Singapore, what to see in the city-state
Its skyline dominated by towering skyscrapers resembles that of New York, but does not have the Statue of Liberty. It has the Merlion, a statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, symbol of the city, which welcomes travelers to the mouth of the Singapore River.
Singapore, a city-state made up of 63 islands and a mix of races, cultures and religions, is not only a world economic capital, but is increasingly becoming an interesting vacation destination. This Southeast Asian island with a tropical climate offers many things to do and attractions to see. The 'Switzerland of the East', the 'garden city', the 'city of primates' - call it what you will. Singapore is truly unique and stands out among the other metropolises of the East for its records.
RECORD-BREAKING ATTRACTIONS
For example, it has the largest Ferris wheel in the eastern hemisphere, the Singapore Flyer (the record was broken recently by the Ferris wheel in Las Vegas): you can dine or taste excellent Champagne at 165 meters above sea level while admiring the view, even at sunset.
The most iconic building is the Marina Bay Sands, a structure consisting of 3 huge skyscrapers, home to the hotel of the same name and several stores, joined at the top by a huge terrace in the shape of a ship, the SkyPark, which houses pubs, restaurants, discos and the famous infinity pool that offers a breathtaking view of the city skyline. You can book your ticket to get on in cinìme and avoid the queue.
Marina Bay, the most comfortable and spectacular street, undoubtedly passes by Helix Bridge, a bridge that represents the triumph of technology and design and that, with its spirals, represents the continuity of life, rebirth, progress, inspired by the shape of DNA.
Another fundamental stop are the Gardens by the Bay, especially at night when you can enjoy the bright lights of the Super Trees, real vertical gardens between 25 and 50 meters high where there are about 163,000 plants and over 200 species of flowers.
Those who do not suffer from vertigo can experience the thrill of climbing to the top of the trees and walking through an aerial walkway (OSCB Skyway) that connects some of them or enjoy the view of the city tasting the best of Asian cuisine in one of the many restaurants such as the Supertree Dining or the Peach Garden Noodle House. Fascinating are also the two glass greenhouses of the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome; the latter recently entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest open space greenhouse in the world.
ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS
Singapore is a city where multi-ethnic neighborhoods coexist just a few blocks away: in addition to Chinatown, one of the most characteristic neighborhoods, inhabited almost exclusively by Chinese, a visit is definitely worth Kampong Glam, a predominantly Arabic area, especially in the evening where cafes and restaurants can not serve alcohol but compensate with live music and the possibility of smoking hookahs.
For shopping lovers Haji Lane is the ideal place with its bookshops, art and clothing stores and delicious pastry stores. Another neighborhood to see is Little India whose beating heart is Serangoon Road, one of the oldest streets in Singapore; the street is known for its Hindu temples (including the temple of Sri Veeramakaliamman dedicated to the goddess Kalì), stores selling Indian spices, jewelry and fabrics.
THE ISLANDS OF SINGAPORE
Along the east coast there are some of the most beautiful beaches in the area and the characteristic island of Pulau Ubin, a small fishing village near Malaysia. You can spend an afternoon exploring its paths, among mangrove forests and water lily ponds where quiet reigns supreme. The ideal is to rent a bike to explore the entire island. But in Singapore you can not do without visiting the island of Sentosa, dedicated to lovers of amusement parks and relaxation on the beach.
The island is connected to Singapore by a bridge and can be reached by bus or monorail. As soon as you arrive there are many attractions ranging from the beaches of Pawan and Siloso to the water games of Adventure Cove Waterpark, from the incredible seabed of SEA Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world, to Universal Studios, a theme park dedicated to the world's most famous animated films.
THE CAPITAL OF STREET FOOD
To try the specialties of the local cuisine the best places are the 'hawker centre' and the 'food courts', large covered markets where, among kiosks and stalls, you can taste, in a spartan and relaxed atmosphere, traditional dishes, such as fried rice, and unusual exotic dishes. Milestone among the centers of this kind is the Lau Pa Sat, temple of street food housed in a large Victorian building.
Those who love culinary experiences cannot fail to visit Chinatown Food Street, Singapore's street food temple. It is located right in the heart of the Chinese area, the most vibrant and dynamic district of Lion City.
Under futuristic glass umbrellas and along its 100 meters long, there are 24 stalls, 6 restaurants and numerous kiosks and outdoor venues serving Asian cuisine open from 11am to 11pm. Geylang Lor 9 Fresh Frog Porridge is the best address to try typical local specialties. If you are looking for more exotic flavors you should go to Adam Road Nasi Lemak which offers excellent Malaysian dishes or Serangoon Raju to taste authentic Indian specialties.
But to taste something absolutely typical and unobtainable in the rest of the world you have to go to one of the many restaurants that serve Peranakan cuisine: a unique mix of Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and European flavors that reflects the essence of Singapore and the encounter between different cultures that has characterized the history of the city over the centuries.
True Blue Cuisine is definitely the best address: here the staff wears traditional clothes and the service ceramics are reminiscent of those used in important lunches by rich Peranakan families.
Singapore is rich not just in places to visit, cuisine to taste but also it has one of the best aesthetic medical treatment industries. If you're curious about that, feel free to read my popular aesthetic treatments in Singapore article for 2020.