What currency is used in Singapore?

Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD).

What is the emergency number in Singapore?

In Singapore, call 999 for police, 995 for an ambulance or fire.

How much does a day in Singapore cost?

Roughly $60-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-250 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Singapore?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Singapore without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Singapore travel guide

Singapore

A compact, green city-state where hawker centres sit beside glass towers. Singapore is easy to navigate, and its food blends Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan traditions.

Essentials

Language: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil are all official; English is the common language
Currency: Singapore dollar (SGD)
Plugs: Type G, 230 V
Emergency number: 999 for police, 995 for an ambulance or fire
Tipping: Not customary; most restaurants add a 10% service charge, and no one tips at hawker centres.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $60-90, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $150-250, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Singapore

Chinatown: shophouses, temples and the Maxwell and Chinatown hawker centres.
Kampong Glam: the Sultan Mosque, Arab Street and the small independent shops of Haji Lane.
Tiong Bahru: a quiet estate of 1930s Art Deco flats, bakeries and an old wet market.

Getting around Singapore

The MRT and buses are clean, frequent and accept contactless bank cards, so you rarely need a separate travel card. Much of the centre is walkable.

Best time to visit Singapore

February is usually the driest month; it is hot and humid all year, with the heaviest rain from November to January.

Top things to do in Singapore

Watch the free evening light show at the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay
Wander the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its National Orchid Garden
Walk the Southern Ridges trail across the wave-shaped Henderson Waves bridge
Cross the TreeTop Walk suspension bridge in the forest around MacRitchie Reservoir
Eat at Tekka Centre and explore the temples and shophouses of Little India

What to eat in Singapore

Hainanese chicken rice: poached chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock, served with chilli and ginger
Laksa: rice noodles in a spicy coconut curry broth with prawns and cockles
Chilli crab: whole crab in a sweet, tangy tomato and chilli sauce, eaten with fried buns
Kaya toast: toast spread with coconut jam and butter, with soft-boiled eggs and kopi

Day trips from Singapore

Pulau Ubin: an island of old kampong houses and mangroves to cycle around, a 15-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point
Sentosa: beaches, a coastal walk and old forts, reached in minutes by monorail, cable car or the boardwalk
St John's Island: a quiet island with lagoons and picnic spots, about 30 minutes by ferry from Marina South Pier

Local etiquette

Rules are enforced: littering, jaywalking, and eating or drinking on the MRT can all bring fines. Queues are taken seriously, and durians are banned on public transport.

Staying connected

Tourist SIMs from Singtel, StarHub and M1 are sold at Changi and convenience stores, eSIMs are easy to set up, and free public Wi-Fi is available in many malls and public buildings.

Staying safe

Street crime is low, but laws are strictly enforced and penalties for drug offences are very severe. The everyday risks are heat and sudden thunderstorms with lightning, so carry water and an umbrella.

A local tip

At a hawker centre, a tissue packet left on a seat means it is taken, so find another table rather than moving it.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Singapore on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Singapore for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Singapore, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Singapore

What currency is used in Singapore?: Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD).
What is the emergency number in Singapore?: In Singapore, call 999 for police, 995 for an ambulance or fire.
When is the best time to visit Singapore?: February is usually the driest month; it is hot and humid all year, with the heaviest rain from November to January.
How much does a day in Singapore cost?: Roughly $60-90 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $150-250 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Singapore?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Singapore without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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