Welcome to Singapore

Singapore is one of the most connected destinations on the planet, and visiting from the UK is easy, with seven direct flights a day from London and three a week from Manchester. Indirect flights can be taken through the Middle East, Asia, and a host of European airports, creating hundreds of routes to Singapore. In addition to being just 13 hours from the UK, Singapore is the perfect stayover for trips to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Japan, China, or any location in Southeast Asia. Once you arrive, getting around is easy on the Singapore MRT, which connects every part of the city efficiently, affordably, and comfortably. Excellent airport links are also available by taxi and shuttle bus.

From the extraordinary Marina Bay Sands, with its spectacular SkyPark and rooftop infinity pool, to the refined and historic Raffles Hotel, Singapore is spoilt for choice when it comes to high-quality accommodation. Aside from the streets of downtown itself, three districts form the prime locations: the iconic shopping and entertainment boulevard of Orchard Road, the food and nightlife centre of Clarke Quay and the Singapore River, and the family-friendly playground island of Sentosa. For a different sort of atmosphere, the colourful streets of Little India offer easy access to some of the city’s best food and most beautiful temples, the Arab Quarter at Kampong Gelam is filled with cool cafés and live music, and Chinatown is home to vibrant streets just a stone’s throw from the heart of the city.

The beauty of Singapore is it has something for everyone. Couples can nest in a waterside room for days by the pool and enjoy twilight food tours and romantic evenings toasting the skyline at rooftop bars. Families have a world of activities to enjoy, from the award-winning Singapore Zoo or the unique Night Safari to Universal Studios, the S.E.A. Aquarium™, and many more attractions found on the beaches of Sentosa Island. Nature lovers will delight in the 164-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens alongside the mesmerizingly modern Cloud Forest and Supertree Grove with aerial walkways of Gardens by the Bay. If you’re looking for a party, it won’t take long to find. Whether you visit as an extended family, a group of friends, or even solo, there’s always plenty to do in Singapore.

If you’re thinking of visiting Singapore, you may already have a ‘hit list’ of classic attractions for your stay. Fill your shopping bags on Orchard Road, stand in awe beneath the botanical structures of Gardens by the Bay, get an adrenaline rush at Resorts World Sentosa, graze the flavours of global cuisines, see the nightly light show in Marina Bay, and, of course, sink a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar in Raffles. In addition to these, Singapore is constantly adding new experiences. See the colourful air show at the all-new Bird Paradise. Dine at the three Michelin-starred Zén restaurant in Chinatown or the highly-anticipated Brasserie Astoria in the grand Victoria Concert Hall. Surf, ski, and skate all in one place at the freshly opened TRIFECTA hangout. A little pampering with a twist? Try forest bathing and nature therapy with XIU Nature Connections. Singapore has a rich menu of world-renowned experiences and activities with new additions every day.

No 21st-century destination could hold its head high without making efforts to keep its travel industry sustainable. As the host city for the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards, Singapore is proud to be an innovator of responsible tourism. Oasia Hotel Downtown is a vertical nature reserve cloaked in 27 storeys of living walls complete with nesting birds. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay has created Singapore’s first ‘garden-in-a-hotel’ alongside a raft of initiatives, including farm-to-table, farm-to-bar, and farm-to-spa offerings. JW Marriott Hotel South Beach collects solar energy and rainwater through its rooftop microclimatic canopy. For entertainment, The HyperDrive - Asia’s first indoor gamified electric go-kart circuit - has created an eco-friendly racing experience as an illuminating alternative to petrol-driven tracks. All this, to a backdrop of the trailblazing ecosystems created at Gardens by the Bay and Jewel at Changi Airport, shows Singapore is a city that takes sustainability seriously.

Much like the UK, Singapore experiences changeable weather all year round; unlike the UK, it’s hot all year too. While November to February is the wettest period, the best time to visit is from June to September when the humidity is at its lowest, and there are more hours of sunshine in a day. But, as long as your packing includes layers and a waterproof, the city has enough indoor and outdoor attractions to be enjoyed anytime. You don’t need a visa if you’re staying less than ninety days, and Singapore dollars can be bought in the UK or when you arrive. Most bank cards and digital payment methods will also work just as well in Singapore as they do in your hometown. As a bonus, electrical sockets in Singapore are exactly the same as those in the UK, so you don’t need to worry about converters. MRT tickets are easy to buy from offices or machines, but you can also use contactless bank cards for all transport from the MRT to buses and even taxis. In practical terms, spending time in Singapore couldn’t be easier.