How Things Work in Singapore
Everything Tourists Need to Know
Do not tip in Singapore. A 10% service charge is automatically added to all restaurant bills. Tipping is not part of the culture.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore has an excellent, clean MRT and bus network. Use an EZ-Link card or tap with your contactless bank card. Public transport is cheap and air-conditioned.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore has world-class healthcare but at very high prices. Travel insurance is essential. English is spoken everywhere. Polyclinics are cheaper than private GPs.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore enforces laws very strictly. Chewing gum is banned for sale. Drugs carry the death penalty. Littering and jaywalking are heavily fined.
Updated 2025-01
Police: 999. Ambulance & Fire: 995. Non-emergency police: 1800-255-0000. Singapore has extremely fast emergency response.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore is hot and humid — dress light. Modest dress required at temples and mosques. Upscale clubs and restaurants have smart casual dress codes.
Updated 2025-01
Drinking age is 18. No outdoor drinking after 10:30pm in most public areas. Retail alcohol sales end at 10:30pm. Licensed restaurants serve until later.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore is largely a fixed-price culture. Some bargaining is possible at electronics and computers in Lucky Plaza, Sim Lim Square, and Mustafa Centre.
Updated 2025-01
Photography is generally free in public. Avoid photographing military installations, Changi Airport security zones, and government buildings. Drone rules are very strict.
Updated 2025-01
Singapore is open 7 days a week. Malls are open daily. Sunday is a normal shopping day. Public holidays see some closures but major malls stay open.
Updated 2025-01
Grab is the dominant rideshare app in Singapore, with official metered taxis and Gojek also widely available.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore tap water is completely safe to drink and is among the best quality in Asia — no bottled water needed.
Updated 2025-06
ATMs from DBS, OCBC, UOB, and POSB are widespread, but contactless payments and e-wallets are accepted almost everywhere in Singapore.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore has outstanding 5G coverage throughout the entire country, and tourist SIM cards are easy to buy at Changi Airport on arrival.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore uses Type G British 3-pin square plugs at 230V/50Hz — US and European visitors will need a plug adapter.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore is one of the world's most scam-resistant destinations, but Sim Lim Square electronics scams targeting tourists are a known and documented risk.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the world — violent crime against tourists is essentially nonexistent.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore is a multicultural society blending Chinese, Malay, and Indian customs — be respectful, use your right hand, and be aware that public behaviour laws are strictly enforced.
Updated 2025-06
English is Singapore's main working language, so there is no language barrier — though locals also speak Singlish, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
Updated 2025-06
Sentosa Island's beaches are Singapore's most popular swimming spots, with East Coast Park and Changi Beach also available and water quality improved in recent years.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore drives on the left, has strict speed enforcement and ERP toll charges for the CBD, but most visitors are better served by MRT and Grab than by renting a car.
Updated 2025-06
Hawker centres are Singapore's greatest culinary institution — eat there for SGD 3–8 per dish with no tipping and no service charge.
Updated 2025-06
All of Singapore's major religious sites welcome respectful visitors — remove shoes at mosques and Hindu and Buddhist temples, dress modestly, and avoid visiting during prayer times.
Updated 2025-06
Singapore is hot and humid year-round with no distinct seasons — February to April is generally the driest and most comfortable period to visit.
Updated 2025-06
Eat at hawker centres, use the MRT for all transport, and take advantage of Singapore's impressive range of free world-class attractions.
Updated 2025-06