An island measuring roughly 28 mls E to W and 18 mls N to S where all development seems to have radiated out from the city centre at the mouth of the Singapore River in the S. Most of Singapore is built up - skyscrapers and high-rise blocks are ubiquitous - but pockets of greenery exist throughout and it is more than just a bustling concrete jungle. The traditional heart of colonial Singapore is the Merlion statue (half lion, half fish), an emblem of the city, situated by the river and harbour, close to City Hall, Parliament House, the Padang (sports ground of the famous Singapore Cricket Club) and the renovated restaurants and bars of Boat Quay. Pockets of interest lie in what is left of Old Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street, a mainly Muslim area dominated by the Sultan Mosque. A varied ethnic mix - Chinese (80%), Malays and Indians - coupled with its history as a British colony makes for fascinating variety. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples and mosques can be found along with vestiges of British colonial times, before and after the Second World War. Often described as "sanitised", Singapore is clean and relatively crime-free; one of the few cities in SE Asia where you can feel at ease moving about both day and night, though it is still wise to keep an eye on your valuables at the airport and in bars and hotels. It is also called a "fine" city, as fines are levied for spitting, jaywalking, littering and smoking in many public places including shops, air-conditioned restaurants and on public transport. The sale and importation of most types of chewing gum is also banned. Most Singaporeans do not live in the city centre, but in vast, high-rise, government housing estates spread around the island and rarely visited by tourists. Drugs are illegal and there is an automatic death penalty for drug traffickers.

Something for everyone, whether looking for local traditions, history, a restful holiday or shop-till-you-drop opportunities (you're never more than 5 mins away from a shopping centre). International commerce draws regular business visitors and it is a popular convention venue. Society is family orientated and welcomes visitors. The country is well suited to those looking for a gentle introduction to Asia - it is completely Westernised - but may seem a bit tame for those who prefer a traditional or more raw ethnic experience.

Hotels are mainly located in the area from Orchard Road through to Marina Square. Most are high-rise and the broad choice ranges from the famous Raffles hotel to cheaper options in Chinatown and Little India.

Most are in the East Coast Park area and on surrounding islands such as Sentosa. Not extensive; often man-made. Unlikely to attract many tourists.

Orchard Road is a shopper's heaven. Around 1 ml of glossy shopping centres selling all the big designer names (but often for similar prices as in the UK) as well as cheaper imitations. Shops selling cameras, watches and stereo systems abound. To see the real Singapore, visit People's Park in Chinatown (Chinese department stores and cheaper shops), Little India and Arab Street. Most shops open mid-morning and close around 9pm, 365 days of the year.

Daytime: golf (most courses are private but green fees for visitors can usually be arranged), public tennis and squash courts, privately run gyms; spectator sports including football, cricket, rugby and horse racing; water sports - windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and water-skiing - along the SE coast, Changi and Punggol. Nightlife: in the larger hotels, plus bars, coffee shops and UK-style nightclubs attracting big-name DJs from London and New York; theme bars (happy hour can often last until 10pm); the Esplanade theatre complex, a futuristic double-domed structure, hosts concerts, theatrical performances and opera; Chinese theatre/Asian shows for a wide spread of local culture. Frequent festivals celebrating different cultures and including street processions or Chinese opera (rather an acquired taste). Above all else, the main entertainment is eating out.

The food capital of Asia. Food, or hawker, centres are a must for visitors: dozens of casual, usually open-air stalls serving a variety of food at low prices. Most notable are Newton Circus and Bugis Street. The Old Bugis area was notorious for local colour but today is a tame tourist trap. Food courts are also popular - slightly more expensive than hawker centres but often air conditioned. Conventional restaurants serve a vast range of Asian and international food. Eating out is a national pastime so prices are generally reasonable. Wine is not cheap. Smoking is prohibited by law in all air-conditioned buildings. The water is safe to drink.

Regular cheap, air-conditioned buses link all parts of the island. Taxis are cheap and plentiful although surcharges may apply for journeys from the airport and after midnight. The star of the transport system is the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport): with clean, cheap, modern, air-conditioned trains, mostly underground, it covers many tourist spots and hotel districts and connects with Changi airport. Picturesque trishaws are strictly for tourists and not cheap. Car hire is expensive and probably unnecessary for most visitors - a surcharge is levied to discourage entry into the city centre. Smoking is prohibited on all public transport.

Half day: cruises including "bumboat" jaunts upriver and twilight junk trips among the islands; city tours - Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street; botanic gardens; orchid gardens; zoo and night safari; Haw Par Villa (theme park with Chinese mythological characters); Jurong Bird Park; Crocodile Paradise; Tang Dynasty (replica) village; Kukup fishing village built on stilts (Malaysia). Full day: Sentosa Island, billed as Singapore's answer to Disneyland, featuring an aquarium, dolphin show, Asian Village plus many other attractions; Malacca (Melaka) in Malaysia, a former Portuguese port.

In SE Asia, at the S tip of the Malay peninsula. Changi international airport 13 mls E of city centre.

1°N of the equator, a flat, diamond-shaped island linked to Malaysia by 2 road causeways and a railway.

Website: www.newasia-singapore.com

Airport : Changi International Airport
Airport Code: SIN
Flight time from ther U.K.: 13 hrs