Travel guide · Singapore
Singapore travel guide
Hawker food, garden architecture and four cultures on one island
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shiny Things ., CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Singapore fits Marina Bay's skyline, the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, a UNESCO-listed botanic garden and the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan quarters of the old town into an island about 50 km across. The MRT links almost everything within 40 minutes, Changi Airport is a sight in itself, and the hawker centres — where a plate of chicken rice costs a few dollars — are the reason many visitors come back. Expect heat, humidity and short tropical downpours every month of the year. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are February–April and July–August.
Key facts
- Country
- Singapore
- Best time to visit
- February–April and July–August
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- SIN
- Mid-range daily budget
- $160–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands and Chilli crab
Why visit Singapore
- Hawker centres such as Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat and Tekka serve chicken rice, laksa and satay for a few dollars a plate; hawker culture is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
- Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Southern Ridges walk put serious green space minutes from downtown towers.
- Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam sit within 2 km of each other, each with its own temples, mosques, shophouses and food.
- The MRT, clean tap water, English signage and short distances make it one of the easiest cities in Asia for a first long-haul trip.
- Changi Airport, with the Rain Vortex waterfall inside Jewel, works well as a stopover between Europe, Australia and the rest of Asia.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Garden · Marina Bay
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare waterfront park whose 16-storey Supertrees are vertical gardens of ferns and orchids.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Photo spot
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Viewpoint · Marina Bay
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
The ship-shaped SkyPark spans the three 55-storey towers of Marina Bay Sands.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Marina Bay
Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade
The 8.6-metre Merlion, half lion and half fish, spouts water into the bay opposite Marina Bay Sands.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Garden · Tanglin
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Founded in 1859 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, the Botanic Gardens cover 82 hectares of lawns, lakes and a patch of original rainforest.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
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Religious site · Chinatown
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Built in 2007 in Tang dynasty style, this five-storey temple houses what devotees venerate as a tooth relic of the Buddha in a gold stupa on the fourth floor.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Neighbourhood · Little India
Little India
Little India's grid of shophouses off Serangoon Road is full of garland makers, gold shops and spice merchants.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Where to stay
Marina Bay is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, couples and families
Marina Bay
Skyline hotels, the Marina Bay Sands complex and waterfront promenades
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, budget, culture and solo travellers
Chinatown
Restored shophouses, temples, Maxwell Food Centre and Keong Saik bars
$$$ · Best for nightlife, couples and food lovers
Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay
Riverside restaurants and bars along the Singapore River
$$$ · Best for shopping, families, luxury and first-timers
Orchard Road
A 2 km boulevard of malls, department stores and big hotels
What to eat
- Hainanese chicken rice — Poached chicken served at room temperature with rice cooked in chicken fat and stock, chilli-ginger sauce and dark soy.
- Laksa — Rice noodles in a spicy coconut-curry broth with prawns, fish cake and cockles.
- Chilli crab — Mud crab wok-fried in a sweet, mildly spicy tomato-and-egg gravy, mopped up with fried or steamed mantou buns.
- Char kway teow — Flat rice noodles and yellow noodles fried at high heat with dark soy, lard, Chinese sausage, cockles and bean sprouts — smoky, sweet and rich.
- Satay — Skewers of chicken, mutton or beef grilled over charcoal and served with peanut sauce, rice cakes (ketupat), cucumber and onion.
- Kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs — Charcoal-toasted bread spread with kaya (coconut-egg jam) and slabs of cold butter, served with runny soft-boiled eggs seasoned with soy and white pepper, plus a cup of local kopi.
When to go
Singapore can be visited all year, and indoor sights make rainy days easy. February to April is usually the driest and sunniest period, and July and August are relatively dry, though busy. November to January is the wettest season, with long afternoon downpours, while September can bring higher prices around the Formula 1 race and, in some years, regional haze.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast monsoon | December–early March | The wet phase from November to January brings long afternoon rain and breezy, slightly cooler days; the drier phase from late January usually gives the sunniest weeks of the year. |
| Inter-monsoon (spring) | Late March–May | Hot, still and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; April and May are among the hottest months. |
| Southwest monsoon | June–September | Relatively drier with short pre-dawn squalls; National Day decorations in August and occasional haze in some years. |
| Inter-monsoon (autumn) | October–November | Afternoon thunderstorms build towards the wet northeast monsoon; Deepavali and early Christmas lights brighten the city. |
Getting there and around
Changi Airport is about 20 km east of the centre. The MRT (East-West line, changing at Tanah Merah) reaches City Hall in about 35–45 minutes; a taxi or Grab takes about 20–30 minutes outside rush hour. Jewel connects to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on foot.
The MRT network of six lines reaches most sights, with buses filling the gaps. Air-conditioned underground walkways connect many stations to malls, which helps in the heat and rain. Taxis and ride-hailing are plentiful and reasonably priced by regional standards.
Plan your days
Two days covers Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown and a hawker crawl, which suits a stopover. Four days adds the Botanic Gardens, Little India and Kampong Glam, the zoo or Night Safari and a Sentosa day; a week leaves time for Pulau Ubin and a ferry to Bintan or Batam.
Practical information
- Currency
- SGD
- Language
- English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil
- Plugs
- Type G (three square pins), 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and refill points are common in malls and parks.
- Emergency number
- 999 (police), 995 (ambulance and fire)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary.
Street crime against visitors is uncommon, but laws are strict and fines are enforced for littering, smoking in non-designated areas and other offences. The main hazards are heat, sudden lightning storms and dehydration on long walks.
Flights to Singapore
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Singapore?
Two days covers Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown and a hawker crawl, which suits a stopover. Four days adds the Botanic Gardens, Little India and Kampong Glam, the zoo or Night Safari and a Sentosa day; a week leaves time for Pulau Ubin and a ferry to Bintan or Batam. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Singapore can be visited all year, and indoor sights make rainy days easy. February to April is usually the driest and sunniest period, and July and August are relatively dry, though busy. November to January is the wettest season, with long afternoon downpours, while September can bring higher prices around the Formula 1 race and, in some years, regional haze.
+What is Singapore known for?
Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Chilli crab, Changi Airport, Shophouse quarters and Orchard Road shopping. Hawker centres such as Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat and Tekka serve chicken rice, laksa and satay for a few dollars a plate; hawker culture is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
+Is Singapore expensive?
Singapore is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $160–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Singapore?
No. Car hire is expensive, roads are tolled and parking costs add up; public transport and taxis cover the whole island.