Accommodation

Singapore offers a wide variety of accommodation types to suit all budgets and preferences. They range from backpacker, budget and youth hostels to boutique and five-star hotels.

Most hotels come with standard facilities like International Direct Dial (IDD) phones, internet and cable, room service, mini bars, data ports for modem, no-smoking rooms or floors, and business and fitness centres furnished with the latest equipment.

To find the perfect accommodation for your stay in Singapore, use this accommodation search engine. All accommodation categories listed in this website will provide full information such as rates, contact details and facilities. Location map and fact sheets are also provided for your easy reference.

Banking & Currency

Banking
The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Banking hours are Mondays to Fridays: 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs. Saturdays: 0930 hrs to 1300 hrs. Most banks handle travellers' cheques and change foreign currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturdays. Passports are required when cashing in travellers' cheques. A nominal commission may be charged.

Credit/Charge Cards
Major cards are widely accepted by establishments in Singapore. Should any shop insist on adding a surcharge, contact the respective card company to report the errant shop-owner

Currency
Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in most major shopping centres and big departmental stores. An online currency converter service is available at asiaone.

Money Changers
Apart from banks and hotels, money can be changed wherever the sign "Licensed Money Changer" is displayed. Most shopping complexes have a licensed money changer. Visitors are discouraged from changing money with unlicensed money changers.

Foreign Missions in Singapore

There are at least 80 foreign missions in Singapore. Majority is closed on Saturdays and some open only in the morning. It is recommended that you telephone to check office hours before visiting. Find out more.

General Travel Information

Money Matters
The currency used in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (S$). Money changing services can be found not only at the Singapore Changi Airport but also most shopping centres and hotels around the island. You can also access the automated teller machines (ATMs) located everywhere (even in the most obscure bits) in Singapore, that accept most of the main credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Weather
Singapore is known for its hot and humid weather, with little variation throughout the year. The average daytime temperature is 31ºC (88ºF), dropping to around 24ºC (75ºF) in the evenings. The monsoon season can bear down pretty heavily on our tropical weather from November onwards, so be prepared for rain on a daily basis during this period.

Cell Phone Usage
Singapore’s international dialing code is +(65). While in Singapore and if you have international roaming service on your cell phone, you don’t have to press +(65) as it will automatically connect you to the local numbers here.

(No) Smoking
Besides air-conditioned areas such as shopping centres, restaurants, entertainment outlets and cinemas, smoking is also an offence on the SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system), public buses, taxis and in lifts. Recently, the smoking ban has also been imposed on public eateries and within a five-metre radius from most building entrances, except for allocated smoking areas that are clearly marked with bright yellow paint. A maximum fine of S$1,000 may be imposed on first-time offenders.

Immigration & Customs

Generally, foreigners who do not require visas for entry and are visiting Singapore as tourists, may be given up to 30-day social visit oases upon their arrival in Singapore.

For more information on visa requirements

Tourists, however, should have valid passports, onward / return tickets, onward facilities (visas, entry permits, etc.) to their next destination and sufficient funds for their stay in Singapore. If they require a longer stay, they may apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority after their arrival.

Women in an advanced state of pregnancy (six months or more) intending to visit Singapore should make prior application with the nearest Singapore overseas mission.

More details can be obtained from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority website.

Sightseeing & Attractions

A dynamic city rich in contrast and colour, you'll find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture here. Brimming with unbridled energy, this little dynamo in Southeast Asia embodies the finest of both East and West. A single day's trail will take you from the past to the future, from exotic ethnic enclave to efficient business centre, from serene gardens to sleek skyscrapers. Find out more.

Transportation

Travelling around Singapore is a cinch! An efficient public transportation network of taxis, buses and the modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system ensures that getting from point A to point B is hassle-free and extremely affordable. Find out more.

Shopping

There’s practically a shopping sale of sorts all year round in Singapore, with the most notable one being the Great Singapore Sale. In addition to that, there are stretches of world-class shopping malls that offer you a wide array of shopping choices. You only need to take a walk down Singapore’s iconic shopping districts to find out what’s in store for you. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be leaving empty-handed, but with bag loads of great bargains and gifts. Find out more.

Wine & Dine

In this cosmopolitan and multicultural city, you can expect nothing less than a melange of flavours from around the globe. It’s not just East-meets-West when it comes to feasting in Singapore – it is a tasty tale about a country’s unique cultural tapestry woven in with its distinct influences to capture the essence of Singapore’s multicultural heritage. Let’s embark on a gastronomic journey of local fare that uniquely distinguishes Singapore as a food capital of Asia. Find out more.