Singapore is one of the few remaining sovereign city-states in the world. It covers a small area and is among the 20 smallest countries in the world – and yet, Singapore has fantastic tourist attractions. As an interesting fact, the city-state consists of 64 offshore islands surrounding the main island – so there are loads of things to do in Singapore if you are ready to hop between the islands! Maybe surprisingly, for such a small state, there are all four official languages: Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil.

The island state is said to be named by a prince. A prince named Sang Nila Utama observed an unknown animal with a lion’s head in 1299, after being caught in a storm across the sea. He took it as a sign of good luck and decided to build a new city on this spot. He named the city “Singapura” – derived from ‘lion’ in Malay: Singa and ‘city’: Pura – hence the Lion City.

Centuries later, in 1819 (after a period where Singapore belonged to a sultanate), Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty that allowed the British to locate a trading port on the island, the beginning of a British colony of Singapore. When the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies at the end of World War II, Singapore came under British rule. Obtaining status as a British Crown colony, Singapore was from 1946 until 1963 heavily influenced by the United Kingdom. From 1955, it gained partial internal self-governance (despite a short merger with Malaysia in 1963-65), and in 1965, Singapore finally became an independent republic.

 
Due to the long history involving different cultures, Singapore is today a fascinating place to visit, featuring several unusual attractions. As a tourist to Singapore, you may want to do a few of the things described below as an ‘appetiser’ for the multiracial and multicultural island country.

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One of the things or top attractions in Singapore you should allow yourself time to do is a ride in one of the numerous bumboats.

Today’s bumboats, in operation since 1987, offer the opportunity to experience a tour yourself and give it a whirl on the Singapore River. The iconic bumboats, some painted with faces and eyes, hold on to long-established traditions and preserve the heritage here. Nevertheless, the newest ones have been converted into much more sustainable boats since they have become silent and have no CO2 emissions any longer.

A bumboat ride is one of the Singapore top attractions | Photo: Jason Goh / Pixabay

There are two bumboat companies: the Singapore River Explorer and the Singapore River Cruise. On a 30 – 60-minute river cruise, you may get the chance to see the well-known districts of Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Marina Bay.

Don’t either miss the statue The Merlion at the Marina Bay waterfront, created by a local sculptor, Lim Nang Seng.

The quays are former places of commerce and genuine Singapore atmosphere. The tongkangs, or the bumboats, docked here to load and unload their cargos. Today, they are still vibrant tourist spots in Singapore, with plentiful restaurants, shops and other attractions. You may also get the opportunity to enjoy a bustling night bazaar here.

Jump on to one of the bumboats to try a traditional boat ride in the heart of Singapore | Photo: Jason Goh / Pixabay

To go on a ride, buy, for instance, your tickets at Clarke Quay. Now, feel free to disembark at any of the 13 jetties to experience the historic places and stunning views along the Singapore River!

The tour will allow you to see Singapore’s Central Business District from a new angle – and to see lots of skyscrapers! You will also catch sight of the impressive Marina Bay Sands, with a huge rooftop terrace – and you will pass by significant historical buildings like the Supreme Court and the Arts House ( Old Parliament House). When disembarking at Marina Bay, you may continue to the lovely and lush Gardens by the Bay.

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Another of the Singapore tourist spots is Gardens by the Bay. The attraction has become popular in Singapore since its opening back in 2012. It is an exceptional garden, with a Supertree Grove of 18 giant colourful steel and concrete trees. Twelve of these artificial trees are in a cluster, each reaching a height of between 25 m (82 ft) and 50 m (164 ft).

Top sight in Singapore | Photo: Jason Goh / Pixabay

Here, you also find the 22-metre (72 ft) high OCBC Skyway, which is an elevated walkway between the impressive tree structures. From there, you have excellent views of the gardens and surrounding cityscape.

You will also find the new Supertree Observatory on top of the tallest Supertree. An open-air rooftop deck offers scenic views of Marina Bay and the stunning Singapore skyline.

Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay | Photo: Travel In Culture

The Gardens constitute an imaginary, horticultural world in the middle of Singapore – even very close to the business centre. Inspired by impressive Western Australian Karri Trees, the Supertrees were designed as a technological asset in a lush, magical garden. It is today one of the best tourist attractions in Singapore.

The Supertrees are an incredible blend of inorganic material and lush, natural vegetation. The trees are covered by panels of soilless epiphytes like, for instance, vines, orchids and ferns.

Photo: Public Domain Pictures / Pixabay

In addition to the outdoor botanical diversity, the gardens feature two huge greenhouses or domes, namely the two conservatories, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, with exceptional floras. The Flower Dome is home to a typical Mediterranean-zone flora, and the Cloud Forest is home to a vast number of tropical mountain plants.

The Gardens by the Bay are designed as sustainably as possible. The Supertrees have solar photovoltaic cells installed and produce their energy for the light show at night. Moreover, the Supertrees provide the necessary ventilation for the cooling process of the conservatories. In this way, plant species from other climates can grow here.

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What is more enticing than having lunch here at the Lau Pa Sat or Telok Ayer Market, built in 1824 in colonial Singapore as a fish market? Now, it is world-famous! Lau Pa Sat is today situated in the middle of the financial district and is an iconic landmark in Singapore among locals and tourists.

The octagonal shape was initially designed in 1838 by the Irish architect George Coleman, who is behind several outstanding buildings in Singapore, among others, the Old Parliament House. When rebuilt in 1894, the Scotsman James MacRitchie kept its characteristic shape – and added at the same time a fine clock tower, as well as a cast-iron structure. It was all cast in Glasgow and shipped to Singapore.

The well-known Lau Pa Sat food market is surrounded by skyscrapers – today a tourist attraction of Singapore | Photo: Travel In Culture

Today, Lau Pa Sat is Singapore’s outstanding food court, where business people and tourist groups flock to grab a bite. It is worth giving it a try for a typical Singaporean lunch!

You will likely also hear some Singlish here – like in many other places in Singapore. The Singaporeans add a ‘lah’ or ‘leh’ to their sentences, characterising Singlish.

Lau Pa Sat is popular around office lunchtime | Photo: Travel In Culture

Long before Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore in 1819, an immigrant population had already settled in the city. A lot of the immigrants were Chinese people, drawn to the city by the free port. Raffles divided the city into ethnic quarters, and the Chinese Campong, or Chinatown, became one of them.

Today, Singapore’s Chinatown is the city’s largest historic district with still existing traditions and festivals, such as the Lunar New Year and the Mid-autumn Festival.

Chinatown – one of the key attractions in Singapore | Photo: Jason Goh / Pixabay

The vibrant neighbourhood has a unique cultural diversity – and is one of the fascinating tourist attractions in Singapore from a cultural / historical point of view. Where else can you find a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple, and a mosque right next to each other?

What a multiethnic society! The Singapore Chinatown is unique in that it is so multiracial and multicultural. The different temples and the mosque coexist in harmony and send, for instance, each other best wishes during Chinese festivals!

Chinatown can be subdivided into four districts: Telok Ayer, Kreta Ayer, Bukit Pasoh and Tanjong Pagar, all developed at different times between the 1820s and 1920s. In tourist brochures, the ‘official Chinatown’ is described as the Cantonese part of the Singapore Chinatown. That implies that there is also an ‘unofficial Chinatown’ – known as the ‘people’s Chinatown’.

Chinatown, one of the Singapore tourist attraction places | Photo: Bettina Norgaard / Pixabay

The Cantonese town is around South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street, New Bridge Road and Bukit Pasoh Road.

Today, Chinatown is considered one of the tourist attractions in Singapore, with its modern souvenirs, ‘Chinese’ pound shops and the Chinatown Food Street.

In the Chinatown Complex, you will find everything from the odd worship items to clothes and other products sold by local hawkers. Market and food stalls are attractive, and the place is crowded around office lunchtime! That is the place to get your authentic Chinatown lunch!

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Finally, if you have just a tiny bit of shopping gene, no Singapore visit without a visit to the renowned Orchard Road dating back to the 1830s! In the beginning, though, it was not a shopping district. The road was named after the abundant fruit orchards and other plantations along it.

Today, it is THE shopping district in Singapore, and the tourist attraction is beloved. Megastores and overwhelming shopping complexes flank the famous street. Luxury brands, fashionable clothing, the trendiest wardrobe, world-class dining, coffee or whisky tasting… Whatever experience you are after, you will find it here! In no time, you will have filled an extra suitcase to take home – if this is what you want!

Photo: Travel In Culture

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