There’s never been a better time to visit Singapore. Whether you’re looking for a buzzing urban break brimming with hip bars and incredible food or a mindful escape in one of the world’s most sustainable cities, Singapore is the place to go.
With a huge number of parks and nature reserves, you’re never far from some green space in this dazzling city. Flora and fauna aren’t just confined to parks and nature reserves in Singapore, although there are some great ones such as the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. Changi Airport’s Terminal 2, which emerged from a major revamp in late 2023, is a great example of an unexpected oasis.
Airport oasis: the lush landscapes of Terminal 2 at Changi Airport are like nothing you’ve seen before
Credit: Getty Images
In the departure hall, towering columns are adorned with lush plant life (including many species found in Singapore’s areas of primary rainforest). There is also an Enchanted Garden (the archway made from orchids is a great spot for that all-important airport selfie) and Gourmet Garden with its towering wall draped with climbing plants.
The futuristic structures of Gardens by the Bay are another, combining nature and art to spectacular and thought-provoking effect.
Step into the future: Gardens by the Bay is full of visual marvels, including these surreal ‘Supertrees’
Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
If you’re looking to stretch your legs, tackle some of the recently opened Coast-to-Coast Trail, which at 22.4 miles tracks across almost all of Singapore, linking up its parks and nature reserves including Jurong Lake Gardens, a tranquil gem.
And relax…
For those who prefer watching nature in supreme comfort, Singapore’s world-class spas are drawing wellness seekers looking for rejuvenating escapes. Aramsa – The Garden Spa is actually set within the green haven of the Bishan-AMK Park, with 13 treatment rooms surrounded by gardens and all designed to bring the outside inside. In the city’s luxury hotels, Marina Bay Sands’ Banyan Tree Spa is a haven of wellbeing with a huge range of treatments (the Royal Banyan, which includes a massage and herbal bath, is divine) and fantastic views – the spa is on the 55th floor. At Auriga, the serene spa at Capella Singapore, signature treatments correspond with the moon’s phases, while the slick spa at the Singapore Edition hotel, which opened last year, has ayurvedic massages alongside hi-tech facials guaranteed to banish any signs of jetlag.
Relaxation haven: Banyan Tree Spa has an extensive menu of treatments set within sleek and glamorous surroundings
Credit: Marina Bay Sands PTE
Visit in June and you can participate in the three-week Wellness Festival which has an enormous range of activities planned for every type of wellness junkie from a “serenity seeker” to an “active adventurer”. There are guided walks, pop-up spas and wellbeing sessions at various landmarks – including forest bathing sessions at Changi Airport.
Another fantastic festival worthy of your radar is July’s Singapore Food Festival. Sample some of the country’s tastiest dishes (don’t miss the chilli crab, a local delicacy dating back to the 1950s) and sign up for the Food Walk to try dishes from the country’s top restaurants and street-food stalls.
Festival of flavours: whether you’re after culinary innovation or traditional dishes, the Singapore Food Festival will keep you satiated
Credit: Mojito Collective Holdings PTE. LTD
Savour the city’s flavours
Singapore’s diverse dining scene sizzles year round. This is, after all, a place with a Unesco-listed food scene. The accolade refers specifically to Singapore’s hawker centres, where dozens of stalls serve up wallet-friendly dishes ranging from satay to rendang. It’s a reminder that Singapore is a place where eating well doesn’t cost the earth. Yes, it has a huge number of fine-dining restaurants (including Odette, which appeared in 2023’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards) but the venues listed in Singapore’s Michelin guides include several hawker-centre stalls, some of which are at the Newton Food Centre, famous for its appearance in the film Crazy Rich Asians.
World-class: Odette’s elegant fine-dining fare has earned it three Michelin stars
Credit: Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore’s nightlife scene has never looked better either with a raft of cool cocktail bars and small venues in vibrant neighbourhoods which reflect the city’s passion for innovation and sustainability. Analogue in CHIMJES has a largely plant-based menu, a 3D-printed bar made from recycled plastic, and celebrates local and regional ingredients – as does speakeasy-style Mama Diam in Bencoolen. In fact, its Peranakan negroni, made with pandan, coconut and pineapple, is a great tipple to start your Singapore escape.
Speakeasy-style: head to Mama Diam for a menu that puts a modern twist on iconic local favourites
Made in Singapore
Discover a place where unexpected and innovative experiences await curious travellers.
Sustainable, multicultural and cosmopolitan, Singapore dazzles with its diversity and creativity.
From its green spaces, architecture and wellness offering to its eclectic neighbourhoods and creative dining, nightlife and arts scenes, Singapore is a place where cultures and passions meet.
Experience how everyday ordinary moments are made extraordinary and unforgettable, only in Singapore.
To find out more, go to visitsingapore.com
