What to expect
Singapore runs cleaner, quieter, and more efficiently than almost anywhere else you'll visit — the trains are on time, the streets are safe at night, and nearly everything is air-conditioned to a degree you may not expect for a tropical city. It rewards a little planning more than it rewards spontaneity: book popular attractions ahead, and treat the 4pm downpour as a feature of the schedule, not a surprise.
Do you need a visa?
Most passports get visa-free entry for up to 90 days — check your specific passport before booking, since the list changes and a handful of nationalities do need to apply ahead. Everyone fills in the SG Arrival Card online in the three days before landing; it's free and takes a few minutes.
Save a screenshot of your completed SG Arrival Card. Immigration officers sometimes ask for it directly rather than pulling it up themselves.
Money & cards
Cards and phone-based payment work almost everywhere, including hawker stalls and buses. Carry some cash for the rare stall that's still cash-only, and note that the currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD) — not the same as the Brunei dollar it's pegged to, though both do technically circulate.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Underestimating the heat. It's consistently hot and humid year-round — pace your day around it rather than fighting it.
- Skipping hawker centres for "safer" restaurants. Hawker food is some of the best on the island, not a fallback option.
- Not checking Sentosa's separate entry fee. Getting onto the island is one cost; individual attractions are separate.
- Forgetting Singapore is bigger than "the CBD." Katong, Tiong Bahru and the East are worth the MRT ride out.
Rules that surprise visitors
Chewing gum is restricted (not quite the outright ban people expect, but close), vaping is banned outright, jaywalking across a road with a divider is an offence, and littering fines are enforced. None of this affects a normal visit if you're paying basic attention — this is a low-friction city to be a tourist in.