Singapore travel guide

 

Singapore

 

Meet SingaporeSingapore weather reportGetting into SingaporeFrom the Singaporean kitchen From the Singaporean barCurrency in Singapore Major airports in SingaporeExamples of food and drink spendThings to have at hand in SingaporeDid you know?

 

Meet Singapore

 

Singapore may be the smallest country in Southeast Asia, but this city-state is a globally important financial centre, with the busiest port in the world, and wide ethnic diversity.

Sleek modern skyscrapers dominate the skyline, while the ground is littered with older cultural districts, which grew from pan-Asian immigration to the country in the 19th century.

 

Buy sari material in colourful Little India, enjoy Cantonese cuisine in Chinatown, or browse bazaars in Arab Street, while you hear the imam’s prayer-song coming from the Sultan Mosque. Then, head downtown to see the British Colonial District, with its immaculate cricket lawns, impressive cathedrals, and the luxurious Raffles Hotel. Be sure to take a bumboat along the Singapore River to really appreciate these contrasting historical and modern architectural styles.

 

Sometimes criticised for its many laws and regulations, such as the banning of chewing gum, Singapore is one of the world's cleanest and safest places to visit. But behind this sterile exterior, you’ll find hot nightspots such as Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Chinatown's Club Street, which are all brimming with exclusive restaurants, chic bars, and even floating nightclubs! All perfect places to enjoy an infamous Singapore Sling.

Back To Top

Singapore weather report

 

Singapore’s equatorial location means that it enjoys hot weather all year round, with an average daily temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. The climate does not really vary greatly throughout the year, although there are two main rainy seasons: the Northeast Monsoon, between December and early March, and the Southeast Monsoon, which generally occurs between June and September. Whenever you visit, you can expect the weather to be hot, humid, and wet, so pack light, breathable clothing, but don’t forget your umbrella.

 

For the latest weather info use the Pampo weather forecast tool.

Back To Top

 

 

Getting into Singapore

 

To enter Singapore, you will need a passport which is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay. Citizens of the European Union do not require a visa to enter the country for a holiday, but will need a Social Visit Pass, which will be issued on arrival.

Back To Top

 

 

From the Singaporean kitchen

 

Singapore’s ethnic diversity is reflected in the country’s cuisine, which incorporates Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian culture, as well as British traditions. Chinese chefs utilise Indian spices in their cooking, while Indian chefs often create fried noodle dishes. Some popular meals include:

  • Bak chor mee: Chinese style egg noodles mixed with vegetables and minced chicken or pork, usually served in a soup.

  • Mamak Rojak:  an Indian inspired dish of deep fried seafood, served with crushed peanuts, crispy dough cruellers, and sweet chilli sauce.

  • Nasi ayam penyet: a popular Indonesian meal, consisting of fried chicken served with spicy sambal, vegetables, and chicken-flavoured rice.

  • Satay: grilled meat on skewers, often served with spicy peanut sauce.

  • Rendang: tender beef which has been slow-cooked in coconut milk and Sumatran spices.

  • Green Peanut Puffs: sugared peanuts baked in a sweet, green coloured pastry, and coated in powdered sugar.

  • Red rubies: a traditional Thai dessert made from boiled pieces of water-chestnut, covered in tapioca flour, and red food colouring, served over shaved ice, rose syrup and evaporated milk.

  • Kueh: delicious little sweet cakes that come in a variety of flavors, usually containing fruit such as durian, banana, or pandan  

Back To Top

 

 

From the Singaporean bar

  • The Singapore Sling: first served in 1915 at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel, this cocktail of gin, Cointreau, cherry brandy, Benedictine, and pineapple juice, has become famous the world over.

  • Tiger Beer: launched in 1932, this was Singapore's first locally brewed beer. This pale lager is now brewed in 12 Asian countries, and exported throughout the globe.

  • Teh halia tarik:  ginger tea with milk.

  • Bubble Tea: a black tea drink popular in Singapore, and throughout Asia. The brew is characterized by the addition of balls of tapioca and carrageenan powder. The drink was originally served hot, but now also comes in a cool, iced variety.

Back To Top

 

 

Currency in Singapore

 

The official unit of currency used in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (S$) (SGD), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of $10,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 2. Coins come in denominations of 1 dollar, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The Brunei dollar is also legal tender, and US Dollars, Australian Dollars, Yen and Pounds Sterling are accepted at many major shopping centres.

 

For the latest info on your rates, please use the Pampo exchange rates calculator.

 

Back To Top

 

 

Major airports in Singapore

Back To Top

 

 

Examples of food and drink spend

  • Economical meals can easily be enjoyed at one of Singapore’s many hawker centres. You can buy a delicious main dish like noodle soup here for as little as 3-5 Singapore dollars — that’s just £1.50-£2.50! Food hygiene standards are very high in Singapore, and hawker food is cheap, tasty, and safe.

  • If you want to eat out at a more up market establishment, you can easily enjoy a good three course meal with a bottle of wine for under for S$100, or £40. This includes a mandatory 10% service charge, 7% Goods and Services Tax, and 1% government tax. Additional tipping is not expected.

  • Beer is rather expensive in Singapore, with a pint generally costing around S$10, or £4.50.

  • A glass of wine is also typically priced at around £4.50.

Back To Top

 

 

Things to have at hand in Singapore

  • An umbrella

  • Insect repellent

  • A valid photo ID

  • International Driver's Licence

  • Travel insurance: leave one copy of your policy at home and take one copy with you

Back To Top

 

 

Did you know?

  • Singapore is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia, with a total area of only 682.7 square km.

  • There are 4 official languages in Singapore: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English.

  • The world's first night zoo, The Night Safari, is located in Singapore.

  • Singapore’s Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is home to more species of trees than the entire North American continent.

  • The Guinness World Record for the longest human domino chain was set in Singapore on 30th September 2000, it measured 4.2km.

Back To Top