Surprising Reasons to Stay Longer in Singapore

There’s a reason why Singapore is known as the City in a Garden. The city’s skyscrapers are surrounded by gardens, parks and nature reserves that are rich in bio-diversity. A must-visit is the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is a few minutes away from Orchard Road’s buzzing shopping district and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Singapore's first. For a futuristic taste of conservation, head to Gardens by the Bay. This is where you’ll find one of the world’s largest greenhouses (you’ll be surrounded by spring flowers year-round), a cloud forest veiled in mist and the OCBC Skyway. At 22 metres high, this aerial walkway has some of the best views of the gardens and Marina Bay skyline.
Singapore is not just one island, its 63 islands, so venture out and explore. For an unspoilt, rustic slice of how Singapore used to be, visit Pulau Ubin. A 10-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal on the mainland will take you back in time to this slow-paced island where less than 100 villagers still live. Expect gravel roads, forests and unusual wildlife – the Chek Jawa Wetlands on the island are home to sea hares, sea squirts and sand dollars. You can rent a bicycle or stroll down the kilometre-long boardwalk in search of mangrove-dwelling fiddler crabs.