Pink dolphins, prostitutes, slings, ships and shopping, shopping, shopping. Welcome to Singapore. Hot, humid, funky and traditional.

At times you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re in Paris, New York or even Mumbai, as opposed to a tiny tropical island in south-east Asia. But then again, that’s the real beauty of Singapore — it truly is a place of many worlds and eclectic streets.

And while the island is correctly billed and marketed as a gateway to Asia and a shopper’s paradise, its streets certainly have lots more on offer. So in the interest of making your 48 hours in Singapore memorable, I donned my tekkies and canvassed the island from top to bottom to bring you Singapore’s seven must see streets. Shopping or no shopping.

Orchard Road
To all the dads and moms, make sure you have your platinum credit cards at the ready and be prepared to wave goodbye to your children’s varsity fund, for this strip of tar makes Sandton City and Canal Walk look like BP Select Stores. Walking past row upon row of designer shops, which are packed into marbled designer malls, I feel more like a famous movie star than a tourist out shopping.

If you're a backpacker on a shoestring budget or just aren’t in the mood to dress and spend like Brad Pitt or Paris Hilton, then I'd suggest you do what I did. Grab a beer at a pavement café and just watch the money parade go by. It’s hugely entertaining, and you may just pick up a few fashion pointers.

Boat Quay Road
Three words defined Boat Quay for me — black pepper crab. Sure, it may cost a pretty packet in rand terms, but eating a divine seafood dinner along the teeming banks of the Singapore River with the impressive backdrop of the financial district is something that should not be missed out on. My advice to you is to take your time and walk the whole quay, taking in the sights, sounds and smells, before you settle on where you should treat your taste buds.

There are also night tours that offer a Boat Quay dinner and river cruise, but if you’re an independent traveller you’ll probably be happier giving it a skip and doing it on your own steam.

Baghdad Street
Here in the heart of Islamic Singapore, you’ll find shishas to smoke, an array of family-owned fabric stores to browse, traditional Arabic food to assault your senses and, of course, the best coffee in the whole wide world. Other highlights in the Arab quarter include the beautiful Sultan Mosque and the Istana Kampong Gelam palace. Visiting the mosque during prayer time is a memorable and moving experience, wherever you may place your faith. You can also catch live culture shows each day at the palace which is now the Malay Heritage Centre.

Clark Quay Road
While enjoying a relaxed yet intimate dinner with loved ones is the domain of Boat Quay, the party and cosmopolitan heart of Singapore beats the night away at Clark Quay. Housed in funky outdoor-indoor architecture, this is where the fashionable and chic hard-workers of Singapore come to unwind and party. Packed with ultra-trendy bars, restaurants and nightclubs, Clark Quay is a psychedelic V&A Waterfont. And the gorgeous girls on the bridge… well, they're eyeing out your wallet, not you!

The iconic Raffles Hotel
Image courtesy STB
Raffles Boulevard
The modern history of Singapore is said to have begun in 1819 when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles established a British port on the island. 188 years later and the Raffles name is etched all over the tiny nation; the most famous example being the colonial grand dame that is the Raffles Hotel. Picture the Mount Nelson, with one major difference — Singapore Slings and monkey nuts instead of G&Ts and cucumber sandwiches.

The Singapore Sling is the cocktail on the island for obvious reasons, and there is no better place to quaff one than in the cool dark-wood saloon-styled Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. With thousands of monkey nut shells littering the wood floor and barmen scurrying about to the beat of live music, I didn't mind shelling out R100 for the refreshing pink cocktail and neither should you.

Pagoda Street
You guessed it. This is the main drag in vibrant Chinatown, where you can spend hour after hour traversing all the quirky side streets for dumplings, traditional teas and even tailor-made suits. But before you get lost in all the Chinese culture, your first stop should undoubtedly be the Chinatown Heritage Centre, which is surprisingly interesting and not your run-of-the-mill boring walk through history which one so often finds in tourist hotspots.

Sentosa Causeway
Just a hop, skip and a causeway away from Singapore, you'll find a resort island that has everything from spas and golf courses to hotels and pink dolphins.

Tuck in on Boat Quay Road
Image courtesy STB
With the feel of Jurassic Park, tropical Sentosa Island offers a wide range of activities, many of which will have parents and children giggling and ooh-ing alike. My favourite was the touch pool at Underwater World, where you can get hands-on experience with starfish, stingrays and even some baby sharks. This is sure to make your kids giddy with excitement, as is the pink dolphin show daily at Dolphin Lagoon. If sea creatures are not your cup of tea, then head out to the beaches for some sun, grab a round of golf or, like any place in Singapore, shop till you drop.