Singapore - the city-state between tradition and the future
General information
Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia, located on an island at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The narrow Johor Strait separates it from Malaysia, and to the south, across the Singapore Strait, lie the Indonesian islands. The country is small - around 730 km² - but has almost 6 million inhabitants and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 as a British trading port and became an independent state in 1965. Within a few decades the small port grew into one of Asia's most important financial and transport hubs. Changi Airport is among the best known in the world and a convenient starting point for travel across the region.
There are four official languages - English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. This coexistence of cultures is what makes Singapore so distinctive: within a few streets of each other you find Chinese temples, Indian neighbourhoods, mosques and modern skyscrapers.
Climate
Singapore lies only about 140 km north of the equator and has a hot, humid tropical climate all year round. Daytime temperatures are usually between 25°C and 32°C, and the seasons hardly differ in temperature.
It rains throughout the year, more often between November and January because of the northeast monsoon. Showers are usually short and heavy, and the sun returns quickly. Singapore can therefore be visited at any time, and many of its sights, shopping centres and museums are indoors or in the shade.
Culture and history
The symbol of the city is Marina Bay. Here stands the Marina Bay Sands hotel with its famous rooftop pool, and opposite it the Merlion statue - the mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. In the evening the bay becomes a stage for light and water shows.
Right next to the bay are the Gardens by the Bay, with the giant artificial "Supertrees" that light up at night and two glass conservatories - the Cloud Forest with its indoor waterfall and the Flower Dome. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, founded in the 19th century, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the National Orchid Garden.
The historic districts show the other face of the city. Chinatown has the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and many small restaurants and shops. Little India impresses with its colourful streets, spices and Hindu temples, while Kampong Glam is home to the Sultan Mosque. The Raffles Hotel, opened in 1887, is linked to the city's colonial history and to the Singapore Sling cocktail.
Singaporean cuisine blends Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions. The best way to discover it is in the hawker centres - large covered food courts with dozens of small food stalls. Singapore's hawker culture is inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Dishes worth trying include Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, chilli crab and satay.
For relaxation and fun there is Sentosa Island, with beaches, an amusement park and an aquarium. The Night Safari, opened in 1994, is the world's first zoo designed to be visited at night, when the animals are most active.
Why and when to visit?
Singapore is ideal for a city break of a few days, or as a stop on the way to Bali, Thailand, Malaysia or Vietnam. The city is clean, safe and easy to get around, with the metro connecting almost all the sights.
New Year's Eve at Marina Bay is especially impressive, when the sky above the skyscrapers lights up with a large fireworks display. The climate allows a visit all year round, and combining Singapore with a tropical holiday is one of the best ways to see two completely different sides of Asia in a single trip. See our tours to Singapore.
