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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Kee Foong

From glitzy malls to fragrant spice stalls: why Singapore packs a travel punch

Young traveller woman walking through the small street markets in Singapore. She is carrying a backpack, strolling through the market stalls, looking for exotic and cheap stuff to buy, from technics and gadgets to delicious Asian street food.
Delicious food, high-end shopping and gleaming streets – Singapore has it all. Photograph: lechatnoir/Getty Images

For such a small country – the smallest in south-east Asia – Singapore sure packs in a lot. In the 59 years since independence, it has gone from post-colonial minnow to roaring Asian powerhouse where gleaming skyscrapers and sprawling malls rub up against heritage-listed shophouses and leafy neighbourhoods.

Predominantly Chinese, Indian and Malay populations share this spotlessly clean, lush and green multicultural melting pot of a tropical island. Your visit starts when you land at Changi airport, frequently voted the world’s best, from where it’s a quick cab ride to the city centre. The island’s compact size (and amazing public transport system) means it’s a breeze to get around, and visitors can fit in plenty in just a few days.

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