Things to see in Singapore

A harrowing monument in Singapore dedicated to the 50,000 soldiers and civilians who were killed during Japanese occupation (1942-45), Changi Chapel, a replica of many built at this time, is housed within the courtyard of the new museum. The museum contains letters, drawings and personal effects of the prisoners of war, with a replica of the Changi Murals and several video screenings. Services are held every Sunday from 0945 to 1100 in the chapel (visitors welcome).

The largest bird park in the Asia Pacific, covering over 20 hectares (50 acres), Singapore's Jurong Bird Park is home to more than 9,000 birds from 600 different species worldwide. Highlights include African Waterfall Aviary, at 30m (98ft) the world's highest man-made waterfall; the Penguin Exhibition, with a panoramic viewing gallery to watch the 200 penguins feeding; the Southeast Asian Birds Aviary, where a thunderstorm is simulated every day at noon; the African Wetlands Exhibit; and Jungle Jewels, featuring dazzling hummingbirds. At the Lodge on Flamingo Lake, visitors can dine in a three-storey glass restaurant surrounded by 1,001 flamingos. An air-conditioned monorail covers the entire park.

Housed in a whitewashed Palladian mansion with a stunning contemporary glass adjunct at the back, this is simply one of the best history museums in Asia. The museum houses a superb, interactive Singapore history exhibition that visitors can self-guide their way through using a hand-held PDA device, plus four permanent Living Galleries, detailing the histories of Food, Fashion, Film and Photography in Singapore, plus two cutting-edge temporary art galleries. The magnificent building itself is worth a visit, and there are also excellent fine-dining restaurants, cafés and an excellent museum shop.

Formerly an adjunct to the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Peranakan Museum reopened in 2008 in the magnificent former Tao Nan school building. The museum tells the fascinating stories of the mixed-culture Peranakan peoples of the former Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang and their links with other communities in Southeast Asia. The beautifully restored three-floored building houses stunning historical artefacts, ranging from wedding outfits to jade ornaments and exquisite hand-painted porcelain to religious icons.

Billed as a 'tropical isle of peace and tranquillity', Sentosa Island is a purpose-built island theme park, with attractions including Universal Studios Singapore, featuring 24 movie-themed rides; Underwater World, a huge tropical oceanarium with 2,500 marine creatures in an 83m (272ft) submerged tunnel; Dolphin Lagoon, a water show with a pink dolphin; and the 37m (121ft) Merlion.

Museums include Images of Singapore, with waxwork figures depicting Singapore's history, and Fort Siloso, recreating bunkers and underground passages used for defence during the war. The viewing platform at the top of Tiger Sky Tower offers a great panoramic view of Singapore, gently revolving at 131m (430ft) above sea level.

Meanwhile, Sentosa 4D Magix is Singapore's first and South East Asia's largest cinema of its kind, and boasts state-of-the-art projection technology and sound system. The Sijori WonderGolf is an 18-hole miniature golf course, certified by the Minigolf Sport Federation. Beaches, golf courses, hotels, entertainment and restaurants are dotted throughout Sentosa. A lightrail and bus tour the island and visitors can jump off at any station.

As a perfect respite from Singapore's urban landscape, the gardens epitomise the island's luxuriant parks with a combination of primary jungle and elegantly laid-out flowerbeds and shrubs, serving to educate and conserve. With over 3,000 species spread over 52 hectares (128 acres), the National Orchid Garden has the world's largest orchid display, with over 60,000 plants in total. The gardens are also a venue for outdoor concerts.

This enormous Ferris wheel, towering above Singapore, offers panoramic views across the Marina Bay, downtown skyscrapers and the city beyond. Standing at 165m (541ft), the graceful curve described against the Singapore skyline, artfully lit at night, is an attraction in itself. A ride in one of the wheel's 28 pods will take just over 30 minutes, and there are in-capsule guided tours of the sights below and beyond.