Singapore Travel Guide
What You Need To Know About Singapore Before You Go
It may be a tiny country, but it packs in a punch. Singapore is continuously evolving, reinventing, and reimagining itself, with people who are passionate about creating new possibilities. It’s where foodies, explorers, collectors, action seekers, culture shapers, and socialisers meet and new experiences are created every day.
The country experiences warm, tropical weather throughout the year but the dry winter months are generally considered the best time of year to visit Singapore due to the cool and pleasant weather. Singapore is brimming with attractions for people of all ages and interests – from the stunning natural wonderland of Gardens by the Bay, to the buzzing nightlife of Clarke Quay. Exploring the family-friendly Universal Studios and Sentosa Island, and the experiential Singapore Zoo, are also considered some of the best things to do in Singapore.
With so much to see and do, it is essential that you plan your trip well and keep in mind all the important details to make your vacation easier. Our Singapore travel guide below consists of all the details you need to know – from language to getting around. No matter what you choose to do, you will always be welcomed warmly by the locals, who feel that visitors help boost the economy!
Health Information
Singapore is generally a very safe destination when it comes to health concerns. The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Singapore: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
We also advise you to purchase international travel health insurance, should you fall ill during your trip, require medical assistance, or hospitalization.
Cash and Cards
Singapore is extremely traveler-friendly when it comes to currency and purchasing. Credit cards are widely accepted in all the restaurants and hotels. You will easily find ATM machines everywhere around the city.
High-end hotels, airline offices, upmarket boutiques and restaurants generally accept most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, sometimes American Express), but normally charge an additional fee of 3% on the bill in the way of passing on charges directly to customers.
Money transfers from abroad can be collected through currency exchange services associated with either Money Transfer or Western Union. It’s important to be aware that these transactions often incur significant fees. To retrieve the cash, you will be required to present your passport along with the name and reference number of the sender.
Language and Communications
Mandarin and other Chinese dialects are the mostly commonly spoken languages in Singapore. Malay and Tamil languages are also quite common. Almost all Singaporeans speak fluent English so you can communicate easily while in the country. The country code of Singapore is +65.
The telecommunication infrastructure of Singapore spans the entire city-state. It is highly developed, with close accessibility to the infrastructure from nearly all inhabited parts of the island and for all of the population. Today, the country is considered an international telecommunications hub.
Shopping and Nightlife
The sheer range of products and competitive pricing has rightfully turned Singapore into a shopping mecca. For many tourists this is the main attraction for visiting and silks, electrical goods, tailored clothing, handbags, jewelry and silverware are among the most sought items. Orchard Road and the Marina Square are where you will find more upmarket shopping while in and around Haji Lane and Sungei Road there is a more eclectic array of markets and boutiques. Singapore also hosts an annual shopping event when locals and visitors alike can avail of city-wide sales.
Singapore is famous for its nightlife and in particular its two casino resorts at Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa. Away from these, there are two all-in-one entertainment riverside districts at Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. Trends are always changing however, with one area being the go-to area one month and somewhere else the next. Like any city it’s always good to explore the lesser-known areas which you can do with our local experts.
Popular Trips to Singapore
Best Time To Visit
What is the best time to visit Singapore? Owing to its location in Southeast Asia, Singapore generally remains hot and humid all year round. Here is an overview on the climate and when to visit.
Things To Do
Don’t let its small size fool you! There’s a whole host of things to do in Singapore and attractions to keep your entire family busy. Here are our top ten favorite Singapore attractions.
Festival & Events
There are a whole host of festivals and events to choose from all year round in Singapore. Discover our favorites!
From the Blog
History
Singapore as we know it now, was founded in the 19th century under the British Empire. Learn more about its complex history and development into a central hub.
Culture
Singapore is very much a cosmopolitan society where people live harmoniously and there’s easy interaction between citizens. Learn more about modern day influences and more!
Cuisine
Singapore’s cuisine is as ethnically diverse as its peoples. Expect a lot of bright color, and the use of spices and strong flavors, with a beautiful depth to a lot of dishes.
What Our Guests Say
What Our Guests Say
“We’ve worked with Enchanting Travels on more than ten trips now………….many have been 3-5 week adventures that require tremendous attention to detail in remote parts of the world. We have never been disappointed–only incredibly delighted! Anita was amazing to work with for Sri Lanka/Southeast Asia. I had a very specific wish list and she made sure I crossed everything off of it! The itinerary was geared to our interests and the pace we prefer. Divya kept a close eye on us throughout to ensure that things went smoothly. Working with Enchanting for so many years has allowed us to build relationships that increase the quality of our experiences as time goes on. Not only do they know the best places to see throughout the world but now the bonus is that they know US! These trips keep getting better. We run out of superlatives in trying to explain just how outstanding our experiences have been since we started working with Enchanting. As long as we can drag our suitcases to an airport, we will continue to plan meaningful, life changing adventures with them. Many thanks to the entire Enchanting Team for all of the efforts in making this trip so memorable!”
March 2025 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels and their staff put together a trip of a lifetime. We hadn’t traveled to Asia before and were nervous about what to expect or how to navigate once we were there. We also really didn’t know what we wanted to do other than a few expectations. We went to four countries with multiple hotels, flights and boat excursions. I cannot believe that the 5 week trip went off with out any hitches! Everything was so smooth and effortless. We did not worry about anything the whole time we were there. It was comforting to know that our trip coordinator was there for us if we needed her and she certainly responded quickly if we did have a need or question. The choices for hotels that Enchanting Travels recommended were superb and the guides and driver were knowledgeable and fun. I can not speak more highly of all of their services and plan on using them again for another big trip.”
January 2025 Rating 5/5
“We were looking for a once in a lifetime personalized experience for our 25th wedding anniversary and Enchanting Travels delivered.”
January 2023 Rating 5/5
“Enchanting Travels cared what I wanted to achieve from my trip and helped me plan it to my needs. Both the consultant and the coordinator were both very involved in making sure all details were taken care off and also assisted with my specific diet needs including allergy.”
December 2022 Rating 5/5
“A visit to Cambodia with Enchanting was one of the best and well-planned travel experiences I have had. The guides and drivers were absent superb.”
November 2022 Rating 4/5
“The Enchanting Experience was first class – people and communication was outstanding. The Pullman Maamutaa Resort in the Maldives is the best – we loved every minute of our time on the island. Thanks for the Enchanting experience. Kylie & Simon”
August 2022 Rating 5/5
