Singapore

Types of trips: Historical and Cultural, Events and Festivals, City tourism, Outdoor and Active, Sight-seeing, Ecotourism, Relaxation, Sports.

Best known for:  F1 Grand Prix night race, Cleanliness, Green spaces, Cuisine, Tech-savvy population, Architecture.

Why Go?: Singapore is a forward thinking, tech-savvy country, with statistically the best education system in the world (in terms of results) and it is a hub for travel across the Far East and beyond.

Fact File

Population: 5.39m

Capital: Singapore

Language(s): English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

Ties to the UK: Both members of the Commonwealth.

Landscape: Largely urbanised, semi-jungle/tropical, islands.

Climate/Seasons:  Dry season usually last from March to August, while the Wet season lasts from September to February. 

When to Go: It is probably best to avoid the wet season. There are events and festivals held throughout the year.

Reasons to Visit: You can experience life in a highly developed South East Asian country with a culture that’s worlds away from any European country. There are plenty of activities to enjoy.

How to Get There: Flying is the only option for getting to Singapore. The country has an international airport and is often used as a stop over by tourist from the UK going to Australia.

Places to Go: Singapore botanic gardens, Chinatown, The Singapore flyer, Pulau Ubin.

Famous People: Jackson Rathbone, Vanessa Mae, Aaron Aziz, Paddy Boom, Louis Theroux

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: Sentosa Island, The views from The Labrador Nature Reserve, Palau Ubin.

History: The British Empire, Japanese Rule, Crown Colony.

Architecture: Marina Bay Sands, Gateway, Baba house, Koon Seng road.

Culture: There is a strong mixture of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and British cultures. It terms of religion Buddhism is the most common with many followers of Taoism and Christianity.

Sport: Motorsport, Football, Cricket, Rugby Union Swimming, Badminton.

Events: There are many arts festivals held throughout the year. There are also many festivals centred round the water as well as the annual Singapore Grand Prix.

Watch Out For: Be aware of local etiquette although the country is reasonably Westernised so culturally shouldn’t be too much of a shock.

Medical Issues: There are no mandatory vaccinations. Please discuss with your GP before travelling.