Travel Guide to Singapore 2026: Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa & Hawker Food
Planning to visit Singapore? This travel guide to Singapore covers everything for a first trip: where Singapore is, the best time to go, visa-free entry and the free SG Arrival Card, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, local rules and the best hotels and universities. From the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay skyline to Chinatown, Little India, Sentosa and the world-famous hawker centres, the Lion City is clean, green and full of food.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and taxes in this travel guide to Singapore were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Singapore
- Capital: Singapore💡 A city-state and global financial hub
- Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)💡 Cards and contactless everywhere. Check today's rate
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil💡 English is the working language
- Population: About 6.1 million💡 2026 estimate
- Area: About 735 km²💡 Including more than 60 smaller islands
- Time zone: UTC+8💡 No daylight saving. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 1💡 The Singapore Botanic Gardens; hawker culture is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list
- Power: 230 V, plug type G💡 The same three-pin plug as the UK
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Singapore are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Singapore?
Singapore sits about 140 km north of the equator at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The Johor Strait separates it from Malaysia, crossed by the Causeway and the Second Link, and the Singapore Strait separates it from Indonesia's Riau Islands (Batam and Bintan are short ferry rides away). It is one of the world's busiest ports and a hub for flights across Asia and Australia.
Flights from London take about 13 hours, from Sydney about 8. Check the distance from your city with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Singapore
Singapore is hot and humid all year (about 25–32 °C), so there is no bad time to visit. February to April is usually the driest and sunniest. The north-east monsoon (December–early March) brings more rain, especially in December, and the south-west monsoon (June–September) brings short storms and occasional haze from regional fires. Festivals are a highlight: Chinese New Year (January or February), National Day (9 August), the Formula 1 night race (usually October) and Deepavali in Little India.
Usually the driest, sunniest months.
Hot with short storms; National Day in August.
F1 night race and Deepavali; afternoon showers.
Wettest; Christmas lights on Orchard Road.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Singapore to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Singapore Visa & Entry Requirements
Visa-free for most visitors: citizens of the USA, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many others can visit Singapore without a visa; the length of stay (usually 30 or 90 days) is decided at entry. All visitors must submit the free SG Arrival Card, which includes a health declaration, within 3 days before arrival. Some nationalities need a visa in advance.
- PassportValid at least 6 months from arrival.
- Automated lanesMany visitors can use automated immigration lanes at Changi, with face and iris scans.
- CustomsChewing gum (except some medical gum), e-cigarettes and vapes are banned; duty applies on all cigarettes.
- Main airportChangi (SIN), 30 minutes from the city by MRT or taxi; don't miss Jewel's indoor waterfall.
🔗 Official sources: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) · Visit Singapore: travel tips. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Singapore were last checked in October 2026.
🌆 10 Best Places to Visit in Singapore
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Singapore, with the best months to see each one.
The skyline, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and the free Spectra light show.
💡 Best time: All yearThe Supertree Grove, the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.
💡 Best time: All yearTemples, shophouses and Maxwell Food Centre.
💡 Best time: All yearSpice shops, the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Tekka Centre.
💡 Best time: All yearThe Sultan Mosque, Arab Street and colourful Haji Lane.
💡 Best time: All yearUniversal Studios, beaches and the S.E.A. Aquarium.
💡 Best time: All yearA UNESCO site with the National Orchid Garden.
💡 Best time: All yearThe Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Bird Paradise.
💡 Best time: All yearThe world's tallest indoor waterfall, inside the airport.
💡 Best time: All yearA bumboat ride to a rural island of kampong houses and bike trails.
💡 Best time: Dry days🗺️ 7-Day Singapore Itinerary
Singapore is compact, so a week lets you explore at an easy pace. The MRT reaches almost everything; tap your bank card or phone at the gates.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Singapore day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Marina Bay: arrive; the waterfront walk and the evening light show.
- Gardens by the Bay: the domes in the morning, Supertrees at night.
- Chinatown & the CBD: temples, Maxwell hawker centre and Lau Pa Sat satay street.
- Little India & Kampong Gelam: spices, Haji Lane and the Sultan Mosque.
- Sentosa: Universal Studios or beaches and the cable car.
- Nature: the Botanic Gardens and the zoo, then the Night Safari.
- Depart: Pulau Ubin or Orchard Road, then leave time for Jewel Changi.
➕ With more time: take a ferry to Bintan in Indonesia, a bus or train to Johor Bahru or Melaka in Malaysia, or fly on to Bali or Bangkok.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Singapore Cost?
Singapore is expensive for hotels and drinks, but hawker food and transport are cheap. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter to see them in your own currency.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | SGD 90–150 | Hostels or capsule hotels, hawker meals and the MRT |
| Mid-range | SGD 250–450 | Hotels, restaurants and paid attractions |
| Luxury | SGD 900 + | Marina Bay Sands or Raffles, fine dining and rooftop bars |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Singapore are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🍜 A hawker meal costs about SGD 4–8. Restaurant bills add a 10% service charge plus GST, shown as "++" on menus, so tipping is not needed. Alcohol is heavily taxed.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Singapore
Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world. Its strict laws apply to visitors: fines for littering, eating or drinking on the MRT, jaywalking and smoking outside marked areas; vaping is banned; and drug offences carry severe penalties, including the death penalty for trafficking. Stay hydrated in the heat and carry an umbrella for sudden downpours.
Free, within 3 days before arrival.
Use a contactless card or phone on the MRT and buses.
Cheap, clean and delicious.
No eating on the MRT, no vapes, no littering.
For rain and sun.
"Lah" adds friendliness in Singlish; "terima kasih" means thank you in Malay.
🏨 Best Hotels in Singapore: 8 Top Picks
Stay around Marina Bay or the Civic District for sights, Chinatown or Kampong Gelam for character, and Sentosa for a resort feel.
The 1887 colonial landmark, home of the Singapore Sling.
Check prices on Booking.com →The famous rooftop infinity pool (for hotel guests).
Check prices on Booking.com →A grand former post office by the bay.
Check prices on Booking.com →Colonial buildings and villas in rainforest.
Check prices on Booking.com →A city resort in tropical gardens.
Check prices on Booking.com →A "hotel in a garden" with sky terraces.
Check prices on Booking.com →A converted 1895 riverside warehouse.
Check prices on Booking.com →Stylish rooms close to Kampong Gelam.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Singapore: hotels are picked for location, reputation and a spread of areas and budgets. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Singapore
Singapore has two of Asia's top-ranked universities and is a major international study hub.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| National University of Singapore (NUS) | Kent Ridge | Public |
| Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Jurong West | Public |
| Singapore Management University (SMU) | City centre | Public |
| Singapore University of Technology and Design | Tampines | Public |
| Singapore Institute of Technology | Punggol | Public |
Regularly ranked Asia's top university.
Visit website →A world leader in engineering and technology.
Visit website →Strong in business, law and economics.
Visit website →Design-focused engineering and architecture.
Visit website →An applied university linked with industry.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Singapore: the leading universities in Singapore by reputation and research. Last checked: October 2026.
🍜 Singapore Culture & Food
Singapore blends Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian cultures, and celebrates them all: Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas are all public holidays. The famously efficient city is also proudly green, with gardens on rooftops and trees along every road. Singlish, the local English, is a source of pride and fun.
Food is the national passion. Try Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab, laksa, char kway teow, satay, roti prata, kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs for breakfast, and a Singapore Sling at Raffles.
❓ Travel Guide to Singapore: FAQ
Do I need a visa for Singapore?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian and many other citizens can visit without a visa, usually for 30–90 days.
What is the SG Arrival Card?
A free online arrival form that every visitor must submit within 3 days before arrival.
What is the best time to visit Singapore?
February to April is usually driest, but Singapore is warm and worth visiting all year.
Is Singapore expensive?
Hotels and alcohol are pricey, but hawker food and public transport are cheap.
Is chewing gum illegal in Singapore?
Selling and importing most chewing gum is banned; vapes are banned too.
How many days do you need in Singapore?
Three to four days covers the highlights; a week allows a relaxed pace and day trips.
Do I need to tip in Singapore?
No; most restaurants add a 10% service charge.
What currency does Singapore use?
The Singapore dollar (SGD).
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Singapore
- Visit SingaporeOfficial tourism board
- ICA: SG Arrival CardOfficial arrival card
- UNESCO: SingaporeWorld Heritage Site in Singapore
Finished this travel guide to Singapore? 🌍 More South-East Asia guides: Malaysia · Indonesia · Thailand · Vietnam · Philippines
⚖️ Compare Singapore with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
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