Singapore Travel Guide: Best things to do

Wondering what to do in Singapore? You’ve come to the right place. The Lion City is one of the most extraordinary destinations in Southeast Asia, a dazzling blend of futuristic architecture, ancient temples, world-class food, and impeccably clean streets. Remarkably small (just 729 km²), Singapore packs more experiences per square kilometre than almost any city on Earth. In our travel guide for Singapore, you will find all the useful information for visiting this country.

Where is Singapore?

Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Malaysia to the north (connected via two causeways) and Indonesia to the south (visible from Singapore’s southern shores).

Despite being one of the world’s smallest countries (about 50km wide and 27km north to south), Singapore is the third-most densely populated country on Earth and one of the wealthiest per capita. Its strategic location at the crossroads of major shipping routes made it one of the most important ports in history, and it remains one of the busiest today.

Its name comes from the Malay words singa (lion) and pora (city), hence the famous Merlion statue, a half-lion, half-fish creature that has become the symbol of Singapore.

Budget

Most visitors choose to stay in the central area around Marina Bay. This is usually the most expensive option as far as accommodation goes. In other areas like Little India or Chinatown, “the landscape” is more favourable. The accommodation options are many and can suit every pocket. Obviously, prices change relative to the time of travel as well. Below we mention some examples of room prices:

Low budget:  Initially, we have the lowest prices for mainly hostels in Singapore. They start as low as 15S$ per person per night for a room 2,5 km from the city centre. For someone who prefers to be closer to the central sights, the price goes up to 30S$ in a shared room.

Low-cost hostels in Singapore can be found on Hostelworld

Mid budget: For a more economical option, you can search in the area of Little India or Chinatown with prices that start at 150S$ to 250S$, which include a private bathroom and sometimes breakfast as well.

High budget: In the high budget area, Singapore is one of the top luxury destinations. A couple may stay at the InterContinental in Singapore for 300S$ or in a five-star hotel in Sentosa at 650S$ per night. Finally, in the world-renowned Marina Bay Sands, room prices start from around S$400–650+ per night, depending on the season

EXTRA TIP

Prices also vary according to the peak seasons and availability. However, travellers can always find a place to stay that is suitable for their budget. It would also be a good idea to plan where you want to go and which places you want to visit, so you can find accommodation in that area. Organise your trip and then look for accommodation in the areas that are most convenient for you. It’s a good idea to find a place to stay in the center, which might be slightly more expensive but will save you from wasting valuable time and money on commuting.

What to eat in Singapore — Hawker Centres & must-try dishes

Singapore’s food scene is extraordinary, and the best of it is the cheapest. Hawker centres are UNESCO-recognized open-air food courts where you can eat a full meal for under 15 SGD (~€10). They represent the heart of Singapore’s multicultural food culture.

Must-try dishes:

• Hainanese Chicken Rice — Singapore’s unofficial national dish
• Chilli Crab — the iconic seafood dish, messy and magnificent
• Laksa — coconut curry noodle soup
• Char Kway Teow — stir-fried flat rice noodles
• Singapore Noodles — thin rice vermicelli with curry powder
• Satay — grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce
• Roti Prata — Indian-style flatbread, served for breakfast or dessert

Best hawker centres:

Satay by the Bay (Gardens by the Bay) — eat with a view of Marina Bay

Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown) — Michelin-starred Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Newton Food Centre (near Orchard Road) — featured in Crazy Rich Asians

Lau Pa Sat (Marina Bay) — historic Victorian architecture + Satay Street

Thinking about your next trip to Asia? Read our ultimate travel guide for Thailand

Transportation

Buses: Singapore has an extensive bus network covering virtually the entire island. Apart from being one of the most affordable ways to get around, it’s also the most scenic — you can enjoy the view, the landscape, and the architecture while sitting in full air-conditioning. Bus fares are distance-based. You pay for how far you go, not a flat fee.

• By card (EZ-Link or SimplyGo): S$0.92–S$2.28 per trip
• Cash on board: S$1.90–S$3.00 (significantly more expensive — avoid if possible)

💡 SimplyGo tip: You no longer need a separate EZ-Link card. Tap your contactless Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX bank card or mobile wallet directly on the bus reader. Always tap OUT when you exit because if you forget, the system charges the maximum fare.

Τaxi: Taxis are metered and widely available across central Singapore and at the airport. Main operators: ComfortDelGro, SMRT, Prime. Flag-down fare: S$3.90–S$4.50 for standard taxis. Surcharges apply during peak hours (25% extra: 06:00–09:30 and 18:00–midnight), late night (50% extra: midnight–06:00), and from the airport (+S$5–8).

Singapore does not have Uber. The main ride-hailing apps are:

TADA — no surge pricing model

Grab — most widely used, reliable, fixed upfront price

Gojek — good alternative, often competitive on price

CDG Zig — ComfortDelGro’s own app

Car Rental: Car rental in Singapore is relatively expensive compared to other destinations. Budget/economy cars start from approximately S$80–120 per day, with mid-range options at S$120–200/day. Prices vary by duration, season, and car type. Note that driving in Singapore is expensive due to ERP road pricing (electronic tolls), costly parking, and extremely high COE taxes. Most visitors find the MRT+Grab combination far more practical. Compare prices and availability on Discovercars.com.

Metro/Subway: The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the fastest, most comfortable, and most reliable way to get around Singapore. 6 colour-coded lines connect virtually every major attraction, neighbourhood, and the airport.

Hours: 05:30–midnight daily. Trains every 2–3 minutes during peak hours.

Fares:

• By card: S$1.19–S$2.47 per trip (distance-based)
• Early morning discount: S$0.50 off if you tap in before 07:45 on weekdays

Payment options:

• SimplyGo: Tap your Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX contactless card or phone/watch directly on the gate, no EZ-Link card needed
• EZ-Link card: S$10 (S$5 non-refundable card cost + S$5 usable credit), topped up at all stations
• Singapore Tourist Pass: Unlimited rides — 1-day S$10 + S$10 refundable deposit, 2-day S$16, 3-day S$20

Best value for tourists: If you’ll take 5+ trips per day, the Tourist Pass pays off. For lighter use, tap with your contactless bank card via SimplyGo — no need to buy anything.

Bicycle: Besides SG Bike, other bike-sharing apps include Anywheel and HelloRide, all of which work on a per-minute basis (~S$0.50–1.00 per 15 minutes). Singapore has an excellent network of dedicated cycling paths (Park Connector Network).

⚠️ Important: E-scooters are banned on footpaths in Singapore, and fines of up to S$2,000. Use cycling paths only. You can carry a fold-up bicycle on MRT trains and buses during off-peak hours.

Best things to do in Singapore

Singapore Airport

Apart from Activities and Cities in ¨What to Do¨ we also mention the relevant airport for each destination. Changi Airport is one of the most well-known and impressive airports in the world. It has also been voted the best airport as far as leisure time while waiting for a flight. You may enjoy a massage in the airport armchairs, free 24-hour cinema, go shopping, and take photos of the artificial lakes and gardens.

 «The Jewel», however, is what steals the show. It is a huge complex which connects 3 terminals, has a lot of malls, and a hotel. The most impressive part of “The Jewel” is a 40-meter waterfall named Rain Vortex. This is the biggest indoor waterfall in the world. During the night, it is lit up by 360ο lighting, and you can watch the free light show to the accompaniment of music! It is one of the few airports in the world where you really hope you have a lot of time between transfer flights in order to enjoy all it has to offer without rushing.

Sentosa

In Malaysian this name means peace and calmness. Some call it the Disneyland of the East! A place of leisure for young and old. It is a green island full of lush vegetation, beaches, resorts, and one of the top tourist destinations. One of the most common sites to visit is Universal Studios, the island’s aquarium, and the Sentosa Merlion, which can be seen from afar due to its large size. The extreme sports activities include the zipline for the most daring! The most famous artificial beaches are Palawan Beach, Tanjong, and Siloso. The island is accessible via cable car, from which you can enjoy the panoramic view.

Haw Par Villa

An Asian cultural park, the last of its kind in the world. Built in 1937, it is the biggest outside art gallery in Singapore. This park contains all the treasures of Asian culture, history, philosophy, and religion.

Little India

Little India is a lively neighbourhood full of colourful Hindu temples and quaint shops. Accommodation in Little India is one of the cheapest in all of Singapore! It is east of Singapore’s river and opposite Chinatown. You can enjoy the local cuisine, a local music festival, and become acquainted with Indian culture from this small neighbourhood in Singapore.

Chinatown

This historical town is one of the biggest in Singapore. The biggest part of the original spirit, attitude, and traditions is still kept alive here. Intense aromas, colours, and polite people. You will also find in this Chinatown the Sri Mariamman Temple. This is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. Due to its historical significance and architecture, the temple is a national monument and a point of attraction for many tourists. Do not fail to taste the street food of the area, which is of high quality. The Chinatown canteen has even received a Michelin prize!

A walk around Marina Bay

The whole center of Singapore is in this area. Some call it a floating city since it literally appears to have sprung from the sea. The queen of the show is the hotel Marina Bay Sands, formed by three skyscrapers joined by a ship. It is the biggest hotel in Singapore, and the roof pool is the biggest overflowing pool in the world.

The swimming pool is solely for the use of the hotel guests, but with 32 SGD, you can go up to the observation deck and take in the spectacular view that unfolds before you. The hotel has around 2,5 thousand rooms, and on the floors below there is a huge mall and casino. In the afternoons, you can visit the mall on the ground floor, and you can enjoy the free light show with impressive fountains and beautiful music. You will find more information about the hotel and the shops on their official website, Marinabaysands.

Merlion

The impressive statue and emblem of Singapore. The combination of two creatures: The head of a lion and the body of a fish. The latter implies where the state was created from, whereas the former shows how it developed and the power this state has now. The statue is over 9 meters high and is the most emblematic point in the whole city. It is opposite the hotel Marina Bay Sands and is a meeting place for tourists and locals.

Gardens by the Bay

Very close to the hotel, you can enjoy a walk in these magical gardens. The morning hours are more conducive to a quiet walk and taking photos. On the contrary, the afternoons are far more lively with light shows accompanied by music, and of course, the crowd flow is bigger. Do not fail to visit the Globe’s Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, for which you will have to pay an entrance fee. On the other hand, walking the grounds and the Supertree Grove is completely free, and at night, the spectacular Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at the Supertrees is also free (nightly at 19:45 and 20:45). You may find the details and prices on the Gardens by the Bay official website.

Bugis Street Market

This is the ideal place for those interested in second-hand clothes and souvenirs. Once it was an infamous neighbourhood, next to the Singapore Art Museum, which has now been transformed into a tourist attraction. The locals as well as the tourists come here to look for cheap clothes, accessories, and electronics. Respectively, one can eat economically at the hawker food markets selling street food. Local cuisine and unique aromas in combination with remarkable quality and low prices. You can see your food being prepared before your eyes, and the price for a full meal will not be over 15 SGD.

Packing Tips & When to Go

Singapore has a tropical climate year-round with temperatures of 22–34°C and high humidity. Rain can occur at any time of year. The dry season (February–April) is the most popular time to visit — less rainfall and slightly cooler temperatures. November–January is the monsoon season with heavier rainfall, but still very manageable. The iconic Singapore Grand Prix takes place in September, when the city takes on a special atmosphere.

Basic protection gear: On a trip like this, you must have basic gear like your sunscreen, insect repellent, allergy medicine, sunglasses, and a hat. If you intend to visit a more provincial district, you had better bring along clothes that cover your arms and legs in order to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and other insects.

Clothes for a tropical climate: It is best (for men and women) to wear Τ-shirts, shorts, and loose clothes that don’t cling to you due to increased humidity. You should also wear comfortable shoes so that your feet can breathe and you can walk for miles. Also, because temperatures fluctuate, especially during the night hours, it would be good to bring along a jacket or hoodie. 

Clothes for protection: In addition to the above tips, we suggest that, due to the tropical climate, you bring along clothes made of materials that allow your body to breathe, such as cotton, linen, and avoid silk, wool, and polyester. The clothes should be loose and comfortable, allowing air flow and evaporation of moisture.

Umbrella/Raincoat: Rain and sudden showers are a common occurrence in Singapore. Generally, the weather is unpredictable, so it would be a good idea to carry a raincoat and an umbrella so that the weather does not ruin your mood and plans. 

Useful Words

English is one of the official languages, so it is certain you won’t have communication problems. The national language is Malay. It is the language they also speak in Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. Some basic words are below:

Useful Sites & Apps

In the last few years, we have been travelling we have singled out some applications, which we use every trip or during it before. We have chosen them over others for their validity, ease of use, and variety in the options they have to offer. We describe below in detail what these are, together with their characteristics.

Booking.com

For the best value, stay in Chinatown or Little India, where budget options start from ~30–50 SGD/night. Marina Bay is the most expensive and prestigious area. Orchard Road is great for shoppers. Browse all available Singapore hotels on Booking.com, from budget hostels to Marina Bay Sands itself.

Welcome Pickups

One of the best, most trustworthy, and most convenient 5-star airport taxi companies for your airport transfer based on user reviews across various platforms such as Google, Tripadvisor, and Trustpilot. Welcome Pickups offers a great experience and safety to its travelers. Local English-speaking drivers, flat, pre-paid fee, flight monitoring for delays, 24/7 Customer support + free cancellation. Check your transfer options on Welcome Pickups.

Air Bnb

With over one million properties all around the world, and always increasing, ideal for a low budget stay even in expensive areas. Furthermore, because you stay in people’s villas, houses, or flats, you are made to feel more at home by the host of each destination and the homely surroundings.

Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a leading provider of hotel accommodation worldwide, offering booking services through its own network of localised websites. Once you reach 10 nights, you’ll have a free night, which you can apply at checkout. You can earn multiple free nights by continuing to book with Hotels.com, though. The platform gives travellers one of the widest selections of accommodation on the net, including both independent and major chain hotels as well as self-catering in over hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities, and availability. Find the best deals on Hotels.com.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor helps hundreds of millions of people each month become better travellers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travellers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travellers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby. Find available offers and book your accommodation on TripAdvisor.

Omio.com

Omio is a leading travel platform that helps you easily plan and book your trips. With a comprehensive network of trains, buses, and flights across Europe and beyond, Omio allows you to compare and choose the best travel options for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a quick day trip or an extended vacation, Omio’s user-friendly interface and competitive prices make it easy to create unforgettable travel experiences. Check available routes on Omio.com.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a leading global travel search engine, helping millions of travellers find the best flights, hotels, and car rentals. With a user-friendly interface and powerful search technology, Skyscanner makes it easy to compare prices and options across hundreds of travel providers, giving you the best deals for your trip. From budget to luxury, domestic to international, Skyscanner has everything you need to plan your next adventure. So whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, start your journey with Skyscanner and discover the world like never before. Available flights and prices can be found on SkyScanner.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is an online marketplace for booking travel activities and experiences. With a wide variety of tours, activities, and attractions available in destinations around the world, GetYourGuide makes it easy to find and book unique experiences for your next trip. From city sightseeing tours and food and wine tastings to outdoor adventures and cultural experiences, GetYourGuide has something for every type of traveller. With a user-friendly website and mobile app, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, GetYourGuide is a top choice for travellers seeking memorable and authentic experiences. For available tours and activities, check GetYourGuide.

Discover Cars

DiscoverCars.com offers a hassle-free car rental booking experience, with a wide range of rental car options available worldwide. Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, DiscoverCars.com offers competitive rates, 24/7 customer support, and flexible cancellation policies. With no hidden fees and a user-friendly interface, booking your rental car has never been easier. Choose from a variety of car rental options, including economy, luxury, and family-friendly vehicles, and enjoy the freedom of the open road on your next adventure. Book with DiscoverCars.com today and start exploring the world on your own terms! Check more at Discover Cars.

Hotel Tonight

Here you will find last-minute discounts on vacancies from hotels. This is an amazingly simple app, and it doesn’t take long to book a room. You may search in each town for sights and maps. Furthermore, you can check the reviews and photos of other travellers to be sure about the reliability of each hotel. It also has a 24/7 customer service. If you’re stuck somewhere and you need a room desperately, this is the perfect app for you.

City Maps 2Go

Maps for travelling, hiking, mountain cycling, and many other activities. A necessary app for every adventure, activity, or touring abroad. You may only download one map per country, whereas it was possible to download two in the past. For an additional map, you need to pay. Alternatively, as soon as you have looked at the information on a map, you can delete it and then download a new one. 

You can mark all the places of interest on the map you have downloaded. Whether they are sights, shops, or restaurants, you can use the directions guide to get there. The great advantage of this app is that you don’t need to have an internet connection, although it might get stuck a few times. Nevertheless, it is quite a reliable and useful app.

EXTRA TIP

Once you have marked all the places you want to visit before your trip, you can also book your accommodation accordingly. This way, you can be sure you’ll be staying somewhere close to all places of interest.

iVisa.com

iVisa.com is an online platform that helps travellers obtain electronic visas, eVisas, and other travel documents quickly and easily. With an extensive database of travel requirements for over 200 countries and a user-friendly application process, iVisa.com makes it simple for travellers to apply for and obtain the necessary documents for their trips. Whether you’re planning a vacation, business trip, or other travel experience, iVisa.com can help you navigate the complexities of travel documentation with ease. More information on the necessary travel documents, depending on your nationality and destination, can be found on iVisa.com.

Singapore FAQ — Everything you need to know