Singapore is one of the most pleasant cities in South Asia. When you leave one of the world's best-equipped airports and cross the tree-lined highway, you'll soon realize that this isn't the chaotic traffic of nearby Bangkok. When you arrive from your Singapore flight, take a stroll through the elegant shops on Orchard Street, rummage through Chinatown's antique shops or take a stroll through one of dozens of beautiful parks. Few cities in South Asia contain such an ethnic mix. Nowhere in the world can you perceive Chinese, Indian and Malaysian cultures in a single day. Add to that an ultra-modern international business experience and you're in Singapore. The city's migratory history has not only left a rich cultural and architectural heritage that transforms the city promenade into an inexpressible pleasure, but has also created one of the world's most important gourmet capitals. Officially called the Republic of Singapore, it is a city-state located south of the Malaysian peninsula, 137 km north of the equator. It is an island country consisting of 63 islands and separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor in the north and Indonesia by the Straits of Singapore in the south. The country is highly urbanized with few primary tropical forests. You can go on holiday in Singapore all year round. Cultural events and festivals often take place in the fields of fashion, cinema and gastronomy. Singapore is home to many ethnic communities, so it is almost impossible to go out without running into a cultural event. Near the equator, Singapore's temperature is constantly high (never below 20°C). The wettest months are from November to January, which are also cooler, while the driest months are between May and July.

Transport and travel in Singapore

Singapore is one of the largest airport hubs in South Asia and, unless you come from Malaysia or Indonesia, the easiest way to travel to Singapore is by plane. There are several ways to get from the airport to your hotel in Singapore. The taxi takes you to the city in 20-40 minutes and costs between 10 and 35 euros. You can also rent a car in Singapore and explore the wonders of this region! Singapore is one of the most visited cities in Southeast Asia. So it is very frequent to see friends / family / former colleagues coming to see you for a few days in the city-state while they are passing through the region. Obviously all the French people of Singapore are used to this kind of visits (almost monthly) and each one to his own route that he suggests to his passing guests (with often minimal variations).

10 things to do in Singapore

So what are the things you must do if you are in the city-state?

1 /Wonder at Gardens By The Bay

Visit Pandora (the planet of the film Avatar), certainly one of the most spectacular places in Singapore. Gardens By the Bay in Singapore The two paid gardens (Flowers Dome and Rain Forest) offer different and fun experiences but you can also just stay outside and admire the giant trees.

2 / Admire the city from the top of Marina Bay Sands

If only to get a view of what Singapore is and also see the infinite pool atop Marina Bay Sands (MBS). Infinite Pool at Marina Bay Sands Unfortunately this one is not accessible for the visitors (except for the guests of the hotel).

3/ Have a drink at 1-Altitude

In the evening, to have a panorama of Singapore at night. The most beautiful night view of the city-state. Marina Bay Sands at night However, do not order Singapore Sling (the local cocktail) as a drink. It's just too sweet and not really good.

4/ Eating dim sum at Din Tai Fung

Not to be missed with restaurants all over Singapore, which offer excellent dim sum, often imitated and rarely equalled (especially given the correct prices). Dim sum at Din Tai Fung Singapore If you only had one meal in Singapore, go to Din Tai Fung.

5 /Visit the Singapore City Gallery

Many people wonder why this place is a must in Singapore. Simply because it is the best place (much more than the National Museum) to see Singapore's success but also the organisation of the island's authorities. Singapore City Gallery A must and it's free and everyone likes it (and it's great for families with children).

6 /Getting lost in Chinatown

Full of shop houses (traditional houses), and also the perfect place for small gadgets (magnets, key chains,...). If you don't know what to bring back from Singapore, feel free to read this article.

7 /Shopping on Haji Lane

One of Singapore's alternative neighbourhoods with plenty of independent shops. Kampong Glam in Singapore Moreover Haji Lane is located in the Malay district of the city and offers another little known vision of the city-state: that of shop houses and small streets that contrast with the austere and cold image of the city center.

8 / Spend an evening at Night Safari

It remains one of the most popular attractions in the city-state that appeals to families. Attention it is necessary to look better at the weather because the place is outside and in the event of rain, it is immediately much more painful (even with umbrellas).

9 /See the shop houses of Kampong Bahru

Travel back in time and walk the small streets of Kampong Bahru to see the shop houses (pretty traditional houses in Singapore). Calm and restful. Shophouses in Singapore Kampong Bahru is located in Everton Park district, just next to Outram Park MRT subway station (in the city center).

10/ Take a picture of the Merlion

A must for photos with the Merlion and Marina Bay Sands in the background, a bit like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Things that might also have been on the list

• The Botanical Garden (for its fantastic Orchid collection).
• Mountain biking in Pulau Ubin (because it's cool, if you still doubt it, the picture below is not Malaysia or Indonesia but Pulau Ubin in Singapore).
• Pulau Ubin Singapore
• Take a trip to the Raffles Hotel. Singapore's iconic hotel which has been the subject of several books. The Raffles Hotel, a true jewel of colonial architecture of the time, is worth a visit. You can also stay in this luxury hotel.
• Raffles Hotel à Noël
• Admire the Singapore Opera House, finally the two buildings that look like durians, in Esplanade (it takes 10-15 minutes).
• Do the Southern Ridges Walk which will take you from Mount-Faber to Hort Park via Henderson Waves (if you do the cable car between Sentosa and Mount-Faber and you have time then it is to do).
• Henderson Waves in Singapore
• Visit Singapore Zoo (which is excellent).
• Get lost in Little India and take a walk in Mustafa, a department store open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week where you can find anything and everything. Don't expect Galeries Lafayette but rather a joyful anarchy. A curiosity.
• SEA Aquarium: impressive, the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia. I usually don't like aquariums at all (for example I'm not a fan of Ocean World in Hong Kong), but the SEA Aquarium in Sentosa with its giant pools and giant manta rays is worth a visit.
• Visit the Singapore National Museum (permanent collections) to learn more about the country you visit and the fantastic economic success of the city-state which ultimately owes little to chance.
• Musée à Singapore
• Eating chicken rice in a short food (for example at Newton Circus, Maxwell or Old Airport Road). If you don't like rice or chicken: try a laksa (spicy noodle soup), roti-prata (a local version of Indian naans but with curry sauce) or hokkien mee (shrimp noodles). You have the embarrassment of the choice therefore do not hesitate to be curious (within the limits of your stomach).

Things you can avoid

• Singapore Flyer: Singapore's Ferris wheel (how to lose 30 minutes or more of your life).
• Casinos: nothing looks more like a casino than another casino.
• Shopping at Orchard Road: unless you have specific things to buy.
• Universal Studio Singapore: nice without more, it remains an amusement park but it doesn't justify investing a day there). Sim Lim Square: the temple of scam in Singapore, especially for electronics.
• Orchard Towers: nicknamed, in a very classy way, the "Four Floors of Whores". I let you guess the concept of the place (prostitution is legal in Singapore).
• Massages, spas, manicures: More expensive and less fun than in the rest of the region.

Visits to Singapore

Excellent food (sambal stingray, char kway teow, oyster omelette, chicken rice, seafood... the list is as long as it is delicious), luxury shopping, adventure activities, such as shark diving, mountain biking around the Bukit Timah Hills, leopard watching at Singapore Zoo and its magical night safari, water skiing on the Kallang River, karting and climbing...

Singapore outings

In the evening, Singapore becomes a lively network of bars and discos. Listen to jazz at Harry's bar along Boat Quay or join students at the famous Mohammed Sultan Road. Other famous discotheques and bars are Chijmes, Sentosa, Zouk club etc.