An ultra-modern city of soaring skyscrapers, commercial efficiency and the world's busiest port, Singapore is also a place of history and cultural fusion. Throughout the city the traditional and the modern sit comfortably together creating a unique opportunity to experience a variety of Asian cultures in an island only 42 kilometres (26 miles) long. The clean, safe streets and lack of traffic congestion make it one of the world's favourite destinations and the government's commitment to tourism ensures that visitors will always received the warmest welcome.

National Museum and Art Gallery
Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Tel: +65 338 0000 Fax: +65 332 3568

Formally the Raffles Museum, the National Museum has a fascinating permanent collection featuring exhibits from the region's diverse cultures and history plus the superb 380-piece Haw Par jade collection, donated by the Aw brothers. The neighbouring Art Gallery houses work by Singaporean and other Asian artists and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions of local crafts.
Open: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm; closed Monday.

Haw Par Villa (Tiger Balm Gardens)
West Coast Highway, Singapore 118628
Tel: +65 774 0300

About ten kilometres (six miles) west of the city, the Haw Par Villa was originally built by the Aw brothers with the profits from their wonder salve, Tiger Balm. It is a theme park of Chinese mythology with older exhibits of legendary figures and tableaux, recently renovated and reopened as 'Dragon World' featuring multimedia displays and flume rollercoaster rides.
Open: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Sentosa Island
Singapore 0409
Tel: +65 275 0388

Cable-cars and ferries run from the World Trade Centre to this former military base half a kilometre (one third of a mile) offshore. Attracting over three and a half million visitors each year, it is Singapore's most popular attraction. The island has a wide variety of museums, sites and activities including South-East Asia's largest oceanarium, a nineteenth century British fort complete with bunkers, tunnels and gun emplacements, a Butterfly Park and an Insectarium.
Open: Monday to Thursday 7:30 am to 11:00 pm; Friday to Sunday until midnight.

Singapore Zoo
Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Tel: +65 269 3411

Built in the early 1970s with the emphasis on natural habitat, the zoo is home to more than 2000 animals of nearly 250 species. The night safari offers an unrivalled opportunity to study nocturnal animals.
Open daily: 8:30 am to 6:00 pm; Night Safari: 7:30 pm to midnight.

Thian Hock Keng Temple
158 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 0106
Tel: +65 222 2651

The 'Temple of Heavenly Happiness' is Singapore's oldest Hokkien Chinese Temple. Completed in 1841, it is dedicated to Ma Cho Po, the Queen of Heaven and protector of sailors.
Open: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm

Jurong Bird Park
Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore 628925
Tel: +65 265 0022

Home to 8000 birds from nearly 600 species, the Jurong Bird Park features a two hectare (five acre) walk-in aviary and a simulated rainforest thunderstorm, held at noon each day.
Open: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; from 8:00 am Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Peranakan Place Museum
180 Orchard Road, Singapore 0923
Tel: +65 732 6966

Built in the style of 'Chinese palladian' or 'Chinese baroque', the museum details the unique fusion of cultures of the Peranakan, the 'local born' or Straits-born Chinese, through artefacts, furniture and clothing.
Open: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Sri Mariamman Temple
244 South Bridge Road, Singapore 0105
Tel: +65 233 1064

The site of Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, built in 1819 by an associate of Raffles, the present structure features some superb sculptures and frescoes in the Dravidian style of southern India. During the Thimithi (Fire-Walking) festival in October or November, followers walk barefoot over a bed of hot coals.
Open: 5:30 am to noon; 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Main Entrance: Junction of Cluny and Holland Roads, Singapore 259569
Tel: +65 474 1165

The 54 hectare (130 acre) Botanic Gardens contain over 2000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants and trees and the National Orchid Garden, with over 60,000 superb specimens.
Open daily: 5:00 am to midnight