The biggest lure for culture vultures will be the Singapore Arts Festival. It starts on 26 May and runs for a full month. If you've not yet visited the spectacular Esplanade complex (the theatre building on the foreshore that resembles a durian), then this is an opportunity as many of the shows take place here. This year's festival features an international array of artists in 22 main productions and over 400 free performances, exhibitions and special events.

Among the highly anticipated shows is the National Theatre Company of China's production of Amber, a music theatre spectacle directed by the famed Meng Jinghui. It features award-winning actress Liu Ye and tells the story of love and deceit set in contemporary China. Another highlight will be the first visit of the full company of London's famous Royal Ballet to Singapore. The 83-strong troupe will present Tchaikovsky's well-loved classic Swan Lake – probably the most famous ballet of all time.

Families get special discount packages to see the awe-inspiring trapeze performers of the celebrated French circus Les Arts Sauts. Performing in a large tent, they will present an aerial ballet, Ola Kala (All's Well), to an audience seated 12 metres below in special deck chairs. Five musicians share the same aerial space with trapeze artists flying and falling in perfect harmony. The physicality and grace of the performers accompanied by hypnotic live music and lighting design creates an intimate awe-inspiring experience for all.

Singaporean and Asian artists take centre stage with world premieres and collaborations. Stravinsky Dances by the Singapore Dance Theatre features the talent of French choreographer Marie-Claude Pietragalla, while the Singapore Chinese Orchestra re-traces the voyages of Admiral Zheng He, marking the 600th anniversary of his first great maritime journeys. The Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble revisits the legacies of five Chinese beauties in a new music theatre piece. Other productions hail from Korea, Kuwait, USA, Denmark, Serbia and Montenegro.

If that all sounds intellectually exhausting, how about some retail therapy to relieve the tension? Get your credit card ready for the island's bargain splurge, the Great Singapore Sale, which takes place from 27 May to 24 July 2005. The city's leading shopping malls and outlets offer discounts of up to 70 percent on fashion items, electronics, jewellery, toys and more.

You will also get the opportunity to participate in some excellent promotions and competitions, all offering great prizes. By using a Mastercard for purchases, you stand to win one of thousands of lucky draw prizes. If shopping is your thing, you'll definitely make sure to visit the city during this six-week spree. If you don't know where to shop, you can head straight for Orchard Road, the retail epicentre of Singapore.

Details of the bargains and promotions are only unveiled on the opening day of the sale to prevent other centres from trying to match the city's big promotions. The Great Singapore Sale has proved a big success in past years, with visitor numbers to the country surging to a record high of 802,000 in July last year. The bulk of the travellers came from Japan, China, India, Indonesia and Australia.

Singaporeans are dedicated bargain-hunters, but this passion does not even come close to their love of good food. In this food paradise where eating is a 24-hour obsession, one word every Singaporean knows and loves is 'makan' (Malay language for 'eat'). With Singapore's unique heritage – it lies at the crossroads of the great East-West trade routes – it is no wonder that this cosmopolitan city boasts a fascinating and exciting range of authentic local cuisines, which evolved through the years from recipes handed down from generations of migrant settlers.

Today there are more than 6500 restaurants, 11,500 food stalls and 15,000 hawkers in this city of three million residents. One of the best times to sample the amazing variety of food on offer is during the Singapore Food Festival, which takes place from 1-31 July this year. From chic restaurants to tiny food stalls in the markets, the city is geared to providing visitors with international delicacies along with delicious local fare.

The programme includes one-of-a-kind banquets, culinary workshops and exciting heritage food trails. You can also learn some tricks of the trade at cooking and carving demonstrations by some great chefs. Outdoor jazz, strolling musicians, cooking demonstrations and even fashions shows themed on food add to the carnival atmosphere.

Some of the most tasty dishes can be found at humble stalls. Head for a food stall for a char kway teow of noodles and pork cracklings, then try out some cheng tng (iced soup made with dried longan, mango and palm sugar). If you want to taste a true Singaporean favourite, try the Chile Crab at the UDMC Seafood Centre. There are scores of restaurants worth queuing for – three favourites are Les Amis for French fare, Indochine in Chinatown and the Raffles Grill.

All three festivals take place in central Singapore, so there is a wide variety of hotel accommodation to choose from. You should have no problems with public transport – your theatre, restaurant or shopping mall will only be a few minutes away. If you really want to splash out, book a few nights at one of the Singapore's flashy five star hotels like Raffles, the Fullerton, the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton Millenia. That should make it a festival season second to none – and one you will remember forever!