Singapore

Singapore is a tiny country that operates like a very well-oiled machine. Everything works. The MRT runs on time. The streets are clean. The airport is consistently voted the best in the world. And the food is so good and so cheap that eating is basically the national sport.

It gets a reputation for being expensive and sterile. The first part is half true (hotels are expensive, everything else is manageable). The second part is completely wrong if you know where to look. The hawker centres are chaotic, the Little India streets are sensory overload, and the nightlife in areas like Clarke Quay and Ann Siang Hill is anything but boring.

For most travellers, Singapore works best as either a destination in itself (3-5 days is perfect) or a stopover on the way to or from Southeast Asia, Australia, or New Zealand. Either way, the food alone makes it worth the stop.

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When to go

Singapore is hot and humid year-round. Temperatures sit between 25-33C (77-91F) every single day with no real seasonal variation. The question is not “when is it warm” but “when does it rain slightly less.”

February to April is the driest period and marginally the best time to visit. November to January sees the heaviest rain from the northeast monsoon. But rain in Singapore means a 30-60 minute downpour then sunshine again. It rarely ruins a day.

There’s no real off-season for tourism. Prices are fairly consistent year-round. Chinese New Year (January/February) and the F1 Grand Prix (September) are the busiest periods with higher hotel prices.

What it actually costs

Singapore is a tale of two cities. Hotels and nightlife are expensive. Food and transport are shockingly cheap. All prices in USD.

Budget ($50-80 USD/day per person) Hostels ($15-30/night), hawker centre meals ($2-5 per meal), MRT for transport ($1-2 per ride), free gardens and temples, cheap beer at 7-Eleven ($3 vs $10-15 at a bar).

Mid-range ($80-200 USD/day per person) Hotel ($80-160/night for a double), mix of hawker food and restaurant meals, some paid attractions (Gardens by the Bay, zoo), occasional taxi/Grab rides. This is comfortable.

Comfortable ($200-400+ USD/day per person) Marina Bay Sands or boutique hotels, fine dining (Singapore has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere), rooftop bars, private tours, Universal Studios.

The best value in Singapore is the food. A plate of chicken rice at a hawker centre costs $2-3 and it’s one of the best meals you’ll eat anywhere. A Michelin-starred meal at Hawker Chan (the cheapest Michelin restaurant in the world) costs $3. The gap between street food quality and restaurant quality in Singapore is almost nothing.

Flights to Singapore from within Asia are cheap ($50-200 return from most regional hubs). From Europe $400-700. From North America $500-1,000. From Oceania $200-500. Changi Airport (SIN) is a major hub with connections everywhere.

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Where to go

Marina Bay. The skyline view from the waterfront, Gardens by the Bay (the Supertree Grove light show at 7:45pm and 8:45pm is free), the ArtScience Museum, and the Merlion statue. If you want to swim at the Marina Bay Sands infinity pool, you need to be a hotel guest or buy a day pass.

Chinatown. The hawker centres (Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex are the best), the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and the shophouses along Pagoda Street. This is where you eat your way through Singapore on $10 a day.

Little India. The most colourful and chaotic neighbourhood. Tekka Centre for Indian food, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Mustafa Centre for 24-hour shopping, and the spice-scented streets of Serangoon Road. Best experienced on foot.

Kampong Glam. The Malay-Arab quarter. Haji Lane for street art and independent shops, Sultan Mosque, and some of the best Middle Eastern food in Asia.

Tiong Bahru. The hipster neighbourhood. Independent coffee shops, bookstores, and the Tiong Bahru Market for hawker food. A quieter, more local vibe than the tourist centres.

Sentosa Island. Beaches (artificial but pleasant), Universal Studios Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium, and resort hotels. Good for a day trip but not essential.

Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. Genuinely one of the best zoos in the world. The Night Safari is a unique experience (open-air tram ride through nocturnal animal habitats after dark). Worth half a day each.

What to skip

Marina Bay Sands hotel if you’re on a budget. Rooms start at $300/night and the infinity pool photos look better on Instagram than in reality (it’s crowded). Enjoy the skyline view from the free Supertree Grove instead.

Orchard Road for shopping. It’s a strip of generic luxury malls that you could find in any major city. If you want shopping, try Haji Lane for independent stores or Mustafa Centre for everything at local prices.

Cocktail bars if you’re watching your budget. Alcohol in Singapore is heavily taxed. A cocktail at a rooftop bar costs $18-25. Buy beer from a convenience store ($3) and drink at a hawker centre instead.

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Must-do experiences

Eat at a hawker centre. This is THE Singapore experience. Maxwell Food Centre (Tian Tian chicken rice), Chinatown Complex (biggest hawker centre, 260+ stalls), Lau Pa Sat (satay street after dark), or Old Airport Road Food Centre (local favourite). Budget $3-5 per meal.

Supertree Grove light show at Gardens by the Bay. Free, nightly at 7:45pm and 8:45pm. Lie on your back and watch the light show projected onto the Supertrees. One of the most memorable free attractions in any city.

Walk from Chinatown through Little India to Kampong Glam. Three completely different cultures within walking distance. You go from Chinese temples to Indian spice shops to Malay mosques in about 2km. The diversity is staggering.

Eat chilli crab. Singapore’s national dish. Mud crab in sweet-spicy tomato sauce with mantou buns to soak it up. Not cheap (about $30-50 for two at a restaurant like Jumbo or No Signboard) but it’s the one splurge meal everyone should have.

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Practical tips

The currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD). Cards and contactless accepted everywhere. Cash is rarely needed except at some hawker stalls.

Most Western passport holders get 30 days visa-free on arrival.

The MRT (metro) is clean, fast, cheap, and covers most of the island. Buy an EZ-Link card ($5 deposit + top-up) or use contactless from your bank card. Grab (the local Uber equivalent) works for everything else.

Chewing gum is technically illegal to sell (not to chew, but you can’t buy it). Don’t bring large quantities. Jaywalking is fineable but rarely enforced against tourists.

Singapore is extremely safe. Walking alone at night is not a concern anywhere in the city.

Tap water is safe and excellent quality. Don’t buy bottled water.

Tipping is not expected. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically.

Planning your trip

3 days essential: Day 1: Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam. Day 2: Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Merlion. Day 3: Tiong Bahru, Singapore Zoo or Sentosa.

5 days complete: Add: Pulau Ubin (rural island bike ride), East Coast Park, Botanic Gardens, and a food tour through at least 3 hawker centres.

Book your trip

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More destinations from travlperks: Singapore pairs perfectly with Bali (2.5hr flight) or Vietnam (2hr flight). For another compact city-state experience, see our Hong Kong guide.