Top 10 Reasons To Visit Singapore In 2015

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Peering over the rooftop pool deck of Marina Bay Sands, shopping up a storm on Haji Lane, or ogling at the supertrees in Gardens by the Bay, it’s almost impossible to imagine Singapore was little more than a fishing village just over a century ago. On the eve of its golden jubilee, there’s no better time to discover the delights of the Lion City.

Pin this imageNational Day fireworks, Singapore. Image by Singapore Tourist Board

The big party

In 2015, Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence. The National Day Parade on 9 August will be bigger than ever, but the party will actually last all year. Starting with the countdown to 2015, key calendar highlights include the opening of the National Gallery Singapore (nationalgallery.sg), the launch of the Jubilee Walk walking trail covering historic locations in the civic district and the Marina Bay area, and existing annual events like Chingay and the Singapore International Festival of the Arts, which will be held in the spirit of Singapore’s golden jubilee.

Pin this imageHainanese chicken rice, Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, Singapore. Image by Sarah Reid

The fabulous food

Flavours from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, India and beyond collide to create the delicious hybrid cuisine Singapore has become famous for. And while the queues for Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell Road Hawker Centre show no signs of dwindling, there are some impressive new players on Singapore’s food scene. In recent years weekend brunch – served everywhere from Australian-style cafes (try Common Man Coffee in Robertson Quay) to the city's top hotels (think gourmet buffets and free-flow champagne) – has become a religion, and celebrity restaurants are huge: Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street kitchen will be the eighth celebrity eatery for Marina Bay Sands when it opens in 2015.

The fancy new gallery

Singapore’s lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum and Gillman Barracks, a colonial army base transformed into a contemporary arts space, are barely three years old between them, but Singapore will get its biggest and best art space yet in 2015. Housed in two of Singapore’s most iconic national monuments – City Hall and the former Supreme Court building – the National Gallery Singapore will showcase the region’s largest collection of South­east Asian and Singa­porean art. With a ten-day festival dedicated to it's mid-2015 opening, it’ll be an occasion indeed.

Pin this imageGardens by the Bay, Singapore. Image by Sarah Reid

The new green spaces

It's difficult to name another world city that boasts as many eco-attractions as Singapore. Building on its portfolio of iconic parklands such as the Botanic Gardens and the sleepy jungles of Pulau Ubin, the city-state has given birth to several new awe-inspiring green spaces in recent years, from Gardens by the Bay (don't miss the light show at 7.45pm and 8.45pm every evening) to the Southern Ridges, the Green Corridor to Singapore Zoo's new River Safari. It doesn’t stop there, either: tots will be able to play on one-of-a-kind giant slides at Admiralty Park when it reopens in 2015 following its redevelopment. Two other new green spaces at Jurong Lake and East Coast will reopen in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Pin this imageKu de Ta, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Image by Sarah Reid

The drinking scene

Singapore’s drinking scene has literally reached new heights. There’s now no better place to admire the expanding city skyline than from rooftop bars like Ku de Ta (kudeta.com/singapore) or Altitude before kicking on at one of the hot new ‘secret’ bars in the Chinatown/CBD area (try 28 HongKong St or Operation Dagger at 7 Ann Siang Hill). Daytime drinking, too, has been revamped, with dozens of hip coffeeshops (check out The Dispensary at 69 Tiong Bahru Road) now sitting side-by-side with traditional kopitiams across the city, and new operations opening almost weekly.

The new hip 'hoods

Singapore’s residential neighbourhoods offer a fascinating diversion from the CBD’s blockbuster sights. Just beyond Chinatown, retro-fabulous 1930s housing estate Tiong Bahru is peppered with enough boutiques (Nana & Bird have two stores here) to keep you busy well beyond brunch at one of the many cool cafes in the area (Whisk, at 58 Seng Poh Road, is one of the newest additions to the neighbourhood). Once patronised soley for its fantastic laksa restaurants, Katong, too, is emerging as a hispter playground thanks to the opening of slick new restro-bars like Immigrants and The Trenchard Arms. Everton Park is also having something of a moment, with some people already calling it the 'new Tiong Bahru'.

Pin this imageShopping on Haji Lane, Singapore. Image by Sarah Reid

The shopping

It still lags behind its Asia Pacific counterparts in affordability, but in terms of choice, Singapore is still a shopper's paradise. Once confined to the malls of Orchard Road, the city's shopping scene has exploded and diversified – Haji Lane and Tiong Bahru have emerged as hip boutique shopping enclaves, and the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands complex now houses one of the world’s largest collections of designer boutiques under one roof. Flea markets have taken off, too – from MAAD Pyjamas (Market of Artists and Designers) on the first Friday of every month to the city's weekly Sunday Artists Market. Visit forfleasake.com for city-wide listings.

The sport

Home to the world’s only Formula 1 night race (singaporegp.sg), Singapore is one of the world’s greatest Grand Prix hosts. And the city-state is beginning to attract more big fish in the sport world. A giant spaceship-like complex on the site of the former National Stadium, the brand new Singapore Sports Hub (named the world’s best new sports building at the 2014 World Architecture Festival) will play host to the 2015 ASEAN Games amongst a slew of other international sporting events in the New Year, from tennis to football, rugby to diving. With facilities like this, it’s no surprise there’s talk of a Summer Olympics bid on the horizon.

Pin this imageSofitel So Singapore. Image by Accor Hotels

The hot new hotels

It's all about cutting edge interior design in Singapore's hotel scene at the moment – from the French-opulence-meets-Singapore-glitz Sofitel So Singapore (Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld designed its 'Lion's Seal' logo) in the CBD to savvy business traveller favourite Wangz (Tiong Bahru). Designed by world-renowned Jaya International Design, The Patina Capitol Singapore (Colonial District) is primed to be the city's hottest hotel opening of 2015 and, kicked off by the 2014 opening of the Shangri-La’s little sister, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway (Orchard Road), affordability, too, is having a moment.

The airport

With free city tours on offer to layover passengers at Changi Airport (head to the registration desk in Terminal 2), you don’t even have to stay overnight to get a taste of Singapore. Transiting through the world's most awarded airport will get even better in 2015, with more than 70 new perfume and cosmetics brands on offer in Terminal 3 from the end of January, and $40 Changi Dollar Vouchers available to Singapore Airlines passengers until 31 March (visit singaporeair.com for more information). Two new terminals, a third runway, and a mix-use biodome – complete with a cascading waterfall – are just a taste of what’s to come to Changi in the next few years.

Contributed by Lonely Planet Destination Editor Sarah Reid, one of Singapore's biggest fans. Follow her tweets at @sarahtrvls. Sarah travelled to Singapore as a guest of the Singapore Tourist Board (yoursingapore.com) and Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com). Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies for positive coverage.

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Singapore City: What To Do And Where To Eat In This World Class Food And Shopping Center

To many, the island of Singapore is nothing more than a gleaming amusement park -- a Disney World of Asia, with over the top attractions, five-star resorts and billion dollar parks. The streets are clean, the crime is low, and everyone seems generally happy to be there. For many Westerners, that's the allure. The primary language of the country is English and there's more expats living in the high-rise apartments overlooking the ocean than most other cities in Southeast Asia. Although these assertions are true, I found that there's so much more to Singapore than the high-rise buildings and fancy restaurants. There's a soul, an underbelly and a culture all to itself, all you have to do is dig a little.

Whether you're extending your business trip or visiting for a vacation, here's a weekend itinerary that will show you why Singapore is such a vibrant and exciting place to visit (and eat!)

Where to Shop

Aside from food, Singapore is also known for the world-class shopping. If you're into high fashion and spending thousands of dollars on purses and shoes, go to Orchard Row. Here you'll find rows of stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada. In addition to stand-alone stores, Orchard Row is home to many high-end shopping malls, like the Paragon, Ngee Ann City and The ION, whose signature glass façade will blind you as you walk by. Away from the luxury, yuppie onslaught of Orchard Row, there's plenty of real bargain shopping to be had.

For vintage finds and clothes with a little worn/torn and hipster appeal, visit Haji Lane and the Sungea Road Thieves' Market. Haji Lane is home to many vintage shops, like Soon Lee & Rusty Bottoms, where you'll be sure to find unique and trendy pieces for a real bargain. For things more retro, the Thieves' market won't disappoint. The flea market is a madhouse (think Forever 21 on crack), but some serious searching can lead to some pretty amazing treasures (for a cheap price tag to boot!)

Where to Play

Although the shopping is remarkable, the city's parks, gardens, museums and zoo is really worth a mention. These spots are often packed with tourists, but they are worth a visit if you have the time (and patience). If nothing else, visit Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Zoo. Gardens by the Bay, a 250-acre green development, was recently refurbished (for a pretty penny) and is home to state of the art conservatories (like the Cloud Dome and the Flower Dome) that are home to thousands of species of plants, many of which are from endangered habitats. The domes are incredible, but the real allure of the Gardens are the Super-trees. These magnificent, solar powered structures are self-sustaining trees that convert sunlight into energy and use rainwater to keep the fresh greenery growing on them alive.

The Supertree walkway gives you the chance to stroll through the trees (close to 50 meters up in the air). The experience is fun and the view you get of the Bay and the stunning Marina Bay Sands hotel is magnificent. The cost is only $28 and is well worth it, if only to briefly escape the urban jungle that is the rest of the city.

Another touristy recommendation is the zoo. Set on a peninsula over the upper Seletar reservoir, the zoo is truly one of the best in the world. Unlike many popular zoos in the U.S., this one is strictly open, which means none of the animals are caged. There are more than 2500 animals here, from monkeys to elephants to manatees and the cage-less environment gives you the chance to really bond with the animals.

One of the hidden gems of Singapore is a piece of the island not yet modernized by high-rise buildings. The Bukit Brown Cemetery is a stunning cemetery with over 100,000 historic graves. The site was abandoned in the '70s and now is overrun with grasses and wildlife. The cemetery is a quiet, historic oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sadly the land will soon be paved for a new road and a housing development, but there's a Facebook page to save the historic part of the island.

Where to Eat

For an authentic taste of Singapore, follow your nose to one of the city's top Hawker Centers. In these multi-ethnic food halls is where you'll see Singapore's obsession and undying love for food first hand. They feature thousands of uniquely Asian foods stalls, which feature everything from Malaysian cuisine to Indian curries to spicy Thai noodle bowls. You won't pay more than $10 for a meal at any one of them and most are open all day long. Your first time ordering from one will be scary, but as soon as you sip or bite into the dish they created, you'll know why millions of people go there every year. The most popular hawker center for tourists (and some locals) is the Maxwell Road in Chinatown. Here you'll find the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice, which has been rated the best chicken in rice in Singapore. Plus it's right across from the Buddha, so the views are pretty stunning.

Another popular center is Tiong Bahru. Located in the trendy and up and coming Tiong Bahru district, this food hall is home to some of Singapore's most popular stalls, like Teochew Fish Ball Noodle and Kampong Carrot Cake Stand. It can get really busy during lunch and on weekends, but it's definitely worth a visit, if only for the slow roasted pork from Cantonese Roasted. If you're in the business district, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market is a great place to visit. Here you'll find tons of fresh seafood stalls featuring Singapore classics like chili crab or steamed cockles with a spicy sauce. It'll be completely filled to capacity with suits during lunchtime, but the chili crab is worth the wait.

If you want to dine with the wealthy businessmen and the socialites of town, visit Jaan, one of the top ten winners of the best Asian restaurants. Although you want to go for the food, the incredible view of the city and bay from its 70th floor location will have your jaw dropping completely. There are only 40 seats so it feels intimate and cozy. The food is innovative, modern and clean, much like the cityscape below.

Lastly, a taste of Singapore is not complete without trying the authentic Perankan cuisine. The term Perankan is used to describe descendants of Chinese and Malaysian ancestors. The food is incredibly spicy with very unique dishes like black nut pastas and spiced curries. One of the best restaurants in the city for Peranakan dishes is Candlenut in Chinatown. Chef Malcolm Lee is turning out truly authentic dishes with a modern, Singaporean twist.

Food is the national tradition of Singapore, and after visiting one of the many acclaimed Hawker Centers you'll quickly see why. But surprisingly enough, there's more to do than just eat in Singapore. The city is filled with activities and not all of them are so-called tourist traps either.

Contributed by Claire Gallam 

Travelore Tips: 20 Free Things To Do In Singapore

Though Singapore may be one of the most expensive countries to visit in Southeast Asia, there are plenty of free things to see and do to ease the wallet pain. Here are some of our favourite Singapore freebies.

Tour Peranakan history at Baba House

The exquisitely restored Peranakan (Straits Chinese) heritage Baba House near Chinatown can only be visited on a free hour-long tour, which offers a great insight into the life of a rich local family circa the early 20th century. The tours are run by appointment only, on Monday (2pm), Tuesday (6.30pm), Thursday (10am) and Saturday (11am). Email babahouse@nus.edu.sg.

Marvel at the colourful Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple (located in Chinatown, go figure), Sri Mariamman is built in a colourfully ornate Dravidian style and well worth gawking at. Aim your camera lens at the elaborate gopuram (gateway) before taking a walk around the temple compound. It’s particularly festive during the Deepavali festival period (generally October or November).

Sri Mariamman Temple, by Jorge Cancela. CC BY 2.0

Stroll among overgrown tombs at Bukit Brown Cemetery

First established in the early 20th century, Bukit Brown was once Singapore’s largest Chinese cemetery but was subsequently abandoned. Today it’s a birding and wildlife spot, and has been identified as a heritage site worth preserving (the government promises redevelopment within the next 40 years). Enthusiasts, historians and activist groups run free walking tours of the cemetery; check out their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bukitbrown) and website (www.bukitbrown.com) for dates.

Explore Singapore’s hawker traditions at the National Museum of Singapore

You’ll need to shell out S$10 to see the National Museum’s permanent collection but the excellent Living Galleries are free to visit. Photography and film are covered but it’s the food gallery that will tantalise and make your stomach growl for some of Singapore’s famed hawker dishes. Also look out for free guest exhibitions via www.nationalmuseum.sg.

Walk the Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges Trail – spanning Mt Faber, Telok Blangah, Kent Ridge and Hort parks – is one of the best walking trails in Singapore. It meanders through 10km of lush forest and canopy walks, and crosses the Henderson Waves, Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge. Don’t forget to take water, sunscreen and a hat; see www.nparks.gov.sg for details.

Telok Blangah Hill Park, Singapore, by yeowatzup. CC BY 2.0

Get classical with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

As part of its ‘community outreach’ program, the SSO conducts free concerts at various tertiary institutions, the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Singapore Racecourse. The Classics at the Park sessions at the Botanic Gardens are particularly atmospheric: come early and bring a picnic basket. Check dates and locations 

via www.sso.org.sg/outreach/family-concerts.html.

Discover Fort Canning Park

Overlooking central Singapore, Fort Canning Park was once the centre of the British administration and was technically Singapore’s first botanic gardens, founded by Sir Stamford Raffles. Visitors should check out the spice garden and various historical sites. Free tours are run monthly; check the website (www.nparks.gov.sg).

Soak up the arts at the Esplanade

Ogle the Durian-like architectural style of the Esplanade before heading inside the Jendela gallery (www.esplanadesingapore.com) to check out art exhibitions. The Esplanade also hosts free short films, scads of other exhibitions and music festivals.

Esplanade Theatre Singapore, by Neil Howard. CC BY-SA 2.0

Chill out at East Coast Park

In space-starved Singapore, the 15km stretch of beach known as East Coast Park is a breezy spot to swim, work on your tan and get away from the madding crowds (though you should avoid it on weekends when the crowds descend). BBQ pits are gratis and you can even camp for free – BYO beer and chicken wings, of course. Apply for a camping permit via www.axs.com.sg.

Challenge the locals in pick-up games

Fancy a pick-up game of football/soccer? Head to public parks such as East Coast Park come evening time (5.30pm onwards): odds are you’ll find groups of amateurs engaging in friendly scratch matches. ESPZEN (www.espzen.com) also organises a local league and free training sessions. If you’re not the sporty sort, head to the front of the Chinatown Market for pick-up games of Chinese chess. The only cost? Having your ass handed to you by retirees!

Witness cutting-edge art at Gillman Barracks

Gillman Barracks (www.gillmanbarracks.com) is Singapore’s latest and greatest contemporary arts space. This former army camp now houses 13 galleries in its colonial-era buildings. Notable picks include Singapore’s FOST Gallery, Sundaram Tagore (NYC), SHANGHART (Shanghai), Michael Janssen (Berlin), Equator Arts Projects (Indonesia) and Mizuma (Tokyo), and all are free.

Stride above the trees at MacRitchie Reservoir’s Treetop Walk

While most of Singapore is clad in concrete, you’ll find swathes of greenery outside the city centre. Head to MacRitchie Reservoir Park for an 8km round-trip hike to the Treetop Walk, where you can climb to a 250m suspension bridge that soars above the rainforest canopy. For details check out www.nparks.gov.sg.

MacRitchie Reservoir Park, by Edwin Lee. CC BY 2.0

Get an education at the National University of Singapore Museum

The local university is home to a museum well worth checking out, and not just because it's free. The NUS Museum features historical artefacts and the excellent Lee Kong Chian art gallery. Look out for the (also free) Natural History Museum, due to open in early 2014.

Go all-out kitsch at Haw Par Villa

What happens when you earn a fortune selling Tiger Balm? You use the money to build a kitsch and colourful theme park, of course, featuring scenes from Chinese legends and mythology. That's what the Aw brothers did, at Haw Par Villa, where more than 150 dioramas depict everything from famous Chinese stories to scenes in ‘hell’ (where it seems that disembowelment will be the least of your worries).

Statues at Haw Par villa. Image by Richard I'Anson / Lonely Planet Images / Getty Images.

Find peace at St Andrew's Cathedral and the Armenian Church

Aside from being architectural masterpieces from Singapore’s colonial era, these churches offer a respite from the heat and busyness of the city. St Andrew’s Cathedral is Singapore’s largest church, and the Armenian Church its smallest and oldest (built in 1836).

Go green at Singapore Botanic Gardens

Founded in 1859 by the British, the Botanic Gardens today occupy a swathe of quiet green space at the edge of the commercial Orchard Rd. Come early for a pleasant walk and people-watching. Keen botanists should check the website (www.sbg.org.sg) for free walking tours.

Singapore Botanic Gardens, by Joshua Eckert. CC BY 2.0

Slow down at Thian Hock Keng and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See temples

Temples might be moderately commonplace in Singapore but these two are particularly atmospheric. Thian Hock Keng is Singapore’s oldest Chinese temple (circa 1839) and is replete with elaborate carvings. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See (a mouthful to pronounce) is a working monastery housed in a massive Escher-esque building with a bell and drum tower, statues, and various halls. Free vegetarian meals are served in the dining hall.

Celebrate at a smorgasbord of festivals

With festivals that range from the eclectic (Buskers Festival – www.facebook.com/sentosabuskers) to the artistic (Singapore Arts Festival and the Singapore Night Festival – brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival) to the musical (Mosaic Music Festival – www.mosaicmusicfestival.com), there’s quality free entertainment for visitors most months of the year. Check out www.yoursingapore.com for listings.

Pose with a Merlion

Singapore’s most iconic sculpture, the Merlion (a half-lion, half-fish creature), is free to visit. Pose with the water-spouting critter before taking a walk around Marina Bay for more free sights. Pop into nearby Fullerton Hotel and the Fullerton Bay Hotel – the former used to be Singapore’s General Post Office and the latter was the bustling Collyer Quay. Both are pristine restorations of colonial-era architecture.

Singapore by night, by motiqua. CC BY 2.0

Get freebies at Changi Airport

Got a few hours to kill at the airport? No worries, there’s plenty to do: take a walk through the butterfly garden, surf the net or Skype using the free wi-fi, chill at a TV lounge, or plonk into a massage chair. If you’ve got five hours (or more) of transit time, book a free city tour (www.changiairport.com).

Contributed by Shawn Low

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