LANGUAGE

Malay, Mandarin, English, Tamil

CURRENCY

Singapore Dollar

BEST TIME TO VISIT

February to September

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

NEAREAT AIRPORT

Changi Airport(SIN)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

1800 933 6483

INTERNET ACCESS

Most hotels offer internet access. All backpacker hostels offer free internet access and wi-fi. Unlike many other modern, major cities around the world, very few cafes offer free wi-fi.

SingTel (www.singtel.com), StarHub (www.starhub.com) and M1 (www.m1.com.sg) are local providers of broadband internet via USB modem dongles. Bring your own or buy one from them. You can get prepaid data SIM cards if you have your own dongle.

Singapore has an ever-expanding network of around 16,000 wireless hot spots – and most cafes, pubs, libraries and malls operate them. In Chinatown you’ll find 20 wi-fi hot spots within just a few blocks of the MRT station – simply choose the wireless@chinatown wi-fi network. You don’t need a local number to access the free wi-fi – just download the wireless@sg app and you’ll be able to locate the nearest free hot spots.

VISA

Citizens of most countries are granted 90-day entry on arrival. Citizens of India, Myanmar and certain other countries must obtain a visa before arriving.

Visa Extensions

Visa extensions can be applied for at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website.

HOTEL

Being a compact city, most hotels in Singapore are concentrated in a few main areas. The newly constructed Marina Bay has most of the city’s luxury and high-end chain hotel options. Across Marina Bay is the Civic District, also known as the Downtown Core, where many of the city’s civic buildings and museums are located. Clarke Quay is one of the oldest areas of the city, next to the Singapore River, yet recent redevelopment has made it the city’s newest hot spot to stay and play. You’ll find a range of accommodations in the wonderfully congested Bugis area, with most of the city’s budget hotel options in the neighboring Chinatown and Little India. The area on and around Orchard Road, Singapore’s main luxury shopping boulevard, is also home to many mid-range and high-end hotel choices.

LUXURY

Marina Bay Sands

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore

The Westin Singapore

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore

MID-RANGE

InterContinental Singapore

Regent Singapore

A Four Seasons Hotel

Swissotel The Stamford Singapore

BUDGET

Park 22 Hotel Little India

Fragrance Hotel – Ruby

The Scarlet Singapore

Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong