Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.
Prices here are about 61% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
The free SG Arrival Card, health declaration included, has to be sent in online by every visitor within 3 days before arrival. Most nationalities need no visa for short visits; ICA lists the countries whose citizens do need one.
Fines in Singapore are real and the rules are strict. Importing chewing gum is banned, littering is not allowed and smoking is limited to marked areas. On the MRT nothing may be eaten or drunk, and jaywalking is forbidden as well. The death penalty applies to drug offences, and vapes are banned. Only a small duty-free alcohol allowance applies, while cigarettes are NOT duty-free and must be declared. Queue politely, stay on the left on escalators and arrive on time. A service charge is added to bills, so tipping is not customary.
Police 999. Ambulance and fire 995.
Singapore's national water agency, PUB, states on its water quality page that tap water is safe for drinking directly from the tap without any further filtration.
Canadian advice says the Singapore dollar is the currency and that credit card and ATM fraud occur. It suggests watching closely when others handle your card, using machines in well-lit public areas or inside banks, and covering the keypad. It also advises shopping at reputable places that list prices, since some retailers charge foreigners exorbitant prices, and notes customs may ask for proof of enough funds.
UK advice says vapes and e-cigarettes are banned, including bringing them in for personal use, and that drinking alcohol in a public place between 10:30pm and 7am is illegal outside licensed venues. Canadian advice lists chewing gum and eating or drinking on the metro among offences, and UK advice says littering can bring an on-the-spot fine. All drug offences carry severe penalties, including for transit passengers. UK advice says same-sex activity is legal, though same-sex marriage is not recognised.
A taxi in Singapore can be flagged down on the road, picked up at a designated stand or stop, or booked by app or phone, according to the Land Transport Authority. Rides hailed on the road are charged by the meter according to distance, with possible surcharges. The authority regards designated stands, stops and building driveways as the safest places to hail or leave a taxi, and the MyTransport.SG app shows where they are. Drivers must hold a Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence.
Ride-hail operators for taxis or private hire cars, as named by the Land Transport Authority, are CDG Zig, Geolah, Gojek, Grab, Ryde, TADA and Trans-cab. Private hire cars cannot be flagged down on the street; they have to be arranged through a licensed operator, and they carry a Private Hire decal on the front and the back. The fare should be displayed before the ride starts, and these cars may not use taxi stands.
Scams by phone and online are common in Singapore, and may involve callers pretending to be officials or bank staff, says UK travel advice. It also mentions reports of some scams that start with a false claim of molestation and move on to extortion. Separately, the Land Transport Authority has taken action over taxi drivers who tout or overcharge, and invites the public to report such cases by its feedback email or through the OneMotoring service.
local government
Helps with: Singapore's national police. Call 999 for immediate police help, or text 70999 when it is not safe to talk. A separate police hotline takes crime-related information.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Singapore, including visitors. The police page lists no tourist-specific police unit.
Phone: 999
Address: Police Headquarters, New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329560
local government
Helps with: Singapore's national tourism board. Its tourist information hotline answers visitor questions on weekdays 9am to 6pm excluding public holidays; feedback can go through its online form.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Singapore or planning a trip there.
Phone: 1800-736 2000
Address: Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729
ngo
Helps with: Singapore's national Red Cross society, a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It runs first aid training, blood donation drives and community support programmes.
Who qualifies: People in Singapore who need its first aid, blood donation or community support services.
Address: Red Cross House, 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486
embassy
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The Singapore foreign ministry's directory links to each mission's contact page.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.
local government
Helps with: Singapore's fire and rescue service. Call 995 for an ambulance or fire emergency, or send an SMS to 70995.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Singapore who needs an ambulance or fire service in an emergency.
Phone: 995
local government
Helps with: Local police centre covering the Marina Bay area. Visit it to report a crime or ask the police for help in person.
Who qualifies: Residents and visitors in the Marina Bay area.
Phone: 1800 222 9999
Address: 70 Marina View, Singapore 018962
Marina BayThis waterfront is Singapore's showpiece, with evening light shows, the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay.Photo: Bijay Chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sentosa IslandLinked to the city, this resort island offers beaches, an aquarium, Universal Studios Singapore and attractions for families.Photo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Orchard RoadRestaurants, hotels, department stores and malls line Singapore's main shopping street.Photo: Erwin Soo from Singapore, Singapore, CC BY 2.0
ChinatownStreet markets selling souvenirs, hawker food centres, temples and shophouses fill this historic quarter.Photo: Bob Tan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Little India and Kampong GlamTextile shops, the Sultan Mosque, street art and Indian and Malay food are the signs of these colourful heritage areas.Photo: Robert Sim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mandai Wildlife ReserveBird Paradise, River Wonders, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo are all in the north, in a green area.Photo: Drew, CC BY 3.0
religious
Lights decorate Serangoon Road for roughly a month leading up to the festival of lights.
festival
Hotels get filled and prices go up for this event, one of the country's biggest each year, so plan early.
religious
Street lights and a Ramadan bazaar are found in Geylang Serai.
culture
Marina Bay hosts a parade along with an air show, and fireworks light the sky above.
sport
A well-known F1 night race circles Marina Bay. Hotels close to the track are sold out months in advance.
Official siteculture
Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay both feature lanterns and mooncakes.
religious
Lights decorate Serangoon Road for roughly a month leading up to the festival of lights.
festival
Hotels get filled and prices go up for this event, one of the country's biggest each year, so plan early.
religious
Street lights and a Ramadan bazaar are found in Geylang Serai.
trade
This aerospace show, held every two years, is the largest in Asia.