Living in Singapore is an unforgettable experience. In addition to its staggering architecture, this fast-paced, modern city offers a blend of urban comfort and natural beauty that has made it a favored destination for people around the world. For anyone searching for a new adventure, here’s a short guide to the city’s most notable features.
Quality of Life
Singapore is renowned for its exceptional living standards. Though citizens hold some advantage when it comes to housing, the city provides for the well-being of both native-born and foreign residents through public institutions that place a strong emphasis on:
- Safety. A strong police force, strict legal penalties, and robust civic culture all contribute to the city’s remarkably low crime rate. Police collaborate with citizens to combat disorder in public areas, creating a secure environment where people can go out day and night without fear.
- Education. Singapore has a comprehensive and competitive school system, with a mix of public, private, and international institutions open to foreign students. Its math, science, language, technology, and engineering programs are highly ranked, with teachers who put a special focus on creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Most Americans prefer to send their children to an international school, where they can attend classes taught in their native language. Due to the number of interested students, parents are encouraged to apply before they move.
- Healthcare. Government subsidies provide affordable and comprehensive access to the city’s medical system. Singapore’s healthcare services are highly-rated, with advanced treatments available to citizens and noncitizens alike.
- Transportation. Though Singapore has a well-maintained road network, most residents prefer to ride the city’s Mass Rapid Transit system. Inexpensive and convenient, it links all the major neighborhoods, allowing you to reach any point on the island in under an hour.
In addition to its social services, Singapore also has extensive waste, hygiene, and recycling programs to prevent unsanitary conditions in all parts of the city. Streets are litter free, with strong civic and legal penalties for people who do not properly dispose of their trash.
Economy
Singapore’s strategic location and excellent harbor have made it a global trading center for nearly 200 years. Since gaining independence, tax and regulatory incentives have attracted considerable foreign investment, transforming the city into an international hub for finance, biotechnology, manufacturing, shipping, and IT. Its business friendly policies continue to attract and encourage entrepreneurs from all over the world, helping sustain the demand for skilled labor. Professionals living in Singapore can expect high salaries and generous benefits packages, especially if they work in a fast-growing industry such as banking, e-commerce, and software development.
Weather
Like most tropical countries, Singapore enjoys long periods of sunny weather interspersed with monsoon rains. Temperatures are warm throughout the year, giving you plenty of opportunities to work on your tan. Due to high humidity, most people dress casually. Shorts, polos, skirts, and sandals are an accepted outfit in most places. Just be sure to grab an umbrella when the clouds roll in.
Parks
Given its small size (277 square miles, equivalent to Atlanta, GA), perhaps it’s no surprise Singapore has pushed to create a green and sustainable urban environment. City planners have carefully integrated nature into the majority of their public spaces, giving residents plenty of ways to relax and stay active.
- Singapore Botanical Gardens. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a diverse set of cultivated environments. Tour the Orchid Garden, which contains over 1,000 different species and more than 2,000 hybrids. Have a picnic under the fronds at Palm Valley. Or take a date to the tranquil pool in the Ginger Garden, brimming with Amazon Lilies.
- Gardens by the Bay. An immense recreation area full of fantastic and spellbinding attractions. The Flower Dome contains plants from Asia, Europe, and the African Savanna. Floral Fantasy is an explosion of color, with walls full of suspended bouquets and flower arrangements. Cloud Forest contains the world’s largest indoor waterfall, while the Supertree Grove is a vertical garden with a dazzling light show.
- Henderson Waves Bridge. A 900-foot undulating walkway that towers above the trees and canyons of Telok Blangah Hill Park. Enjoy panoramic views of the rich flora and fauna in one of the few wild and untamed landscapes left in the city.
For a glimpse of life before colonization, head out to Pulau Ubin, a heavily wooded island north of Singapore, the only spot in the city without tarmac or concrete buildings. Explore abandoned plantations and quarries while you wander through the ancient forest, teeming with wild birds.
Culture & Entertainment
Singapore is known for its fast-paced lifestyle. The dynamic, high-skill economy often requires a lot from its workers, but fortunately the city provides plenty of opportunities to have fun and unwind. With such a large and diverse population, you’re bound to find something that matches your interests. For a truly extraordinary experience, check out:
- Esplanade. One of the premier performing arts centers in Asia. Located at the mouth of the Singapore River, it showcases some of the most accomplished singers, musicians, and composers in the world. Besides its regular concerts, it also hosts festivals celebrating music genres from around the globe, including India, Malaysia, Europe, and America.
- Singapore Night Safari. The world’s first nocturnal zoo, filled with over 130 exotic and endangered species from across Asia, including tigers, leopards, and elephants. Ride the tram through safari habitats or wander along the footpaths for a close encounter with these amazing creatures.
- Marina Bay Sands. Swim and dine at the top of this gigantic hotel, mall, casino, and convention center. After splashing around in the infinity pool 57 stories above Marina Bay, grab a bite to eat at its Michelin-star restaurant before heading down to party in the city’s largest nightclub, complete with Ferris wheel.
- National Gallery Singapore. This massive museum houses one of the most extensive and impressive collections of Asian art in the world. Spread across two national landmarks (Singapore City Hall and the former Supreme Court), visitors can spend hours roaming galleries dedicated to Impressionism, Chinese calligraphy, and Vietnamese lacquer painting.
Singapore’s biggest destination is Sentosa, an island resort off the coast, home to award-winning golf courses, Universal Studios Singapore, and the S.E.A. Aquarium, which houses over 100,000 marine animals. Though mostly popular with tourists, residents enjoy visiting as well.
Dining
In Singapore, people don’t eat to live. They live to eat. Food here is unforgettable. Whether you prefer four-star restaurants or street fare, you’re certain of finding a good meal day or night. Though the city offers everything from pizza to sushi, some of its signature dishes include:
- Chili Crab. Singapore’s national dish. A full crab served shell-on, slathered in sweet and spicy sauce, with steamed buns for dipping. Though the deep, savory flavor will delight your taste buds, be careful when cracking it open. It’s messy.
- Kaya Toast. A sweet, caramelized jam made from coconut, sugar, and eggs. Residents normally spread it on toast coated with butter and eat it as part of their breakfast.
- Hainanese Chicken Rice. A simple dish made from poached chicken, served beside a large helping of steamed rice slicked with chicken fat and a rich, garlic-ginger sauce.
- Fish Head Curry. Created in 1949 by M.J. Gomez, an Indian immigrant who combined his native seasonings with local Chinese ingredients to create savory stew saturated with tomato, tamarind, coconut milk, curry leaves, and a dizzying array of ground spices.
- Char Kway Teow. Stir fried noodles marinated in sticky, sweet soy sauce and cooked at extremely high heat. Chefs mix in bean sprouts, eggs, chives, leafy vegetables, and a healthy amount of garlic before adding their choice of meat, most often sweet sausage, cockles, or fishcakes.
In addition to the great food, the city also boasts its own world-renowned craft cocktail: the Singapore Sling. Its blend of liquor, bitters, and fresh fruit is tasty, but packs a punch.
Moving to Singapore
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