Joanna James
As one of the most straight-laced tourist hotspots in Asia, Singapore is home to some of the region's best highlights. Here are the country's most iconic points of interest.
The Botanic Gardens holds the honour of being the first attraction in Singapore to have earned a nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is easy to understand why. As one of the oldest botanical spaces in the country, the sheer variety of flowers and blooms occupying this picturesque parkland makes it a geographical anomaly in an otherwise highly metropolitan landscape. Divided into a bonsai garden, eco-garden and a series of other formal gardens including the National Orchid Garden, this lush green space is the best place to relax and unwind after a day of sightseeing.
As the only Asian instalment of the Hollywood entertainment franchise, a visit to Universal Studios Singapore is a must for all first-time visitors. Spread out across a whopping 49 acres, the park is divided into thematic zones based on blockbuster films and hit television series. Shrek's Far Far Away, Madagascar and Revenge of the Mummy enclosure are some of the park's most popular highlights while the Battlestar Galactica rollercoaster at the park is also the world's only duelling roller coaster. Sci-Fi City, New York City and the Ancient Egypt zones also pay tribute to their namesake cities while a host of restaurants, shops and live performances also take place at Universal Studios.
Regarded as Singapore's original leisure island, Sentosa is a power-packed entertainment and recreational hotspot for the masses. Home to Siloso Beach, the island is the best place to clock in some beach time while in the country while other activities include skimboarding and kayaking. The iconic Merlion Statue is also found here along with the SeaBreeze Water-Sports @ Wave House, The Flying Trapeze and the Underwater World aquarium where visitors can swim with playful dolphins.
The Gardens by the Bay is not only home to the iconic and gravity-defying Supertree Grove but the country's only futuristic garden space. The Cloud Forest Dome which contains the globe's highest indoor waterfall is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the sheer number of highlights inside the enclave which also includes the Bay East Garden. Those based at Citadines Rochor Singapore or any similar Singapore serviced apartment complex will find that the venue is within close range of their accommodation provider.
Ranked as the world's finest rainforest zoo, this globally recognized conservation hub and wildlife sanctuary is the reason most visitors holiday in Singapore to being with. Offering visitors the renowned Night Safari excursion and a host of other exciting wildlife encounters, the facility is home to white tigers, komodo dragons, zebras, chimps, kangaroos and endemic bird species. It takes at least three hours to explore this larger than life sanctuary in full while a large number of live shows and edutainment programs means families and young visitors can also learn a great deal about the zoo's inhabitants.
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