Singapore has rapidly developed since World War II into a prosperous, independent and orderly nation of 5.4 million multi-cultural citizens. Led by its charismatic and uncompromising prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, the country used its strategic location and aggressive capitalism to develop a leadership position in the financial services, maritime shipping and airline industries, while maintaining stable relationships with western powers, China and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Singapore embarked on a comprehensive plan a decade ago to transform itself again into a safe and friendly destination for visitors from around the world. The country committed billions of dollars of government funding and private capital to build just about every kind of attraction you can think of along their principal waterways using distinctive, modern architecture. The six-mile stretch from the Marina Bay Reservoir to Sentosa Island now features five-star resorts, gaming facilities, museums, sports facilities, amusement parks, artistic creations, gardens, performing arts venues, luxury malls, historical monuments, water transportation, and restaurants and cafes. Many of these structures were built on land reclaimed from the sea or filled in portions of the colonial waterfront.

Some cosmopolitans and family travelers may still find Dubai to be a more exciting or exotic vacation destination, but the scale of Singapore’s changes and the national effort being made to support tourist activity are impressive by any measure. We spent five days in Singapore. Since our hotel looked out across Marina Bay, we could readily see and sample the many waterfront attractions of the city. Some of the most popular and interesting things to do in Singapore include the following:

Marina Bay Sands Complex: Marina Bay Sands has become a symbol of modern Singapore since its three towers rise 55 stories above the harbor and are connected on top by a park in the shape of a ship. This architectural wonder includes a 2,561-room hotel, casino, convention center, a luxury store shopping mall and several theaters. The “Skypark” provides a panoramic view of the entire city whether you are swimming in the park’s infinity pool, dining in one of rooftop restaurants, or standing on the observation deck.

Festival and Performing Venues: The waterfront is also full of venues for performances and festivals. The indoor Esplanade Theaters on the Bay offers traditional concerts and dramatic theater from two domelike structures that resemble porcupines. Right next to it is the Marina Promenade pavilion with 20,000 outdoor seats and an adjacent floating platform stage known as “The Float.” Since we visited Singapore during Chinese New Year, the entire area was full of amusement rides as well as numerous parade floats and displays celebrating the Year of the Monkey.

Sentosa: Sentosa is a small island located just offshore with a history as a pirate refuge and a military base, which was recently rebuilt into several recreation areas. It can be reached by a short drive or by riding a cable car from the harbor front. There is another integrated resort there known as Resorts World Sentosa with hotel rooms, restaurants, a casino and another shopping mall. Nearby are other attractions including an impressive Universal Studios with seven entertainment zones that is one of Asia’s largest amusement parks, the Underwater World oceanarium, a four-dimensional theater known as Adventureland, beaches and animal habitats.

Gardens by the Sea: Gardens by the Sea is a spectacular 250-acre garden located along the Straits of Singapore. Even if you have never looked at a tree or a flower in your life, these futuristic gardens contain a variety of structures and foliage that will remind you of the world from the movie “Avatar” and provide a unique experience.

Other Attractions: Other cultural and entertainment activities on Singapore’s waterfront include the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel where you can take a 35-minute ride on an air-conditioned capsule; a Formula One race center where the world’s best drivers race through the streets of the city every September; a lotus-shaped building that houses an arts and science museum; and a soccer and cricket stadium. One of the most popular attractions among tourists, however, is the MerLion statute and waterfall. The MerLion is a mythical creature which legend says was spotted by a Javanese Prince on the shore when he founded the “Lion City” of Singapura in the 13th century.

Glenn Carberry of Norwich is a local attorney who practices in New London. A frequent world traveler, he has visited more than 50 countries and more than 100 World Heritage sites. This series shows some of the sites he and his wife Kimberly visited on a recent trip that included India, Singapore and Cambodia.

Tips for visiting Singapore

Getting to Singapore: There is no easy way to get to Singapore since it is 20 hours away whether you fly east across the Atlantic and transfer in Europe or fly west with a stop in Los Angeles or Hong Kong. Fortunately, some of the world’s best airlines including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates Air can be used to get there, and Singapore’s airport is top notch. We flew during the day from New York to Hong Kong, and flew to Singapore from there after a short visit.

Where to stay: There are numerous hotels offering excellent views of the harbor. Many people stay at the Marina Bay Sands or the Resorts World casino since they are located adjacent to many attractions. The Mandarin Oriental is conveniently located as well and we had an excellent stay there. Singapore can be an expensive city, so another way to obtain affordable room and board while still getting to see the city is to take one of the many short cruises that now embark and disembark to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand from Singapore.

Getting around: Singapore is easy to get around without a guide since most of the principal sites can be reached by walking and others can be visited by riding a water taxi around the harbor, taking the metro or getting a cab. The incredible safety, cleanliness and civility of the city combined with the widespread use of English make it easy to seek help as well.