MRT East-West Line
From Changi Airport station, change at Tanah Merah for trains into the city. Tap in with a contactless bank card.
Singapore Travel Guide
A clean, safe city-state with flawless public transport, futuristic Marina Bay views and Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures side by side. Easy to cover in a few days, it is ideal for families, first-time Southeast Asia visitors and stopovers.
Plan your Singapore trip
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At a glance
- Currency
- SGD (S$)
- Power & plugs
- 230V · Type G
- Driving side
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Local language
- English
- How long to stay
- 2 to 4 days
Emergency numbers
When to go
Hot and humid year-round, so any month works. February to April tends to be drier, while the November to January monsoon brings frequent showers. Hotel rates spike around Lunar New Year and year-end.
Airport to the city
Taxi / Grab
Easiest with luggage or late at night. An airport surcharge applies and fares vary by time of day.
Jewel Changi Stopover
If you have time before departure, visit the Rain Vortex indoor waterfall at Jewel, linked to the terminals. Entry to the main area is free.
Getting around
MRT
Clean, punctual and reaches almost every sight. Tap a contactless bank card or phone wallet at the gates.
Public Buses
Use the same card as the MRT, tapping on and off. Google Maps routing is reliable.
Grab / Taxi
Handy late at night or to Sentosa. Fares surge at rush hour and in the rain.
Walking
Marina Bay, Chinatown and Clarke Quay link on foot, but use underground mall passages to escape the midday heat.
Where to stay
Marina Bay
Good for: First visit, views and luxury
Iconic district with Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. The most expensive place to stay.
Orchard Road
Good for: Shopping, families
A long strip of malls with easy MRT access everywhere. Evenings are fairly calm.
Chinatown
Good for: Value, food
Close to hawker centres and temples, with more affordable boutique hotels. Near Marina Bay.
Bugis / Kampong Glam
Good for: Character, cafes
Sultan Mosque, mural lanes and indie cafes. Two MRT lines make it well connected.
Sentosa
Good for: Resort stay, kids
Resort island with Universal Studios and beaches. Longer trips into the city.
Top sights
Gardens by the Bay
Outdoor gardens and Supertrees are free; the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are paid. Do not miss the nightly Garden Rhapsody light show.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Paid observation deck on level 56 with bay-wide views. The infinity pool is for hotel guests only.
Merlion Park
Free spot for photos of the Merlion with Marina Bay Sands behind. The evening light show is visible from here.
Sentosa Island
Universal Studios Singapore, beaches and an aquarium. Reach it from VivoCity by monorail or boardwalk.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
UNESCO-listed and free to enter, except the paid National Orchid Garden. Go in the cooler morning.
Chinatown & Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Ornate temple, heritage shophouses and hawker centres. Cover shoulders and knees inside.
Kampong Glam & Sultan Mosque
Golden-domed mosque and the murals and boutiques of Haji Lane. Visits are limited during Friday prayers.
Night Safari
A world-famous nocturnal zoo explored by tram. Popular, so get tickets ahead.
What to eat
Hawker Centres
Open-air food courts where a meal costs about 5-8 SGD (~4-6 USD). Maxwell and Lau Pa Sat are well known.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Silky chicken over rice cooked in chicken stock, the national dish. About 4-7 SGD at hawker stalls.
Chilli Crab / Black Pepper Crab
Crab in sweet-spicy sauce mopped up with fried buns. Priced by weight; expect 100 SGD+ for two.
Laksa
Rice noodles and seafood in spicy coconut curry broth, about 5-8 SGD.
Kaya Toast
Coconut jam toast with soft-boiled eggs and local kopi, about 5-7 SGD for a breakfast set.
Satay
Grilled skewers with peanut sauce, best at the evening satay street beside Lau Pa Sat.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 90 SGD (~70 USD) - hostel, hawker food, MRT
Mid-rangeabout 250 SGD (~195 USD) - 4-star hotel, restaurants, attraction tickets
Comfortabout 600 SGD+ (~465 USD+) - Marina Bay luxury hotel, fine dining
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands area, Gardens by the Bay domes in the afternoon, then the Supertree show and satay street.
- Day 2
Morning at the Botanic Gardens, shopping on Orchard Road, Chinatown and a hawker lunch, then Clarke Quay by the river.
- Day 3
Sentosa for Universal Studios or the beach, then the Night Safari in the evening.
- Day 4
Kaya toast breakfast and cafes in Kampong Glam, then the Jewel waterfall before your flight.
Local tips
- Submit the free SG Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival, and only on the official site; lookalike sites charge fees.
- Eating or drinking on the MRT is fined, durians are banned on trains, and jaywalking and littering carry stiff fines.
- Chewing gum sales are banned, and vapes are illegal to possess.
- Restaurant bills often add a 10% service charge plus 9% GST; tipping is not expected.
- Tap water is safe to drink. Air-conditioning is strong indoors, so carry a light layer.
- A tissue packet or umbrella on a hawker table means the seat is reserved (chope), so find another.
- Tourists can claim GST refunds on qualifying purchases at participating stores at the airport.
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Prices and times are approximate as of 2026-09 and may change. Always re-check visa and entry rules with official sources before you travel.