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Singapore Travel Guide 2024

Singapore has been in the top ten list of the most visited cities in the world for years. Our small yet beautiful island deserves it as the city has everything to satisfy any need of visitors: a green and safe environment, cultural diversity, delicious food, world-class shopping malls, the latest fashion and electronics, vibrant nightlife, cheap and convenient public transport, and many more.

You are reading the most comprehensive Singapore travel guide [2024 Guide], which covers everything you need to know to have a satisfying trip. Scroll down to discover them all.

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Where to Have Vegetarian Food in Singapore?

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Where to Have Halal Food in Singapore?

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What to Buy in Singapore?

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Singapore has one of the hottest and most vibrant nightlife scenes in asia. discover it here..

What to Enjoy More in Singapore?

Massage and beauty sessions can make the brilliant extras for a more satisfying trip..

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“The handiest and most marvellous city I ever saw”, wrote the natural historian William Hornaday of Singapore in 1885, “as well planned and carefully executed as though built entirely by one man. It is like a big desk, full of drawers and pigeonholes, where everything has its place, and can always be found in it.” This succinct appraisal seems apt even now, despite the tiny island’s transformation from an endearingly chaotic colonial port, one that embodied the exoticism of the East, into a pristine, futuristic shrine to consumerism. In the process, Singapore acquired a reputation, largely deserved, for soullessness, but these days the place has taken on a more relaxed and intriguing character, one that achieves a healthier balance between Westernized modernity and the city-state’s traditional cultures and street life.

Top 5 dishes

Sri mariamman temple, taking chinese tea, tanjong pagar, the baba house, drinking and nightlife, entertainment, street theatre, tailor-made travel itineraries for singapore, created by local experts.

6 days  / from 3950 USD

Indulgent Singapore

From the infamous Singapore Sling to fabulous shopping and nightlife, colourful neighbourhoods and mouth-watering cuisine, the small city-island of Singapore packs a punch. Come here for a relaxing break or a luxury respite before heading on to one of its more frantic neighbours.

5 days  / from 850 USD

Uniquely Singapore

There’s plenty to enjoy in Singapore, from visiting ethnic neighbourhoods like Little India and Chinatown, to night safaris, authentic street food and sampling the eponymous cocktail, or two. Singapore is, in short, the ideal introduction to Asia in one fell swoop.

12 days  / from 1250 USD

Singapore & Bali - A Unique Exploration

Combine Southeast Asia's smallest country Singapore with its largest country: Indonesia. Spend a few days exploring the metropolis before flying to the magical island of Bali. Temples, volcanoes and ceremonies are part of your itinerary, as are the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Lembongan.

5 days  / from 980 USD

Singapore Family Fun

From lush rainforests to cool night safaris, a glittering skyline and gorgeous Sentosa beaches, Singapore has plenty to offer. Easy to navigate and pristine clean with warm and welcoming locals, its characterful districts and numerous green spaces will ensure everyone is entertained.

14 days  / from 5876 USD

Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore adventure

A diverse and unforgettable exploration awaits! From the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur to the cool retreat of Cameron Highlands. Immerse yourself in lush tea plantations before heading to Borneo for thrilling orangutan encounters and unforgettable river safaris. Brunei and Singapore conclude the trip

7 days  / from 1750 USD

Malaysia Express from Singapore

A captivating 7-day tour that unveils the beauty of Malaysia, commencing from Singapore. Traverse the border into Malacca to uncover its rich heritage gems. Progress to Kuala Lumpur, where iconic landmarks await your exploration. Culminate your journey in George Town, Penang.

The foundation for Singapore’s prosperity was its designation as a tax-free port by Sir Stamford Raffles, who set up a British trading post here in 1819. The port plays a key role in the economy to this day, though the island now also thrives on high-tech industry, financial services and tourism, all bolstered by a super-efficient infrastructure. All these achievements were accompanied by a major dose of paternalism, with the populace accepting heavy-handed management by the state of most aspects of life in exchange for levels of affluence that would have seemed unimaginable a couple of generations ago. Thus it is that since independence much of the population has been resettled from downtown slums and outlying kampongs (villages) into new towns, and the city’s old quarters have seen historic buildings and streets bulldozed to make way for shopping malls.

Yet although Singapore lacks much of the personality of some Southeast Asian cities, it has more than enough captivating places to visit, from elegant temples to fragrant medicinal shops to grand colonial buildings. Much of Singapore’s fascination springs from its multicultural population, a mixture of Chinese, Malay and Indian, which can make a short walk across town feel like a hop from one country to another, and whose mouthwatering cuisines are a major highlight of any visit. The city also rejoices in a clutch of fine historical museums that offer a much-needed perspective on the many successes and sacrifices that made Singapore what it is today, plus a lively arts scene featuring no shortage of international talent and local creativity.

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Singapore has no national dish – but that’s because it has any number of dishes that could happily qualify for that title. As many travellers never graduate beyond extremely predictable fried rice and noodle plates, here’s our selection of five of the best things to try.

Satay A mainly Malay dish of mini-kebabs on twig-like sticks, barbecued over coals and eaten dipped in a peanut-based sauce, accompanied by glutinous rice cakes and cucumber and onion slices.

Fish-head curry Many Indian restaurants offer this fiery stew containing a large fish head – eyes and all; the cheeks are the best bits.

Chicken rice Widely available at hawker centres, this Hainanese speciality features steamed chicken served atop rice cooked in chicken stock, served up with chicken consommé – the simplest of concepts, but incredibly satisfying.

Chilli crab Whole crabs wok-fried and served in a gloopy gravy made with tomato, chilli, garlic and a little egg. It’s mainly served at seafood outlets, though some ordinary Chinese restaurants offer it too.

Laksa A Peranakan classic of rice noodles, prawns and other morsels steeped in a rich, spicy, curried coconut soup; not hard to find at hawker centres and food courts.

The two square kilometres of Chinatown , west and south of the Singapore River, were never a Chinese enclave in what is, after all, a Chinese-majority country, but they did once represent the focal point of the island’s Chinese life and culture. More so than the other old quarters, however, Chinatown has seen large-scale redevelopment and become a bit of a mishmash. Even so, a wander through the surviving nineteenth-century streets still unearths musty and atmospheric temples and clan associations, and you might hear the rattle of a game of mahjong being played.

The area was first earmarked for Chinese settlement by Raffles, who decided in 1819 that Singapore’s communities should be segregated. As immigrants poured in, the land southwest of the river took shape as a place where new arrivals from China, mostly from Fujian (Hokkien) and Guangdong (Canton) provinces and to a lesser extent Hainan Island, would have found temples, shops with familiar products and, most importantly, kongsi s – clan associations that helped them find lodgings and work as small traders and coolies.

This was one of the most colourful districts of old Singapore, but after independence the government chose to grapple with its tumbledown slums by embarking upon a redevelopment campaign that saw whole streets razed. Someone with an unimpeachable insight into those times, one Lee Kuan Yew, is quoted thus in the area’s Singapore City Gallery: “In our rush to rebuild Singapore, we knocked down many old and quaint buildings. Then we realized that we were destroying a valuable part of our cultural heritage, that we were demolishing what tourists found attractive.” Not until the 1980s did the remaining shophouses and other period buildings begin to be conserved, though restoration has often rendered them improbably perfect. Even so, as in Little India, the character of the area has had a bit of a shot in the arm courtesy of recent immigrants. As regards sights, the Thian Hock Keng, Buddha Tooth Relic and Sri Mariamman temples are especially worthwhile, as is the Chinatown Heritage Centre museum, and there’s plenty of shophouse architecture to justify a leisurely wander.

Though Singapore has no shortage of striking modern buildings, it’s the island’s rows of traditional shophouses that are its most distinctive architectural feature. Once often cramped and unsanitary, many were demolished in the years following independence, but since the 1980s whole streets of them have been declared conservation areas and handsomely restored.

As the name suggests, shophouses were originally a combination of shop and home, with the former occupying the ground floor of a two- or three-storey building; eventually many came to be built purely as townhouses, but the original name stuck. Unusually, the facade is always recessed at ground level, leaving a space here that, combined with adjoining spaces in a row of shophouses, would form a sheltered walkway at the front (the “five-foot way” , so named because of its minimum width) – hence the lack of pavements on Singapore’s older streets. Another notable feature is that shophouses were built narrow and surprisingly deep. Behind the ground-floor shop or reception hall there might be a small courtyard, open to the sky, then yet another room; this layout can be seen at the Baba House and the Katong Antiques House. Also, shophouses were usually built back to back, with tiny alleyways separating the rear sections of adjoining rows; it’s down one such alleyway that the brothels of Desker Road are tucked away.

Shophouses began to be built from the mid-nineteenth century. The oldest ones are no longer standing, but slightly later examples, which still exist on and around Telok Ayer and Arab streets, for example, feature the characteristic shuttered windows and tiled roofs that continued to be used for several decades. Otherwise, their decoration was limited, say, to simple stuccowork, but by the turn of the last century, the shophouse had blossomed into a dizzy melange of Western and Eastern styles, which both European and local architects enjoyed blending. So-called Neoclassical, Chinese Baroque and Rococo shophouses featured decorative Corinthian columns, mini-pediments, fanlights, a riot of multicoloured tilework and stucco, even curvy gables. Local ornamentations included wooden trelliswork and eaves overhung with a row of fretted fascia boards, both often seen in Malay palaces; Peranakan pintu pagar , half-height swing doors like those in Wild West bars; and Chinese touches such as floral and animal motifs. You can see fine wedding-cake-like rows of shophouses in these styles around Joo Chiat Road in Katong and on Sam Leong and Petain roads at the northern edge of Little India.

By the 1930s, global recession and prevailing artistic trends had caused a swing towards more sober Art Deco and modernist buildings, with simpler, geometrical facades often topped by a central flagpole. Shophouses with so-called Tropical Deco stylings continued to be built in Singapore after World War II, even though Art Deco had become old hat elsewhere, and there are quite a few examples in Chinatown, on South Bridge Road for example.

Boxy 1960s shophouses were the form’s last hurrah. By the 1980s, shophouses had pretty much fallen out of favour as they were just too small to make efficient use of scarce land, though a semblance of the five-foot way lived on in some concrete shopping developments of the time.

As with heritage buildings the world over, today’s surviving shophouses are often but a handsomely restored shell concealing insides that have been totally gutted and rejigged. Many no longer serve as shops, homes or clan houses, functioning instead as bars, beauty salons or offices.

Singapore’s oldest Hindu shrine, the Sri Mariamman Temple, boasts a superb entrance gopuram bristling with brightly coloured deities. A wood and atap hut was first erected here in 1827 on land belonging to Naraina Pillay, a government clerk who arrived on the same ship as Stamford Raffles when he first came ashore at Singapore; the present temple was completed around 1843. Inside, look up at the roof to see splendid friezes depicting a host of Hindu deities, including the three manifestations of the supreme being: Brahma the creator (with three of his four heads showing),

Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer (holding one of his sons). The main sanctum is devoted to Mariamman, a goddess worshipped for her healing powers.

Smaller sanctums dotted about the walkway circumnavigating the temple honour other deities. In the one dedicated to the goddess Periachi Amman, a sculpture portrays her with a queen lying on her lap, whose evil child she has ripped from her womb; it’s odd, then, that Periachi Amman is the protector of children, to whom babies are brought when one month old. Once a year, during the festival of Thimithi (Oct or Nov), an unassuming patch of sand to the left of the main sanctum is covered in red-hot coals that male Hindus run across to prove the strength of their faith. The participants, who line up all the way along South Bridge Road waiting for their turn, are supposedly protected from the heat of the coals by the power of prayer.

At two Tanjong Pagar teahouses, Tea Chapter and Yixing Yuan Teahouse, visitors can glean something of the intricacies of the deep Chinese connection with tea by taking part in a tea workshop lasting up to an hour. Participants are introduced to different varieties of tea and talked through the history of tea cultivation and the rituals of brewing and appreciating the drink. The water, for example, has to reach an optimum temperature that depends on which type of tea is being prepared; experts can tell its heat by the size of the rising bubbles, described variously as “sand eyes”, “prawn eyes”, “fish eyes”, etc. Both venues also stock an extensive range of tea-related accoutrements such as tall “sniffer” cups used to savour the aroma of the brew before it is poured into squat teacups for drinking.

The district of Tanjong Pagar , fanning out south of Chinatown between Neil and Maxwell roads, was once a veritable sewer of brothels and opium dens. Then it was earmarked for regeneration as a conservation area, following which dozens of shophouses were painstakingly restored and converted into bars, restaurants and shops, notably on Neil Road and Duxton Hill just south of it. A grander example of the area’s architecture can be found right where South Bridge Road flows into Neil and Tanjong Pagar roads: here you’ll easily spot the arches and bricked facade of the Jinrikisha Building , constructed at the turn of the last century as a terminus for rickshaws. They were superseded by trishaws after World War II, and today the building serves as office space – with a celebrity landlord, the Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan.

Tanjong Pagar’s main sight is the Baba House , though as an architectural attention-grabber it’s rivalled by the seven interlinked towers of the Pinnacle@Duxton , a showpiece public housing development that offers fine views over much of Singapore.

The Baba House is one of Singapore’s most impressive museums, because it is and isn’t a museum: what you see is a Peranakan house from the turn of the last century, meticulously restored to its appearance in the late 1920s, a particularly prosperous time in its history.

The house is easily spotted as it’s painted a vivid blue. Note the phoenixes and peonies on the eaves above the entrance, signifying longevity and wealth and, together, marital bliss. Even more eye-catching is the pintu pagar , the pair of swing doors with beautiful gilt and mother-of-pearl inlays.

With its affluence and large expat community, Singapore supports a huge range of drinking holes , from elegant colonial chambers through hip rooftop venues with skyline views to slightly tacky joints featuring karaoke or middling covers bands. There’s also a bunch of glitzy and vibrant clubs where people let their hair down to cutting-edge sounds minus – this being Singapore – any assistance from illicit substances. Some venues regularly manage to lure the world’s leading DJs to play, too.

Singapore offers an excellent range of cultural events in all genres, drawing on both Asian and Western traditions, and even on a brief visit it’s hard not to notice how much money has been invested in the arts. Prime downtown property has been turned over to arts organizations in areas like Waterloo Street and Little India, and prestige venues like Theatres on the Bay bring in world-class performers – at top-dollar prices. This isn’t to say that all is hunky-dory: questions remain over whether creativity is truly valued when censorship lingers, if not as overtly as in the 1970s and 1980s, then in terms of there being well-established red lines concerning party politics, ethnicity and religion which no one dare cross. More cynically, some say that support for the arts is a way to keep Singapore attractive to expats and its own sometimes restive middle class.

Walk around Singapore long enough and you’re likely to stumble upon some sort of streetside cultural event, most usually a wayang – a Malay word used in Singapore to denote Chinese opera. Played out on outdoor stages next to temples and markets, or in open spaces in the new towns, wayangs are highly dramatic and stylized affairs, in which garishly made-up characters enact popular Chinese legends to the accompaniment of the crashes of cymbals and gongs. They’re staged throughout the year, but the best time to catch one is during the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, when they are held to entertain passing spooks. Another fascinating traditional performance, lion-dancing , takes to the streets during Chinese New Year, and puppet theatres may appear around then, too. Chinatown and the Bugis/Waterloo Street area are places where you might stumble upon performances.

With so many ethnic groups and religions present in Singapore, it would be unusual if your trip didn’t coincide with some sort of traditional festival, ranging from exuberant, family-oriented pageants to blood-curdlingly gory displays of devotion. Below is a chronological round-up of Singapore’s major festivals (excluding commercial events themed around shopping or the arts, for example, which are covered in the relevant chapters), with suggestions of where best to enjoy them. The dates of many of these change annually according to the lunar calendar; we’ve listed rough timings, but for specific dates it’s a good idea to check with the Singapore Tourism Board ( w yoursingapore.com ). Some festivals are also public holidays, when many shops and restaurants may close.

Singapore is the only country with an ethnic Chinese majority not to use Chinese as its main language of education and business. English enjoys that role – but here it’s often upstaged by the entertaining, though often baffling, Singlish , a mash-up of English together with the grammatical patterns and vocabulary of Chinese and Malay. Pronunciation is staccato, with final consonants often dropped, so “cheque book” would be rendered “che-boo”. In two-syllable words the second syllable is lengthened and stressed by a rise in pitch: ask a Singaporean what they’ve been doing, and you could be told “slee-PING”.

Conventional English syntax is twisted and wrung, and tenses and pronouns discarded. If you ask a Singaporean if they’ve ever seen a Harry Potter film, you might be answered “I ever see”, while enquiring whether they want to go out to buy something might yield “Go, come back already”. Responses are almost invariably reduced to their bare bones, with words often repeated for stress; request something in a shop and you’ll hear “have, have”, or “got, got”.

Exclamations drawn from Malay and Hokkien Chinese complete this pidgin, the most ubiquitous being the Malay suffix “lah”, used to add emphasis to replies, as in: “Do you think we’ll get in for free?” “Cannot lah!” If Singlish has you totally confused, try raising your eyes to the heavens and crying “ay yor” (with a drop of tone on “yor”) – an expression of annoyance or exasperation.

Although these linguistic quirks often amuse foreigners and locals alike, there is much official hand-wringing that poor English could compromise Singapore’s ability to do business globally, so much so that a government-backed Speak Good English movement has been set up to try to shore up standards.

Travel advice for Singapore

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Singapore

• Eating and drinking in Singapore
• Travel Tips Singapore for planning and on the go
• How to get to Singapore
• Travelling with children in Singapore
• Shopping tips for Singapore
• Getting around Singapore: Transportation Tips
• Best time to visit Singapore

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updated 11.10.2023

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20 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Singapore

Written by Diana Bocco Updated Dec 24, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Singapore has been described as a playground for the rich, and it's true that the small city-state does have a certain sheen of wealth. But Singapore offers more than just high-end shopping malls, luxury hotels, and fine dining (though it's worth indulging in those a bit if you can). There is also a vibrant history and diverse ethnic quarters to discover, along with many family-friendly attractions and lovely public spaces that make exploring this slightly futuristic city worthwhile.

Singapore has an excellent public transportation system that makes sightseeing convenient and easy. Once you've gotten a sense of the metro map, you'll have no problem zipping from one part of town to the next. English is spoken everywhere, and signs are in English as well. In fact, Singapore is one of the easiest and most comfortable countries to navigate in Southeast Asia. And as long as you're not comparing prices to nearby Thailand or Vietnam, you're in for a lovely stay.

For ideas on things to see and do, read our list of the top attractions in Singapore.

1. Marina Bay Sands

2. gardens by the bay, 3. botanic gardens, 4. singapore zoo, 5. orchard road, 6. singapore flyer, 7. raffles hotel singapore, 8. chinatown, 9. sentosa island, 10. clarke quay, 11. universal studios singapore, 12. night safari singapore, 13. merlion park, 14. asian civilizations museum, 15. pulau ubin (granite island), 16. fort canning park, 17. the maritime experiential museum, 18. fort siloso, 19. national gallery singapore, 20. jewel changi airport, singapore - climate chart, easy places to visit from singapore.

The opulent Marina Bay Sands resort complex includes a high-end luxury hotel , a mall with a canal running through it, the ArtScience Museum , and the Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck –a vantage point for taking in the entire city. The Skypark's viewing deck and infinity pool are found in the ship (yes, ship) that tops the hotel. Only hotel guests are allowed to use the infinity pool, but anyone can visit the observation deck.

From the Skypark, you can see the innovative double helix bridge , the port, the Gardens by the Bay (101 hectares of land converted into waterfront gardens), and the impressive skyline.

While up there on top of the city, guests can grab a snack or a coffee at the rooftop restaurant or pick up some keepsakes from the souvenir stand. You can purchase a photo of yourself green-screened in front of the massive hotel as it's all lit up at night, but the cost is steep at 50 Singapore dollars–better to ask a fellow tourist to snap a photo of you if possible. The elegant opulence of the Marina Bay Sands exemplifies Singapore's style and status as a major international city in Southeast Asia.

Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

Official site: http://www.marinabaysands.com/

Once you've glimpsed this beautifully designed green space (from the top of the Marina Bay Sands, perhaps) you won't be able to stay away. Wander through the Bay East Garden , perfect for enjoying the vibrant plant life and escaping the city bustle for a moment.

You won't want to miss Supertree Grove , where you'll find a cluster of the iconic, futuristic structures designed to perform environmentally sustainable functions. Then, head to the Cloud Forest Dome to see the world's tallest indoor waterfall and learn a bit about biodiversity. Check the website for ticket sale prices and tour times.

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore

Official site: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html

Not to be confused with the Gardens on the Bay , the Botanic Gardens are also worth a visit. Singapore received its first UNESCO World Heritage nomination for its botanical gardens, and with good reason. The city can sometimes feel like a concrete jungle, albeit a clean and comfortable one, but the botanic gardens preserve pieces of Singapore's wilder heritage.

Here, a walking trail leads to the gardens' heritage trees, which are conserved as part of an effort to protect the city's mature tree species. Make sure to visit the impressive National Orchid Garden as well.

Other popular things to do include visiting the eco-garden, eco-lake, bonsai garden, sculptures, and several other formal gardens.

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore

Official site: www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg

Billing itself as the world's best rainforest zoo, the Singapore Zoo is a pretty impressive place. The facility is clean and inviting, and the animals appear well treated, with plenty of lush vegetation and habitat space.

The orangutans are particularly impressive, and visitors can watch as babies and adults alike swing high above their platforms and snack on fruits. There is also a large chimpanzee family, zebras, meerkats, a komodo dragon, mole rats, white tigers, kangaroos, and many other creatures.

Guests can observe feedings for some of the animals. Allow at least three hours to make your way around the zoo.

If the zoo doesn't satisfy your need for getting close to wildlife, there's also the Night Safari , River Safari (including a giant panda forest), and the Jurong Bird Park . Park hopper passes are available if you plan to visit more than one of the wildlife parks.

For a unique and personal wildlife experience, try the Singapore Zoo Breakfast with the Orangutans. This hassle-free tour includes transportation from and to your hotel, allows you half day to explore the zoo, and has an optional upgrade to enjoy breakfast in the company of the zoo's much-loved orangutans.

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore

Official site: www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo

One could be forgiven for coming to Singapore and doing nothing but shopping, as this is a world-class city for style and designer chic. The Orchard Road area is a great place to start a shopping spree, as there are high-end stores at every turn. You'd expect nothing less from a neighborhood that boasts 22 malls and six department stores. There are also four movie theaters, including an IMAX cinema, and a KTV karaoke establishment.

If you get hungry while burning through all that cash, there are plenty of eateries in the neighborhood serving international food.

Official site: http://www.orchardroad.org/

If the observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands doesn't quite do it for you, try taking in high tea while looking out over the city from the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest giant observation wheel. Choose from several different packages that allow you to be served and pampered while enjoying a view that encompasses not only the Singapore skyline but as far away as the Spice Islands of Indonesia and Malaysia's Straits of Johor.

There are several different ticket packages to choose from, and each includes access to the multimedia Journey of Dreams exhibit, which delves into Singapore's history and the creation of the Singapore Flyer.

Flights last 30 minutes and run from early morning until late at night, so you can choose which view of the city you want to enjoy: the beginning of another bustling day or when Singapore is aglow after dark.

Address: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore

Official site: www.singaporeflyer.com

This colonial building is one of the world's last grand 19th-century hotels, once visited by literary luminaries such as Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad, as well as movie star Charlie Chaplin.

Built in 1887, the property has served as a city landmark for well over a century and continues to live up to its tony reputation with excellent food and service. The classical architecture and tropical gardens provide a refined setting and represent another facet of Singapore's varied and rich history.

The Raffles Hotel Singapore is located in the city's Colonial District , which is also home to several other historic sites, and a good place to base yourself in the city. Here, you'll find the Raffles Landing Site , where Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, is said to have stepped ashore in 1819. The story has it that he saw the small fishing village but recognized its potential as a port, so he purchased the land from the Sultan of Johor and invited Chinese and Indian immigrants to move here. And so the seeds of Singapore's multi-ethnic identity were sown.

Address: 1 Beach Road, Singapore

Official site: www.raffles.com/singapore

If you've ever visited China, Singapore's Chinatown neighborhood will bring you right back here. From the small mom-and-pop stores and authentic Chinese food to the bright red lanterns, there's excitement and hustle in this district. You can visit the Chinese Heritage Centre and see the impressive and beautiful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple.

Another temple worth seeing is the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. If you're up early enough (think 4am), you can hear the morning drum ceremony. Or you can just check out the closing ceremony in the evening after viewing the relic.

Heritage markers have been installed throughout the neighborhood in English, Japanese, and simplified Chinese, so visitors can better understand the significance of the area. But this neighborhood is not just a testament to the influence of the Chinese throughout Singapore's past. This is a progressive neighborhood (with free Wi-Fi for all), and it's home to the trendy Ann Siang Hill area, where the quaint bistros and upscale boutiques could be at home in any Western city.

Official site: www.chinatown.sg

Singapore isn't exactly known as a beach destination, but if you're really craving some fun in the sun, Sentosa Island is the place to find it. Siloso Beach is a good spot for getting in beach time, and visitors can play volleyball on free courts or go kayaking and skimboarding. There are several other beach attractions as well, plus an Underwater World aquarium, where you can swim with dolphins.

A must-see on Sentosa Island is the Merlion , Singapore's famous statue that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. You can take an escalator to the top of the statue and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area. Adventurous types will want to check out The Flying Trapeze and the SeaBreeze Water-Sports @ Wave House, where you can try your hand at flying strapped to a water-propelled jet pack.

Official site: www.sentosa.com.sg/en

The "center of commerce during the 19th century," Clarke Quay lives up to its legacy as a busy hub. Today, it has a more polished sheen, so after a long day of shopping on Orchard Road, visitors can happily head to Clarke Quay for an evening of waterfront dining and entertainment.

River taxis and cruises also depart from here, giving tourists the chance to admire some of the city's historic bridges and view landmarks like the Merlion from the water. The Quay's biggest hit with younger tourists is a giant bungee-jumping attraction , an adrenaline-packed thrill ride.

Nearby attractions include the Asian Civilisation Museum ; the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery located in Singapore's oldest fire station; and the Hong San See Temple , a picturesque century-old Buddhist place of worship.

Universal Studios Singapore occupies 49 acres of Resorts World Sentosa. The park is arranged thematically, with each area paying tribute to a location, film, or television show. Destinations include New York City, Hollywood, Madagascar, and a trip back to Ancient Egypt. Fiction-themed areas include Shrek's Far Far Away, Lost World, and Sci-Fi City, where Battlestar Galactica -themed dueling roller coasters and an indoor dark coaster, Revenge of the Mummy , dominate the thrill rides.

In addition to the many rides–that range from kiddie-friendly to daredevil –the park also has diverse dining options, shopping, and live shows throughout the day and night.

Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore

Night Safari Singapore puts a new twist on the traditional zoo experience by introducing visitors to the nocturnal lives of the residents. The park's habitats are divided into four sections, each with its own trail that lets you observe these elusive creatures as they go about their "day."

The Leopard Trail has, as expected, leopards, as well as lions, flying foxes, civets, and porcupines among other animals. The Fishing Cat Trail tours the habitat of animals native to Singapore, including the fish-loving felines, pangolin, binturong, and other species both common and endangered. East Lodge Trail features Malayan tigers and spotted hyenas, and the Wallaby Trail introduces visitors to the marsupials of Australia.

Private tours, buggy rides, and educational sessions are available, as well as once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as an Asian elephant feeding session.

Official site: www.wrs.com.sg/en/night-safari

Singapore's Merlion is just what it sounds like–the figure of a mythical creature that has the head of a lion and the body and tail of a fish. The Merlion represents the city's humble start as a fishing village combined with its traditional Malay name Singapura, "lion city."

The structure, which was relocated to Merlion Park in 2002, where it can overlook Marina Bay , weighs 70 tonnes and stands at 8.6 meters tall, spouting water from its mouth in a fountain.

The "Merlion Cub" sits nearby, only two meters tall but a hefty three tonnes, and there are five additional official Merlion statues throughout the city. Merlion Park is an ideal spot for photo-ops, whether you are taking a selfie in front of the iconic creature or capturing the magnificent views from the park as it looks out over the bay.

Address: One Fullerton, Singapore

If the Raffles Hotel and Fort Canning Park haven't satisfied your taste for colonial architecture, pay a visit to the Empress Place Building . It was constructed in 1865 and built in the Neoclassical style, and was named in honor of Queen Victoria. It now houses the Asian Civilisations Museum, which delves into the many Asian cultures that helped form Singapore.

The museum's collections focus on the themes of trade and spirituality, both of which heavily influenced Asian cultures. Exhibits cover topics such as the Indian Ocean trade, stories of faith and belief, and a look at the important role that scholars played in Chinese culture for centuries.

Address: 1 Empress Pl, Singapore

Official site: http://acm.org.sg

For a look at what life in Singapore was like before it was all about glamor and skyscrapers, visit the small island of Pulau Ubin, where fewer than 100 people still live in the same simple way as they did in the 1960s. The island's name is Malay for "Granite Island," a moniker given due to its past prominence as a quarry town.

Today, it is a peaceful, rustic place where tourists can enjoy unspoiled forests and diverse wildlife. The island is also home to the Chek Jawa Wetlands , which contain a coral reef teeming with sea life.

The island is easily reached by boat, a 10-minute ride that departs from Changi Point Ferry Terminal .

As military strongholds go, Fort Canning has had a long and varied life. Built in 1859, the fort was originally meant to defend Singapore against attacks but it became a bunker during World War II and was eventually surrendered to the Japanese in 1942.

Now in peacetime, the original building is home to modern performing arts troupes, and the park regularly sees picnics, concerts, theater performances, and festivals.

Other attractions at the park include relics from Singapore's early history, from as far back as the 14th century, and Sir Stamford Raffles' personal bungalow. Guests can also see a replica of the spice market Raffles established in 1822, as well as ASEAN sculptures that were erected in the 1980s.

Address: 51 Canning Rise, Singapore

This indoor-outdoor museum is located right on the water, and it's a great way to explore Singapore's maritime history through fun, interactive exhibits. Before you even enter the building, you'll be able to see several ships anchored here.

Inside, the highlight of the museum is the Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a sailing vessel that sank in 830 CE while traveling between Africa and China. You can also see large-size models of trading ships that traveled the Silk Route, learn navigation skills and how to read nautical charts, and experience a 9th-century shipwreck at Typhoon Theater in a special-effects simulation.

Fort Siloso, the country's only preserved fort and a military museum, is located on Sentosa Island. You can reach the fort via the Fort Siloso Skywalk trail , a massive steel bridge towering 11 stories up. Surrounded by lush tropical canopy, the bridge is accessed by either a glass elevator or simple stairs–though taking the elevator means sweeping open views of the Keppel Harbor, which you can't really see if you choose to walk your way up. The 181-meter-long bridge offers great views of the nearby islands, as well as the jungle floor below.

Once at the fort, visitors can join guided tours to learn more about the history of the area–although it's also possible to explore on your own, just walking around and seeing the sights.

Highlights inside the fort include the many massive cannons on display, three tunnel systems used to move ammunition around, and special exhibits showcasing daily life in the fort for the soldiers living there in the 1800s.

The entire fort is a beautiful shaded park, where you can spend a couple of hours exploring.

Address: Siloso Road, Singapore

Official site: http://www.fortsiloso.com/

Home to the largest modern art collection in Southeast Asia, the National Gallery mostly focuses on the works of local and Asian artists starting in the 19 th century. The 9,000-plus works of art are divided between two buildings – City Hall and the former Supreme Court – over more than 64,000 square meters.

In addition to the permanent collection, the gallery hosts temporary exhibits in unique aspects such as Vietnamese lacquer painting, modern photography, and Chinese calligraphy.

Free tours are available in English and Mandarin, and the gallery also offers workshops, open performances, and special presentations for both adults and children.

Address: 1 St. Andrew's Road, #01

Official site: https://www.nationalgallery.sg

Often voted as the best airport in the world, the 10-story-high Jewel Ghangi is not your ordinary transportation hub. In fact, you should put it on your list of must-see places to visit while in Singapore.

In addition to over 300 shops, the airport's most famous feature is the 40-meter-high HSBC Rain Vortex, an indoor waterfall surrounded by over 2,000 trees. Each of the airport's three terminals (all seamlessly connected) also has its own garden. There's a cactus garden in Terminal 1; a sunflower garden in T2; and a very famous butterfly garden at T3, home to more than 40 species of butterflies, a six-meter grotto waterfall, and plenty of flowering plants.

The airport is also home to two movie theaters, an entertainment corner with vintage arcade machines, an indoor canopy park with garden mazes and stunning viewing decks, and a 12-meter-tall (that's four stories high) slide both children and adults are welcome to use.

Official site: https://www.changiairport.com

Singapore Getaways: If you're based in Singapore and looking for some time outside the city, or if you're thinking of adding something on to your holiday, consider one of our ideas for weekend getaways from Singapore . Flights connect the city to beautiful destinations around SE Asia in just two or three hours. There are also several interesting places you can reach by bus or ferry.

More on Singapore

8 of the best places to visit in Singapore

Aug 21, 2023 • 8 min read

From art to the astonishing architecture, here are the places that should be on every Singapore itinerary © EQRoy / Shutterstock

Singapore is one of Asia’s smallest countries, but it packs a lot into a small space.

Essentially a megacity with a small periphery of coast and countryside, this is an urban experience miles away from the jungle escapes on offer in neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia .

Singapore's relentless march of progress is epitomized by its ritzy shopping, slick public transport that makes it easy to get around , gleaming high rises, and its general sense of order, cleanliness and efficiency. Thankfully, Singaporeans' unapologetic love of the new is tempered by respect for history and an appreciation for green spaces, with many parks and gardens to offset the frenetic city buzz.

Here are the best places to go in Singapore, whether you're on a stopover or planning a longer visit. 

1. The Jewel

Best for indoor nature

This Singapore attraction dazzles visitors just as they set foot in the country. From the arrivals area at Changi Airport, it's just a 10-minute walk to this architectural marvel , which mixes futuristic modern materials with living nature. It's a perfect first or last stop on a Singapore sightseeing tour.

The Jewel is a shopping mall, but in fact, it's way more than that. The huge indoor waterfall at the center of things is where the magic really happens. At 40m (130ft), this is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, and water pours from a massive hole in the roof into an indoor rainforest, covered by a geodesic canopy.

The building was designed by architectural mastermind Moshe Safdie, of Marina Bay Sands fame, and visiting is a surreal experience. Giant slides and cargo nets for climbing are tucked under the glass roof; you might think you've been transported to some kind of Lilliputian world of fun and frolics.

Best iconic experience

The most iconic hotel in Singapore, if not in Asia, Raffles isn’t just a place to stay; it’s an institution. The history of the place is legendary. Originally designed as a beach house, the hotel was gradually expanded throughout the period of British colonial rule in the 19th century. It was named for Sir Stamford Raffles, who arrived as a representative of British colonial rule on the island in 1819 and is credited with "founding" modern Singapore (though the people already living here would profoundly disagree). By the 1880s, this was the city’s prime hotel, and staying here still has a cachet unmatched by any other place to stay in Singapore.

Planning tip:  It's worth a visit just to admire the imposing neoclassical architecture: porticos and pediments, mixed with tropical touches like verandas and open terraces to relieve the intense heat, add up to a soaring set piece. The hotel's noted arcade of shops and restaurants is another feature to check out; if you can't afford a room, you can at least come away with a souvenir.

3. Marina Bay Sands

Best for city views

Some say it looks like a futuristic ironing board, others that it’s more like a surfboard perched on tall legs. Either way, there’s no mistaking this unique component of Singapore’s wild skyline. Three linked towers make up Marina Bay Sands , rising high above Singapore's remarkable Gardens by the Bay. The gravity-defying top section contains an infinity pool and sundeck, which gives stunning views of the city beyond. From 57 floors up, this will be a swim you’ll never forget.

Here’s the but – you need to be a guest staying at the hotel to get into the pool; you can’t just pop up for the price of a drink in the poolside bar. There's plenty here for non-guests, though, from the SkyPark observation deck and the glam Shoppes mall to the adjacent ArtScience Museum , which mixes works of art with educational displays and interactive exhibits about science.

Planning tip:  It's worth heading across the bay at night to see the towers lit up by the daily sound and light show (best viewed from near the Fullerton ) – and better yet, it's completely free .

4. National Gallery of Singapore

Best for understanding Southeast Asian art

Opened in 2015, the National Gallery of Singapore is one of the nation's key cultural institutions and one of the most important art galleries in Asia. The gallery displays the world’s largest collection of South East Asian art – over 9000 items in one massive collection – in the heart of the Civic District.

The Gallery sprawls across several striking British-era buildings, including the former City Hall (from the 1920s) and Supreme Court (from the 1930s). Modern canopies and wings by architects Studio Milou stitch these buildings together, creating a single coherent space for the gallery's art displays.

5. Sentosa Island

Best for beaches

Linked by a causeway to the city's southern shore, Singapore’s holiday island is the best thing to do for travelers who want to escape the frenetic pace of life in the city proper. Sentosa is dedicated to the pursuit of fun, from competition golf courses to famous Palawan Beach, where swimmers and sunbathers congregate along a gleaming strip of sand. Singaporean families come to the island to chill, and there’s plenty of nature on offer, with paths through the trees and soothing sea views. It's also a great spot for a laid-back bite, with plenty of outdoor cafes and restaurants.

Don’t ignore the island's history – this was once a colonial British military base, and it also saw time as a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. Remnants of the past are dotted between the leisure developments. Drop into fascinating Fort Siloso , which is now a museum exploring Singapore’s torrid experience of occupation during WWII.

Planning tip:  If you fancy staying over, there are plenty of hotels – more than a dozen, in fact, including the swanky W and Capella – making it easy to be first in line at the Universal Studios Singapore theme park or Madame Tussaud's waxworks.

6. Fort Canning Park

Best for history with a side serving of nature

Fans of history can delve into Singapore’s difficult past at Fort Canning Park . As well as beautiful lawns, tropical trees and exotic birdlife, this green hill is dotted with various historical treats, including the eponymous fort itself, which was built in the 1850s by the British to defend their prized colonial port. Today it houses the swish Fort Canning Hotel . Also, here are the Battlebox military bunker museum and the stunning National Museum of Singapore , full of imaginative multimedia exhibits on the city's journey to statehood.

The aforementioned Stamford Raffles had his villa in the park, once the most prized address in the newly expanding city. You can see a reproduction of Raffles' original residence today, alongside bunkers used by the British military command, former artillery placements, and a sprawl of green lawns and spice gardens. It's the most atmospheric green space in the city.

7. Gardens by the Bay

Best botanic garden

It says something about Singapore's love of technology: that the iconic image of the Gardens by the Bay is not a plant at all but the legendary "Supertrees" – a collection of 16-story-tall sculptures inspired by nature, but alien and futuristic in form. The tallest has a viewing platform at the top where you can get great views across the gardens and Singapore skyline. This is still, however, a botanical garden, albeit one wrapped in fascinating architecture – check out Wilkinson Eyre’s bulbous glass conservatories on the waterfront as an example of how these two strands come together.

Visitors with a horticultural bent can revel in the variety of tropical plant species on show here. Don't miss the bizarre brain cactuses displayed in the Sun Pavillion. Around the gardens are biospheres recreating environments from Australia, South America and South Africa, with typical plants from each region.

Planning tip:  As you wander between the trees and water features, look out for public works of art among the living exhibits. 

8. Pulau Ubin

Best for peace and quiet

Those in search of a dose of pure nature would do well to take a trip to Pulau Ubin . There's plenty of unspoiled greenery just a boat or bus ride away in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia, but this green island is part of the city-state itself, so there are no border crossings required. Pulau Ubin is tucked up squarely against the Malaysian border in the northeast of the city, reached via a 10-minute ride on a bumboat (an old Dutch term for the small boats used to transfer goods to ships anchored offshore).

Once you’re on the island, you can follow some fantastic hiking trails along the coast, passing wetlands that are home to the likes of fiddler crabs, mudskippers and red junglefowl. The rocky beaches and mangroves are a unique and pristine habitat, so remember to look after the environment here and take your rubbish away when you leave.

Planning tip:  There’s a mountain bike path (and bikes for rent) and several campsites if you want to stay overnight under the stars.

This article was first published October 2021 and updated August 2023

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Singapore Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

Singapore is one of my favorite cities in the world. It’s a foodie’s dream, bursting with tasty hawker stalls, delicious Indian food, and fresh seafood. There are hiking trails where you can stretch your legs and beaches for chilling out and soaking up the sun.

Home to around 5.7 million people, Singapore is a cosmopolitan city-state that gained independence from the British in 1965. It is now one of the world’s leading economic centers in shipping and banking.

Because of its status as a global economic hub, Singapore is expensive by Southeast Asian standards, with everything costing almost double what it does elsewhere in the region. In fact, it consistently ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world!

For this reason, visiting Singapore isn’t as popular with budget travelers compared to affordable destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, or elsewhere in Southeast Asia .

But while most people come here for a couple of days just to see the highlights, the city actually has a lot to offer and requires more time than you might think. Don’t rush your visit if you can afford it; Singapore can fill any schedule.

Use this Singapore travel guide to help plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this lively multicultural metropolis.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Singapore

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Singapore

1. Eat at the Boat Quay

Boat Quay is the place to go for dining and entertainment. The alfresco pubs and restaurants make Boat Quay ideal for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. Try Wakanui for quality Japanese steak cooked over a white oak fire, or Kinara for reasonably priced North Indian cuisine.

2. See the supertrees at Gardens by the Bay

This urban landscaping project is a series of towering metal “supertrees.” There are roughly 200 species of orchids, ferns, and other tropical plants coating their structure. It’s free to walk through the outdoor gardens, but you have to pay 8 SGD for the canopy walk (which is worth doing!) as well as for the stunning Flower Dome and Cloud Forest biodomes .

3. Hang out (and party) on Sentosa

This little island is home to a nighttime light show on the beach and a host of bars, restaurants, and beaches to enjoy. Hang out at Bora Bora Beach Bar or splash out and try the cable car sky dining experience (it isn’t cheap). You can get to Sentosa via the Sentosa Express train (4 SGD). Entering on foot/bicycle is free.

4. Tour the Singapore Zoo

Spanning 70 acres, the Singapore Zoo is massive, boasting over 3,600 mammals, birds, and reptiles. There are lions, tigers, sun bears, Komodo dragons, primates, and much more! The zoo offers a night safari featuring over 900 different nocturnal animals (41% are endangered). Admission is 44 SGD and the night safari is 48 SGD.

5. Hang with the Merlions

The Merlion is Singapore’s mascot and has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The original statute (and most impressive Merlion) can be found in Merlion Park, but the 37-meter-tall (121-foot) replica on Sentosa is also pretty cool to see. There is no entrance fee for Merlion Park.

Other Things to See and Do in Singapore

1. admire thian hock keng temple.

Thian Hock Keng (Palace of Heavenly Happiness) is one of the most photogenic buildings in Singapore. The temple originated as a small building that served the local Chinese population. It was expanded in 1840 and made from the finest materials available at the time, paid for by years of donations from the local community. It’s the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea (Chinese immigrants came here to ask for safe passage before leaving to cross the South China Sea). The temple was designated as a national monument in 1973. Admission is free.

2. Explore Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah, located within Singapore’s only remaining stretch of rainforest, is the country’s premier eco-tourism attraction. On the hiking and biking trails, you’ll be able to get up close to the macaques, squirrels, flying lemurs, and various species of birds. The reserve covers over 400 acres and is 30 minutes from the city center. It’s open daily from 7am-7pm. The weekends get really busy, so come during the week if you want to avoid the crowds.

3. Wander around Chinatown

Chinatown encompasses two square kilometers of traditional Chinese life, nestled beside the modern Central Business District. This remains the place to get a real sense of Chinese culture within Singapore. The streets are filled with temples, craft shops, stalls, and restaurants and are a great place to pick up a bargain. Head down Chinatown Food Street to find some char kway teow (stir-fried noodles) or grilled meats. If you can, eat at Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (aka Hawker Chan), the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is another Michelin-starred hawker stall worth a visit. Like Hawker Chan’s, it’s located in the Maxwell Hawker Center.

4. Eat hawker food

Singapore’s hawker food scene is one of the best in the world. It has been recognized by Michelin in 2016 with the world’s first street food Michelin star and by UNESCO in 2020 with Cultural Heritage status. Whether you go to Newton Food Center (of Crazy Rich Asian fame), to the Old Airport Hawker (many locals’ favorite), or to one of the other 103 centers across the island, you won’t be disappointed and you can grab a cheap meal surrounded by locals. Don’t miss the chili crab, satay, dim sum (dumplings), or nasi lemak (fried chicken with coconut rice). If you’re not sure where to go or what to eat, take a guided food tour!

5. Take a trip to Pulau Ubin

This island lies off the northeastern coast. It’s incredibly different from the modern city; locals still use a diesel generator for electricity and fetch water from wells. Rent a bike and explore the sights, villages, and beaches of this island. To get there, hop on a bumboat from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, which costs about 3 SGD and takes 10-15 minutes. There are no fixed departure times — just line up and wait. Very few tourists make it out this way; it’s one of the most off-the-beaten-path things you can do here.

6. Relax in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens lie close to the city and consist of 128 acres of gardens and forest. Founded in 1859, the main attraction is the National Orchid Garden, home to over 1,000 species of orchids. There is also a ginger garden, a rainforest, and various streams and waterfalls to explore. The Botanic Gardens are Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage site (and the only tropical botanic garden on UNESCO’s World Heritage List). It’s open daily from 5am-12am, and admission is free to everything except the National Orchid Garden, which is 15 SGD.

7. Eat in Little India

No trip to Singapore is complete without a visit to Little India, where you can get amazing, cheap, and delicious food, fresh vegetables, snacks, and souvenirs. Seek out local favorites like roti prata (pancakes) and teh tarik (“pulled” tea). Make sure you stop off at the Tekka Center, a hawker center with Indian clothing, groceries, and food. The food here is cheap and delicious and makes for an authentic Little India experience.

8. Learn about Singapore’s History

For a more cultural experience, visit the former British naval base of Fort Siloso located on Sentosa. It’s a decommissioned coastal artillery battery the only preserved fort on the coast of Singapore, providing a fantastic look into the city-state’s complicated history. You’ll get to see the coastal guns and the remains of tunnels under the fort. It’s a well-constructed, interactive attraction. Entrance is free.

9. Visit Sri Mariamman Temple

This extremely colorful, ornate temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, built in 1827 in Chinatown. It was constructed in what is known as the Dravidian style and is devoted to the goddess Mariamman, known for curing illnesses and diseases. During the post-war colonial period, it was a hub for community activities and was even the Registry of Marriages for Hindus. Admission is free.

10. Watch a free concert

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra hosts various free concerts at different venues around the country. You might just be lucky enough to catch one of their shows — just check their website for details during your visit.

11. Visit the MacRitchie Reservoir Park

MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir, dating back to 1868. Today, this beautiful and lush city park is a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Walk the 8-kilometer (5-mile) treetop hike, with bridges suspended high above the forest floor, where you might see long-tailed macaque monkeys, squirrels, monitor lizards, owls, and even flying lemurs. In addition to the TreeTop Walk, there’s also a network of walking trails. Admission is free.

12. Visit the National Museum of Singapore

First opened in 1849, this is the oldest museum in Singapore . Learn about the country’s history, culture, and people through the various permanent and temporary exhibitions. There are gold ornaments, 18th-century drawings and artwork, the mace used by King George VI when he declared Singapore a city in 1951, and the Singapore Stone (an indecipherable stone with inscriptions from the 10th century). Admission is 15 SGD.

13. Admire the street art

Singapore has some really incredible street art to admire. While none of it is spontaneous (unauthorized graffiti is illegal), it can be found all over the island. Yip Yew Chong is probably the best-known artist as he has murals everywhere from Chinatown to the East Coast. His images depict scenes from days gone by and range from small pictures to entire walls. Kampong Glam, Chinatown, and Little India all have masses of art to look at, as does the east coast, but you can find it on random buildings in most areas. Take a walking tour if you want more detail, or Art Walk Singapore has three self-guided walks outlined on their website.

14. Marvel at the rain vortex in Jewel

Located adjacent to Changi International Airport, Jewel Mall is home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Cascading from the roof, the water falls seven stories (around 130 feet) to the basement through a huge tiered garden. At night it is lit up for a light and music show. There’s more to do at Jewel if you have time including two mazes, a canopy bridge, sky nets, slides, and a topiary walk. It’s free to see the rain vortex and prices range from 5-22 SGD each for the other activities. You can get bundles that work out cheaper.

15. Explore Kampong Glam

Also known by its most popular street, Haji Lane, and as the Arab Quarter, Kampong Glam is one of Singapore’s oldest neighborhoods. The shophouses here are now stores selling textiles, rugs, and Turkish homewares such as dishes and glass lamps. There are some great Arabic restaurants around here all under the shadow of the enormous golden-domed Sultan Mosque. There’s some street art around here and Haji Lane has some cool eclectic shops by day and a buzzing nightlife with outdoor live music by night. If you have time, check out the Malay Heritage Center (admission is 8 SGD).

16. Get spooked at Haw Par Villa

Hands down the quirkiest thing you can do or see in Singapore, Haw Par Villa is a huge outdoor art gallery. It was built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw, a millionaire philanthropist one of the men behind Tiger Balm, for his younger brother. Once a theme park for locals, Haw Par Villa was also used as an observation point by the Japanese army during World War II. It’s filled with dioramas depicting Chinese mythology and has recently reopened after a 9-month refurbishment and renovation project. Entry to the grounds is free but the museum — called Hell’s Museum as it includes an exhibit depicting the 10 Courts of Hell — is 18 SGD.

Singapore Travel Costs

A budget hotel room with amenities like air-conditioning, private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and a TV starts around 65 SGD per night. Most larger chain hotels cost at least 80-110 SGD per night.

Airbnb is available in Singapore, with private rooms starting at 25 SGD per night (though they average closer to 60 SGD). Entire homes/apartments average 85 SGD per night.

Food – As a cosmopolitan hub, Singapore has food from all over the world, however, there is an abundance of Chinese and Indian food, which is usually around 8-9 SGD per meal. Rice or noodles are usually the backbone of most meals, and popular dishes include steamed chicken, chili crab, fishhead curry, satay, and nasi lemak (coconut rice cooked in a pandan leaf). The city’s hawker centers (large halls full of various food stalls) are one of the most popular and cheapest places to try Singapore’s vibrant cuisine.

As for Singaporean specialties, try the seafood, which costs around 20-35 SGD for a main dish. For drinks, beer is typically 8-10 SGD, a glass of wine is about 10-16 SGD, and a cappuccino is around 5 SGD.

There are also plenty of low-cost eateries around Singapore, with street stalls typically selling food for less than 6 SGD per meal. A fast-food burger is around 8-10 SGD while sandwiches at a café are around 11-14 SGD. There are many restaurants offering a set lunch menu for around 12-16 SGD, and a dish at dinner in most casual restaurants is around 20 SGD. After that, the sky is the limit.

If you want to cook your own meals, expect to pay 95 SGD per week for basic staples like rice, noodles, vegetables, and some meat or fish.

Backpacking Singapore Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Singapore, expect to spend around 90 SDG per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, eating at the cheap hawker stalls and in Little India, cooking some meals, limiting your drinking, using public transportation to get around, and doing mostly free activities like walking tours and enjoying nature.

On a more mid-range budget of 175 SGD per day, you can stay in a private hostel room or Airbnb, eat out for all your meals at cheaper hawker stalls, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting the zoo and the botanic gardens.

On a “luxury” budget of 300 SGD or more per day, you can eat out for all your meals, take taxis everywhere, stay in a hotel, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in SGD.

Singapore Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Singapore isn’t a super cheap destination so you’ll need to tread carefully if you want to avoid blowing your budget. Here are some ways you can save money during your visit:

• Take public transit – Singapore’s public transit system is fast and efficient, making it the best way to get around. Unlimited travel on public transport is 10 SGD per day with a Singapore Tourist Pass. If you’re staying a few days, the pass gets cheaper per day, as a two-day pass is 16 SGD and a three-day pass is 20 SGD.
• Eat on Smith Street – The stalls here offer food for less than 6 SGD and are a great place to sample local snacks.
• Eat cheap – Save money on food by eating in Little India, Chinatown, or the hawker stalls throughout the city. Meals in these places cost only a few dollars and are some of the tastiest around!
• Stay with a local – Use Couchsurfing to stay with a local for free. You’ll not only save money but you’ll get to connect with someone who can share their insider tips and advice.
• Stick to happy hour – Alcohol is expensive in Singapore, so limit your drinking to save money. If you do plan on drinking, stick to the happy hours.
• Avoid bottled water – The tap water here is perfectly fine to drink, so avoid buying water and just refill your bottle. It will save you money and it’s better for the environment! LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Singapore

Looking for budget-friendly accommodation? Here are some of my suggested places to stay in Singapore:

• Dream Lodge
• The Pod Capsule Hostel

How to Get Around Singapore

Like the MRT, Singapore’s bus system is extensive and efficient. You can use your Singapore Tourist Pass on the buses as well. You can also pay with cash, but it has to be the exact change. A single trip costs between 1.40-2.50 SGD.

Trishaws – Trishaws (like rickshaws) are less popular these days in Singapore, and now they’re largely used for guided tours that cost around 40 SGD for a 30-minute run. Trishaw Uncle is the only licensed trishaw tour operator in the city, offering various guided tours by trishaw.

Taxi – Taxis are comfortable and convenient, but they’re not cheap! All cabs are metered, but there might be surcharges depending on the company and where you’re going. For example, if you’re hiring a taxi from midnight to 6am there is a 50% surcharge on the total metered cost, while rides in the mornings and evenings carry a 25% surcharge. Prices start at 3.20 SGD and then increase by 0.22 SGD every 400 meters. Skip them if you can!

When to Go to Singapore

It’s always a good time to visit Singapore! The island is warm year-round with a tropical climate that boasts daily temperatures in the high 20s°C (80s°F). December to June is the busiest time to visit, especially during the Chinese New Year. February-April is the driest period with the most sunshine and least amount of rain.

Monsoons occur between December-March, with December usually being the rainiest month. The weather is windy, cloudy, and humid.

Late summer and early fall (July to October) are also a good time to visit if you’re hoping to avoid all the tourist traffic. The weather is still pleasant, averaging around 30°C (87°F) each day, and accommodation might be a bit cheaper during this time as well.

How to Stay Safe in Singapore

Singapore is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel — even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. In fact, it’s one of the safest countries in the world (it’s currently the 11th safest country).

Solo female travelers should feel comfortable here, though the standard precautions apply (don’t walk home alone at night, don’t accept drinks from strangers, etc.)

Be aware that penalties for breaking the law here are stiff. For example, you’ll be fined up to 1,000 SGD for things like littering, spitting, and smoking in public. Singapore is also notoriously strict on drugs. If you’re caught even with marijuana in your system you could do jail time. In short, say no to drugs here!

Scams are rare in Singapore, however, if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. If a taxi driver seems shady, stop the cab and get out. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

If you don’t do it at home, don’t do it when you’re in Singapore. Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Singapore Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Agoda – Other than Hostelworld, Agoda is the best hotel accommodation site for Asia.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Singapore Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Singapore travel and continue planning your trip:

The 5 Best Hotels in Singapore

The 4 Best Hostels in Singapore

Where to Stay in Singapore: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Is Southeast Asia Safe for Travelers?

18 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Singapore

Get my best stuff sent straight to you, pin it on pinterest.

• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

Singapore, the Asian Tiger, is vibrant and ever-changing , at once a city, an island, and a nation with more than 5 million inhabitants: it has become an icon worldwide. Along with Bangkok and Hong Kong, Singapore is one of South East Asia's most popular tourist destinations .

• General Information
• Top Attractions
• Getting to Singapore
• Where to Stay
• Where to Eat
• Singapore Map

Why Visit Singapore?

Exploring the Singapore river by boat, eating in a hawker, seeing the skyscrapers from  Merlion Park , visiting Little India , exploring Chinatown , or having a drink in Clarke Quay ... Singapore has any number of unforgettable experiences just waiting for you.

If this inspires you to visit Singapore, once you get there, you'll quickly realize that the best thing about the city is its unique atmosphere . Singapore is a city where you can find almost anything at almost any time: concerts, events , and lively streets are something the locals live on a daily basis.

Discover why tourism to Singapore grows year on year .

Book Your Hotel Stay With a Discount

Hotels and accommodation in general are quite expensive for what you would expect in a Southeast Asian city.

To save on accommodation, we recommend checking out this link to avail of great discounts (up to 75%). You'll pay nothing when you book and pay directly at the hotel.

• Hotels in Singapore - Book online with a lowest price guarantee

top activities

Singapore Night Tour with Dinner Get lost in Singapore's nightlife and enjoy incredible views of the city. You'll try a traditional dish and sip a famous cocktail. 

Sentosa Island Cable Car Ticket Aboard Singapore's famous cable car you'll discover the beauty of Sentosa Island from above, enjoying a panoramic view of the city's main attractions!

Ticket to the Gardens by the Bay Experience a different day far from the bustle of Singapore in the Bay Gardens. Bottle trees, baobabs and over 500,000 species from around the world await.

Singapore Tourist Bus The Singapore sightseeing bus takes you around the city's must-see sights and you can hop on and off an unlimited number of times to see the local skyscrapers!

Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck Ticket Enjoy the best views of Singapore from one of the most emblematic points in the city: the Marina Bay Sands hotel observation deck !

Universal Studios Singapore Excursion Enjoy fun filled day at Universal Studios Singapore, with transport from your hotel and entry to the park, all you need to do is enjoy!

Sentosa Fun Pass With this Sentosa Fun Pass, you'll enjoy some of the most fun attractions on this island of Singapore . Plus, you'll save money - it's a win-win!

Guided tour of Singapore On this tour, we'll discover the must-see sights in Singapore , from Merlion Park to the botanical garden - the best way to explore the city in just a few hours.

Go City: Singapore Explorer Pass Save money and craft your own itinerary on your trip to Singapore with the Go City: Singapore Explorer Pass . You'll have access to several different sites!

Singapore SIM Card Stay in touch with your family and friends on your trip to Singapore with this SIM card with 7.5 GB of high-speed internet for 15 days .

Singapore Zoo Tour Leave the city and explore one of the most fascinating zoos in the world , where the thousands of animals are only separated by natural barriers.

Singapore Private Tour Explore the city in an exclusive way with this Singapore Private Tour.  Discover the main charms of this city with an exclusive English-speaking guide.

Singapore Cable Car Ticket Enjoy some of the most spectacular views in the city with the Singapore Cable Car Ticket  - the best way to get to Sentosa Island!

Singapore Pub Crawl Enjoy an unforgettable  night of fun in Singapore  on this  pub crawl  of the city's hottest bars, which includes  three drinks . Ready to join the party?

Singapore Bike Tour Discover Singapore in a different way, exploring the city by bike . Visit Kampong Glam, Chinatown and Little India with an expert guide.

Singapore’s Historic Chinatown Walking Tour On this  guided tour of Chinatown , you'll experience the  exciting atmosphere of Singapore's Chinatown , the  oldest part of the city . Plus, sample local cuisine!

Singapore Tour for Cruise Passengers Arriving on board a cruise ship? Discover the main charms of the city with this Singapore Tour for Cruise Passengers taking you to its most symbolic locations.

Singapore Layover Tour Make the most of your stopover with this Singapore Layover Tour. You'll get to know the main monuments accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

Madame Tussauds Ticket Fancy a selfie with Tom Cruise, Taylor Swift or Jackie Chan ? At Madame Tussauds Singapore you'll find tens of wax replicas of the most famous people in history.

Go City: Singapore All-Inclusive Pass The Go City: Singapore All-Inclusive Pass gives you free access to more than 35 attractions around Singapore for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 consecutive days .

Singapore Duck Tour On our Singapore DUCK Tour, we'll travel by both land and sea as we explore one of the most fascinating and bustling cities in Southeast Asia .

Sentosa Island Trip: Self Guided Take the cable car to Sentosa Island to discover the attractions on Singapore's most famous island such as the incredible S.E.A. Aquarium

Singapore Flyer Ticket Enjoy the best panoramic views Singapore offers when you buy this ticket for the amazing  Singapore Flyer observation wheel , one of the most famous in Asia!

Singapore Art and Science Museum Ticket Be seduced by the futurism and the innovative technology in Singapore's Museum of Art and Science found in the most iconic building in the city

Experience an  unforgettable day at Singapore Universal Studios . Spend the day on rollercoasters and meet your favorite characters like  Shrek, Elmo, and more!

Guide to Singapore

The Civitatis tourist guides are written by travelers like you. Here at Introducing Singapore, we're going to let you in on the secrets we discover on our travels. Discover what to see , what to do, and how to save in Singapore, a city known as the Asian Tiger.

The information and details in this guide were updated in March 2023. If you see any errors or anything we should change, please get in touch .

Our travel guides

• top attractions
• Where to stay
• and much more

Singapore Ultimate Travel Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Singapore is a modern, cosmopolitan city. The city is small, which is only around 719.2 sqm land area, but there’s still a lot to see and do. It has something for just about everyone – nature park reserves, beaches, museums, architecture, amusement parks, world-class shopping, and many more! With its location, this city is a convenient gateway to the rest of South-East Asia. You can either start, stop, or end here!

Do you have travel insurance? This is something you should have but wish you never want to use. Accidents can happen anytime and having travel insurance can save you a lot of money in case something goes wrong during your travels! Never travel without one. Get a free quote here.

Table of Contents

Getting To Know Singapore

If you’re looking for a true “Asian” experience, Singapore won’t be at the top of your list. However, it’s a place that packs a lot of inspiration being a world-class technology hub in Asia.

Not only that, but it’s also known as a super clean city, “fine” city, the land of shopping malls, and having one of the best airports in the world. Although known as an expensive city, it has a lot of cheap and great street food!

Before we delve into traveling around Singapore, we’re answering the most frequently asked questions!

What’s the currency in Singapore? SGD (Singaporean Dollar) | January 2021 Conversion Rate: 1.33SGD = $1 USD

Should I tip Singapore? The country does not have a tipping culture. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill so a tip is expected. 

What are the most common languages spoken in Singapore? English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil 

What’s the national language? Malay, but most Singaporeans speak English

Helpful Phrases To Know: Malay

• Hello = apa kabar
• Thank you = terima kasih
• Delicious = lazat
• Coffee = kopi
• Bathroom =  bilik mandi
• How much? = berapa banyak
• Too expensive = mahal
• Don’t want = tidak mahu

Helpful Phrases To Know: Singlish (an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore)

• Very good/delicious = shiok
• Black coffee (without milk) = kopi o
• Coffee with condensed milk = kopi c
• Coffee with less sugar = kopi siu dai
• Eat = makan
• Thank you = thank you ahh

What’s Singapore’s religion and culture? The main religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

How do I get around Singapore? The best way to get around Singapore is via its MRT subway system. Consider buying an EZ-link card or a Singaporean Tourist Pass to spend less and make your trip more convenient.

What’s the plug and socket type in Singapore? In Singapore, the power plugs and sockets are of type G. Bring a power plug adapter for convenience.

When’s the best time to visit Singapore?  

Climate in Singapore

Singapore’s climate is classified as tropical rainforest, with high humidity and abundant rainfall. The best time to travel to Singapore is between February to April. However, the climate is more or less the same all throughout the year. 

•       Rainy season: December-March and June-September
•       Coldest month: February

The peak season for tourists is from   November-January, June, and July. If you don’t like crowded places, better avoid traveling during these months.

Are there any major festivals in Singapore?

• Chinese New Year: mid-January to mid-February
• Thaipusam (Indian festival): first/second week of February
• Singapore Art Festival: May-June
• Hari Raya Puasa (Malay festival for Muslims): June-July
• National Day: August 9
• Singapore River Festival: October
• Lantern Festival: September 15th

Note: The exact dates vary each year.

Travel Tip: Check schedules and availability of buses, ferries, taxis or flights to book online with 12Go Asia.

Before booking your flight and for safe travel, see this  Updated Entry Requirements to Singapore  from Traveloka to get the latest travel information, restrictions, and other arrival preparations to enter Singapore.

Top Things to Do in Singapore

• Explore Gardens by the Bay – Spend a few hours wandering around Marina Bay’s gardens, an iconic destination in Singapore! It has three gardens spanning more than a hundred hectares of reclaimed land. Book your Gardens by the Bay and OCBC Skyway tickets from Klook at a discounted rate!
• Shop on Orchard Road –  Shop till you drop. From everyday items to luxury ones, you can find them here. 
• Have fun at Universal Studios –  Bring out the kid in you and ride all you can at Universal Studios Singapore. You can book discounted Universal Studios tickets from Klook.
• Ride Singapore cable car – Fly at night from Faber Peak Singapore to Sentosa Island and get priceless scenic views of Singapore. Get a discounted Singapore Cable Car Skypass from Klook.
• Visit Night Safari –  Have a wildlife science tour at night. Located next to the Singapore zoo, this park is the world’s first nocturnal park and rainforest lumina. It is open from 7:30 pm until midnight. Get a glimpse of more than 130 species of animals in action, including nocturnal animals. Don’t forget the 20-minute Creatures of the Night show held three to four times per night. Reserve your Singapore Night Safari Open Dated Ticket With Tram Ride from Klook.
• Join a Cooking Class –  Love food? Try joining a cooking class to learn more about Singapore’s culture and food heritage. Book a discounted cooking class ticket from Klook.
• Go on an Adventure at Skyline Luge – For a thrilling experience, the Skyline Luge and Skyride is a must-try! Book discounted tickets from Klook!
• Taste the Ya Kun Kaya Toast –  Taste Singapore’s iconic breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast at a discounted rate. Reserve here.

Top Attractions & Places To Visit in Singapore

Gardens by the bay.

Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare park, combining nature and technology. Check out its Supertrees, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome. These contain ferns, orchids, and flowers from many places in the world like Spain, Italy, and South America!

Entering the park and having your selfie near the Supertrees are free, but you need to pay a fee to explore the Cloud Forest and Forest Dome. 

Book a discounted ticket to Gardens by the Bay here.

Marina Bay is literally a bay, with its surrounding area also called Marina Bay. It’s built on reclaimed land. You can find here Marina Bay Sand, an integrated resort owned by Las Vegas Sands.

It is also known as the world’s most expensive standalone casino, including its land cost. It has three towers connected by a 1-hectare roof terrace, Sands Skypark. Its observation deck provides a dazzling panoramic view across the bay.

Planning to visit Marina Bay? Tour around with a segway guided tour. Book a discounted ticket via Klook.

You can also bike along the bay at night for the best view of the city. It’s one of the best things to do in Singapore at night . You can join a group tour or go alone.

Orchard Road

Known as Asia’s most famous shopping street with nearly 30 shopping malls lined up on its 2.2 km-length, it offers all your shopping needs, from everyday staples to luxury items. You can also find here the National Museum of Singapore. 

A home to different cultures and multi-ethnic culinary traditions, there’s always something exciting in Chinatown.  Whether you are touring age-old temples or looking for a place to eat or drink, check this place out. 

Reserve your Chinatown Singapore Walking Tour from Klook for discounted rates!

Known as “Asia’s Favorite Playground.” It includes casinos, forest adventures, and beach resorts, which makes it a wonderful island for relaxation and recreation. For those who love amusement parks, Universal Studios Singapore is right in this park.

Reserve your Sentosa Fun Pass tickets here for a discounted price!

Or purchase a Sentosa Express Train Ticket here.

S.E.A. Aquarium

Experience the biggest museum in Singapore at S.E.A. Aquarium with a VIP tour from Klook! Reserve a ticket here.

What To Eat In Singapore

Food in Singapore has cultural influences from everywhere-Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, and Indian.

We recommend

•       Chili Crab: national dish of Singapore
•       Hainanese Chicken Rice: originated from Hainan Province
•       Nasi Lemak: famous Malay dish, rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf
•       Biryani: fried rice dish of Indian Muslim influence
•       Roti Prata: a pancake-like bread served with curry
•       Fried Hokkien Mee: famous Singapore fried noodles

Singapore Travel Budget

The Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer by Post Office suggests that Singapore is the most expensive holiday destination worldwide. Still, you can tour Singapore without breaking your bank account. 

Good to know: To spend less, eat your meals at hawker centers. Most destinations can be reached on foot, so just walk. Plus there are free attractions in Singapore such as the Merlion Park, Singapore Botanical Garden, and Gardens by the Bay.

How much should you budget in Singapore (per day)?

The amount usually varies on whether you are a budget or a midrange traveler and if you like to splurge on some things. However, here’s a typical budget when traveling around Singapore.

For the Budget traveler: If you are on a tight budget and watch your spending closely, 40-60 USD per day. 

For the Mid-range traveler: If you want to have a few splurges and stay in nicer accommodations, plan to budget 100-120 USD per day.  

Accommodation

• Dorm bed = 9-12USD
• Budget room = 30-60USD
• Mid-range = 120USD
• Luxury hotel = 500USD
• Street food/hawker center = 2-4USD
• Mid-range restaurant = 10-20USD
• Bottled water = 4.50USD/liter

Transportation

• MRT = an average of 1USD per ride 
• Grab taxi = around 0.16SGD per minute
• Taxi from airport to city center = 14-25USD

Entertainment

• Universal Studios Singapore = 79 USD/one day pass  ( RESERVE YOUR TICKET HERE )
• Skypark viewing deck entrance fee = 23 SGD/adult, 17 SGD/child (2-11 years old)
• Singapore Zoo = 37 USD/adult, 25 USD/child 
• Singapore Cable Car = 35 SGD/adult, 25 SGD/child
• Night Safari = 55 SGD/adult, 39 SGD/child (ages 3-12 years old)
• Cloud Forest and Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay = 28 SGD/adult, 15  SGD/child (3-12 years old)

Budget Tip: For tours and tickets, Klook offers discounted rates for hassle-free trips. 

Where to Stay

These accommodations cost around 40 USD/night, good for 2 people.  

Beat Capsule Hostel

Located in the Boat Quay district of Singapore, this property is found right in the heart of Chinatown. It also gives easy access to MRT and bus stations. Boat Quay is a wonderful choice for travelers interested in skyline views, botanical gardens, and city walks. 

Book here for discounted rates

Conservation Shophouse

Conveniently located in Bras Basah and very close to the following stations: Basah MRT Station (651 meters), City Hall MRT Station (450 meters), and Bugis MRT Station (550 meters). 

Royal Lodge @ Pagoda Street

Just a few steps from Chinatown Heritage Center. The location is right next to Chinatown MRT Station.

7 Wonders Hostel @ Upper Dickenson

Located in Little India. It is near Bugis Street, which is one of the biggest and cheapest places to shop in Singapore, and the Singapore Art Museum. Little India MRT Station is just 300 meters away. 

Beary Best! Kampong Glam

This property is a 10-minute walk from Bugis Street and 300 meters away from Bugis MRT Station. It is also very near the Singapore Flyer and the Singapore Art Museum. Enjoy a nice view of Arab Street from the roof deck! 

Sustainable Travel Tips in Singapore

With how travel has taken the world by storm, we want to influence travelers on traveling more responsible.

So what is responsible travel? According to HuffPost,

Responsible travel (aka responsible tourism) is simply this: Being socially and culturally aware when you travel (i.e. use more common sense people!), understanding your affect on the places you visit and trying to make that affect a positive one.

Walk/ride a bike

A lot of destinations in Singapore are within walking distance, but if you want to cover more distance, you can also join a bike tour in Singapore. 

Instead of buying bottled water, drink tap water!

You can drink water straight from the tap as the water in Singapore passes the standards of the World Health Organization. You can also bring your own refillable water bottles and simply refill. Help save the Earth by reducing your plastic waste.

Talk to the locals

Immerse yourself in the local culture and what better way to do that than talking to the locals? Learn a few bits about their language and meet amazing people!

Respect the places you visit

Know what are the dos and don’ts in the place you are planning to visit. You might unknowingly disrespect the people, the culture, and the environment of the places you visit.

Enjoy the view

It’s nice to take photos to preserve memories but don’t forget to take the time to also appreciate the view. You might be too busy taking photos and selfies that you forget to enjoy the place.

Singapore Packing List

So now you have your flight tickets, it’s time to pack!

• Reef Safe Sunscreen
• Mosquito Repellent
• Refillable Water Bottle
• Travel Adapter
• Cotton Shirts, Pants, Shorts
• First Aid Kit
• Comfortable Shoes
• Skirts & Dresses (for the ladies)
• Umbrella – if you’re going during the rainy season
• Light Jacket – better yet, a waterproof jacket !
• Pocket WiFi
• Menstrual Cups (for girls only)
• Portable Charger / Power Bank
• Don’t forget your travel insurance!

Our Camera Gear

• Mirrorless Camera: Fujifilm XT3
• Lenses: Fujifilm Fujinon kit lens (18-55mm) | Fujinon 35mm f2 | Fujinon 50mm f2
• Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• GoPro: GoPro Hero Black 7
• Power Bank: Romoss Powerbank
• Camera Backpack: Case Logic Camera and Laptop Backpack
• Monopod: Ifootage Cobra 2 a180
• Mic: Rode VideoMicro
• Gimbal: Zhiyun Weebill-S

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• Hong Kong Budget Travel Guide: Six Days Backpacker Trip Itinerary
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SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE with Sample Itinerary & Budget

If my travel history were an Olympic tournament, Singapore would get a medal in at least two categories: the first foreign city I have visited in my life and second in the list of countries I have visited most frequently, ten times despite its reputation as the most expensive city in the world.

Yep, expensive. Ask travelers who have set foot on Singapore for adjectives that best describe the city, and “expensive” won’t be absent from any list. Many of the key attractions here can burn a hole in the pocket. But it doesn’t mean that budget travel isn’t possible. There are many ways to reduce expenses if you just know where to go.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING SINGAPORE

Singapore is an island city state composed of the main island, 62 islets, and sprawling reclaimed lands. Its strategic location makes it an important and vibrant trade hub for centuries. In 1819, it became a British colony until World War II, when the Japanese occupied the island. After the war, it was handed back to Britain but was granted more self-governing power. In 1963, it merged with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia only to be expelled two years later, which gave birth to an independent Republic of Singapore.

Since then, Singapore has catapulted itself to becoming a developed state. Despite the high costs and small land area, it has become a great place to live. It is one of the safest, most organized, most progressive, and least corrupt countries in the region and the world.

Singapore is also a global transport and tourism hub. It is linked to Malaysia by the Johor–Singapore Causeway. Batam in Indonesia is also just one hour’s ferry ride away. And through Changi Airport, widely regarded as the world’s best, Singapore is connected to almost every major city all over the globe.

• Languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil are the four official languages. Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) is the national language, but English is the lingua franca. Most Singaporeans can speak and understand English and another official language.
• Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD, SG$). SGD 1 is roughly USD 0.74, EUR 0.66, PHP 38 (as of May 2019).
• Modes of payment: Although many establishments accept credit cards, cash is still highly recommended.

WHERE TO STAY IN SINGAPORE

Accommodations in Singapore are expensive by Southeast Asian standards, or by any standard for that matter. Budget travelers have three options: backpacker hostels, BnB, and budget hotels. Because space is scarce in Singapore, don’t expect rooms of generous proportions. Rooms are usually just beds with little space around it, and bathrooms are compact. Capsule hotels are also starting to be popular.

Backpackers hostels are concentrated in Chinatown, Little India, Clark Quay, Bugis, and Geylang areas. Most of them offer dorm beds and double rooms. Budget hotels are mostly in Geylang, Little India, and Balestier.

I have personally experienced staying in multiple areas in Singapore: Chinatown, Little India, Geylang, Tiong Bahru, etc. While some are more glamorous than others, all of them felt safe. My Singaporean friends told me that Geylang is the red light district. But I have stayed there too, and it was okay. Our taxi driver, however, that while it is generally safe, female travelers should probably choose another area.

When picking a place to stay, look at its location in the map. Normally, if it’s close to an MRT Station, you should be fine. Most of the attractions in Singapore can be reached via the MRT. But I personally prefer staying in Chinatown because of easy access to the MRT and cheap hawker places.

Here are the best-rated properties in Singapore as scored by Agoda users.

Top Singapore Hostels

• Dream Lodge. Check Rates & Availability!
• Adler Hostel. Check Rates & Availability!
• TRIBE THEORY – Business Hostel for Startups and Entrepreneurs. Check Rates & Availability!
• Ark Hostel. Check Rates & Availability!
• Hipstercity Hostel. Check Rates & Availability!

Top Singapore Budget Hotels

• Hotel Bencoolen @ Hong Kong Street. Check Rates & Availability!
• Hotel 1888 Collection. Check Rates & Availability!
• 30 Bencoolen. Check Rates & Availability!
• Hotel G Singapore. Check Rates & Availability!

Top Capsule Hotels

• Cube Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown. Check Rates & Availability!
• Chic Capsules. Check Rates & Availability!
• Spacepod@com. Check Rates & Availability!
• MET A Space Pod @ Chinatown. Check Rates & Availability!

Search for more Singapore Hotels

HOW TO GET TO SINGAPORE

Singapore’s Changi Airport is one of the most well-connected and widely regarded as the best airport in the world. If you live in a major city in Asia or Europe or North America, chances are, there are direct flights to Singapore available.

Manila to Singapore

The lowest year-round fares are offered by Scoot, JetStar, and Cebu Pacific. But Philippine Airlines also have competitive rates when they have a promo. Travel time: 3 hours 40 minutes.

If you’re a Philippine passport holder, you don’t need a visa. All you need is a valid passport (with 6 months left before expiration). Just show up at the airport and fly.

If you’re traveling with kids who are not YOUR children, you might need a DSWD Travel Clearance. Here’s how to get one: DSWD Travel Clearance

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore by Plane

Plane tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore are incredibly cheap, with base fares not exceeding USD20. Travel time: around 1 hour 15 minutes.

Kuala Lumpur or Malacca to Singapore by Bus

You can also reach Singapore from KL or Malacca (Melaka) by bus. Travel time from KL is 5-7 hours, depending on traffic. From Malacca, only 4-5 hours. You will be crossing the border overland, but it’s quite easy albeit confusing in the beginning. Just make sure of the following:

• Remember your bus details (how it looks, number, etc.) because you will have to get off and hop back on at the border.
• Bring your bags with you when you cross the border.
• Don’t forget your passport and Malaysia Departure Card.

You can book your bus here: Kuala Lumpur-Singapore , Malacca-Singapore

INTERNET CONNECTION IN SINGAPORE

Staying connected to the Internet can make your tourist life a lot easier in Singapore. You have two options: 4G Pocket Wifi and 4G Sim Card. The data SIM card is cheaper, but if you’re a group, renting a mobile wifi is better because you can easily share the connection.

POCKET WIFI RENTAL IN SINGAPORE

• Connect up to 8 devices at once, which is great if you’re traveling with a group because you could just split the cost.
• Pick up and drop off at Changi Airport, so make sure you get it upon arrival.

DATA SIM CARD IN SINGAPORE

• Pick up at Changi Airport.
• 100 GB of 4G mobile speeds anywhere in Singapore
• FREE 20 minutes of international calls

PLACES TO VISIT IN SINGAPORE

A lot! Singapore may be small but it is packed with all sorts of sites, attractions, and adventures! Whatever your reason for traveling is, Singapore has something for you. Shopping? Culture? History? Food? Nature? Theme parks? Singapore has them!

Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is Asia’s second and Southeast Asia’s first movie theme park. Located within Resorts World Sentosa, the place covers 49 acres (20 hectares) of land, harboring a total of 24 exciting attractions! The park is divided into seven zones, each with its own theme that is based on a popular TV show or a blockbuster film. Each zone also has its own characters, restaurants, shops and rides.

How to get there : We have a separate post for that. Read here: How to Get to Universal Studios Singapore

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, Sunday: 10am – 7pm. Saturday: 10am – 8pm

Ticket Prices : Adult (Ages 13-59): S$76 Child (Ages 4-12): S$56 Senior (Ages 60+): S$38

Discounted Tickets! Klook offers one-day passes at a discounted rate if you book in advance. Each booking also comes with a SGD5 Meal Voucher (with minimum spend of SGD10) for adult tickets.

• Gardens by the Bay

It has three main areas: the Flower Dome in the South Garden; the Cloud Forest, which features the tallest indoor waterfall in the world; and the Supertree Grove with the iconic 16-story manmade trees. The Supertree Grove is open to everyone, but tickets are required to enter the two domed areas.

Discounted tickets are available at Klook!

Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Even if you’re not spending a night at the Marina Bay Sands, you can still access its Skypark and Observation Deck for a fantastic unobstructed view of the city.

Opening Hours Monday-Thursday: 9:30am – 10pm Friday-Sunday: 9:30am – 11pm

Entrance Fee: S$23 for adults S$17 for kids (2-12yo) S$20 for seniors (65+) FREE for kids under 2 years

You can get discounted tickets if you book with Klook! For about the same price, Klook offers a package that includes the following:

• Entrance ticket to the Observation Deck
• 1 Day FunVee Hopper Pass
• One traditional coffee or tea at O’Parl Cafe

Sentosa Singapore

If it’s your first time in Singapore, visit Sentosa, a resort island that is bursting with exciting adventures for the entire family. The countless activities you can enjoy here are pretty diverse. But some of the most popular are the Luge, Tiger Sky Tower, Sentosa Merlion, and Cable Car.

If you’re planning on spending a day in Sentosa, consider getting a Sentosa FUN Pass to skip the lines and maximize your time. It’s available in 3 types: 55, 80, and 120 tokens. Each attraction collects tokens. This serves as your currency in the island. For the list of attractions you may enjoy and the corresponding number of tokens, check this out.

Singapore Cable Car

Singapore Cable Car is the most scenic way to Sentosa! The first cableway system in Singapore — linking Sentosa Island and Mount Faber — it was opened in 1974. It allows a 360-degree view of Sentosa including Universal Studios, Resorts World, and Mt. Faber.

Singapore River Walk

This is my fave thing to do in Singapore: walk along the river. You can walk from Raffles Place to the Merlion Park to Esplanade to the Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. I’ve prepared a more detailed post including walking directions and photos here: DIY Singapore River Walk .

Here are the stops along this walking trail:

• Raffles Place
• Fullerton Hotel
• One Fullerton
• Merlion Park
• Asian Civilisations Museum
• Makansutra Gluttons Bay
• Helix Bridge
• Art Science Museum
• Marina Bay Sands

This is a long walk and can take hours. It’s also best done in late afternoon so you get to see the area transform as the sun sets.

Singapore River Cruise

If walking long distances isn’t really your thing, you can join a cruise instead. This 40-minute cruise will let you see the following landmarks while comfortably seated on a boat:

• Clarke Quay
• Read Bridge
• Merlion park
• Bayfront South

The whole journey takes 40 minutes and you can alight at any of the stops. But remember, you would need another ticket after you board again.

Chinatown Tour

Singapore’s Chinatown boasts multi-religious buildings and structures. Aside from a Chinese temple, the street is also home to a mosque, a Methodist Church and an Indian shrine. Confused? Welcome to the club. But that’s what makes this place more endearing. It tells you so much about how Singapore values diversity in culture and religion.

You can tour Chinatown DIY-style! I’ve created a more detailed walking guide here: Chinatown Heritage Walk .

But if you want to really appreciate this place, it’s best to join a group tour and have a guide explain what makes these structures significant. Klook’s Gems of Chinatown Tour covers the following stops:

• Thian Hock Keng Temple
• Sri Mariamman Temple
• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum
• Hawker Food Centers

Little India

Little India can be explored on your own too, which is good if you’re on a budget. But you’ll have a better appreciation of the place if you have a guide that would share some insights about the place. Klook’s Gems of Little India Tour will take you to the following landmarks among others:

• Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
• Campbell Lane
• Little India Arcade
• Tekka Centre

iFly Singapore

Experience how it feels to go skydiving INDOORS and without the danger! iFly lets you enjoy the sport called “bodyflying”, where you get to fly inside the first themed wind tunnel in the world.

Free Things to Do in Singapore

Limited budget? 7 FREE Things to Do in Singapore

DAY TRIPS FROM SINGAPORE

Legoland malaysia.

Sanrio Hello Kitty Town

SAMPLE SINGAPORE ITINERARY

Here’s a sample Singapore itinerary. You may use it but make the necessary adjustments.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN SINGAPORE, RIVER WALK TOUR, MARINA BAY SANDS 07:00 am – ETA Singapore Changi Airport 10:10 am – Check in: Hostel, Lunch 01:00 pm – Singapore River Walking Tour (Sightseeing: Fullerton, Merlion Park, Esplanade, Makansutra, etc) 03:30 pm – Gardens by the Bay 06:00 pm – Marina Bay Sands

Day 2: BOTANIC GARDENS, SENTOSA ISLAND 07:00 am – Singapore Botanic Gardens 10:00 am – Universal Studios Singapore 05:00 pm – Explore rest of  Sentosa

Day 3: CHINATOWN WALK, ORCHARD ROAD, SINGAPORE FLYER 07:00 am – Chinatown Heritage Walk 10:00 am – Orchard Road (Shopping) 03:00 pm – Bugis, St. Andrews Cathedral

Day 4: LITTLE INDIA, RETURN TO MANILA 06:00 am – Little India Walking Tour 10:00 am – Check out: Hostel, Proceed to Airport 02:20 pm – ETD: Changi Airport

You may also add several other attractions.

Breakdown of Expenses

So now we have come to the list of my expenses as part of this Singapore trip. Below is the breakdown of everything I spent on in SG. Note that I did all my tours DIY-style.

TOTAL COST (excluding airfare, travel taxes, and airport fees) SGD 120 – Hostel (4 days, 3 nights) SGD 22 – EZ Link cards (reloaded once, inclusive of almost SGD8 unused) SGD 60 – Total food expenses SGD 26 – Gardens by the Bay SGD 23 – Marina Bay Sands Skypark SGD 4 – Sentosa Monorail Train ticket SGD 76 – Universal Studios ticket SGD 12 – Taxi from Hostel to Airport SGD 343 – TOTAL COST

As I always say, this can change based on your spending habits. I’m only sharing so you have a ballpark figure of how much to prepare here although I strongly recommend that you pad this with much allowance to be on the safe side.

OTHER TIPS FOR THE POOR TRAVELER

• Where to Eat . If you’re on a budget, ditch the restaurants for hawkers. Hawkers will give you a wide array of local options at a much lower price. They abound all around Singapore, but they were not created equal. One of the reasons we recommend Chinatown as a good base is because it is home to one of the best hawker places in SG — Maxwell Food Center . Staying here gives you easy access to cheap but good food every day.
• Walk when you can. One thing I like most was that Singapore is a very “walkable” city. Walkable because it’s actually a fun and rewarding experience to walk around many key areas in the city. The best part, it’s free!
• Get an EZ Link Card if you’re taking the MRT a lot. This will allow you to breeze through the station entrances when taking the train. The train system is pretty expansive so you might want to take advantage of it. It can be a bit tiring, though, especially at interchange connections, when you’re walking from one line to another.
• GST Refund . Tourists in Singapore can claim refund on GST (Goods and Services Tax) paid for items purchased from establishments that are participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme. More info  here .
• No chewing gums, please.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is the best time to visit singapore.

There really isn’t a clear “best” time to visit Singapore. Each month has its distinct pros and cons, so it all depends on your travel habits. But in general, Singapore is a year-round destination.

Weather isn’t that much of a factor. Singapore is hot and humid all year. It also gets over 160 days of rain, spread almost uniformly throughout the year. However, November-January is the wettest period, and May-September the driest.

Events and public holidays can significantly affect your experience and expenses. November-February is peak season, so expect prices of flights and hotels to be rise during this period, especially the days around Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Chinese New Year. September is also high season because of Singapore Grand Prix.

Here are other holidays observed in Singapore.

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Chinese New Year (2 days in January or February)
• Good Friday (March or April)
• Labor Day (May 1)
• Vesak Day (dates vary; usually in May)
• Hari Raya Puasa / Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)
• National Day (August 9)
• Hari Raya Haji / Eid al-Adha (dates vary)
• Diwali / Deepavali (October or November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Whether these days are a good time to visit or not depends on your travel style. If you want to see the festivities (New Year, Chinese New Year, National Day), then go. But if you don’t like the crowd, you might want to avoid them.

If you’re a shopaholic, consider June or July, when the Great Singapore Sale happens.

Is Singapore safe?

Yes, absolutely safe.

According to the 2017 study by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore is the safest city in Southeast Asia and the second safest city in the world, next only to Tokyo, Japan.

What is the tipping custom in Singapore?

You are not expected to tip in Singapore.

Restaurants add a 10% service charge to your bill, so tips are unnecessary. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips either.

At hotels, however, you can give SGD1 per bag to the bellhop who carried your luggage.

Where to exchange currencies? Where are the best money changers?

The Mustafa Center at Little India has one of the best rates I have seen around Singapore. You might want to change money here.

The rates at Change Alley are good too. The Change Alley is a shopping arcade between Chevron House and Hitachi Tower in the Raffles Place area.

But if your budget isn’t that big (say USD 500), I don’t think the difference between here and the ones at the airport matters. You might lose whatever you think you could save in transportation just to get to a good money changer.

What type of power plug/socket is used in Singapore?

Electricity Info: 230V, 50Hz frequency. Type G plugs and sockets.

How to avail of the GST Refund?

If you plan on shopping in Singapore, you can save money by claiming a refund on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

If you spend over SGD100 at a participating store, you can get back the 7% GST that was part of what you paid for. Just ask the shop staff for a Refund Cheque.

You’ll know that the outlet is participating in this scheme if they display a Global Blue Tax Free Shopping logo or Tax Refund logo.

There you have it! We’ll be updating this every time we gather new info. If you have something to add to this or you spot anything that needs correcting, let us know in the comments section below.

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ • 3️⃣ • 1️⃣ (updated) 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 6️⃣ • 1️⃣6️⃣ (up)

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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Hi! I would like to ask, since your blogs or should I say website is really helpful. Usually in the airport, do they need show money?

Appreciate your earliest reply!

Regards, Celle ☺

They don’t usually do that. They sometimes ask how much money you have with you. I usually just say how much and then say I have a credit card too.

Do you have any idea how much? Im afraid that I might get off load by the Immigration Officer. My friends and I will only be staying in SG for 2-3 days as we will be on a cruise and SG is where the ship will embark.

Your response is appreciated.

Ive read that last trip of MRT is around midnight. Our flight will arrive around 11 pm plus we have to go to immigration so we will be out in the airport around midnight, any other means of transpo going downtown? Thanks!

Awesome Article about Singapore travel guide. i love to read your article more and more because you are included all the information with details, links and Photos. You just add some Food related, Shopping related information.

Hi there. Can i still travel to sg even if my passport has less than 6 months before its expiration?

Hi! thanks for this! I’m traveling to SG this year, my second travel for the year but my third time abroad. During my second out of the country, I was asked by the IO if it’s my first time. I said no it’s my second time, but I just renewed my passport at that time so the stamps during my first travel are in my old passport. I was asked if I brought my old one with me but I don’t have it so she just let it pass.

Is there really a need, or is it normal to bring your old expired passport everytime you travel? I’m thinking if I should bring it this time around. Thanks!

Yep, bring the old one with you too.

As Pinoy travelers, we are often subjected to stricter inspection, especially by our own Immigration. It’s best to just bring both to prove your travel history.

May I ask what kind of ITR you bring with you in your travels, is it the annual or quarterly? Thanks, hope to hear from you soon!

How does the GST refund work? Like you ask directly anyone from the staff of the establishment for a refund? Looking forward to your response. Thank you!

Hi Vince. We explained it here: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2011/08/gst-refund-singapore/

Hi Youske, Your article is the most informational one with all the little details starting from how to book a flight to where to stay, what are the places to visit with a budget. “There are many ways to reduce expenses if you just know where to go” this is the best line for me. Information with images is the best part of this article also tickets available for most of the places on your site.So, if somebody is reading this article then he/she doesn’t need to go anywhere for information on Singapore.

Hi, what’s the name of the hostel you stayed?

Hi, had the same question. :)

I usually stay either at G4 Station in Little India or Rucksack Inn at Temple Street, Chinatown. I like Rucksack Inn a little bit more because of excellent location. However, they closed down the Chinatown branch. What’s left now is the Lavender Branch, but I haven’t tried it.

I will be traveling to SG in a couple of weeks and I’m not sure which of the two methods would cost me less in purchases.

1. exchange Philippine Peso to Singapore Dollar 2. use my BPI Gold card (1,85% interest rate)

Thank you so much for everything you do for “poor travelers” like me. More power to you! Looking forward to your response.

Hi Lori, I’m not that familiar with BPI cards, so I don’t know. You’re referring to an ATM/debit card, right? Considering to withdraw cash from an ATM?

In general, when traveling abroad, I find that withdrawing from an ATM is the better and safer way of getting cash. It’s also more convenient because there are usually more ATMs than money changers. So I’m always inclined to use the ATM. (Choose the WITHOUT Conversion option, if you do this.)

In Singapore, though, it’s harder to decide because money changers offer competitive rates. But if you’re withdrawing not that big an amount, the difference is usually too little to matter. You might lose whatever you think you could save in transportation just to get to a good money changer.

Thanks for the prompt response, Yoshke! You’re really the best!

Anyway, here are my follow-up questions:

1. Exchange money here in the PH or In Singapore? 2. ATM or credit card?

Thanks again.

HI! Where did you book your hotel that just cost you 120 SGD? Thanks.

Hi jennie, there are lots of hostels in SG that can give you a bed for less than SGD40 per night (120 for 3 nights). I have stayed in G4 Station Hostel, Rucksack Inn, etc.

Just search Traveloka so you can see all-in rates per night and then sort by lowest price.

hello, currently nagiipon ako ng pocket money for singapore travel mga magkano kaya dapat na budget para sa 4D 3N trip?thanks

Hi Kalium, ayan na po, may summary of expenses naman po sa post sa taas.

Hello po, 1st time traveler po kami to SG sa March, di po ba kami ma offload sa NAIA kung yung tatlo walang work tapos isa di pa regular office? senior citizen, student at unemployed po yung tatlo. bayad na po ang roundtrip ticket, hotel, isang attraction sa SG. at pano po kami makaka less sa food kasi gusto lang talaga ng lolo namin makita yung merlion at ang singapore. thank you po. :)

As tourists po ba kayo or may ivivisit?

Sa food, sa hawker places po kayo kumain para makatipid. :)

Hi, Yoshke! Is there locker that we could leave our luggage at Universal Studio or nearby area? TIA

Hi Clint! Yep, there are lockers at Universal Studios Singapore. :)

Hi Yoshke! Do Legoland accepts SGD? If not, magkano kaya MYR budget for food sa Legoland? Do they accept credit card for food purchase? TIA!

Thanks For Sharing the post. Your post is really very good. Singapore is the best destination to enjoy the holidays. I enjoyed there Singapore Malaysia Tour Package with Cruise.

So na inspire ako dito hahaha.. Mag ta travel kami ng papa ko na senior citizen to Singapore..My question ia unemployed siya, based sa website ng immigration need daw ng affidavit of support.. Nag prepare ka din ba nun?

Ideally, pag sponsored ung travel, need nun.

Pero if sya naman ang gagastos sa sarili nya, ang alam ko di naman need yun. Yun ang alam ko ha. Sa experience ko kasi, mas maluwag usually ang immigration sa seniors. Pag kasama ko nanay ko, di sya hinahanapan ng anything. Mas marami pa tanong sa akin.

First time ng Mom ko magtatravel and she is unemployed. Pero sya ang gagastos para sa travel nya papuntang SG since she has the money naman. Anong mga need iprepare na proof sa immigration kapag ganun?

Hi Jai, will she be traveling alone or with family?

Hi, Yoshke!

What’s your advice sa currency exchange? Dito ba ako dapat mag papalit or dun na sa SG?

My options are:

a. PHP to USD to SGD b. PHP to SGD c. USD to SGD

I have USD on hand but torn ako if gagamitin ko na ba sya for my trip this Jan 2020. This will be the second time I’m traveling to SG, but my first time to use my own money kaya I am trying to stretch the money I have.

Please enlighten me.

Thank you for your very informative blog! Really helped me in my iti.

More power to you!

Hi Janine, whatever currency you currently carry (PHP or USD), convert directly to SGD. If you have more pesos, you can convert directly from PHP to SGD. Avoid converting PHP to USD then to SGD. You’ll lose more in double conversion. :)

You’ll find good rates at Mustafa Center and Change Alley in SG. :)

I will take note of this.

Thanks for the fast response! :)

Hello, my bestfriend and I will be travelling to Singapore this Nov. 29, both of us are working but wala akong ITR as of the moment kasi di aabot ang sahod ko sa minimum required annual income. Ok lang po yun? Thanks!

Hi Lorina, usually, hindi naman hinahanap ang ITR. Madalas, company ID lang. Kung wala kang ITR and feel mo na baka ma-secondary inspection ka, you can bring other proof of employment. More info here: https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2014/03/offloaded-philippine-immigration-rules-requirements-airport/

By the way, ang pagkakaalam ko po, kahit hindi abot sa minimum, pwede pa rin kayong ma-issuehan ng ITR if nagbabayad ng tax ung employer nyo for you. Lalabas lang dun na zero ung tax pero andun pa rin ung other details. Ask mo employer nyo for a copy of last year’s ITR.

Thank you for answering! Barangay Treasurer po kasi ako and nakasanayan na nila na di magbayad ng tax

Government employee? Pag ganyan yata need ng travel authority. Pero di ako familiar dun.

Hi? hindi po ba maququestion ng IO if 7 days and 6nights ang ticket ko? but may return ticket naman ako pa balik ng dubai.

Im planning to travel in SG this coming May, can you suggest super duper cheap hostel coz i do have a very tight budget for 3 days. hope to hear an answer soon. thank you!

Quick question, if I plan to visit Legoland for a daytrip, do I need to indicate Malaysia as my port of disembarkation sa arrival card?

Also, any idea if pwede pang magamit yung MTR card packaged with the Singtel tourist SIM kahit expired na yung SIM? My friend bought the tourist SIM kasi last December and I was wondering if I can still use the MTR para no need na mag buy pa ako.

Thanks so much!

The refund in SG was the most easier thing ever. Compared with Thailand, Singapore was so fast and easy to do all the things: mostly online! Great place for shopping is Singapore.

What is the best SIM card for internet? Is there a free and reliable wifi in most establishments po?

In our most recent trip a couple of months ago, we used both M1 and StarHub, oki naman pareho:

M1: https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=825&aff_adid=648595&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Factivity%2F16675-4g-sim-card-singapore%2F

Starhub: https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=825&aff_adid=610426&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Fen-AU%2Factivity%2F16676-4g-travel-sim-card-singapore%2F

Hindi po kasi kami nagcoconnect sa mga free wifi for security issues na rin so sa Data SIM lang kami nakaasa.

Singapore has a lot more to offer outside of the normal tourist attractions, ask any local or expat and they will happily share their own local experiences that don’t always cost the earth!

meron po ba update sa reguirements papuntang SG. Thanks po

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• Marketing Partnership Programme
• SingapoReimagine Marketing Programme
• Singapore On-screen Fund
• Hotel Licensing Regulations
• Data College
• Trade Events and Activities
• Trade Events Overview
• SingapoReimagine Global Conversations
• SingapoRediscovers Vouchers
• Made With Passion
• Joint Promotion Opportunities
• Procurement Opportunities for STB's Overseas Regional Offices
• Product And Industry Updates
• Rental of F1 Pit Building
• Singapore Tourism Accelerator
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• STB Marketing College
• Tourism Innovation Challenge
• Harnessing Technology to Emerge Stronger Post COVID-19
• Tourism Transformation Index (TXI)
• New Tourism Development in Jurong Lake District
• International Trade Events
• Singapore Familiarization Trips
• EVA-Ready Programme
• Tourism Industry Conference
• Expo 2025 Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities
• Students & Fresh Graduates
• Professionals
• Attractions Operator
• Business/Leisure Event Organiser
• Media Professional
• Tourist Guide
• Travel Agent

TOURIST GUIDE LICENCE

An individual who personally provides any guiding services to a tourist for remuneration requires a tourist guide licence.

LICENCE SUMMARY

Licensing matters.

Conditions of Licence for Tourist Guides

CONTACT INFORMATION

For clarification, please contact [email protected]

How to be a licensed Tourist Guide

Any person wanting to be a licensed Tourist Guide has to undergo the  Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ)  Tourist Guide (TG) Course provided by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)​ approved training providers and pass all the relevant assessments before they could be issued with a Tourist Guide licence. Appended below are the minimum requirements to register for the WSQ TG Course.

Candidates must fulfil the following criteria:

• - be over 21 years of age
• - be medically fit
• - be highly proficient in the language you wish to guide in
• - possess a secondary education (GCE ‘O’ levels or equivalent) with the following language proficiency:

if you are guiding in English :

    i) GCE 'O' Level Certificate with a Min. Grade B4 in English; or

    ii) WSQ WPL Level 6 in English language

if you are guiding in Mandarin:

    i) GCE 'O' Level Higher Chinese / Chinese as first language (Min. Grade C6); or

    ii) GCE 'O' Level Chinese as second language (Min. Grade B4); or

    iii) WSQ Business Test Level 4 in Chinese language;

    AND    ​

    iv) Primary 6 pass or WSQ WPL Level 3 in English language

if you are guiding in other languages:

    i) Have a high standard of proficiency in the guiding language;

    AND

    ii) Primary 6 pass or WSQ WPL Level 3 in English language

There are currently 3 SSG Approved Training Providers (ATOs) to conduct this programme.  Please contact the ATOs for the course fees and course schedules.

• ​Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute of Business (SCCIOB)

          T: 6334 1080/6325 0071            Website:  www.scciob.edu.sg

• ​​Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS)

          T: 6238 8688            Website:  www.tmis.edu.sg

• William Angliss Institute Pte Ltd (WAI)

          T: 6637 9855           Website:  www.angliss.edu.sg

You might also be interested in

>  Non-Renewable Temporary Occupation Licence (NRTOL)

About the Organisation

What industry does your organization fall within, what best describes the key intent of the project that your organisation is seeking funding for, is your organisation a singapore-registered legal entity, is your organisation an association, is the project able to achieve one or more of the following outcome.

• Increase no. of sailings to/from Singapore
• Increase no. of foreign cruise passengers to Singapore through sailings to/from Singapore
• Increase no. of pre/post nights for cruise passengers sailing to/from Singapore
• Increase capability of industry players via cruise-specific industry training programmes
• Strengthen the potential/ attractiveness of cruising in Singapore and/or Southeast Asia

Is the project able to achieve one or more of the following?

• Improve visitor satisfaction (especially foreign visitors)
• Increase footfall
• Increase revenue
• Significant branding and PR value

Is the project able to attract foreign visitors and contribute to foreign visitors' spend?

Who will be the main target audience of your project, is your project innovative and/or a new event in singapore with tourism potential, what best describes your project, does the event have proven track records in singapore or overseas, and/or growth in tourism value such as growing foreign visitorship, and/or enhancement of precinct vibrancy etc, does the project have a clear tourism focus (e.g. tourism-related trainings, tourism companies taking on capability development initiatives or technology companies creating technology products and services for the tourism businesses), what best describes your market feasibility study project.

Based on your selection, the following STB grant/s may be applicable for your project:

Please note that projects that have commenced prior to Singapore Tourism Board's offer may not be eligible for grant support. Examples where projects are deemed as having commenced include:

• Applicant has started work on the project e.g. tender has been called.
• Applicant has made payment(s) to any supplier, vendor or third party.
• Applicant has signed a contractual agreement with any supplier, vendor or third party.

Passing Thru Travel

Insider’s Guide to 12 Top Hotels in Singapore

Posted: February 24, 2024 | Last updated: February 24, 2024

Singapore is a global hub celebrated for its multicultural landscape, architecture, and verdant urban environments. Within this dynamic setting, the city’s luxury accommodations distinguish themselves through unparalleled service, sophisticated design, and forward-thinking amenities. This guide explores Singapore’s finest hotels, spotlighting establishments that deliver exceptional experiences for those pursuing opulence and visitors traveling on business or for pleasure. Each hotel selected for this guide embodies the unique character of Singapore, offering insights into the city’s rich heritage and contemporary lifestyle.

1. W Hotel Singapore – Sentosa Cove

The W Hotel Singapore – Sentosa Cove distinguishes itself within Singapore’s luxury accommodation sector through its strategic location in Sentosa Cove and its essence of the city’s dynamic spirit. The hotel’s design philosophy mirrors the city’s blend of modernity and lush tropical landscapes, offering guests a retreat from the urban rush without sacrificing the vibrancy and cultural richness of the city. Each room and suite is crafted to balance contemporary luxury and comfort, ensuring a stylish and relaxing stay.

Dining at the W Hotel is highlighted by the SKIRT Restaurant, renowned for its avant-garde culinary techniques and selection of premium ingredients, offering a unique gastronomic experience. The recent renovations of the WET Deck, ballroom, and meeting spaces have further enhanced the hotel’s offerings, providing guests with sophisticated venues for relaxation, social events, and business gatherings. These upgrades reflect the hotel’s commitment to innovation and excellence, catering to the diverse needs of its guests and positioning the W Hotel Singapore – Sentosa Cove as a premier destination for discerning travelers.

Insider’s Tip: Take advantage of the hotel’s Whatever/Whenever service for personalized experiences, from yacht charters to custom dining setups by the pool.

How to Get There: Accessible by taxi or bus from the mainland, the hotel is a short drive across the Sentosa Gateway.

2. Shangri-La Hotel Singapore

Nestled amidst 15 acres of lush tropical gardens, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore is an urban oasis for leisure and business travelers located in the heart of the city. The hotel offers a range of accommodations, from the luxurious Tower Wing with its contemporary guestrooms to the more exclusive Valley Wing, known for its unparalleled service and privacy. The hotel’s extensive facilities include a spa, health club, several award-winning restaurants, and the unique Buds by Shangri-La, an interactive play space for children.

Insider’s Tip: Guests staying in the Valley Wing enjoy complimentary champagne, wine, and cocktails throughout the day in the private Summit Room.

How to Get There: The hotel is conveniently located on Orange Grove Road, just a short drive from Orchard Road, and easily accessible by taxi or public transport from anywhere in the city.

3. Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is an iconic landmark of Singapore’s skyline, known for its extraordinary design, luxury accommodations, and unmatched city views. The hotel features the world’s largest rooftop Infinity Pool, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline. Its integration with the Marina Bay Sands Mall, ArtScience Museum, and direct access to the Singapore Grand Prix circuit, positions it as a premier choice for luxury and convenience.

Insider’s Tip: Book a Club Room or Suite for access to the Sands SkyPark Infinity Pool and the Club Lounge, where complimentary breakfast and evening cocktails are served against stunning city views.

How to Get There: Marina Bay Sands is centrally located and accessible by MRT, with Bayfront Station providing direct access.

4. Raffles Hotel

Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style luxury hotel synonymous with Singapore’s history. Since its opening in 1887, it has hosted celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries. The hotel’s elegant suites, exquisite dining options, and the legendary Long Bar – the birthplace of the Singapore Sling – offer guests a taste of Singapore’s colonial past blended with modern luxury.

Insider’s Tip: Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the Grand Lobby, a quintessential Raffles experience.

How to Get There: Raffles Hotel is located in the heart of the city, easily accessible by MRT (City Hall or Esplanade stations), and a short walk from central shopping districts.

5. The Fullerton Bay Hotel

The Fullerton Bay Hotel offers guests waterfront elegance and panoramic views of Marina Bay. The hotel’s architecture combines the city’s rich heritage and contemporary design. Rooms and suites are lavishly appointed, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the stunning Singapore skyline. The hotel’s rooftop pool and Lantern Bar provide an exquisite setting for relaxation and socializing.

Insider’s Tip: Request a room facing Marina Bay for the best views, especially during the National Day fireworks display.

How to Get There: Located in the Marina Bay area, the hotel is accessible by MRT (Raffles Place Station) and a short walk from the financial district.

6. The St. Regis Singapore

The St. Regis Singapore, situated in the prestigious Orchard Road neighborhood, epitomizes timeless elegance and unparalleled service. The hotel boasts one of Asia’s finest private art collections, opulent rooms, and the signature St. Regis Butler Service. Its award-winning Remède Spa and exquisite dining venues, including Brasserie Les Saveurs, offer indulgent experiences.

Insider’s Tip: Utilize the St. Regis Butler Service for personalized assistance, from unpacking and packing services to bespoke in-room dining experiences.

How to Get There: The hotel is a short distance from Orchard MRT station, making it easily accessible from anywhere in the city.

7. Capella Singapore

Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island offers a luxurious retreat set amidst lush greenery and overlooking the South China Sea. The hotel blends Singapore’s rich colonial heritage with contemporary design, offering spacious villas and manors with private plunge pools. Capella’s personalized service, including dedicated Personal Assistants, ensures a bespoke experience for every guest.

Insider’s Tip: Book a session at the Auriga Spa, known for its holistic treatments inspired by the lunar cycles, for a truly rejuvenating experience.

How to Get There: Capella Singapore is a 15-minute drive from the mainland via Sentosa Gateway. Complimentary shuttle services are available for hotel guests.

8. Andaz Singapore

Andaz Singapore, a concept by Hyatt, offers a fresh take on luxury with its vibrant design and innovative approach to hospitality. The hotel is in the Duo Galleria and boasts stunning city views from its guestrooms and rooftop bar, Mr. Stork. The hotel’s interior design reflects the cultural heritage of its Bugis neighborhood, blending traditional Singaporean elements with modern aesthetics. Dining options include Alley on 25, a unique ‘street dining’ experience, and the 665°F steakhouse on the 38th floor.

Insider’s Tip: Visit Mr. Stork, the rooftop bar, for 360-degree city views and unique teepee hut seating, making it a perfect spot for sunset cocktails.

How to Get There: The hotel is centrally located in Bugis, easily reachable by MRT (Bugis station) and a network of buses.

9. The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is synonymous with timeless luxury and impeccable service. Situated in Marina Bay, the hotel offers panoramic views of the Singapore skyline and Marina Bay Sands from its spacious rooms and suites. The hotel is renowned for its 4,200-piece contemporary art collection, including works by Frank Stella and Dale Chihuly. Culinary delights await at the Michelin-starred Summer Pavilion and the Colony, which offers a unique British-colonial-themed buffet experience.

Insider’s Tip: Request a Marina Bay view room for an unforgettable view of the city’s skyline, especially stunning during the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown fireworks display.

How to Get There: Located in the heart of Marina Bay, the hotel is a short distance from the Promenade MRT station and accessible by various bus routes.

10. Sofitel Singapore City Centre

Sofitel Singapore City Centre demonstrates French elegance and cosmopolitan sophistication in the heart of Singapore’s CBD. Each guestroom combines French design with local touches, offering luxury and comfort. The hotel’s 1864 bar serves up bespoke cocktails and a wide selection of teas, while Racines restaurant offers both French and Chinese cuisines prepared in show kitchens. The hotel also features a 30-meter infinity pool and the SoFit gym, ensuring guests can relax and recharge in style.

Insider’s Tip: Take advantage of the hotel’s location to explore the nearby Chinatown district, where traditional shops and modern cafes glimpse Singapore’s rich culture.

How to Get There: The hotel is directly accessible from Tanjong Pagar MRT station, making it a convenient choice for travelers.

11. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay is Singapore’s first ‘garden-in-a-hotel,’ integrating lush greenery with modern architecture and sustainable practices. The hotel’s atrium is a stunning, sky-lit oasis featuring a 13-meter tall green wall and a spectacular indoor garden. Guestrooms are designed with eco-friendly materials and offer city or bay views. The hotel also boasts one of Singapore’s largest collections of Southeast Asian art, enhancing the cultural experience for guests.

Insider’s Tip: Don’t miss the chance to dine at Peppermint, the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant, offering healthy and sustainable dining options with ingredients sourced from local and regional farms.

How to Get There: Situated in the Marina Bay area, the hotel is easily accessible by MRT, with the Esplanade and Promenade stations nearby.

12. The Warehouse Hotel

The Warehouse Hotel, located on the banks of the Singapore River, is a boutique hotel with a rich history. Originally built in 1895 as a warehouse, the building has been carefully restored to offer a unique blend of industrial heritage and contemporary design. The hotel’s 37 rooms feature a minimalist aesthetic focusing on quality materials and craftsmanship. The Lobby Bar and Po Restaurant offer innovative takes on local cuisine, making it a favorite among foodies.

Insider’s Tip: Try the hotel’s signature cocktail, the Warehouse Negroni, inspired by its spice trade history, for a taste of the past with a modern twist.

How to Get There: The hotel is in the Robertson Quay area, accessible by taxi or a short walk from Fort Canning MRT station.

When to Travel

Singapore, a city-state known for its perpetual summer, offers a vibrant calendar of events and festivals throughout the year, making any time a good time to visit. However, specific periods stand out for their special events and festive seasons, enhancing the travel experience with unique cultural insights and celebrations. From vibrant cultural festivals and world-class sporting events to culinary celebrations and arts festivals, the city-state is alive with activities throughout the year.

These events showcase Singapore’s diverse heritage and its modern, innovative spirit. Whether you’re a foodie, art enthusiast, shopaholic, or sports fan, Singapore’s event lineup promises memorable experiences against the backdrop of one of Asia’s most dynamic cities.

Singapore’s luxury hotels are gateways to experiencing the city’s rich tapestry of culture, history, and modernity. Whether you’re seeking a retreat in the heart of the city or an escape to an island paradise, these hotels offer unparalleled experiences that cater to your every desire. As you plan your journey to this vibrant city-state, let these destinations guide you to the extraordinary, where every stay promises to be an unforgettable part of your Singapore adventure.

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The post Insider’s Guide to 12 Top Hotels in Singapore republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Luciano Mortula – LGM.

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• Travel Insurance

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Travel Insurance For Singapore: The Complete Guide

Updated: Apr 2, 2024, 4:42pm

Table of Contents

Singapore travel insurance, what does travel insurance for singapore cover, can i tailor my travel insurance for singapore, what does travel insurance for singapore exclude, how much does travel insurance for singapore cost, how can i compare travel insurance for singapore, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Singapore has long been a holiday favourite for Australians, either as a stop-over city on the way to Europe or the Middle East or as base for exploring Asia. According to the latest figures from data portal, Statista, 566,000 Australians visited the country in 2022.

If you’re also planning to visit, travel insurance for Singapore can safeguard your trip against a number of potential mishaps, such as falling ill while away, losing your luggage and belongings or even needing to cancel the trip before it’s even begun. Singapore is a safe country, but the cost of medical care is high.  Find out more about how travel insurance for Singapore works below.

There are three main types of travel insurance policy for Singapore. These are:

• Single trip: for a one-off trip in the space of 12 months to Singapore
• Annual multi-trip : for more than one trip in the space of 12 months to Singapore or various destinations. This type of cover can work out more cost-effective than buying multiple single trip policies but not always so it’s best to compare both types of cover.
• Long-stay/backpacker : for an extended stay in Singapore, of typically 60 or 90 days, or 12 or 18 months. Cover for 24 months may be available, from certain providers.

When applying for travel insurance online, you’ll first be asked to enter your holiday destination. Depending on the insurer, you’ll need to click on Singapore, Asia or Worldwide travel excluding the US and nearby destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Greenland. The latter option excludes a part of the world where medical costs are the highest, which in turn, bumps up the cost of cover. If you’re also planning to travel to the US, for example, there are separate worldwide policies that include it as a destination.

Insurers usually offer at least two or more types of travel insurance policy from basic or comprehensive cover and anything in between. Comprehensive policies offer the highest cover levels and widest range of benefits.

A key component of all travel insurance policies is emergency medical cover. You’ll find a comprehensive policy for Singapore will often offer an unlimited amount.

The standard of medical facilities and care in Singapore is similar to, or higher than in Australia, and the cost often much higher, so medical cover can prove a vital resource should you fall ill, or get injured, while away.

Note that in the case of an emergency, you’ll likely need to pay up-front first, and then reclaim the costs from your insurer, or confirm payment from your insurer with a hospital before it will provide treatment.

As standard, travel insurance for Singapore can also cover repatriation and emergency rescue, in severe medical cases, the loss or theft of your baggage and belongings and trip cancellation if you can no longer travel for reasons such as falling ill, suffering a bereavement or losing your job.

They will also likely include an array of other forms of protection, providing the most at comprehensive level. This includes cover for lost or stolen money, passports and documentation, missed departures, online fraud, and travel delay. The types of cover on offer, and cover limits, will vary between providers. You can find exactly what a policy includes in its product disclosure statement (PDS), which is usually found on an insurer’s website.

There are a number of ways you can ensure your policy fits your needs. Many insurers offer optional add-ons that you can purchase if you need specialised cover. These include insurance for gadgets (such as a smartphone or laptop), a cruise and playing golf.

If you’re thinking of participating in more high-octane activities, check your policy’s PDS. Many cover around 100 or so sports automatically. Cover for what an insurer classes as high-risk activities, such as skydiving, bungee jumping, outdoor rock climbing, and activities requiring a set of wheels, such as quad biking, may require purchasing an additional ‘sports pack’ for your policy.

While reading through a policy’s PDS, it’s crucial to also take note of any limitations of cover. These can differ between policies, but generally you can expect most insures to refuse claims relating to a pre-existing condition. This is a medical condition you had before taking out the policy. The insurer may not cover such conditions, or may refuse your claim if you did not declare your condition on applying for the policy.

An insurer is also unlikely to accept claims for an injury caused by taking part in a sport or activity where you did not wear the appropriate safety gear, such as a helmet, knee pads or a harness. Claims resulting from disorderly behaviour or being under the influence of drink or drugs will also likely be rejected.

It’s best to regularly check government advice for your destination, which it publishes on its Smartraveller website. This includes warnings about natural disasters, terrorism threats and pandemics. Visiting Singapore, or a part of the country, if the government puts it on its “do not travel” list, could invalidate your policy.

The amount you’ll need to pay for your travel insurance policy will depend on a range of factors. An insurer will consider your holiday destination, associated costs when travelling there and the length of time you’ll be travelling.

The price of a policy can rise for mature travellers and those with pre-existing conditions, as insurers view these travellers as more likely to claim on their policy.

To provide an idea of how much travel insurance for Singapore can cost, we ran quotes on the sites of the insurers we’ve rated the top five for travel insurance.

We used the profile of a family of four, aged 42, 40, 14 and 12, spending 13 to 26 May in the country, and assumed they have no pre-existing conditions, (although these providers do offer cover for pre-existing conditions should you need it).

We found basic cover ranged from around $106 to $202, while comprehensive cover started at around $241, with the most expensive policy costing just under $304.

Before choosing a policy, it’s important to shop around. An easy way to do this is to run quotes on the websites of various insurers and compare factors such as the type of cover a policy includes and cover levels against price.

To help you with your search, we’ve conducted some research and found our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance policies .

Is travel insurance for Singapore worth it?

While travel insurance for Singapore isn’t mandatory, it can be considered a travel essential if you have no other means of covering emergency costs while away.

Emergency medical fees can easily stack up to thousands of dollars alone, and without travel insurance in place, you would have to cover them out of pocket. Travel insurance also can cover a number of eventualities that we often fail to consider, such as an airline, transport company, or accommodation provider going bust.

What is ‘excess’ in insurance?

An excess is a set amount you’ll be expected to pay on each approved claim. It’s usually levied per person on the policy, per event, per claim, but you can check the PDS for the specifics concerning your insurer. You usually can pick from a range of excess amounts, from $50 to $250 on average, when taking out a policy.

The more you choose to pay in excess, the lower your policy premium—the cost of your policy—typically will be, while paying less in excess will raise the cost. An excess is usually deducted from a claim amount, so you won’t need to pay for it out of pocket. However, it’s still crucial that you make sure it’s affordable.

Can I buy a policy while I’m in Singapore?

Some providers won’t cover a holiday if it’s already started. Others may cover you, but apply a waiting period of around 72 hours before you can claim.

The best time to take out travel insurance is as soon as you’ve booked your holiday, as you’ll be immediately covered for trip cancellation. Insurers are highly unlikely to consider claims resulting from something that happened before you took out the policy.

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I have been writing for newspapers, magazines and online publications for over 10 years. My passion is providing, in a way that is easily accessible and digestible to all, the knowledge needed for readers to not only manage their finances, but financially flourish.

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A survival guide to Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 concerts at National Stadium

Following Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars is the third global pop artist to perform at Singapore’s National Stadium this year. The American musician will perform three sold-out dates in April 2024. Find out how to get through one of 2024’s biggest gigs with this survival guide of Bruno Mars concerts in Singapore – from how to get there and what to bring, to the song setlist you can expect.

Multi-award-winning pop star Bruno Mars will hit the 55,000 pax-capacity National Stadium stage in Singapore to perform three sold-out shows in April 2024. Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift also achieved this same sold-out feat for their concerts.

The ‘Uptown Funk’ hitmaker last performed in Singapore back in 2014 and 2018. Both were at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Thus, this upcoming gig is his first performance in a large venue.

Although Mars’ latest music is with Anderson .Paak under the duo’s moniker Silk Sonic, he is expected to belt out songs from his third and most recent album, 24K Magic.

For a stress-free concert experience, pre-planning is essential to ensure maximum enjoyment. You know the drill by now. Read on for our complete guide on how to survive through the funk-ed-up night, that is, the Bruno Mars concert in Singapore this April 2024.

Here’s your must-have survival guide to Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 concerts:

Important details of the bruno mars: live in singapore 2024 concerts.

Address : Singapore National Stadium, 1 Stadium Drive, Singapore 397629

Starting time : 8pm for all shows. Doors will open, starting with VIP standing ticket holders, from 5:30pm. There is no opening act for this concert.

Duration of concert : Approximately 120 minutes

How to get to the National Stadium in Singapore

Because parking is limited, arriving via public transport like train or bus is advisable at least one hour before the show starts. This will help minimise disruption to traffic flow.

Train  – Alight at Stadium MRT Station (CC6) on the Circle Line. It is the nearest station which exits directly into the Singapore Sports Hub.

Alternatively, visitors can travel from Mountbatten MRT Station (CC7) or Kallang MRT Station (EW10). Both are approximately 600m walking distance to Singapore Sports Hub. The former also serves as an alternative station via the Circle Line for leaving the venue.

Bus  – Alight at Stadium Station (80199) for Bus 11, National Stadium (80219) for Bus 10, 14, 16, 16M, 70, 196, and Opposite National Stadium (80211) for Bus 10, 14, 16, 16M, 70, 196.

When and how to enter: Standing Pen Ticket Holders

Silver VIP and Priority Standing Ticket Holders

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security checkpoints when they open at 4:30pm.

Entrance for the Silver VIP Package & Priority Standing ticket holders is located at 100PLUS Promenade, Gate 22 (Level 3). Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 5:30pm.

General Standing Ticket Holders

The entrance for the General Standing ticket holders is located at 100PLUS Promenade, Gate 11, 12, 15 & 21 (Level 3).

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security checkpoints when they open at 4:30pm. Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 5:45pm.

When and how to enter: Seated Area Ticket Holders

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security check points when it opens at 5:30pm. Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 6pm.

For Gold and Silver VIP Package Holders

Wristband Redemption:

All Gold and Silver VIP Package Holders must redeem their wristbands before admission. Wristband redemption is only valid on the show day indicated on your ticket(s) and do prepare your ticket(s) upon wristband redemption.

Location & Timing : OCBC Square, from 3pm to 9pm.

Redemption of VIP Merchandise:

Redemption of VIP Merchandise can only be done after the show ends and only valid on the show day indicated on your tickets. Present your wristband upon collection. VIP Merchandise redemption must be done on the same day at the venue. All uncollected items will be forfeited.

Location & Timing: OCBC Square, from show end until 11:30pm

VIP Express Bar Queue

There will be dedicated express bar queues for Gold and Silver VIP ticket holders inside the venue. Do present your VIP wristband for verification.

What to bring (and not to bring) + security screening

Concert-goers should adhere to the following Singapore Sports Hub admission policy to ensure seamless entry into the National Stadium on the three concert dates. Also, carry only the essentials for quick security checks. Attendees are also encouraged to stay hydrated throughout to prevent over-exhaustion and hyperthermia.

• Admission to show/venue by full ticket only. Printed/electronic tickets must be produced for admission.
• Have e-tickets ready and brighten your mobile screens for ushers to scan you in easily.
• No outside food and beverages are allowed into the venue.
• Personal water bottles are to be emptied before entering the venue; clear bottles are preferred.
• Bags exceeding 35cm x 20cm x 30cm are not allowed into the venue.
• Noise makers are not permitted in the venue (including but not limited to: air horn, whistle, etc.)

Child Policy

• Children aged 3 and above must purchase a ticket for admission.
• No admission for infants in arms and children aged below 3 years old.
• Children under 12 years old or below 1.2m in height are not allowed into the standing areas.

Audio, Photography & Videography Policy

• No professional photography, videography, and social media live streaming are allowed.
• Strictly no cameras, video cameras, GoPros, iPads and tablets.
• No selfie sticks, tripods and monopods.

Where to get official Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 merchandise

Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024’s official merchandise booths are located at OCBC Square and South Dome Deck. There are also merchandise booths within the National Stadium Gate 3 and 9 (Level 3) for designated ticket holders on the Concert Floor (Level 1) and Sections 101 to 150.

There will also be dedicated queues for Gold and Silver VIP ticket holders. These are only available at OCBC Square and South Dome Deck merchandise booths. Present your VIP wristband upon entry.

• Payment Terms: Cashless Payment Only – VISA, Mastercard, JBC, PayNow, ApplePay, GooglePay, Samsung Pay, Singtel Dash, UnionPay, Android Pay, EZ-Link, WeChat Pay, AliPay. Cash will NOT be accepted.
• Strictly no overnight queueing allowed.
• Merchandise available on a while stock last basis.
• Refunds/exchanges are only applicable to damaged or defective items that are purchased at the concert site, so please check your items before leaving the counter.
• Strictly no refunds/exchanges will be made once you leave the counter.
• The organiser reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions.⁠

What to expect for Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 (and setlist)

The Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 concert setlist is pretty much consistent across all his Asia stops so far, as well as his Las Vegas residency.

Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 expected concert setlist

1. 24K Magic 2. Finesse 3. Treasure 4. Liquor Store Blues / Billionaire 5. Perm 6. Calling All My Lovelies / Wake Up In The Sky 7. That’s What I Like/Please Me 8. Guitar & Saxophone Solo 9. Versace on the Floor 10. It Will Rain 11. Marry You 12. Drum Solo by Eric “E-Panda” 13. Runaway Baby 14. Fuck You / Young, Wild and Free / Grenade / Talking to the Moon / Nothin’ on You / Leave the Door Open 15. When I Was Your Man 16. Piano Solo 17. Locked Out of Heaven 18. Just the Way You Are 19. Uptown Funk (Encore)

The above setlist is from his recent Bangkok leg which concluded on 31 March 2024.

Bruno Mars Official After-party at Marquee Singapore

For those who didn’t secure tickets to the concert, you still have a chance to see the singer himself. After Mars’ final show on April 6, he will host an official after-party at Marquee Singapore. He is set to wrap up the Singapore leg with a party at Marquee Singapore.

Details for Bruno Mars’s official after-party at Marquee Singapore:

Online Tickets* General Admission (Online Special): $100 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher) Expedited Entry: $300 (inclusive of 2 drink vouchers) *prices are exclusive of booking fee and GST. Get your tickets online through Marquee Singapore website .

At the Door General Admission: $150 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher) Expedited Entry: $300 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher)

Doors will open at 10pm and the party will happen till April 7, 6am.

Location : 2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Galleria Level B1-67, Singapore 018972

( Hero and featured image: Live Nation; Other images: Singapore Sports Hub )

Derrick Tan

Derrick believes in Anais Nin's quote, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." Always craving knowledge with a child-like mindset, he recognises the importance of digital journalism in the current state of media consumption. During downtime, he reads periodicals to keep up with current affairs and subcultures, being a wayfarer and can be seen at live music concerts.

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Quick guide to JB’s trendy Austin Heights: Where to eat, play and stay

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Johor Bahru’s trendiest neighbourhood has been recently on the wane but a new expansion should ensure it keeps its crown of cool.

The new Jalan Austin Heights 7 area in Johor Bahru opened in the middle of 2023. (Photo: David Ngiau)

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David Ngiau

Austin Heights, the northern quarter of Taman Mount Austin, has been Johor Bahru’s trendiest neighbourhood since its birth in the mid-1990s. While its reign is no longer undisputed, it should hold on to its crown for the foreseeable future with recent renewal projects.

The quarter expanded in the middle of last year with seven new rows of shophouses and a two-storey hawker centre/market complex. The area, anchored by the imaginatively named Jalan Austin Heights 7, is inviting and colourful with wider roads that are free of jams (for now).

The expansion has a huge open-air parking lot to the south (between the area and the Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park) and is serviced by a new access road coming in from the south-west (near the golf course entrance and the Midori Green condominium).

The road, in particular, is a welcome boon for the notoriously congested Austin Heights quarter and should relieve traffic on existing avenues (for now).

FROM IG-READY CAFES TO KTVS AND BARS

Located 10km north of downtown JB, Mount Austin has always enjoyed an artifice of glitz underpinned by hype. There are no mountains (much less hills) in the suburb and the Austin Heights Golf & Hotel Resort, which opened around 1995, but the marketing worked as its gated communities became the address in JB for some time before the arrival of rivals such as Setia Tropika, Senibong Cove and Horizon Hills.

Austin Heights is where the IG-ready cafes, diverse restaurants, neon-lit family KTVs and bars are concentrated, along with what was once JB’s premier water park. The walkable quarter is about 0.5km from east to west and covers less than 0.45 sq km (if you include the area extending south to McDonald’s).

The shine has slowly worn off over the past decade with faded facades covered in three decades’ worth of grime a common sight there these days. The Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park was easily eclipsed in 2012 with the opening of Legoland in Medini – the Legoland water park is twice as big, and combined with the theme park covers land nearly seven times as large.

We’d be amiss to not mention the crippling gridlock that rings Mount Austin, which is bound by the notorious Pasir Gudang and Tebrau highways to the south and east, respectively. The 15-minute ride into Mount Austin from the Causeway can triple on a weekend evening, and the 2km drive from Austin Heights to Aeon Tebrau and Ikea could take half an hour.

That said, the organically-grown Austin Heights is still JB’s most charming concentration of chic, holding off new contenders Eco Palladium and Eco Botanic, as well as the old-school cool of Taman Pelangi and Taman Sutera Utama — the latter’s commercial zone next to Sutera Mall is arguably Austin Height’s closest rival and off many Singaporeans' radars.

With the Jalan Austin Heights 7 extension’s colourful shophouse rows (in faux-Peranakan style) all fully occupied and in full operation after just half a year, it’s clear that Austin Heights can’t be written off just yet.

1. Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park

It’s still a decent park, undergoing renovations and upgrading in late January. The main draw is, of course, the water park with five big slides, a couple of water playgrounds for younger kids, a lazy river to drift along and a wave pool. Admission is RM80, less RM10 for kids under 120cm and senior citizens.

Covering the whole park can add up with separate admission charges for the different areas — besides the water park, there’s the adventure park (RM80), the Jump Street trampoline area (RM25 per hour), a skating rink (RM25 per entry) and a drift-kart course (RM25 per 10 mins). Naturally, there are cheaper combo passes.

Opening hours are 10am to 6pm daily, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the park is closed.

For more info, visit their website .

2. Loud Speaker Family Karaoke

A landmark anchoring the horseshoe-shaped Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Loud Speaker is still a draw for poly kids from Singapore. Incidentally, the Malaysian chain’s other JB outlet is in Taman Sutera Utama.

Entry per person is RM32+ after 5pm on weekends and roughly 10 per cent cheaper from Mondays to Thursdays, while charges are a quarter to 30 per cent less if it’s before 5pm. The minimum expenditure required for the use of a VVIP room is RM1,500 on weekend evenings. Membership has its privileges here with discounts of anywhere between 20 and 40 per cent.

Loud Speaker is open from 11am daily, closing at 10.30pm on weekdays and 11pm from Friday to Sunday.

3. Banghistory Escape Room

Situated near the 1 Million Hotel in the shadow of the landmark Mount Austin water tower, Banghistory’s escape rooms have live performers getting in on the act, and there’s even a “Rage Room” as well as another room where you can “experience the miracle of childbirth like never before!” in a “comfortable and caring environment”.

There are two other escape rooms nearby around Jalan Austin Heights 8/7 — The Escaper and Enigma Escape JB — but Banghistory has thrice the number of Google Maps reviews (over 350) as its rivals and an impressive 4.5-star review aggregate. We should note, however, that one patron complained on TripAdvisor that Banghistory’s waiver forms were all in Chinese and staff couldn’t communicate well in English.

Banghistory is open from 1.30pm to 11pm, with closing extended to midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights.

JB lacks Zouk-type nightclubs and this is a welcome addition for clubbers. Nyx, which originated in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, just started operating in a standalone building next to the sports centre, near the Jalan Austin 7 extension.

WHERE TO EAT

Dining options abound, and more so if you widen your net to include Mount Austin, where there’s Bloom By MokMok and Uncle Pou Wok (famous for its KL-style black Hokkien mee), among others. Here are a few eateries to consider as you explore and likely find a hidden gem not on this list.

1. Basilico

Founded by Johor chefs who cut their teeth in Singapore kitchens, Basilico is consistently good and has a growing reputation as JB’s best Italian restaurant. Thankfully situated away from the congested heart and on the western edge of Austin Heights.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Basilico | Italian Restaurant | JB (@atbasilico)

2. Slow Day, Out/line and Sweetheart

These three interesting cafes in the new Jalan Austin Heights 7 extension capture the trendiness that made and should keep Austin Heights vibrant.

Slow Day , an art cafe with a reputation for chill vibes and excellent service staff, occupies a prominent corner lot at the entrance of the extension. Out/line has a novel outdoorsy theme, complete with a patch of gravel at the entrance, which led me to believe it was really a store for camping equipment. Sweetheart Cafe is an explosion of princess/Barbie themes that seem partly inspired by the famed Bloom By MokMok in Mount Austin.

3. Shiba Cafe

Malaysia’s first Shiba cafe is a must-visit for dog lovers. One visitor complained a couple of years ago that it can get claustrophobically overcrowded on weekends, which is likely why the cafe now requires reservations.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shi-ba Cafè(しばいぬ) (@shibaindahouse)

Shiba Cafe is open from 10am to 3pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm daily (even dogs need a break, you know).

For more info, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages.

4. Mulligan’s Signature

This Irish pub on the street corner below the 1 Million Hotel is an oasis for older folks amidst the neon-lit KTVs. There’s live music and sidewalk tables on two sides, facing the junction, which are welcoming on a cool evening.

Mulligan’s Signature is open from 3pm to 1am daily.

For more info, visit their Facebook page .

5. Monet Music Restaurant

The dome-shaped Monet features live music amidst wine racks, with a charming ambience that’s still family-friendly. It’s also really cool that they stay open later than most other bars and clubs around JB.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monet Music Restaurant (@monet.jb)

Monet Music opens at 12.30pm and closes at 2am daily.

WHERE TO STAY

1. Austin Park Hotel

Situated right next door to the water and adventure park and the convention centre, which also houses the high-end supermarket Jaya Grocer, the hotel is ideal for families with young children who don’t plan to walkabout too much around Austin Heights.

3. Hako Hotel

Hako, located in the same building as Loud Speaker, is ideal for partygoers. Will the music keep you up at night? It won’t matter if you’re hammered and passed out.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hako Hotel Austin (@hakohotelmaustin)

4. 1 Million Hotel

While it looks like it’s seen better days, 1 Million is still decent and has an excellent location on the northern edge of Austin Heights – it’s a close walk to the Jalan Austin 7 extension, and right above Mulligan’s.

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A Guide To Surviving Bruno Mars: Live In Singapore 2024

From national stadium rules and concert merch to setlist, here's your survival guide to the bruno mars singapore concerts in april 2024..

By: Derrick Tan Published: Apr 02, 2024 08:00 AM UTC

The island nation of Singapore is steadily building a reputation for itself as the  de facto concert destination for some of the world’s biggest stars when they bring their tours to Southeast Asia. After a string of hugely successful concerts by Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and most recently Taylor Swift, their streak is set to continue with Bruno Mars staging three sell-out performances at the National Stadium of Singapore later this year. If you’ve already snagged your tickets, don’t forget to bookmark this survival guide and learn how to enjoy your night to the fullest – from how to get there and what to bring, to the song setlist you can expect.

Multi-award-winning pop star Bruno Mars will hit the 55,000 pax-capacity National Stadium stage in Singapore to perform three sold-out shows in April 2024. Coldplay , Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift also achieved this same sold-out feat for their concerts.

The ‘Uptown Funk’ hitmaker last performed in Singapore back in 2014 and 2018. Both were at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Thus, this upcoming gig is his first performance in a large venue.

Although Mars’ latest music is with Anderson .Paak under the duo’s moniker Silk Sonic, he is expected to belt out songs from his third and most recent album, 24K Magic.

For a stress-free concert experience, pre-planning is essential to ensure maximum enjoyment. You know the drill by now. Read on for our complete guide on how to survive through the funk-ed-up night, that is, the Bruno Mars concert in Singapore this April 2024.

Here’s your must-have survival guide to Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 concerts:

Important details of the bruno mars: live in singapore 2024 concerts.

Address : Singapore National Stadium, 1 Stadium Drive, Singapore 397629

Starting time : 8pm for all shows. Doors will open, starting with VIP standing ticket holders, from 5:30pm. There is no opening act for this concert.

Duration of concert : Approximately 120 minutes

How to get to the National Stadium in Singapore

Because parking is limited, arriving via public transport like train or bus is advisable at least one hour before the show starts. This will help minimise disruption to traffic flow.

Train  – Alight at Stadium MRT Station (CC6) on the Circle Line. It is the nearest station which exits directly into the Singapore Sports Hub.

Alternatively, visitors can travel from Mountbatten MRT Station (CC7) or Kallang MRT Station (EW10). Both are approximately 600m walking distance to Singapore Sports Hub. The former also serves as an alternative station via the Circle Line for leaving the venue.

Bus  – Alight at Stadium Station (80199) for Bus 11, National Stadium (80219) for Bus 10, 14, 16, 16M, 70, 196, and Opposite National Stadium (80211) for Bus 10, 14, 16, 16M, 70, 196.

When and how to enter: Standing Pen Ticket Holders

Silver VIP and Priority Standing Ticket Holders

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security checkpoints when they open at 4:30pm.

Entrance for the Silver VIP Package & Priority Standing ticket holders is located at 100PLUS Promenade, Gate 22 (Level 3). Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 5:30pm.

General Standing Ticket Holders

The entrance for the General Standing ticket holders is located at 100PLUS Promenade, Gate 11, 12, 15 & 21 (Level 3).

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security checkpoints when they open at 4:30pm. Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 5:45pm.

When and how to enter: Seated Area Ticket Holders

Entry to the venue is subjected to security checks. Ticket holders can proceed to the security check points when it opens at 5:30pm. Ticket holders can enter the venue when the gates open at 6pm.

For Gold and Silver VIP Package Holders

Wristband Redemption:

All Gold and Silver VIP Package Holders must redeem their wristbands before admission. Wristband redemption is only valid on the show day indicated on your ticket(s) and do prepare your ticket(s) upon wristband redemption.

Location & Timing : OCBC Square, from 3pm to 9pm.

Redemption of VIP Merchandise:

Redemption of VIP Merchandise can only be done after the show ends and only valid on the show day indicated on your tickets. Present your wristband upon collection. VIP Merchandise redemption must be done on the same day at the venue. All uncollected items will be forfeited.

Location & Timing: OCBC Square, from show end until 11:30pm

VIP Express Bar Queue

There will be dedicated express bar queues for Gold and Silver VIP ticket holders inside the venue. Do present your VIP wristband for verification.

What to bring (and not to bring) + security screening

Concert-goers should adhere to the following Singapore Sports Hub admission policy to ensure seamless entry into the National Stadium on the three concert dates. Also, carry only the essentials for quick security checks. Attendees are also encouraged to stay hydrated throughout to prevent over-exhaustion and hyperthermia.

• Admission to show/venue by full ticket only. Printed/electronic tickets must be produced for admission.
• Have e-tickets ready and brighten your mobile screens for ushers to scan you in easily.
• No outside food and beverages are allowed into the venue.
• Personal water bottles are to be emptied before entering the venue; clear bottles are preferred.
• Bags exceeding 35cm x 20cm x 30cm are not allowed into the venue.
• Noise makers are not permitted in the venue (including but not limited to: air horn, whistle, etc.)

Child Policy

• Children aged 3 and above must purchase a ticket for admission.
• No admission for infants in arms and children aged below 3 years old.
• Children under 12 years old or below 1.2m in height are not allowed into the standing areas.

Audio, Photography & Videography Policy

• No professional photography, videography, and social media live streaming are allowed.
• Strictly no cameras, video cameras, GoPros, iPads and tablets.
• No selfie sticks, tripods and monopods.

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Where to get official bruno mars: live in singapore 2024 merchandise.

Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024’s official merchandise booths are located at OCBC Square and South Dome Deck. There are also merchandise booths within the National Stadium Gate 3 and 9 (Level 3) for designated ticket holders on the Concert Floor (Level 1) and Sections 101 to 150.

There will also be dedicated queues for Gold and Silver VIP ticket holders. These are only available at OCBC Square and South Dome Deck merchandise booths. Present your VIP wristband upon entry.

• Payment Terms: Cashless Payment Only – VISA, Mastercard , JBC, PayNow, ApplePay, GooglePay, Samsung Pay, Singtel Dash, UnionPay, Android Pay, EZ-Link, WeChat Pay, AliPay. Cash will NOT be accepted.
• Strictly no overnight queueing allowed.
• Merchandise available on a while stock last basis.
• Refunds/exchanges are only applicable to damaged or defective items that are purchased at the concert site, so please check your items before leaving the counter.
• Strictly no refunds/exchanges will be made once you leave the counter.
• The organiser reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions.⁠

What to expect for Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 (and setlist)

The Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 concert setlist is pretty much consistent across all his Asia stops so far, as well as his Las Vegas residency.

Bruno Mars: Live in Singapore 2024 expected concert setlist

1. 24K Magic 2. Finesse 3. Treasure 4. Liquor Store Blues / Billionaire 5. Perm 6. Calling All My Lovelies 7. That’s What I Like/Please Me 8. Guitar & Saxophone Solo 9. Versace on the Floor 10. Marry You / Heavy Rotation 11. Drum Solo by Eric “E-Panda” 12. Runaway Baby 13. Fuck You / Young, Wild and Free / Grenade / Talking to the Moon / Nothin’ on You / Leave the Door Open 14. When I Was Your Man 15. Piano Solo 16. Locked Out of Heaven 17. Just the Way You Are 18. Uptown Funk (Encore)

Bruno Mars Official After-party at Marquee Singapore

For those who didn’t secure tickets to the concert, you still have a chance to see the singer himself. After Mars’ final show on April 6, he will host an official after-party at Marquee Singapore. He is set to wrap up the Singapore leg with a party at Marquee Singapore.

Details for Bruno Mars’s official after-party at Marquee Singapore:

Online Tickets* General Admission (Online Special): USD 100 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher) Expedited Entry: USD 300 (inclusive of 2 drink vouchers) *prices are exclusive of booking fee and GST. Get your tickets online through Marquee Singapore website .

At the Door General Admission: USD 150 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher) Expedited Entry: USD 300 (inclusive of 1 drink voucher)

Doors will open at 10pm and the party will happen till April 7, 6am.

Location : 2 Bayfront Avenue, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Galleria Level B1-67, Singapore 018972

Shop the best travel experiences here.

This story first appeared here .

( Hero and featured image: Live Nation )

Related:  The Best And Most Anticipated 2024 Music Concerts And Festivals In Singapore

• Bruno Mars Singapore
• concert survival guide
• Singapore Concerts

Derrick Tan

Derrick believes in Anais Nin's quote, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." Always craving knowledge with a child-like mindset, he recognises the importance of digital journalism in the current state of media consumption. During downtime, he reads periodicals to keep up with current affairs and subcultures, being a wayfarer .. Read More and can be seen at live music concerts. Read Less

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