Singaporeans creativity and intuition to know exactly what a tourist wants, makes Singapore a great place to visit. The one of a kind night safari@ Singapore zoo featuring more than 2000 animals from around the world, viewing Singapore from above the worlds largest ferris wheel @ The Singapore Flyer, relax with some shisha, arabic food and great music @ Arab street, dining al fresco with champagne @ Clarke Quay, haggle a bargain @ the largest market place in Bugis, or learn to appreciate arts @ Singapore Art Museum, we cant wait to explore Singapore with you. LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN!

Chinatown
A short walk from Chinatown MRT Station (NE4), Outram Park MRT Station (EW16/NE3) or Tanjong Pagar MRT Station (EW15)
Busses:2,12,33,51,61,62,63,81,84,103,124,143,145,147,166,174,190,197,851

The early Chinese settlers once lived, oiled and played in these streets. Although the brothels and opium dens are long gone, its old buildings and street markets still offer a pleasant change from the city’s skyscrapers.  Once alighting from the MRT in to Chinatown, the sudden change of architecture from boring glass and concrete to colorful shop lots with the common colonial straits look is most captivating. The streets are narrow enough without the shops extending their stalls out, but I must admit, it adds more vibrancy to the place. Here you can find traditional Chinese lanterns, calligraphy, Chinese art and crafts, tea leaves, Chinese trinkets and souvenirs, electronics and even a traditional medicinal hall selling herbs. In Chinatown, you definitely need to bargain. 
Do visit Chinatown Heritage Centre to learn about their history and legacy, and Thian Hock Keng to see the oldest Hokkien temple. A trip to Chinatown is not complete without a visit to the Chinatown Food Street for an alfresco meal and sample local food fare from various food stalls, followed by a walk through the Chinatown Night Market.
During the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, you’ll find the locals burning incense and joss paper at every corner of Chinatown. Stages and tents for the Chinese opera and ‘koh tai’ (music stage in Hokkien) are also being set up for the Hungry Ghosts Festival in various corner of the town, hoping that the performances would appease the ‘wandering spirits’. This is the second largest and liveliest festival in Singapore other than the Chinese New Year so you probably wouldn’t want to miss it!
Chinatown comes alive also during the other festivities like Chinese New Year and the Mid Autumn Festival. Get the walking tour map of Chinatown.



Shopping in Orchard Road- Let the shopping begin
Orchard Road is probably the first shopping place you would hear of and come to. Other shopping option's besides Orchard would be Vivo City, Raffles Place and Suntec.

• Ngee Ann City — The largest shopping mall in the Orchard Road shopping belt. It houses branded boutiques such as Vacheron Constantin, Louis Vuitton and Chanel as well as Japanese department store, Takashimaya. The mall is also home to Southeast Asia's second largest bookstore, Books Kinokuniya.
• Wisma Atria — A good mix of shops to smaller boutiques. Food Republic on the 4th floor is one of the best food courts along Orchard. The mall is directly connected to Orchard station.
• DFS Galleria — This shopping mall located in Scotts Road, it mainly selling Luxury Brands such as Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton and Bvlgari.
• Ion Orchard — recently opened on 21 July, 2009, this mall features mostly branded goods. It houses six double-storey flagship stores of close to 9,000 square feet each, including Prada, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and Cartier. Its signature glass façade doubles up as a giant media screen as well.
• Lucky Plaza — Your average shopping mall with assorted shopping variety. Sells mostly electronics (Sim Lim Square is much better for bargains), Had a lot of bad comments on this plaza.
• Far East Plaza — The plaza is known for its cheap food outlets.This complex has little shops that sell everything from CDs to punk fashions, luggage to camera equipment, eyewear to souvenirs. Mind yourself here: Most of these shops do not display prices, but rather gauge the price depending on how wealthy the customer appears. If you must shop here, make sure you bargain.
• Wheelock Place — Houses the Borders bookstore, one of the largest bookstores in the country and it also has a large Marks and Spencer outlet. Love the coffee outlet just outside the bookstore, where you can drikn and read.
• Paragon — The Paragon is a high-end shopping mall selling branded items with a Metro department store and a  Marks & Spencer store as well. The place also has a Toys 'R' Us and a number of restaurants. It underwent expansion around 2002, taking over the land once occupied by The Promenade.
• The Heeren Shops — Heeren sells items mainly for youngsters and house a HMV store. The site was formerly a colonial building.
• Tang Plaza — Tang Plaza is home to a homegrown department store, Tangs.
• Forum The Shopping Mall — Forum sells mainly branded children's clothes and accessories with a Toys "R" Us on the third floor. It also has a number of branded boutiques such as Emporio Armani and Dolce and Gabbana.
• Shaw House and Centre — Shaw House is home to the Isetan department store and on the fifth and sixth floors is where the Lido 8 Cineplex is located, which has one of the largest cinema halls in the country.

Let the night come alive @ Night Safari
Website: www.nightsafari.com.sg
Nearest MRT stations: Ang Mo Kio or Choa Chu Kang
Busses: 138,171,927

Sick of the normal zoos but still love the sight of animals? Then spice up the adventure a notch and visit the Night Safari in Singapore! This is the world’s first wildlife park for nocturnal animals and is an eight-time winner of the Best Visitor Attraction Experience, awarded by Singapore Tourism Board.  It is a 40 hectare park that is divided into eight geographical zones, which can be explored either on foot via three walking trails (Fishing Cat, Forest Giants & Leopard Trail), or by tram. This is an exciting attraction because, of the mysterious night feel.  Imagine exploring the trails in the dark, hoping to catch an unsuspecting tapir or Babirusa feeding! Make sure you squeeze in the Creatures of the night show in your visit. It is a 20 minute animal presentation to introduce you to the nocturnal animals. Do go early as the seats are limited. Check out www.nightsafari.com.sg for show times.
The park has over 1040 animals of which 120 are 29% threatened species. The parks mission is to promote biodiversity, and focuses on the captive breeding of threatened species. Over the years, it has bred Malayan tigers, Asian elephants, fishing cats, red dholes, anoas, markhors, bantengs, Malayan tapirs and Asian lions, among other endangered species.
Also to make the tour a little different, you can go on an empty stomach and dine at the park’s Gourmet Safari Experience, where you can dine onboard a tram while traversing the eight geographical zones.

Opening hours: 6pm to midnight daily
Admission: SGD 22 (adult), SGD 11 (Child)
Tel: 65-62693411

The Esplanade
The nearest MRT : Raffles City

The Esplanade is also called the Durian, because the spiky structure is very similar to the “King of Fruit”.
This water front location is located near the mouth of the Singapore River. If you are taking a bum boat tour, you will definitely pass the Esplanade on one side and the Merlion on the other. The Theatres on the bay is located here. People come here for one reason and one reason only, which is to enjoy art and musical performances at the theater.
If you are walking to the Esplanade from the underpass of Raffles City MRT, the “tunnel” is a stretch of 85 meter wall and floors that is used to feature works of artists. The other highlight of the place besides, catching a theatrical act and musical is the Roof Terrace which is a great place to view the bay and city skyline. Great place for photo shoots! Also do check out the Outdoor theatre located along Marina Bay. If you are lucky you can catch free live performances by some of Singapore’s talented bands. Plenty of seats to enjoy the show.  (Bands start playing usually in the evenings) – We totally support the Singaporean government with this idea, as it fits the vision of the Esplanade to promote arts and musical in this island. If you are hungry, check out Glutton's Bay (an open air food court) just next to the Esplanade.
For show times/tickets and how to get here, check out>> Esplanade



The Singapore River plays an important role in connecting the city of Singapore economically and socially
Cruise starts at The Raffles Landing Site (MRT: City Hall or Raffles place)

This cruise is a great inexpensive way to spend 1 hour of your time when visiting Singapore. The cruise starts at the Raffles landing site (this is where Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore was thought to have first landed). This cruise has it all! A little mix of history of the surrounding buildings and the Singapore river (cruise comes with easy to understand narration) combined with the scenic buildings and skyline makes this tour a very worth it. Attention: Photography fanatics, this place is a must! (Great fun for families as well)
Cruise takes you pass restored go downs, under grand old bridges like Cavenagh Bridge (inset picture), Jiak Kim Bridge and Robertson Bridge, and not forgetting pass the entertainment side of Quay Side. You can maybe use this opportunity to take a pick at which restaurant you might head to after the cruise!? Watching people feasting and drinking champagne by the Quay side will certainly get your tummy all worked up.
You might want to opt to do the cruise in the late afternoons or in the evening, when most of the lights are on. The cruise at night transforms the experience into a very romantic outing, especially when the entire river side is lighted up like Cinderella Land.
Among the main attractions you will pass by, is the Merlion, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Esplanade and also catch a glimpse of the Singapore Flyer.
If really do not have time for a cruise, maybe instead of queuing in line for a cab from the Merlion to Boat Quay, you can take the river taxi instead for SGD 4! At least you can say, you have been on the bum boat! Click Here for more river taxi times and cost.
*All boats are safe and comply with the Singaporean Safety Standards.

Merlion - A visit here complete's the saying "Seen that, done that" in Singapore
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place

The Merlion – A visit to the iconic Merlion is 100% symbolic as you wouldn’t want to come back from Singapore without taking your picture with Singapore’s national icon.
The statue stands in front of One Fullerton, and can be seen spurting water out to the mouth of the Singapore River. Bum boats regularly ply the river, and from a far you can see the Singapore flyer, and the Esplanade. The view from the Merlion observation deck is scenic provided it isn’t a hazy day.
** Most people love taking photographs with the Merlion and the Esplanade as the back ground.
Made from cement by the late Singaporean artist Mr Lim Nang Seng. This statue stands 8.6 meters high and weights 70 tons. The skin is made from porcelain plates and the eyes from small red teacups!  The Merlion is an imaginary creature spotting a lion’s head and a fish’s body.  The lion head represents Singapore’s original name – Singapura (meaning lion city), while the fish element can be linked to Singapore being a fishing village in the past (Singapore is also known as Temasek which means “sea town” in Javanese.

The Island of Sentosa- Celebrity beach site of Singapore
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front MRT
Bus Station: Harbour Front bus terminal (Click on the link below for more information on how to get here)

Almost every site online as well as on the "Visit Singapore" brochures flying around will tell you that Sentosa is a "must visit" in Singapore.  Whether you are a beach fan or just need an escape from the bustling city, Sentosa is your best bet. With the cable car currently closed, you can either take a taxi, a bus or the monorail to the island. Picture Perfect Island? Definitely! From afar, the beach is perfectly lined with tropical trees, deck chairs and constantly filled with activity against the blue clear water.
Do keep an open mind, that if you have visited beaches in Asia, like those in Andaman or East Coast of Neighboring Malaysia, Sentosa cannot be compared. The sand here is courser and can get pretty dusty especially when there is a volley ball tournament on. But what it lacks in lustre, it makes up in terms of the fancy restaurants, beach side bars, musical shows and aquariums and adventure rides.
One must bear in mind that Singapore being a big port, has pretty limited space. Therefore it won’t be unusual to see some big tanker ships out in the open water from your deck chair. But what is cool about this place, is when you reach the island. There is a free shuttle service that takes you to the other beaches in Sentosa. The beaches are decorated with palm trees and it one of the most favorite sport here is practically volleyball. Haven’t got a ball? Just ask any of the locals, and join in their game!
There is kayaking available, but you will need a permit of you want to kayak past the floating borders. Swimming in the sea is pretty average, as the sea floor can be slimy at times. The restaurants and bars serve good food and great music to accompany your drinks. The downside is, it can be quite pricey if there isn’t a happy hour going on.
** Bring your own bottled water if you are coming to Sentosa. Its an expensive affair to get it from here.

Before entering to the beach zone, you can stop at the Imbiah lookout. You can get a peak shot at the Merlion there. If you pay a certain fee, you can go up to the look out on top of the Merlion to view the island.
Attractions worth going in Sentosa, is the Songs of the Sea. Amazing water spray's combined with laser and musical show is a one of a kind attraction that will simply awe you and your family. This show is an outdoor event and will go on even if it is a rainy day. The Underwater world in Sentosa houses over 2500 fishes from 250 species.
Start your tour with the Touch Pool for some 'hands on' experience with starfish, stingrays and if you dare, baby sharks. Then venture into the ocean depths via a moving travellator that ferries you through an 83-metre-long acrylic tunnel. All around you, sharks, stingrays, eels and schools of fish glide past – engrossed in their own world. For those who don't mind getting wet, interactive programmes such as 'Dive with the Sharks' or 'Dive with the Dugong' are available upon advance booking. This is one of the best aquariums in South East Asia.
There is also the luge and sky ride which is great for the kids. Adults are allowed to ride it, but we thought with the breaking system on the handle, it was pretty slow for us.

Click here for more information on the activities happening on Sentosa as well as how to get to the Island.
We have to say, one of the "must go" events on Sentosa is, during the zouk out party in Singapore or during new year.

Clark Quay
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place or Clark Quay
Busses: 82,97,100,124,130,131,162,167,174,700

Home to some of the trendiest clubs and bars, it is the current favourite destination for a night on the town. For a dash of authenticity, step into some of the refurbished Chinese junks by the riverside for a meal or drinks. Worth checking out also are the Sunday flea markets and Clinic Pub where everyone there drinks from a wheelchair or hospital bed!

On most weekends, live performances are held at the centre of the quay by the fountain. Passer bys are often entertained with music from different genres, the most popular being the jazz. Coupled with the dimming lights and fountain that dances to the music, Clark Quay is also a place for lovebirds. Take a walk on the bridge over the river and watch the boats float by…it gives you the illusion that you’re in Venice, only that it’s a much more modern and livelier Venice!



Fountain of Wealth
Nearest MRT station: City Hall

This is an amazing architectural marvel. Behold the largest fountain in the world!
The fountain is located in Suntec City. If you manage to get a bird’s eye view of Suntec, you will notice that Singaporean's have brilliantly constructed the place according to Chinese Geomancy (Fengshui) The five main skyscrapers of Suntec acts as a hand, and the fountain in the middle is the palm.

Also notice that that water of the fountain is flowing inwards, which symbolizes good life and wealth being held in the palm for Suntec City. And according to some experts, the flowing of water symbolizes wealth pouring in. Hence the name fountain of wealth.
People believe that, those who touch the water and circle the fountain 3 times will gain good luck.

There are some souvenir shops at the base of the fountain that will ask you to buy some souvenirs. We got a test tube full of fountain water, but it hasn’t got us any good luck at all. It is a great place to take photographs. There are plenty of restaurants circling the base of the fountain where you can easily dine and see the view of the fountain.
During the night, the atmosphere gets a little more exciting. Walk out to the ground level, and watch the fountain come to life with music and a laser message show. Here, for those who want to get romantic or funny can send in your messages to be displayed to everyone.
So if you are anywhere near Suntec City, do make the effort to go see the fountain.

Henderson Waves
In the metropolis of Singapore, looking for a fresh breather amongst the greens is hard to come by. Instead of doing another tourist "Hoo Ha" attraction, we decided to  cover the Southern Ridges. This 9km span of greenery spans across Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Park, Kent Ridge Park and ends at West Coast Park. Many locals come here for nature walks and also to exercise. The attractions here are the beautifully architectured connectors and its jungle trails.
To get here, you can start off with the Marang Trail (behind Harbour front MRT) and hike to Mount Faber Park- one of the oldest parks in Singapore. (In the past, you can take a cable car from Mount Faber to Sentosa Island). The Faber walk will take you past some panoramic sceneries of Singapore and its tiny neighboring islands. The sheltered pathways of Mount Faber makes the walk pretty pleasant.
Past Mount Faber, you will come across the first highlight of the Southern Ridges which is the Henderson Waves (inset picture). This is Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge. The bridge spans 274m across the top most peaks of Mt Faber and Telok Blangah hill and peaks at a maximum height of about 77.18m above sea level based on the various labeled markers lined on the bridge decks. This is an awesome place to take pictures.
The bridge has wooden timber floor panels lining the entire span. The partially waved up decks blocks out most of the sunlight during a sunny day.
"The open shelter-less concept makes the bridge very airy as well, so staying there for prolonged period is largely bearable in the sun as well- there were even few families having a picnic in few of these resting areas, which goes to show the effectiveness of the shade, though all these are useless if it rains".
The next highlight is the Zig-Zag series of interlinking grated steel walkways called the Forest walk.
Here you will enjoy the walk, as it is a continuous walk starting from the peak of Telok Blangah hill park, slowly descending down a series of interlinked walkways down the hill, before it ends at Alexandra Road to the Alexandra Arch Bridge. Likewise, starting in the reverse direction from Alexandra road will be very much like a shortcut up Telok Blangah park as well.
The walk itself is an attraction of the area offering some rather good breathtaking views of the surrounding tropical secondary forest and hills. You can even chance upon few full forest views with no buildings or urban structures in sight- views we never thought exist smacked right in the middle of urban southern Singapore. The various information panels along the walkway gives some explaination of the variety of flowers and plant life that you can find in this forest.
The next highlight is the Alexandra Arch Bridge that spans across the Alexandra Road. The bridge will take you to HortPark (short for hotriculture, which is derived from the Latin word hortus which means "garden" space.

Hortpark was developed with a cost of S$13.1 million by the National Parks Board as a South East Asia’s first gardening lifestyle hub which will see the harmonic fusion and thinning the line between research/educational related objectives and recreational/commercial activities, all under one roof.
The park is like the modern and urban equivalent of the botanical gardens. A zen water garden greets you at the entrance landscaped complete with running water, fishes and floating aquatic plants.
Hortpark has over 20 specially themed gardens, each uniquely designed to portray an artistic concept with plants. 
The gardens worth mentioning are the recycling garden, living green hall, spices garden as well as the bamboo garden.
** The recycling garden displays some great recycling ideas in gardening, these old and defunct items can find a second life as re-usable decorative items on your lawn. Some garden accessories on display will include old PCK-styled yellow boots, bottles, tires, hats, and even your rice cooker and bathtub.

Lau Pa Sat Food Court
Nearest MRT station: Raffles Place

Located in the Central Business District, Lau Pa Sat (old market in Hokkien) is the largest Victorian filigree cast-iron structure in Southeast Asia. Like so many colonial era-buildings of Singapore of that time, the market was originally designed by George Drumgoole Coleman. Coleman’s market stood until 1879, when land reclamation called for its demolition. On the newly reclaimed land, municipal engineer James MacRitchie designed a new building for the market. He adopted Coleman’s octagonal design and added cast-iron supports to strengthen the structure. Because of this, the Malays fondly call this place pasar besi which means ‘iron market’. Previously a wet market, it is now a hawker centre boasting an array of local culinary delights catered to both the locals and tourists. Definitely a good place to put your palate to work!

Within a few blocks’ radius are a number of other attractions such as the Fu Tak Chi Temple, Nagore Durga Shrine and Mausoleum of Habib Nuh (the Staint of Singapore).
For a quick start up of what to eat here: Top 10 must try's in Lau Pa Sat