Singapore Travel Guide (2026)
A city that is also the country. Six and a half hours from Seoul, and a single MRT line will take you through Chinese, Malay and Indian neighbourhoods in turn. Sitting on the equator, it has no seasons and holds around 30C year round; the transport and the safety are why it is so often someone's first trip to Southeast Asia.
- Recommended stay
- 3 nights recommended
- Budget feel
- About KRW 800,000-1,500,000 per person (including flights, 3 nights, mid-range hotel)
💰 As of 2026, a 3-night Singapore trip for two costs about $1,275–$3,390 in total, $635–$1,695 per person. See full cost breakdown →
Food & dining
The hawker centre is the food culture. In an unairconditioned hall you eat chicken rice, laksa, bak kut teh or char kway teow for S$4-8, and the standard is high enough that some hawker stalls hold Michelin stars. Cross into Little India or Kampong Glam and south Indian curry and Malay cooking arrive at the same prices. Restaurants are expensive, but eating at hawker centres flattens the food budget completely.
Getting around
The MRT runs straight from Changi into the city. Adult card fares are S$1.28 to S$2.57 by distance — the rates that took effect on 27 December 2025, up 9-10 cents a journey, still apply in 2026. A contactless card issued anywhere works at the gate, so buying a transit card is usually unnecessary. Taxis and Grab are everywhere, but at rush hour the train wins. Filing the SG Arrival Card before you fly is mandatory.
Highlights
Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park and the river walk, Sentosa, the three quarters of Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, and Jewel with its Rain Vortex inside Changi itself. The zoo and Night Safari sit outside the centre and want half a day.
Places to visit
Gardens by the Bay
Experience Singapore's iconic nightscape for free, the 19:45 and 20:45 light shows are unmissable.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck
The only place to capture Marina Bay, CBD, and Gardens' Supertrees in one frame. Visit right after sunset for Singapore at its most stunning.
Merlion Park
Singapore's most iconic must-see, free and best appreciated with Marina Bay's nightscape.
Universal Studios Singapore
The ultimate all-day theme park for families. Easy access via MRT to Sentosa Express.
Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre
Singapore's best meal for the lowest price, authentic local flavors at neighborhood prices.
Haji Lane
Experience Singapore's creative indie culture in one street. A world away from big malls, quintessentially local.
Itineraries
Trip cost
Good to know before you go
Do I have to submit the SG Arrival Card?
Yes, it is mandatory. It is the electronic arrival card run by Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and it must be submitted online within three days before you arrive. It has been a permanent fixture of border control since 2023 and applies to every foreign visitor, whether or not you need a visa. Submitting it officially is completely free. Search results are full of agent sites that charge for it; going straight to the ICA page at eservices.ica.gov.sg costs nothing. Save the confirmation email once it comes.
What do MRT fares cost, and do I need a transit card?
Adult card fares run from S$1.28 to S$2.57 depending on distance — the rates that came in on 27 December 2025, an increase of 9-10 cents a journey, are what apply through 2026. A contactless credit or debit card from home taps straight through the gate, so you usually do not need to buy anything. One card cannot be tapped for several people, though, so everyone in a group needs their own. If you expect a lot of rides on a single day, the tourist passes are worth pricing.
How do I get from Changi into the city?
The MRT connects directly to the terminals. Take the East West Line and change at Tanah Merah; the centre is about 40 minutes away for a fare in the S$2 range. With heavy luggage or a late-night landing, a taxi or Grab is easier, though late-night and airport surcharges apply. The airport is a sight in its own right, so leave time for Jewel and the Rain Vortex before you head out.
Singapore is expensive — how do I keep costs down?
Food is where the saving is. Chicken rice or laksa at a hawker centre runs S$4-8, roughly a third of the restaurant price for the same dish. On lodging, giving up the exact centre and staying one MRT stop out drops the rate noticeably. If you plan several paid attractions, price the bundles before buying individually. Alcohol is taxed heavily and is genuinely expensive, so budget for drinks as their own line.
Are there rules I should be careful about?
Chewing gum cannot be imported or sold except for medical use, and eating or drinking is not allowed on the MRT and buses. Durian is banned from public transport for the smell. Jaywalking and littering carry real fines, and drug offences are punished extremely severely. Most of it is common sense, but the fines are large enough that it is worth reading the signs.
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Sitting on the equator, it has no seasons — around 30C and humid all year. November to January is the northeast monsoon, when an afternoon downpour arrives almost daily. February to April is comparatively drier and the easiest for walking. Whenever you go, indoor options are plentiful enough that rain does not destroy a day, but carry an umbrella or a thin rain shell regardless.
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