Welcome to Singapore

Singapore is a marvel of modern urban planning. A tiny city-state that has transformed from a poor fishing village to Asia's wealthiest nation in just 60 years — creating one of the cleanest, safest, and most fascinating metropolises in the world. On an area smaller than Hamburg, Singapore combines skyscrapers and rainforests, Michelin-star cuisine and street food for 3 euros, futuristic architecture and colonial buildings from the 19th century.

• Marina Bay Sands & the Skyline — The iconic skyline around Marina Bay is one of the most spectacular city panoramas in the world. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel with its rooftop infinity pool, the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, and the illuminated Helix Bridge form an ensemble that looks like a science fiction vision — but is reality.
• Gardens by the Bay — 101 hectares of futuristic garden art right by the water: the Supertrees (up to 50 m high steel trees that shine in a light show in the evening), the Cloud Forest (an indoor waterfall in a gigantic glass dome), and the Flower Dome (the largest climate-controlled greenhouse in the world). Singapore's answer to the question of how to connect nature and city.
• Hawker Center — the best street food in the world — Singapore's hawker centers are UNESCO World Heritage and the culinary heart of the nation. In over 100 food courts, thousands of stalls serve the cuisines of China, India, Malaysia, and the whole world — for 3 to 6 SGD per dish. Chicken Rice, Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Roti Prata: Here you eat at world-class level for pennies.
• Cultural Diversity — Singapore is a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western culture. In Chinatown, Buddhist temples stand next to Hindu shrines, in Little India it smells of jasmine and spices, in the Arab quarter Kampong Glam the Sultan Mosque gleams golden — and everything is just a few MRT stations apart.
• Changi Airport — the best airport in the world — Changi has been voted the best airport in the world for years. And it deserves it: Jewel Changi with its 40 m high indoor waterfall, gardens, slides, and restaurants makes the airport itself a sight. Some travelers come here just for the layover.
• Safety & Cleanliness — Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world. Women can walk alone through the streets at night, bags remain unattended on tables, and the streets are impeccably clean. The strict laws (gum ban, high fines for littering) may seem excessive — but the result is impressive.
• Orchard Road & Shopping — Singapore is a shopping paradise: From the luxury boutiques on Orchard Road to the electronics mile Sim Lim Square to the vintage shops in Haji Lane and the night markets in Chinatown. Plus: no VAT refund needed under 100 SGD.
• Tropical Greenery in the City — Despite the skyscrapers, Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world. The Botanical Garden (UNESCO World Heritage), the Southern Ridges hiking trails, MacRitchie Reservoir with treetop path, and Pulau Ubin — an island where time has stood still — offer pure nature, just minutes from the city center.

Singapore is the perfect gateway drug to Southeast Asia: safe, clean, efficient, and yet exotic enough to pull you out of your European comfort zone. And as a stopover on the way to Australia, Bali, or Thailand, it is unbeatable anyway.

Singapore is compact and perfectly connected — the MRT (metro) takes you from one district to the next in minutes:

Marina Bay / CBD

For whom: First-time visitors, architecture fans, night owls
The futuristic centerpiece with Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, the Merlion, the Esplanade, and the glittering skyscrapers of the Financial District. This is where modern Singapore takes place — business by day, light show by night.

Chinatown & Little India

For whom: Foodies, culture fans, bargain hunters
Chinatown: narrow streets with temples, tea houses, the Maxwell Food Centre, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Little India: a color explosion of sari shops, flower garlands, spice stalls, and the Tekka Centre — the most authentic hawker center in town. In between: Kampong Glam with the Sultan Mosque and Haji Lane.

Sentosa

For whom: Families, beach lovers, adrenaline junkies
The amusement island off Singapore's coast: Universal Studios, S.E.A. Aquarium, beaches (Siloso, Palawan, Tanjong Beach), zip-lines, cable cars, and the Resorts World Casino. Kitsch? Sometimes. Fun? Definitely.

Botanical Garden & Holland Village

For whom: Nature lovers, expats, peace seekers
The UNESCO-protected Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful tropical gardens in the world — with the National Orchid Garden (60,000 orchids). Holland Village next door is the relaxed expat district with cafes, boutiques, and the atmosphere of a tropical village in the middle of the metropolis.

1. The Supertree Light Show at Night — Every evening at 7:45 and 8:45 PM, the Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay transform into a magical light spectacle. Lie on the grass, look up, and marvel — free and unforgettable. → Chap. Marina Bay
2. Sunset from the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark — From the observation deck (or the infinity pool, for hotel guests only) at 200 m height, let your gaze wander over the entire skyline, the harbor, and all the way to Indonesia. Best to come just before sunset. → Chap. Marina Bay
3. Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre — Singapore's national dish at the legendary spot: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Tender poached chicken, aromatic rice, three sauces — for under 5 SGD. The line is long, but it's worth it. → Chap. Chinatown
4. Strolling through Little India — Colorful facades, jasmine scent, Bollywood music, spice mountains, sari shops, and the best Roti Prata in town. Little India is Singapore's most vibrant and authentic district — a feast for all senses. → Chap. Chinatown
5. Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay — A 35-meter-high indoor waterfall in a climate-controlled glass dome full of tropical mountain plants. The skywalk above the clouds is breathtaking — and a welcome cool-down from the tropical heat. → Chap. Marina Bay
6. Hawker Center Hopping — Singapore's hawker centers are UNESCO World Heritage — and the culinary heart of the nation. Plan at least three different ones: Maxwell (Chinatown), Lau Pa Sat (CBD), Old Airport Road (the size!). Each dish 3–6 SGD. → Chap. Understanding
7. Sunrise at MacRitchie Reservoir — The TreeTop Walk (250 m long suspension bridge path at 25 m height) through the primary rainforest offers a view over the treetops that no skyscraper can replace. Come early in the morning — because of the heat and the macaques. → Chap. Botanical Garden
8. Orchard Road Shopping — The 2.2 km long shopping street with over 20 malls, from ION Orchard (luxury) to Takashimaya (Japanese department store) to the outlets in Lucky Plaza. Singapore's answer to the Champs-Élysées — air-conditioned. → Chap. Marina Bay
9. Singapore Sling at the Long Bar — Drink the legendary cocktail where it was invented in 1915: at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel. The peanut shells are thrown on the floor — the only permitted form of littering in Singapore. → Chap. Marina Bay
10. Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple — The magnificent Buddhist temple in Chinatown houses a relic of Buddha in a 420 kg gold stupa. The architecture, the prayers, the incense scent — a moment of silence in the midst of the city. Free of charge. → Chap. Chinatown
11. Sentosa at Sunset — End the day at Tanjong Beach: cocktail in hand, feet in the sand, view of the container ships gliding through the Strait of Malacca. The quietest side of the amusement island. → Chap. Sentosa
12. National Orchid Garden — 60,000 orchids in over 1,000 species and hybrids in the UNESCO-protected Botanical Garden. The most beautiful garden in Singapore — and one of the most beautiful in the world. Only 5 SGD entry. → Chap. Botanical Garden
13. Experience Changi Airport Jewel — Even if you're not flying: Jewel Changi with the Rain Vortex (40 m indoor waterfall), Canopy Park, and 280 shops is an attraction in itself. Best in the evening when the waterfall is illuminated. → Chap. Practical
14. Night Market in Chinatown — Pagoda Street and Smith Street transform into a night market with lanterns, souvenirs, and street food in the evening. Kitschily beautiful and perfect for an evening stroll. → Chap. Chinatown
15. Clarke Quay at Night — Singapore's nightlife district on the Singapore River: bars, clubs, restaurants on restored warehouses by the water. The colorful lighting and the view of the skyline make it the perfect evening spot. → Chap. Marina Bay