Singapore is a city, a country, and an island all at once and it is also a place where a 10-minute taxi ride takes you from the financial district to a Hindu temple to a Chinese opera house to a Malay kampong village museum. Its food courts serve some of the best meals in Asia at street-stall prices. Its airport has a butterfly garden, a cinema, and a rooftop swimming pool. And it all runs like clockwork. Here is everything you need to plan your Singapore trip.
When to Visit Singapore
Singapore sits about 1° north of the equator, which means it is hot and humid year-round - temperatures hover between 77-91°F or 25-33°C in all seasons. There is no true dry season, but the wettest months are November through January during the northeast monsoon season, and May through September during the southwest monsoon season. Regardless of when you visit, though, you will get some rain. Singapore's showers are typically intense but short.
For practical purposes, the best times to visit are February to April (drier, slightly cooler) and June to August (school holiday season, lots of events). You would want to avoid the Christmas-New Year school holiday period if you want lower hotel rates.
Getting There
Singapore Changi Airport is voted the world's best airport and is a destination in its own right. At the airport, the Jewel Changi is a forest-filled dome connecting Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and has the world's tallest indoor waterfall, over 280 shops and restaurants, and a ton of attractions.
Changi is connected to the city by the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) East-West Line, which takes about 30 minutes to reach City Hall station for S$1.90-2.80. If you prefer Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber equivalent) taxis to the city center, this will typically cost S$18-30.
Getting Around
Singapore has one of the world's finest public transport systems. The MRT covers every major attraction and neighborhood and is clean, air-conditioned, and on-time. A single journey costs around S$1.50-2.50. You can download the MyTransport.SG app or use Google Maps for real-time routing. You can buy or top up an EZ-Link card at any MRT station and contactless bank cards also work. The buses extend coverage beyond the MRT network. Additionally, Grab is reliable and affordable for shorter trips or when carrying luggage.
Where to Stay
Singapore has accommodation in every price bracket, though it is not a budget destination by Southeast Asian standards.
- Marina Bay / CBD: This includes Marina Bay Sands, The Fullerton, and Mandarin Oriental. These are luxury hotels, so expect to pay S$350-800+ per night.
- Orchard Road: This is Singapore's shopping area and the Grand Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons are all located in this area. You can expect to pay S$200-450+ per night.
- Chinatown / Tanjong Pagar: This is an excellent area for food, culture, and nightlife with a good selection of boutique hotels and guesthouses and you can expect to pay S$80-200 per night.
- Bugis / Kampong Glam: This is the Arab Quarter and is great for cultural immersion, cafés, and the best nasi padang in the city with more affordable hotel options.
- Budget: Singapore has a good hostel scene and Footprints, Five Stones, Bunc @ Radius offer dorm beds from S$25-40 per night.
Top Attractions
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore has transformed itself into a "City in a Garden". The two iconic Supertree Groves which includes the steel-and-concrete tree structures covered in tropical plants are a must-see. The OCBC Skywalk connects the tallest Supertrees for aerial views. The cooled conservatories of the Flower Dome (world's largest glass greenhouse) and Cloud Forest are worth the S$28 combined ticket. The free evening Supertree Grove light show at 7:45pm and 8:45pm is one of Singapore's best free experiences.
Marina Bay Sands
The three-tower hotel with the Sands SkyPark is Singapore's most famous building. All non-guests can access the SkyPark observation deck (57th floor) for S$32. The attached ArtScience Museum hosts world-class touring exhibitions. The Marina Bay Sands casino is open 24 hours (Singaporeans must pay a S$150/day entry levy; foreigners enter free with their passport).
Sentosa Island
Singapore's leisure island, accessible via cable car from Mount Faber, the Sentosa Express monorail, or a walkway. This is home to Universal Studios Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark, and several beach clubs. The island is very much oriented around tourism and families and delivers excellent value for kids.
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
The Night Safari is a guided tram tour through nocturnal animal habitats after dark. You need to book tickets in advance. The nearby River Wonders (formerly River Safari) focuses on freshwater ecosystems and the Giant Pandas.
Chinatown
A neighborhood of colorful shops, temples, and extraordinary food. The Sri Mariamman Temple (Singapore's oldest Hindu temple) and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple are both worth visiting. The Chinatown Food Street and the Maxwell Food Center next door are hawker destinations. Pagoda Street has its tourist-trap souvenir side, but if you wander one block off, then you find authentic Peranakan shophouses and coffee shops unchanged since the 1960s.
Little India and Kampong Glam
Little India has the garland sellers, sari shops, banana-leaf curry restaurants, and the beautiful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Kampong Glam (the Arab Quarter) centers on the gold-domed Sultan Mosque and is surrounded by perfume shops, shisha cafes, and Haji Lane (boutique and streetwear shopping).
Food: The Number One Reason to Visit
Singapore has one of the world's best street food cultures, and it is the one area where the city is affordable. The hawker center is an open-air collective food hall with dozens of stalls. Must-try dishes:
- Hainanese Chicken Rice Poached or roasted chicken served on fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, with chili sauce and ginger paste (considered Singapore's national dish).
- Chili Crab Sri Lankan mud crabs cooked in a thick, tangy, sweet-spicy tomato-chili sauce (Jumbo Seafood at East Coast Lagoon is the most popular destination).
- Laksa Spicy coconut curry soup with thick rice noodles, prawns, and cockles.
- Char Kway Teow Wok-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, and egg in a dark soy-chili sauce.
- Satay Grilled skewers of marinated chicken, beef, or lamb served with peanut sauce, compressed rice cakes, and raw onion.
- Kaya Toast and Soft Boiled Eggs Toasted bread with kaya (coconut-pandan-egg jam) and butter, soft-boiled eggs with dark soy sauce and white pepper, and strong local coffee (kopi). This is a standard Singaporean breakfast.
Practical Tips
- Safety: Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world and while violent crime is extremely rare, you still need to take normal precautions as you would anywhere.
- Laws and fines: Singapore enforces its laws with zero tolerance. For example, littering and jaywalking carries instant fines, chewing gum is not sold (though personal use is legal), and smoking is banned in all public spaces. All drug trafficking carries the death penalty. However, none of this should cause problems for a normal tourist, just be aware.
- Language: English is an official language and the language of business and education. Most Singaporeans speak Singaporean English (Singlish), which has its own vocabulary and syntax.
- Tipping: Not customary because most restaurants add a 10% service charge. You do not need to tip separately.