By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Singapore is the easiest big city in Asia to visit for the first time. Most visitors need three things: a passport valid for at least six months, the free SG Arrival Card filed in the three days before landing, and a contactless bank card for the train. Plan three full days, and budget roughly S$230 to S$330 a person a day for a mid-range trip, or about S$100 to S$140 if you sleep in a hostel and eat at hawker centres.
That is the short answer. The longer one is this guide, written by people who live here, for the version of you standing at the arrival gate with a phone at 12% and a suitcase that will not roll straight. We have priced what we could, checked what changes, and sent you to the right page for the rest.
Singapore at a glance
| Entry | Passport valid six months or more; visa only for some nationalities; free SG Arrival Card within three days of arrival |
| Currency | Singapore dollar (S$). Cards and phone wallets work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for hawker stalls |
| Language | English everywhere, beside Malay, Mandarin and Tamil |
| Time | GMT+8, all year |
| Weather | Hot and humid every month, with heavy showers that pass. Pack light clothes and a small umbrella |
| Power | Type G plugs (the UK three-pin), 230V |
| Water | Tap water is safe to drink |
| Tipping | Not expected. Restaurant bills marked “++” already add a 10% service charge and 9% GST |
| Emergencies | Police 999, ambulance and fire 995 |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | About S$230 to S$330 a person a day, mid-range, sharing a double room. Hostel and hawker trips run S$100 to S$140. |
| What you get | A safe, clean, English-speaking city with the best airport-to-downtown train link in the region and food that justifies the flight. |
| The alternative | Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok cost less per day. Neither is as easy for a first trip with children or grandparents. |
| Worth it for | First trips to Asia, families, food travellers, and anyone with a long layover. |
| Skip it if | Your whole plan is beaches or nightlife on a tight budget. |
Before you fly: the three things that stop people at the gate
First, check your passport. It needs at least six months of validity, and some nationalities also need a visa. Since 30 January 2026, Singapore can tell airlines not to board travellers who fail these checks, so the problem now surfaces at your departure airport, not at ours.
Second, file the SG Arrival Card on the official ICA website or the MyICA Mobile app. It is free, it takes a few minutes, and it opens three days before you land, counting the arrival day. Any site asking you to pay for it is not the government.
Third, leave the vape at home. Singapore bans e-cigarettes, and since 1 September 2025 visitors caught with one have it seized and pay a S$700 fine. The full checklist is in SG Arrival Card and Singapore Entry Requirements, and the rest of the rules are in Singapore Laws and Fines Visitors Should Know.
When to come
Any month works; the temperature barely moves. February to April is the best balance of weather, prices and crowds, while December and January are the wettest months. Best Time to Visit Singapore goes month by month, with the dated holidays for late 2026 and 2027.
Landing: Changi to your hotel
All foreign visitors can now use the automated immigration lanes at Changi, with no enrolment. Your e-Pass arrives by email; there is no passport stamp. From the arrival hall, the train into the city costs about S$2 and a taxi costs S$25 to S$45 plus an airport surcharge. Changi Airport to the City sets out every option, with the late-night one, and Getting Around Singapore covers every ride after that.
Where to stay
For a first visit, stay near an MRT station in City Hall or Bugis. Chinatown suits food lovers, Orchard suits families, and Little India and Lavender suit tighter budgets. Where to Stay in Singapore compares nine areas.
How long to stay, and what to do with it
Three full days is the sweet spot for a first visit. Day one is Marina Bay and its free light shows. Day two is the old neighbourhoods and a hawker centre. Day three is the Botanic Gardens, Sentosa or the zoo, depending on who you travel with. Our 3-day Singapore itinerary prices every hour, and What to Eat in Singapore lists the dishes to order at every meal.
What it really costs
Singapore has a reputation for being expensive, and the hotel room earns it. Hotel rooms averaged about S$273 a night across 2025. Everything else, from a S$2 train ride to a S$5 plate of chicken rice, is kinder than you fear. How Much Does a Trip to Singapore Cost? builds three daily budgets line by line, and if you shop, GST Refund for Tourists shows how to claim the tax back at Changi.
The rest of Singapore, desk by desk
This series answers visitor questions. For everything else, the other WahLiao desks are already open. The Diary keeps things to do in Singapore, priced and dated. The Table holds the best restaurants and hawker centres, with the bill shown. This month’s events and this weekend tell you what is on while you are here, and the public holidays tell you when the city is crowded. Crossing to Johor Bahru for a day belongs to The Escape, and when it is time to go home, read Changi Airport Departures.
If you have half a day spare and want to see where Singaporeans actually live, take the train to a heartland town. Punggol, in the north-east, has a waterway park and a bridge to Coney Island; our sister site keeps The Complete Punggol Guide, written by residents.
Visiting Singapore: every guide
Read now: 3-day itinerary · SG Arrival Card and entry · Changi to the city · Trip cost · Getting around · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Laws and fines · What to eat · GST refund
New: Layovers · Jewel Changi · Singapore with kids · Singapore on a budget · Money and tipping · SIM cards and eSIMs · Is Singapore safe? · What to wear · Heartland towns · 1-day and 5-day itineraries
Coming soon: Layovers · Jewel Changi · Singapore with kids · Singapore on a budget · Money and tipping · SIM cards and eSIMs · Is Singapore safe? · What to wear · Heartland towns · 1-day and 5-day itineraries (all ten are now live; see New above)
Visiting Singapore: FAQ
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
Many nationalities can visit without one, for 30 or 90 days. Others must apply before travelling. Check your nationality on the ICA website before you book.
Is the SG Arrival Card free?
Yes. It is free on the ICA website and the MyICA Mobile app. Paid “services” are not affiliated with ICA.
How many days do I need in Singapore?
Three full days covers the main sights without rushing. Two works for a stopover. Five lets you add Sentosa, the zoo parks and a heartland town.
Is Singapore expensive for tourists?
The hotel is the expensive part. Food, trains and many sights are cheap or free, so a careful visitor spends far less than the reputation suggests.
Do I need to tip in Singapore?
No. Tipping is not expected. Most sit-down restaurants already add a 10% service charge to the bill.
For writers and researchers: the searches behind this series are mapped in the Visiting Singapore keyword cloud.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: ICA, Entering Singapore; ICA, No-Boarding Directives from 30 January 2026; ICA, Automated Clearance Initiative; Changi Airport, Leaving the Airport; STB hotel statistics on data.gov.sg; Baker McKenzie on the vaping rules from 1 September 2025. Daily budgets are desk estimates, shown as ranges. Last updated 28 September 2026.
