Touted as the "hipster" hangout located in a public housing estate Tiong Bahru today is a peaceful neighbourhood with a village-like feel. It attracts the young and the savvy and offers unique shopping and dining opportunities. Tiong Bahru Bakery serves up classic French pastries with a hint of asian flavours while trickets and vintage items can be picked up at Fleas & Trees. Don't forget to pay a visit to Books Actually, a true gem. This neighbourhood is only a short MRT or bus ride away from the city centre.

With its rich history of opium dens and dying houses, this bustling neighbourhood of downtown Singapore is now a playground for anyone wishing to soak up the pulsating Singapore nightlife atmosphere. Home to the "Food Street", you can come here to sample the best that Singaporean cooking has to offer. Stop by one of the many Chinese medicine shops - Chop Wa On where you can buy medicinal oils for all aches and pains. There are also many boutiques with unique clothes and accessories sourced from around the world like Willow & Huxley or Egg3.

Come and experience this vibrant neighbourhood. From the temples to shops and restaurants, there is never a dull moment in Singapore's Little India. If you are lucky enough to be here during one of the big festivals like Thaipusam, witness some interesting rites and rituals. During festivals like Deepavali and Pongal, the whole neighbourhood is lit up in colourful lights. Come and sample the unique Fish Head Curry and dine on banana leaves in style, feasting on a curries, vegetables and seafood. Try chapatis with all the sundries at Azmi Chapati. Little India Arcade offers a chance to pick up a souvenir at the spice merchants Thandapani or watch colourful flower garlands being made at Omsivasakthi.

This artsy quarter of downtown Singapore is a great for a dose of culture in one of the many galleries dotted around the area. Start with the Singapore Arts Museum, where you can admire the biggest collection of contemporary Singaporean and Southeast Asian art or visit the Peranakan Museum or Singapore Philatelic Museum nearby. The Bugis area is great for shopaholics with its many high-street outlets. Visit Front Row for conceptual niche fashion in its multi-label concept store in the heart of the Bras Basah district. For a little sustenance, pay a visit to Artichoke for Middle-eastern delicacies, including an 8-hour roasted succulent lamb.

Tucked in the east of Singapore, this delightful area offers you a chance to taste local culinary delights such as the famous Katong laksa at 328 Laksa and traditional cakes and coffee at the deliciously retro Chin Mee Chin Confectionery. Katong has for generations also been the home of many Baba and Nyonya families, whose colourful and exquisitely decorated houses you can still admire. Make an appointment for a private tour of The Intan, a private museum and residence and be charmed by the many special pieces of the family heritage. Relax in one of the innovative gastropubs like Immigrants, where you can enjoy food like it was enjoyed more than a hundred years ago, mixing the food migrants to this cosmopolitan city state brought with them.

Come for an early evening drink at one of the many sophisticated bars and restaurants around this area not far from Chinatown. It once used to be the stomping ground for rich Chinese merchants and a place where many old Chinese clans and associations houses are still located. But bars and al fresco dining are not the only draw. Taste innovative cocktails inspired by local history and ingredients at Ding Dong. Or go on a shopping spree in many of the quaint shops selling vintage wares, specialty toys and beautiful stationery. Ann Siang is also a place to get booted and suited - FineSpun Clothiers and Mythology both offer bespoke pieces, cutting-edge designs and quality tailoring.

Duxton Hill is one of the best destinations in Singapore to chill out. From fun cafés (think Department of Caffeine or the Lokal), casual bistros, to more upmarket restaurants like André or the Majestic Restaurant, you won't be disappointed. There are some shops located here like Littered with Books located in a lovely old shophouse. For some fun drinking and snacks, try Lucha Loco, the sprawling Potato Head Folk located in the beautiful old house from 1939 or the Tippling Club for some innovative drinks with local flavour.

Kampong Glam, a little enclave with stunning architecture and colourful shophouses found in the adjacent street, has fast become a shoppers' and coffee lovers' paradise. Visitors and locals flock here to enjoy the tranquil and artsy settings with a lot of opportunities to enjoy new art and design offerings, or to have coffee or tea in the many pretty and design driven cafes like CAD and Working Title. Along the eclectic Haji Lane, shoppers will marvel at the cute offerings from Shop Wonderland or the beautiful accessories at Spring Summer Fall Winter. For a bit of culture, the Malay Heritage Centre offers a glimpse into the past with interactive installations and exhibitions the norm.