The city of lions

Singapore is quite literally the city of lions - because that's what its name means in Sanskrit. Its climate is also roaring hot and tropical all year round. We were there in December and explored the Christmas side of this multicultural megacity.

We have just landed from Bali, where the rainy season lives up to its name. So a bit of water doesn't scare us at all. Especially not in Singapore, which only knows one season anyway. No matter when, the metropolis in the direct vicinity of the equator is always hot, humid, sometimes sunny, sometimes spectacularly rainy.

We are here in the depths of December and want to take a look at what Christmas in Southeast Asia is all about. In multicultural and multi-religious Singapore, we are expecting some exciting moments. Our first impression: Christmas decorations are everywhere, for example in the form of a multitude of Christmas trees, for example at the airport or in the various malls.

The rain doesn't stop for today, so we stay inside and discover that the connections between malls, subway stations and hotels also work perfectly below the city - and with dry feet. It doesn't clear up until the next morning.

It's December 24th, Christmas Eve. We take advantage of the sunny day to take a look at Singapore from above. One of the city's most striking architectural structures is the Marina Bay Sands complex. Way up there, on the 56th floor, a well-frequented viewing terrace offers an impressive view of the city, out to sea and all around.

 

Wow: that is one skyline.

Time to explore the city. We find it rather hot, but decide to set off on foot anyway. Escorted by countless Christmas trees, we take a leisurely stroll to the financial district. It is incredibly lively along the waterfront - apparently, Singapore is a very popular destination at Christmas.

Amidst the bank skyscrapers, we stop at a popular foodie spot called Lau Pa Sat, an area of food stalls known as “Hawker Center”, of which there are many all over Singapore. The choice is wide, whether Indian, Chinese or Middle Eastern, there is something for everyone - even if it's vegetarian, vegan or just a small snack. The multicultural Singapore can be heard, felt and tasted here.

Coffee, Dim Sum, oder something totally different? It is in store at Lau Pa Sat.

We keep moving on this pre-Christmas afternoon. A walk takes us to Kampong Gelam, the Muslim quarter of the city center. Between a large mosque and a narrow, bustling pedestrian zone called Haji Lane, we see another face of Singapore. There are no shiny skyscrapers here, but smaller, older, colorful houses, street art and quiet cafés. As we explore the district, we feel the first drops of an approaching thunderstorm - so we make our way back to the hotel base for the moment.

 

One of Singapore's many sides.

While much of the Christmas world heads off for some form of Christmas Eve ceremony, Singapore is preparing for a different kind of spectacle. Christmas Eve in Singapore is all about events, shopping, partying and energy. One of the city's main shopping streets, Orchard Street, is not only festively decorated, but also full of people, stages, bands, DJs and food stalls along the shopping malls that are open late into the night. And even late in the evening it is still over 30°C. A very intense experience in a very friendly environment, because even in the midst of the large number of people, a certain serenity is palpable, as the organization of this spectacle is - typically Singaporean - relatively organized.

 

Quiet? Less so. Merry? Oh yes!

On Christmas morning, the sun shines over the city of 6 million people. We stay by the Singapore River for a moment and look out over the skyline, but also over the colonial traces of the city that can still be seen today. Cavenagh Bridge and the Fullerton Hotel, for example, are located next to a park and date back to the days when Singapore was still part of the British “Straits Settlements”.

Not far from here is the place we want to visit today: Singapore's National Gallery, the city's (and technically the country's) largest art museum. And clearly, it is much more than just a museum. The exhibition takes us on an artistic journey through the history of Southeast Asia to very moving works of contemporary art from Singapore and neighboring countries. A highly recommended stop, but one that requires a few hours of attention.

 

Yesterday meets today.

Singapore at Christmas - is it worth it? A clear yes, because Singapore definitely doesn't slow down its liveliness over the Christmas period. But Singapore is actually always worth a visit. As a tidy megacity with an appealing culinary scene and a multicultural population, Singapore offers its visitors many possibilities, regardless of whether they want to spend just one day or a week. Incidentally, given the diverse population, there are many public holidays - so whether you want to be there for Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year, Hanukkah, Ramadan or any other occasion is ultimately a matter of preference.

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Good to know

Few places in the world are as well connected by air as Singapore. Changi Airport is an attraction in itself, and Singapore Airlines is and remains one of the airlines that we always like to come back to. Swiss also offers direct flights from Zurich to the Southeast Asian metropolis.

As in any city with over a million inhabitants, there is an almost unmanageable number of accommodation options. We opted for the “Kempinski Capitol” in the middle of the city. This hotel is well located for sightseeing, is housed in a historic building and is connected to various malls and the subway. It is rather overpriced for what it offers, even by Singapore standards, so we wouldn't book it again. But it's ok for a short stopover.

You can explore a lot of the city on foot, otherwise the subway is excellent, but quite crowded at rush hour. Alternatively, cabs are very reliable and affordable. There is no Uber, Lyft or Bolt in Singapore, but an app called Grab offers similar services that also work well.

 

Singapore's legendary love of order is worth mentioning. While the city-state radiates a very pleasant cleanliness for travelers, this side of Singapore also has its price, because even those who drop litter, for example, can be fined.

In addition to the question of whether they need a visa, travelers should also find out what they are allowed to bring into Singapore - there may be restrictions on medicines, for example. A “Health Declaration” may also need to be completed before departure. In general, such formalities are largely digitalized in Singapore, so that entry can be completed in just a few minutes.