The city-state of Singapore: futuristic, smart, well planned, safe, clean, perfect, cited as one of the top cities to live and work, wealthy, civilised.The other side of the coin: an economy based merely on shopping, malls and restaurants anywhere you go (even when you walk to the subway), a modernity that erases heritage even in this new country.This island country was founded as a trade port by British at the beginning of the 19th century. During the second World War it was invaded by...

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You have a good reason to visit Botanic Gardens, the highlight visit in Singapore, the place declared by Unesco as world heritage. It is the birth place of maybe the most beautiful flower in the world, the orchid. The Botanic Gardens is huge, an area of seventy four hectares it is made of several gardens: the rain forests, the palm valley, the famous orchid garden. You can start your tour at the metro station Botanic Gardens, walk through the park and take the exit to Tanglin where you can...

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The National Gallery is situated at the civic district of Singapore. The white elegant building is actually made of two buildings, City Hall and the former Supreme Court and today houses the largest art collection in Southeast Asia.Its largest collection is exhibited on different halls in its four floors, it has also a terrace where you can enjoy Singapore’s skyline. When I’m visiting the Gallery there’s the exhibition of 19th century European impressionists but I prioritise the Asian Art...

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The most interesting and inspiring experience in Singapore has been the visit to these two museums. The Arts and Science Museum is the building with the shape of a white lotus flower looking at the sky, it’s situated by the river as an annex to Marina Bay Shopping Complex and can be reached by metro (exit Marina Bay). It houses exhibitions with specific themes: future, technology, science. When I’m visiting the Museum I have the chance to watch ‘Tourists & Spectres’, a short movie made by...

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The civic district of Singapore houses not only the famous National Gallery but also two other important museums. One is the Asian Civilisations Museum, it’s aiming to show Singapore’s strategic character being the intersection between China, Southeast Asia and India.Just next to it you will find a space exclusive for contemporary art where Singapore based artist Eng Tow’s ‘Thought Grains’ (taking its shape& name from rice) is exhibited. Right behind the museum there’s another important...

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When we talk about Singapore the first thing that comes to mind is its silhouette: the peculiar examples of futuristic architecture: skyscrapers, iron trees looking at the sky… Maybe the first thing you should do when you come to Singapore is to walk the city to enjoy this silhouette.Here is a walking route for your first day to get to know its iconic places: start your day by reaching to the Marina Bays metro station, you will see two exits, take the one to Gardens by the Bay and walk to the...

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The colonial heritage of Singapore can best be seen at these streets, lined with one floor wooden houses, today renovated, colourful and all converted into offices. Here are some places where you can enjoy walking, have breakfast, visit book stores and boutique shops. Tiong Bahru has lots of bakeries and cafés, yoga studios, a nice book store (Books Actually; closed after the pandemic)… Another neighbourhood is close to Chinatown; it’s where Club Street and Cross Street are located, also full...

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When it comes to eating it can be said that it is almost the centre of life here in Singapore. Any where you go it is for sure that you will find a shopping mall or a restaurant. Along the Singapore River you will find many options. A pleasant walk of about three kilometres: start your walk at the Fullerton Hotel, cross the Cavenagh Bridge across the hotel and take the river on your left. You will see a statue of Sir Raffles, the British figure who turned Singapore from a fishing village to a...

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