Singapore

130 Pages·2017·52.64 MB·English

by  coll.

EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
TOP
SINGAPORE
JENNIFER EVELAND
SUSY ATKINSON
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Top 10 Singapore The Top 10
Highlights of Everything
Welcome to Singapore ...................5 Moments in History .....................36
Exploring Singapore ......................6 Museums ......................................38
Singapore Highlights ...................10 Places of Worship ........................40
National Museum Architectural Sights .....................42
of Singapore ..............................12 World War II Sights ......................44
Singapore River ............................14 National Parks and Gardens .......46
Thian Hock Keng Temple ............16 Spas ..............................................48
Sultan Mosque .............................18 Off the Beaten Path .....................50
Sri Veeramakaliamman Children’s Attractions ..................52
Temple ......................................20
Arts Venues ..................................54
Singapore Botanic Gardens ........24
Bars and Lounges........................56
Singapore Zoo, Night Safari,
Restaurants ..................................58
and River Safari ........................26
Hawker Centers
Marina Bay ...................................28
and Food Courts .......................60
Raffles Hotel ................................30
Shopping Malls ............................62
Sentosa .........................................32
Singapore For Free ......................64
Religious Celebrations ................66
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CONTENTS
Singapore Streetsmart
Area by Area
Chinatown.....................................70 Getting To and
Little India and Around Singapore ..................108
Kampong Glam ........................78 Practical Information .................110
Colonial District ............................88 Places to Stay .............................114
Orchard Road ...............................94
Farther Afield .............................100 General Index .............................120
Acknowledgments .....................127
The information in this DK Eyewitness
Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly.
Every effort has been made to ensure that
this book is as up-to-date as possible at the
time of going to press. Some details,
however, such as telephone numbers,
opening hours, prices, gallery hanging
arrangements and travel information are
liable to change. The publishers cannot
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy accept responsibility for any consequences
of quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, arising from the use of this book, nor for any
in the editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit. material on third-party websites, and cannot
Throughout this book, floors are referred to in guarantee that any website address in this
accordance with American usage; i.e., the “first book will be a suitable source of travel
floor” is at ground level. information. We value the views and
suggestions of our readers very highly. Please
Front cover and spine Singapore City, Marina write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel
Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay trees Guides, Dorling Kindersley, 80 Strand, London
Back cover Night view of the Buddha Tooth WC2R 0RL, Great Britain, or email
Relic Temple in Singapore Chinatown [email protected]
Title page Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
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Top 10 Singapore ❮❮ 5
Welcome to
Singapore
Lion city. Major Asian powerhouse. Cultural melting pot.
Shopping mecca. Fusion-food heaven. An island city-state
of gleaming skyscrapers and primary rainforest, the
Republic of Singapore contrasts striking modernity with
its traditional heritage like nowhere else. With Eyewitness
Top 10 Singapore, it’s yours to explore.
Small and densely populated, this tropical city-state is constantly
reinventing itself. The space-age Gardens by the Bay, part natural
wonder, part epic fantasy land, face the downtown urban jungle.
While looking to the future, Singapore embraces its past. Its colonial
legacy is preserved in magnificent buildings housing the National
Gallery and the Asian Civilisation Museum. Poignant memories of
World War II are scattered across the island, while colorful pre-war
shophouses have been reborn as hip boutiques and cafés.
Singapore is full of surprises: Taoist and Hindu temples, Muslim
mosques, and Christian churches share streets with sublime spas
and chic rooftop bars. Whether you are eyeing designer goods in the
luxury malls of Orchard Road, weaving through stalls in Chinatown,
sipping a Singapore Sling in Raffles Hotel, or slurping a fiery laksa
in an open-air hawker centre, there is never enough time for
everything on offer. With eye-catching festivals and events, from
Chinese New Year to the Singapore Grand Prix, it’s all here.
Whether you’re coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide
brings together the best of everything Singapore has to offer, from
the bright lights of Marina Bay to the boisterous laneways of Little
India. The guide gives you tips throughout, from seeking out what’s
free to avoiding the crowds, plus seven easy-to-follow itineraries,
designed to help you visit a clutch of sights in a short space of time.
Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and you have the
essential travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Singapore.
Clockwise from top: Thian Hock Keng Temple, ION Orchard mall on Orchard Road, Gardens by
the Bay, the Marina Bay skyline, Chinese New Year celebrations, Raffles Hotel, Canning Park
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6 ❯❯ Top 10 Singapore
Exploring Singapore
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0 yar0d ysards 800800 Z1(22o0 om kmiZ1(l2e2o)s0 om kmile)s STerim VSTpeerelime rVapemeleraakmalaiakmalimamanm an
For sights to see and cultures to experience,
visitors to Singapore are spoiled for choice.
Whether you have a couple of days’ stopover KamKpaomnpgong
between flights or have come to get a fuller SingaSpionrgea Bpootraen Bico tGaanridc eGnasrdens GlamGlam
½ mil½e ( m1 kilme ()1 km)
flavor of this Asian city-state, here are LittleL iItntldei aIndia SultaSunl Mtaons Mquoes que
some ideas for two and four days of
sightseeing in Singapore. OrchOarrcdhard
RoaRdoad
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Key SingSainpgoarepore RaffRleasf Hfleost eHlotel
Two day itinerary NatiNoantaiol Gnaall lGerayllery
Four day itinerary SingSainpgoarep ore BouRBlaeofvfuaRlelraesdfv falersd 3 miJloe3so m (C5ihJ lkoeimaso t ()C 5h kimat)
ClarCkela Qrkuea Qyuay
SingSainpgoarepore
SingapoSNRiiirnvgeeghrat S pSaoafrfaear rZii,o aon, d PUublainu ETthshpee laBETtahtashnrpeyeea laBsad taoneryne-as d oen- FlyeFr lyer
ChinCahtionwantown
MarMinaar Binaay BSaayn dSasnds
Singapore
Botanic
Gardens Joo Chiat GardGeanrsd benys by
the Bthaey Bay
Dempsey ThiaTnh Hiaonc Hkock
Road Area of KengK eTnegm Tpelme ple
Southern main map
Orchard Road is home to a number Ridges SentoSseantosa
of luxury malls, such as Paragon 0 km 5 7 mile7s miles
Sentosa 0 miles 5 (11 km(1)1 km)
Two Days in Singapore (see pp78–85). Admire the Sri
Veeramakaliamman Temple (see
Day 1 pp20–21) and Sultan Mosque (see
MORNING pp18–19), and try local food in a
Absorb the colonial atmosphere hawker centre (see pp60–61).
over breakfast at Raffles Hotel (see AFTERNOON
pp30–31) before visiting the National Depending on your interests, head
Museum of Singapore (see pp12–13) to the beaches and attractions on
for an hour or two. Take in luxury Sentosa island (see pp32–3) or spend
malls on Orchard Road (see pp94–9) the afternoon at the vast Singapore
or check out the Singapore Botanic Zoo, taking in the unique River Safari
Gardens (see pp24–5). and Night Safari (see pp26–7).
AFTERNOON
Immerse yourself in Chinatown, visit
Thian Hock Keng Temple (see pp16–
17), then stroll (or take a bumboat)
along the Singapore River (see pp14–
15). Explore Gardens by the Bay (see
pp28–9), have a sunset drink atop
Marina Bay Sands (see p28) and
circle the lit-up bay at night.
Day 2
MORNING
Begin by exploring the colorful lanes Sentosa Island provides a tranquil
of Little India and Kampong Glam getaway from the bustle of the city
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Exploring Singapore ❮❮ 7
0 me0t emrseters 800800 SingaSpionrgea pore
0 yar0d ysards 800800 Z1(22o0 om kmiZ1(l2e2o)s0 om kmile)s STerim VSTpeerelime rVapemeleraakmalaiakmalimamanm an
KamKpaomnpgong
SingaSpionrgea Bpootraen Bico tGaanridc eGnasrdens GlamGlam
½ mil½e ( m1 kilme ()1 km)
LittleL iItntldei aIndia SultaSunl Mtaons Mquoes que
Clarke Quay is a great spot for a
OrchOarrcdhard riverside evening drink
RoaRdoad
NatiNoantaiol Mnauls Meuumse oufm of ColoCnoialol nDiaislt Dricisttrict Day 2
SingSainpgoarepore RaffRleasf Hfleost eHlotel MORNING
NatiNoantaiol Gnaall lGerayllery Check out the Colonial District’s
SingSainpgoarep ore BouRBlaeofvfuaRlelraesdfv falersd 3 miJloe3so m (C5ihJ lkoeimaso t ()C 5h kimat) architecture, potter around Raffles
ClarCkela Qrkuea Qyuay Hotel (see pp30–31) and see
Southeast Asian masterpieces in the
SingSainpgoarepore National Gallery Singapore (see p38).
EsplEasnpaladne-ade- FlyeFr lyer AFTERNOON
TheaTthreeas tornes on
the Bthaey Bay Dip into Katong/Joo Chiat (see p104)
ChinCahtionwantown for Peranakan food and architecture,
MarMinaar Binaay BSaayn dSasnds before shopping in Bugis or along
Raffles Boulevard. After a “flight” on
GardGeanrsd benys by the Singapore Flyer, close out the
the Bthaey Bay
ThiaTnh Hiaonc Hkock day at Marina Bay (see pp28–9).
KengK eTnegm Tpelme ple
Day 3
SentoSseantosa
7 mile7s miles MORNING
(11 km(1)1 km) Begin early to enjoy either fun-filled
Sentosa (see pp32–3) or a trip to
Pulau Ubin (see p103) to experience
old rural Singapore.
AFTERNOON
Take a stroll along the stunning
Southern Ridges (see p100) before
hitting charming Dempsey Road (see
Singapore Zoo is home to some local p104) for dinner and cocktails.
and not-so-local species of animal
Day 4
MORNING
Four Days in Singapore Start off with a morning turn in
Kampong Glam for boutiques and
Day 1 brunch, then explore Little India’s
MORNING Hindu temples (see pp78–81). Hit up
Visit Thian Hock Keng Temple (see the malls on Orchard Road (see
pp16–17) and Chinatown’s authentic pp94–9), finishing at the National
shops (see p76). Next, spend a couple Orchid Garden in the Singapore
of hours in the National Museum of Botanic Gardens (see pp24–5).
Singapore (see pp12–13). AFTERNOON
AFTERNOON Head down to Gardens by the Bay
Head north to Singapore Zoo (see (see p28–9) and spend an afternoon
pp26–7), where primates swing cooling down in the domed Cloud
overhead. Take the Night Safari Forest. Come evening, return east
before enjoying late-night drinks at to catch a live show at Marina Bay
lively Boat Quay or Clarke Quay on Sands (see p28) or Esplanade –
the Singapore River (see pp14–15). Theatres on the Bay (see p64).
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Top 10 Singapore
Highlights
The otherworldly Supertree Grove
at Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay
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