I grew up in Singapore and have lived here all my life — here’s my complete guide to visiting the island-state

Besides it’s futuristic architecture, Singapore also boasts plentiful parks and outdoor spaces kept green by the tropical climate. Shutterstock/F11 Photo Growing up in Singapore, I experienced a melting pot of cultures, languages, and experiences. Here’s my ultimate guide to everything to do, see, and try while visiting the unique island-state.

Visit Insider’s hub for travel guides, tips, and recommendations. Before memes were a thing, there was a visual that floated around Singapore’s digital space for a while. It read: “Dey, wǒ men paktor always makan at kopitiam one,” which translates to “Hey, when we go on a date, we always eat at the coffee shop.

” If you’re struggling to make sense of the original sentence, that’s because it’s pure Singlish — a unique blend of the languages and dialects spoken in Singapore. The same visual breaks it down: “dey” is Tamil; “wǒ men” is the Hanyu Pinyin for “我们, aka “we”; “paktor” is Cantonese; “makan” and “kopi” are Malay; and “tiam” is Hokkien/Hakka. That sums up Singapore and the experiences you can expect when you visit this unique island state.

I was born and grew up in Singapore, and have lived here all my life in various areas, from the heartlands of Toa Payoh to the country’s only legal red-light district of Geylang. I’ve also spent many years of my professional life being a lifestyle writer dedicated to uncovering things to see, eat, and do in Singapore. I’ve spent all my life exploring Singapore unique neighborhoods and discovering the coolest places.

Sam DoveyWith four official languages and locals and transplants alike speaking many more, Singapore is a vibrant melting pot of culture. Growing up here as the product of a cross-cultural marriage, I celebrated most of the cultural events and festivals, from Chinese New Year to Deepavali and Christmas, and always had a variety of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Eurasian dishes on my dining table. Then there are the modern layers of bustling Singapore — for such a young nation, at just 57 years old, it’s very technology-driven, so many of its systems, attractions, and buildings look futuristic.

With intense tropical weather, the Lion City is also very green — Singapore’s National Parks board estimated that in 2020, just under 50% of Singapore’s land was covered in green space, with a tree-canopy cover of nearly 30%, making it one of the greenest cities in the world. There’s lots to see and do, from sampling food from across Asia to popping by unique ethnic quarters and meeting locals with a wonderful mix of backgrounds. Here’s my complete guide as a local to all the best places to stay, eat, explore, and more for planning your Singapore itinerary.

 Explore Insider’s guide to visiting Singapore. → How to get to Singapore by land, sea, or air, plus a local’s tips for using public transit and taxi services→ Where to stay in Singapore, recommended by a local — the best hotels, hostels, and more→ 10 of the best restaurants and places to eat authentic food in Singapore→ 9 unique adventures and activities to do in Singapore, from lush wetland hikes to a nighttime ghost tour→ What to know before traveling to Singapore — the lastest COVID-19 regulations, weather advisories, and when to visitRead the original article on Insider.