Beautypically

According to COUNTRYAAH, Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia and one of the fifty smallest countries in the world. It is about a third of Luxembourg in size. However, more than four million people live here, making Singapore the third most populous country in the world. Only Monaco and Macau have a higher population density. Singapore has for years been in possession of the largest port in the world, nowadays it has to leave this honor to Shanghai. However, the capacity in metric tons between these two ports is about the same.

We first encounter the country in the fourteenth century when it was part of the Srivijaya Kingdom. After the fall of this kingdom, the island was renamed Singapura and remained independent until Western civilizations reported here in the nineteenth century. In 1819 present-day Singapore was colonized by the United Kingdom. It remained a British colony until the British capitulated here in World War II and the Japanese came to power here.

After the war, the country became part of the British Kingdom again until it gained self-government in 1959. After a short connection to the Malaysian federation, the country now belongs to the British Commonwealth again.

In recent decades, Singapore has experienced great economic growth and is one of the most important trading areas in the world. As a result, the city of Singapore has almost grown out of its seams and a large part of the country has been built on. This has also ensured the beautiful skyline that the city is rich in. There are several large shopping centers and shopping streets in Singapore, so the motto here is “shop till you drop”.

Sights

The Singapore River that runs right through the city is one of the city’s main attractions. Along the banks of this river you will find several cozy restaurants and cafes. You will also find the popular nightlife center Clarke Quay here. The Singapore River eventually flows into the Marina Reservoir. This immense reservoir is very popular with water sports enthusiasts. You can go kayaking and surfing here.

The most beautiful sight of Singapore is probably the beautiful skyline of the city. Especially in the evening and at night you have a beautiful view of the city from the Marina bay.

In the city itself there are several neighborhoods that are more than worth a visit. Think of Chinatown and little India.

Those who want to escape the hustle and bustle in the city of Singapore can travel to one of the smaller islands belonging to the country of Singapore. The most popular island for this is Sentosa, which can be reached from the city by monorail or cable car. The island of Ubin is known for its beautiful untouched nature and can only be reached by boat.

You should definitely not miss the colonial center of the city, especially the Raffles Hotel, which was built entirely in Victorian style.

The Singapore Flyer, the largest Ferris wheel in the world, is located in Singapore. On clear days you can see almost the entire country and even see parts of the coast of Indonesia.

UNESCO

Although Singapore has a beautiful skyline and there are several beautiful buildings in the old town and in the neighborhoods around it. Singapore has no inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Climate

Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with a lot of precipitation throughout the year. The average daytime temperature here is around thirty degrees Celsius throughout the year. This combination ensures high humidity in Singapore. Especially in the city where there is no cooling wind, it can be very hot and clammy. It is therefore difficult to survive here without air conditioning. Fortunately, there is no shopping center or hotel here where these cannot be found.

The monsoon period here lasts from November to February. During this period, more than 500 millimeters of precipitation can fall per month. If you visit the country during this period, it is wise to bring an umbrella and good water-repellent clothing and shoes.

Geography

The country of Singapore consists of the main island of Singapore and 62 smaller islands. Singapore is Southeast Asia’s smallest country and will remain so despite the government’s plans to increase its land area by 100 square meters. The largest and most important islands belonging to Singapore are Jurong, Tekong, Ubin and Sentosa. Originally, the country mainly consisted of tropical rainforest, but this has almost completely disappeared due to the urbanization of Singapore. You can only see something of this in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. In the reserve is a 177 meter high hill which is the highest natural point in the country. However, the highest point in the country is the skyscraper of the OUB Center with 280 meters.

Singapore has no land borders with other countries. It is separated from neighboring Malaysia by the Strait of Johore. On the other side of the country is the Singapore Strait that separates Singapore from Indonesia.

The country’s main river is the Singapore River, which flows from the central part of the country to the Marina Reservoir. Other rivers that flow into this are the Kallang River and the Geylang River

Travel advice

There are no special travel advices for a visit to Singapore. The country is seen as safe and there is statistically very little crime here. The chance of being caught is quite high here, more than ninety percent of all cases are solved here.

Singapore is a strict country. Heavy fines or prison sentences are imposed here for relatively minor offenses. In extreme cases, there are even corporal punishments.

Travel documents

If you want to visit Singapore, you must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months from the day you leave the country. This is to prevent any problems if you unexpectedly have to stay longer in the country. In addition, you must be in possession of a return ticket or be able to demonstrate when you are going to leave the country again.

If you want to stay in Singapore for more than 90 days, you must apply for a visa.

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