Singapore is a city-state in Southeast Asia that was founded in 1819. Modern Singapore was established as a British trading colony in 1819, and since gaining independence in 1965, it has grown to become one of the world’s most prosperous countries, with one of the world’s busiest ports as its main port. It is said that Singaporean food is legendary, with bustling hawker centers and 24-hour coffee shops serving affordable food from all over Asia.

This Garden City, which combines the skyscrapers and subways of an affluent, futuristic, and modern city with a medley of different Asian cultures such as Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences, as well as a tropical climate, delicious food, good shopping, and a vibrant nightlife scene, makes for an excellent stopover or springboard into the region.

The country has earned a reputation for being sterile, predictable, and neutral, which is partially justified. Nonetheless, for many, the “Switzerland of Asia” provides a welcome respite from the chaos, filth, and poverty that characterize much of the neighboring Southeast Asian continent’s main land. It is only after you scratch beneath the squeaky clean surface and venture away from the tourist trail that you will realize this city-state has much more to offer that what first meets the eye.