The Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1′s only night race, is the fifteenth Grand Prix in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 24th to the 26th of September 2010 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. If you’re planning to go to the race, here is some information about the circuit and some of Singapore’s other attractions.
Singapore Overview
The city-state of Singapore is situated in South-East Asia. It’s an amazing mix of the historic and the contemporary, and is packed with attractions.
Getting to Singapore
The easiest way in which to get to Singapore from the U.K. is to fly to Singapore Changi Airport. More than 80 airlines operate flights to and from Singapore Changi Airport, and it’s only about 20 minutes’ drive from Marina Bay, where the F1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place.
Although you can hire a car during your stay in Singapore, it’s can be both complicated and expensive, so your best option is to use public transport to get around. There are shuttle buses which operate between the airport and the main hotels, and you can travel around Singapore and to the Marina Bay Street Circuit by bus, taxi or train (on Singapore’s metro system, the Singapore MRT).
The Marina Bay Street Circuit
The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place on the streets in the Marina Bay area of Singapore. Although Singapore was a venue for a Grand Prix during the 1960s and early 1970s, it first appeared on the F1 calendar in its current form in 2008 and has already gained a reputation as being one of the most challenging of the Grand Prix season.
The circuit stretches for 5.073km, and passes by the Raffles Hotel, Padang, over the Anderson Bridge and along Esplanade Drive. It has 23 turns, including Sheares Corner and Singapore Sling, and drivers aim to complete 61 laps of it.
Hotels in Singapore
There are many different hotels to choose from in Singapore, but be aware that room prices tend to increase at the time of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, so it’s worth spending some time looking for a good deal before booking.
If you have deep pockets, try the expensive but luxurious Raffles Hotel Singapore (1 Beach Road, Singapore). Originally opened in 1887, the Raffles Hotel is now one of Singapore’s best-known landmarks and is known as being the birthplace of the “Singapore Sling” cocktail. The hotel has 103 suites, 15 bars and restaurants, a theatre, a gym, a swimming pool, a spa, a shopping arcade and even a museum.
Other hotels in Singapore include the Grand Pacific Hotel Singapore, the Fullerton Hotel, the Crowne Plaza Hotel Changi Airport, the Hilton Hotel Singapore and the Grand Hyatt Singapore.
Nearby Attractions
Singapore has plenty of attractions, so here are details of just some of the other things that you can see and do whilst you are there:
- The Singapore Flyer (30 Raffles Avenue, Singapore) – take a flight on Singapore’s version of the London Eye, the Singapore Flyer. At 165m tall, it’s actually 30m taller than its London equivalent, and offers stunning views across Singapore.
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569) – founded in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens contains a wide range of plants, including medicinal plants, bamboos, fruit trees, bonsai trees and palm trees. It is also home to the National Orchid Garden where you can see the world’s largest collection of tropical orchids. Other attractions within the Singapore Botanic Gardens include a number of sculptures, a visitor centre, a children’s garden and a botany centre.
- Universal Studios Singapore (Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa, Singapore) - Singapore’s Universal Studios theme park is the perfect place to visit for a day out. Rides at the park include the Revenge of the Mummy thrill ride, the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and the Battlestar Galactica duelling rollercoasters. You can see a number of shows within the park, and there are also restaurants and shops there. Universal Studios Singapore is part of Resorts World Sentosa, which is situated on the island of Sentosa, about 10 minutes’ away from Singapore’s Central Business District. The resort also includes Singapore’s Marine Life Park and Maritime Xperiential Museum, as well as hotels, shops, bars and casinos.
- Singapore Zoo (80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore, 729826) -set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo is home to more than 2,500 animals, birds and reptiles, including lions, elephants, gibbons, baboons, white tigers, emus, Komodo dragons and snakes. You can see a number of shows and watch the animals being fed, and the zoo also has several food outlets and a zoo shop.
Essential Information
Singapore is 8 hours ahead of the U.K. and the currency used there is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).
Image: Colina†ion
Tags: 2010 F1 World Championship, F1, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore Flyer, Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore Zoo, Universal Studios Singapore
