SINGAPORE TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO SINGAPORE
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About Singapore
Country: Singapore
#100 of 1 Places to visit in Singapore
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 Days
Nearest City to Singapore: Singapore
Best Time to Visit Singapore: December to June
Peak Season: December to February & June to July
At a distance of 248 km from Malacca and 356 km from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore is an island city-state and a country in Southeast Asia. It is one of the most prosperous city-states in the world and among the most visited tourist destinations in Asia.
Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is a melting pot of culture and history, and an extravaganza of culinary delights. The island country shares its southern maritime border with Indonesia's Riau Islands, it's northern, western, and eastern maritime borders with the Johor state of Peninsular Malaysia. The country's territory is composed of one main island and 63 smaller islets. The main island occupies about 18 square miles of the combined area.
While the earliest known historical records of Singapore are shrouded in time, a 3rd-century Chinese account describes it as 'Pu-Luo-Chung', which means the 'island at the end of a peninsula' in the Malay language. Later, the city was known as Temasek ('Sea Town'), when the first settlements were established from 1298-1299 AD. According to a legend, the current name of the country came into being during the 14th century when Sang Nila Utama, a Prince from Palembang (the capital of Srivijaya), saw an animal he had never seen before while on his hunting trip. Taking it to be a good sign, he founded a city where the animal had been spotted, naming it 'Singapura' or the 'lion city' derived from the Sanskrit words 'Simha' meaning 'Lion' and 'Pura' meaning 'City'.
However, the modern city of Singapore was founded in the 19th century by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles. Soon, the city located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the natural meeting point of various sea routes, became the major trading hub for Arabs dhows, Chinese junk, Portuguese battleships, and Buginese schooners. After passing from various hands of power, the island was handed over to the British in 1946 as its crown colony. The revolution for independence came about in 1959 when the country's first general elections were held and Lee Kuan Yew became the first Prime Minister of Singapore. Singapore first joined the Federation of Malaysia on its formation in 1963 but separated to become an independent state in 1965.
Arguably the most expensive city in the world, this small island city-state has a certain sheen of wealth in the form of high-end shopping malls, luxury hotels, and fine dining. Besides, Singapore also boasts an array of attractions like nature reserves, riverside quays, marine parks, nightlife, and more. Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Zoo, Singapore Flyer, Merlion Park, Sentosa Island, Universal Studios, Night Safari, Little India and China Town are some of the most popular places to visit as part of Singapore Tour Packages.
The national pastime of the people of Singapore is eating! From Michelin-starred restaurants to cheap hawker centers, Singaporeans are obsessive gastronomes who love to eat and the cuisine of the Lion City is one of the world's most diverse and tasty. Shopping in Singapore is second only to eating as a national pastime. The incredible shopping malls, classy boutiques, departmental stores on Orchard Road, the exotic elements of Chinatown and Little India and the world-class nightlife span across the spotless land of Singapore.
Being a multicultural country, the people of Singapore celebrates various festivals and events throughout the year. Pongal, Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, Lantern Festival, Vesak day, Singapore Grand Prix, International Festival of Arts and Singapore Food Festival are some of the festivals celebrated in the Lion City with great enthusiasm.
Though there are 8 airports in Singapore, Changi Airport is the main airport. It is one of the best-connected airports in Asia and has been repeatedly awarded as the best airport in the world. The airport is connected to several destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and North America. About 19 km from Changi Airport, the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station connects Singapore to Malaysia, Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur by rail, with a route to Bangkok. There are many bus services from Queen Street Bus Terminal in Singapore to Malaysia. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is one of the quickest and most comfortable ways to commute around the island.
Although Singapore is a year-round destination, the best time to visit Singapore is from December to June when the country has the least amount of rain, the lowest humidity, and the most sunshine. The city sees a surge in tourism during the Christmas season, Chinese New year and during the Great Singapore Sale which begins in June and lasts till the end of July. August to October is the off-season in Singapore except for mid-September, the rush of tourist increases since September hosts the Singapore Grand Prix. Temperature is slightly higher than the rest of the months, and the rains are continuous.
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