Singapore: Returning to My Favorite City in Asia
Updated: Aug 15
Every city has a personality. Singapore just happens to have one that's impeccably dressed.
But Singapore is also one of those rare cities that somehow keeps reinventing itself without losing what makes it special. Futuristic skyscrapers rise next to colonial landmarks, hawker stalls serve meals worthy of Michelin stars, and everything somehow runs with remarkable efficiency.
I'm getting ready for another trip back, and honestly, I can't wait. Just the thought of landing at Changi Airport makes me ridiculously happy. (Yes, I realize getting excited about an airport!).
But what makes this trip different is that I'm not discovering Singapore for the first time. I'm coming back to a city I once called home. Singapore became part of my everyday life.
Unlike most destinations on this blog, Singapore isn't just somewhere I visited. For a while, this was home. I commuted on the MRT every morning, grabbed lunch at Lau Pa Sat, and slowly accepted that humidity wasn't something you fought... it was something you surrendered to. Coming back is a strange feeling. Every corner reminds me of a memory.
Downtown Singapore: Skyscrapers & Colonial Grandeur
Downtown Singapore, or the Central Business District (CBD), is where the city’s futuristic side is on full display. Gleaming skyscrapers rise above the streets, businesspeople move with impressive purpose, and the MRT delivers commuters with the efficiency of a Swiss watch. I used to be one of those commuters, taking the train to work every day and blending into the rhythm of the city like I actually knew where I was going.
One of my favorite lunchtime escapes was Lau Pa Sat, Singapore’s legendary hawker center tucked right into the middle of the CBD. One minute you're surrounded by glass towers and corporate offices; the next, you're sitting down to a plate of something delicious and cheap. It’s one of the things I love about Singapore: modern, polished, hyper-efficient and still completely obsessed with food.
But there is one force that absolutely refuses to be impressed by Singapore’s efficiency: the weather. Singapore sits almost directly on the equator, which means it is hot and humid pretty much all the time. Not “oh, it’s a little warm today” hot. I’m talking take a shower, get dressed, walk outside, and immediately question whether you should shower again. If you're visiting, prepare accordingly. A backpack is practically survival equipment: tissues, umbrella, water, sunscreen, and most importantly, a spare T-shirt. Because at some point during the day, the shirt you started with is going to become a completely different shirt.
And whatever you do, never run for a bus in Singapore. I learned this lesson on my very first day of work. Picture me: fresh-faced, wearing a full suit and tie, determined to make an excellent first impression. I walked out of my apartment and spotted my bus pulling away. Naturally, I thought, I can catch that. So I ran. For three minutes. In a suit. In Singapore. By the time I arrived at the office, my shirt was soaked, my tie was stuck to my chest, my hair had surrendered completely. I walked into the air-conditioned office and was greeted by a collection of horrified faces.The verdict from my colleagues was unanimous: “Never. EVER. run in Singapore.” Lesson learned. Singapore has another bus coming in approximately three minutes anyway. Miss it. Protect your dignity. Protect your dry clothes. Protect the expensive suit.
And then, just when you think downtown Singapore is all glass, steel, and corporate ambition, the city suddenly changes character. Among the skyscrapers are some beautifully preserved reminders of Singapore’s colonial past. The most famous is, of course, Raffles Hotel, an absolute institution and one of the city's great architectural landmarks.
The hotel dates back to the late 19th century and is famous for its elegant white colonial architecture, lush courtyards, verandas, and very old-school sense of glamour. It also claims one of Singapore’s most famous cocktail creations: the Singapore Sling. I tried it. Let's just say that the drink is considerably more famous than it is delicious.
Still, there's something wonderfully theatrical about standing outside Raffles. In the middle of one of Asia's most modern cities, this grand old hotel feels like it wandered in from another era and simply decided to stay.
And that's really what makes downtown Singapore so fascinating: the old and the new don't compete; they coexist.Futuristic towers, historic buildings, hawker stalls, luxury hotels, business districts, and tropical greenery all somehow fit together. It’s polished without feeling sterile, historic without feeling stuck in the past, and energetic without ever quite losing control.
Although, personally, I still recommend exploring it with a spare T-shirt.
The Merlion: Singapore’s Slightly Bizarre Mascot
The Merlion is Singapore’s unofficial mascot and one of those landmarks that is so wonderfully strange that you simply have to see it.
Part lion, part fish, and completely Singapore, the creature represents the city’s origins as a fishing village combined with its original name, Singapura, meaning “lion city.” The result? A mythical animal that looks like someone couldn't decide between a safari and an aquarium and thought, “Why not both?”
Standing proudly at the waterfront, the Merlion has become one of Singapore’s most photographed landmarks. And yes, there is an obligatory photo where you pretend to catch the water coming out of its mouth.
Boat Quay & Clarke Quay: Where Work Somehow Became Happy Hour
If downtown Singapore is where business gets done, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are where everyone conveniently forgets about work.
The two riverside neighborhoods sit along the Singapore River, lined with colorful historic shophouses that have been transformed into restaurants, bars, cafés and nightlife spots. During the day, it's a pleasant place to wander along the water and admire the architecture. At night, the whole area changes personality. For me, this was basically the unofficial after-work headquarters.
No matter where the day started, it somehow always ended here.
Even if you're not interested in nightlife, the riverfront is worth exploring. The combination of restored shophouses, bridges, restaurants, boats and skyscrapers makes this one of the best places to see how Singapore has managed to turn its historic riverfront into something thoroughly modern without erasing what came before
Come for the architecture. Stay for happy hour. Blame your coworkers for whatever happens after midnight.
Marina Bay: Singapore Showing Off, Again
If there is one part of Singapore that seems determined to make every other city feel slightly underdressed, it's Marina Bay.
This is where Singapore's futuristic side goes into full production mode. The skyline is dominated by Marina Bay Sands, with its three towers and unmistakable rooftop SkyPark creating one of the most recognizable silhouettes in Asia.
Then there's Gardens by the Bay, where Singapore basically decided that ordinary trees weren't impressive enough and invented the Supertrees. These enormous vertical gardens rise dramatically into the sky, covered in plants and illuminated after dark.
Standing underneath them at night feels less like visiting a garden and more like wandering onto the set of a very expensive science-fiction movie.
And across the bay sits the Esplanade, Singapore's performing arts center, affectionately known as “The Durian” thanks to its distinctive spiky roof. Because apparently the only thing missing from this futuristic skyline was a giant tropical fruit.
Together, Marina Bay's architecture, waterfront promenades, gardens and nighttime light displays create one of those places where you can simply wander around without much of a plan and keep finding another ridiculous photo opportunity.
Singapore doesn't really do subtle. Marina Bay is the proof.
Orchard Road: Come for “Just a Look,” Leave Financially Damaged
Orchard Road is Singapore's answer to the question: What if shopping were an Olympic sport?
This legendary boulevard is lined with enormous shopping malls, luxury boutiques, international brands, department stores and approximately 47 places where you can buy something you absolutely did not need five minutes earlier.
It's polished, air-conditioned and dangerously convenient. You can start with the innocent promise of “I'm just going to look.” This is a trap. Three hours later, you're carrying shopping bags, questioning your financial decisions and wondering whether your bank account will ever recover.
The great thing about Orchard Road is that there's something for practically every budget, from high-end designer labels to more accessible brands and local shops. And when the tropical heat becomes too much, the malls provide the perfect excuse to retreat indoors.
So bring comfortable shoes. More importantly, bring financial restraint.
Actually, bring a credit card with a very low limit. Future You will be grateful.
Chinatown: Where Singapore Gets Delicious
Singapore's Chinatown is one of those neighborhoods where you can spend an entire afternoon wandering without really following an itinerary and somehow end up having an excellent day.
The streets are packed with colorful shophouses, food stalls, markets, restaurants, temples and tiny shops selling everything from souvenirs to traditional goods. And, naturally, the food is a major reason to come.
This is the place to eat your way through Singapore: dumplings, noodles, roasted meats, dim sum and every other delicious thing that makes the concept of “just a snack” completely unrealistic.
But Chinatown isn't only about food.
One of the neighborhood's most fascinating landmarks is Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. Its elaborate, colorful entrance tower rises dramatically above the surrounding streets, creating one of those wonderful Singapore moments where you stop and think: Wait. Am I still in Chinatown? Yes, you are.
Singapore is a multicultural city, and Chinatown is a perfect example of how different traditions have lived alongside one another for generations. The result is a neighborhood that feels layered, colorful and wonderfully unexpected.
Kampong Glam: Golden Domes & Very Good Wandering
If Chinatown showcases one side of Singapore's multicultural identity, Kampong Glam brings another completely different flavor to the city.
At its center stands the magnificent Sultan Mosque, with its enormous golden dome and elegant Islamic architecture. It is one of the neighborhood's defining landmarks and an impressive reminder that Singapore's cultural history goes far beyond its modern skyline.
Around the mosque, the neighborhood becomes a wonderfully eclectic mix of old and new. Historic shophouses sit alongside Middle Eastern restaurants, independent boutiques, cafés, galleries and colorful street art.
Arab Street is particularly fun to explore, while nearby Haji Lane has become famous for its tiny shops, bold murals and distinctly Instagram-friendly aesthetic.
It's the kind of neighborhood where you can start with architecture, accidentally spend an hour shopping, stop for something delicious, and then realize you've taken approximately 800 photos of colorful walls.
And honestly, that's a perfectly respectable way to spend an afternoon.
National Orchid Garden: Because Singapore Wasn't Green Enough Yet
After all that architecture, shopping, food and urban wandering, you may eventually find yourself craving something a little greener.
Enter the National Orchid Garden, tucked inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
And this isn't your average stroll through a few flower beds. The garden features more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids, creating an almost absurd explosion of color and variety.
The orchids are spectacular, from delicate little blooms to enormous displays that look as though someone has turned the saturation slider all the way up.
It's also a nice change of pace from Singapore's dense urban environment. Suddenly you're surrounded by tropical greenery, flowers, winding paths and enough botanical perfection to make you feel slightly guilty about the sad plant currently dying on your windowsill.
There is walking involved, of course.
But at least this time, you're walking through a garden instead of sweating your way between skyscrapers. And given Singapore's climate, that's basically a luxury experience.
Trip Debrief
👍🏼 Worth the Detour?
Without question. Singapore manages to combine world-class architecture, incredible food, lush green spaces and a fascinating mix of cultures into one remarkably compact city. It's one of the few destinations where you can spend the morning exploring futuristic gardens, enjoy lunch at a hawker centre, wander through colorful historic neighborhoods in the afternoon, and end the evening on a rooftop overlooking one of the world's most recognizable skylines. And yes... Changi Airport deserves its own article someday.
⏱️ Time to Do It Right
Three or four days is the sweet spot. That's enough time to experience the city's biggest highlights without rushing while still leaving room for long lunches, rooftop cocktails, and getting pleasantly lost in neighborhoods like Chinatown and Kampong Glam. Better yet, Singapore is one of Asia's best gateways, making it the perfect place to begin or end a longer trip through the region.
🪫 How Tired Was I, Really?
Surprisingly... not very. Singapore might be one of the easiest major cities in the world to explore. The MRT is fast, efficient, air-conditioned, and almost every attraction is within easy reach. The only real challenge isn't the walking; it's the climate. Between the tropical heat and relentless humidity, you'll probably change shirts more often than neighborhoods. But physically? This is definitely one of my lower-energy adventures. Just remember my golden rule: never run for the bus. Some lessons are best learned from someone else's mistake.
