A green city-state of food, gardens and skylines
Singapore is a small, wealthy island city-state at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, known for its skyline, spotless streets and huge range of food. Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures mix in neighbourhoods like Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India. Gardens by the Bay, the Botanic Gardens and nature reserves keep it surprisingly green. It suits first-time visitors to Asia, families, food lovers and stopover travellers.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Futuristic gardens with giant Supertree structures and two huge glass conservatories, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. The free light show at night is a highlight.
A 160-year-old tropical garden and Singapore's only World Heritage site. The National Orchid Garden inside is famous.
The bay walk links the Merlion, the Esplanade theatres and the Marina Bay Sands towers. It is the classic skyline view.
Open-air food courts with dozens of stalls selling cheap local dishes, from chicken rice to laksa. Singapore's hawker culture is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
A resort island with beaches, Universal Studios Singapore, the aquarium and other attractions. It is linked by cable car, monorail and boardwalk.
Open, leafy zoo enclosures and a separate after-dark safari park, both in the Mandai wildlife area. Bird Paradise and River Wonders are next door.
Old shophouse streets with temples, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, markets and food stalls. Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in the city, is here too.
A colourful district of spice shops, flower stalls, temples and South Indian food. Tekka Centre is the market hub.
The historic Malay and Arab quarter around the golden-domed Sultan Mosque. Haji Lane is full of murals and small boutiques.
A glass dome at the airport with the Rain Vortex, an indoor waterfall, inside a forest valley. It is open to everyone, not only flyers.
A large museum of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art in the former Supreme Court and City Hall. The rooftop has fine views over the Padang.
A 10 km chain of parks and walkways linked by elevated bridges, including the wave-shaped Henderson Waves. It is a green walk with city views.
A suspension bridge through the rainforest canopy in the central nature reserve. Monkeys and monitor lizards are common.
A rustic island reached by bumboat, with kampong villages, bike trails and the Chek Jawa wetlands. It shows Singapore as it once was.
A long boulevard of malls and department stores, Singapore's main shopping strip. It is decorated with lights in the Christmas season.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
The whole city-state; base yourself around Marina Bay and the Civic District for the skyline, museums and Gardens by the Bay.
city, sightseeing · Open the city guideShophouses, temples and hawker food.
food, culture · Guide comingMosque, boutiques and bars.
culture, nightlife · Guide comingResort island for families.
family, beach · Guide comingShopping and hotels near the Botanic Gardens.
shopping · Guide comingThe skyline district with gardens, the big hotel and waterfront walks.
skyline, gardens · Guide comingA colourful district of temples, spice shops and cheap eats.
culture, food · Guide comingThe business district, museums and the bayfront.
Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay, National Gallery
Older neighbourhoods with distinct cultures.
Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam
Resorts and green ridges.
Sentosa, Southern Ridges
Reservoirs, zoo and rustic islands.
Mandai, MacRitchie, Pulau Ubin
Wildlife parks and the airport district.
Singapore Zoo, Jewel Changi, Pulau Ubin
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: February to April. These months are usually a little drier and less humid.
Singapore is hot and humid all year, with heavier showers in the northeast monsoon from about November to January.
January. No season note for this month.
83°F daily high, 79°F average, 9.3 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Singapore Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, and crime is very low.
The MRT metro, buses and taxis are clean, cheap and easy, and the airport is close to the centre.
Hotels and drinks are expensive, though hawker food is excellent value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check entry rules and the arrival card requirement on the Entering Singapore page of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ica.gov.sg) before you travel. |
| Plugs | Type C, G, M; 230 V 50 Hz |
| Tap water | safe |
| Tipping | Tipping is not expected; restaurants usually add a service charge. |
| Payments | Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere; some hawker stalls prefer cash or local QR. |
| Emergency | 999 police, 995 ambulance and fire |
| Etiquette | Rules are strict: no littering, no eating on the MRT, and chewing gum is not sold. Drug penalties are severe. Queue patiently and keep noise down on transport. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques. |
| Driving | On the left |
| Between cities | The MRT metro reaches almost everywhere, and buses fill the gaps. Tap a contactless bank card to pay fares. Taxis and ride apps are plentiful and fairly priced. |
| Main airports | SIN |
| Ride apps | Grab, Gojek |
Singapore was a regional trading post for centuries before Stamford Raffles set up a British trading station in 1819. It grew into a major free port under British rule and was occupied by Japan in World War Two. It joined Malaysia in 1963 and became an independent republic in 1965. Under strong long-term planning it became one of the richest and most orderly cities in the world.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.