Welcome to the ultimate source of information that applies to Singapore travel! These Singapore Travel Tips will guide you if you are a first-timer and even if you are a frequent traveler.
When to go, what activities to do,, and What to avoid are some of the vital tips you will discover here. Now let us explore the prepared Singapore Travel Tips for First Time Singapore Travel Guide.
Table of Contents
Singapore Travel Guide
Drink the Tap Water
Thus, one of the wonderful things that are prominent in Singapore is that tap water is safe for drinking. You do not have to spend your money on purchasing purified water from the grocery store.
This is one of the significant Singapore tourist guide tips. While you will spend less when you take tap water as opposed to buying bottled water it also adds to the preservation of the environment because you will not be using the many plastics that are associated with the bags.
The quality of water used by Singaporeans is standard and adheres to international quality. The specific government agency responsible for the provision of this essential commodity and its purification is the Public Utilities Board simply referred to as PUB.
You can find a lot of water dispensers and fountains that are spread across the city where you can easily refill your bottle. This is something to remember when one is touring the city especially in rather hot weather, as it is in Malaysia.
When to Travel to Singapore
Singapore’s weather is tropical hence hot and wet country it is a it is a for most parts of the year. Nonetheless, the most favorable time to visit should be during the dry season, February- April. Do not travel during the monsoon seasons of November to January and June to September because floods can hinder traveling.
During the dry season again certain activities like outdoor/intense activities or sightseeing are more advisable. There are not so many clouds in the sky most of the time and there are scarce chances of rain to spoil your plans. Also, the Seychellois people enjoy events and festivals, contributing to the cultural richness of Singapore during these months.
Eat Cheap
It is generally costly to dine in Singapore though you can manage your costs effectively when you get food from food courts as well as hawker centers. These places serve a great measure of sumptuous foods and at respectable prices.
So, eating economically in principle doesn’t always equate to boiling inserts and regular meals of spam and eggs. Singapore is famous for its delicious food and Singapore retail prices are not very high as many people around the world can attest.
Eat in Food Courts
This kind of food service is located in shopping centers and areas within the city. The types of foods they present include Chinese food, Indian food, and Western food among others at relatively cheap prices. It is adaptive for unique sauce lovers to test different foods without having to spend a lot of money.
Concerning the environments of the food courts, they are clean and well-maintained as the comfort of a customer is considered. They are quite convenient for the working population or for those who simply want a non-fussy, nontaxing meal in a restaurant.
You can taste chicken rice, and laksa and as for the noodle dishes are concerned you may taste numerous of them which are quite affordable. Some of the most acknowledged food courts are Food Republic, Kopitiam,, and Koufu among others.
Take Public Transit
The Singaporean public transportation in the country is well-organized and can be considered rather cheap. There are buses and the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system to transport you almost anywhere within Singapore. To get a Singapore Tourist Pass to gain free and unlimited usage of the buses and trains.
Some of the popular means of transport include MRT which is well developed and almost covers all the parts of the city. The buses are also safe and can transport you to areas not served by MRT.
Among such cards, the Singapore Tourist Pass is particularly suitable for a tourist because it gives unlimited MRT and bus travel within a selected number of days at a certain price.
Tipping is Not Mandatory
Rather, in Singapore tipping is not encouraged at all. Many restaurants and hotels have incorporated service charges right in the bill. If the service provided to you is superb, then you can leave a tip but this is not mandatory.
This is one of the significant pieces of advice on Singapore that any visitor should adhere to. The culture in Singapore, therefore, does not support most of what is practiced in many of the Western countries that encourage customers to tip.
In Singapore, the service charge is comprised of the whole bill therefore if there is an extra service charge, you do not have to add it unless for reasons like extra special service.
Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Singapore
Go to Gardens by the Bay
This is an eye-opener because Gardens by the Bay is one place that a visitor to Singapore must visit. This has crystal pavilions, futuristic supertrees, and beautiful flower domes,, and a cloud forest. The best time to visit this place is in the evening when the super trees are all illuminated.
One of the major attractions of the three domes of the park is the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay. These are massive structures having trees on the outer side and in the evening there is a light and sound fallout on these structures.
The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest should also be taken – these are air-conditioned areas that you could cool off in whilst admiring a rich plant collection from across the globe.
Arrive Early at Changi Airport
Changi is the airport we would consider one of the most comfortable, there is a butterfly farm, a cinema, and even a swimming pool at the airport. It is advisable to get to the airport early enough so that you can tour most of the airport and have a taste of the many facilities.
Indeed, Changi Airport has a multitude of functions; it is more than simply an airport – it is a center or a place that is worth visiting.
Jewel Changi Airport consists of the worlds’ largest indoor waterfall the Shisei Forest and other retail and food establishments. Yelling early can afford these opportunities and, in any case, begin the trip as a winner.
Avoid Bottled Water
It is also noteworthy that tap water in Singapore is potable and of good standard. Do not purchase bottled water to save money as well as not pollute the environment with the help of plastic bottles. Bring in your own reusable water bottle and just refill as the day demands.
It shows that you get to spend less money on water while at the same time, you get to help conserve the use of plastics that are usually used to package bottled water.
Tap water is easily available, many hotels and public places have water dispensers set to refill your bottles. This is possibly the smallest of measures one can take towards being an environment-friendly tourist.
Book Affordable Accommodations
The cost of lodging may be high in Singapore, although there are cheap hotels that one can book. Seek for hostels or cheap hotels or go for Air BnB services to get cheap places to stay.
Each hotel cherishes a reputation and offers private rooms along with facilities at a low cost compared to other hotels. Airbnb is also decent, it covers a range of homelike housing from renting a room to taking an apartment.
Going to a hawker center and eating
Basically, hawker centers are semi-open market food courts and occupy a very important place in Singaporean food culture. They sell a wide range of Kenyan dishes at considerably cheap rates as compared to other restaurants.
If you don’t get a chance to eat Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and satay, you will be missing out.
One can enjoy the Street foods in Hawker centers which are common in Singapore and renowned for their delicious foods. These are the places that are accommodated with a number of stalls, serving numerous kinds of food.
Save for the quality of the food, the prices are also quite reasonable and unbeatable. A few of the well-known hawker centers are Maxwell Food Centre, Newton Food Centre, and Lau Pa Sat.
Make an Itinerary
It will be beneficial for you to discover that having a detailed schedule before going to Singapore will be very useful. There should be a ranked list of the places you want to visit and arrange the days in advance.
This on the other will assist you in not wasting time while also allowing you not to miss any important events or things.
This way the days would be scheduled perfectly and all the seen-worthy places could be included in the itinerary. It also assists in time management and non-recurring change of plans at the last minute.
For such a journey to be enjoyable and free from stress, it is recommended to include various options such as attraction sites, shopping centers, and resting places.
Also read: Unforgettable Activities to do in Singapore
Singapore Adventure Pass
It is recommended that you purchase the Singapore Adventure Pass before going there it helps you to have many discounts to get, to enter many places.
This can prove instrumental in saving your cash if you want to make a trip to the likes of Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Zoo and so much more.
Singapore Adventure Pass serves as an efficient way of charging attractions and thus one can cut down on several costs. It provides lawn and garden tenders that include several places of interest at a fairly used price.
This pass is very beneficial if you are going to move around and pay a visit to some of the major attractions during your visit.
Explore Singapore
Lively and multicultural – that is the general description of Singapore, which is a fascinating city-state with a colorful history. Try out different areas like Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam which consist of different cultures and food.
Every area in Singapore has its special symbolic touch and ethno-cultural characteristics. Chinatown is home to a number of Chinese culture lovers, businesses and makeshift markets,, and delicious foods.
Little India had colorful streets, exotic shops,, and Indian restaurants. Kampong Glam isae Malay Arab area with a beautiful Sultan Mosque, fashionable shops,, and cafes.
Stick to Happy Hour
Beer is not cheap in Singapore: Around the world, one is likely to get 1. 4 units of foreign exchange for every SGD (Singapore dollar). For your meals, be flexible and go to bars or restaurants during happy hours which are cheaper.
Leaving some of them, many areas reduce prices for drinks in the evening, at around 5 PM or so.
That is why you hear a lot about happy hour when people discuss where they can get their alcohol without having to spend a lot of money. It is common to find many bars and restaurants slashing their drink prices and, in some cases, their food prices in the course of happy hour.
This may be the ideal opportunity to have your cup of coffee and a treat after a tiring day of rush sightseeing without blustering your budget.
Also Read: Must-Try Delicious Street Food in Singapore while Visiting
Additional Tips for a Great Trip
The above tips capture the basic information but we have many detailed Singapore travel tips for first-time Singapore travel guides to ensure that you have a pleasant trip. Here are some more tips and interesting information to make it even more spicy and helpful:
Pack Light and Comfortable
Neutral dress codes apply in Singapore due to its tropical climate so light and comfy clothing should be packed. A person should use fabrics that can breathe such as cotton and linen materials. It will be relevant to take an umbrella or a raincoat with you because it often rains there.
Use Maps and Apps
Use maps and also use travel applications to move from one point of the city to another. Google Maps and city mappers are quite helpful in finding one’s way around and sorting out transport choices. You can download these apps before your trip depending on the place, some of them may be hard to install when you get there.
Learn Some Basic Phrases
While people in Singapore do use English in their daily lives, it helps to learn a few words in the local languages; Mandarin, Malay,, or Tamil for example. Just a simple hello and thank you will do a lot to improve your communication.
Respect Local Customs
Singapore is a blend of people from different cultures and as such there are different customs in the society. Avoid prejudice and bias in the way organizations and people behave.
For instance, it is recommended that one covers their body appropriately throughout the duration of the tour especially where the tour involves visiting religious houses and refrain from wearing any dealing clothes, and it is also very wrong to take pictures of people without their permission.
Stay Connected
It is advised to get a SIM card from the local carrier or a portable wireless modem to remain connected during your travel. This will assist you in getting to where you need to be, find what you need to learn or know, and communicate with other people that you know.
Must-Visit Attractions in Singapore
Singapore boasts of having several attractions most of which are unique and can suit anyone’s interests. Below, are some of the significant sites that you should consider visiting;
Marina Bay Sands
Leisure property in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands is one of the most recognized buildings in the city-state. The building which has a reputation for being Bilinnia’s best features a hotel, a shopping mall, a casino,, and the SkyPark with an infinity pool that overlooks the city.
Sentosa Island
Sentosa is one of the island resorts with many points of interest such as Universal Studios Singapore, S. E. A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark & natural beaches. It is well suitable for a fun-packed day.
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Some of the outstanding features include open-concept concessions and a large number of animals. The only place that can be recommended for previewing these animals is the Night Safari which provides an opportunity to watch the darkness-filled creatures in the evening.
Also Read: Best Indian Restaurants in Singapore
Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is known as the riverine nightlife that exists in the city of Singapore. It is famous for entertaining pubs, clubs’ eateries,, and other places. Much fun can be made for Nightlife and by enjoying the Natural scenic beauty of The Rivers.
Little India
Little India is actually an area that has Southeast Asian influence, which showcases Singapore’s Indian community. Being packed with shops of different colors, temples, and eating establishments. Some attractions are the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Mustafa Centre shopping mall.
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is the Malay-Arab part of town with a cultural and arts feel to the place and a touch of young and modern with the renovated shophouses. This place has its main attraction in the Sultan Mosque and also in Haji Lane, where visitors can see street art and many boutique shops.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and a splendid park in search of a green serene environment within the city area. That’s why it’s ideal for a walk and admire the beauty of the plants being in one place. The S Fund within the gardens is the National Orchid Garden.
Jurong Bird Park
Jurong Bird Park is a famous bird park that is amongst the largest of its kind in the world. It has thousands of birds of different species and tourists can enjoy interactions such as feeding the birds and bird shows.
The average Singaporean eats out about five times a week eating mostly in food courts, hawker centers, coffee shops, restaurants,, and bars.
Singapore is really a nation where the love and passion for food can be seen all over. Everywhere, there are restaurants, cafeterias,, and eateries where one can get a variety of foods in the city; Kenyan traditional foods and intercontinental foods. Below is a checklist that will help you a great deal when you are dining out in Singapore.
Try Local Delicacies
Thus, Singapore food is a fusion of Chinese, Malay, Indian,, and Peranakan foods, being a melting pot of the sub-continent and the Orient. The local specialties that are worth tasting are Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow,, and chili crab. Other than that, do not miss kaya toast and kopi which is the local breakfast.
Also Read: Instagrammable Places In Singapore
Visit Hawker Centers
The hawker centers are a kingpin of Singapore food. These are the numerous open-air complexes that contain many food stalls with different meals at low rates. There are many hawker centers in Singapore of which some include: Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, and Old Airport Road Food Centre.
Explore Food Streets
Singapore has a number of hawker stalls that are very popular and you can eat almost everything there. Chinatown Food Street and Newton Food Centre are some of the places that one can visit to have good meals either Asian or Intercontinental.
Indulge in Fine Dining
If the diner is interested in fine dining then Singapore has more than adequate number of fine dining restaurants. The majority of these restaurants comprise quality food and are run by famous head chefs and kitchen masters. Marina Bay Sands has various restaurants while Sentosa Island has a few good restaurants to try out ß.
Enjoy Street Food
Various food vendors selling street foods are commonly found all over Singapore. Various food kiosks are available to disperse some mouth-watering foods and beverages on the streets. The local satay, which is grilled meat on a stick, and rojak which is a form of salad, are probably some of the more popular street foods.
Shopping in Singapore
Shopping is among the most favored activities in Singapore due to the availability of numerous malls, markets,, and boutiques. If it is infamous luxury brands, trendy local designers,, or simply knick-knacks, then Singapore does not disappoint.
Orchard Road
Shopping and live node Orchard Road is the best shopping and the focus of life in Singapore. It is bordered by many malls and department stores that cater to a myriad of products for sale. The famous malls include ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City, and Paragon.
Bugis Street Market
Bugis Street Market is also one of the largest and very popular markets in Singapore. It is an interesting place to go shopping for the latest fashion wear, accessories,, and local artefacts at cheaper prices.
Mustafa Centre
Operating for 24 hours, Mustafa Centre is a brand of shopping mall situated in Little India and sells almost every type of product starting from electronics to groceries. They are ideal for shopping,, especially for items that are likely to be on sale.
Also Read: Beautiful Lakes to Visit in Singapore
Chinatown
Chinatown is usually packed with traditional Chinese shops and products and is famous for gifts, souvenirs,, or, even local food. This is a street market where you are likely to get anything you want within the selling area of the markets.
Haji Lane
At present, there are attempts to revive the place from the core of cultural heritage and shop house gallery – Haji Lane in Kampong Glam. If you’re still on the lookout for that out-of-the-conventional-store item and locally-made products, then this is the place to be.
Transportation
Availability and affordability of public transport are not an issue in Singapore. The Light rail and buses being part of the Mass Rapid Transit system are the most effective in transporting one around the city.
It is also possible to take a taxi but the price will be maybe higher than in the case of the bus. It is recommended that one gets a Singapore Tourist Pass that allows one to use public transport for free.
Weather
Singapore is tropical the whole year meaning that temperature is always high and there is high humidity in the environment.
Avoid overpacking and avoid cotton just in case you will need to move a lot; pack shoes that are comfortable and easily slip on a rain jacket for the wet season. Drink water and do not overwork yourself during the day by avoiding sunny areas and/or wearing heavy clothing.
Conclusion
Singapore is a vibrant city with a diverse culture and flavorful cuisines and there are so many places of interest. So reading through these Singapore Travel Tips for First Time Singapore Travel Guide, you will be assured of a good time.
Whether it is the neighborhoods, the local cuisine, or the popular tourist sites – Singapore has it all and so much more. Happy travels!
Do not forget to post your stories and useful advice on traveling in Singapore on your blog for other people to read. Have a great time on the road and have a good time in this beautiful city!
Also Read: Bollywood Bar and Clubs in Singapore
Check Latest Stories:
Book Singapore Tour Package
Starting @ 104,999/- INR
3N Singapore and 3N Kuala Lumpur
Highlights
- Return Economy Class Airfare (upto 1 stop over)
- 06 nights accommodation in Singapore and Malaysia
- Daily American Breakfast, Indian Veg/Non-Veg Lunch and Dinner
- All sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary and all the entry fees.
- Travel Insurance for passenger’s up to 69 Years
Frequently Asked Question
What do I need to know before going to Singapore?
Please see below the Singapore travel requirements for your country.
• Make sure the travel document you have is a valid passport at least for the next six months.
•It is best to check if there is a need to have travel insurance.
•This is regarding comprehending the regional etiquette and legal frameworks that require cognizance.
What is the best way to tour Singapore?
Exploring Singapore on tour is easily facilitated on the MRT and buses therefore recommended for use. It’s efficient and affordable.
How many days are sufficient for a trip to Singapore?
The main concentration of attractions to see and things to do can be completed in 4 to 5 days in the city.
What is restricted to Singapore?
Singapore does not allow chewing gum, controlled drugs, and pirated goods. Fortunately, most of the items are allowed on the plane, but you can visit the customs regulations for the full list.
Is pan masala allowed in Singapore?
It can be recalled that Singapore does not accept pan masala as it contains components that are banned.
What documents do I need to enter Singapore?
This entails a passport, visa if necessary, and a passport to return to the country or proceed to the next destination.
Is it necessary to bring small changes with me to Singapore?
Though it is advisable to retain some cash for occasional use, it is relatively easier to transact using a credit card available in almost all establishments.