Singapore travel guide

Getting there

Changi Airport is one of the world's major hubs, with direct flights across Asia, Europe and Australia. You can also arrive overland from Malaysia across the Johor causeway or by ferry from Indonesia's nearby Riau Islands.

Best time to visit: Feb–Apr – a little drier, though it is warm all year.

Tougher months: No bad time – but November to January is the wettest period of the northeast monsoon, with longer rainy spells.

Weather by month in Singapore

• 30°J●●
• 31°F●
• 32°M●●
• 32°A●●
• 32°M●●
• 31°J●
• 31°J●
• 31°A●●
• 31°S●
• 31°O●●
• 31°N●●●
• 30°D●●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Singapore. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 164 of 198 other passports can enter Singapore without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 34 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 0 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Singapore (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-03-09). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Singapore travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Singapore are based around Marina Bay, Chinatown or Sentosa. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$60–90 for a backpacker and US$180–300 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Singapore page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: G. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +65.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Marina Bay (Downtown · skyline): The city's showpiece waterfront, with the Merlion, light shows and the iconic Marina Bay Sands towers.
• Chinatown (Central · heritage): Temples, shophouses and some of the city's best hawker food, all within a few walkable streets.
• Sentosa (Southern island · beaches): A resort island with beaches, theme parks and cable cars, just minutes from the city centre.
• Singapore Botanic Gardens (Central · UNESCO garden): A free, leafy oasis that is home to the National Orchid Garden and a patch of original rainforest.
• Little India (Central · culture): A vibrant, aromatic district of temples, textile shops and superb South Indian food.
• Pulau Ubin (Northeast island · nature): A glimpse of old village life, with cycling trails and the Chek Jawa wetlands.
• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Northwest · wildlife): Mangrove boardwalks where you may spot monitor lizards, migratory birds and even crocodiles.
• Kampong Glam (Central · Malay-Arab quarter): Historic Malay heartland with Sultan Mosque, indie boutiques and late-night cafes.

Things to do

• Eat at a hawker centre. Grab a plastic stool and feast on chicken rice, laksa and satay at a buzzing open-air food court.
• Gardens by the Bay at night. Watch the giant Supertrees glow and pulse with light and music after dark.
• Walk the Southern Ridges. Follow elevated walkways and the wave-shaped Henderson Bridge through treetop jungle.
• Explore Little India. Wander past flower-garland stalls, spice shops and the colourful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.
• Cycle Pulau Ubin. Take a bumboat to this rustic island and pedal past old kampong houses and mangrove wetlands.
• Night Safari. Spot leopards, tapirs and fishing cats roaming in the dark at the world's first nocturnal zoo.
• Kampong Glam street art. Browse Arab Street textiles, Haji Lane murals and the golden domes of Sultan Mosque.
• River walk at Clarke Quay. Stroll the Singapore River from colonial Boat Quay to lively riverside bars as the skyline lights up.

Source: full Singapore guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Hainanese chicken rice – poached chicken with fragrant rice
• Chilli crab – crab in a sweet and spicy tomato sauce
• Laksa – spicy coconut noodle soup
• Kaya toast – toast with coconut jam, eggs and coffee

Source: RoamSun Singapore guide

Money and safety

Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not customary; most restaurants add a 10% service charge..

Emergency numbers: 999 police · 995 fire & ambulance.

• Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere, though some hawker stalls are cash-only, so keep a few small notes.
• ATMs are plentiful and money changers in malls often offer good rates.
• Singapore has very low crime, but keep an eye on bags in crowded spots like markets and festival areas.
• Laws are strict and strictly enforced – littering, jaywalking, smoking outside marked areas and drug offences carry heavy penalties.

Source: RoamSun Singapore facts