Living and working in Singapore

Our Singapore office opened in 2011, and we're very excited about our expansion into the growing Asian markets. But what is it really like to live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world?

Singapore (新加坡) is a busy city-state with skyscrapers en masse - the Skyscanner office is on the 9th floor - but there is also a lot of greenery and great opportunities for hiking, sports, swimming and other outdoor activities.

 

With a lot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and other influences, Singapore is a very international city. Some of the ethnic quarters, like Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, Joo Chiat and Katong are well worth a visit, and you won't go wrong with a "restaurant crawl" to sample the various cuisines available.

 

One of the best things about Singapore has to be the food.  The Skyscanner envoys from the UK report that the Singaporean cuisine is several levels above traditional Scottish deep-fried goodness.  It is also said that dining, alongside shopping, is the country's national pasttime - and it's quite obvious why.

 

If you're not too full after trying all the local specialties there is also a very vibrant arts and culture scene in the city with the Esplanade as one of the highlights. You might find the annual Singapore Arts Festival an interesting offer as is the Singapore Food Festival, the Chingay Parade, the Sun Festival and the World Gourmet Summit. Or you could visit the Singapore Jewel Festival if you're into bling and/or fine stones!

 

There is also, of course, racing and other fast fun to be had in Singapore. The F1 Singapore Grand Prix is a big hit with all the Skyscannerites who've been to see it. If you want to do sports yourself there's plenty of opportunities for swimming (Singapore has the highest density of public pools in the world!), golfing and, believe it or not, skiing in the Snow City. Another popular pasttime, for those with cash to spare, is gambling and there are two swanky casinos to pay special attention to. 

 

Exotic animals are also a highlight of Singapore, unlike the Skyscanner rabbit, Fluffy Cunningham, who has made the move to Singapore permanent after tasting the many things on offer in the city. The Night Safari, the Singapore Zoo or the Jurong Bird Park all have rare species you might not have met before.

 

Fluffy Cunningham

 

More recommendations on what to do can be found on Your Singapore, or try Time Travel's Top 10 Things to do in Singapore.

....and, the word from our travelling public is, the airport is brilliant!