The Garden City appeals to more than foodies and business travelers.
Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
People have long imagined a utopia.
A place that’s clean, green, and safe.
Evie with her family by the Peranakan Houses of Singapore.Credit:Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
A place where people of every color, culture, and religion live in harmony.
It may sound like an impossibility, but after a week in Singapore, I’m not so sure.
In Singapore, public cleanliness is paramount spitting and chewing gum are illegal.
Aerial view of the Capella Singapore hotel.Courtesy of Capella Singapore
In 2024, it was rated thesecond safest city in the worldafter Tokyo.
It’s considered our social dining room.
People of all walks of life, all classes, can be found sitting together.
The “Supertrees” found in the Gardens by the Bay.Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
Its free seating and it features the food of our ancestors.
The ancestors he refers to are primarily Chinese, Malay, or Indian.
Singapore is a land of many religions, but everyone seems to go about their business.
Evie and her daughter eating at the Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre.Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
On a single street, youll see a Buddhist temple, a mosque, and a church.
The governments credo is equality for all, Ang added.
This modern-day utopia is well-known by business travelers and foodies, but I wasnt in Singapore for the food.
Guests looking at the Asian Elephants at the Singapore Zoo.Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
And I definitely wasnt there to do business.
I spent a week exploring the city to find out.
At Capella, voted theNo.
People walking over the Cloud Walk in the Cloud Forest Dome.Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
During our visit, we stayed in a private villa, which had a private outdoor terrace and pool.
Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Marina Bay Sandsis one of Singapores most iconic landmarks.
It’s also home to Singapores largest nightclub, luxury shopping, and an observation deck.
The Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore. It is the oldest and most important temple of the Hokkien people in the country.Evie Carrick/Travel + Leisure
Staying at the Raffles continues to be a rite of passage for travelers looking for old-world glamor and elegance.
The hotels 115 suites all feature colonial architecture, original 14-foot ceilings, and teakwood floors.
Each guest is also treated to the discretion and availability of Raffles renowned butler service.
The whole forest is set under a dome facing the bay.
Next door lies the Flower Dome, filled with unusual plants and trees from various habitats.
The garden surrounds a sprawling flower field where themed displays come and go.
Singapore Zoo
TheSingapore Zoowas the family favorite during our trip.
Peranakan culture is more of a lifestyle culture.
Our ancestors are all immigrants, saidRaymond Wong, a Peranakan designer known for hiskebayamaking and beadwork.
Our mindset of accepting new ideas is really very open.
Wongs workspace sits above his familys long-standing business,Kim Choo Kueh Chang.
(Mini golf, a floating obstacle course, and a food truck court are nearby.)
My favorite dish was apandanand coconut custard mochi cake served with coconut sorbet.
A kids play structure out front sets the tone of casual and carefree.
I recommend the fried okra, which is grown on site.
Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
Best Time to Visit
Singapore is a year-round destination.
The city/island/country is just slightly north of the equator, meaning it’s always warm and typically humid.
The hottest months are June and July, while it tends to be rainier in December and January.
The online grid of trains is known for being fast, safe, and efficient.
Taxis are readily available in Singapore, but can be expensive.
For an Uber-like car service, download Grab or Gojek.
How to Get There
Getting to Singapore is the biggest barrier for most people with kids.
The flight is long and typically overnight.
We flew in and out of San Francisco, with a connection to our home in Colorado.
