Location Information

Singapore City, Singapore
Language: Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, English
Currency: Singapore Dollar

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.

The history of Singapore began as early as the 3rd Century when a Chinese account described the island at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore rose in importance during the 14th century under the rule of Srivijayan prince Parameswara and became an important port until it was destroyed by Portuguese raiders in 1613. The modern history of Singapore began in 1819 when Englishman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles established a British port on the island. Under British colonial rule, it grew in importance as a centre for both the India-China trade and the entrepôt trade in Southeast Asia, rapidly becoming a major port city.

The Weather in Singapore is warm and fairly humid summer temperatures throughout the year. There are no distinct wet or dry seasons. Most rain falls during the northeast monsoon (November to January) and showers are usually sudden and heavy.

Singapore is truly cosmopolitan, a fascinating mixture of people and culture: officially Chinese, Indian and Malay, but also with a huge foreign resident and transit population of Americans, Burmese, Europeans, Indonesians, Japanese and fellow Asians, making it one of the most diverse centres in Asia.

Singapore City was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company, who recommended that different areas of the town be set aside for the various ethnic groups. There are still fascinating pockets where more traditionally exclusive enclaves exist, principally in Chinatown, Arab Street, Serangoon Road (focus of the Indian community) and Padang Square with its very strong colonial associations. The best way to experience the remarkable diversity of the city is on foot: the traditional architecture, customs and cuisine of the various ethnic areas are in fascinating contrast to the lavish luxury shopping arcades of Orchard Road and Raffles City.

The largest and best known of Singapore’s offshore islands is also one of the closest to the mainland. Sentosa is a multi-million dollar pleasure resort girdled by a monorail and offering a wide range of activities and attractions. These include the Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, Images of Singapore, the recently upgraded Musical Fountain Show, The Merlion, the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom Museum.

Singapore is a gourmet’s paradise, ranging from humble street stalls to 5-star restaurants. There are over 30 different cooking styles, including various regional styles of Chinese cuisine, American, English, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian and Swiss. Malay cuisine is a favourite, famed for its use of spices and coconut milk.

Singapore has a vibrant and exciting nightlife. Entertainment ranges from bars, clubs, discos, karaoke pubs, street opera, night markets, river cruises, and multiplex cinemas to theatre productions and international stage shows. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are popular riverside landmarks that offer exclusive restaurants, alfresco dining and lively bars.

Singapore City, known as the Lion City, is by far the largest and most significant island alongside 63 others that make up Singapore state. At the mouth of the Singapore River, Asian tradition meets modern technology - gleaming skyscrapers tower over traditional architecture, while squat Chinese and Hindu temples stud the city.

Once a simple fishing village, it was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles, an official of the British East India Company, who decided it was the perfect location for a trading station. Since then it has become one of the world’s most prosperous cities.

Singapore is not all urban landscape as first appears, and in keeping with its ’Garden City’ label, there are many areas of natural beauty, albeit with a little help from humans. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore Zoological Gardens, the Night Safari and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. For history lovers and culture vultures, there is also an impressive selection of museums, exhibitions and architectural heritage, like the Asian Civilizations Museum and the Singapore Art Museum.

Most venues are packed at weekends. Certain areas and venues are popular with expats and tourists, like Boat Quay with its string of shop-houses converted into noisy bars and restaurants overlooking the river. The bars in the hotels along Orchard Road are a safe bet for a refined drink or to meet clients, and nearby Emerald Hill Road has a great collection of lively bars attracting locals and visitors.

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