Updated: 33 visa-free destinations you can travel to with Singapore's 'most powerful' passport

Wondering where to go to this December? Look no further

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Singaporeans hold the world’s most powerful passport in their hands. The nation jumped to first place on the Passport Index, after Paraguay dropped visa requirements for Singapore travellers.

A multitude of travel-lovers here will rejoice, now that there is visa-free travel, or visas on arrival, to 159 countries.

The passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered by global advisory firm Arton Capital, which devised the index.

Here’s a spectrum of desirable journeys – both far-flung and just hours from Singapore shores - published in The Straits Times.

Travel writer Lee Siew Hua highlights travel stories that reveal wonders from everywhere. Explore the world, from sensuously sunlit Provence to wildest Patagonia, from vivacious Tel Aviv to old-world Hoi An.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Malaysia

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A dinosaur statue at Tasik Y park in Jalan Sejati, 83000 Batu Pahat on July 26. 

A high-speed rail will run from Jurong East all the way to Kuala Lumpur in a decade. There is much to see and do at each stop.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: AIRPORT FASHION: THE ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE STYLE ESSENTIALS TO LOOK FLY WHEN YOU FLY

Maldives

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The Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Hotel has 68 villas, comprising 43 located over water and 25 along the beaches. 

Discover kid-friendly Maldives with picnics on castaway islands, dolphin spotting and more.

Photo: Keong Hong Holdings

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

Morocco

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Chefchaouen's water comes from the surrounding mountains and tastes subtly sweet

Blue beauty and Moorish allure abound in Morocco.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Palau

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A snorkeler swims among stingless jellyfish in Palau's Jellyfish Lake. 

Swim in a lake with jellyfish that have one amazing quirk: no sting.

Photo: 123rf

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

Philippines

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Kaypalad, which means blessed in Tagalog, is a homestay on a far corner of Lubang island and a beguiling destination in itself. 

Lubang Island, the jungle hideout of enigmatic Japanese war straggler Hiroo Onoda who refused to surrender for 29 years after World War II, is a jolt of pure adventure so near Singapore.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Portugal

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Sunbathers at the Praia da Rainha, one of many beaches in the seaside town of Cascai. 

The classic and vintage coexist beautifully with the young and vibrant in Portugal.

Photo: 123rf

 

ALSO READ: AIRPORT FASHION: THE ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE STYLE ESSENTIALS TO LOOK FLY WHEN YOU FLY

Qatar

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A camel ride in the Sealine desert. 

Little Qatar is home to the world. Foreigners flock here to work, bringing colour to its capital Doha, even as the deserts and falconry heritage evoke the Qatar of old.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

South Korea

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Somaemuldo island is a one hour-long ferry ride from Tongyeong Port. 

An insider guide to the coastal city of Tongyeong is full of island charm and secluded seascapes.

Photo: Korea National Park Service

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Sweden

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The Icehotel 365 buildings are made from "snice", a combination of snow and ice - it has a translucent quality - from the nearby Torne river. 

The Arctic Circle exudes cosiness, whether the traveller is snuggling in an ice hotel or supping with the indigenous Sami. And the northern lights dance in the sky, of course.

Photo: Asaf Kliger

 

ALSO READ: AIRPORT FASHION: THE ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE STYLE ESSENTIALS TO LOOK FLY WHEN YOU FLY

Switzerland

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Castelgrande is a fortress located in Bellinzona in the southernmost Swiss canton of Ticino. 

An insider guide to Ticino, an efficient Swiss region with a touch of Italian dolce vita.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

Taiwan

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Hillside tea houses in Jiufen, Taiwan. 

Home-style Taiwanese cooking, hidden hipster cafes and a seed cafe – spend a perfect weekend in leisurely Tainan.

Photo: 123rf

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Tanzania

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Zanzibari boys splash near a traditional dhow. 

Zanzibar is the Other Africa, a fusion island dipped in scintillating blues.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: AIRPORT FASHION: THE ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE STYLE ESSENTIALS TO LOOK FLY WHEN YOU FLY

Turkey

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Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district is the location of the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, which was home to sultans from 1453 to 1852. 

Many worlds and eras coalesce in Turkey, a country of contrasts.  Greek ruins and magnificent mosques await discovery, and also poignant World War I monuments and the Bosphorus strait that separates Europe and Asia.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

United Kingdom

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Stone cottages along the roadside in the village of Great Milton.

The Cotswolds countryside is an English fairy land. We can almost picture pixies hiding in the sweet gardens.

Photo: 123rf

 

ALSO READ: AIRPORT FASHION: THE ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE STYLE ESSENTIALS TO LOOK FLY WHEN YOU FLY

Vietnam

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A salesgirl with her bamboo basket full of vegetables in the culinary fair at the Van Thanh tourist area, Ho Chi Minh City.

Savour coffee and street life in Hanoi, while seeking tranquil corners amid its riotous, bizarre and protean streets. Also eat lots of piquant cao lao noodles in old-world Hoi An.

Photo: 123rf

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

Thailand

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A family stands atop a rock at Sam Phan Bok in Ubon Ratchathani. 

Relish a perfect weekend in Ubon Ratchathani with its artisanal cafes, Thai pop and mini Grand Canyon.

Photo: ST File 

 

ALSO READ: AN ADULT-ONLY LUXURY GETAWAY THAT'S AN HOUR'S FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE

Brazil

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The majestic Iguazu Falls in Brazil

The Iguazu Falls are sublime from any angle, while Rio is a pumping city.

Photo: Skyscanner

 

ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS

Canada

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Circus on a street in Montreal, home of the famous Cirque du Soleil. 

A French-flavoured city that loves to party and play, Montreal sells fantasy to the world, notably the Cirque du Soleil.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

China

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Two pandas enjoy their bamboo at the panda base Ya'an Bifeng Gorge in Chengdu, China.

Carefree Chengdu is a place of pandas and poets, while Guizhou abounds in rainbows and myths.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Colombia

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Medellin, once the world's cocaine capital, is now transformed with parks, libraries and hip bars. It won the Lee Kuan Yew World City prize this year. 

Colombia is the comeback country, where a fragile peace has settled and travellers are exploring the land anew.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS

Ecuador

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A tortoise is seen at the park in Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador on Sept 12, 2017. 

There is an Edenic innocence in the Galapagos islands of Ecuador, where animals forget to fear.

Photo: AFP

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Finland

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Distinctive houses in Porvoo, second oldest town in Finland

Revel in cold adventures in Finland. Plunge into an icy chamber in Helsinki and stay on a husky farm in the wintry wilderness up north.

Photo: Visit Helsinki

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

France

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Fields of wild poppies are among the sights that greet visitors to Provence, a land of delicacy and ruggedness. 

A walking gourmet journey in Provence reveals places of sun-lit sensuousness and hidden Michelin-starred restaurants. Also, enjoy the plush chateau life in Bordeaux, which has been making wine since Roman times.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Germany

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Visitors celebrating Oktoberfest in the beer garden, wearing traditional costumes.

With relaxing beer gardens, friendly residents and mountains, Munich is like the planet’s biggest village.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS

Greece

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Ancient sites in Greece include the Acropolis in Athens and the Palamidi Fortress at port town Nafplio. 

Athens, with its gritty beauty, is a treasure trove for lovers of archaeology and good food.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Hong Kong 

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People walk at a market place at the shopping Mongkok district in Hong Kong

So many ways to spend a perfect weekend in Hong Kong: hike, eat, shop, gallery-hop and ride on the world’s longest outdoor escalator.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Ireland

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The Cliffs of Moher were featured in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. The Emerald Isle, shrouded in myths and filled with music, enchants in so many ways.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Israel

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Tel Aviv sits on the Mediterranean coastline and boasts a dozen beaches, where Israelis love to relax. 

An insider guide to vivacious Tel Aviv, on the sun-drenched coast, where time is best spent outdoors.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Italy

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Limestone cliffs of Polignano a Mare, a seaside town 30km from Bari, Puglia's capital

Experience the sweet life in Puglia, where locals make burrata, and summer days are halcyon.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS

Japan

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Mountains at Shiretoko National Park, Japan. 

In snowshoes, step into an all-white world where Japanese hamlets and cedar forests lie under the deepest snow. Also explore the northernmost tip of Japan in Hokkaido.

Photo: 123RF

 

ALSO READ: THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE AT CHANGI AIRPORT’S TERMINAL 4

Kazakhstan

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Baiterek, a monument and observation tower, in Astana resembles a tree with a golden egg nestled at the top. On its right is the Emerald Towers complex, which pays homage to the indigenous prairie grass

In Kazakhstan, nature and ultra-modernity sit side by side.

Photo: The Straits Times

 

ALSO READ: TRAVELLING SOON? HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BEST AIRLINES

Laos

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Night markets gently light up Luang Prabang’s nights.

Luang Prabang, with its royal past and fancy cocktails, retains its soul amid rapid changes.

Photo: 123RF

 

This article was first published on The Straits Times.

 

ALSO READ: QUICK GETAWAYS FOR THE WEEKEND THAT TICKLE EVERYONE’S TASTE BUDS

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