12 Best Sights in Singapore

ION Sky offers panoramic views of Singapore from the 56th floor of ION Mall, 718 feet above the ground. It's free to enter, but only after spending S$50 in ION Mall (you need to download the ION Orchard app, then scan your receipt to receive your QR ticket). Your admission includes a complimentary welcome drink at 1-Atico Lounge. Alongside the great views are a number of interactive exhibits, including films screened on the glass walls and historic portrayals of how Singapore once looked.

Also known as Newton Circus, this is one of the best-known hawker centers in town. (The "circus" refers to a roundabout, as in Piccadilly Circus.) It's a great place to visit at night, when the atmosphere is buzzing, and it's usually very busy no matter which evening you go. Food vendors here often get pushy with their menus, so walk with confidence if you don't want to be accosted. Note that you can sit anywhere: it can feel strange buying food at one stall, then sitting down in front of another, but that's the practice. In fact, it can sometimes be hard to find a table, so grab whatever you can get. The barbecue seafood stalls are famous here, though things like tiger prawns and chilli crab are priced by weight, so have the bill tallied up ahead of time to avoid expensive surprises.

The first site in Singapore to gain UNESCO Heritage status is also the first and only tropical botanic gardens in the world to make the list. Once you start to explore the winding trails of the enormous park, which sprawls across more than 128 acres of lush greenery, you'll understand why. It is neatly segmented into different gardens featuring all the hallmarks of Victorian design—gazebos, pavilions, and ornate bandstands included. Highlights are the National Orchid Garden, showcasing over 1,000 species of brightly colored blooms, and the Ginger Garden, where several hundred varieties of ginger grow. Try to time your visit to coincide with the free guided tours that almost always take place around 9 am on Saturday (see the National Parks website for more details).

Owned by the Shanghai-born art dealer and author Marjorie Chu, Art Forum is a beautiful contemporary art gallery with a focus on Southeast Asia. Paintings and sculptures from more than 150 local and international artists are on display within this restored, whitewashed terrace house, and Chu herself is a wonderful resource for learning about the region's evolving arts scene. The art collection is displayed on a rotating basis.

Though it's 30 years younger than the more widely known Raffles, this hotel is just as much a landmark. Built in 1900, it was previously used as a German club and, during World War II, as a Japanese army headquarters. In 1989, the Tower Wing, with its pointy terracotta-colored roof, was named a national monument. Today, the interior is modeled on European designs, and, in true British fashion, you can enjoy an elegant afternoon tea near the lobby at L'Espresso—the perfect break from all that shopping.

This cool, contemporary space is one of Singapore's most well-known galleries, with works of art from some of the greatest painters in the world, including Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. The gallery, which also has outlets from Paris to New York, hosts a number of specialist exhibitions throughout the year in the Singapore branch. Many of the paintings and sculptures are also available to buy, though expect a hefty price tag.

The building on the corner of Orchard and Emerald Hill roads is a masterpiece—albeit a somewhat diluted one—of Peranakan architecture. This style, a blend of Chinese and Malay aesthetics, emerged in the 19th century, when Chinese people born in what was then called the Straits Settlements (including Singapore) adopted, and often adapted, Malay fashion, cuisine, and design. The surrounding area is now a mix of upscale residences, with renovated shophouses doubling as bars and restaurants. Parts of Emerald Hill, from Orchard Road through the Ice Cold Beer bar, are for pedestrians only; there are several outdoor cafés and restaurants along the stretch. Stroll the arcaded street, and check out fretted woodwork, pastel washes, ornate wall tiles, and other typical Peranakan touches.

Built in 1869, this elegant neo-Palladian style building set in extensive tropical gardens once served as the British colonial governor's residence. Today, it is the official residence of the president of Singapore (Istana means "palace" in Malay). The building and grounds are open to the public only on the holidays listed on its website. On the first Sunday of each month, a changing-of-the-guard ceremony at the main gates on Orchard Road is held at 5:45 pm.