Singapore: 10 Things to Do

Let the other tourist hordes charge over to the newly minted Peranakan Museum or the gloomy Asian Civilisations Museum. If you do only one cultural thing during your 24-hour Singapore layover, it must be a tour of the unheralded Chinatown Heritage Centre, where entire sets of bedrooms, kitchens and street scenes from the late-19th century and early-20th century have been faithfully recreated. It's an authentic slice of Singapore's history that's made all the more fascinating by the gleaming skyscrapers just a few blocks away. And if you must, pick up a kitschy souvenir from the gift shop on your way out.

• 1. Peranakan Museum
  39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941; 6332-7591 1.294356103.84941 peranakanmuseum.sg
• 2. Asian Civilisations Museum
  1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555; 65-6332-7798 1.287436103.851391 acm.org.sg