Five reasons why Singapore should be your next holiday abroad

Singapore is a proud home to cuisine that’ll cater to pretty much every craving and it’s little wonder that the metropolis has earned a reputation for being a glorious multi-cultural melting pot. You’ll probably be pleased to hear that this place is home to a remarkable 44 Michelin-starred restaurants. Yep, you read that right. One place you have to check out is Candlenut – the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant specialising in innovative modern takes on traditional Straits-Chinese cuisine. If street food is more your energy then Singapore’s one-of-a-kind hawker food culture is about as good as it gets. Make sure you check out the Chinatown Complex, home to more than 250 food stalls (including Hawker Chan – the first street food trader to be awarded a Michelin star), which, as you might expect, means a heady and intoxicating combination of sights, sounds, aromas and flavours. Truly, a feast for the senses – and replete with eateries offering some serious bang for your buck. And one more tip while you’re here: cocktails at Smoke and Mirrors. Because sure the libations are lush (the rum, apple and spice combo in By The Pandang is phenomenal) but the panoramic views of the city’s skyline are sublime, with those of the sun setting over the Civic District especially beautiful.

This forward-thinking city is much more than its reputation as a foodie capital – it’s also an innovative technological hub. At select airports and galleries, you might find yourself greeted by robots that can mop, scrub and even offer select concierge services. In some of Singapore’s hotels, you’ll find that they’re using aquaponics to grow their own food, from farm to fork and barely any travel. Or if you really want to gaze into a crystal ball? Check out Ratio Bar, where coffees and cocktails are created and served by a very cool robotic arm – all you need to do is order from a touch-screen pad and watch as your drink is created with the kind of precision and consistency mere mortals could only hope for (but don’t worry, humans are on hand to give you tips on what to drink and, you know, provide some interaction). If you’re after some retail therapy, the island’s malls boast boutiques with selfie-centres and augmented-reality walkways that can dramatically transform the shop aisle with little more than scanning a QR code. ‘Cutting edge’ doesn’t even cut it.

For any action-seekers out there, you’ll be pleased to know that Singapore can more than deliver its share of thrills. There are non-stop endurance events constantly taking place all year round but if you prefer getting stuck in, there’s no shortage of exhilarating feats for you to try out (and no doubt terrify your fellow travellers with). Adventure means different things to different folks: that might be skydiving into the world’s first (and largest, fyi) wind tunnel or sailing around some of Singapore’s 63 islands, such as Kusu, St John’s or Lazarus. Regardless of your definition, there’s a breathtaking experience around every corner.

You might be the type who really wants to get under the skin of a city, or perhaps you’re revisiting Singapore and want a completely different experience to the last. Whatever the reason, there are countless ways to experience Singapore, including some pretty well-kept secrets. Want a few suggestions? Try one of Singapore’s newest attractions, Coney Island. It’s 50 hectares of dreamy cycling and bird-watching territory. You’ll love it. If you want further proof that Singapore’s not just a glorious urban paradise, check out one of its farms on the outskirts of the city, where you can enjoy things like fishing, herbal farm tours and wildlife museums amid complexes boasting spacious villas and spa facilities. Great for some R&R.

Singapore’s futuristic cityscape is unmatched, especially at night, but you’ll be pleased to know that that’s not where it ends. Park Royal on Pickering and Oasia Downtown are iconic landmarks in the city, attracting countless visitors every year but The Gardens by the Bay, in particular, is a marvel to behold. Make your way here to take in the towering supertrees and the extraordinary Cloud Forest Dome, with a 30-metre-tall waterfall in tow. If you stop by at dusk, marvel at Garden Rhapsody, a free light and sound show that takes place every night amongst the Supertrees. A mixture of modern design, innovative technology and flourishing nature, it truly captures Singapore’s plan to be city in nature.