Singapore Travel Guide Latest Edition

Singapore is a very delicate country located at the mouth of the Strait of Malacca. Singapore is the only developed country in Southeast Asia with very high quality of life and environment. It is also a world-famous shopping and tourist destination. Here is a detailed strategy for you.

Singapore has concentrated attractions, convenient transportation, and taxis are not very expensive. You don’t need to consult many guides in advance to enjoy the Lion City easily.

3/4 of Singapore’s population is Chinese, and Chinese can be spoken smoothly. Even the taxi driver in India and the Arab uncle selling barbecue will speak a few words to you in Chinese.

Singapore’s diverse food culture can satisfy you. Malay Salad, Indian Hand-Pailed Rice, Chinese Bak Kut Teh, and Singaporean Chili Crab ensure that you don’t eat the same food every day!

Singapore has various zoos, aquariums, water parks, theme parks, and the laughter-filled Sentosa, so even the energetic troublemakers at home can have fun! Various convenient and considerate supporting facilities also provide parents with the greatest convenience.

Don’t underestimate this pocket country. Although it is only more than 6 million square kilometers, the area is equivalent to a city the size of Chaoyang District and half of Fengtai District. However, it has incredible charm, attracting tourists from all over the world to visit again and again.

Visa

Singapore visa application is not expensive and does not require many materials, but there are various strange regulations:

1. Individual applications are not accepted . In order to improve issuance efficiency, the Singapore embassy and consulates have simplified the issuance procedures. All visas are submitted by designated units/travel agencies and individual applications are not accepted. Select the appropriate consular district and institution based on your permanent residence or passport issuance place.

2. Submit the application one month before travel. The Singapore Embassy only accepts information applications submitted within 30 calendar days before departure, and materials cannot be submitted in advance. As long as the materials are complete and the contract is signed quickly, the result will usually be available within 3 working days.

3. The fixed fee is 300 yuan. Starting from February 1, 2008, the Singapore visa fee is fixed at RMB 300, including the visa fee of S$30 and the visa service fee charged by the authorized travel agency.

4. Visa type spelling characters. Although there is no difference in materials and fees, the validity period of the visa and the number of entries completely depend on the mood of the visa officer. Common validity periods are roughly divided into 35 days single/multiple round trip, 63 days single/multiple round trip, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years multiple round trip. Generally speaking, married people with registered permanent residence in big cities and stable jobs are more likely to obtain long-term visas.

5. Single women submit their signatures carefully. Due to the imbalance in the male-to-female ratio in Singapore, if an older single female young person applies for a visa alone, the rejection rate is very high; on the contrary, it is easy for high-quality single male young people to obtain a visa. If a single woman wants to go to Singapore, it is recommended to apply for a visa with her parents or friends.

6. The Singapore visa is electronic. You need to print it yourself after getting the PDF version of the visa.

I applied for a Singapore visa twice. The first time was earlier and I handed it over to the embassy myself. There were not many records of leaving the country at that time. The second time was when a travel agency discovered a treasure in Beijing; both times it was easily obtained, and we made multiple trips over the past two years. Personally, I think the married status of Beijing hukou is a big plus.

Candy has a foreign registered permanent residence. She often goes to Singapore for work reasons. Every time she goes to the travel agency, she is given 35 or 65 days. Later, we applied for a visa together as husband and wife. I guess we took advantage of me. In fact, we went back and forth many times in the past two years.

The little girl at home applied for a visa alone. She is 2 years old and registered in Beijing. We were provided with our Singapore visa and some simple materials, and she easily got multiple trips for two years.

Best travel season

Suitable for all year round.

Singapore is located near the equator, with an average annual temperature of 23-31°C. There are no four seasons, only the difference between dry season and rainy season. The rainy season is from December to March of the following year and the climate is humid. There are usually thundershowers in the afternoon, and the average temperature is around 25. June to September is the dry season, the climate is relatively dry, and the average temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. Every year from April to May and from October

But even in the dry season, it rains almost every day. It's quite a rush every time and usually doesn't last too long, about 15-30 minutes, so the season is not the main consideration. All year round, you can go wherever you want.

It is not recommended to go to Singapore during Christmas and Spring Festival. Firstly, because it is the peak season, air tickets and hotels are more expensive; secondly, during the Spring Festival, many Chinese shops will be closed, so they cannot enjoy as much as they want.

Traffic Guide

External Traffic Planes

From Beijing to Singapore, Air China flies twice a day and Singapore Airlines flies three times a day.

Shanghai flies directly from Pudong Airport to Singapore. China Eastern Airlines and Singapore Airlines have 4 flights every day.

Probably because tickets can only be paid one month before departure, many tourists dare not book tickets before signing, so the price of booking tickets in advance is particularly cheap. Singapore Airlines' direct flight to Beijing only costs 2,500 yuan, which is a huge profit!

Singapore Changi Airport Changi Airport

www.changiairport.com

The airport is in the northeast of the city, 17 kilometers away from the city and very close to Malaysia.

Changi Airport has five terminals.

Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected together, and you can transfer via the MRT system or on foot. The newly built Terminal 4 is a bit far away, and you can take the 24-hour free shuttle bus at T2. Terminal 5 is still under construction.

Usually Air China aircraft enter and exit Hong Kong from T1 Terminal; China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Singapore Airlines enter and exit Hong Kong from T3 Terminal.

: Airport Transportation

1. Subway: You can take the new Green Line to the city. Operating hours are from 5:31 to 23:18. The one-way fare is less than S$2 and it takes about 30 minutes to get to the city center.

2. Bus: No. 36 can go directly to Guoyuan Road, and No. 24, 27, 34, 53, and 858 can go to other places in the city. The operating hours are 6:00-24:00, the one-way fare is less than SGD 2, and it takes about 1 hour to reach the city center.

3. Airport bus: Passengers can be transported to most hotels in downtown Singapore and can be booked at the ground transportation concierge in the arrival hall. Ticket price is S$9/person, children under 12 years old are S$6/person.

4. Taxi: There is a taxi stand at the entrance of each terminal. The cost to go to the city center is between S$20-40 and the journey takes about 30 minutes. There is a taxi fare, and all trips from the airport are subject to an airport surcharge: SGD 5 from Friday to Sunday 17:00-24:00; other times, SGD 3. Midnight surcharge (0:00-6:00), accounting for 50% of the total fare; surcharge during peak hours (Monday to Friday 6:00-9:30, Monday to Sunday 18:00-24:00) .

5. Large Taxi: If you need a special taxi that can accommodate multiple people, you can reserve it at the Ground Transportation Concierge Desk in the Arrivals Hall. The one-way fare for a four-seater car is about S$55, and the one-way fare for a seven-seater large car is about S$60.

6. Coach: There are long-distance buses from the airport to all parts of Malaysia. Specific routes and prices can be found at www.easibook.com.

Internal transportation

MRTwww.smrt.com.sg subway station

Taking the subway is the most convenient and comfortable way to travel in Singapore. The lines extend in all directions, transfers are quick and convenient, and the carriages are clean and tidy. Definitely the preferred way to travel.

However, the air conditioning on the subway is very sufficient, so be sure to bring an extra jacket.

Ticket price: SGD 0.8-3.

Although the bus speed is slow, compared with the subway, it covers a wider area, has more space, more seats, and cheaper fares.

The bus fare system is very complex. If you don’t have a transportation card, be sure to inquire about the cost to your destination before boarding the plane. Fare may be rounded, you can calculate it yourself. No need to change. It would be more convenient if you have a transportation card. The highest fare for the entire route will be automatically deducted when you get on the bus. You swipe it again when you get off the bus, and any unused money will be automatically refunded.

Especially when the bus enters the station, signal the driver to stop. Before getting off at the station, you need to press the red button next to your seat. If no one rings the bell or waves at the stop, the bus will stop. Moreover, most buses do not announce their stops. Only some buses have electronic screens showing the name of the next stop. It is easy to get off at the wrong stop.

Fare: SGD 0.7-1.4 for air-conditioned cars; SGD 0.8-1.7 for air-conditioned buses

: How to choose transportation cards

1. Recharge card . Equivalent to Singapore's all-in-one bus card, there are EZ-Link (Easy Travel Card), NetsFlashpay, and KoolCard (Cool Card). The only thing these cards have in common is that the S$5 card fee is non-refundable, and there are discounts for swiping the card whether taking the subway or taking the bus; however, only EZ-Link can pay the Sentosa LRT entrance fee, so tourists should not hesitate to choose EZ -Link!

EZ-Link can be purchased at the ticket office and passenger service center of the MRT station for SGD 12 (train fare SGD 7, card fee SGD 5); it can also be purchased at 7-eleven Bought in store, 10 SGD (taxi fare 5 SGD, card fee 5 SGD). When the balance in the card is less than S$3, you cannot swipe the card to enter the subway station. If the balance is less than S$1, you cannot take the bus. Each recharge must be at least 10 Singapore dollars. If the amount is not used up, the card can be returned at the ticket office between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 of the airport, and the balance except the SGD 5 card fee will be refunded.

2. Supplementary card standard ticket. It can be purchased at any ticket vending machine in the subway station and can be used 6 times within 30 days from the date of purchase. When buying a ticket for the first time, select the arrival location, and the card will be issued after successful payment; when buying a ticket for the second time, you need to put the one-way ticket on the machine first, and then choose to pay when you arrive at the place, otherwise a new one-way ticket will be spit out; the third time you use it, it will The deposit of S$0.1 will be automatically refunded, and S$0.1 will be refunded for the sixth use. This method is actually equivalent to buying a one-way ticket each time. It is mainly for the sake of environmental protection and reducing the paper waste of subway tickets.

3. Daily card. Officially known as the Singapore Travel Pass, it is specially designed for tourists. It is divided into one-day pass (S$10), two-day pass (S$16) and three-day pass (S$20). You can use basic public transportation services unlimited times. When purchasing a card, a deposit of S$10 is required for each card. You can return the card and get your deposit back at the ticket counter within 5 days from the date of purchase.

However, the TransitLink ticket office for this card only has the following stations: .sg/where-to-buy/.

Note: If you take the subway less than 6 times during your stay in Singapore, it is recommended to purchase a standard ticket directly; If you take the subway and bus more often, it is recommended to buy EZ-Link, which can save you the trouble of queuing up to buy tickets every time. The discount on the ticket price can almost offset the card fee; if you plan to visit Singapore's car rivers, you can buy a travel pass. In fact, Singapore’s attractions are relatively concentrated. It is enough to take the subway two or three times a day, and the daily card is not recommended.

Taxi in Singapore. Taxis are called "cabs." You can wait at the taxi station, make a reservation by phone/online, or park on the roadside (except CBD).

Taxi fares in Singapore are relatively cheap, starting at S$2.8-3.2 (within 1 km). After 1 km, SGD 0.20 is charged for every 210 meters. If the total distance exceeds 10 kilometers, the excess amount will become 0.2 Singapore dollars per 175 meters, and 0.2 Singapore dollars will be charged for every 25 seconds. In fact, if a lot of people are traveling together, taking a taxi is faster and cheaper than taking the subway.

There are seven Texaco companies in Singapore, each with its own colors and bills. Generally yellow and blue are cheaper, red, white and silver are slightly more expensive, and black is the most expensive. It also depends on the car model. BMW and Benz are definitely more expensive. While waiting in line at the airport, you can refuse to be assigned a black car or limo.

Sentosa: 2 days

The famous Sentosa Island gathers the best entertainment facilities in Singapore, making people feel like they are in a sea of ??joy.

It will take a whole day just to go to Universal Studios, or go to the Maritime Museum, S.E.A Aquarium to have close contact with underwater creatures, then stroll around the island, and then go to the beach to step on the sand. The day passed in a flash. There are also many exciting entertainment options on the island, such as the Water Adventure Park with various top-notch water slides, the Dolphin Park where you can have close contact with dolphins, the exciting and interesting Dragon Adventure Park, and the not-to-be-missed Crane Ballet Light Water Park. curtain show.

Marina Bay: 1 day.

This is Singapore's reclamation area, Marina Bay, and various designed buildings are scattered here like building blocks.

The Marina Bay tour route can start from the Merlion. First, check in and take photos at the Merlion Park; then go to the Gardens by the Bay to visit the two "big shells" of the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, and then go to see Avatar Jungle-like super trees; next, you can go shopping at Sands Mall, or watch an exhibition at the "Pomelo" Art and Science Museum, or watch a show at the "Big Durian" Esplanade Center for the Arts. The best place to watch the sunset is at Sands Sky Garden, where you can have a panoramic view of Marina Bay. The best place to see the night view is the Singapore Flyer. After enjoying the night view, you can also have some snacks at the roadside stalls below. Although I was in a hurry, I still checked in almost all the attractions in Marina Bay.

Administrative District: 0.5 days

This area is not only the most historic part of Singapore, but also the center of art and culture.

This is a more suitable route for hiking. It starts from the Raffles Hotel and passes through the Capitol Theatre, St Andrew's Church, National Gallery, New High Court, Victoria Theatre, Mica Building, Boat Quay, Gaverna Bridge and finally ends at Merlion Park. Walking through Singapore's old buildings and admiring the scenery among the high-rise buildings can be a meaningful pastime.

Niu Shui: 0.5 days

This is Singapore's Chinatown, consisting of many shops with Chinese characteristics, specializing in selling a variety of authentic Chinese products.

Actually, there is not much to visit in Chinatown. I just want to feel the special atmosphere of Chinatown. The things sold are the same as those in Yiwu Commodity Market. The main purpose of coming here is to taste various delicacies and visit three religious temples. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Long Hua Temple (Buddhism), Mariamman's Du Xing Temple (Hinduism), and the Jammeh Church (Islam) together constitute a landscape of Chinatown where ethnic integration and religious peace are the center.

Little India: 0.5 days

This is a gathering place of various ethnic groups in India, like a microcosm of southern India.

If it weren’t for a meal of finger food or Indian flying bread, I really can’t find a reason to come here. This is probably the noisiest area in Singapore. The sound of car horns, bicycle bells, and Indian noises come and go, and the so-called Indian customs are nothing more than that.

Jiangnan District: 0.5 days

This area is named after the lush grandiflora tree. The lively Bukit Stone business district is also here, and it is a favorite nightlife destination for local Singaporeans.

What you can visit here is the Church of the Return of the Sudan. Hazhi Lane, covered with graffiti, is a street among Internet celebrities. It is crowded with tourists who come here specifically to take selfies with concave shapes. They have to wait a long time before they can take photos of anyone.

Jurong Bird Park: 0.5 days

This is the largest open bird park in Asia and here you can see to almost all rare and endangered birds in Southeast Asia.

Although there are mixed reviews about the Bird Park on the Internet, if you have enough time, I still recommend going to take a look. One less day to shop, one more day to be natural.

Singapore Zoo: 1 day

The Singapore Zoo is recognized as one of the most beautiful zoos in the world and one of the top ten zoos in the world. Here, animals can roam in open habitats instead of being pitifully caged for visitors to watch.

Singapore Zoo, River Safari, and Night Zoo are all in one place. If you move quickly, you can visit them in one day. If I saw an animal like this, I wouldn't be able to pull my legs. Just after visiting the zoo and it was closed, we had no choice but to abandon the river ecological park.

Travel route

Singapore’s food is so rich that it needs a table. Please refer to the link.

Singapore Food Guide, ignite the taste buds of Nanyang style.

Food

Singapore has a fixed shopping season every year, which is called the "Singapore Hot Sale". There are great discounts on everything from daily necessities to designer jewelry. Once every year from May to July, world-famous brands will have discounts of up to 30% off; once during Christmas, there will usually be hot sales for half a month to a month. It is said that many Singaporeans spend a year during these two periods on food and clothing.

The Orchard Road shopping area is the most famous shopping area in Singapore. It’s simply a shopping paradise! There are high-end shopping malls ION Orchard (Ai Yong Orchard), Ngee Ann City (Ngee Ann City), Orchard Central (Orchard Central City), and 313@Somerset shopping malls suitable for young people, as well as parent-child paradise Tang (Eastern Summer), Paragon (Paragon), Far East Shopping Center (Far East Shopping Center) with small shops.

In addition to the shops at Orchard Road, Marina Square (Marina Plaza), Marina Bay Marina Bay Sands (Sands Shopping Mall), Sentosa must enter The island’s VivoCity (Vivo City), Resorts World Sentosa (Resorts World Sentosa), etc. They are all shopping malls loved by locals.

It doesn’t matter if you miss the discount season. You can go to IMM, the largest outlet in Singapore, to shop. There are more than 90 famous brand shopping stores here with discounts all year round. You can basically catch them all in 2-3 hours, saving time and money.

Address: No. 21, Jurong East Street

Route: Take the MRT and get off at the Green Line Jurong East (Jurong East). From Exit A, you can take the free shuttle bus (leaving every 10 minutes) next to Ximen Mall on the right, or walk for 10 minutes.

Business hours: 10:00-21:30

Website: www.imm.sg

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have enough fun in a short time. You can purchase online at www.ishopchangi.com at Changi Airport. You can easily pick up your goods at designated counters after entering the country or before leaving the country.

Shopping

You can get a 7% GST refund at any merchant with the "Tax Refund" logo, or spend more than S$100 at the same store.

Tax refund can be processed at the electronic tax refund self-service counter in the departure hall of Changi Airport. Items requiring tax refund cannot be opened before departure.

About tax refund

Bacon

Singapore beef jerky is very delicious, both in appearance and taste, but it is a must-have for locals during the Lunar New Year. Less food. Recommended time-honored brands Bee Cheng Hiang and Lam Chi Yuen.

Bengawan Cake

The Pandan Chiffon Cake (Panlan Chiffon Cake), which is loved by celebrities such as Zhang Liangying and Zhang Liangying, uses a spice commonly used in Southeast Asia,—— A piece of pandan leaf. The taste is dense, fresh and sweet, and you can't stop after tasting it. This cake shop has stores in the city and Changi Airport.

Fu Yunru Coconut Jam

Coconut jam is handmade with eggs and coconut milk, which gives the crispy toast a sweet bite. When paired with tea, coffee or a bowl of soft-boiled eggs, this is the authentic Singaporean breakfast. Yaquin's store also sells food and gifts. You can take the famous coffee coconut and coffee powder back home as a souvenir.

Sauce Buns

It’s not impossible to bring Singaporean delicacies home! Just buy the right seasoning packet. Whether it’s salad, bak kut teh, Hainanese chicken rice, or chilli crab, everything can be done with ease! Become a chef in minutes! I recommend the sauce packets from Parkson Kitchen. This brand of instant noodles is also delicious; the bone tea seasoning packets will look more professional on loose hair.

Health products

Traditional Chinese medicine has not been lost in Singapore, but has been carried forward. Tiger Balm, a local brand, has always focused on pain relief, especially the gold medal product Tiger Balm, which is quick-acting and quick-drying. It's great news for people who sit for long periods of time and suffer from back pain. ChopWahOn, Singapore's oldest pharmacy, has a well-received crocodile oil, which has a great therapeutic effect on burns and eczema. The century-old store Ngan Sang (Eu Yan Sang) has always been committed to effective and safe healthy food. Whether you are a senior citizen, an office worker, or a baby, you can find reliable health care products~

Charles Keith

Little CK, a local brand in Singapore, has always been synonymous with fashion and cost-effectiveness , focusing on fashionable shoes and bags. An absolute cost-effective choice! The price of the bags starts from S$20, and the style and quality of the bags are not inferior to international brands! You can give them away for personal use~

Orchid and Merlion souvenirs

One is the national flower of Singapore and the other is the symbol of Singapore.

These two logos have spawned countless interesting peripherals. You might as well pick out a few interesting ones and buy them home as souvenirs.

Time difference: There is no time difference.

Language: Singapore is a multicultural country with four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Singaporeans speak English every day, and Singaporean English is called Slinglish, which is a mix of words from various languages. 77% of the population in Singapore is Chinese, so Mandarin is almost unimpeded in Singapore.

Religion: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism. Singapore is a multi-religious country. Here you can see different temples and churches from different countries.

Consumption: Singapore is the country with the highest consumption in Southeast Asia. Food, transportation, accommodation, and tickets to attractions are all relatively large expenses. Except for food courts and hawker centres, most other restaurants will charge a 10% service charge and a 7% consumption tax. Generally speaking, small restaurants cost about 5-20 Singapore dollars per person per meal, and mid- to high-end restaurants cost about 30-50 Singapore dollars per person per meal.

Socket: Singapore’s English socket has a voltage of 230V and a frequency of 60Hz. It requires its own socket converter.