Getting to Singapore: practical information before departure

Every city has its own culture, every city has its own regulations, and Singapore, this young and remarkable city-state, no matter how surprising it may seem, is no exception. Formalities, the airport, transportation, budget, regulations, practical life, advice, you’ll find all the useful information here if you’re going on a trip or if you’re making a stopover in Singapore.

Visiting Singapore: the must-see and do things during a layover

I had the opportunity to spend a week in Singapore to visit this fascinating city full of contrasts. Here are some must-see and must-do things during a stopover in Singapore

• Garden By The Bay
• Little India
• Chinatown
• The Malay / Arab neighborhood
• The Singapore Botanical Garden
• Taste local cuisine: Kaya breakfast, Laksa, rice chicken, Popiah, chilli/black pepper crab
• Enjoying the nightlife: 1 Altitude, Clarke Quay
• Marina Bay Sand
• The colorful houses of Perenakan on Koon Seng Road
• Pulau Ubin island located opposite Changi

You can also find my more detailed articles about Singapore:

→ A relaxing stroll in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

→ Kampong Glam: Singapore's Malay heritage

→ Singapore: A sensory getaway in Chinatown

→ Garden by The Bay, the futuristic garden of Singapore

→ Little India: Bollywood atmosphere right in the heart of Singapore!

You said Visa? Not here!

One of the surprises of the formalities to be prepared before leaving for Singapore lies in the fact that you do not need a visa as in many other destinations. This is valid for stays of less than 3 months.

Pass the customs like a package with La Poste

The customs check will be marked by an entry form that will be given to you, a bit like if you were a package with a receipt; the customs officer will then keep the first part and give you the second part of the copy. Attention, it is essential to carefully keep this sheet that will be asked of you when you leave.

A valid passport, but what else?

Here, this formality becomes one of the most well-known. The passport must be valid, and the validity must extend to 6 months after the end of your stay. So don’t plan on a passport that would expire the day after your planned return date; you risk being denied entry to Singapore.

No return ticket or continuation?
So no boarding!

The rules are strict for boarding in Singapore; you must have a return or onward ticket on board when you board. So, make sure you have all your tickets for your stay; these are things to think about before leaving for Singapore that will not allow any leeway on these ticket details. There is no need to present a one-way ticket; it will not be accepted!

Practical life

4 official languages in Singapore: English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay

Calling from France to Singapore: 0065 + phone number

Calling from Singapore to France: 001 + 33 + phone number

To avoid expensive phone bills, you can buy a credit-card-sized SIM card (make sure your phone is unlocked) or you can even rent a Handy phone (15$s/day) upon arrival at the airport or in the Singapore Visitor Centre.

The electrical outlets are 3-prong like in the United Kingdom, so be sure to bring your universal adapter.

How to get to Singapore?

To get to Singapore, the average flight time from Paris is about 12 hours and 30 minutes, which means you spend about half a day in the plane. And that’s assuming you don’t make any stops!

And don’t forget to add to this a nice time difference of +6 hours in summer and +7 hours in winter. It’s worth noting that prices vary quite easily depending on the time of year, but also on the airlines and the types of trips you choose, with or without stops.

Among the well-known companies, we can mention Singapore Airlines, which is based in Singapore and ranks among the best global airlines, having received numerous awards in this field.

Go here to book a flight to Singapore

The little bonus of Singapore Airport

Singapore Airport has everything to make anyone envious; in fact, Changi Airport, as it is called, is one of the most popular airports in the world. Whether you are passing through this airport for a short two-hour layover or for a longer stay in Singapore, you will find plenty to keep you occupied.

With a floor covered with soundproofed carpeting that creates a calm and soothing atmosphere, you’ll find something to suit your tastes, as well as cinemas with free screenings, massage facilities, and not to mention the airport’s swimming pools, slides, and gardens that will help you forget the stress of travel. You can even take advantage of the Free visit to Singapore if your stopover is relatively long. An opportunity to take a few moments to discover the city. Nice, right?

The means of transport in Singapore

The metro

As in many cities with a metro system, this is the most efficient means of transport. It will cost you less than €1 (1.50$S) per journey, depending on the route you choose. It is worth noting that there are MRT passes that allow you to use the metro as many times as you wish in a single day for a price of around €4.50 (7$S).

Click here to view The Singapore metro plan

The taxi

If you want to use the taxi to get to the city from the airport, please note that there is an additional fee of about €2 (3$S). You will then need to count on spending about €15 to €25 (or between €20 and €35$S) to get from the airport to the city of Singapore, and remember that you will have to pay in Singapore dollars in cash.

If you wish to travel at night between midnight and 6am, a surcharge of 50% may also be asked. For city trips, it is sometimes more advantageous if there are two or three of you to choose the taxi rather than paying the MTR metro tickets. For short trips of 1.5km, you will pay 1€60 (2.$40S) and then 0.07€/additional 240m (0.$10S/240m).

So it's up to you to calculate the distances to be covered based on the number of people you are, The taxi may prove to be a good economical solution if you are stopping by Singapore.

The bus

There are many buses in Singapore, they are very comfortable, air-conditioned, and have a nice frequency between 5 and 30 minutes. However, the driver makes it difficult to get on and off the bus. The routes vary depending on the distance you want to travel, which is why it is important to validate the card when you get on the bus, but also when you get off.

The buses don’t have integrated plans, which makes the journey very complicated if you’re not a great expert in the city – that’s why. Many people opt for the metro instead to avoid unpleasant surprises, For example, buses with identical names, trips in the wrong direction, etc…

The transport cards

You may have read that there are cards, very convenient in buses; they can also be used in the MTR metro, and even recharged at stations. These cards are called EzLink; they cost 12$S (which includes 5$S in card fees, and 7$S in credit to use on your transport).

The Singapore Tourist Pass

This pass looks a bit like a classic card, except that it is for a limited period and offers you the possibility of making an unlimited number of trips! You can buy it for 1 day, 2 days, or even 3 days. It will then cost you 10$S, 16$S, or 20$S, respectively. You will also need to add a 10$S deposit, which will be refunded if you don’t forget to return the pass within 5 days of purchasing it.

There are other means of transport such as boats, cars or city tours, but these are for more specific trips; you have therefore seen the main ones.

Currency and cost of living in Singapore

The currency unit is the Singapore dollar ($S), the currency conversion varies quite often; we started with a currency of 1.$50S for 1€, knowing that sometimes 1€ = 1.$70S etc…

Calculate the exchange rate here:

You can use money changers that offer better exchange rates than many banks. You will also find many cash dispensers throughout the city where you can withdraw money. A tip: Always carry some cash with you and also use your credit card on site in case you need to withdraw some money…

It should not be forgotten that Singapore was once among the most expensive cities in the world, and some of the prices are still reflected in it. The average price of accommodation ranges between 50 and 80€ while the average price of restaurants is between 10 and 20€. Of course, this will depend on your lifestyle, how you eat, whether you stay in luxury hotels or not, in short, on your lifestyle as a traveler in Singapore. Also note that some products are heavily taxed, such as cigarettes… A pack costs about 10$s!

The official addresses to be aware of

As it is always very important when traveling to know certain addresses, I will give you one that is indispensable:

The Singaporean embassy in France is located at 16, rue Murillo, 75008 Paris. Telephone: 01-56-79-68-00.

And the French Embassy in Singapore, which you might need if something were to happen to you: 101-103 Cluny Park Road – Singapore 259595 – Telephone: (65) 68 80 78 00. You can reach it from the Botanic Gardens metro station (CC19/DT9).

Sign up for a Heymondo travel insurance

When planning your few-day stopover in Singapore, it’s easy to get carried away by the excitement of the discoveries that await you. However, it is essential not to overlook the crucial importance of travel insurance, and this is where Heymondo Step into the scene to offer you total peace of mind. Imagine strolling through the bustling streets of Chinatown, exploring the lush botanical gardens, or indulging in culinary delights in the hawker centres without having to worry about unforeseen events. Heymondo ensures comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, flight delays, lost luggage, and more, so you can fully enjoy your stopover in Singapore in complete peace of mind. Don’t let the unexpected disrupt your getaway; subscribe to travel insurance with Heymondo and immerse yourself in the adventure with confidence. Your enlightening journey in Singapore will be all the more memorable, knowing that you are protected every step of the way.

Singapore and its bans!

Singapore is known for its strict regulations and numerous prohibitions… Be careful and don’t make any mistakes because the fines are quite high!

If you cross within 50 meters of the pedestrian crossings, you risk a fine of 100$

If you throw a cigarette butt or trash on the ground, you risk a fine of 500$ euros.

If you spit on the ground, urinate in the street or chew gum (even worse if you throw it away!) you will be fined 1000$. Moreover, the sale of these products is prohibited! Also, be careful not to have them in your luggage when you arrive in Singapore; you could risk paying this fine…

Worse… Don’t even consider using drugs! Detention can cost you up to 20,000$ in fines and 10 years in prison. Also note that the death penalty is still in effect for drug traffickers…

Another surprising thing: To limit the flow of cars in the city, Singapore has installed a kind of toll system in the city center, and motorists are automatically charged when they enter certain neighborhoods. The rates are higher during peak hours between 17:00 and 19:00.

Also, be aware that vehicles are heavily taxed, about 2 to 3 times more expensive than vehicles in France. To be allowed to drive in Singapore, drivers must also pay a 100,000 $S license that is valid for 10 years! I was stunned…

For more suggestions and practical information about Singapore, visit the website the Singapore Tourism Board

Click here to discover other activities to do in Singapore