Why visit Singapore?

Singapore is a small country, but despite its size, it is nonetheless multifaceted. Singapore is a melting pot between Chinese, Malays and Indians, but also foreigners working in this prosperous country. What characterizes Singapore is this cultural mix where all religions live side by side.

The city-state is also known for its environmental commitment and its fairly strict rules, making it a country perceived as rigid. THEThe island is very densely urbanized (the highest in Asia and the second highest in the world), but still has lush vegetation – including in the city center – earning Singapore the nickname of "garden city".

This abundance of greenery stems in part from an equatorial climate, relentlessly hot and stormy throughout the year.

Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, separated from its neighbor, Malaysia by the Strait of Johor, Singapore was first a trading post important commercial since the XIVᵉ century, then known as Tumasik since under Javanese influence.

It was when a prince from Sumatra went into exile on the island at the end of the XIVᵉ century that it took its current name "Singapore", taken from the Sanskrit " Singapore » and which means “lion city”. Knowing that there were never any lions around here, but tigers, there could have been confusion about the wild animals encountered by the explorers of the time... 

After setbacks with the powerful kingdom ofAyutthaya, Singapore became a pirate den before being emptied of its inhabitants. It is in this context that the Dutch arrive at the end of the 17th century century, the region of which was integrated into the Dutch colonial empire between 1684 and 1811.

The domination of the Dutch of the VOC will be done until the arrival of the British, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands falls under Napoleonic domination. It was in 1819 that Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles bought the island from the Sultan of Johor (for 33 Spanish dollars), who controlled the island at that time, in order to establish a trading post.

The idea was to make it a port to face a possible commercial domination of the Dutch in the region. It thus became an important British naval base, allowing to control the passage through the Strait of Malacca, before turning to a more commercial use. Today, the port of Singapore is still one of the most important ports in the world in terms of exported tonnages. (3rd behind that of Shanghai) and Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles is considered the true founder of Singapore.

It was not until after World War II and after briefly belonging to the Federation of Malayan States that Singapore finally became the independent city-state whose economic success is the envy of many today.

Singapore enjoys remarkable political stability, which has managed to bring modernism and continued growth at the cost of an iron fist over the people. Its particularity is to practice economic liberalism without, however, practicing political liberalism (Singapore is sometimes considered an "authoritarian democracy" but as the country is not multiparty, the same family having been in power since independence, we readily speak of a "benevolent dictatorship").

Here is a summary of some essential information to know before any stay in Singapore.

No. Simple and effective answer. In addition to being visa-free, it is valid for a length of stay up to 3 month, which is almost too much considering the size of the country…

Some countries like the Canada only allows 30 days, which is still largely sufficient in a tourist context. Other countries must apply for an E-Visa, but I don't think that any of my readers are concerned. On the other hand, if you are Algerian, Tunisians or Moroccans, you will have to make a Visa application (this is normally easy via a service like ivisa).

Important point :

• This is Singapore, so strict, avoid exceeding the release date (well, I doubt that will happen given the margin, but I prefer to warn).
• Check the validity period of your passport which must be at least 6 months (at the time of your departure from the country, so if you stay for a month, on your arrival, the passport must be valid for at least another 7 months).

Coming to Singapore

Singapore, like Bangkok, is a serious competitor as a hub in Asia, with just over 60 million passengers per year, Singapore's airport handles barely more than that of the Thai capital.

Unlike near that Changi, Singapore International Airport is acclaimed as the best airport in the world (the addition of its indoor waterfall and gardens is no stranger to this either  ).

There are plenty of airlines to choose from, but prices vary considerably depending on whether you take a direct flight or one with a stopover.(S).

For direct flights, we find fares at just under €600 (around €580), which is very reasonable. Two companies that I know of offer direct flights from Paris:

• Singapore Airlines. Unsurprisingly, there are flights with the country's national airline, one of the best in the world. (this year 2nd behind Qatar Airways, with whom they take their hats off). However, if the company excels in service, this is reflected in the price, which is a little more expensive. (from €727 during my test).
• Air France. Cocorico, Air France is the company offering direct flights for less than €600.

For flights with a stopover, you can find interesting tickets for less than €400, with the Swiss company for example (€391) or also in partnership with Lufthansa (from €389).

Still below €500, we find the excellent Qatar Airways, Etihad or Turkish Airlines, which also have a very good reputation.

Getting around in Singapore

The city-state is very well served by public transport. Between the buses and the metro (MRT), you will have a way to get around at a lower cost, because if there is one thing that is inexpensive in Singapore, it is that.

As a last resort, if you are travelling to an area that is not served or outside of the opening hours of the MRT, there are obviously always taxis and the advantage of Singapore is that you are not bothered by traffic jams.

Not too much of a hustle and bustle, that's fine.

The easiest way to use public transport is to use a rechargeable card, called EZ Link (it's pronounced like easy in English, which means easy).

EZ Link vs Singapore Tourist Pass

We can roughly distinguish: two types of cards. For locals and those who return to Singapore regularly, there is the EZ Link basic.

It is located at the TransitLink ticket counters, which are found at all MRT stations. The price is S$12, broken down as S$7 credit + S$5 non-refundable security deposit.

You can also buy them at 7-Eleven, it will cost you S$10, with a S$5 credit + a S$5 non-refundable deposit. You must keep a minimum balance of S$3 in your EZ-Link card to be able to board the MRT and buses (just to have enough for the journey in question). When your balance falls below S$3, you must top up to continue using it.

Knowing that the minimum amount to be credited is $10 each time. You can top up with cash and debit/credit cards at machines in MRT stations.

Due to this system of use, this card is not interesting only if you stay more than three days in SingaporeBelow that, the Singapore Tourist Pass is clearly more interesting.

The Singapore Tourist Pass (SPT) card, comes in three versions depending on the duration 1 day, 2 days or 3 days and costs respectively $10, $16 and $20 (which has decreased because it was previously 20/26/30S$ as an error on the official website states but from my checks it is indeed 10/16/20 now).

The advantage being that trips are unlimited (based on the use of “standard” transport, see “warning” below) and if there is a security deposit of 10 S$ When purchasing the card, the latter is refundable by putting it back in a suitable machine (must just don't forget).

You can get this pass at one of the stations offering it (see the list here). There are also variants such as the STP+, which gives the right to some bonuses (for a higher basic contribution of S$38) and the SG Pass at S$25.

La SG Pass is valid for 3 days, no security deposit, but otherwise I don't really understand the difference with Singapore Tourist Basic Pass… You have all the information in English on the official website otherwise.

Singapore on your mobile

I have two general apps to help you during your stay there, in particular to find out what activities to do, where to eat and information on the transport network:

• Visit Singapore Travel Guide : quite complete and very well rated, its only drawback is that it is only available in English

Road transport

The buses

The bus network covers the entire main island and provides access to areas not currently served by the metro (although with the lines currently being extended and added, this should limit its use).

Basically, you can pay cash on the bus, the problem is that you have to have the exact amount because the machine does not give change. That is why it is more convenient to use rechargeable cards or the Singapore Tourist Pass.

They are comfortable and the bus stops are well marked and relatively clear in information. Depending on mileage and type of bus (Basic, DLT/NRT, LRT, Express services), journeys cost on average around 2 S$ (1,6 €).

You can find out all the prices on the SBS Transit official website, the main bus operator in Singapore.

Singapore SBS Transit Bus.

To plan a trip, you can use the Bus Router site, which lists all the bus stops. Basically, the buses run at the same times as the metro, roughly from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, but there are night bus lines, only on weekends and public holidays. There are two types of line, the Night Rider and Night Owl.

There is also a cross-border bus that runs to Johor, Malaysia (Service 950). It runs between Woodlands Regional Interchange and JB Sentral Terminal. To access this service, take the MRT to Woodlands or Marsiling Station. At Woodlands Station, head towards Woodlands Regional Interchange. If you are alighting at Marsiling Station, you can board Service 950 from the bus stop opposite Marsiling Station.

Useful apps for traveling by bus in Singapore:

Taxis

Taxis are quite common, if not the cheapest transport, it is still surprisingly cheap. And as always, it is practical to use when you have luggage to transport and / or a specific drop-off point not served by buses or metros.

As I said earlier, the advantage is that there are no real traffic jams in Singapore, partly because of the high taxes making the price of vehicles "luxurious" (a basic car costs around S$100), and partly because of the taxes for driving in the central parts of Singapore.

Taxis on a street in Singapore.

To estimate the cost of your taxi ride: https://www.taxisingapore.com/taxi-fare-calculator/

Rail transport

Since 1987, Singapore has enjoyed a metro network (MRT), initially modest, but now reaching 5 lines, already covering a good part of the main island, including one going to Changi International Airport. In addition, there is a network of light rail (LRT), which allows the main metro to be supplied from some previously more isolated districts.

In the Singapore metro.

This makes a total of 119 stations to date for a total of 200 km of lines, sometimes overland, sometimes underground. I can also point out that at present, there is one line under construction, two in development and another in planning, which would bring the total to 9 lines and should double the number of kilometers, increasing to 400 km by 2040.

Here too, the EZ Link card or the STP (Singapore Tourist Pass) is your best friend to avoid paying for an individual ticket each time and wasting time. Basically, the journeys cost around S$1,5, so it's cheap.

The names of the lines are coded in two letters corresponding to the four horizons, which helps a lot to find your way around. For example, we have the green line, on an East-West axis, so in English East-West, which gives EW.

We then find the north-south lines in Red (NS), northeast in violets (NEITHER), the central line – yellow line (CC) and the downtown line called Downtown (DT) in blue.

Operating hours are generally 5h30 à 00h30 and 6h00 à 1h00 during the holidays. The intervals between trains depend on traffic, but on average every 2/3 minutes. During rush hour, there are trains every minute.

The directions at the metro exit are pretty clear.

The metro in one application:

Shipping

Singapore being made up of several islands and surrounded by water, there are of course ferry services. I was able to test this from the Marina South Pier on my way to the islands. St John and Kusu, south of Singapore. For this part, it is via the company Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry ServicesA trip to these islands costs S$18 per adult (€11).

On the ferry to St John and Kusu Islands.

Still to the south, next to the airport of Changi, you have the Soil Red Ferry Terminal from where you can reach the Indonesian islands of Bintan et Batam, both part of the archipelago of Riau.

Batam Island is also accessible from Harbour Front, another ferry pier located near the port of Singapore (next to Sentosa Island). From this pier you will normally reach Sekupang, while from Tanah Merah, it takes you to Batam Center Ferry Terminal, in another area of ​​the island.

From the Harbour Front, you can also reach Kiramun Island, still in Indonesia, at the Tanjung Balai Karimun wharf (south of the island).

You can find all ferry companies and respective locations departing from Harbour Front here. To book these trips, click here.

A “bumboat” leading to Pulau Ubin.

To the north you have boats to go to Pulau Ubin Island, one of the last preserved areas of Singapore. This is done via small, more rustic wooden boats, called bumboats, and accommodating 12 passengers no more. There the trips are really cheap since you can get away for only 3 S$ one way.

Close again to the international airport, but still to the north, you have the quay Changi Terminal, which connects to the one in Malaysia of Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal, drop-off point to then go to the beach of Desaru, popular for the exits weekends.

To book journeys from Tanah Merah Terminal or Changi Terminal, you can use this search tool:

Air transport

The country being small, there is no need to travel there by plane. It should be noted however that apart from the main international airport of Changi, there is a small public airport (because I do not count the multiple airfields, mainly military, that the island has), Selatar Airport, served by a single company:

• Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysian Airlines. It only serves one destination a priori, Subang, a city near Kuala Lumpur. The prices are around €45 one way and also give the right to 20 kg by default.

Singapore is unfortunately not known for its cheap housing rates. So expect to pay around €50 per night for a room if you are two and €25-30 for a hostel et guesthouse if you are alone.

When I first came, I had taken a hotel according to my needs (professional at the time), further from the center and got by at €40 for a single room (Geylang, where the red light district of Singapore is).

When I returned to Singapore for a few days, I was able to try out a great little hotel, the information about which I've provided below.

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance can often make a difference in the outcome of an unexpected mishap while traveling abroad. And especially if you are going on a trip of several months in Asia, good insurance can be more than welcome, because credit card insurance is limited.

The maximum amount for healthcare costs covered by traditional credit cards may prove insufficient (around €10 compared to €000 for dedicated travel insurance) and does not cover civil liability.

I advise you ACS Travel & Expatriation Insurance Solutions.

I would like to point out that if you subscribe to the insurance via the link, I will receive a small commission. This is a simple way to help keep the site running, because insurance is preferable anyway and it will therefore be beneficial for both you and me.

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

The general health conditions in Singapore are up to European standards, so there are fewer restrictions in terms of vaccinations.

Concretely, apart from being up to date with your standard vaccinations (DTP for adults, MMR for children), there is nothing specific in addition, no mandatory or particularly recommended vaccinations.

Against mosquitoes

We are still in Asia, and in a tropical area. So mosquitoes are present all year round. If there is no malaria in Singapore, we can still encounter infections by other viruses.

I can mention dengue fever, for which there is no specific treatment, chikungunya or even the zika virus (to which pregnant women are particularly vulnerable). In short, mosquitoes are not our friends, protect your skin, but also your clothes, provide yourself with a good mosquito repellent, it will be your best weapon.

Singapore is an island, and there are beaches (yes, yes) but for all that, It is better to avoid swimming there. Singapore's port being one of the busiest in the world (3rd rank), the water is loaded with hydrocarbons, especially on the northern coasts of the island (where some beaches are simply forbidden for swimming due to the poor water quality).

For your safety

Singapore is a safe city with a low crime rate, so no large thing to say in this section…. The country does not hesitate to put up large public signs to look for witnesses even in the case of "simple" verbal aggression.

Singapore is no joke. Looking for witnesses to cases of assault on women.

The same applies here in the case of a fatal road accident.

For boaters, some acts of piracy have been reported around the Strait of Melaka, between the islands Riau in Indonesia and Singapore. But maritime areas under Singaporean sovereignty are considered safe.

In terms of climate risk, watch out for storms, which can sometimes be violent in these latitudes and are especially frequent. (on average every other day!).

Practical information

– Emergency numbers –

• POLICE: 999
• FIREFIGHTERS / AMBULANCE: 995

Hospitals in Singapore:

• Mount Elizabeth Hospital: +65 67 37 26 66
• Gleneagles Hospital: +65 64 70 57 00
• Singapore General Hospital: +65 62 22 33 22
• KK Women's and Children's Hospital: +65 62 93 40 44
• Tan Tock Seng Hospital: +65 62 56 60 11

Pharmacies
Guardian's pharmacies are located in major supermarkets; there are also on-call pharmacies in every hospital.

French Embassy in Singapore:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Singapore

Here is a map to locate and summarize all the destinations and places of interest in Singapore:

Banknotes used in Singapore: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Singapore dollars will be the notes you will encounter the most. There are also $1, $20, $25 notes, but they are rarer. They also use coins as cents, mainly 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, but also $1 coins, which are more common than bills.

Credit cards in Singapore are widely accepted, with the country being decidedly modern and very digitally oriented and considered one of the smartest City » of the world.

With a rate of approximately 1 € = 1,5 S$ la Conversion is pretty easy. Subtract 1/3 of the rate you see in dollars to know its price in euros.

This is probably the most expensive point for a stay in Singapore. Hotels, especially if you want to be well located (close to a metro and the main attractions) are quite expensive. We are in a similar price range to Hong Kong, also known for its high prices due to a lack of space.

In Singapore, there is also a lack of space, with only 720 km², the density is the second highest in the world with more than 8 inhabitants/km², behind Monaco, another city-state (more than 000 inhabitants/km²).

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

• For hostels, in dormitories, possible from 28 S$ per person (19 €)
• For guesthouses with single rooms, you can find them from 67 S$ (45 €)
• For mid-range, more cosy hotels, expect to pay around S$110 (€73)
• For the highest end, you can find it from 200 RM (130 €), and towards 400 S$ for luxury (260 €)

This is not where you will necessarily go broke in Singapore. Its advantage is that you can find a kind of "food court" there, common in Asia and called here Hawker Centre.

In these grouped canteens, you can find small dishes in 4/5 S$, enough to satisfy a small hunger and if you have a limited budget.

In a hawker center in Singapore.

On the other hand, when it comes to alcohol and going out in the evening, it can quickly become more expensive, so do it if you have the budget.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

• A small bottle of water costs on average S$1,4 (€1)
• A meal costs on average S$6 (€4) per person
• A coffee $3,6 (€2,4) – an average between a “street” coffee like a kopitiam (S$1,2) and a trendy coffee at S$6 a glass
• A local beer 10 S$ (7 € for 0,33 liters)

Again, this is not what will cost you the most. As I mentioned above in the “getting around Singapore” section, between the metro and buses, journeys cost on average just €1.

Not to mention the advantage of a common transport card (EZ Link or STP as a reminder, depending on the length of your stay), Singapore is oriented transportation in common, because cars are not particularly welcome (in any case in the city center, it's obvious), and the price reflects this.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

• Metro: on average, expect to pay around S$1,7 (€1)
• For city buses, expect to pay around S$2 per trip (depending on distance)
• Boat: for the islands, the average is S$15 round trip

Any opinions, suggestions? Leave me a comment!