Home > Attractions - 10 Must-visit Places in Singapore

     TOP TEN  (Ranked)

     1.  Raffles Hotel

          1-3 Beach Rd Singapore

          Built in 1899 by the architect Swan & McClaren

          Founded by Martin, Tigran & Arshak Sarkies

          Guests include Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham,

          Rudyard Kipling, Noel Coward, Ava Gardner, Michael Jackson.

          Home of the Singapore Sling. (Please see right column>>)

          Gazetted as a national monument on 6 Mar 1987.

          Chronology of Raffles Hotel

     2.  Haw Par Villa

          262 Pasir Panjang Road Singapore 118629

          Built in 1931. Designed by Kwok Wan Shan (Artist)

          Aw Boon Haw, son of Aw Chu Kin, who invented the Tiger Balm

          lotion, engaged Kwok, a Swatow artist, to design the place.

          The previous operators lost S$35 million over the last eight years

          running the place. A new operator has taken over.

          Admission is now free again, as in the good old days (60s, 70s).

          Opening hours: 9am - 6pm daily

Chinatown

     3.  Chinatown

          New Bridge Road/Cantonment Road/Robinson Road/

          Singapore River areas

          Originally known as Kreta Ayer (Bullock Cart Water)

          because bullock-drawn water carts were used to clean

          the streets then.

          Note the baroque-style shophouses.

     4.  Raffles' Landing Site & Singapore River

          Boat Quay

          Statue of Raffles marks what is thought to be the landing site 

          of Sir Stamford Raffles on 29 Jan 1819.

          This statue was made in 1972 from plaster casts of the first

          statue (now at Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall).

          View the Singapore River. It's a one of its kind in the world.

     5.  Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (now renamed CHIJMES)

          Founded in 1854

          Note Caldwell House; built for H.C.Caldwell, a magistrate's clerk;

          Gothic chapel and St Nicholas Girls' School buildings (1913).

          Note also the Gate of Hope along the perimeter of the place.

          Gazetted as a national monument on 26 Oct 1990.

          Their Web site is at CHIJMES.

     6.  Lau Pa Sat (former Telok Ayer Market)

          Robinson Road Singapore

          Built in 1894 by the Municipal Council of Singapore

          Dismantled & rebuilt from 1985-87 by Architectural Restoration

          Consultants Pte Ltd

          The octogonal cast-iron structure was designed by

          James MacRitchie, the Municipal Engineer.

          Gazetted as a national monument on 6 Jul 1973.

     7.  Sim Lim Square

          Junction of Bencoolen St/Rochor Canal Rd

          Visit the numerous shops selling computer parts, CD-Roms, & VCDs.

     8.  Kuan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple

          Waterloo Street Singapore

          Built in 1884

          A fine example of Chinese courtyard architecture

     9.  Sri Mariamman Temple

          244 South Bridge Road Singapore

          Built in 1843

          Singapore's oldest Hindu place of worship

          Dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman, known for her prowess

          in curing epidemic diseases and illnesses, such as smallpox

          Gazetted as a national monument on 6 Jul 1973.

    10. National Orchid Garden (Singapore Botanic Gardens)

         1 Cluny Road Singapore 259569

         Opening hours: 8.30am - 7pm daily

         Tickets S$2 (adults) & S$1 (children & senior citizens)

    11. Fountain of Wealth (the world's largest fountain)

         Suntec City, Raffles Boulevard

         Admission: Free

         Opening hours: 9am - 11am, 2.30pm - 6pm, 7pm - 7.45pm daily*