Singapore – A Metropolis Of Superlatives

Singapore fascinated me not only because it is one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited. It has unique futuristic architecture, super modern museums and offers visitors a diverse culinary experience. So if you are still looking for a destination for 2025…

Singapore occupies a pole position between Indonesia and Malaysia. But the city is too good to serve only as a stopover. It deserves more attention and time. Its history alone, how the former fishing village developed into a metropolis of five million people, is unique. It was not until 1965 that the former British colony was declared an autonomous city-state (719 square kilometers, 64 islands).

Under the spell of the Lion City

It is now one of the world’s global cities. Singapore’s nickname Lion City is not without good reason. It goes back to the original Sanskrit name – Singh (lion) and Pura (city). The landmark can be found at Marina Bay. The nine meter high and 70 ton Merlion is a kind of mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish as a symbol of the original fishing village.

The Lion City is made up of many different districts. Chinatown and Little India are among the most exciting, but Kampong Glam, Katong and Tiong Baru, where the international expat scene bustles in trendy bars, are also not to be missed. If you have had enough of the hustle and bustle in the streets or need to escape a heavy downpour (which can occur several times a day, depending on the season), take the escalator down one floor. The extensive tunnel system connects malls with subway stations, road junctions and entire apartment blocks.

It’s so green

Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world that I have had the pleasure of getting to know. Even at the airport, a green terminal with a 40-meter-high waterfall and a lushly planted terminal is a surprise. It is only surpassed by the Gardens by the Bay. The approximately 100-hectare green area is a mixture of 50-metre-high futuristic steel structures, the so-called Supertrees, which are planted with selected plants from all over the world.

In between are the two huge domed buildings, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Inside, there are different climate zones in which countless exotic plants thrive. The “skywalks” between the individual supertrees offer a different view of Singapore. The Garden by the Bay is even an experience at night. The trees light up in different colors and twice a night there is a music and laser show – the Garden Rhapsody.

Swimming at a height of 200 meters

Marina Bay Sands and the harbor of the same name are located right next to the “Garden”. The resort comprises three 55-storey hotel towers and two floating pavilions. A 340-metre-long roof garden with a 146-metre-long infinity pool stretches across the hotel towers at a height of almost 200 meters – the gigantic view goes without saying. Non-hotel guests can enjoy a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view from the viewing platform.

The Singapore Flyer. also offers the best all-round view. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Malaysia and Indonesia. The second-largest Ferris wheel in the world, at 165 meters and with 28 glass gondolas, is around a 30-minute walk from the Marina Bay Sands complex. There is a lot on offer at this impressive height. For example, a unique restaurant experience with a four-course menu. Or you can linger “in the air” with a cocktail or a glass of champagne

For a drink in Singapore

One of my absolute favorite hotels is the icon of old Singapore: The Raffles, with its white marble arcades, gleaming teak verandas and fairytale garden. The hotel, which has hosted actors, writers and the world’s powerful, was declared a national monument in 1987. The colonial-style Raffles Hotel has 115 suites, a spa and not forgetting the legendary bar.

The famous “Singapore Sling” cocktail was invented by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon in the hotel’s “Long Bar” in 1915. The cocktail, which is served in a tall glass, consists of gin, cherry liqueur, Cointreau, Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine and Angostura bitters. For Singapore’s national drink, you have to put around 29 US dollars on the counter today.

Curiosity: Peanuts are served with the drink and the shells are thrown on the floor, as was the tradition in the past. And this despite the fact that Singapore is known for its cleanliness. It is not for nothing that the city is known as the Switzerland of Asia. This is not least due to the strict regulations on waste disposal. Throwing litter away carelessly in public, be it a cigarette butt or an empty bottle, can be punished with fines of up to 1,000 dollars.

For this reason, it is also illegal to chew gum in public places such as public transportation and subway stations in Singapore. Such violations are also punishable by fines. This also applies to visitors: the sale and import of chewing gum is illegal in Singapore. It is therefore better to leave your pack of chewing gum at home.

Living in the modern Peranakan style

This architectural style in Asia combines Chinese, Malay and European elements from the 1840s to 1950s. Many houses have facades decorated with colorful majolica tiles and ornately carved wooden swing doors, known as pintu pagar. Many of these traditional elements can be found in the recently reopened Mandarin Oriental – in a modern translation, of course. The luxury hotel offers guests a rumdum feel-good atmosphere in 510 rooms, five restaurants and a spa with five-star status according to the Forbes Travel Guide.

Shopping in Singapore

Making your credit card glow is no problem in the Lion City. Around 170 malls attract shoppers with international luxury labels as well as local brands. Of course, there are also food courts and snack stands. Shopping in Singapore outside the modern shopping temples is not just about buying. Here you can explore different worlds where retail, nature, technology and cultural heritage meet.

For example, hire a bike and head to Funan Mall. Once a shopping mall with the latest electronics and IT products, the three-year transformation has turned it into an all-round experience with indoor cycle paths, a rooftop garden, a local theater and a community space. Or browse the stores around a waterfall in Jewel Changi. Along Orchard Road, you’ll find luxurious international brand stores. You can take home cultural souvenirs from the ethnic neighborhoods. If you want, you can also create something yourself in the craft workshops of independent brands. As you can see, Singapore is far too good just for a stopover…