Everything to Know Before Visiting Singapore

Singapore makes up for its diminutive size with preposterously large hotels, a thriving food culture, stunning public gardens, museums and mega-malls. The steamy city is a melting pot – go from the hawker markets of Chinatown to the sari-shop-strewn streets of Little India to the spectacular mosque in Arab Street in one short cab ride. Singapore is no longer just a short-term stopover, it’s a destination in its own right. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting.

Flight time to Singapore

Qantas flies directly to Singapore. The flight takes about eight hours from the east coast and about five hours from Perth.

Entering Singapore

Australian passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Singapore provided they have confirmed onward/return tickets. First-time visitors are required to scan their thumbprints when they arrive; if you’ve visited more than twice in the last 24 months you can register for the Frequent Traveller Programme to use the speedier iris and facial scans.

Landing at Changi Airport

Changi, Singapore’s international airport, connects to more than 400 destinations worldwide and is also a hub for food, shopping and entertainment. It was rated the best airport in the world by Skytrax every year from 2013 to 2020 (only losing out to Doha’s Hamad and Tokyo’s Haneda in 2021) so expect organised chaos.

Changi is located 20 kilometres east of the city centre. Taxis depart from outside each terminal: the ride to the city takes about 30 minutes. Alternatively, the 36 bus does loops from terminals 1, 2 and 3 into the city from early morning until about midnight and the trip takes about an hour. There are also trains at terminals 2 and 3 that connect with the MRT underground network. Change at Tanah Merah station to get to the city.

Medical advice

Make sure your basic vaccinations are up to date and consider shots for typhoid, hepatitis A and B and Japanese encephalitis.
There is limited transmission of Zika virus in Singapore so be careful to protect yourself against mosquito bites. The Singapore Ministry of Health has up-to-date information on hotspots for the disease. The Australian Department of Health recommends pregnant women discuss any travel plans with their doctor.
Dengue fever is a risk, with a significant increase in the number of cases since 2019. The National Environment Agency advises applying insect repellent regularly.
Outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease are relatively common, usually affecting children under 10. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Legalities in Singapore

Singapore is a conservative country with strict laws pertaining to drugs, homosexuality, smoking and even chewing gum (yes, those urban legends about people being arrested for chewing gum in Singapore are true). Law-breakers are dealt with harshly and canings and the death penalty are among the punishments meted out.

Some important things to know include:

There is a strict, zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs. Some drugs that are sold over the counter or accessed by prescription in Australia are illegal in Singapore, including some painkillers and cold and flu medications. Check whether you need approval from Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority and carry prescriptions for accepted medications.
Male homosexual sexual activity is illegal and it’s technically possible for a couple to be imprisoned for up to two years, but the law is, mercifully, rarely enforced. Oddly, nothing in the law prohibits sex between two women.
Public nudity is banned, even if it’s accidental (i.e. through your hotel window).
Chewing gum is banned and you could even be fined for bringing it into the country.
It is not permitted to bring vaporisers such as e-cigarettes into the country – they are likely to be confiscated and could result in a fine or even imprisonment.
Smoking is banned in many public outdoor areas such as bus shelters, markets, and car parks and within five metres of entries and exits.
The legal drinking age is 18.
It is illegal to consume alcohol in a public place between the hours of 10:30pm and 7am.
Littering and spitting could result in heavy fines.
Stealing wi-fi is considered hacking and attracts a fine of up to $10,000 or a three-year prison sentence.
Not flushing a public toilet will (seriously) cost you $150 if you’re caught.
Feeding pigeons is illegal and results in fines of up to $500.
Jaywalking is illegal.

Language in Singapore

English is one of the official languages of the country, as well as Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. You won’t have any trouble communicating with locals.

Singapore transport tips

The Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) underground train system traverses much of the island. Tickets are available at all stations. The SBS Transit bus network is also extensive and a great way to do a bit of sightseeing en route. The EZ-Link Card lets you travel by MRT, local buses, river taxis and the Sentosa Express monorail (top up your credit on the app) or if you’ve got a jam-packed schedule it might be worth buying a Singapore Tourist Pass, which allows you unlimited public transport travel for up to several days. Otherwise, taxis and Grab, Singapore’s answer to Uber and Lyft, are inexpensive, safe, clean and plentiful.

Having adopted Universal Design principles, Singapore is one of the world’s most accessible cities, with wheelchair-friendly buses and priority lifts, tactile wayfinding and easy-to-follow signage across all MRT stations.

Money in Singapore

The currency in Singapore is the Singporean Dollar (SGD). At the time of writing, the Australian dollar is buying 0.87 Singapore dollars (SGD). Check a reliable currency conversion service for up-to-date exchange rates.

A few money matters to note before visiting Singapore:

Make sure your bank won’t hit you with extra fees when you use your credit card in Singapore. Your Australian bank and Singapore ATMs will both charge you for withdrawing money from your debit card, too, so it might be worth organising a travel card (most banks have one) with low or no fees to use while you’re away. In any case, inform your bank of your travel plans, lest overseas purchases are misconstrued as fraud and your card is cancelled.
Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere but there is often a minimum spend and you’ll need cash to buy food in hawker centres.
Tipping is not required in Singapore but it is appreciated at restaurants. Sometimes a service charge is added to the bill but this won’t be handed over to staff so it’s best to hand any additional tip directly to your waitperson. It is not customary to tip tour guides or taxi drivers.

Etiquette in Singapore

It’s considered rude to touch someone, even a child, on the head, to show someone the soles of your feet or to point at a person.
Public displays of affection are considered inappropriate.
Singaporean Malays and Indians use spoons and their hands to eat but don’t eat or pass food with your left hand – it’s considered unclean.
If you’re using chopsticks, place them on a chopstick rest when you are finished eating – to leave them on your plate indicates you’re still eating.

Weather in Singapore

Being so close to the equator, Singapore is hot and humid year-round. There’s generally greater rainfall between November and January but you’re likely to experience a tropical downpour or two whenever you go. The average temperature in the warmest months (May and June) is 27°C. In the coolest months? It’s 26°C.

Smog is an issue in Singapore, especially in the driest months between June and September. Check the National Environment Agency’s Haze for up-to-date information and if you have any respiratory issues, consult a doctor before travelling. Air filter masks are available to purchase in most chemists and supermarkets in Singapore.

When to go to Singapore

The weather is much the same year-round, so it shouldn’t have too much influence on your timing. Instead, check the Singapore cultural calendar.

Chinese New Year celebrations kick off in January as thousands of intricate lanterns light up Chinatown’s streets. You’ll also spot vibrant installations and performances as part of Art Around The City, which runs from January through April.

The Singapore International Festival of Arts, an annual extravaganza of exhibitions, theatre and music in May, is a major drawcard, as is the Singapore Food Festival in July. Expect masterclasses, neighbourhood culinary tours and plenty of exclusive eats.

Singapore National Day, the Hungry Ghost Festival honouring memories of the deceased and the brilliant light installations of the Singapore Night Festival all happen in August. The Formula One Grand Prix is September’s big-ticket event – you’ll need to book your accommodation well in advance.

Come October, the annual Hindu celebration of Deepavali (also known as Diwali) brings light displays, traditional dancers, rangoli (an art form using colourful sand to create patterns on the ground) and tantalising sweets to Little India.

Safety in Singapore

Be sure to keep up to date with travel advice from Smart Traveller.

Dress code in Singapore

Anything goes in Singapore, but with such humid weather it helps to have lightweight, loose-fitting garments to deal with the heat.

Tap water in Singapore

The tap water in Singapore is safe to drink.

Insurance policy

Smart Traveller recommends all visitors take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation.

Where to stay in Singapore

The downtown area to the south of the island provides options for daytime exploring and night-time eating and drinking. Try Chinatown for boutique hotels or Boat Quay, which is close to plenty of bars and restaurants and is home to the remarkable Fullerton Bay Hotel. Little India up to Lavender Street has plenty of cheaper accommodation and great people-watching. The Colonial District is where you’ll find Raffles hotel and the Orchard Road shopping precinct has a good mix of options. The cool expat community of Tiong Bahru is a bit farther out, but worth the distance for its 1930s low-rise buildings, bookstores and eateries.

Phone calls and mobile data

Before you land, disable data roaming on your phone and don’t answer incoming calls if you want to keep your monthly bill in check. If you need to keep in touch with people at home, invest in a prepaid travel SIM card (you can buy your international SIM before you leave Australia) or buy a prepaid Singaporean SIM card. Local mobile carriers Singtel, M1 and StarHub are all compatible with Australian phones, but remember, this will only work if your phone is not locked to your Australian carrier.

The police emergency number in Singapore is 999. For fire and ambulance dial 995.

Calling Australia from Singapore

To call Australia, dial +61 followed by the phone number (include the area code but minus the zero). So to call a Sydney landline, you would dial +61 2 then the phone number. To call a mobile phone, use the same country code (+61) and dial the mobile number minus the first zero.

Gadget and electronics in Singapore

Singapore has the same electricity frequency and voltage as Australia so all gadgets and chargers should work without a problem. You will need a power adapter because the sockets are different.

Internet in Singapore

Wi-fi is readily available in malls, cafés and restaurants throughout the city, however you must ask permission before connecting – under Singaporean law it’s considered hacking to steal wi-fi.