Five things to do in Singapore

Travel: Destination: Singapore

Where to eat:

One of the best things about Singapore is the food. And it needn't be expensive! Dine at one of the many hawker markets and enjoy authentic Singaporean cuisine on a budget. Some of the more popular markets include Lau Pa Sat, which is a five-minute walk from Raffles Place MRT station, and Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, located in Singapore's Chinatown.

Locals and tourists flock to Newton Food Centre, also known as Newton Circus, for its chilli crab. The crispy skinned boneless duck is also worth a mention and an absolute bargain at $S20 a plate. The East Coast Lagoon Food Village is also popular. Located along the East Coast Parkway, which is the main road along the coast between Changi Airport and the city, it can get very busy, so it pays to get there early in the evening. For the young and hip, Dempsey Hill may be more your style, but also pricier.

Things to do:

While shopping automatically springs to mind, there's more to Singapore than designer labels on Orchard Road. Top attractions include Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park and the River Safari. Save money by buying a Park Hopper package, which gives you access to two, three or all four wildlife parks.

Buying online will save you an additional 5% and, more importantly, time, as the ticket queues at the wildlife parks can be quite long. There's also Universal Studios, Sentosa, Chinatown, the Botanic Gardens and the amazing Gardens by the Bay. Don't miss the spectacular laser light and sound show at Marina Bay.

How to get around:

Compared with Australia, taxi fares in Singapore are incredibly reasonable. Fares are metered and you can generally hail a taxi in the city, although weekends can be busy. The train system the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is probably the quickest way to get around and is also cost effective.

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