4 Best things to see & do in Singapore

A pioneer of the environmentally sensitive ‘natural habitat’ approach, Singapore Zoo has no cages – in many cases all that stands between you and the wildlife is a moat. More than 3,000 animals are housed here, including giant pandas, giant tortoises, and the world’s largest colony of orang-utans.

There are also excellent opportunities for animal interactions, including shows, behind-the-scenes tours, feedings, and, best of all, breakfasts with orangutans, elephants and snakes.

Next door to the Singapore Zoo – in a separate park – is the unique Night Safari, the world’s only zoo dedicated exclusively to nocturnal creatures.

Featuring over 2,500 rarely-seen nocturnal animals in seven naturalistic African and Asian habitat zones, it also adopts the zoo’s philosophy of environmentally sensitive ‘natural habitat’ enclosures with no bars. Separated from visitors only by ditches and moats, the animals are a thrilling sight.

A waterfront mega-park containing a series of ‘supertrees’ (vertical gardens planted in giant, man-made palms), alongside an indoor botanical ‘Cloud Forest Dome’.

A unique, mesmerising showcase of horticulture and garden artistry.

Anyone with even a passing interest in nature or horticulture, should stop by this new waterfront mega-park, where a series of ‘supertrees’ (vertical gardens planted in giant, man-made palms) dominate the landscape.

The aim is to get visitors thinking about the ecological function of trees: the largest specimen comes with a Swiss Family Robinson-style restaurant in the upper branches. There are also two huge conservatories, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, filled with tropical plants.

This five-star hotel and entertainment resort is a must-stay for one thing – the boat-shaped ‘SkyPark’ on its roof. This guest-only relaxation area is famously home to a mind-boggling, gravity-defying infinity pool that stretches across its three 200m-high towers. (Dubai’s Aura Skypool is also 200m up). Eye-watering city views and stomach flutters guaranteed.