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So many attractions in Singapore

Beyond Singapore’s squeaky clean façade, tourists are bound to find a host of colorful and unique attractions tied to the city’s rich history, nature and culture. The following are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore.

The Singapore Flyer
Renowned as the biggest observation wheel in the world, the Singapore Flyer provides a breath-taking, unobstructed view of Singapore and a glimpse of neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia from 540 feet above Marina Bay. Standing atop a three-storey retail area filled with restaurants and specialty shops, the Flyer consists of 28 air-conditioned bus-size capsules that can each fit 28 passengers. Each ride is 30 minutes long and costs around HK$29.50. Now under construction: a resort-casino and F1 racing track with a combined cost of around US$3.65 billion. The Singapore Flyer is located at 30 Raffles Avenue and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island boasts of a lively theme park and three of the best beaches in Singapore. In the 19th century, the island was a British military fortress until it was transformed in 1967 into a holiday resort. The island has several museums, flashy rides for the kids and a host of other attractions that will take an entire day to explore. Restaurants and bars for tourists serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. It’s easy to visit: just take the E bus service on Orchard Road. Admission costs S$26 for adults and S$17.90 for children.

Chinatown
Considered to be the cultural heart of Singapore, Chinatown gives tourists a glimpse into history through temples, museums and ancient terraces. A significant chunk of Chinatown was redeveloped over the last three decades, but it’s still an interesting place to visit. It might not stay around for long, though. The high cost of real estate in the area is forcing incense sellers, stamp makers and temple worshippers out of Chinatown, replacing them with upscale shops and restaurants.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Nature lovers find very little to appreciate in Singapore’s bustling urban areas but the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the biggest nature reserve in Singapore, more than makes up for that. Located at 177 Hindhede Dr, Butik Batok, Bukit Timah is renowned for its massive forest canopy and unique wildlife such as pythons, birds and long-tailed macaques or monkeys. Established in 1883, this 164-hectare, natural park and rainforest features the highest peak in Singapore, Bukit Timah. A British naturalist once estimated that a single hectare of Bukit Timah contains more tree species than all of North America.

Singapore Zoo
Located at 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Nee Soon, the world-class Singapore Zoo is spread over 28 landscaped hectares in stark contrast to the cramped concrete confines of many zoos. It contains over 4,000 different animals representing 410 different species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Among the zoo’s most famous residents are its polar bears and cat-quick cheetahs. Visitors love to watch the 50-plus baboons in the enclosed display entitled “The Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia.” The zoo houses endangered species such as Komodo dragons, white rhinos and white tigers. It also has the biggest collection of primates of any zoo in the world. People can roam Singapore Zoo either on foot or by tram.

Night Safari
Located right next to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari offers a 45-minute jungle tour of a 40-hectare park and zoo filled with lions, tigers, leopards and 120 other species. The venue also hosts a popular “Creatures of the Night” show at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. every night. Tourists can either walk or ride the tram but taking photos with a flash-camera is prohibited. Tickets to both the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are sold for S$28 for adults and S$14 for children.

Jurong Bird Park
This theme park and garden was built because the city felt it did not expose its residents to nature. It features a collection of over 8,000 birds from 600 species, including 30 that are included in the endangered list. The most popular exhibits are the Waterfall Aviary, the World of Darkness and the Antarctic Penguin Parade. The park is located atop Mount Jurong. Tourists can also move around the park on the “panorail.”