Singapore is an island-state in Southeast Asia which was originally founded as a British trading post in the year 1819. We’re pretty sure that the Brits from this early period would be baffled if they saw the development of the nation today!
In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at the most famous buildings in Singapore, incredible landmarks that define this republic on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.
1. Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is a hotel, resort, convention center, and casino, located right in front of Marina Bay near Downtown Singapore.
It opened back in 2010 and was dubbed as the most expensive building in the world back then with a total construction cost of USD 8 billion.
The building consists of 3 skyscrapers which are topped with a roof with a length of 340 meters (1,120 feet) referred to as the “Skypark.”
It’s the world’s largest public cantilevered platform and has both an observation deck and a 150 meter (490 feet) long infinity swimming pool at a height of 191 meters (627 feet) above the ground.
Official website: Marina Bay Sands
2. Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a nature park that covers an area of 101 hectares (250 acres) and is located just a short distance away from Marina Bay Sands in the central area of Singapore.
It opened in 2012 in an effort by the government of Singapore to increase the greenery in the city.
The park consists of 3 waterfront gardens referred to as the Bay South Garden, the Bay Central Garden, and the Bay East Garden.
Its main attractions are the Flower Dome, which has been described as the world’s largest greenhouse, and the Supertree Grove, tall tree-like structures that provide an amazing light show every night.
Official website: Gardens by the Bay
3. Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is a huge observation wheel and tourist attraction similar to the London Eye, allowing visitors to get amazing views over Singapore and its surroundings.
This huge wheel is located at the Downtown Core of Singapore. It stands 165 meters (541 feet) tall and was the highest observation wheel in the world upon completion in 2008
It held this record until the High Roller in Las Vegas, which stands 167.6 meters (550 feet) tall, overtook it in 2014.
Official website: Singapore Flyer
4. Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens in Singapore is a tropical garden in Singapore that was established in the year 1859.
It’s only one in three gardens ever to be awarded a listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only tropical garden to receive this as well.
The garden covers an area of 82 hectares (202.63 acres) and is really a breath of fresh air in the concrete jungle of Downtown Singapore.
It is home to over 10,000 species of plants and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country with over 4.5 million yearly visitors!
Official website: Singapore Botanic Gardens
5. Helix Bridge
The Helix Bridge is one of the most remarkable bridges in the world. It’s a pedestrian bridge with a total length of 280 meters (918 feet)
This fascinating bridge connects Marina Centre with Marina South and provides access to the area that marina Bay Sands is located.
It’s located right next to the longest bridge in Singapore called the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and is accompanied by a vehicular bridge called the Bayfront Bridge.
It has a unique design resembling the four bases of DNA and offers amazing views of the city from 4 observation platforms.
6. Raffles Hotel Singapore
The Raffles Hotel is a luxury hotel dating back to the year 1887 and built in the colonial style. It was established by two Armenian brothers called the Sarkies Brothers
The historic hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of colonial-era Singapore.
It was originally a private-owned beach house that was built in the 1830s and later transformed into a hotel called Emerson’s Hotel in 1878.
Because of its extensive history in the city, the hotel has been designated as a National Monument of Singapore in the year 1987.
Official website: Raffles Hotel
7. Merlion Park
The most famous Merlion statue is located in an area referred to as the “Merlion park,” located in the Downtown Core District of Singapore.
It’s a major tourist attraction that can be found right next to the city’s main business district. This means that you can both enjoy the park while getting astounding views of the city.
The Merlion is the national symbol of the country as it represents the body of a fish, referring to the origins of Singapore as a fishing village.
The head of the statue represents a lion, referring to the original name of the city which was “Singapura,” meaning “Lion City.”
