One of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods is now its hippest, with cafes, galleries and yoga studios popping up in the 1930s-era Art Deco buildings of Tiong Bahru. Visit this Singapore neighbourhood for its dynamic bakeries, modern coffee joints, fashion boutiques and cute bookstores.

Gardens by the Bay has earned its ‘urban oasis’ reputation thanks to its spectacular greenery and feats of urban-natural design. Taking horticulture to dizzying new heights are the Supertrees: a grove of illuminated 25-to-50-metre vertical gardens. The Cloud Forest glasshouse, meanwhile, features a 30-metre indoor waterfall.

The National Gallery’s collection of modern Southeast Asian art comprises 9,000+ works spread across two restored landmarks: City Hall and the former Supreme Court. Check out the Siapa Nama Kamu? (‘What is your name?’) exhibit, which explores questions of Singaporean identity, while the rooftop hosts rotating large-scale installations.

The 28-hectare Singapore Zoo famously houses the world’s largest captive colony of the critically endangered orangutan. Other standouts among the 300-odd species are Komodo dragons, polar bears and endangered white tigers. A walk or tram ride through the adjacent Night Safari offers the chance to observe nocturnal animals.

Hawker centres lie at the heart of Singapore’s culinary culture. Dig into char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles), laksa (spicy noodle soup) and chilli crab at the Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre or head to the Old Airport Road Food Centre, one of the city’s oldest and most beloved locales.

A Unesco World Heritage site, Singapore Botanic Gardens are divided into ‘cores’; including the Central core with its thousands of orchids; the Bukit Timah core, whose dedicated kids’ space has treehouses and a farm; and the Tyersall-Gallop core, where you can walk among some of Asia’s tallest trees.

Singapore’s cultural cred got a big boost from the government-backed launch of Gillman Barracks, a contemporary arts centre and collection of galleries within a gracious, colonial-era military site. You’ll also find outdoor sculptures, cafes and the Playeum, where hands-on exhibits cater to creative kids.

As a fishing village, Singapore's three quays were packed with important warehouses. Today, they are still at the heart of the city, rejuvenated as drinking and dining hubs. Clarke Quay and Boat Quay are the rowdiest, with sports bars and nightclubs. Robertson Quay is more laidback, with alfresco restaurants.

Birders flock to the 130-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to witness the migratory birds that stop here between September and March. There are also ponds and mangrove forests laced with boardwalk paths, plus observation pods to spy on resident herons, kingfishers and huge water monitor lizards.

Kampong Glam is the heart of Singapore’s Muslim community. Start at the central golden-domed Sultan Mosque and explore streets like Haji Lane, known for its eclectic mix of boutiques, and Arab Street for silks, batiks and traditional goods. Don’t stop here – Little India, Chinatown and Katong all reward exploration.

This 10-kilometre scenic trail links five parks in Singapore’s southwestern corner. It’s beautifully manicured, with forest-canopy walkways, themed gardens and wildlife. The highlight is Henderson Waves, an undulating 36-metre-high pedestrian bridge that connects Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Head to family-friendly Sentosa island when you visit Singapore for sandy beaches, golf courses and the vast Resorts World Sentosa, which encompasses a Universal Studios theme park complete with rides; 2,000 hotel rooms; and a near-endless parade of dining, shopping and entertainment options.