SINGAPORE

I wrote this up for 6 friends that visited Singapore in October 2023. It has been rare until now for my friends from Britain to visit Singapore. This was the first time I really had to show anyone around. I expect to host many more friends from Europe and America in the years to come.

Main things you should know about Singapore:

• Geographically fortunate to be located on Maritime trade routes connecting India/China/South East Asia
• Established as a British colony in 1819
• Briefly under Japanese occupation 1942-1945
• Briefly part of Malaysia after independence from 1963-1965
• Independent since 1965. 
• No natural resources, less than half the size of London but its a whole country.
• 5.6 million population – Three main people groups: Chinese, Malays and Indians. Lots of diversity and mixing of cultures.
• Lingua franca: English/Singlish
• Total quantum investment: ~ GBP 200 million. 5-6 quantum startups, one large Centre for Quantum Technologies
• Top 5 in the world in GDP per capita. One of the safest, cleanest, and most well ordered places in the world.

Tourist attractions

Main areas to explore in Central Singapore:

(I have listed them in order in which you could choose to walk through and see them, I think you will need two days to enjoy all of them so pace yourself accordingly)

• Little India
• Kampong Glam (Malay heritage area)
• Bugis street (shopping)
• Fort Canning Park
• Singapore River (You can take a boat ride on it, Clarke Quay has good nightlife)
• Chinatown (good food and a street market)
• Marina Bay
• Marina Bay Sands
• Gardens by the Bay

Make sure to visit Jewel at Changi Airport either on your way in or out of Singapore

Other attractions:

• Sentosa Island
• Universal Studios
• Botanic Gardens
• Orchard Road (shopping)
• Bird Paradise
• Singapore Zoo
• Night Safari
• River Safari

Malls:

• Vivo city
• Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
• Jewel at Changi Airport
• Orchard Road has many malls

Bars:

• Long Bar at Raffles Hotel

Nature:

• Lazarus Island
• Pulau Ubin
• Tree top walk

Hawker Centres:

• Lau Pa Sat (go at night, they close a road to set it up)
• Satay by the Bay (upmarket)
• People’s Park Complex (big hawker centre in Chinatown)
• Newton Food Centre (dinner)
• Makansutra (upmarket)
• Maxwell Food Centre (lunch)
• Tekka centre (hawker centre and market in Little India)