Singapore

As you look at the Singapore cityscape, two glittering pod-shaped buildings along Marina Bay will catch your eye. They look like sleeping porcupines covered in silver spikes (or, as locals say, like durian fruit—that famously odiferous Southeast Asian fruit). These spikes are actually angular aluminum sunshades shielding the glass-clad buildings, which house a collection of cultural spaces, including a concert hall and a theater. The striking concert hall is considered among the top five halls in the world for state-of-the-art acoustics. This is the place to experience world-class music, from the Singapore Lyric Opera to the visiting Vienna Boys Choir. Esplanade’s theater holds 2,000 people and has Singapore’s largest stage, hosting ballet performances, Shakespearean plays and more. But that’s not all. Esplanade also houses a dramatic exhibition space for visual arts, and an outdoor waterfront theater that’s a great bet for catching free multicultural performances.