Singapore: Itinerary Planning Guide

Singapore is a city-state of 5.9 million people on a 733km² island — the world's most densely populated sovereign territory outside Monaco and Macau, and consistently ranked among the world's most liveable, cleanest, safest, and most efficient cities. In 50 years it went from a malarial swamp to a global financial centre and one of the world's most visited cities, achieving this by being genuinely excellent at almost everything: infrastructure, food safety, air conditioning, urban planning, and tropical garden design. Singapore's food culture is one of the world's great eating experiences — a Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan culinary fusion that is available at every price point from $3 hawker stalls (some with Michelin stars) to $300 fine dining. The hawker centre system — open-air food courts present in every neighbourhood — is a social institution and a UNESCO-listed culinary heritage. Eating is the national sport and the most legitimate reason to visit. The country is small enough to explore entirely on foot, subway, and taxi. Gardens by the Bay and its Supertrees are genuinely spectacular; the Colonial District's Raffles Hotel and National Museum are the historical anchors; and Little India, Chinatown, and Kampong Glam each preserve distinct cultural characters within walking distance of each other.