A small city like Singapore risks being judged as dull and predictable. Sure, its sleek high rises like Marina Bay Sands can awe people for its architectural delight, especially at night. But what else can a tiny, highly urbanized city offer visitors?

Contrary to popular opinion, small cities have charms that big ones lack. Singapore’s deceptive smallness makes it even more worthy to explore. Beyond the usual city tours that everyone may have already experienced, there are inviting little nooks just waiting for you.

Finding cheap hotels in Singapore should be least of your concerns. It is rather surprising that this city known for its lovely mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay culture has so many places that can perfectly fit your budget and preference.

Once you have checked in, walk, bike, explore, and feast on the Singapore that others may not know and may have overlooked. Let this be your secret guide.

Photo by Allan Tan

Green Corridor: Singapore City’s Green Lung

Quiet and unhurried are not often associated with Singapore, yet the city can prove you wrong. Green Corridor, a grassroots movement led by Nature Society (Singapore), is an abandoned railway that creates a lovely nature preserve in the heart of the city. It’s ideal if you feel like taking a break from the urban bustles and long for a serene communion with nature. You can take a walk or go for a bike ride in this metropolos’s green lung.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: A Forest by the City

Although it is small for a nature park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a sanctuary of more 800 flora and 500 fauna. Just 12 kilometers away from Singapore’s central business district, this park is ideal for picnics, a solemn walk through the woods, or simply for quieting the mind.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, dubbed one of the most fertile products of nature by the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, is one of the biggest forests left untouched in Singapore.

It is comforting to know that a city known for its skyscrapers offers a natural respite at its doorsteps.

Maxwell Road: For Authentic Singaporean Dining  

A trip to Singapore is never complete without savoring its renowned authentic cuisine. After all, the taste and smell of any destination are as vital as the sights. Maxwell Road Hawker, situated in the center of Chinatown, is the home of more than 100 stalls, providing you expansive choices for your meal. Simple dishes any local eats, such as zhue kueh (literally water rice cake), the traditional congee topped with pork and a century egg, and char kway teow (literally stir-fried rice cake strips) are must-tries.

Know and savor Singapore through its dishes, and do not forget to burp in delight.

Singapore is more than a well-planned city. It is a garden that has some secret nooks others have yet to venture and explore. It is never boring; it keeps on changing. Be there to witness the unfolding of its beauty.

Jona of Backpacking with a Book

Hi there, I’m Jona, originally from Cebu, Philippines, had live in Hanoi, Vietnam, and now currently based in Munich, Germany. This blog used to house thoughts on life and books, but eventually it morphed into a travel blog. For collaborations, projects, and other things, please email me at backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. For essays, creative nonfiction, and others, find me elsewhere.

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