Visiting Singapore for the first time means exploring a city with a thousand facets . We all have in mind the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel and its surfboard-shaped roof, as well as the Gardens by the Bay gardens and their giant trees, lively day and night. But Singapore is much more than the “Switzerland of Asia” and this is what we are going to show you in this post from our OneDayOneTravel travel blog following a 5-day , 4-night stay in February 2020 by testing some of the visits and activities offered in the online magazine of the Air France airline with which we arrived, Air France Travel Guide .
Singapore is the 4th largest financial center in the world and its lot of buildings in the city center obviously reminds us very well when we arrive in the city. But this ultramodern city-state also has a cosmopolitan and multicultural side that totally seduced us when we visited the Chinese, Arab and Indian districts .
The different districts are like villages within the city that preserve the unique heritage and traditions of each culture. Staying in Singapore therefore allows you to immerse yourself in a city-nation that has managed to preserve a large part of its ethnic and cultural diversity , and which well deserves its nickname of “melting pot of Asia”. A real surprise for us and for many travelers who often do not expect to find this kind of atmosphere in such a city where 1 in 6 inhabitants is a billionaire . And a single metro ticket is enough!
Also nicknamed the Garden City , Singapore is a green city. You should not miss Gardens by the Bay but also the Singapore Botanic Garden , another green lung of the city. A park is accessible less than 400 m from each home in Singapore! There is no shortage of green buildings either. In short, contrary to what one might think at first glance, visiting Singapore means visiting a green and human city that is far from being limited to the skyscrapers of the business center.
A true tourist and commercial crossroads of Southeast Asia, Singapore, which is located between Malaysia and Indonesia , welcomes many travelers in its sublime airport on more or less long stopovers. We were part of it 5 years ago during a long stopover while we were leaving for a trip to Bali in Indonesia that we love so much.
We had time to visit the Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay which attract tourists from all over the world like magnets. On this occasion, we published an article on what to do in Singapore during a stopover . We absolutely do not regret coming to visit Singapore this time for a few days. The city-state is so rich and offers so many facets to discover. So eager to share our 10 favorites in this blog post. We also give you all the practical advice to visit Singapore in the best conditions.
When and how to visit Singapore for the first time?
Here is the interactive map of Singapore to help you find your way around. Indeed, Singapore, which became independent in 1965, is made up of 64 islands covering an area of 719 km2. In 40 years, the country’s surface area has increased by 25% by eating into the sea!
Singapore’s population is 76% Chinese , 15% Malaysian and 7% Indian. The remaining 2% represent the rest of the world including the French community which is very well established. Here, everyone speaks English but 4 languages are official .
How to visit Singapore from France? What about flights and administrative documents?
French nationals do not need a visa to travel to Singapore as long as the stay does not exceed 90 days. More information on this official website .
Also visit this other page of the diplomatie.gouv.fr website for more information and to learn about the current health situation in the country.
11,000 km separate Singapore from France. Many daily flights and many companies serve Singapore (SIN) from Paris (CDG).