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Singapore Travel Tips: What should you know before you go

Singapore, also called “Instant Asia,” offers a blend of Asian culture as all its residents come from different parts of the continent! Home to one of the most beautiful Gardens by the Bay, it is a popular, affordable destination, attracting over 15 million tourists yearly.

As a first-time visitor, you’d have to do a ton of research to find out things to do in Singapore and to avoid. Don’t worry; we have made it easier with this guide to Singapore travel tips to ensure you have the best experience while following the rules!

Choosing a Month to Visit

Mother and children running in the park on a bright day.
Image credit: MIA Studio/Shutterstock

Unlike other countries, Singapore has a pleasant, tropical climate on most days throughout the year, occasionally covered by a few rain clouds. Typically, you can enjoy a great visit, no matter the season you pick, as the weather is similar to India. The best dry months to explore Singapore are between February and April. One of the best Singapore travel tips is to align your visiting date with the weather conditions and events happening in the country:

Spring (March to May): Coincides with the Clarke Quay nighttime festival.
Summer (June to September): Crowds increase as school vacations begin and the Great Singapore Sale starts.
Autumn (October and November): Formula One Singapore Grand Prix
Winter (December to February): Christmas and Chinese New Year festivities

Singapore is famous for its stable climate, so flash floods are the most inclement weather you’ll have to battle here. You’ll find cheap flights to Singapore throughout the year, but the prices drop the most in September.

Packing for Singapore’s Tropical Weather

Man packing suitcase
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It’s pretty easy as an Indian to pack for the Singaporean weather, as the warm and humid climate is pretty similar. Opt for lightweight, airy, bright-coloured clothes to keep you comfortable and prepared for a long walk under the blazing sun. During summers, the temperatures can exceed beyond 31°C. Even if you’re planning a trip to Singapore in the rainy or winter season, the country is still affected by high humidity.

One of the best Singapore travel tips is to carry a small battery-operated fan and choose to explore malls on warmer days. Don’t forget that sunscreen is your best friend in Singapore! You should also carry a thin scarf or cardigan to cover your shoulders if you visit any religious temples or spaces in Singapore. Singapore travel requirements vary from person to person; however, here is a list of things you should avoid bringing along on your flight trip to Singapore:

Chewing gum: Illegal to sell in the country and will cost you a huge fine.
Pirated online copies of copyrighted movies and shows: Such material is banned. Try books instead.
Cigarettes and tobacco products: Will have to pay additional taxes and GST, depending on the quantity of these items.
Medication: Anti-anxiety pills, strong painkillers, and sleeping pills.
Processed foods and seafood: Over 5 kgs.

At the time of planning a trip to Singapore, you will need to apply for a Singapore visa online. Singapore visa is an EVIsa and is issued for up to 2 years with multiple entries.

Also read: The list of essentials to get a Singapore Visa for Indian citizens.

Budget Travel around Singapore with an EZ-Link Card

Inside the bus in Singapore
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Singapore’s transportation system ranks the 4th best worldwide, with the mass rapid transit (MRT) and its sub-branch Light Rail System (LRT), which is the cheapest way to get around the country. The MRT is an underground railway line operating since 1987 and also has short-distance buses to drop you off at closer destinations all around the Island.

The best Singapore travel tips for additional travel discounts are to purchase the EZ-Link card or Singapore Pass to get around the city. All you’ll need to do is scan the pass when you hop on the bus or train. Visitors can purchase these cards from 24-hour convenience stores in Singapore, like 7-Eleven, costing around SGD 10. The card costs SGD 5, and the stored money value is S$5, which can be recharged.

Visitors cannot have beverages, water, and food on the MRT or they’ll have to pay a fine of S$ 500.

Also read: How to Travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by Public Transport

Cashless Transactions in Singapore

Singapore Dollar
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As long as you have your credit and debit cards from India, transactions in Singapore are not much of an issue, as most stores offer cashless payment options. However, some roadside stalls don’t have cashless payment options, so you must have some cash in hand.

It’s best to exchange currency online before your trip. You can also purchase currency at Changi Airport on arrival but the exchange rates may be high., Additionally, you can also exchange at Arcades, Lucky Plaza, Parkway Parade, Sun Plaza, Mustafa Centre, Bugis Street, etc, which you might be able to access while exploring along with the Singapore tour packages.

Also read: Travelling Abroad? Five Forex Tips on how to make the most of your money

Partying in Singapore? Happy Hours to Your Rescue

Friends celebrating with drinks
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If you’re visiting Singapore for the first time to celebrate your anniversary or birthday or just want to raise a simple toast to your trip, I’m sure you need a splash of alcohol to begin. Buying alcohol and tobacco in Singapore is extremely expensive, and most stores stop selling it after 10.30 pm.

Your saviours are the Happy Hours, between 4 pm and 7 pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 3 pm to 8 pm on weekends, during which the alcohol prices drop down to half of their usual rates! Every restaurant follows Happy Hours at different times, so please check their official websites and reserve a table before visiting to apply these Singapore travel tips.

Please note that you cannot drink in public from 10.30 pm to 7 am. If caught, you’ll have to pay a fine of S$ 1,000 for the first offence and S$ 2,000 and three months of imprisonment if caught again.

Do: Have Local Food without Tipping

Kaya Toast
Image credit: SurianiSuzie/Shutterstock

The best Singapore travel tips for budget travellers is that Singapore does not demand tips for any services provided. A 10% service charge has already been added to your bill and is considered a tip. Tipping is a nice gesture if you see a labelled box to show your appreciation for exceptional service or food. Nobody can say they’ve visited Singapore without trying some of their delicious meals! Here is a short foodie Singapore travel guide on the best dishes:

Char Kwey Teow: Wok-cooked flat noodles with a smoky flavour combined with garlic, soya sauce, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
Nasi Lemak: A dish made with rice, coconut, and Pandan leaves and served with fried chicken and anchovies.
Laksa: Coconut curry noodles topped with fish cake, tofu, shrimp, and cockles.
Hokkien Mee: Noodles cooked in shrimp stock and served with eggs, squid, pork, etc.
Kaya Toast: Brown toasted bread with sweet coconut jam.
Singaporean Chilli Crab: A delicious mud crab feast marinated in chilli sauce with bread on the side.

Do: Save Plastic by carrying a Refillable Bottle.

Refillable water bottle
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One of the best Singapore travel tips 2024 to conserve the environment is to avoid purchasing plastic bottles on the streets of Singapore. Unlike most Asian countries, the tap water in Singapore is safe to drink! Most attractions around the city have water coolers from where you can refill your bottle while finding things to do in Singapore.

Do: Know about Chope-ing in Singapore.

Umbrella and coffee cup on a table
Image credit: Photorez/Shutterstock

One of the most important things to know before you go to Singapore is about chopeing, which is the act of reserving a seat or table at a restaurant with personal items, like tissue packets, umbrellas, bottles, etc. It’s a local practice and works well with reserving your seat while you stand in the ordering queue and you must honour this system.

Do: Flush Toilets

Flushing toilet
Image credit: Jo Panuwat D/Shutterstock

Don’t be a forgetful flusher, especially when visiting public toilets, or you might have to pay a fine of S$ 1,000 and deal with a lot of embarrassment.

Don’t: Feed Pigeons or Wild Animals

Man feeding pigeon
Image credit: Bassem Zein/Shutterstock

Have some leftover crumbs? See a cute pigeon nearby? Please don’t feed them. As sad as it might be, feeding pigeons could cost you a fine of S$ 500 in Singapore and is best avoided. Under the Wildlife Act, you can also be fined a minimum of S$ 10,000 for feeding wild animals, like monkeys, deer, etc. You can feed cats and dogs, but one of the best Singapore travel tips is to clean up after to avoid the litter fine of S$ 1,000.

Don’t: Play Musical Instruments or Sing/Say Obscene Words in Public.

Woman playing the guitar
Image credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

Busking is a popular entertainment activity in some parts of Singapore; however, it can only be done with an official permit, as playing music or instruments is banned in public under the Public Order and Nuisance Act. Similarly, playing musical instruments in public is one of the most important things to avoid in Singapore, as you’ll have to pay S$ 1,000 if caught without a permit.

One of the most widely used Singapore travel tips is to learn the clean version of all songs to avoid getting fined if you break into song on the streets of Singapore.

Don’t: Chew Gum or Smoke.

A young girl chewing gum
Image credit: kornnphoto/Shutterstock

Singapore is widely known as the “Fine Country” mainly because of its endless laws, and the ban on chewing gum is the most unique. However, the country has a good reason for banning the export and advertisement of chewing gum, as it caused littering to increase in public. You could be fined S$ 100,000 if caught with chewing gum. Oral dental gum does not fall under this law.

Smoking is banned in most public areas of Singapore, besides the designated zones in a few residential blocks and eateries. If caught in public, you’ll have to pay a fine of S$ 500. If you book one of the cheap hotels in Singapore, you will find designated smoking areas in the hotel without having to walk too far at odd times of the day.

Why not plan your trip in 2024 before the year ends? F1 fans can still catch the Grand Prix event and explore during the best time to visit in December! Tell us more about your trip and how the Singapore travel tips helped you in the comments when you return.

FAQs: Singapore Travel Tips

How should I prepare for a trip to Singapore?
You must book your flight tickets, get your travel visa, and fill out and submit the SG arrival online form. Pack light-coloured summer clothes and an umbrella, and leave out cigarettes, chewing gum, and tobacco.

Do and don’ts in Singapore?
Flush toilets, drink alcohol during happy hours and carry your refillable water bottles. Don’t chew gum, play musical instruments, sing offensive songs, and smoke in public.

What to get before going to Singapore?
You must have your passport, Singapore visa, return flight ticket, and SG arrival card. If you’re prone to illnesses, you should also consider getting a few vaccines, including Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, and Measles.

What do you need when traveling to Singapore?
A passport that remains valid for six months beyond your stay date is your main carry-on item. You must also carry your visa and submit your SG card online three days before you land in Singapore.

What is allowed and not allowed in Singapore?
Damaging public property in any manner, spreading litter, and drawing on walls are strictly forbidden in Singapore since it is the cleanest country in the world. You can only drink in public during certain hours. Items like tobacco, chewing gum, odorous fruits like Durian, etc, are not allowed in the country.

What not to bring in Singapore airport?
Any sort of weapon, flammable items, birds, animals, and fish without permits, lithium battery-operated devices, and toxic substances cannot enter the Singapore airport.

Can we carry medicines to Singapore?
With approval from the Health Sciences Authority, you can carry medicines to Singapore. Avoid carrying anxiety pills, sleeping tables, etc. You must apply for two weeks before arrival if you plan to bring prescription medicines for over three months.

What is not allowed in checked luggage?
Crackers, explosives, party poppers, poisonous pesticides, real or toy weapons, ready-to-eat meals, flammable liquids, magnetized objects, lighter fluid, etc, are not allowed in the checked baggage when visiting Singapore.

What are the strict rules in Singapore?
Chewing gum, smoking, littering, eating or drinking on the MRT, vandalizing walls, and feeding pigeons and wild animals are some things you cannot do in Singapore, or you’ll have to pay a hefty fine.

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