Roavina

Country guide

Singapore

A photograph of Singapore
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Singapore is one main island and more than sixty smaller ones, 744.3 square kilometres in total, about one degree of latitude north of the equator. Being a country and a city at once, it has no hinterland to escape to and no domestic journey to plan — the whole of it is inside a metro ride. What changes is the district: the colonial civic core and the river sit against the financial towers, Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam each hold their own quarter, and the reclaimed ground at Marina Bay carries the newest of it. The equatorial climate barely varies through the year, which removes the question of when to come.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+65
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
999 police · 995 ambulance and fire
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Singapore's public water supply meets national drinking-water standards

Planning a visit

  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: best time to visit
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: good time to visit
  5. May: good time to visit
  6. June: best time to visit
  7. July: best time to visit
  8. August: best time to visit
  9. September: best time to visit — current month
  10. October: good time to visit
  11. November: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Singapore
    02 2 hours

    Universal Studios Singapore

    Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park located on Sentosa Island. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Singapore and features themed zones based on popular films and television franchises.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Singapore
  2. ArtScience Museum ArtScience Museum
    03 1 hr 30 min

    ArtScience Museum

    ArtScience Museum is a cultural attraction at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Its lotus-inspired building houses exhibitions where art, science, technology, and culture meet. The experience centres on temporary, immersive presentations rather than a traditional permanent collection.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  3. Singapore Oceanarium Singapore Oceanarium
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Singapore Oceanarium

    Singapore Oceanarium is an aquarium attraction in Singapore associated with marine-life viewing and public education. The mapped site occupies a defined place within the city-state's built environment.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Singapore
  4. Asian Civilisations Museum Asian Civilisations Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Asian Civilisations Museum

    The Asian Civilisations Museum is a major museum in Singapore dedicated to the artistic heritage of Asia. Housed in the historic Empress Place Building, a neoclassical structure dating to the colonial era, the institution traces cultural connections across the continent.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  5. Bird Paradise Bird Paradise
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Bird Paradise

    Bird Paradise is a major avian-themed attraction in Singapore, serving as a successor to the former Jurong Bird Park. The facility houses extensive bird collections across immersive habitats.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Singapore
  6. Peranakan Museum Peranakan Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Peranakan Museum

    The Peranakan Museum in Singapore is a cultural institution dedicated to Peranakan heritage. It occupies a former school building constructed in 1912.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  7. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

    Esplanade Theatres on the Bay

    Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay is Singapore's national performing arts centre, at 1 Esplanade Drive on the northern shore of Marina Bay.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Singapore
  8. River Wonders River Wonders
    09 1 hr 30 min

    River Wonders

    River Wonders is a wildlife park in Singapore dedicated to riverine ecosystems and freshwater habitats. Formerly known as River Safari, it forms part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve alongside Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and Bird Paradise.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Singapore
  9. Adventure Cove Waterpark Adventure Cove Waterpark
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Adventure Cove Waterpark

    Adventure Cove Waterpark is a marine-themed water park located on Sentosa Island, Singapore. It forms part of the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort complex. The attraction combines water slides, lazy rivers, and marine life encounters in a tropical setting.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Singapore
  10. Madame Tussauds Singapore Madame Tussauds Singapore
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Madame Tussauds Singapore

    Madame Tussauds Singapore is a wax museum and tourist attraction on Sentosa Island, within the Imbiah Lookout zone. It belongs to the global Madame Tussauds franchise founded by Marie Tussaud.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  11. Science Centre Singapore Science Centre Singapore
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Science Centre Singapore

    Science Centre Singapore is an interactive science museum and educational attraction in Jurong East. It is designed for visitors who want to engage with scientific ideas through displays, demonstrations, and hands-on activities rather than only viewing objects behind glass.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  12. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

    Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is a natural history museum located in Singapore. It is situated on the campus of the National University of Singapore.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  13. Red Dot Design Museum Red Dot Design Museum
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Red Dot Design Museum

    Red Dot Design Museum Singapore is a design museum in the Marina Bay area, at the Waterfront Promenade. It presents award-winning work from the Red Dot Design Award, covering product design, communication design and design concepts.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  14. Indian Heritage Centre Indian Heritage Centre
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Indian Heritage Centre

    Indian Heritage Centre is a museum in Singapore’s Little India precinct devoted to the history and culture of the Indian community in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  15. Malay Heritage Centre Malay Heritage Centre
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Malay Heritage Centre

    The Malay Heritage Centre is a cultural institution in Singapore dedicated to preserving and showcasing Malay history, arts, and culture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  16. Mint Museum of Toys Mint Museum of Toys
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Mint Museum of Toys

    The Mint Museum of Toys is a museum in Singapore dedicated to vintage toys and childhood memorabilia. Its name derives from the acronym Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  17. Changi Chapel and Museum Changi Chapel and Museum
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Changi Chapel and Museum

    The Changi Museum

    The Changi Chapel and Museum is a historical site in Singapore commemorating prisoners of war and civilian internees held at Changi during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  18. Reflections at Bukit Chandu Reflections at Bukit Chandu
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Reflections at Bukit Chandu

    Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a World War II interpretive centre housed in a restored colonial bungalow on Pasir Panjang Ridge, Singapore.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Singapore
  19. Katong Antique House 加東古董
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Katong Antique House 加東古董

    Katong Antique House is a heritage shophouse in Singapore's eastern Katong district, preserving Peranakan culture through its collection of antiques and artefacts. The building itself represents traditional Straits Chinese architecture common to the area.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Singapore

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Singapore be?

Five to seven days lets one central base cover Marina Bay, the civic district, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Gelam, Sentosa, and the northern wildlife parks. Group adjacent districts because Singapore's main planning constraint is tropical heat and transfer time, not long national distances.

What entry documents are needed for Singapore?

Singapore entry requirements depend on nationality, and the SG Arrival Card is a separate arrival form rather than a visa. Use the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority service within its official submission window and verify any visa requirement there.

What is the best way to travel around Singapore?

Changi Airport connects to Singapore's MRT and bus network. Contactless payment or a stored-value card handles most transfers, while taxis and licensed ride-hailing are useful for late arrivals or groups.

When is a practical time to visit Singapore?

February to April is a broad orientation, but Singapore remains hot and humid throughout the year. Plan outdoor districts early, keep an indoor alternative for afternoon storms, and check event dates that may affect hotel availability.

What money and payment basics apply in Singapore?

Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD). Contactless payment is widespread, though a small SGD reserve remains practical for individual stalls or payment failures; verify the charged currency before accepting conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Singapore?

Call 999 for police and 995 for ambulance or fire in Singapore. Type G sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.