Singapore, Singapore

A graceful Empire-era city

It’s a pity that this graceful Empire-era city state is just a stop-off on so many itineraries. Right at the bottom of the Malay peninsula, it retains many of the trappings of its British past in period architecture and an orderly (if punitive) approach to the details of life. Stay a while and you’ll find the welcome warm, the traffic free-flowing and the accent very much on flawless, courteous service.

Must see:
Head to Beach Road and the legendary Long Bar in the ultra-swish Raffles Hotel, where you can still order a Singapore Sling in the very room where it was first mixed. The Raffles also does a traditional Afternoon Tea... with all the trimmings.

Must eat at:
Take the underground to Tanjong Pagar and pay a visit to Blue Ginger in Chinatown for your fill of local Singaporean delicacies – with a raft of Malay and Chinese thrown in for good measure. Ask for the grilled chicken in coconut and spices – it’s the house speciality.

Must be there for:
Stop off in September and you won’t miss the Chinese Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, when operas are staged for the deceased and food, glorious food reigns supreme. Mere mortals get to sample it, too...

Well-travelled tips:
- If you’ve a couple of hours to kill in transit at Changi Airport, pack your trunks and head straight to the transit hotel in Terminal 1 for its unique outdoor pool.
- If it’s shopping you’re after and you don’t have time on your hands – head straight to the Bugis district, for pedestrianised retail heaven.

Visa:
British citizens visiting Singapore as tourists for less than one month do not ordinarily need an entry visa, subject to a small number of conditions. For full information, please click here.