Singapore

Overview

Singapore packs an unusual amount of variety into a small footprint: colonial shophouses in Chinatown, rainforest boardwalks at MacRitchie, and the futuristic domes of Gardens by the Bay, all connected by one of the world's cleanest and most reliable metro systems. Hawker centers, not restaurants, are where the city's best food usually lives.

Getting There

Changi Airport (SIN) connects to the city via the MRT in about 30 minutes, or a taxi in 20–25 minutes depending on traffic. The MRT network reaches nearly every neighborhood worth visiting.

Top Things to Do

• Eat at a hawker center such as Maxwell Food Centre or Old Airport Road for a genuine cross-section of local food.
• Visit Gardens by the Bay in the late afternoon to see the Supertree Grove lit up after sunset.
• Walk through Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam in a single day to see the city's cultural range.
• Take the cable car or a short trail to Mount Faber for a skyline view over the harbor.

Local Tips

Chewing gum import is restricted and littering fines are strictly enforced — Singapore's cleanliness is not accidental. Hawker centers are usually cash-friendly and inexpensive even by regional standards; don't skip them for pricier restaurant versions of the same dishes.