Prologue: The Real Singapore I Met While Volunteering as a Docent at the National Museum

01.
I didn't know much about Singapore, but the more I learned, the more I became engrossed in its history and multicultural story.

A glimpse into Singapore's history
Sir Raffles' Town Plan: Singapore's First District
Hindu temple next to church, mosque next to Hindu temple

02.
Old City Civic District, with its European-style architecture, adds a touch of romance to your Singapore trip.

Just know this before you leave - Old City
Starting point for your Old City tour: St. Andrew's Cathedral
Former government buildings become cultural and artistic spaces: National Gallery Singapore and more
Sir Raffles' Story You Must Know
A striking modern building in the Old City
EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: National Kitchen | Smoke & Mirror | Namnam | Privé | Paradise Dynasty
PLAY: National Gallery Keppel Centre | Enjoy Performances at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall | Climb Central
SHOP: The Green Collective | Asian Civilizations Museum Souvenir Shop | Love Bonito

03. BBB: Bras Basah & Bugis, Singapore's cultural and arts district, full of rich cultural heritage buildings in the heart of the city

Just know this before you go - Bras Basah & Bugis
A must-see for any Singapore history tour: the National Museum and Fort Canning Park.
The area around Armenian Street, where many charming museums are located.
The Singapore Art Museum and the Beginnings of Christianity in Singapore
Best hotels in Singapore with beach views: Raffles Hotel and more
A diverse range of religious facilities on one street: Waterloo Street
A special art school located in BBB
Bugis, where you can enjoy everything from night markets to cheap shopping

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: The Grand Lobby | Ray Garden | True Blue | Thai Gold Food | Vatos Urban Tacos
PLAY: Capturing Heritage Buildings in Photographs | My Tree House
SHOP: Book Shopping at Brasbasa Complex | Sunny Hill Pineapple Tart

04. Singapore Riverfront & Central Business District (CBD), Singapore's economic center connecting Singapore's past and present

Know this before you leave - Singapore Riverfront & Central Business District
Discover traces of Singapore's former trading port along the riverfront, a must-see attraction.
The Story of the Bridge Across the Singapore River
Street art along the Singapore River
Dizzying skyscrapers, Raffles Place and the Central Business District (CBD)

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro | Common Man Coffee Roasters | Jumbo Seafood
Riverside Point | Brewworks | Songpa Bak Kut Teh | Sichuan Dohwa
PLAY: Slingshot Singapore | Singapore River Cruise | Natureland
SHOP: Clarke Quay Central

05. This is Singapore, the Marina Bay area where Singapore's splendid landmarks are gathered.

Just know this before you leave - Marina Bay
Merlion Park is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Singapore.
Transformation of the Old Post Office and Customs House: Fullerton Heritage
Singapore's favorite durian building: Esplanade Theatres area
A must-see for any Singapore traveler: Marina Bay Sands
Full of surprises! Gardens by the Bay & Marina Barrage

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Makansutra Gluttons Bay | Level 33 | Colony | Coma
PLAY: Future World | Marquee Nightclub | Spectra Show | Marina Bay Sands Casino
SHOP: Old Seng Chung Cookies | British India

06. Chinatown: Traces of the lives of early immigrants and the hip culture of today's Singapore, all in one place.

Leave knowing this - Chinatown
The First Home of Early Immigrants: Telok Ayer
The Chinatown We Know: Crete
A hot spot loved by young people: Bukit Paso
Koreatown in Singapore: Tanjong Pagar

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Dongbuk-in-ga | Mihyangwon Main Branch | My Awesome Cafe | Manman Japanese Eel | Cafe Utu | Bukchang-dong Sundubu
PLAY: Peoplespark Complex Foot Massage | Murals by Yip Yu-chong
SHOP: Peranakan Tile Gallery | Lim Chee Kwan | Ya Kun Kaya Toast Main Branch

07. Experience the exotic Malay and Islamic culture in Singapore: Kampong Glam

Leave knowing this - Kampong Glam
Following in the footsteps of Singapore's Malay royalty
Arab Heritage: Islamic Religious Schools in Singapore
Shopping Paradises Old and New: Arab Street vs. Haji Lane
A modern building with a striking and eye-catching design

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Zam Zam | Blanco Court Prommi Shrimp Noodles | Kampong Glam Cafe | Rumah Makan Minang |
Allaturka Restaurant | % Arabica Coffee
PLAY: Glam Gallery | Vintage Camera Museum
SHOP: Toko Aljunied | Jamal Khajoura Aromatics | Hygge

08. Little India: A Little India in Singapore

Leave knowing this - Little India
Immerse yourself in Hinduism and Indian culture: Little India Station Area
Religious Museums in Little India

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Banana Leaf Apollo | Muthu's Curry | Komala Villa
PLAY: Celvis Beauty Henna Experience | Artwork Little India
SHOP: Mustafa Center | Hanifa Sari Shop | City Square Mall

09. Orchard Road, Singapore's shopping hub: The fascinating story behind it

Just know this before you leave - Orchard Road
Singapore's Luxury Street: Orchard Station Area
Affordable shopping district popular with young people: Somerset Station area
A quiet Peranakan cultural street amidst the bustling shopping streets: Emerald Hill
Singapore's Presidential Palace: Istana
Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site: Singapore Botanic Gardens

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Manhattan | Soup Restaurant | Putien | PS Cafe
PLAY: Bounce | Home Yoga | My Art Space
SHOP: The Shopping Gallery | Sephora | Basha Coffee | Irvin's Salted Eggs

10. A fresh look at Sentosa, Singapore's tourist hub. Sentosa and Harbourfront area.

Just know this before you leave - Sentosa and Harbourfront
Sentosa, a city retreat and a playground for everyone
The Story of Sentosa's Three Major Beaches
Sentosa Staycation: Shangri-La vs. Capella
Sentosa was originally a military facility.
The latest luxury hotspot: Sentosa Cove
An Architectural Journey with Nature: The Southern Ridges Trail Hiking

EAT PLAY SHOP - Eat, Play, and Shop Like a Local
EAT: Din Tai Fung Resort World Sentosa | Baristat Coffee | FOC Sentosa |
Greenwood Fish Market
PLAY: Singapore Cable Car
SHOP: VivoCity | Candelicious Resort World Sentosa

11. Other regions for you who have passion

Just know this before you leave - Changi Airport and Jewel Changi
Changi Airport
Changi Airport, Singapore's shining jewel
Singapore's stunning architecture that screams 'Like'

12. Where do Singaporeans live? Singapore Housing: HDBs & Condominiums

HDB public housing where most Singaporeans live
What's the difference between HDB and condominium?

Epilogue: Concluding with a bird's-eye view of the city-state of Singapore at the Singapore City Gallery.

How much do we know about Singapore?

Many travelers look up information about a country before they travel.
You might be searching hard to find famous tourist attractions, historically significant buildings, or even fun amusement parks.
And if you go to a bookstore, you'll find that there are actually many books on the market that are designed to help you on this journey.


Several books on Singapore say:
“Experience history in Old City, see the Merlion at Marina Bay, enjoy shopping at Bras Basah or Orchard Road, relax along the Singapore River, and experience a little foreign country within Singapore through Chinatown or Little India.”


But can you truly say you've enjoyed Singapore just by following these guides? Singapore is famous for being a multi-ethnic, not a mono-ethnic, nation.
This is a result of historical reasons, and because Singapore is a multi-ethnic nation, each district in Singapore has its own distinct ethnic color, which is rich, colorful, and harmonious.
Paradoxically, this means that to understand Singapore's charm, one must understand its unique culture and lifestyle as a multi-ethnic nation.
For example, if a foreigner who does not understand the meaning of doenjang and has difficulty understanding the culture may perceive our beloved soybean paste stew as nothing more than a gray soup with a musty smell.
Therefore, this book will serve as a guide to experiencing the true flavor of Singapore by starting with its architecture, examining its history, and explaining its culture.


In "Singapore Architectural Tour," the author, Bibi Sisters, introduces the architecture of each region of Singapore through her unique perspective.
And through its architecture, we explore Singapore's history and culture.
This book explains, through the introduction of the BB Sisters, how Singapore came to be a multi-ethnic nation and how each region, while embodying the cultures of various countries, coexists, blends, and maintains its own uniqueness.


By gaining this historical perspective, we will be able to see Singapore through a deeper lens and truly appreciate its charm.

The story of Singapore's architecture, told by an expert from the National Museum of Singapore!

Singapore is a country where people of different ethnicities live together!

Singapore is one country, but it is home to many different ethnicities.

Even if you just look at the large genealogy, there are Chinese, Malay, and Indian people.
Going further, if we look at the Chinese people strictly, there are the Hokkien people from Fujian Province, the Cantonese people from Guangdong Province, and other peoples such as the Hakka people, the Chaozhou people, and the Hainan people...
Even if you just look at the Chinese population, the cultural diversity is incredible!

With so many different ethnicities living together, the cultural diversity is also tremendous. All of these ethnicities maintain their cultural identities within Singapore and showcase their unique cultures through Singapore.
In other words, by looking at the country of Singapore, you can experience Chinese culture, Malay culture, and Indian culture all in one country called Singapore.

In "Singapore Architectural Journey," author Bibi Sisters says that architecture is deeply rooted in a nation's roots, and that by examining it, one can gain insight into that culture.
How about experiencing Singapore's diverse cultures under the guidance of the 'BB Sisters', who are well-versed in Singapore's history and culture, and experiencing the identity of each ethnic group and, by extension, the culture of Singapore as a country?