Singapore travel guide
Singapore is a city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, combining futuristic architecture, tropical gardens and one of the world's great street-food cultures. Chinese, Malay, Indian and colonial influences sit side by side. It is clean, safe and very easy to get around, and suits short stopovers as much as week-long city breaks.
Places worth the trip
Gardens by the Bay
Giant steel Supertrees, linked by an aerial walkway, light up each evening in a free show. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest conservatories hold plants from around the world, including a tall indoor waterfall.
Marina Bay
The waterfront is lined with the Marina Bay Sands hotel and its rooftop deck, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum and the Merlion statue. A free light and water show runs over the bay in the evenings.
Hawker centres
Open-air food courts where stalls cook dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow and satay. Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat, Tiong Bahru and Old Airport Road are well-known, and a few stalls have received Michelin recognition.
Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam
Three historic districts: Chinatown's shophouses and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple; Little India's spice shops and the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple; and Kampong Glam's Sultan Mosque and the boutiques of Haji Lane.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
A UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1859, with rainforest, lakes and the National Orchid Garden, home to a huge collection of orchids.
Sentosa
A resort island linked to the city by cable car, monorail and boardwalk, with beaches, theme parks and the S.E.A. Aquarium.
Jewel Changi Airport
A glass dome next to the airport terminals with the Rain Vortex, one of the world's tallest indoor waterfalls, surrounded by a terraced forest, shops and restaurants.
Pulau Ubin and MacRitchie
For greenery, take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, an island of old villages and cycling trails, or walk the forest trails and treetop walk at MacRitchie Reservoir.
Interesting facts about Singapore
- Singapore's hawker culture was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2020.
- Land reclamation has increased Singapore's land area by around a quarter since independence in 1965.
- The sale of chewing gum has been restricted since 1992, with limited exceptions such as therapeutic gum.
- Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil; Malay is the national language.
- The country is made up of one main island and more than 60 smaller islands.
Best time to visit Singapore
Singapore is hot and humid all year, with temperatures that barely change. Rain falls throughout the year, often as short afternoon thunderstorms. The north-east monsoon, roughly December to March, can bring wetter weeks, followed by drier, sunnier spells. February to April is often a good period. Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya bring festive decorations; hotel prices rise during the Formula 1 night race weekend.
Getting around
The MRT metro is fast, clean and covers most of the city, including Changi Airport and Sentosa's gateway; buses fill in the rest. You can pay fares by tapping a contactless bank card or phone at the gates. Taxis are metered and ride-hailing apps are widely used. Walking is easy, though the heat makes covered walkways and air-conditioned malls welcome. Driving is rarely necessary for visitors. Note the strict rules: eating and drinking are not allowed on the MRT.
Practical details
- Capital
- Singapore
- Currency
- Singapore dollar (SGD)
- Languages
- English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
- Plug types
- G
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 999 police, 995 ambulance and fire
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Not expected. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge, and tipping at hawker centres is not customary.
Staying online in Singapore
Mobile coverage is excellent throughout Singapore, including in MRT tunnels, with 5G widely available. Free public Wi-Fi is available in many public places, malls and the airport, though some networks require registration. Coverage is good even on the outlying islands such as Pulau Ubin. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, which is particularly convenient for a short stopover.
Singapore eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Singapore, V2
Unbegrenzt
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Singapore, V2
Unbegrenzt
Unlimited Plus eSIM Data for 1 Day for Singapore, V2
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Singapore, V2
Useful apps
- Grab: The most widely used ride-hailing and food delivery app in Singapore.
- Gojek: An alternative ride-hailing app operating in Singapore.
- Citymapper: Detailed MRT and bus directions with live departure times.
- Google Maps: Walking routes, hawker centre locations and public transport directions.
Singapore travel FAQs
Hotels and alcohol are expensive, but food at hawker centres is very good value, public transport is cheap and many sights, such as the Supertree light show and Botanic Gardens, are free.
Singapore has strict laws on littering, smoking in non-designated areas, jaywalking and eating or drinking on public transport. Fines are enforced, so follow the signs.
Yes, coverage is excellent. Roaming on a home plan can be costly, so a travel eSIM gives you local data for Grab and maps while keeping your own number.
Three or four days covers the main sights, neighbourhoods and plenty of hawker meals. Even on a long layover, Jewel and a quick trip into Marina Bay are possible.