Singapore Travel Notes

Singapore Need to Know

No visa is required for Singapore. Although a pleasant stop inbound on the the world's finest airline, Singapore can be out of the way for many destinations in Asia such as Japan and China.

All travelers must have a passport with six month’s validity remaining and proof of Covid-19 vaccination uploaded to Singapore’s traveler portal (below). No entry approvals, other pre-departure tests, or on-arrival tests and quarantine are required.

Singapore is hot and humid all year-round, with temperatures usually reaching over 85 degrees. You should be prepared for rain at any time, which can be heavy, but usually brief.

Singapore pre-arrival checklist (as of May, 2022):

Obtain proof of vaccination and upload vaccination certificate onto the Vaccination Check Portal
Download the TraceTogether app and register your profile
3 days before departure: Submit SG Arrival Card and e-health declaration via the official and free e-service on the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.

Singapore Practicalities

Bring comfortable shoes for walking. Singapore’s compact downtown and other districts are very walkable, and the city offers excellent and efficient public transport, both which will feature in our daily touring. Rain can occur anytime, please bring a thin rain shell.
Most locals speak two languages, with English typically being one.
Currency is the Singapore dollar (one US dollar = about 1.38 Singapore$)
Voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz, with type G plugs (British-style with three rectangular blades, not round pins). Most phone and device adapters will automatically adjust to 230 V.
Visitors can access free Wi-Fi at any Wireless@SGx hotspot with their foreign mobile numbers by downloading the Wireless@SGx App.
Safe Drinking Water: You may drink water straight from the tap as the water in Singapore passes World Health Organization standards. We will also have bottled water available while touring.
Tipping is customarily around 10% while some restaurants and hotels may already include this in your bill.

Singapore dietary restrictions?

With a myriad of cuisines, Singapore is suitable for those with almost any dietary needs. Shellfish allergies and those wishing to avoid pork or beef. As a multicultural country, this trip is wonderful for pescatarians, but also strict vegans or vegetarians, with an abundance of tofu-based and other vegetarian dishes widely available. Mostly rice-based Singaporean cuisine also makes it an ideal destination for those on a gluten-free diet.

There is also a rising interest in and growing number of healty dining venues and stores in Singapore, most notably Real Food, a popular chain that is not only meat-free, but avoids processed ingredients and trans-fats. Real Food has multiple locations in Singapore including Orchard Central and South Beach. Delicious photos on Singapore Real Food on Facebook.

Mobility

Singapore may not suitable for persons with significant mobility issues, which includes constant walking and hiking over uneven surfaces, steps, and inclines.

Singapore — When to go

Singapore in December and January is at it's coolest, at night in the 70s, warming into the 80s during the day. December and January experience a Northeast Monsoon during it's “wet phase” (October to January) and a “dry phase” (February and March). May and June are the hottest months. The wet phase witnesses a clockwork-like, continuous moderate to heavy rainfall in the afternoons and early evenings. The dry phase is cool and pleasant with comparatively little or no rain. Humidity is high, averaging over 80%.