeates the air around you. Dominated by the Sultan Mosque at one end, the street is home to beautifully restored shophouses and shops where you can pick up traditional clothes, jewellery and other knick-knacks.	KM8 The original beach bar to hang out in before Café del Mar made its mark on Sentosa. Delightfully shabby chic hangout to while away Sunday afternoons.
	Little India The name says it all. There are small stores selling Indian apparel, accessories, spices, movies and music. If the lights aren’t bright enough in Chinatown, jolly your way down to Bollywood town.	Luge The Sentosa Luge is South-East Asia’s first. Part go-kart, part-toboggan and all excitement, this gravity-defying ride is not to be missed.
	MacRitchie Reservoir Completed in 1868, this is Singapore’s oldest reservoir. Visitors can enjoy a scenic stroll along the boardwalk skirting the edge of the water catchment. And while you’re there, walk the bridge of terror – okay, it’s not really called that, but the suspension bridge that’s part of the treetop walk is not for the faint-hearted.	Mustafa Centre Singapore’s only 24-hour shopping centre is located in Little India. Here, you can find everything from shampoo and CD cases to gold jewellery and Ray-Bans. This imposing department store is always buzzing with activity – if it’s not monetary exchange with cash registers ringing, it’s hungry shoppers shouting out their orders at the built-in café with alfresco dining. Count on leaving with bags full of goodies and a well-fed stomach.
	Night Safari Catch all kinds of creatures (not just the nocturnal ones) in their element. Choose from the Fishing, the Leopard and the Forest Giants trails – here, you will see everything from lions and elephants to bats and antelope during the dark hours of the evening. And there are also cultural performances by performers from the Thumbuakar Tribe.	New Asia Bar Sure, this bar at the Swissôtel The Stamford has overpriced drinks and an unrelenting soundtrack of Top 40 hits. But the amazing views (especially at night) and solid service are well worth the price.
	Orchard Road Surely you’ve heard of it: Singapore’s must-see shopping street, packed with malls galore to suit all your needs. Find designer digs such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel at Ngee Ann City, or the high-street favourites like Topshop and French Connection at Wisma Atria.	Orchard Towers Known affectionately as the ‘four floors of whores’, this mall is a hit with sailors and curious tourists looking for the seedier side of our fine city.
	People’s Park Situated in Chinatown, this is one of the locations for Singapore’s household-name OG department-store chain. A one-stop shop, goods here are affordable compared to Orchard Road, and you’ll never know what you might find.	Pampering Spas, spas and more spas. Go for a body, foot and any-part-of-the-body massage for cheap. Just make sure you know what you’re getting, (check out ‘Rubbed the right way’ for some tips on where to go and how to ‘Spot the dodge’).
	Qi Mantra Whether you have 20 minutes or two hours to spare the polite staff at Qi Mantra will revitalise your tired muscles with their pain-relieving Chinese acupuncture massages.	Queensway Shopping Centre We love Queensway. Rows of stores selling the latest in sport equipment occupy the first floor; on the second you’ll find a few independent boutiques selling trendy apparel. But if you can’t find that statement-making T-shirt, design your own, and take the artwork to one of the printing shops on the topmost level and get it made.
	Raffles Hotel This colonial-style icon has played host to celebrities like Ava Gardner, Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor. The most expensive room is the Sir Stamford Raffles suite that features two bedrooms, a private dining room, a private parlour, pantry and verandah: all yours for a jaw-dropping $7,500++ per night.	Rooftop bars Not everything in Singapore is air-conditioned. If you want to enjoy the night breeze over a few cocktails and casual conversation, head posthaste to these rooftop bars and have a grand time under the stars. We love Breeze, the Screening Room and Loof.
	Sentosa A short drive across the Sentosa Express bridge and you’ve entered an island brimming with attractions and activities: the 37m Merlion, Sentosa 4-D Magix (a state-of-the-art theatre), the ‘Songs of the Sea’ show, pink dolphins and Spa Botanica are just a few of the treats at this getaway island.	Singapore Slingers Despite our local team’s underwhelming recent performances, we can still play a mean game of basketball.
	Takashimaya This Japanese mega-department store on Orchard Road boasts oodles of designer wares and garments – enough to keep you busy all afternoon.	Thieves’ Market Gathered around Sungei Road is an alfresco flea market like no other in Singapore. There are all kinds of this and that and those, and we promise you will not leave empty-handed. Just make sure you have a bottle of water handy; all that heat and haggling will dehydrate even the fittest.
	Underwater World It’s been there since 1991, but it’s still one of Sentosa’s main draws. Take in some of the 2,500 types of marine animals while on the 83m travellator tunnel at the bottom level.	Pulau Ubin The last kampung (village) in Singapore, it’s a great choice for a quick weekend day trip by bumboat. Once there, you can rent bicycles and explore rubber plantations, secluded beaches and the mangroves of Chek Jawa.
	VivoCity Singapore’s largest shopping mall (for now) is packed with families on weekends. The mall brims with chain stores catering to all lifestyles and age groups; there’s even a rooftop wading pool for the kids to get wet in.	Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall One of our favourite buildings. There is even a clock tower to remind to you take your seats when the performances are about to start.
	Wak Hai Cheng Bio Temple Visit Singapore’s oldest Taoist temple that used to be a hub for the Teochew community.	Waterloo Street Arts Belt A meeting place for the arty-minded, located along this street you’ll find Sculpture Square, the YMS Arts Centre and Singapore Calligraphy Centre. The street is also flanked by the well-known Singapore Art Museum at one end and NAFA at the other.
	Xi Yan Try this tiny Chinese gem, where the chef Jacky Yu decides your dishes for a meal to remember.	X-rated Okay, we know we’ve mentioned them before, but if your evening’s needs aren’t satisfied by cocktails at the Raffles Long Bar, make a beeline for Orchard Towers, Geylang or Duxton Hill to spice things up. Just don’t forget protection.
	Youth Park This is where Singapore’s youth congregates to engage in live music, dance performances, skateboarding, street art and other activities that encapsulate the island’s local ‘street culture’.	Yangtze Cinema Singapore’s sexiest cinema stands tall and plays hard against the other bigger more commercial cinemas like Golden Village and Shaw. Have a look at our ‘Porn to be wild’ feature to get a better idea about the screenings…
	Zoo This is as close to going on safari as you can get here. Singapore’s acclaimed, open-concept zoo is home to white tigers, polar bears, pygmy hippos and many other wild things.	Zouk Zouk brings in top-notch international DJs and bands, including The Rapture, Justice, Laurent Garnier, Osulande, De La Soul, Peaches and Chicks on Speed. Party on during the regular themed nights like Mambo Jambo (Wednesdays), Bleedin’ Gums (Thursdays) and We Luv House (Fridays).

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