Last updated on: September 25, 2024

I’ve been to Singapore a few times and it’s my favorite travel destination – I always make it a point to stop by here whenever I’m in Southeast Asia. When you visit this city-country you’ll be amazed by its blend of nature+city / modern+old, well-designed city planning maximizing convenience, cheap and delicious hawker fare, and rich, diverse culture.

My travel guide is based on my extensive research and personal visits to Singapore. I aim to consolidate and cover the content I couldn’t find in other guides. While only the essentials are covered in this guide, you can continue your research with the rest of my Singapore posts.

Singapore at a glance

Here are a few things Singapore is famous for:

Can I get around with just English? 

Singapore’s official languages are English, Mandarin, Tamil, and Malay. However, most locals speak English and Mandarin. 75% of Singapore’s residents are ethnically Chinese, with most locals preferring and defaulting to speaking Mandarin. However, most locals know basic English and can take your food orders in English. The Singaporean accent can be hard to understand if you are not used to it.

• Menus – majority in English
• Street signs – English default
• Public transportation signage – English default

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Singapore’s weather is tropical. Due to its proximity to the equator, Singapore is hot and humid year round. The temperatures are 80-90°F (26-33°C) daily, but with high humidity, it feels much hotter.
You should bring an umbrella around with you as it rains year round, though rain is sporadic but brief. Winter months bring heavier rain, however this means the sky is overcast (weather feels slightly cooler with less sun, but still humid). Because the weather is the same year round, you don’t need to plan your trip around the weather.

Chinese New Year is a major holiday period in Singapore. The dates are not constant every year, but falls around late January-early February. If you are in Singapore during the Chinese New Year week, expect increased costs at Chinese restaurants and closures of shops/restaurants due to the public holidays. However, you will be able to purchase goodies (such as pineapple tarts) that are only available during Chinese New Year!

Durian is available year-round in Singapore, however durian season is best during the summer months. Durian will be more widely available, cheaper, and higher quality.

Cash, Credit Cards, and ATMs

Most stores in malls and chain grocery stores accept credit cards. In Singapore, credit card transactions are more commonly known as “PayWave” (the transaction system that is used to run credit card transactions). Thus, if you wish to ask if credit cards are accepted, it’s better to ask if PayWave is accepted.

However, there are many places that do not accept credit cards, such as hawker centers, small restaurants, and small stores. You will definitely need cash for your Singapore trip!

Besides cash, many places also accept e-payments (usually bank transfers). However, these require you to be a Singaporean resident/have a Singaporean bank account! If you really wish to use a e-payment app, Grab (GrabPay) is a fairly widely accepted one that foreigners can use. You can top up the balance with a credit card (check for international fees).
If you are on a short trip in Singapore, I really recommend just using cash opposed to e-payment apps.

ATMs are easy to find – they are on every block and in MRT stations. Some of the most common banks are DBS, OCBC, and UOB. I prefer UOB as they do not charge a withdrawal fees (though your bank may charge additional foreign transaction fees). Otherwise, each ATM transaction fee is about 7-8 SGD.

However, if you are traveling internationally, you can save some money by bringing an ATM card that reimburses ATM fees:

If you need cash upon arriving at Changi Airport, ATMs are easy to find in the arrivals area.

For more information on payment methods see restaurant etiquette and paying for public transportation.

Public Restrooms, Trashcans, and Water Fountains

In Singapore, you can find public restrooms at:

• MRT stations (FREE): Located outside of the fare gates; you can use the restroom even if you are not taking the train.
• Malls (FREE): Do note some smaller malls may have a minimal fee to use the restroom (20 cents).
• Hawker centers (PAID): All hawker centers will charge 10-20 cents to use the restroom, but you can use the sinks outside (separated from the toilets) for free.

Toilet paper and soap is provided in restrooms. Toilet paper may be located outside of the stall (or even outside the bathroom entrance). Toilet seat covers are nonexistent.

Public trashcans are easy to find.

There are no water fountains at MRT stations, malls, or hawker centers. (In general, water fountains are extremely rare to find.) Bottled water is not cheap at 7/11s – about 2.50 SGD. I suggest filling up a water bottle at your hotel and bringing that around, or buying bottled water at grocery stores.

✅ Tap water is safe to drink.

Where to buy essentials

Although Singapore has 7/11, major cosmetic/drugstore brands (Watsons, Guardian) as in other Asian countries, it’s much more expensive in Singapore – because nearly all the products are imported. The snacks and drinks in 7/11 are expensive (2.50 SGD for a bottled water!), and likewise cosmetics and toiletries are much more expensive (at least compared to other Asian countries where these chains are found).

So, where should I buy these things?

Check out the larger grocery store chains.
The most common is: FairPrice
Less common: Don Don Donki, Cold Storage

You can buy bottled water, snacks / other grocery, tissues/napkins, and some other essentials here, which will be cheaper than 7/11.
Unfortunately, toiletries/cosmetics are expensive no matter where you buy them in Singapore, so I’d recommend bringing those with you. One essential that you’ll need – that I definitely don’t recommend buying in Singapore – sunscreen! Most sunscreens sold are small bottles of imported Japanese brands.

Hawker Centre + Restaurant Etiquette

This is a large topic that I’m covering in a separate post. For information on:

• typical meal prices
• seating
• menus
• ordering
• returning your tray
• water/napkins
• ⚠️common food allergens 🥜and menu labeling

please see the following post:

Solo Dining

Singapore is perfect for solo travelers due to the abundance of hawker centres and food courts. Hawker centre meals are usually intended to be a single serving (and priced accordingly). You should also have no problem getting a table for 1 at most restaurants.

Vegetarian friendly?

Singapore is a foodie paradise – and don’t worry, this also applies to vegetarians & vegans! Singapore is one of the best, if not the best, place for veg food. You can read my Singapore vegetarian food guide & vegetarian restaurant guide for complete information. (COMING SOON)

Cultural Norms

The main laws you should be aware of are:

• Don’t eat or drink on public transportation, including inside MRT stations. This includes water.
• Durian is not allowed on public transportation, even if in a sealed container. Hotels have rules prohibiting durian in hotel rooms.
• Return your used dishes & tray at hawker centers and don’t leave any trash at your table.
• Don’t feed or bother any wild animals (pigeons, otters, etc).

On a general note, Singapore does not have a tipping culture. The only additional charges you may incur is a “service charge”, such as on taxis and in some restaurants (should be stated on menu).

Getting Around

Google Maps is my preferred app for directions. When taking the MRT, pay attention to the exit suggested by the app – this will give the shortest route for reaching your destination.

Walkability

Singapore’s streets are well-maintained with sidewalks, crosswalks, and crosswalk signals. The majority of streets have covered walkways, protecting you from the sun and rain. Overall, Singapore is very walkable (though the weather prohibits you from wanting to walk too far).

Public Transportation

Singapore’s public transportation consists of subway (MRT) and buses.
You can get nearly anywhere in Singapore by taking public transportation. Most of the time, you only need to take the MRT and walk. For non-touristy restaurants/places, you may need to take the MRT and transfer to a bus to get there. 

Check the LTA website for the latest MRT map. There are not that many lines, so navigating the MRT is easy. Google Maps will tell you the optimal route, though because the MRT lines are not complicated, you can easily trace through the map to find a route.

General tip: Sometimes taking a bus is better than MRT – depending on the route, on a bus, you might not need to transfer/walk less overall.

Singapore’s public transportation system is the BEST I’ve ever used. The trains and buses are clean, and I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes for a train or 10 minutes for a bus. The signs inside MRT stations are very clear, so you won’t get lost locating exits or transferring. The walk from the train to the exits are fairly short, and there are escalators/elevators at every exit. The walks to transfer between lines may seem long, but they’re nothing compared to the subway transfer walks I’ve experienced in Seoul.

❗️At bus stops, hold your hand out to signal to the bus driver you would like to board.
🚫 There is no eating or drinking on the bus or on the MRT (including in the station). This includes water. You also cannot have durian (including sealed containers) on the MRT.
🚫 Do not sit in the seats reserved for pregnant women/elderly/injured unless you belong to those categories.
🛑 Be sure to press the STOP buttons on the bus when your stop is next. Some newer buses, such as the double decker buses, have screens with the stops listed while older buses will only have audio announcing the next stop. Follow along on Google Maps so you know when your stop is coming up.

Paying for public transportation

You can check how much a particular journey will be by using the Singapore Land Transit Authority’s Fare Calculator.

The fare is determined by distance, and you can transfer to the bus/MRT in the same journey as long as the transfer occurs within 45 minutes and your entire journey is within 2 hours. If you re-enter at the same MRT station or re-enter the bus with the same line number, it is considered a new journey (new fare is charged). 

At MRT stations, tap on at the fare gates to enter and tap out when exiting.

On the bus, you can only board from the front. Tap on upon entry, and exit the bus from the back and tap out again.

Payment Methods

SimplyGo card: This is a stored value card you can buy at MRT stations. The card itself cost 5 SGD. Use the kiosks at the MRT station to top up. You will need to use cash for both the card & top ups (kiosk does not accept non-Singaporean credit cards).

Credit card: You can use your tap-enabled Visa/Mastercard when tapping into the fare gates or on the bus. Note that for non-Singaporean credit cards, there is an additional fee per day (0.60 SGD). You should use the same credit card to tap in and out, and when you are transferring to the bus, to make sure you are charged the lowest and correct fare.

Singapore Tourist Pass: An unlimited transit pass – I recommend this if you expect to be making many stops! As Singapore is extremely hot, you will want to avoid walking and may make stops to your hotel to rest. There are 1, 2, and 3 day passes.
However, you can only buy this at certain MRT stations when the ticketing office is open, and you will need to pay a refundable deposit (given you return the card within 5 days of the pass expiring). You can buy this the day before and not use it until the next day. Read all the conditions on the official Singapore Tourist pass page.
I was able to pay with a credit card at the Changi Airport Kiosk, however I had to use cash at the MRT station to purchase another pass. 
For me, I found this pass useful as each MRT ride is 1-2 SGD, which means this card saved me money as I liked to make frequent stops to check out a store/grab a snack/drop off stuff at hotel. 

Rideshare / Taxi

If you wish to take a car directly to your destination, rideshare apps like Grab are available. Grab drivers will be locals using their own vehicles. They are much less expensive compared to U.S. rideshare prices, though significantly higher than Singapore’s public transportation fares. You will be able to see the price in the app before you book.
You can also hail taxis on the street or at taxi stands – the price will be higher than on Grab as taxis run on a meter and there are service charges. There are certain surcharges depending on the time of day.

Rush Hour

Rush hour on public transportation is on weekdays from 8am-9:30am and 5pm-7pm. However, because the trains run so often, the trains are never jam-packed or so full that you have to wait for another train. Because of the high cost of owning a car in Singapore, road traffic is never that packed either.

Leaving the Airport

From Changi airport, in order from most to least expensive:

Taxi (~30 minutes to central Singapore)
There are taxi stands in each terminal’s arrival area. The flag-down & metered prices can differ between taxi companies, and they usually charge a service charge. All fares are metered (and with Singapore’s laws, you don’t have to worry about being cheated/overcharged). 

Grab (or other rideshare apps) (~30 minutes to central Singapore)
This is usually cheaper than taxis because there are no service charges and you can see the price in the app before you book. A Grab is approximately 25 SGD. You can get picked up at the normal arrivals exits.

City Shuttle
This is a communal shuttle and will make stops according to the passengers’ hotel destinations. I haven’t personally taken this, but you can find more information here. With the price, I’d recommend this only if you are traveling solo with luggage and on a budget. You will need to check if the shuttle has a stop at your hotel.

Public Transportation
The most budget friendly (around ~2 SGD per person), however this will take the longest. You can check Google Maps for your exact route. If taking the MRT, do note you’ll need to:

1. Go to the MRT station located in the basement between terminals 2 and 3
2. You’ll need to make at least 1 transfer: either at Tanah Merah to take the East-West Line (EWL), or at Expo to take the Downtown Line (DTL). If your hotel is not on those lines, you’ll need to make additional transfers.

Do note these are the same lines that other locals/tourists take, so you’ll need to account for your luggage, rush hour, and first/last train times.

See the public transportation section for information on how to pay.

Find more information from the official Changi website here.

Where to Stay

You’ll most likely be staying in a hotel, as Airbnbs are very limited due to the restrictions imposed (and if available, not any cheaper than a hotel). There are hostels available for budget travelers.

You can read my hotel reviews based on my personal visits:

Determining where to stay

With Singapore’s extensive and efficient public transportation network, you can’t go wrong with where you stay. Here are things I personally look for when determining where to stay:

Proximity to MRT station
I highly recommend staying near a MRT station, the closer the better. Singapore is hot – although the city is walkable, the hot, humid weather makes walking prohibitive!

I personally prefer getting the tourist pass (read more in this section), and staying a bit further away from main tourist attractions, if it means I stay at a better hotel that is steps away from an MRT station.

Nearby to grocery stores, mall, hawker center
I love having easy access to a grocery store for snacks and essentials. Therefore I’ll always check – is the hotel near a Fairprice (the most common grocery chain in Singapore), or a mall with a good directory of stores?

Amenities
Does the hotel room have a fridge (or shared fridge)? I like to buy fruits while in Singapore and may need to put leftovers in the fridge.
Does the hotel have laundry machines available? You’ll be sweating through your clothes in Singapore, so doing a load of laundry midway through your trip might be necessary.

Below on the MRT map in a black dotted line circle, I’ve indicated the ideal central location of Singapore to stay in. Overall, I suggest you research some food spots, try some Google map routes to places on your itinerary, and read reviews before finally deciding on a hotel.

Area Guide

Below, I’m only covering the areas listed in the dotted circle I’ve added above. Assuming you stay nearby a MRT station, it is a quick hop on the MRT to most of Singapore’s tourist destinations.

Orchard (Road) – Orchard, Somerset MRT
Main shopping area. If you’re looking to check out a certain brand or chain (food or clothing), most likely there’s a location on Orchard Road.

However, unless you’re only in Singapore for 1-2 days and intend to mostly shop/eat in this area, I don’t recommend staying here. The only exception is if you stay at the hotels super close to the Orchard or Somerset MRT. Orchard Road itself is about a 1.6mi stretch and consists of several malls, some connected – it is easy to get lost! There are limited places to cross the street to the other side. Because of its popularity, there are a lot of people on Orchard Road at all times of day.

Little India – Little India, Rochor, Farrer Park MRT
Little India consists of good Indian restaurants, grocery, and shopping. Personally, I only visit Little India to eat at Tekka Centre and other restaurants if I’m craving Indian food. I prefer staying at the farther end of Little India (Farrer Park), because there is City Square Mall which has several stores I like (grocery stores, Uniqlo, bakeries). Additionally, the purple line (NE) is my preferred MRT line as it has the shortest distances to Chinatown and/or transferring to other lines.

Notable locations: Tekka Centre, City Square Mall, Mustafa Centre, temples (several)

Bugis – Bugis, Bencoolen MRT
Bugis is known for its food and shopping. Staying near Bugis will give you access to a wide range of shopping at Haji Lane (quirky boutique shops and nightlife), Bugis Street shopping markets (cheap trendy fashion), Bugis Junction (chain stores mall), and Bugis+ (chain stores mall). Bugis MRT is also a great connector to the rest of Singapore on the blue (DT) line and green (EW) MRT lines.

Notable locations: Haji Lane, Sultan Mosque, Bugis Street shopping market, Bugis Junction, Bugis+

Chinatown – Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Outram Park, Maxwell MRT
I love Chinatown because there’s tons of good food (hawker centers, bakeries, snacks)! It’s also home to some beautiful murals, temples, shopping (kitchenware, jewelry, souvenirs), and bars. Chinatown is also close to Clarke Quay, known for its nightlife and views of the Singapore River.

I would definitely stay in Chinatown, but the lower-priced hotels seemed old and not worth the price. There are some newer hotels, however those can be expensive. Because of the nightlife, some hotels located in shophouses can be noisy.

Notable locations: Maxwell Food Centre, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre (further south)