© Vladimir RysTravel Guide: Singapore Grand PrixIf you’re heading to the Lion City, firstly, lucky you! Secondly, here’s your guide for what to see and do whilst there…
Singaporeisalwaysoneofourfavouriteracesonthecalendar–itwastheoriginalNightRaceanddrivingunderthelightsinsuchagorgeouscityisaspectacletobehold.It’sknownforbeingoneofthemostchallengingracesfortheteamsbecauseoftheincredibleheatandhumidity,butit’salsooneofthemostexciting.Ifyou’reluckyenoughtobeintownforthegrandprixwe’veputtogethertheultimateguidetoSingapore.Whiletheactionontrackmaynotkickoffuntilthesunstartsgoingdown,there’splentytoexplorewhileyou’rewaitingtoheartheroaroftheRB19.
The iconic skyline of Singapore is no doubt impressive, and by all means take in those views, but you won’t want to miss talking a walk around the historic neighbourhoods that display the different ethnic heritage and diverse culture of the city. There’s Chinatown at the mouth of the Singapore River, which has a fantastic collection of temples, shops and trendy nightspots. Kampong Gelam sits just north of the river, and is a melting pot of Malay and Arabic culture with some of the most beautiful architecture in the city – the impressive Sultan Mosque is a must see. It’s also easy to lose time in Little India – a bustling neighbourhood noticed for it’s beautifully coloured buildings and tempting aromas from the various food vendors. Tiong Bahru is where old meets new. It’s one of the oldest parts of the city, but in recent years has seen an influx of trendy cafés and clothing stores have brought new life to the area while many of the original landmarks of the area remain, such as the Qi Tian Gong Temple.
Racing Into The Singapore Skyline© Getty Images
Singapore’s nickname of ‘Garden City’ is an obvious one when you realise there are over 400 parks and green spaces across the 283.5 square mile island. Gardens By The Bay is the most popular park to visit thanks not only to its climate-controlled glass hemispheres that give you a break from the heat, but also due to its amazing collection of Supertrees.
If you want to get out the city for a little while you can jump on a boat and sail to one of 64 offshore islands. There are plenty of quiet islands surrounding the mainland, but Sentosa with its sandy beaches and a casino has something for everyone, including a Universal Studios theme park.
Singapore is known as a place where you can shop until you drop. It boasts more malls per square mile than any other country in the world, so it’s the perfect place for some retail therapy.
Orchard Road is the undisputed capital of shopping of Singapore. This 2.2km long road boats a latterly of megamalls. At the high-end there is ION Orchard and Paragon which boasts more designer labels than you can shake a stick at, whilst at the other end of the shopping spectrum is Far East Asia and Lucky Plaza if you’re looking for a bargain. There are plenty of bars and restaurants dotted about throughout, so you can fuel yourself up for a big day of shopping (or window shopping if you’re worried about your luggage allowance on the way home…)
Back To The Streets Of Singapore© Getty Images
If you want all your shopping in one space then VivoCity is the place to head to as it’s Singapore’s largest mall. Aside from a huge range of shops it also has 15 cinema screens, a rooftop amphitheatre, an open-air playground and an art gallery.
There are also shopping destinations hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the main city. Haji Lane is an extremely narrow street chock-a-block with vintage stores and boutiques. All the buildings are painted with murals in bright colours, making it an Instagram dream.
Much like the shopping, in Singapore you’ll be able to find fantastic food at any budget.
In the shadows of Raffles Hotel (we’ll get to that) is YY Kafei Dian a coffee shop very popular with the locals. The café makes its own kaya toast and bread buns, but one of the highlights is claypot noodles loaded with pork, Chinese cabbage and egg.
The Alexandra Village Food Centre is hidden behind a row of car shops, so it’s definitely a well hidden gem. You’ll be able to get anything you want there, but the sliced fish hor fun noodles come highly recommended.
Inside the Paragon mall is Imperial Treasure, a high-end restaurant that has some of the best Peking Duck available in Singapore. It’s the restaurant of choice for heads of state and other dignitaries – so probably best to leave your Oracle Red Bull Racing teamwear in the hotel room...
The bar scene in Singapore is as varied as the restaurants. Located in an old Chinese medicine hall is Druggists, a beer hall that plays Norwegian death metal whilst serving beers from around the world. It might sound a bit unusual, but don’t knock it until you try it.
If you fancy something a bit more sultry and sleek, then head to the Jigger and Pony, Singapore’s hottest cocktail bar. It looks like something from an Ian Flemming novel and you’ll feel the coolest you ever have. The cocktails are delicious and the choices endless.
Of course, no trip to Singapore would be complete without a trip to Raffles Hotel. It’s quite possibly Singapore’s most famous hotel and is stunning. You can simply walk around the grounds of this fabulous place or go to the bar and order a Singapore Sling – the drink that was invented in the hotel in 1915.
More Champagne After Another Podium Finish In Singapore© Vladimir Rys
