Holiday lettings in Singapore

The City Centre and Riverside are the best places to stay in Singapore, with access to the river, Marina and major attractions. The Riverside area in particular has some fantastic water views. However due to their popularity these are the also the most expensive places to stay and accommodation in Singapore is already fairly expensive. If you aren’t fussed about a water view it can be just as convenient to stay further inland as public transport here is extremely effective. Chinatown is a great budget area that has considerable heritage charm. The streets are lined with restored Victorian colonial ‘painted lady’ terraces and shoppers will enjoy perusing the hundreds of trinket and antiques shops. On the other side of the River, the Orchard Road area is another sought-after neighbourhood. It’s the most popular shopping district in Singapore, with a mix of high-end and budget malls and food courts.

Start your explorations of Singapore by the riverside in the city centre, where the mouth of the Singapore River joins Marina Bay. See the famous statue of Merlion, the half-fish, half-lion hybrid that acts as Singapore’s mascot. Walk along the Cavenagh Bridge, the oldest bridge in Singapore, for an exceptional view across the harbour and glittering skyline. Singapore is heavily developed and its historic gems can be hard to spot, so join a walking tour to get the most out of your explorations. A cruise on the harbour is a great way to learn about the city’s maritime history. On a hot day, cool off in the shade of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Founded by Stamford Raffles, a keen botanist as well as colonialist, the gardens are beautiful curated and free to enter. For more modern shopping, head to Singapore’s malls - vast air-conditioned caverns where you can find international high-end and high street labels.

Singapore is famous for its incredible and unique food culture, blending the best of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian traditions. Street food is still the most authentic meal you can get here, though due to the government’s efforts to keep the city clean, most now operate in covered markets known as Hawker Centres. The Old Airport Road Hawker Centre near the Geylang River and Makansutra Glutton’s Bay at Marina Bay are two of the best venues, packed with stalls selling a huge variety of Singaporean specialities. Try the decadent Chilli Crab or Char Kway Teow, a delicious noodle dish with pork, cockles and soy sauce. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask to sample the Frog Porridge! Foodies will also enjoy the Tekka Market, where Singaporeans of many different ethnicities sell spices and speciality foods from across Asia. For a truly decadent experience, book a table at Tetsuya Wakuda’s Waku Ghin or Joël Robuchon’s eponymous French dining Atelier.

Singapore Changi Airport, one of South-East Asia’s main aviation hubs, is officially the best airport in the world, with free WiFi, and even free city tours five times a day for those with time to kill between flights. It is located 17km from the city centre, which is best reached aboard one of the 24/7 airport shuttle buses, or via trains or bus. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre. Once there, getting around is quick and easy thanks to the Mass Rapid Transit metro system which services all main parts of the city. When you first arrive in the city and are not sure of directions, a taxi is a good option for getting around, and they are good value too. Thankfully everything in Singapore is within easy reach, so you will find that you don’t spend too much time in transit.