Key facts
Singapore is a country located in South-Eastern Asia. The country has no land neighbors. As for languages, the country’s residents speak English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese. Although English isn’t the official language, the majority of people in Singapore are good English speakers.
EF EPI’s 2021 rankings placed Singapore 4th among 100 nations out of non-native English-speaking countries.
The national currency in Singapore is Brunei dollar (BND). The dollar ($) is subdivided into 100 cent.
Singaporean
Banknotes
$1$5$10
Singaporean
Coins
15102050
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest The average fixed internet speed in Singapore is 391.59 Mbps and mobile is 203.21 Mbs.The global average is 192.62 Mbps and 126.54 Mbps respectively.
ATM Density When compared to the world average, Singapore has more ATMs.54.33 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration In order to purchase a SIM card in Singapore, a passport or ID is required as identification.
Socket types
There are 3 socket types used in Singapore. Type C is a popular socket type throughout Europe (except the United Kingdom), Russia, and certain Asian countries. Type G is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Singapore will celebrate 11 national public holidays. The next one Deepavali will take place on October 31.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024Moving holiday | New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day | |
| February 10, 2024Moving holiday | Chinese New YearChinese New Year | |
| February 12, 2024Moving holiday | Chinese New YearChinese New Year | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayGood Friday | |
| April 10, 2024Moving holiday | Hari Raya PuasaHari Raya Puasa | |
| May 1, 2024Moving holiday | Labour DayLabour Day | |
| May 22, 2024Moving holiday | Vesak DayVesak Day | |
| June 17, 2024Moving holiday | Hari Raya HajiHari Raya Haji | |
| August 9, 2024Moving holiday | National DayNational Day | |
| October 31, 2024Moving holiday | DeepavaliDeepavali | |
| December 25, 2024Moving holiday | Christmas DayChristmas Day |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Singapore?
There are Mariott hotels in Singapore.
The Hilton hotel chain operates in Singapore.
The IHG hotel chain operates in Singapore.
There are no Best Western hotels in Singapore.
There are no Radisson hotels in Singapore.
The Accor hotel chain operates in Singapore.
What fast food chains are present in Singapore?
The McDonald’s chain operates in Singapore.
The KFC chain operates in Singapore.
The Burger King chain operates in Singapore.
The Subway chain operates in Singapore.
The Domino’s Pizza chain operates in Singapore.
The Starbucks chain operates in Singapore.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Singapore?
Weather data for Singapore (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are no passenger trains available.
Subway Systems The subway system is available in Singapore.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Singapore.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Singapore
Sources
- Singapore Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Singapore (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban Smoking is forbidden in all public indoor locations, with limited exceptions.
Cananbis legality Recreational usage: Illegal
Medical usage: Legal in certain circumstances
Travelers are eligible to duty-free concessions on alcoholic beverages if they meet the following criteria:
- you are at least 18 years old;
- you have spent at least 48 hours outside Singapore immediately before your arrival;
- you are not traveling from Malaysia;
- the liquor is for personal use;
- the liquor is not barred from import into Singapore.
In Singapore, cigarettes and tobacco goods are not duty-free or subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Alcohol allowance
- 1L of spirits + 1L of wine
- or 1L of spirits + 1L of beer
- or 1L of wine + 1L of beer
- or 2L of wine
- or 2L of beer
Tobacco allowance
All cigarettes and tobacco products imported into Singapore, including those purchased in Singapore with the ‘SDPC’ logo, are subject to tax and GST.
Sources
- Duty Free Concession and GST Relief
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)