Singapore Hotels

Visiting Singapore – A City Guide

Beautiful, multicultural and one-of-a-kind, Singapore has plenty to offer business and leisure travelers. If you’ve an urge to explore, you can discover the island’s multicultural heritage in Chinatown, Little India, or Kampong Glam. A trip to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple or Sultan Mosque provides a glimpse into the traditions of local religious communities. You’ll also find beachside activities, rainforest parks, a thriving arts scene and 21st-century attractions like Gardens By The Bay.

Singapore: City Layout & Top Attractions

You’ll find most of the action in Singapore’s southern area, home to the grand colonial buildings of the Civic District, with Chinatown and the arty Bras Basah district nearby and family-friendly Sentosa Island a short drive away. The historic, genteel districts of Joo Chiat and Katong lie east. There’s a network of nature reserves and parks throughout the island.

The city is home to lush urban parks like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 1,000 species of orchid, and Gardens By The Bay, which has greenhouses filled with exotic blooms. This is also where you’ll find the OCBC Skyway, winding among 18 ‘supertree’ sculptures, which glitters after dark with a magical light display. For a bird’s eye view of Singapore, head to nearby the Singapore Flyer, a 165-metre observation wheel with 360-degree views of the island.

Eating Out in Singapore

Hawker centers like Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Road are a great place to sample local delicacies like Hainanese chicken rice and laksa noodles. You can also find food kiosks and relaxed sidewalk dining in Chinatown Food Street and Little India, or head to hip Jalan Besar for quirky cafés and scrumptious desserts. Arab Street, part of the vibrant Kampong Glam area, is known for Malay and Middle Eastern cuisine.  

For a special night out, city-center rooftop restaurants such as Stellar at 1-Altitude offer panoramic views to accompany their modern European or Asian fare.

Shopping in Singapore

For the best shopping in Singapore, use your IHG® Rewards Club points to book a hotel near Orchard Road, where glamorous malls offer luxury brands, mainstream shops and homegrown labels.

If you’re looking for a more local vibe, the historic streets around Ann Siang Hill and Telok Ayer are lined with independent boutiques selling unique clothing, fashion accessories and ornaments. The crowded lanes of Bugis Village conceal a labyrinth of stores in restored shophouses, selling everything from fashion to electronics. 

Culture & Nightlife in Singapore

For an evening of culture, you can book tickets for a traditional dance performance, a play or a concert at the iconic Esplanade arts center, or catch a free concert from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at venues like the Botanic Gardens.

Kampong Glam, traditionally Singapore’s Malay quarter, is a buzzing enclave with the striking Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre. To discover Peranakan culture, head to Katong, where you’ll find beautifully preserved shophouses and fascinating museums like the Eurasian Heritage Centre.  

Singapore nightlife revolves around cool live-music bars like Blu Jaz Cafe and hip nightclubs in Club Street and Ann Siang Hill. Guests at the Holiday Inn Express® Singapore Clarke Quay hotel appreciate being near the restaurants and waterside pubs on Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. For a quieter vibe, Robertson Quay and Dempsey Hill offer relaxed dining and chic lounge bars.

Outdoor activities in Singapore

Nature lovers can take a treetop walk on the suspension bridge at MacRitchie Reservoir, a stroll around the hilltop at Fort Canning Park, or enjoy panoramic views of the city from the Southern Ridges.

For families, the Singapore Cable Car soars over to Sentosa resort for beach watersports, golf, theme parks and harbor views from the Imbiah lookout.