Singapore in two, three and four days, what to see and what to try, what to taste and where to shop, read the post to get a deeper idea of ​​the city.
Singapore it is a city that certainly does not leave you indifferent. It would take many adjectives to describe it: modern and almost futuristic, clean and tidy, home of 5 million inhabitants but never extremely chaotic, rich, sophisticated and absolutely cosmopolitan. It is certainly not theAsia that is expected; indeed, it is a sort of meeting point between Western and Eastern architecture and lifestyles. This is why it presents many contrasts and is, at the same time, fascinating and intriguing as only a few large cities in the world can be.
Singapore is to be discovered on foot or by public transport (the use of cars is strictly regulated to reduce pollution and chaos), in every neighborhood, in every face that maintains its own personality. Singapore is the nerve center of commercial and financial exchanges, one of the most important shopping centers in the world, but also a place full of tourist attractions, more or less modern, artificial and interesting. Here I show you what, in my opinion, are the attractions that you just can't miss if you visit Singapore, even if only for 2/3 days.
The Marina Bay area
This is definitely the area most famous of Singapore, chock full of tourist attractions and stunning buildings. As soon as we arrive at the bay created by the Singapore River, the attraction that strikes us most is certainly the Marina Bay Sands, the gigantic and monumental complex that houses a luxury hotel, one of the largest casinos in the world, a shopping mall, an ice rink, museums, convention centers and much more. The peculiarity of the building is certainly its structure, consisting of three skyscrapers surmounted by SkyPark, in the shape of a ship, where there is also one of the most famous infinity pools in the world (reserved only for hotel guests, unfortunately!). The complex also includes the ArtScience Museum, with its curious lotus flower shape, and the Wonder Full show, staged every evening with plays of lights, lasers, water and music: it is truly suggestive.
Also in this area, the attractions not to be missed are:
Il Merlion or the large statue of the mythological figure with the body of a mermaid and the head of a lion, which represents the symbol of Singapore.
THEHelix bridge, the curious bridge in the shape of a double helix, which gives its best at night, all lit up.
La Singapore Flyer, the second tallest Ferris wheel in the world, which promises truly breathtaking views across the city and beyond (and the promise is kept, I assure you).
THEEsplanade, a large building somewhat reminiscent of durian (the typical fruit of Southeast Asia), and which houses a theater and a concert hall.
The CBD (Central Business District)
The commercial and financial heart of the city of Singapore is beautiful to visit, even on foot: you can walk along the wide and clean streets, rest in one of the many green areas and, above all, stop to admire the many attractions that are located in the heart. of the city.
One of the most important is the Raffles Hotel, built in the late 1800s in colonial style. This beautiful hotel, which has only suites and not simple rooms, is like an ancient pearl in the midst of the modernity of the city center, and will make you dream even just visiting its elegant lobby or its lush exotic gardens. Here is also the Long Bar, where the excellent Singapore Sling was invented!
The CBD is also where you can find all the most important museums in the city, among which I mention the National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, the National Gallery and theAsian Civilization Museum. Here you can also find many churches in different styles (the largest and most important is St. Andrew's Cathedral), as well as some Buddhist temples.
The characteristic neighborhoods
You cannot say that you have seen Singapore if you have not strolled along the streets and alleys of the three “ethnic” neighborhoods, those that give the city its own identity and a past to be explored.
Chinatown is the Chinese colony in Singapore, whose presence is strongly felt throughout the city. Lose yourself among the decorated streets, the thousands of souvenirs and strange objects, pop into the fish market and visit the two main attractions: the Sri Mariamman Temple and the wonderful Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
Little India allows you to step into a lively, confusing world full of colors, strange smells and busy people. Here the House of Tan Teng Niah, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple are worth visiting.
Kampong Glam it is the neighborhood of the Malay community, with many fabric shops, food stalls, narrow and colorful houses and, above all, a large amount of street art. In this neighborhood, don't miss a visit to the beautiful Sultan Mosque.
The Gardens by the Bay
My favorite Singapore attraction is right behind Marina Bay Sands, on the water of the bay. It is a gigantic garden of about 100 hectares, whose peculiarity is certainly the Supertree Grove, or that “forest” of tree-shaped vertical gardens, up to 50 meters high. It is wonderful to see them during the day but especially in the evening, when they light up with a thousand colors and seem almost alive. In addition to this, at the Gardens by the Bay you can visit the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, two huge glass pavilions that enclose… the wonder. Exotic flowers, plants from all over the world, waterfalls, mountains of vegetation, and much more. If you like greenery, this is the place for you!
The other green spaces of the city: i Botanic Gardens e Fort Canning Park. Singapore is, as I said at the beginning, a well-kept and sophisticated city. In a place like this, green spaces cannot help but abound.
The largest and most varied is certainly that of the Botanic Gardens, a little off-center but certainly worthy of an in-depth view. Here you will find tree-lined avenues, gazebos and ponds with swans, huge green meadows and paths for runners and simple walkers, rainforests and much more. The main attraction, however, is the National Orchid Garden, the space it houses beyond 3.000 orchids of all types, colors and origins. It is just a flower, but you will never tire of admiring it in all its forms.
Singapore's other major green space is Fort Canning Park in the city center. It is precisely around this area that the city has developed, so the park offers many historical and cultural insights and information, but you can also find a lighthouse, a spice garden, a archaeological excavation and much more.
Orchard Road and the shopping places
Shopping and malls are an integral part of Singapore and its economic importance, so they also become a real tourist attraction. The main shopping street is Orchard Road, with its about 20 shopping centers that follow each other without rest, some even very luxurious. The ones worth visiting are Orchard Central, 313 @ Somerset and IOn orchard.
Another shopping area to visit is the one located in Bugis: here there are various shopping centers for all budgets and, above all, Bugis Street, a sort of covered market with hundreds of stalls to buy any type of junk. If you want to go shopping (or just a visit) in the other important shopping centers of the city, I remind you the Suntec City, Marina Square and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Clarke Quay and the Riverfront
The riverside of the Singapore River is the main meeting place during the day but, above all, at night for hundreds of locals and tourists. Clarke quay, what was once the riverside that housed warehouses and commercial warehouses, has been transformed into an area full of restaurants and clubs of all kinds, where you can taste typical dishes, stroll and have fun admiring the beautiful lights of the city that are reflected on the river water.
Outside the city center
If you have a little more time, I recommend these two places which are located a little outside the center, but which are worth a visit.
Singapore Zoo, one of the largest and most important zoos in all of Asia, with over 2.800 animals from over 300 different species. The zoo has no cages, but only natural fences and obstacles, within which the animals can move freely; it is a very interesting and varied place, for young and old!
Sentosa island, the large artificial island located south of the city and reachable via a pedestrian / cycle bridge (or via the cable car). This island did not make me crazy because its artificial being is noticeable at every corner, but it is to be visited above all for the (artificial) beaches of Silosa and Palawan, with beautiful views (we are in the southernmost point of the whole Mainland Asia). However, the island is perfect for those who love fun and adrenaline: in addition to numerous hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, on the island there are Universal Studios, various fun museums, the aquarium, the Tiger Sky Tower (panoramic tower ), and so on.
