Singapore
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles established it as a British trading post, taking advantage of its strategic location at the crossroads of major maritime routes. By 1867, Singapore had become a Crown Colony, rapidly growing into one of the most important ports in Southeast Asia. During World War II, the city endured a difficult occupation by Japanese forces from 1942 to 1945, a period marked by hardship and suffering. After the war, Singapore returned to British rule but soon began its journey toward self-governance, achieving it in 1959. In 1963, Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia but was expelled two years later due to political and ethnic tensions. On August 9, 1965, it became an independent republic. Under the visionary leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore underwent a remarkable transformation—from a modest port city to a thriving global financial and trade hub. Today, it is celebrated worldwide for its innovative urban planning, robust economy, and multicultural society, serving as a shining example of rapid development and modernization.
💡Singapore: Good to Know
🛂 Visa: most European countries plus Canada, Australia, the US, Korea, and Japan are visa-exempt for a stay of up to 90 days, but an online arrival card needs to be filled in advance within three days of arrival (click here)
✈️ Closest Airport: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
💬 Language: official languages are Malay, English, Tamil, and Singaporean Mandarin
🏷️ Price Level: prices are generally higher than in the US, and compared to other Asian cities
🍔 Big Mac Index: US: US$5.69 / Singapore US$ 3.05
💰 Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD)| 1 USD = ca. 1.30 SGD)
☀️ Best Times to Visit: generally between February and April and September to November, when the weather is relatively dry and pleasant; Singapore experiences a warm, tropical climate year-round, but rain is likely year-round
🚘 Transportation: Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), city buses, and taxis
🔌 Adapter: Singapore uses type G plugs. No adapter is needed if you are from the UK, but it is needed when coming from Europe and the US
🛜 WiFi: widely available; Wireless@SG is a free, government-provided public WiFi service that can be accessed throughout the city
🏧💰ATM and “Cash or Card”: While little food stalls take only cash, payments with cards are generally accepted; ATMs are available throughout the city
💸 Tipping: Tipping is not expected and often discouraged, especially in places with a 10% service charge. It may be accepted in high-end hotels or for tour guides.
🚢 Cruise Terminal Address: Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS) 61 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore (docked)
✈️ 🚇🚕 Getting There and Around
🎟️ In Singapore, you can pay for MRT rides using an EZ-Link card, contactless credit/debit cards, or mobile wallets (like Apple Pay or Google Pay). You can also pay on buses with cash, but you'll need exact change, and a printed ticket will be given as proof of payment. The Singapore Tourist Pass is offered for 1 day, 2 or 3 days and allows unlimited rides on public transportation. It can be purchased at machines throughout the MRT system.
✈️ Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is located around 15 miles (20 km) east of Singapore’s city center. The MRT connects the airport to destinations across the city with one transfer. The MRT fare from Changi Airport to City Hall is approximately 2.20 SGD- 3.20 SGD. This includes a transfer at Tanah Merah station, with the journey taking about 36 minutes.
🚇 The Singapore Cruise Centre is located in the south of the island and can easily be reached through the Harbourfront MRT stop. Two MRT lines (Circle Line and North East Line) connect the terminal with different points in the city. The MRT system is very clean, trains are frequent, and announcements and signage are well-posted and in English. Stations have designated numbers and letters, making getting around more convenient than remembering the station name.
🚌 Two lines of the local hop-on-hop-off bus connect the main sights in Singapore. Both lines cross paths at Suntec City Tourist Hub, which can be easily reached by MRT. (Circle line- Esplanade or Promenade stations) More information can be found here.
⭐️ Top Sights in Singapore
"There have never been any lions in Singapore despite being known as Lion City."
📸 Marina Bay Sands: One of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks, Marina Bay Sands is famous for its three soaring towers topped by the SkyPark, which looks like a giant boat in the sky. It’s a luxury resort that includes a hotel, casino, shopping mall, theatre, and several top restaurants.
📸 Gardens by the Bay: This futuristic nature park in the heart of Singapore is located next to Marina Bay Sands, spans over 100 hectares, and blends cutting-edge architecture with lush greenery. Highlights include the Supertree Grove (tree-like vertical trees up to 150 ft (50 m)); the Cloud Forest (a cool, misty conservatory featuring a towering indoor waterfall and exotic plants), and the Flower Dome (the world’s largest glass greenhouse, showcasing flowers and plants from around the world).
📸 Orchard Road: Singapore’s most famous shopping road stretches around 2.5 km and is lined with high-end boutiques, malls, and department stores. It’s a shopper's paradise and also great for dining and people-watching/
📸 Chinatown: Chinatown's maze of narrow roads includes Chinatown Food Street, with its restaurants serving traditional fare like Hainanese chicken rice, noodles, and satay. Souvenir shops and indie boutiques dot the area, offering clothes, crafts, and antiques, while Club Street is full of trendy wine bars. Cultural institutions here include the 1827 Sri Mariamman Temple and the ornate Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.
📸 Little India: Little India is a vibrant cultural enclave with temples and mosques, street art, and brightly painted shophouses. Along the main drag, Serangoon Road, unfussy canteens and hip eateries sit next to shops selling gold jewelry, colourful silks, and fresh flower garlands. Nearby, the Mustafa Centre welcomes shoppers 24/7. The ethnic district is liveliest during Hindu celebrations like the Deepavali festival of lights.
📸 Clarke Quay: A vibrant riverside district in Singapore, Clarke Quay is renowned for its lively nightlife, diverse dining options, and rich history. Once a bustling 19th-century commercial hub, the area has been transformed into a modern entertainment enclave while preserving its historical charm. Restored shophouses now host restaurants and bars lining the river.
📸 Kampong Glam: Kampong Glam, often referred to as Singapore's "Muslim Quarter," is a historic area with a vibrant blend of Malay, Arab, and other Southeast Asian influences. It's a popular tourist spot known for its colorful shophouses, trendy boutiques, and diverse culinary scene, alongside its historical and religious significance.
🍽️😋 Regional Specialties
Singaporean cuisine is a vibrant fusion of culinary traditions, primarily influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines, with Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) and Western influences also playing a role. It's characterized by a diverse range of flavors and ingredients, resulting in a unique and delicious blend of tastes.
🍽️ Hainanese Chicken Rice: Brought to Singapore by immigrants from Hainan Island, China in the early 20th century, Hainanese Chicken Rice is often hailed as Singapore’s national dish, prized for its simplicity, fragrance, and depth in flavor. Traditionally plated with the chicken neatly sliced, rice formed into a dome, cucumbers fanned alongside, and dollops of chili-garlic sauce, ginger-scallion oil or paste, and dark soy sauce to mix as you eat.
🍽️ Chili Crab: Invented in the 1950s by Cher Yam Tian, who first sold her homemade chili-tomato-egg sauce with crabs at a Singapore wet market stall, Chili Crab is one of Singapore’s most celebrated seafood dishes.
🍽️ Laksa: Laksa is a rich, spicy noodle soup that showcases Singapore’s Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) heritage, made with a creamy coconut-curry base and thick rice vermicelli often cut into short lengths in the “Katong Laksa” style unique to Singapore.
🍽️ Nasi Lemak: Nasi lemak is a rice dish cooked in coconut milk, often infused with pandan leaves for fragrance, and served with a variety of accompaniments like fried anchovies, peanuts, egg, and sambal chili. While traditionally wrapped in banana leaves, it's commonly found in Singapore hawker centers and enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner.
🍽️ Roti Prata: Roti prata, a popular layered flatbread, is a beloved food in Singapore, enjoyed with various curries, condensed milk, or even unique toppings like cheese or chicken floss. Roti prata is known for its crispy exterior and soft interior, and is often eaten with fingers
🍽️ Kaya Toast: Kaya toast is a dish consisting of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam), commonly served alongside kopi and soft-boiled eggs. The dish was believed to be created by Hainanese immigrants to the Straits Settlements in the 19th century while serving on British ships.
🥤Singapore Sling: The Singapore Sling is a gin-based cocktail, widely considered Singapore's national drink, invented in 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel. It's known for its fruity, slightly sweet flavor profile and a pinkish hue.
📍🗺️ Maps, Apps & Links
🌐 Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus
🚕 Grab
🚕 TADA
🚕 Gojek