Republic of Singapore / Singapura / 733 km² / 5.9M People
From fishing village to global powerhouse in one generation
Opened in 2010 at a cost of US$6.88 billion, Marina Bay Sands was the world's most expensive standalone casino property. Its three 55-storey towers crowned by the 340-metre SkyPark have become the defining image of modern Singapore. The infinity pool, perched 200 metres above the city, is the world's largest rooftop pool.
Singapore Changi Airport has been voted World's Best Airport by Skytrax a record 12 times, including an unprecedented 8 consecutive wins from 2013 to 2020. The Jewel Changi complex features the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres, surrounded by a lush indoor forest of over 900 trees and 60,000 shrubs.
Despite being the world's second most densely populated country, Singapore maintains nearly 77% green cover. Every tree planted by NParks is GPS-tagged and monitored. Gardens by the Bay's 18 Supertrees, ranging from 25 to 50 metres tall, harvest solar energy and serve as vertical gardens. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is the first tropical garden with UNESCO World Heritage status.
In December 2020, Singapore's hawker culture was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Over 6,000 hawker stalls across 114 centres serve multicultural dishes where Michelin-starred meals cost under $5. The Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice stall became the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant.
With no natural freshwater sources, Singapore engineered its way to water security through the Four National Taps strategy. NEWater, ultra-purified recycled water, now meets up to 40% of the nation's demand. This innovation has made Singapore a global leader in water technology, turning a vulnerability into a competitive advantage studied by nations worldwide.
On an island of just 733 square kilometres, 5.9 million people from Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian backgrounds live together with four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. Singapore's unique creole, Singlish, blends them all. The nation's founding principle of multiracialism has created one of the safest and most harmonious societies on Earth.
Moments that shaped the Lion City from trading post to global hub
February 6, 1819 — Raffles lands, trading post established
August 9, 1965 — Republic of Singapore born
July 1, 1981 — World's best airport begins
June 23, 2010 — Iconic skyline landmark unveiled
Population: 5.9 Million| Area: 733 km²| Languages: English · Mandarin · Malay · Tamil| Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)| GDP per Capita: ~$65,000| Hotels on WIA Trip: 791
The Lion City's extraordinary achievements in figures
Two Asian tigers connected through trade, culture, and innovation
Singapore is one of Southeast Asia's biggest K-pop markets. BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids regularly sell out the National Stadium for their concerts. Korean dramas dominate streaming charts, Korean beauty products fill Orchard Road stores, and Korean restaurants have become fixtures in every neighbourhood. The Korean Cultural Centre Singapore actively promotes exchanges, making the Lion City a key hub for Hallyu in ASEAN.
Diplomatic relations since 1975 have made Singapore Korea's second-largest ASEAN trading partner. The Korea-Singapore FTA (2006) was Korea's first with an ASEAN state, followed by the Digital Partnership Agreement (KSDPA) in 2023. Samsung's regional HQ sits in Singapore, Hyundai vehicles fill its roads, and Korean construction firms built iconic landmarks. Samsung and Hyundai leaders review their Asia strategy from Singapore, anchoring the city as Korea Inc.'s Southeast Asian command centre.
Explore the world from the Lion City — 10 international destinations
Thailand · 2h 25m flight · Street food capital
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Japan · 7h flight · Neon meets tradition
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United Kingdom · 13h flight · Colonial heritage ties
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France · 12h flight · City of Light
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UAE · 7h flight · Desert futurism
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Turkey · 10h flight · East-West crossroads
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USA · 19h flight · The city that never sleeps
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Italy · 12h flight · Eternal City
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Spain · 13h flight · Gaudi's masterpiece
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Netherlands · 12h flight · Canal city charm
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Where four civilisations meet on one island — multicultural harmony in every street
Chinese heritage · Buddha Tooth Relic Temple · Hawker paradise
Cultural district
Indian heritage · Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple · Spice bazaar
Cultural district
Malay-Arab heritage · Sultan Mosque · Haji Lane artisan shops
Cultural district
Resort island · Universal Studios · S.E.A. Aquarium
Cultural district
Interactive experiences across WIA Trip
What lies on the other side of Singapore? Find your antipodean destination from the Lion City!
✈️Build a world tour route starting from Singapore — journey beyond the equatorial horizon!
👑Hotel quiz — test your knowledge of hotels around the world, from Marina Bay to Manhattan!
🏨Search for lodging across Singapore — 791 hotels from luxury resorts to boutique stays.
Book your Singapore adventure through our partners — hawker stalls to infinity pools