Singapore travel guide
A spotless garden city-state with hawker food, futuristic skylines and four cultures in one.
≈16.5 million international visitors in 2024 (Singapore Tourism Board)Capital: SingaporeCurrency: SGD
Top destinations
Gardens by the Bay
Marina Bay
Supertrees light show every evening
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Marina Bay
Observation deck with skyline views
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tanglin
UNESCO site with the National Orchid Garden
Sentosa
Sentosa
Beaches, cable car and theme parks
Singapore Zoo
Mandai
Open-concept zoo; Night Safari next door
Jewel Changi Airport
Changi
Indoor waterfall — the Rain Vortex
Merlion Park
Marina Bay
Iconic half-lion, half-fish statue
Pulau Ubin
North-east
Rustic island of cycling trails and old kampong villages
🏝 Top islands
SentosaPulau UbinSt John’s IslandKusu IslandSisters’ IslandsConey Island (Pulau Serangoon)
Top cities
Route & transport
From the airport
✈️ Singapore — Changi (SIN)
- MRT East-West Line from Changi Airport station (change at Tanah Merah for the city)
- Taxis from official ranks and Grab/Gojek ride-hailing
- Public buses from Terminals 1–3
- Visit Jewel between flights — linked to Terminals 1–3
✈️ Singapore — Seletar (XSP)
- Small airport with limited regional flights
- Taxi or ride-hailing to the city
🚆 Getting around
- MRT trains are fast, clean and air-conditioned — tap in with a contactless bank card or phone
- Public buses accept the same contactless payment
- Grab, Gojek and metered taxis are reliable
- The city is very walkable, but plan for heat and sudden tropical rain
Money & currency
- Currency: Singapore dollar (S$, SGD)
- Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry some cash for older hawker stalls
- Many restaurants add a 10% service charge plus GST — no extra tipping needed
- Tourist GST refunds are available at participating stores (eTRS)
- Singapore is expensive; hawker centres are the best-value meals
Live exchange rate — Singapore dollar (SGD)
…
Rates by ExchangeRate-API, updated daily. Money changers and banks add their own margin.
What to avoid
🙏 Culture & etiquette
- Return your tray after eating at hawker centres — it’s required
- A tissue packet on a hawker-centre seat means it’s reserved (“chope”) — don’t take it
- Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques and homes
- Dress modestly at religious sites
📍 Places, scams & seasons
- Singapore is very safe, but follow the strict rules everywhere
- Haze from regional fires can affect air quality some years — check NEA readings
- Check the UK Foreign Office or your government’s advisory for current warnings
⚖️ Laws & restrictions
- Selling and importing chewing gum is banned
- Vaping and e-cigarettes are illegal, with heavy fines — don’t bring them
- Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty
- Littering, spitting, smoking outside designated areas and jaywalking bring fines
- Eating and drinking on MRT trains and stations is prohibited; durians are banned on public transport
💬 Words & topics to avoid
- Avoid criticising race or religion — racial and religious harmony laws are taken seriously
- Don’t confuse Singapore with Malaysia or call it part of China
- Swearing and offensive language in public can be an offence
Safety situations change. Always check the latest official advice: UK Foreign Office — Singapore · US travel advisories.
Accommodations
Marina Bay & Downtown
Marina Bay, CBD or Clarke Quay
Most central for sights
Chinatown & Tanjong Pagar
Chinatown or Tanjong Pagar
Great food and good-value boutique hotels
Little India & Bugis
Little India, Bugis or Kampong Glam
Budget-friendly with lots of hostels
Sentosa
Resort hotels
Best for families and beach time
Short-term rentals are effectively illegal: private homes can’t be rented for under 3 months and public HDB flats for under 6 months. Book hotels, hostels or serviced apartments.
See today’s best-rated and best-value places (live prices):
Marina: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Chinatown: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Top restaurants
Maxwell Food Centre
Chinatown
Famous for Hainanese chicken rice
Lau Pa Sat
CBD
Victorian market hall; satay street at night
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Geylang
One of the best-loved hawker centres
Newton Food Centre
Newton
Seafood and chilli crab at night
Top-rated restaurants right now: Marina on Google MapsChinatown on Google MapsLittle on Google MapsKampong on Google Maps
Top foods
Hainanese chicken rice
Poached chicken with fragrant rice — the national dish
Chilli crab
Crab in sweet-spicy tomato chilli sauce
Laksa
Spicy coconut curry noodle soup
Char kway teow
Wok-fried flat noodles with cockles and lap cheong
Satay
Grilled skewers with peanut sauce
Kaya toast
Coconut jam toast with soft-boiled eggs and kopi
Language
Official: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
English: The working language — everyone can help you in English
Also spoken: Singlish (local English) and Chinese dialects such as Hokkien and Cantonese
| English | Local | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hello / Selamat pagi (Malay) | se-LA-mat PA-gee |
| Thank you | Terima kasih (Malay) / Xièxie (Mandarin) | te-REE-ma KA-see / shyeh-shyeh |
| Takeaway | Da bao / Tapau | dah-BOW |
| Coffee with condensed milk | Kopi | KO-pee |
| Delicious! | Shiok! | shee-OK |
Festivals
Chinese New Year
January/February
Chinatown
Thaipusam
January/February
Little India to Tank Road
Hari Raya Puasa
Varies (end of Ramadan)
Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam
National Day
9 August
Marina Bay
Mid-Autumn Festival
September/October
Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay
Deepavali
October/November
Little India
Christmas on Orchard Road
November–December
Orchard Road
Dates shift each year — confirm before booking.
Internet & SIM
📱 SIM & eSIM
- Main networks: Singtel, StarHub, M1, SIMBA
- Tourist SIMs at Changi and convenience stores (passport needed); eSIMs work well
📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi
- Excellent 4G/5G everywhere, including underground
- Free public Wi-Fi via Wireless@SG
🔌 Power plugs
230V, 50Hz — plug type G (UK-style three-pin)
News
Loading latest news…
Explore Singapore with a local
TourGuyed guides are ID-verified locals and students who know the hidden spots, the fair prices and the customs. Chat first, pay safely and only release payment when you meet.
Browse guides in SingaporePost your trip — guides send offers
Sources: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence), UN Tourism, national tourism boards. Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Prices, rules and schedules change — double-check before you travel.