Begin your day with a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can enjoy peace and tranquility at this 150-year-old destination which is also home to the largest orchid display in the world with over 60,000 plants and orchids.
After spending the morning amidst nature, pick up the pace and head to one of Singapore’s major shopping district – Orchard Road. You will find a mix of high-end international brands, local labels, and everything in between. You may drop by places like Paragon or ION for luxury brands or Design Orchard which is a vibrant retail hub with designs and bespoke creations from some of Singapore’s finest artisans and craftspeople. You can find a whole trove of treasures and designer items from local brands — Foundation Jewellery’s Peranakan-inspired brooches, skincare products made by Rooki Beauty, orchid-scented fragrances from Singapore Memories, and many more.
To recharge, enjoy lunch at Marmalade Pantry, which serves excellent Western creations like truffled field mushroom risotto and indulgent desserts such as sticky date and toffee pudding. Keep in mind, one of the perks of shopping abroad is the tax savings on your way out!
For the evening, soak in the urban buzz of Singapore’s busy streets and check out the Bugis and Little India neighbourhoods. Once a thriving district with a colorful past, they are now famed for trendy stores, with shopping bargains to be scored in the shops along the winding Bugis Street.
When night falls, head to the ethnic enclave of Little India, with a fascinating past that stretches back to the 19th century. As you walk through this bustling neighbourhood, you’ll find places of worship with beautiful architecture and interiors, from the Corinthian pillars of the Abdul Gafoor Mosque to the fifteen-metre-tall Buddha statue in the Temple of a Thousand Lights.
For dinner, be amazed by the melting pot of traditional flavours at restaurants like Indian Express and Bismillah Biryani. Gourmands in the search of bold new flavours should also check out The Malayan Council, Old Hen Coffee Bar and The Whisky Library & Jazz Club.
If you are energised after dinner and in the mood for a shopping spree, you’ll find wondrous wares — from sweets and spices to jewellery— at the Little India Arcade, while 24-hour shopping mall Mustafa Centre offers everything from electronics to groceries.