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What's
the best thing to do when you're in Singapore for only one or two
days?. For those who have only one day to spare in the Lion City,
we've tried to tailor the question to various tastes -- whether
you want a bird's eye view of the island and its various
charms, a taste of the urban high life, or a slice of
culture.
Having only a limited time in Singapore means you'll be taking the
taxi quite a bit if you want to grab all the sights. It's highly
convenient - you can hail a cab almost anywhere - and not too expensively.
Because the city's so dense, you'll often find that a ten-minute
ride can bring you from the heart of the concrete jungle to a quaint
and quiet historic area.
Something or Everything
Be prepared for various shifts in mood on this suggested itinerary.
We advise that you start the day with a hearty breakfast at the
Crossroads Café at The Marriot Hotel. This café is right in the
middle of Orchard Road, Singapore's shopping belt. If it's a weekday,
you'll feel the morning buzz, people grabbing a cup of coffee
before heading for work, or having power breakfasts. After your
meal, spend some time browsing along the well-known street. Most
tourists seem to find the massive structure of Ngee Ann City shopping centre quite impressive.
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Next
take a cab for Pagoda Street, Chinatown, where you
can lose yourself among the rows of gaily-coloured Peranakan shophouses.
You can buy everything from sarongs to mahjong sets to Chinese
antiques and medicines here, and bargaining is all part of the
fun. Near Pagoda Street, on South Bridge Road, is the vibrant Sri Mariamman temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore
dating back to 1827. Visitors are welcome; just leave your shoes
at the entrance and step inside.
After that, it's another short walk to Neil Road, where
you can have a delicious lunch of Beijing dumplings at the authentic Qun Zhong Eating House (21, Neil Road, Tel: 2213060). After
lunch, walk further uphill until you reach the Tea Chapter (9A to 11A, Neil Road, 226 1175), where you'll be served first-grade
Chinese tea the traditional way -- in tiny teapots and cups.
When
the sun's shining with less force towards the evening, hop into
a cab again, this time for the well-known Botanic Gardens at the junction of Cluny Road and Holland Road.
The 127-year old gardens are a haven of tranquility within the
city. Soak in the cool and relaxed atmosphere of the lake, the
landscaped parks and the four hectares of primary jungle.
It's also a good idea to visit the National Orchid Garden that's tucked within the Botanics and which boasts a startling
variety of orchids.
For dinner, there's no better way to sample the local fare in
the local ambience than at Newton Circus Hawker Centre,
near Newton MRT. It's a busy, even chaotic place; the trick
is to remember your table number, go to the various stalls and
quote the number when you order.
After dinner, it's time for a little bar-hopping. Catch another
cab to the Raffles Hotel at the junction of Bras Basah
Road and Beach Road, and savour the hotel's colonial
charm while sipping a Singapore Sling at the famous Bar & Billard
Room. Then poke your head in at the equally famous Long
Bar, also at the hotel, before heading for the nearby Chijmes on Victoria Street. The restored convent is now a-buzz with bars
and nightclubs such as China Jump and Father Flanagan's,
so let the spirit lead you.
RECOMMENDED HOTELS For
Short Stopovers
Changi
Village Hotel 
380 Rooms |
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Unwind from the bustle of city
life at the minimalist chic Changi Village Hotel,
just minutes away from the Singapore Changi Airport
and Golf Course, where the uncluttred decor of
sleek lines and stylish interiors offer a quiet
response for some needed rest and relaxation.
The golf course is next door to the Changi Village
Hotel (formerly Changi Meridien Hotel).
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