Singapore

Singapore may be less than half the size of London, a country with just one city – but who'd have thought you could pack so much entertainment and diversity into such a little package? This island nation is the definition of "small but perfectly formed". Briefly part of Malaysia, until the two broke up in 1965 over artistic (and ethnic) differences, Singapore’s become an economic powerhouse in its own right, and sufficient unto itself: a city-state in whose variegated districts you can lie on the beach, visit Hindu and Buddhist temples, spin on a gigantic Ferris wheel, or shop yourself silly in a succession of swanky malls, all less than half an hour's drive from one another. And that's before you sample the cuisine: a mouthwatering mingle of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western influences that has residents and visitors alike raving about the deliciousness of this foodie city.

Get to grips with the "Little Red Dot" as you plunge into some of Singapore's most popular precincts: the historic Colonial District, the cultural hotspots of Chinatown and Little India, and environmentally protected zones like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Tour the Parliament of Singapore or party on the beach in the Downtown Core, punctuating the action with snacks of chili crab noodles, shrimp spring rolls or even wriggly octopus tentacles at the hawker stalls for which the city is famous. You could even discover the Chinese Ten Courts of Hell, a wildly eccentric and gorily-detailed installation housed in a dark tunnel at the Haw Par Villa – just try not to have nightmares afterward!