Travel Essentials

Singapore: What To Know Before You Go

Q: What is the emergency number in Singapore?

Police: 999, Ambulance: 995, Fire: 995

Plugs: Type G, 230 V. Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance 995, Fire 995. Tipping: Not expected; restaurants add a 10% service charge and 9% GST, and taxis and hawker stalls do not need tips. Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water.

Open The Singapore Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Type G, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	999
Ambulance	995
Fire	995

Tipping

Not expected; restaurants add a 10% service charge and 9% GST, and taxis and hawker stalls do not need tips.

Water And Health

Tap water: Generally safe to drink tap water
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid for street-food travelers
Malaria: None

Apps To Download Before You Go

Grab: The main ride-hailing and food delivery app, also lets you pay for many services.
Gojek: A second ride-hailing option that is often cheaper at busy times.
SimplyGo / Singapore Tourist Pass: Tap a bank card or use the tourist pass on MRT and buses; SimplyGo shows your trips.
PayNow: Locals pay each other by phone number; many banks and some stalls take PayNow QR codes.
Alipay+ / WeChat Pay: Many shops and hawker centers accept visitors' home wallets and QR payments.
foodpanda: Food delivery from restaurants and hawker stalls.
WhatsApp: The main messaging app for businesses, tours and friends.
SG Arrival Card (ICA): Every visitor must submit the digital arrival card up to 3 days before arrival.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A light handshake is normal, though Chinese, Malay and Indian Singaporeans greet differently. Some Muslim and Hindu people may not shake hands across genders, so wait for a woman to offer her hand or nod with palm over heart.

Queueing and rules. Follow posted rules: no eating or drinking on the MRT, no littering, and no vaping; fines are real.

Shoes at homes and places of worship. Take shoes off before entering a home, and cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques.

Using the right hand. In many Malay and Indian settings, hand and give things with the right hand.

Safety And Scams

Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world, with very low violent crime and strong policing.

Fake investment and phone scams. Scams by phone, message and online are the most common crime; do not share bank codes with callers.

Taxi or app surcharges. Check the fare estimate and surcharges for airport and peak times, and use the meter or app price.

Women travelers. Safe for women traveling alone; normal city care is enough.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Mostly Safe

Sex between men was decriminalized in 2022, but same-sex marriage is not recognized and the constitution protects the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Public events are limited.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	SGD 5	$3.90
Local bus or metro ride	SGD 2	$1.55
Mid-range restaurant meal	SGD 25	$19
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	SGD 45	$35
Mid-range hotel (night)	SGD 280	$215
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	SGD 220	$170

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Singapore is hot and humid all year; February to April is a bit drier, and November to January is the wettest.

Do You Need A Visa?

Singapore visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic English phrases · Basic Chinese phrases · Basic Malay phrases · Basic Tamil phrases