You can’t understand Singapore without understanding its colonial past, and that means a walking tour of the Civic District is the perfect place to start. Your guide will introduce you to the stories behind these grand, British-era buildings — how the Old Supreme Court became Singapore’s finest art gallery, or how the old post office became a luxury hotel — as you chart the Singapore story from its founding to the present day. Next, head to the Muslim-Malay district of Kampong Glam for a cup of sweet “pulled tea”, then hop on a trishaw to Little India, where a crispy, soft-centre roti prata is waiting for you. These are just a few of the flavours that make up modern Singapore.

Before Singapore was one of the most densely populated and future-facing nations in the world, it was just a little island covered in dense rainforest and dotted with Malay kampong villages. If you’re having trouble imagining it, take our advice and jump on a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, where you can be transported back — if not to the Singapore of the 1760s, then at least the 1960s. Cycle along beautifully maintained paths through the jungle on this tiny island, stopping to hike up to viewpoints over stunning lakes, say hello to the pygmy pigs, or watch the mudskippers and fiddler crabs on the beach. Pulau Ubin is a breath of fresh air just a stone’s throw from the city.

You’ve delved into Singapore’s past, now it’s time to look to its present — and future — as you explore some of its most cutting-edge attractions. Begin with the cuisine, which melds generations of tradition with global trends to create one of the most exciting (and delicious) food scenes in the world. Then, after seeing the worlds of art and science collide at the amazing ArtScience Museum, join a local guide for a tour of Singapore’s pièce de resistance: Gardens by the Bay. Famous for their massive, illuminated “supertrees”, the Gardens have so much more to explore — including biospheres filled with diverse habitats, and some of the best satay you’ll find anywhere.