9am: Fly high
Once you've cleared customs, check in your bags at one of Changi's left luggage counters and head straight to the airport MRT (mass rapid transit) station. Quick and efficient, the journey into central Singapore takes just 30 minutes - buy a store-value MRT card for Dh40.
A great place to start your two-day tour is at One Fullerton (Raffles Place MRT), which sits alongside the Marina Bay waterfront. Home to Singapore's famous and original Merlion statue (there are five altogether), you can stop off for your obligatory snapshot of the half lion, half mermaid before making your way over the EsplanadeBridge and along the Marina Promenade. Atthe end of the promenade you'll reach the Singapore Flyer - the world's highest Ferris wheel (www.singaporeflyer.com).
Standing 165 metres tall, the Flyer is the easiest way to get your bearings and to catch a glimpse of the city's major landmarks. Tickets vary from basic (Dh80) to an all-out Moët & Chandon Champagne flight (from Dh3,960).
After your sight-seeing spin, enjoy a Singapore-style fish foot spa. At the Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa, located on the second level of the Flyer's retail terminal, you can get a natural pedicure from the Gurra Rufa, or Doctor Fish, that nibble on your toes. Add on a 30-minute session of reflexology to revive your jetlagged body. Kenko has 14 locations across the city, visit www.kenko.com.sg.
10am: Island living
Even on a small island like Singapore, it's possible to get away from it all, and most head to Sentosa to do that. In true Dubai style, Sentosa was developed as a one-stop destination that houses everything from world-class golf courses, botanical gardens and nature walks, to an underwater world and three sport-laden beaches, all under one roof, so to speak. The best way to get there is to take a taxi over the linking causeway or on the Sentosa Express.
Main attractions on the Island include the Merlion Walk - featuring a 37 metre replica of the original, the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, the Dolphin Lagoon, and the Sentosa Luge - a half toboggan, half go-kart ride.
If you're after some rejuvenation, head to the award-winning Spa Botanica, nestled in the tropical surrounds of The Sentosa Resort & Spa. Try the Balinese spice wrap or one of the day escape packages. For information on all attractions, visit www.sentosa.com.sg.
11am: Head to Chinatown
Once you've got the city mentally mapped out, jump back on the MRT and head to bustling Chinatown. Singapore's Chinatown is a fine example of the city's cultural mix and is a great place to stock up on cheap trinkets and memorable keepsakes. \
The station drops you off at the northern end of Pagoda Street, which throws you directly in to the throng of tourist hustle. Crammed with original, narrow shop houses, the area was first established in 1821. Head straight to the Chinatown Heritage Centre, which tells the epic tale of its first migrant settlers.
Armed with your souvenirs and historical insight, make a right on to South Bridge Road where you'll come across the very vibrant Sri Mariamman Temple. Swathed in colourful deities and mythological creatures, Singapore's oldest temple attracts scores of Hindus making their daily pilgrimage for prayers. Visitors are welcome, just remember to dress conservatively and leave your shoes at the door.
And if you're planning on taking snapshots, remember to put some money in the donation box. More shops and hawker-style cafes can be found on Temple Street, and with the clock hovering around lunchtime, it's worth resting your weary feet and finding a spot to try out Singapore's unofficial national dish - chilli crab.
Strap on a bib (most restaurants will provide you with one) and tuck in to a plate of deliciously cooked crab swimming in a sweet and spicy gravy. Dig out your crab first and then order a side of fried mantou (buns) to mop up your gravy.
Make time to check out the Wellness Village Boutique Spa (www.wellnessvillage.com) back on Pagoda Street. The spa offers a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian traditional therapies that will get you ready for the next leg of your journey.
Other streets worth noting are Club Street and Erskine Road - on the opposite side of South Bridge - which are a bit more Soho than Chinatown with one-off designer stores, boutique hotels and quirky restaurants. The stores on these streets only open after midday.
2pm: Shop and cruise
Famed as a top shopping destination, spend the afternoon on Orchard Road, which is chock-full of malls and designer plazas. You can either jump off at Dhoby Ghaut MRT or Orchard Road MRT. If you do want to seriously shop, just decide what you're looking for, have your credit card at the ready and put your head down.
If shopping isn't your thing then you may prefer to enjoy a lazy cruise down the river. Singapore's River Cruises transport visitors via a fleet of traditional bumboats - originally used to ferry supplies to moored ships out at sea - which have been restored to preserve the city's heritage. Boarding at Clarke Quay, you can choose one of two tours which take in Boat Quay, Marina Bay and Robertson Quay, plus you'll get to glimpse Raffles landing site (although there's no time to stop off for a famous Singapore Sling), and 11 of Singapore's 12 bridges. The on-board commentary is packed with historical details. Cruise costs start from Dh35, visit www.rivercruise.com.sg for more.
3pm: Culture up
After a busy morning battling the Chinatown crowds, take time to check out Singapore's art scene and visit the Singapore Art Museum (between Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall MRT). The building is a treat in itself - a converted 19th century mission school, which was lovingly restored in 1992.
With 18 exhibition halls, the museum prides itself on promoting contemporary art works from Southeast Asia, as well as featuring regular international exhibitions. With print, photography, sculpture, installation and painting works on show, you'll get a real insight into local inspiration. The museum also encourages art in the community with regular workshops and programmes, check out www.singart.com to find out what's coming up.
If you're a keen art buyer and would like a piece of work specific to Singapore, it's definitely worth e-mailing locally-based artist, Diana Francis. A Singapore resident for over 11 years, Diana's work is very much inspired by her travels throughout Asia.
More recently, Diana collaborated withthe Singapore Sun Festival to promote her A Singapore Tale or Two collection, which portrays a series of images based on the city's original shop houses. To view Diana's work, you can visit her studio in Holland Village. Visit www.dianafrancis.com for information.
6.30pm: Catch a show
The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is Singapore's dedicated space for performing arts. Theatre, ballet and musical shows are on offer every night of the week, so before you go, log onto their website www.esplanade.com to see what's on while you're there and pre-book tickets.
Encompassing a 1,600-seat concert hall, and both indoor and outdoor theatres, there's plenty to keep you entertained. The attached mall has several restaurant and bar choices, ideal for a pre-show cocktail along the water's edge.
7pm: Go animal spotting
The Singapore Night Safari is a total tourist fest - you'll be joining the other one million people to have visited. You can spot over 100 species of nocturnal animals spread over 40-hectares of parkland.
The park is divided into eight different zones and can be viewed via three walking trails or a 45-minute tram ride. Be warned, the walking trails may seem like a good idea, but if you're visiting the park alone, it can get pretty scary with those animals out in the dark!
Alongside the animals, there is also a ‘Creatures of the Night' show and a cultural performance by Bornean Tribal dancers. Entry tickets to the Night Safari cost Dh58, but if you have more time and also want to visit the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park, you can save money on a combination ticket for Dh120. To get to the Night Safari, you can either jump aboard one of the shuttle buses that run from 6pm and pick up at various locations throughout the city, or hop into a taxi for the 30-minute ride.
9pm: Dine riverside
If your show is an early finisher, hop in a cab and head over to Clarke Quay. You can either choose to sit beside the river in one of the many open air restaurants and watch the busy weekend crowds bustle by, or discover the delicious secrets hidden behind one of the colourful shop house façades.
A favourite amongst locals is the Coriander Leaf - a continuous winner of best restaurant awards. Owned by celebrity chef Samia Ahad, the Coriander Leaf serves up contemporary Asian flavours in a simple setting. The restaurant also boasts a cooking studio, and hosts speciality cuisine and wine nights. Visit www.corianderleaf.com for information.
Singapore Sun Festival
Now in its fourth year, the Singapore Sun Festival - The Art of Living Well, is a ten-day fest of music, film, literature, food, visual arts and wellbeing. The festival attracts some of the leading chefs, writers, artists and speakers from around the globe.
This year's festival highlights included Chef Art Smith (who has cooked for both Oprah Winfrey and the Obama family) and Chef Floyd Cardoz (a pioneer in new Indian cuisine); songwriter and singer Elvis Costello; director and actress Joan Chen; Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka; and wellbeing guru Deepak Chopra.To find out more about the 2010 festival, visit www.singaporesunfestival.com.
Where to stay
One of Singapore's grandest buildings, The Fullerton Hotel is a monument on the city skyline. Built in 1928, the structure housed various occupants before becoming an award-winning hotel in 2001. Centrally located on the river, The Fullerton boasts Marina Bay views and is in walking distance of the trendy One Fullerton boardwalk, Merlion statue and Esplanade complex.
Although the scale of the hotel is grand, the setting of its 400 rooms is intimate, with luxurious detail throughout. Dining options are plenty and range from the casual, buffet-style Town Restaurant to modern Italian at The Lighthouse.
Spa-goers can pamper themselves at The Asian Spa before taking a dip in the infinity pool which overlooks the river promenade. Rates vary from Dh1,980 for a Post Master room per night to the more extravagant Dh18,200 for the Presidential Suite. Visit www.fullertonhotel.com.
Getting there: Singapore Airlines fly daily from Dubai to Changi airport, from Dh2,190 return. Emirates flies daily from Dubai to Changi airport, from Dh3,325.
