One city, one country
A city-state just north of the equator, 750 km² — smaller than Delhi.
Hot all year
25–33°C every month. There is no cold season to wait for and no season to avoid.
The MRT reaches it all
Nearly every place on this page has a station within walking distance.
English is official
Signage, menus and announcements are in English. Nothing needs translating.
What to see, by area
40 places worth your time, grouped the way a day actually gets planned. Each one lists the MRT stop, the hours, how long to allow, and the thing worth knowing before you go.
Universal Studios Singapore
- Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT, then the Sentosa Express to Resorts World
- usually 10am–7pm, with seasonal late closings
- Allow a full day, six to eight hours
- around SGD 83 adult, SGD 62 child
Worth knowing: be at the gate before opening and ride the far end of the park first — everyone else queues at the front
S.E.A. Aquarium
- Resorts World Sentosa
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express
- usually 10am–5pm
- Allow two to three hours
- around SGD 44 adult, SGD 33 child
Worth knowing: excellent rainy-day backup and genuinely good with small children — the Open Ocean tank holds them for ages
Adventure Cove Waterpark
- Resorts World Sentosa
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express
- usually 10am–6pm
- Allow half to a full day
- around SGD 40 adult, SGD 32 child
Worth knowing: go on a weekday — weekend queues for the main slides run past 40 minutes
Madame Tussauds Singapore
- Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Imbiah
- usually 10am–6pm
- Allow one to two hours
- around SGD 44 adult, SGD 32 child
Worth knowing: honestly the most skippable ticket on Sentosa unless you are travelling with teenagers who want the photos
Wings of Time
- Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Beach station
- two shows nightly, usually 7.40pm and 8.40pm
- Allow about 20 minutes
- around SGD 18 standard, SGD 23 premium seating
Worth knowing: the first show is the one bundled into most packages — eat before it, not after, or you will be hungry through it
Singapore Cable Car
- Mount Faber Line and Sentosa Line
- HarbourFront MRT, then the Faber Peak station
- usually 8.45am–10pm
- Allow about 15 minutes each way
- around SGD 33 one-way, SGD 50 round trip
Worth knowing: one-way is enough — take it across, then return on the Sentosa Express, which is free and faster
Skyline Luge Sentosa
- Imbiah and Siloso, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express
- usually 10am–9.30pm
- Allow about an hour
- around SGD 28 for two rides
Worth knowing: buy at least three rides — one is over in ninety seconds and everyone immediately wants another
SkyHelix Sentosa
- Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Imbiah
- usually 10am–9pm
- Allow about 15 minutes
- around SGD 20 adult, SGD 17 child
Worth knowing: an open-air gondola, so it beats an enclosed observation deck for the breeze alone
AJ Hackett Sentosa
- Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Beach station
- usually 11.30am–7.30pm
- Allow one to two hours including the wait
- around SGD 99 for the bungy, SGD 69 for the giant swing
Worth knowing: the only bungy jump in Singapore — book a slot rather than turning up on a weekend
iFly Singapore
- Beach Station, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Beach station
- usually 9am–9pm
- Allow about 90 minutes including training
- around SGD 119 for two flights
Worth knowing: indoor skydiving with a genuine minimum age of seven — good for families with older children
Sentosa 4D AdventureLand
- Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express to Imbiah
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow about an hour
- around SGD 30 for a multi-ride pass
Worth knowing: a decent rainy-hour filler between bigger Sentosa attractions rather than a destination
Fort Siloso
- Siloso Point, Sentosa Island
- HarbourFront MRT then the Sentosa Express and the Siloso bus
- open daily, the Skywalk usually 9am–10pm
- Allow one to two hours
- free, including the Skywalk
Worth knowing: Singapore's only preserved coastal fort, and free — the most underrated thing on Sentosa
Royal Albatross Cruise
- Sentosa Cove
- HarbourFront MRT then a taxi to Sentosa Cove
- evening sailings, usually from 5.30pm
- Allow about 90 minutes
- around SGD 108 for the sunset sail
Worth knowing: a tall ship rather than a tour boat — the standout couples booking on this list
Gardens by the Bay
- Marina Bay, beside Marina Bay Sands
- Bayfront MRT exit B, then a covered ten-minute walk
- outdoor gardens 5am–2am; conservatories usually 9am–9pm
- Allow two to four hours
- outdoor gardens and the Supertree light show are free; Flower Dome and Cloud Forest around SGD 53 together
Worth knowing: do the domes in the afternoon heat, then be at the Supertree Grove after dark for the free Garden Rhapsody show
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
- Marina Bay Sands, level 57
- Bayfront MRT, directly connected
- usually 11am–9pm
- Allow about an hour
- around SGD 32 adult, SGD 28 child
Worth knowing: go about 45 minutes before sunset and you get the skyline in daylight, at golden hour and lit up, on one ticket
Singapore Flyer
- Marina Bay waterfront
- Promenade MRT, about a five-minute walk
- usually 10am–10pm
- Allow one rotation is about 30 minutes
- around SGD 40 adult, SGD 25 child
Worth knowing: sunset is the flattering slot, but the SkyPark gives a better view for less — pick one, not both
ArtScience Museum
- Marina Bay Sands
- Bayfront MRT, directly connected
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow two to three hours
- around SGD 30 adult for Future World
Worth knowing: the teamLab Future World exhibit is the draw and is extremely photogenic — go on a weekday morning
Singapore River Cruise
- boarding at Clarke Quay, Boat Quay or Marina Bay
- Clarke Quay MRT
- usually 10am–10pm
- Allow about 40 minutes
- around SGD 28 adult, SGD 18 child
Worth knowing: do it after dark — the same route is ordinary in daylight and genuinely lovely lit up
Singapore Duck Tour
- departs Suntec City
- Promenade or Esplanade MRT
- hourly departures, usually 10am–6pm
- Allow about an hour
- around SGD 45 adult, SGD 37 child
Worth knowing: an amphibious vehicle that drives into the water, which reliably delights children and nobody else
Merlion Park
- One Fullerton, at the mouth of the Singapore River
- Raffles Place MRT, about a five-minute walk
- open 24 hours
- Allow 20 to 30 minutes
- free
Worth knowing: go before 8am or after 9pm — at any other hour you are photographing a crowd, not a statue
Singapore Zoo
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve, north Singapore
- Khatib MRT then the Mandai Khatib Shuttle — not walkable from any station
- usually 8.30am–6pm
- Allow four to five hours
- around SGD 51 adult, SGD 36 child
Worth knowing: arrive at opening — animals are active early and the midday heat empties the exhibits
Night Safari
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve, beside Singapore Zoo
- Khatib MRT then the Mandai Khatib Shuttle, or a taxi
- usually 7.15pm–midnight, last entry well before closing
- Allow three to four hours
- around SGD 56 adult, SGD 39 child, tram included
Worth knowing: take the tram first then walk the trails — the reverse means queueing for the tram at its worst
River Wonders
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve, between the Zoo and Night Safari
- Khatib MRT then the Mandai Khatib Shuttle
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow two to three hours
- around SGD 43 adult, SGD 31 child
Worth knowing: pair it with the Zoo on a combo ticket — separately it is a short visit for the price
Bird Paradise
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve
- Khatib MRT then the Mandai Khatib Shuttle
- usually 9am–6pm
- Allow three to four hours
- around SGD 48 adult, SGD 33 child
Worth knowing: go early for the feeding sessions, which are the best part and finish before lunch
Rainforest Wild ASIA
- Mandai Wildlife Reserve
- Khatib MRT then the Mandai Khatib Shuttle
- usually 9am–6pm
- Allow two to three hours
- around SGD 48 adult, SGD 35 child
Worth knowing: the newest of the Mandai parks and the least crowded — worth it if you have already done the Zoo
National Gallery Singapore
- the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings
- City Hall MRT, a short covered walk
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow two to three hours
- around SGD 20 adult for the core exhibitions
Worth knowing: the building is as good as the collection — go up to the rooftop for the Padang view
National Museum of Singapore
- Stamford Road
- Bras Basah or Bencoolen MRT
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow two hours
- around SGD 15 adult
Worth knowing: the best single explanation of how Singapore became Singapore — worth doing early in a trip, not late
Science Centre Singapore
- Jurong East
- Jurong East MRT, about a ten-minute walk
- usually 10am–5pm
- Allow three to four hours
- around SGD 12 adult, SGD 8 child
Worth knowing: genuinely excellent value with school-age children and far from the tourist crowds
Snow City Singapore
- beside Science Centre Singapore
- Jurong East MRT
- usually 10am–6pm
- Allow about two hours
- around SGD 20 for a two-hour session
Worth knowing: jackets and boots are included — a novelty for children who have never seen snow
Jewel Changi Canopy Park
- Jewel Changi Airport, level 5
- Changi Airport MRT, directly connected
- usually 10am–10pm
- Allow one to three hours
- the Rain Vortex waterfall is free; Canopy Park around SGD 8
Worth knowing: entirely landside, so it is the best possible use of a long check-out gap on departure day
Changi Experience Studio
- Jewel Changi Airport, level 4
- Changi Airport MRT
- usually 11am–8pm
- Allow about 90 minutes
- around SGD 25 adult, SGD 17 child
Worth knowing: interactive and aimed squarely at children — a good way to spend a delayed departure
Singapore Big Bus Tour
- hop-on hop-off routes across the city
- boarding points at most major attractions
- usually 9am–6pm
- Allow a full loop is about 90 minutes
- around SGD 47 for a day pass
Worth knowing: only worth it on a short trip — Singapore is small enough that the MRT beats it on both cost and speed
Singapore City Tour
- Merlion Park, Chinatown, Little India and the Civic District
- hotel pickup on most tours
- morning and afternoon departures
- Allow three to four hours
- around SGD 45 on a shared coach; private tours cost more
Worth knowing: genuinely useful on day one to orient yourself — just accept the souvenir stop most shared coaches include
National Orchid Garden
- inside the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Botanic Gardens MRT
- usually 8.30am–7pm
- Allow one to two hours
- around SGD 15 adult; the wider Botanic Gardens are free
Worth knowing: go early — it is largely unshaded and brutal by midday
Museum of Ice Cream Singapore
- Dempsey Hill
- nearest is Napier MRT, then a short taxi
- usually 10am–7pm
- Allow about 90 minutes
- around SGD 42 adult
Worth knowing: unlimited ice cream and built for photographs — worth it with teenagers, expensive without them
Haw Par Villa
- Pasir Panjang Road
- Haw Par Villa MRT, directly outside
- usually 9am–6pm
- Allow one to two hours
- free to enter; the Hell's Museum is around SGD 20
Worth knowing: the strangest attraction in Singapore and free — dioramas of Chinese mythology that genuinely unsettle children
Chinatown Singapore
- Pagoda Street, Smith Street and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Chinatown MRT
- streets open all day; the temple usually 7am–5pm
- Allow two to three hours
- free
Worth knowing: Chinatown Complex upstairs is one of the best and cheapest hawker centres in the city
Little India Singapore
- Serangoon Road and Tekka Centre
- Little India MRT
- streets open all day
- Allow two to three hours
- free
Worth knowing: the answer to every "where do we eat" question for Indian travellers, and Mustafa Centre is open 24 hours
Kampong Glam
- Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane and Arab Street
- Bugis MRT
- streets open all day
- Allow two hours
- free
Worth knowing: Haji Lane after 5pm is the most photographed street in Singapore for good reason
Orchard Road
- the main shopping belt
- Orchard, Somerset or Dhoby Ghaut MRT
- malls usually 10am–10pm
- Allow two hours to a full day
- free to walk
Worth knowing: go during the Great Singapore Sale in June and July, or skip it — prices are unremarkable otherwise
What a day actually costs
On-the-ground spend per person, excluding flights and hotels booked as part of a package.
| Style | Where you stay | How you eat | How you move | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 3-star hotel or a good hostel in Little India, Lavender or Chinatown | hawker centres and kopitiams | MRT and buses on a stored-value card | roughly SGD 70–110 per person per day on the ground |
| Mid-Range | 4-star hotel near an MRT station | hawker centres for lunch, restaurants for dinner | MRT with taxis when it is raining or late | roughly SGD 140–220 per person per day on the ground |
| Luxury | 5-star hotel in Marina Bay, Orchard or on Sentosa | restaurant meals, with one or two standout bookings | private cars and airport transfers | roughly SGD 350+ per person per day on the ground |
| Family-Friendly | a family room or connecting rooms near an MRT station | food courts and mall restaurants where everyone finds something | MRT, with taxis for the tired end of the day | roughly SGD 120–200 per person per day on the ground |
| Relaxed | a comfortable hotel you are happy to spend an afternoon in | unhurried meals rather than eating between attractions | short MRT hops, nothing across the island twice in a day | roughly SGD 130–200 per person per day on the ground |
| Fast-Paced | somewhere central — City Hall, Bugis or Chinatown — to cut transit time | quick hawker meals between stops | MRT, planned in advance so you are never doubling back | roughly SGD 150–240 per person per day on the ground |
Practical things worth knowing
Money and payments
Singapore is close to cashless — cards work almost everywhere including most hawker stalls, though carrying SGD 50–100 covers the few older ones that still want notes. Indian debit and credit cards work fine; tell your bank you are travelling and check the foreign transaction fee, which usually costs more than the exchange rate itself. Change money in Singapore rather than at an Indian airport, where the rates are the worst you will be offered anywhere.
Getting around
The MRT does almost everything. Tap a contactless credit card straight at the gate or buy a stored-value card; fares run SGD 1–2.50 a trip and trains run until around midnight, air-conditioned and signed in English. Changi to the city is about SGD 25–35 by taxi, or roughly SGD 2 on the MRT with one change.
Laws that surprise visitors
Enforcement here is real rather than nominal:
- E-cigarettes and vapes are completely banned — possession alone carries heavy fines, and this catches out more Indian travellers than anything else on this list
- Chewing gum cannot be imported or sold
- Eating or drinking on the MRT is fined, including water
- Smoking is restricted to marked yellow-box zones in most public areas
- Jaywalking and littering both carry fines, cigarette butts included
Drug offences carry the death penalty, and that is not a formality. Never carry anything for anyone.
What you can bring in
Duty-free allowance from India is up to 1 litre each of spirits, wine and beer, and only after 48 hours outside Singapore. There is no duty-free cigarette allowance at all — every cigarette is taxable, and undeclared cigarettes are the most common enforcement action at Changi.
Weather, tipping and emergencies
Expect 30–32°C and high humidity in every month, with short violent showers rather than all-day rain. Plan the 12pm–3pm window indoors and walk early or after 5pm. Tipping is not customary; restaurants add 10% service and 9% GST, shown as "++" on menus, so the menu price is not the final price. Emergency numbers are 999 for police and 995 for ambulance and fire. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere, and Singapore uses the UK-style three-pin Type G plug, not the Indian round-pin.
Before you fly
Indian passport holders need a Singapore visa before boarding — there is no visa on arrival, and airlines will refuse check-in without one. Separately, every traveller must submit the free SG Arrival Card online within three days before arriving. It is not a visa, having a visa does not exempt you from it, and any site charging you for one is a reseller rather than the government.
Go deeper
The questions that need more than a paragraph.
Arriving at Changi? A Singapore airport transfer is a fixed price agreed before you fly, and we watch the flight — a late landing moves the pick-up rather than costing you the car.
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Common questions
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