The pocket-size, speakeasy bar sits – hidden in plain sight – next door to its sister restaurant The Study. Even in the early hours of the morning, a friendly staff member is on hand to greet you in the antechamber facing the street, but to go beyond guests are required to know a secret password.

Careful study of the bar's social media or well-timed word of mouth will see the door opened to a curated and cosmopolitan bar, complete with bespoke cocktails and a trendy crowd.

Like much of Singapore's world famous street life and growing bar and restaurant scene, this part of town can expect more visitors from Canberra in the coming months as Singapore Airlines begins direct international flights this September.

Our national capital sits at the middle of a new three-leg route for the airline, linking Wellington and Singapore and ideal for an extended weekend away, a longer trip to the Asian gateway or onward travel to almost anywhere in the world.

Whether for travel or business – Singapore is well established as a must-visit destination in its own right. The busy city-state of more than 5 million people has enough to keep even the most energetic of travellers on their toes, with attractions prominently placed and hiding where you might not look.

Of the 15.2 million tourists visiting Singapore last year, more than 1 million were Australians.

Even the shortest visit proves this number is too low.

Once on the ground, locals will tell you Singaporeans have two national pastimes: shopping and eating. A first time visitor would do well to engage in both.

For the best shopping the city has to offer, check out one of the many bustling, temple-like malls around town, or visit every imaginable fashion boutique and international brand on the famous Orchard Road.

More distinct to Singapore, are markets and trendy shopping areas such as Haji Lane, in the heart of the Kampong Glam neighbourhood. With local and international clothes, accessories, gifts and art, this narrow street is a great place for a special treat or new wardrobe addition.

For drinks and cocktails, look further than a hotel bar, and try many of the smaller start ups in Everton Park or engage in the old tradition of a fruity Singapore Sling at the historic colonial Raffles Hotel, first opened in 1887.

Like almost everything in Singapore, the best food can be bought at any budget. Visitors should stop at one of the many hawker centres to try local street food, a reliable and safe way to find delicious cuisine cheaply in an authentic Singapore setting. Check out Chinatown's smorgasbord of offerings, try a traditional local breakfast at Morning Nanyang Cafe in Pagoda Street or explore the new South Beach precinct.

The government strictly regulates the hawker centres and travellers can expect good food in clean conditions. Many of the menus include photos and descriptions of the food, and it pays to be adventurous.

For something more up market, consider Labyrinth. The restaurant in the Marina Bay Sands precinct is an experimental adaption of traditional Singaporean favourites, cooked by former investment banker LG Han and presented like works of art. For a visit to a small slice of paradise, stop for a swim or lunch at the Tanjong Beach Club, and consider staying for drinks as the sun goes down.

Singapore's pride and joy is one of its newest attractions, Gardens by the Bay. Built on more than 100 hectares of reclaimed land, its scale can only be truly understood with a visit. Described as "propelling botany into the 21st century", the $1 billion park has incredible indoor conservatories with more than 200,000 plants from countries around the world, including Australia.

Make sure to visit the Flower Dome, during the day or in nighttime opening hours, to see carefully designed flowers, trees and sculptures. Next-door is the equally amazing Cloud Forest Dome, with a manmade tropical climate, cascading waterfall and 35-metre mountain come museum piece. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is known to visit the domes discretely, indulging in a favourite pastime of photography and surprising locals.

Every night the incredible high-tech Super-trees play host to a sound and light show, with the futuristic backdrop of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and shopping precinct. Even in the rain and with large crowds, the show is worth the trip. Other must-visit tourist locations include the incredible S.E.A Aquarium on Sentosa Island, which is home to more than 100,000 marine animals in 50 different habitats.

Make sure to see the open ocean tanks and even get up close and personal with jellyfish you can touch. The aquarium staff are experts and share their passion with visitors throughout the day. It will be a highlight for travellers of all ages.

To experience local culture with a less futuristic feeling, explore the Buddha's Tooth Relic Temple on the edge of Chinatown and the heritage architecture of Katong where original colonial terrace houses remain in tact.

History lovers can visit the room where the Japanese surrender to British forces took place at the end of World War II inside what is now the National Gallery of Singapore. Originally home of Singapore's Supreme Court and City Hall, the gallery is a combination of the two heritage buildings and features world-class exhibitions and local collections. Make sure to visit the rooftop bar for a great view of the Marina Bay Sands and city skyline.

Singapore Tourism Board Oceania director John Conceicao said the island "always reinvents itself".

"Although you may have been here in the past, every two years the place is very different," he said.

"One easy thing to sell to Aussies is Singapore's food. Because of the diversity, the ethnic cultures, we've got loads of different fusion foods and foods you won't find anywhere else in Asia."

In a code-sharing deal with Virgin Australia, flights on Singapore Airlines will arrive in Canberra from Singapore on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8.35am. Passengers travelling on to Wellington, New Zealand, will depart from Canberra at 9.50am.

In the other direction, flights from Wellington will arrive at Canberra Airport on the same days at 10.05pm and depart for Singapore at 11.30pm.

Passengers will fly on one of nine retrofitted Boeing 777-200s. Sales for flights numbered SQ292 and SQ291 are exceeding Singapore's expectations, well ahead of the first flights on September 21.

Canberra's first direct international flights will include 38 semi-flat business-class seats and 228 economy-class seats. In addition to the world-standard service and strict attention to detail, passengers can enjoy great food and drinks and individual in-seat entertainment systems.

Passengers will arrive and depart from a new $25 million Singapore lounge, with construction due to start soon. From Changi, Singapore offers passenger connections throughout Asia and Europe on about 90 daily flights.

For John Conceicao, direct flights to and from Canberra are just the beginning. He said Australians should take another look at Singapore.

"Aussies don't like to just scratch the surface when they visit a destination. We are telling Aussies to get lost and they will find the real Singapore," he said.

The journalist travelled to Singapore as a guest of Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board.