A photograph of Singapore

Country guide

Up to 1 hour in Singapore — page 2

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 coun...

Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

4,438 Places
1Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

September · September in Singapore has mean high 31.6°C, mean low 25.2°C, rainfall 124.9 mm. Lower rainfall is the relative advantage within Singapore's consistently warm climate. September supports a full day of outdoor stops in Singapore.

  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

Sources

Top things to see

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

  1. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
    07 30 min

    Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

    Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

    The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a Buddhist temple and museum complex in Singapore's Chinatown district. It was established to house a sacred Buddha tooth relic, a significant religious artifact in Buddhism.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  2. Sri Mariamman Temple Sri Mariamman Temple
    08 45 min

    Sri Mariamman Temple

    Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore and a working place of worship rather than a museum, run by the Hindu Endowments Board.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  3. Haw Par Villa Haw Par Villa
    09 1 hour

    Haw Par Villa

    Haw Par Villa is a theme park in Singapore known for its vivid depictions of Chinese mythology, folklore, and moral teachings.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  4. Thian Hock Keng Thian Hock Keng
    10 30 min

    Thian Hock Keng

    Thian Hock Keng Temple stands as one of Singapore's oldest and most significant Hokkien temples.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  5. Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
    11 30 min

    Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

    Sri Veeramakaliamman

    Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is a Hindu temple in Singapore's Little India district. Dedicated to the goddess Kali, a fierce form of the divine mother, it stands as one of Singapore's oldest Hindu temples.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  6. Henderson Waves Henderson Waves
    12 45 min

    Henderson Waves

    Henderson Waves is a pedestrian bridge in Singapore and the tallest pedestrian bridge in the country. It crosses Henderson Road between Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Singapore
  7. Mount Faber Mount Faber
    13 1 hour

    Mount Faber

    Mount Faber Park

    Mount Faber Park is a hilltop park in Singapore, part of the Southern Ridges network of connected parks. It stands approximately 105 metres above sea level and offers panoramic views of the harbour and southern islands.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  8. Chek Jawa Chek Jawa
    14 45 min

    Chek Jawa

    Chek Jawa Wetlands

    Chek Jawa is a coastal wetlands area on Pulau Ubin, an island off Singapore’s northeastern coast. The landscape brings together mangroves, sandy beach, rocky shore and coastal boardwalk in one nature-focused visit.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Singapore
  9. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
    15 1 hour

    Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

    Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a protected coastal wetland in northwest Singapore, facing the Johor Strait. Its mangroves, mudflats, ponds, and coastal habitats create a marked change from the city’s dense urban environment.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  10. East Coast Park East Coast Park
    16 1 hour

    East Coast Park

    East Coast Park is a major coastal park stretching along Singapore's southeastern shoreline. It is one of the country's most popular public parks, developed on reclaimed land.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  11. Fort Siloso Fort Siloso
    17 45 min

    Fort Siloso

    Fort Siloso is a preserved coastal fortification on Sentosa Island and Singapore’s only fully restored military fort. The British built the fort in the 1880s to defend the western approaches to the strategic harbour.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Singapore
  12. Palawan Beach Palawan Beach
    18 1 hour

    Palawan Beach

    Palawan Beach is a family-oriented beach on Sentosa Island's southern coast. It is known for a suspension bridge leading to a small offshore islet promoted as the southernmost point of continental Asia.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  13. Siloso Beach Siloso Beach
    19 1 hour

    Siloso Beach

    Siloso Beach is a sandy beach on the western shore of Sentosa Island, Singapore. It is one of three beaches on Sentosa, alongside Palawan Beach and Tanjong Beach.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  14. Tanjong Beach Tanjong Beach
    20 1 hour

    Tanjong Beach

    Tanjong Beach is a quieter stretch of coast on the southern shore of Sentosa Island, forming part of the island’s trio of main beaches with Palawan and Siloso.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  15. National Orchid Garden National Orchid Garden
    21 1 hour

    National Orchid Garden

    The National Orchid Garden is a specialised botanical garden within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, dedicated to the display and conservation of orchid species and hybrids.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  16. Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
    22 1 hour

    Jacob Ballas Children's Garden

    Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is a dedicated children's garden located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is named after Jacob Ballas, a prominent Jewish businessman and philanthropist who contributed significantly to Singapore's development.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  17. Japanese Garden Japanese Garden
    23 1 hour

    Japanese Garden

    Japanese Garden is a landscaped park within the larger Jurong Lake Gardens in western Singapore. Designed around traditional Japanese aesthetic principles, it offers a green setting for walking and quiet pauses away from the dense central city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  18. Jurong Lake Gardens Jurong Lake Gardens
    24 1 hour

    Jurong Lake Gardens

    Jurong Lake Gardens is a national garden in Singapore and the first national garden in the heartlands. It encompasses the former Jurong Lake Park and Japanese and Chinese Gardens.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  19. Former Ford Factory Former Ford Factory
    25 45 min

    Former Ford Factory

    The Former Ford Factory is a historical industrial building in Singapore, originally constructed as a motor vehicle assembly plant.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Singapore
  20. Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
    26 30 min

    Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

    The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd is Singapore's oldest Roman Catholic cathedral, serving as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Singapore.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  21. Supertree Grove Supertree Grove
    27 1 hour

    Supertree Grove

    Supertree Grove is a signature vertical garden installation at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Singapore
  22. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
    28 30 min

    Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

    Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery is a major Buddhist religious complex in northern Singapore, serving worshippers, students and the wider community.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  23. Siong Lim Temple Siong Lim Temple
    29 30 min

    Siong Lim Temple

    Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery

    Siong Lim Temple, also called Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery and religious landmark in Singapore. It is one of the city’s oldest Buddhist institutions and remains a place of worship and spiritual practice.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  24. Masjid Jamae Masjid Jamae
    30 30 min

    Masjid Jamae

    Masjid Jamae (Chulia)

    Masjid Jamae, also known as Masjid Jamae (Chulia), is a historic mosque in Singapore serving the Muslim community. Established by Tamil Muslim immigrants from the Chulia community, it stands as one of the oldest mosques in the city-state.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Singapore
  25. Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator
    31 30 min

    Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator

    The Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator stands as Singapore's oldest Christian church, consecrated in 1836.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • 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.