Singapore

Discover the best of Singapore with our comprehensive travel guide. Learn about Singapore's weather and the ideal times to plan your visit throughout the year. Find practical information on transportation options to help you navigate the city-state with ease. Explore Singapore's top attractions, neighborhoods, and must-visit destinations for an unforgettable experience. Sample delicious local dishes and uncover hidden gems that most tourists miss but locals love.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

How to Get to Singapore

Changi Airport serves as Singapore's main international gateway, handling over 68 million passengers annually across its four terminals, with a fifth terminal under development. The airport offers connections to more than 380 cities worldwide, linking destinations like London, Tokyo, New York, and Sydney through its extensive network.

Seletar Airport complements Changi by accommodating private aircraft and serving as a training facility for pilots. Together, these airports maintain Singapore's position as a key node in global air transportation.

Changi Airport stands out for its exceptional amenities, including:

• -A swimming pool
• -Movie theaters
• -A butterfly garden
• -The Jewel waterfall

These facilities transform waiting time into a worthwhile experience. If your travel plans include a connection through Singapore, consider allowing extra time to explore the airport's unique offerings.

How to Get Around

Singapore's transportation system works like a well-oiled machine. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway runs through the city like arteries, stopping at most places visitors want to see. The trains arrive on time, and the stations stay clean. In areas where the MRT doesn't reach, buses fill the gaps, taking people to every corner of the island.

When tired feet need a break, taxis wait at almost every corner. The Grab app works just like Uber for those who prefer booking rides through their phones. For something different, try the bumboats that cruise along the Singapore River – they show the city from a different angle as they glide past old warehouses and modern skyscrapers.

Heading to Malaysia? Express buses and trains depart regularly from Woodlands Checkpoint, making day trips simple. Ferries also sail to nearby Indonesian islands, perfect for quick getaways.

While tour vans exist, most visitors find them unnecessary. The regular transit system reaches almost everywhere worth visiting, and Singapore's compact size makes getting around straightforward.

For regional connections beyond Singapore, services from Billion Stars Express or Starmart Express offer comfortable options for travelers ready to explore more of Southeast Asia.

Food Scene

When locals meet in Singapore, the conversation often turns to food. Not what they ate yesterday, but what they plan to eat tomorrow. This city takes eating seriously, and the evidence is everywhere.

Must-Try Local Dishes

• Hainanese Chicken Rice: The line in Maxwell Food Centre forms early. Poached chicken, fragrant rice, and chili sauce create a dish that's greater than the sum of its parts.
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• Chili Crab: Crab comes swimming in a tomato-based sauce that people mop up with mantou buns. Prepare for messy fingers and a happy stomach.
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• Laksa: Their coconut curry noodle soup has cut noodles, so you only need a spoon to eat it. The soup warms you from the inside out.
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Food Markets & Street Food

• Lau Pa Sat: As offices empty in the evening, this colonial-era structure transforms. Satay Street appears, and the smell of grilling meat fills the air.
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• Chinatown Complex Food Centre: Hundreds of stalls under one roof mean decision paralysis for newcomers. Follow the queues or ask locals for recommendations.
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• Tekka Centre: Morning brings Little India to life. Watch roti prata being flipped or try biryani that's cooked in enormous pots.
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Regional Specialties

• Peranakan cuisine showcases the cooking of Straits-born Chinese. Try ayam buah keluak, which is chicken cooked with black nuts that take days to prepare.
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• Indian fish head curry isn't as intimidating as it sounds. The tender meat around the cheeks rewards the adventurous.
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• Malay nasi lemak at comes with coconut rice, fried chicken, and sambal that delivers just the right heat.

Hidden Gems

1. Haw Par Villa

Tucked away from the usual Singapore attractions sits a park that might raise your eyebrows. Haw Par Villa brings Chinese mythology to life through colorful statues and dioramas that don't hold back on the details, some might even make you wince. 

The Ten Courts of Hell show exactly what ancient Chinese believed happened to liars, cheaters, and other wrongdoers after death. The mornings bring peace and cooler temperatures, especially on weekdays when you might have entire sections to yourself. 

Just hop on the Circle Line, step off at Haw Par Villa station, and you're there, no taxis needed.

2. Pulau Ubin

Time seems to slow down on Pulau Ubin, a small island where Singapore's past still breathes. Wooden houses stand alongside dirt paths, chickens peck freely, and bicycles outnumber cars. The trees grow tall, the air feels different, and at Chek Jawa, the sea reveals its treasures when the tide pulls back. 

The island feels like a different country, though it's just a short boat ride away. Head to Changi Point Ferry Terminal, hand over about $4, and join the locals on a bumboat that crosses the water from early morning until the sun sets.

Dirt paths wind through the forests of Pulau Ubin, creating 10 km/6 miles of trails at Ketam Mountain Bike Park, where bike tires have carved their mark. Some paths welcome beginners, while others, especially those marked with Black Diamond signs, demand skill and nerve as they twist around tree roots and dip suddenly downhill. 

The trails behave best when dry, making February through September the time to test your balance. After crossing to the island, rent a sturdy mountain bike from the shops near the arrival point, then follow the blue markers that point the way to the park entrance.

Scenic Routes

When people walk through Singapore, they notice how the city and nature come together in unexpected ways. Around the city, several paths reveal Singapore's character from different angles:

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• Singapore Southern Ridges: Wooden walkways lift visitors above the forest floor, connecting parks that would otherwise remain separate. The curved Henderson Waves bridge rises 36 meters above the ground, its ribs creating pockets of shade for resting. Morning walkers hear birds calling while the air remains cool, especially from February to April when rain chances drop. Feet on these paths feel the gentle give of wood rather than city concrete.

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• Marina Bay to Gardens by the Bay: Metal trees tower alongside real ones here, reaching 50 meters into the sky. After sunset, the Supertrees light up with colors that dance to music. People look up from below, watching patterns flow across these structures while the real city skyline frames the background. Children often stop, mouths open, as the lights change above them.

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• Singapore River Cruise: The water offers a different story about Singapore. From a boat, passengers see shophouses that once housed traders next to glass towers built just years ago. The golden hour before sunset washes everything in warm light. The boat engine hums while the guide explains how each building connects to Singapore's growth from a fishing village to a financial center.

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• Singapore Cable Car to Sentosa: Suspended in a glass bubble, passengers drift over the harbor. The islands spread out below like a map coming to life. On weekday mornings, the cabins often carry just a few people, giving everyone space to press against the windows and point at landmarks. Children count ships in the harbor while parents spot familiar buildings from this new angle.

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• MacRitchie Reservoir TreeTop Walk: The narrow suspension bridge sways slightly with each step, 25 meters above the forest floor. Morning visitors might catch long-tailed macaques watching from branches or hear the rustling of flying lemurs preparing for sleep. The metal mesh underfoot reveals glimpses of the forest below, creating moments where people feel like they're floating through the canopy rather than walking on a path.

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Events, Festivals and Local Markets

When January and February arrive in Singapore, the streets come alive with Chinese New Year Celebrations. Dragons weave through crowds, drums echo between buildings, and red lanterns hang above markets. Families gather to share meals while children run with red envelopes filled with gifts.

July brings the aroma of spices and sizzling woks during the Singapore Food Festival. Chefs prepare laksa in steaming pots, locals debate where to find the best chicken rice, and food stalls line up shoulder to shoulder. Tables fill with people comparing notes on their favorite dishes from across Chinese, Malay, and Indian traditions.

As the sun sets during Ramadan, the Geylang Serai Bazaar transforms into a nocturnal neighborhood. Lights switch on, grills heat up, and families arrive to break their fast together. Stalls sell kebabs, colorful fabrics, and hand-crafted goods while the call to prayer sounds in the background.

Throughout the year, the Chinatown Street Market tells stories of Singapore's past and present. Shopkeepers arrange jade jewelry behind glass cases, tea merchants measure loose leaves, and paper lanterns sway in the breeze. The scent of durian and incense mingles in the air as elderly men play chess on corner tables.

Tips for Traveling to Singapore

VISA & ENTRY

• Most tourists get 30-90 day visa-free entry
• Passport must be valid for 6+ months
• Return ticket required

CULTURAL ETIQUETTE

• Remove shoes when entering homes/temples
• No chewing gum (sales banned)
• Public eating on transit is forbidden
• Tipping not expected

MONEY MATTERS

• Singapore Dollar (SGD)
• Cards widely accepted
• Contactless payments common
• ATMs abundant

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Emergency: 995 (ambulance), 999 (police)
• Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended
• Tropical climate: hydrate well
• Safe drinking of tap water

TRANSPORTATION

• MRT (subway) covers most attractions
• EZ-Link card for public transit
• Grab app for taxis
• Jaywalking heavily fined
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