Asian Civilisations Museum

This remarkable museum houses the region's most comprehensive collection of pan-Asian treasures. Its galleries explore the history, cultures and religions of Southeast Asia, China, the Asian subcontinent and Islamic West Asia. Having just completed a radical transformation, the galleries are curated to emphasis the cross-cultural connections developed due to Singapore's history as a port city. The Tang Shipwreck exhibition showcases over 500 pieces of recovered booty – look out for the Chinese bronze mirrors, one is over 1000 years old.

The museum occupies the stately Empress Place Building. Designed by British architect John Frederick Adolphus McNair and built using Indian convict labour in 1865, it originally housed the colonial government offices. Note the elegant fusion of Palladian classicism and tropical touches, among them timber louvered shutters and a wide, shaded porch.

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore's 21st-century botanic garden is a S$1 billion, 101-hectare fantasy land of space-age bio-domes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures. The Flower Dome replicates the dry Mediterranean climates found across the world, while the even more astounding Cloud Forest is a tropical montane affair, complete with waterfall. Connecting two of the Supertrees is the OCBC Skyway, with knockout views of the gardens, city and South China Sea. At 7.45pm and 8.45pm, the Supertrees twinkle and glow for the spectacular Garden Rhapsody show.

OCBC Skyway tickets can only be purchased at Supertree Grove. Directly west of Supertree Grove are the Heritage Gardens, four themed spaces inspired by the cultures of Singapore's three main ethnic groups – Chinese, Malay and Indian – as well as its former colonial ruler. South of the Supertree Grove is British artist Marc Quinn's extraordinary sculpture, Planet, a 7-tonne infant seemingly floating above the lawn. It's one of several artworks gracing the grounds. If you have kids in tow, head to the Children's Garden, which features a water playground (with shower and changing facilities), as well as a huge treehouse and adventure playground. The Visitor Centres offer stroller hire (S$2), lockers (S$2 to S$4 depending on size) and audio guides (S$4), or if you prefer, jump on the outdoor gardens tour shuttle bus (adult/child under 13 years S$8/3) for a whiz around the garden to an audio commentary. Regular shuttle bus (9am to 9pm, first Monday of the month from 12.30pm; unlimited rides S$3) runs between Dragonfly Bridge at Bayfront MRT and the domed conservatories.

National Gallery Singapore

Connected by a striking aluminium and glass canopy, Singapore's historic City Hall and Old Supreme Court buildings now form the city's breathtaking National Gallery. Its world-class collection of 19th-century and modern Southeast Asian art is housed in two major spaces, the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. The former delivers a comprehensive overview of Singaporean art from the 19th century to today, while the latter focuses on the greater Southeast Asian region.

Beyond them, the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery is the setting for temporary exhibitions, which include major collaborations with some of the world's highest-profile art museums. Young culture vultures shouldn't miss the National Gallery's Keppel Centre for Art Education, which delivers innovative, multisensory art experiences for kids.

The S$530 million National Gallery is a befitting home for what is one of the world's most important surveys of colonial and post-colonial Southeast Asian art. Among its many treasures are pieces by Singaporean greats Cheong Soo Pieng, Liu Kang, Chua Mia Tee and Georgette Chen, as well as works from luminaries such as Indonesia's Raden Saleh, the Philippines' Fernando Cueto Amorsolo and Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, and Myanmar's U Ba Nyan.

Home to a string of good eateries and a gift shop stocked with specially commissioned art books, design pieces and prints, the complex also runs daily guided tours, artist talks, lectures and workshops.

Night Safari

Electric trams glide past over 130 species, including tigers and elephants, with more docile creatures often passing within centimetres of the trams. Walking trails lead to enclosures inaccessible by tram, though sighting the animals can be a little hit-and-miss. (In truth, many are better seen at neighbouring Singapore Zoo.) If you've got kids in tow, the 20-minute Creatures of the Night show will thrill. Admission is timed and later slots are less crowded; last entry is at 11.15pm. Restaurants, shops and ticket counter open at 5.30pm.

You'll need to catch a bus at around 10.45pm to make the last MRT train from Ang Mo Kio at 11.30pm. Otherwise, there are plentiful taxis out the front which will set you back about S$25 to the CBD. Night Safari tickets purchased online are subject to a 5% discount.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore's 74-hectare botanic wonderland is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the city's most arresting attractions. Established in 1860, it's a tropical Valhalla peppered with glassy lakes, rolling lawns and themed gardens. The site is home to the National Orchid Garden (adult/child under 12yr S$5/free; 8.30am to 7pm, last entry 6pm), as well as a rare patch of dense primeval rainforest, the latter home to over 300 species of vegetation, over half of which are now (sadly) considered rare in Singapore.

The National Orchid Garden itself is the legacy of an orchid-breeding program that began in 1928, and its 3 hectares house over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids. Of these, around 600 are on display – the largest showcase of tropical orchids on Earth. Located next to the National Orchid Garden is the 1-hectare Ginger Garden, with over 250 members of the Zingiberaceae family. The recently opened Learning Forest guides visitors on a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways through different habitats, including swampy wetlands and rainforest canopies. Children will love exploring the interactive Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, complete with water-play feature and tree house. Free, themed guided tours of the Botanic Gardens run on Saturday, while the Symphony Lake makes a romantic setting for seasonal opera performances

Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/singapore

Wish you have a great holiday in singapore!

Xuan Vo!