Southeast Asia's largest bird park, Jurong Bird Park is home to over 8,000 birds of 600 species from all over the world. Highlights include the world's largest collection of Southeast Asian Hornbills and South American Toucans, and the world's second largest penguin exhibit. Daily shows include Breakfast with the Birds (9am-llam), Birds of Prey, Penguin Feeding Time and the Jurong Bird Park All Stars Bird show.
The dark holds many surprises... and more so at the Night Safari, where you can look a one-horned rhinoceros in the eye or hear the howls of a pack of striped hyenas.
There are 1,200 animals of over 100 exotic species to watch out for. Strike out on your own along the walking trail or relax in a tram ride - whichever you choose, the Night Safari is a wild adventure not to be missed.
In its lush jungle setting, Singapore's renowned 'open' zoo is a haven for both animals and visitors. More than 2,000 creatures are housed in landscaped enclosures, with rock walls and streams replacing cages.
Special attractions include Children's World, where kids can interact with animals and enjoy excellent playgrounds, the six island Primate Kingdom, the sea lion and penguin gallery, the air-conditioned polar bear exhibit and a miniature railway.
Feeding shows take place throughout the day; favourites include the primates, reptiles, elephants and sea lions. Among the zoo's many endangered species is the world's largest colony of orang utans, with whom you can enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea if you book in advance through your hotel. Allow a whole day to enjoy the zoo's attractions.
Over 1,000 crocodiles can be viewed at close range. Additional attractions include a reptile product shop. Feeding time is 11am on Tuesdays.
Regarded as one of the finest neo-classical buildings in Singapore, Empress Place dates back to 1854, when it served as a court house. Today the building houses a world-class museum and exhibition centre, featuring cultural and archaeological treasures from China and other ancient civilisation - many of them being shown outside their country of origin for the first time. Allow two to three hours.
The Singapore History Museum, originally opened in 1887, is
an architectural gem with each of its two levels reflecting a different order of
Greek classical architecture. Of particular note are the three-dimensional
reconstructions of historical scenes and events tracing Singapore's development
from a sleepy fishing village to the present day metropolis. Another exhibit
shows the world of a wealthy Straits Chinese family at the turn of the century,
complete with elaborate Peranakan furnishings and finery. The Children's
Discovery Gallery is another compelling attraction, with interactive exhibits
designed to explain Singapore's cultural heritage, visual and per forming arts.
In addition to the Singapore History Museum, Singapore offers a number of
museums with specific themes.
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|
Adult |
Concession# |
|
Individual |
$6 |
$3 |
|
Group of
20 pax and more |
$5 |
$2.50 |
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Family* |
$25
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|
Asian
Civilisations Museum & Peranakan Museum Joint-ticket** |
$10 |
$5 |
# full-time students and those 60
years and above
* for maximum of 5 persons (Applicable only during special exhibitions)
** Joint-ticket must be used within 7 days of purchase
Notes on Admission Charges
1. Admission charges may vary during special exhibitions
2. Free admission for visitors aged 6 years and below
3. Free admission for visitors aged 60 years and above every Monday
4. Free admission on Fridays, 7-9pm, during non-special exhibition periods
5. 50% off regular admission prices on Fridays, 7-9 pm during special
exhibition periods
Opening hours: 1.00 pmto 7.00pm (Monday)
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30am – 7pm (to 9 pm on Fridays)
Website:
www.peranakanmuseum.sg
Location: 39 Armenian Street Singapore 179941 Tel: 6332 7591
Getting there: Take the MRT to City Hall/ Dhoby Ghaut
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Peranakan Place Museum
This small museum illustrates the rich lifestyle of the Peranakans, descendants of early Chinese settlers who married native Malays during the 15th and 16th centuries. They are perhaps best-known for their unusual Nonya cuisine but the Peranakans' architecture, fine furniture, intricate beaded embroidery and colourful porcelain are equally fascinating.
Opening hours: 10.30am to 3.30pm (Monday to
Friday)
Location: 180 Orchard Road, Peranakan Place, Singapore 238846 Tel:
67326966
Getting there: Take the MRT to Somerset (NS23)
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Royal
Selangor Pewter Museum
This museum, the first of its kind in the world, is in the Jurong Industrial Estate. About 800 pieces of pewter are on display, some of them tools used over 100 years ago. Pewterware can also be bought here.
Opening: hours: 9am to 5.30pm daily. Admission: Free
Location: 32 Pandan Road, Singapore 609279 Tel: 62657711
Getting there: Take the MRT to Clementi (EW23)
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Singapore Air Force Museum
This museum traces the development of the Royal Singapore Air Force from its early days as the Malayan Volunteer Air Force in 1939 to the present day. From colonial cap badges to the Bloodhound missile, the museum boasts a vast array of artifacts, including early planes such as the Hunter Hawker, the SF 260 Marchetti and the A4-C Skyhawk.
Opening hours: 10am to 4.30pm (except Mondays and Public Holidays) Admission: Free
Location: 400 Airport Road Singapore 534234
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The
Changi Museum
The Changi Prison Chapel, with its thatched roof and outdoor
pews, is a replica of the original built by Allied prisoners of war in World War
II. The Museum, which also features a souvenir shop, records the daily life of
the prisoners through a display of photographs, paintings and sketches. It also
features a pair of rail spikes from the infamous Burma railroad which claimed
the lives of thousands. It is a tribute to the men who lived and died in
captivity during those dark years.
Opening hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm daily (closed
on Sunday and Public Holidays)
Chapel service: 5.30pm (Sundays only). Admission: Free
Location: 1000 Upper Changi Road North Singapore 507707 Tel: 67437885,
65430893
Getting there: Take the MRT to Tanah Merah (EW4)
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The Singapore Mint Coin
Gallery
The Singapore Mint's exhibition gallery displays a collection of coins, medals and medallions from all over the world. Visitors can also mint their own souvenir coin at the gallery's coin press.
Opening hours: 9.00am to 4.00pm (Monday to Friday). Admission: Free
Location: 20 Teban Gardens Crescent Singapore 608928
Getting there: Take the MRT to Boon Lay (EW27)
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Labrador Secret Tunnels
Uncover the wartime of Singapore with the Labrador secret tunnels. Take a walk
in the alley that imposes a 6 inch gun, machine gun post and through historic
casemates. Immrse yourself in the journey of the lives of the soldiers during
the World War II.
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 7.00pm daily
Tel: 63396833 / 63389205
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Hua Song Museum
Understand the Chinese culture and the early Chinese migrants ways of blending
their lives with the non-Chinese community, making good of themselves in a
foreign country. And how they lived their dreams and prospered.
Opening Hours: 1.00pm – 7.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Location: 262 Pasir Panjang Road Hua Song Museum Haw Par Villa Singapore 118628
Tel: 63396833
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Singapore Philatelic Museum
Stamps Gallery
Discover the early years of Singapore as you walk through the past events and
history that has shaped Singapore. Find out why had the early migrants of
Singapore watch out for the yellow and red flag at Fort Canning Hill, or what
kind of hardships our ancestors has tormented in the early years of World War
II.
You can also experience a walk through of thematic galleries that symbolizes
different events, cultures, history and achievements Singapore attained.
Location: 23B Coleman Street
Opening Hours: Mondays 1.00pm – 7.00pm
Tuesdays – Sundays 9.00am – 7.00pm
Tel: 63373888
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 Famous Districts in Singapore
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Changi Village
Off the beaten track, Changi Village shows a more relaxed side of Singapore. The local beach has clean sand that attracts fishermen and bathers alike-especially at weekends the village itself, there are plenty of bargains to be had-T-shirts, electronics, car- pets, Indian cotton clothing, shoes, batik dresses, kimonos and all types of table linen. When hunger strikes, head for the food centre or try one of the restaurants along the main street. Relax in the shade of an umbrella, order up some fresh seafood and watch the world go by.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Tanah Merah (EW4)
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Chinatown
Chinatown Here amidst narrow streets of picturesque shophouses and restaurants brimming with life, the temple idol carvers, herbalists, calligraphers, traders and trishaw drivers pursue a way of life that has changed little for generations. Incense stream from the old temples, the elderly spread their wares out on the pavement for sale and sea cucumbers, regarded as a delicacy, dry in the sun.
Much of Chinatown has recently been renovated, but the old traditions endure. A walk around the streets of Tanjong Pagar reveals local craftsmen at work making clogs, kites and traditional seals for stamping documents. During Chinese New Year, the whole of Chinatown is lit up and buzzes with activity as stalls sell a variety of festive goods.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Outram Station (EW16) or Chinatown (NE4)
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Geylang & Katong
Geylang, traditionally the home of Singapore's Malay, Arab and Indonesian communities, is alive with market stalls and bustling crowds, particularly during Muslim festivals. Spices and rattan from Indonesia, gems from Burma, cotton and gold from India and perfumes from Arabia - this is the place for the adventurous shopper who enjoys old shophouses as a backdrop to bargain hunting.
The Malay influence is strong throughout Geylang and this is reflected in both the shops and the food centres where nasi padang,a dish served with rice, vegetables and meat, is a particular favourite. Wander through the numerous lanes off Geylang Road for some delightful scenarios of local life and stroll down Joo Chiat Road for a glimpse of traditional Chinese businesses such as joss stick and candle makers. Also, drop by at Malay Village. Its shops display a potpourri of Malay traditional items like handicrafts, fabrics, prayer rugs, furniture and antiques.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Paya Lebar (EW8)
Neighbouring Katong is a quiet residential area formerly colonised by wealthy Straits Chinese families or the Peranakans. Many of Katong's new apartment blocks have spectacular sea views, while the older Peranakan homes, once seaside villas, now stand back from the sea. Parkway Parade is the place to find shopping bargains, but Katong is best known for its wonderful eating houses specialising m Peranakan cuisine and bakeries selling delicious curry puffs. For Chinese seafood, the shophouses along East Coast Road offer a really tasty treat.
Getting there: Take SBS bus 14 or 16 from Orchard Road
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Holland Village
This small area of Singapore still has the feel of a village about it, with its own wet market and shophouses selling everything from straw brooms to valuable antiques. Holland Village is a microcosm of Singaporean life, a curious mix between old and new old coffee shops and hawker stalls jostle for space with ritzy new wine bars and restaurants. The Holland Road Shopping Centre is alive with busy shops, including some selling Asian arts, crafts and antiques. Electronics and factory outlet clothing are other good buys. Weekends are especially busy, when much of Singapore seem to gather at Holland Village to shop, chat and have a meal.
Getting there: A 15 mins walk from Buona Vista MRT (EW21)
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Housing Estates
Many visitors to Singapore like nothing more than to get off the beaten path to discover how the locals live and enjoy life.
Woodlands, on the Singapore side of the Causeway leading to Malaysia, has a strong Malay influence. The busy Woodlands Shopping Centre is one of the best places to buy fabric. Many of the colourful fabrics on display are used to make the shimmering traditional dress favoured by Muslim women.
Getting there: Take the MRT to
Woodlands (NS9)
Yishun is a satellite suburb in Singapore's north - the last stop on the MRT. Step straight off the MRT into the six-level Northpoint Centre, a modern shopping mall complete with all the big brand names to be found along Orchard Road. Right next to Northpoint is a high quality, eight-cinema multiplex. And on the other side is a row of shophouses selling food and bargain goods.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Yishun (NS13)
Toa Payoh visitors will find its central shopping area reminiscent of Singapore's older shophouses. Here you can pick up garments at ridiculously low prices T-shirts and shorts at $10 for three items or children's clothes for as little as $2. Toa Payoh town centre includes cinemas, hawker centres, coffee shops and a library. With the relocation of HDB Hub in Toa Payoh, alot more shops and restaurants can be found there.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Toa Payoh (NS19)
Tampines, an HDB estate in the north-east of Singapore, has the distinction of having won the coveted United Nations World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design. With new schools, shops, markets, beautiful playgrounds, two golf courses, a swimming pool, a badminton hall and a stadium, it has all the facilities its residents could want. A Japanese department store, supermarkets and food chains have already been attracted to Tampines.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Tampines (EW2)
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Little India
Little India, centred around Serangoon Road, embodies the vibrant and colourful culture of the Indian community in Singapore. Women in graceful saris and turbaned Sikhs go about their daily business in the Zhujiao Centre, where a bewildering selection of food is on sale. Small shops abound, selling bolts of glittering silks, temple garlands, gold jewellery and spices that are ground in front of you. The Hindu religion plays an important part in the life of Little India, and the Sri Veerama Kaliaman and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temples in the area are well worth visiting.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Little India (NE8)
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Gardens & Parks
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Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Singapore is one of only two cities in the world to have a significant area of primary rainforest within its boundaries - the other being Rio de Janeiro. This 81-hectare reserve, only 12 kilometres from the city centre, contains more species of plants than the entire North American continent. At the heart of the reserve lies Singapore's highest point - Bukit Timah Hill at 162.5 metres above sea level. Well marked paths lead through the jungle. Along the way, walkers can enjoy exotic birds, butterflies, inquisitive monkeys, squirrels, flying lemurs and other wildlife.
The nature reserve is open daily. Allow two hours. Admission: Free
Location: 177 Hindhede Drive, Singapore 589333 Tel: 1-800-4685736
Getting there: Take the MRT to Newton (NS21) station, then take SBS bus 171 or TIBS bus 182
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Chinese Garden
The Chinese Garden, with its curved bridges, pagodas, courtyards and fountains, sweeps down to a river edged with weeping willows.
The place to visit if you are a fan of historic Chinese architecture.
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East Coast Park
East Coast Park, located off the East Coast Parkway, is a favourite play area for Singaporeans, either at the beach or in the parklands where bicycle riding is much enjoyed. Hire a bike or go windsurfing, eat at one of the many fine seafood restaurants or enjoy yourself at the various leisure attractions. These include everything from a bowling alley to a golf driving range.
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Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is a park rich in history - a sacred site where early Malay kings settled and the spot Sir Stamford Raffles chose to build his own bungalow, Singapore's first Government House. Fort Canning Centre, which dominates the park, is now a venue for the arts.
Getting there: Short walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT (NS24) station
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Japanese Garden
Japanese Garden emphasises simplicity, with stone lanterns, shrubs, hillocks and a tea-house creating a soothing atmosphere.
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm daily.
Location: 1 Chinese Garden Road, Singapore 619795 Tel: 2643455
Getting there: Take the MRT to Chinese Garden (EW25)
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Mandai Orchid Gardens
The blooms here at Singapore's largest commercial orchid garden provide a colourful display all year round. The garden is conveniently located right next to the zoo, and a whole hillside is covered in orchids.
Opening hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm daily.
Location: Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729825 Tel: 62691036
Getting there: Take the MRT to Ang Mo Kio (NS16) station, then SBS bus 138
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Marina South City Park
Marina South City Park, , is a park that blends art with nature while affording fine views of the sea. A giant sundial and disc sculptures which revolve in the breeze are the artistic attractions of the park. The park's open spaces and breezy environment also make it a popular haunt for kite-flying enthusiasts.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Marina Bay (NS27)
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Mount Faber
Mount Faber offers a panoramic view of the harbour and neighbouring Sentosa Island, as well as a large measure of
tranquility. It is also a place to catch the cable car to Sentosa.
The only mode of public transport is by taxi or take the cable car from World Trade Centre.
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National Orchid Garden
Located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the National Orchid Garden is the largest orchid display in the world and features over 60,000 orchid plants. It also houses the famed "VIP Orchids" named after visiting Heads of State .
Opening hours: 5am to 12 midnight daily. Admission: Free
Location: Cluny Road, Singapore 259569. Tel: 1-8004797100.
Getting there: Take the MRT to Orchard (NS22), then take SBS bus 7, 105, 106, 123 or 174 from Orchard Boulevard
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Reservoir Parks
MacRitchie, Peirce, Lower Seletar and Seletar Reservoirs are surrounded by a broad swathe of jungle and greenery which runs through the central northern part of Singapore. The cool reservoir parks of MacRitchie and Seletar are popular strolling and picnic spots for Singaporeans and their families.
MacRitchie
Reservoir Park
Lower Seletar Reservoir Park
Upper Seletar Reservoir Park
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Singapore Botanic Gardens
Spread over 52 hectares close to the centre of the city, the Botanic Gardens combine both primary jungle and manicured gardens which together hold thousands of species of plant life, including many rare specimens. Malaysia's rubber industry had its origins in the Botanic Gardens in the late 19th century when colonial botanist Henry Ridley propagated rubber plants from London's Kew Gardens. A lake adds to the serenity of the gardens, and is home to water fowl, ducks and kingfishers.
Opening hours: 5am to 12 midnight daily. Admission: Free
Location: Cluny Road, Singapore 259569. Tel: 1-8004797100
Getting there: Take the MRT to Orchard (NS22), then take SBS bus 7, 105, 106, 123 or 174 from Orchard Boulevard
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Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Singapore's first designated wetland nature reserve is a major stop-over point for birds migrating along the East Asian Flyway. Carefully constructed hides throughout the 87 hectares provide excellent observation points for visitors.
Opening hours: 7.30am to 7pm on weekdays; 7am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays
Location: Neo Tiew Crescent. Tel: 66690377
Getting there: Take the MRT to Choa Chu Kang (NS4) station, then take TIBS bus SS7 to Woodlands Interchange. From Woodlands Interchange, take TIBS bus 925
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