Singapore

Singapore is the world’s most organized, cleanest, and most expensive city-state. Chinese + Malay + Indian + European cultures mixed on one island make for an extraordinary food scene. Three days covers it; sometimes the prices push you to two. As the region’s transit hub, Changi is your gateway for cheap onward flights.

Best time to visit

February–April is relatively dry: 27–32°C but 85%+ humidity. May–July hot and humid. November–January is monsoon — 1–2 hours of heavy rain but cooler (24–28°C). Singapore Grand Prix (September) and F1 week triple prices — book hotels 6 months out. Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) makes Chinatown stunning but local businesses close for a week.

How many days?

2–3 days is enough: 1 day Marina Bay + Gardens by the Bay + Merlion, 1 day Sentosa (beach + Universal Studios), 1 day Chinatown + Little India + Arab Street. Day 4: Singapore Zoo (world-class) or Pulau Ubin (old fisher island). Layover-only? Night city tour + hawker dinner is enough.

What to see

Marina Bay Sands (hotel + mall + Skypark observation 26 SGD or CÉ LA VI bar 25 SGD min spend), Gardens by the Bay (Supertree light show 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM free, Cloud Forest 32 SGD), Merlion (cliché but 5-min photo), Sentosa (Universal Studios + Adventure Cove + beach), Chinatown (Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, hawker stalls), Little India (Sri Veeramakaliamman temple, Tekka Market), Arab Street (Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane boutiques). Lesser known: Tiong Bahru (old district, boutique cafés), Henderson Waves bridge, Pulau Ubin (old Singapore, explore by bike).

Food & drink

Hawker centers are Michelin-starred street food (rare in the world). Hainanese chicken rice (Tian Tian or Wee Nam Kee), chili crab (Jumbo Seafood, ~60 SGD/person), laksa (328 Katong Laksa), kaya toast + kopi (Ya Kun classic breakfast), char kway teow, fish head curry. Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, Newton Food Centre. Local: 8 SGD for a full plate. High-end: Burnt Ends (Australian BBQ), Odette (3 Michelin French) — reserve 2 months out. Tap water is among the world’s cleanest.

Getting around

MRT (metro) + bus: EZ-Link card or contactless. Single ride 1–2.50 SGD, day pass 10 SGD. No Grab/Uber but Gojek + ComfortDelGro work. Changi airport: MRT 30 min 2.50 SGD or taxi 25 SGD. Center is walkable but humidity hits; malls are MRT-connected via air-conditioned bridges. Driving: license and car are crazy expensive — 100k SGD just for the plate, nobody rents to tourists.

Things to watch out for

Singapore rules are strict: chewing gum is banned (import too), spitting = fine, littering 1000 SGD fine, smoking outdoors restricted, durian banned on the metro. People joke but it’s actually enforced — that’s why it’s clean. ATMs: DBS, OCBC are safe. Prices: coffee 6 SGD, beer 12 SGD, taxi minimum 15 SGD — bloats budgets. Drugs = death penalty, not a joke. EU/UK passports visa-free 90 days. Wi-Fi: Wireless@SG free across the city.

Budget estimate

Economy €70–100/day (hostel, hawker, MRT). Mid €150–250/day (3★ hotel, mixed restaurants, 2 activities). Luxury €400–1,500/day (Marina Bay Sands 600 SGD/night+, fine dining). 3-day mid trip €600–900 (flights excluded). Flights from Europe €500–900 (Singapore Airlines direct 13h). Hotels pricey: mid hotel 150–250 SGD/night, hostel 30–50 SGD. Use it as an entry/exit point — onward flights to KL or Bali are €50–80.