Joanna James
A dazzlingly cutting-edge city-state featuring picturesque pockets of history, nature, and culture- Singapore is full of delightful contrasts that thrill even the most blasé of globe-trotters. Here are some essential experiences to check off your bucket list.
Many view Singapore as a luxurious playground for the brand-savvy, and while its glamourous high-rises and high-end shopping centres are testaments to the city's par excellence offerings, it has much more to entice the heart and mind, from its eclectic meccas to its nature-kissed escapes. The ArtScience Museum, despite its 'larger than life' concept, is full of humbling reminders; each exhibit represents a profound metaphor that guides visitors towards themes such as sustainability, climate change, mindfulness, and hopeful pandemic reflections. Straight out of an urban fantasy, the spectacular realms found in this iconic museum are the result of seamlessly harmonizing human ingenuity and cutting-edge technology. A futuristic extension of the stunning Marina Bay Sands, you can immerse yourself in interactive worlds of abstract meanings and kaleidoscopic enchantment at Future World, view universal mysteries through the eyes of radical inventors or slide through luminescent fields of living art.
If you haven't gotten enough of eye-popping worlds at the museum, visit Marina Bay Sand's iconic 101-acre waterfront city garden, where you will find an imaginative assortment of misty cloud forest habitats, cascading waterfalls of multi-hued orchids, 4-D Dragonfly Rides, and panoramic views from atop the titanic Supertree Grove.
A wild adventure with over 2,800 animals, hop on a river safari at the Singapore Zoo and get up close and personal with white rhinos, cheetahs, pandas, and squirrel monkeys, with a variety of edutainment shows and activities for an unforgettable edutainment experience.
While many tourists flock to Marina Bay Sands and Orchard Road for bougie shopping, dining, and recreational adventures, Singapore's chic and rustic avenues are just as enchanting. Its Colonial district, for instance, hosts beautiful and imperial buildings such as the Raffles Hotel and Old Parliament House, set close to the fascinating Singapore Art Museum and iconic National Museum of Singapore. Robertson Quay is another atmospheric neighbourhood brimming with artistic and recreational enclaves, as well as iconic tourist hotspots like Lau Pat Sat Market, Robertson Walk, and Riverside Point. If you're looking for a sophisticated Robertson Quay hotel in Singapore proffering prime access to diverse city allurements, venture no further than Riverside Hotel Robertson Quay.
A marvellous undersea bonding experience for the whole tribe, this stunning ocean park hosts over 100,000 marine animals and 45 exotic habitats, enabling visitors to journey into iridescent realms reigned by leopard sharks, silvertips, manta rays, and all manner of brilliant coral reef dwellers.
If you are in the mood for the blissful peace of a verdant city oasis, head over to the UNESCO-listed fairytale land of Singapore's Botanic Gardens. Here, you can admire a living painting of heritage trees, orchid bowers, spice plots, eco-gardens, and tranquil ponds, as well as a unique medley of historic and contemporary architecture masterpieces.
While Sentosa Island, with its aquatic escapades and dolphin shows, is higher up on the tourist radar, the off-the-beaten-trail Pulau Ubin is a nature lover's haven complete with lush orchards, picturesque boardwalks, abandoned quarries, emerald lakes, and one of Singapore's kampongs- a traditional village community.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
