14 Reasons Singapore is Worth Visiting

Singapore, affectionately known as the “Lion City”, is more than an Asian metropolis. It’s a melting pot of cultures, a cross-roads of trade, and a model for sustainable urban planning. I’ve put together in this guide some of the compelling reasons to make Singapore your next travel destination:

1. World-class Attractions

Singapore is host to an array of world-class attractions from heritage listed gardens to the famous theme parks.

Here are some of the ones I like to recommend to visitors:

• Gardens by the bay, home of the famous super trees
• The Botanic Gardens, UNESCO world heritage listed gardens
• Haw Par Villa, an eclectic array of weird and wonderful statues telling stories of ancient Chinese values
• Universal Studios, home to the latest and greatest thrill rides and roller coasters

If you want to know more about the attractions of Singapore, I developed a list of my top 12 favourites, it can be found here: reachingsingapore.com/singapore-attractions-overview

2. Rich Cultural Tapestry

Singapore has a vibrant blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Western cultures. These can be seen from its official languages to the various cuisine that you can enjoy in the city.

There are also neighbourhoods to explore embodying the traditional homes of the different cultures, including:

• Chinatown
• Little India, and
• Kampong Glam

Each of these cultural neighbourhoods give you a taste of their respective originating countries all mixed in with a healthy dose of Singapore’s safety and modernity.

3. Mouth-watering Cuisine

Singaporeans love food. And Singapore is a must-visit for anyone who shares a passion and love for food as intense as Singaporeans do.

Some of my favourite dishes to recommend to visitors include:

• Chicken rice
• Laksa
• Satay, and
• Chili crab

Singapore is also a cheap place to eat with good food available for as little as $5.

Singapore also caters to the other end of the price spectrum with world class restaurants serving up incredible meals for hundreds of dollars per person.

4. Shopping haven

Whether it be the high-end fashion of Orchard Road, or souvenir hunting on Haji Lane, Singapore offers a shopping experience for every taste and budget.

Remember to see if you can claim a tax refund on your way out for any purchases that you do make in the country.

5. Green Spaces

You might think of Singapore as yet another tightly packed densely populated Asian metropolis, but you’d be wrong!

Singapore has gone to great lengths to ensure it balances liveable green spaces with its urban housing and office environment.

I recently read the urban design principals of Singapore to understand more about the planning and effort that went in to creating interesting, green and liveable urban spaces that humans would enjoy (if you’re interested in a big document about urban design, check it out here)

For visitors interested in green space I like to recommend:

• Botanic Gardens
• Fort Canning Park
• Gardens by the Bay
• East Coast Park

Also check out Henderson Wave if you get the chance - it was used as one of the filming locations for the Singapore Airlines safety video and I always find it a pleasant hike.

6. Safe and Clean

Famous for it’s crime free and clean streets, Singapore spends the time and effort to ensure visitors to the country are kept safe and are able to enjoy the tidy environment.

I’ve never had to worry walking down any street in Singapore in the middle of the night. Even my favourite park to recommend (Fort Canning Park) can be explored at night - in the dark - without any fear of being attacked.

That said, there is the Singaporean saying of low crime doesn’t mean no crime, petty theft can still occur, though as a visitor you are unlikely to ever come across any.

7. Festivals and Events

Thanks to its multicultural population, Singapore celebrates a wide variety of festivals and cultural events that anyone can join in with.

Some of my faovurites include:

• Chinese New Year, when Chinatown is decorated with large lights and displays for the animal that represents the new year
• Diwali, with bright street lights, late night shopping, and lots of food
• Hari Raya, with my favourite night market at Paya Lebar

Singapore also hosts world class events such as the Rugby Sevens and the Formula 1. These are popular times to visit though, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to come to Singapore for a world class event.

8. Innovative Architecture

There are many iconic buildings in Singapore that represent an engaging modern built environment.

Some of the popular ones that can offer a great experience for the casual visitor include:

• Marina Bay Sands
• Cloud Forest (at Gardens by the Bay)
• Fullerton Building (for that taste of modern heritage)
• Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (shaped like durian!)

9. Easy to get around

Singapore has an extensive efficient affordable and user-friendly public transport system.

This is comprised of:

• An underground subway of trains called the MRT
• A comprehensive frequent bus network
• An abundance of affordable taxis to fill in the gaps between the networks

Bus and MRT fares start from as little as $1 and currently won’t cost you more than $2.26. You can catch the train or bus from the airport to anywhere in the city and it will only cost you a little over $2 for the journey. You can even pay using your home-country visa or mastercard credit card.

Uber isn’t available in Singapore. If you want to book a ride, I recommend using the CDG Zig app.

10. Traditional buildings

Singapore still maintains a lot of its tradition and heritage, and this is reflected in its preservation of buildings and architecture.

Alongside the skyscrapers you can find century-old temples, classic shophouses, and preserved colonial-era buildings.

These are all available for viistors to explore.

11. Islands to explore

While being an island itself, Singapore as a country is also surrounded by dozens of smaller islands under its control.

The most famous one is Sentosa, home to some interesting hikes, Singapore’s best beaches, and the Universal Studios theme park.

But you can also get off the beaten track with a trip over to Pulau Ubin. I hired a bike and road around the island last time I visited, and it was great fun.

12. Nightlife

Singapore comes alive at night. The night offers a break from the intense sun and tropical heat, and allows people to experience living outdoors.

I recommend visitors to Singapore make the most of their nights by eating, drinking, and exploring the city during this cooler part of the day.

13. Strategic Location

Singapore is on the cross-roads of a lot of people’s journeys. This is why they take a lot of care and pride in their airline - it’s the way of connecting people from all over the world through Singapore.

This also makes Singapore perfect for a stop-over, particularly to help you break up long flights and recover a little from jet lag.

When I asked the ICA, I was told that most passports can visit Singapore for as little as 4 hours. This means that you can leave the airport and explore attractions such as the waterfall at Jewel (located adjacent to the airport).

14. Warm Hospitality

Singaporeans are wonderful people. They are friendly and warm, and love to open up and share about their home.

Most Singaporeans are happy to communicate in English as well, even if they don’t quite understand what you’re saying.

If you’re ever having a problem in Singapore, feel free to stop a local and ask - they’ll more often than not be more than happy to help.

Bottom Line

Singapore offers a captivating mix of the old and the new, with experiences that cater to every type of traveller. Whether you’re an adventurer, a food lover, or someone who wants to relax and take in the sights, Singapore has something special to offer.