First Time Traveling to Singapore | Everything You Need to Know

Located in south east Asia, people often associated Singapore with fancy malls, shopping, luxury hotels and fine dining. With a rich history background, the local cuisines are noted as one of the must dos. Yet, when it comes to traveling to the places where is your first time, there are things you should know for easier and smoother travel in Singapore! 

General information and official language 

The languages in Singapore are diverse, just like its people and cultures. Indeed, interestingly, there are four official languages in Singapore: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Malay is also the national language. English is the main working language, and with its bilingual education policy, most Singaporeans speak at least two languages.

How to get from the airport to the city

Singapore Changi Airport is one of the largest and best-connected transportation hubs in Asia. The transportation is in general convenient and well equipped, so don’t worry even it is your very first time in Singapore. You can:

Take a metro line direct from the airport to the city

The MRT in Singapore offers efficient and comfortable transportation within the city. The departures are frequent and is a great way to save money. From the airport, take the East-West Line (green line) branch and change at Tanah Merah Station to a city-bound green line train – the ride to the city centre takes roughly 30–45 minutes. A Thomson–East Coast Line extension to the airport is planned for the mid-2030s.

Take a taxi or a ride-hailing car

Taking a private vehicle provides the quickest and most comfortable way to travel to the city. The licensed taxis at the airport taxi stands are reliable and metered, and the ride to the city centre usually takes around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. You can also book a car with a ride-hailing app such as Grab; pick-ups happen at designated points in each terminal, so follow the airport signs.

Take the bus

Public buses leave from the bus stops at the airport terminals and are the cheapest way into the city, though slower than the MRT. You can pay with a contactless bank card or an EZ-Link card. Check the Changi Airport website for the current routes and fares before you go.

When to visit Singapore

Singapore sits just north of the equator, so it is hot and humid all year round, with daytime temperatures usually above 30°C. There is no single “best” season: the wettest months are usually around November to January, when the northeast monsoon brings heavy rain, while the inter-monsoon months often bring short afternoon thunderstorms. Since much of Singapore’s shopping, dining and sightseeing is indoors or well covered, a rain shower rarely ruins the day. If you love shopping, the year-end holiday season and the period after it are good times to look for sales.

Read more: First Time to Singapore？8 Best Travel Attractions You Shouldn’t Neglect

Where to exchange money in Singapore

The official currency used in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (SGD), the paper notes that are commonly used are $2, $5, $10, and $50, and the coins come in 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents and $1 denominations. Where can you change your money? First you need to find money changers and banks. You might already know Singapore as a main financial hub in Asia, it has developed a fine exchange system. So, in the city you can easily find moneychangers and banks. Yet, if looking for best rates, it is recommended to go to The Arcade in Raffles Place, Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road, Mustafa Centre in Little India, People’s Park Complex in Chinatown, and Parkway Parade in Marine Parade.

They are well-known as Singapore’s tourist attractions, with an easy accessibility of public transport. 

Things to eat in Singapore

While traveling, the local cuisines comes as an exciting and adventurous experience. In Singapore, there are things to do more than shopping, and that is FOOD! Like its diverse culture and languages, its cuisine is a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan traditions. For a foodie like you, don’t miss out on mouthwatering and flavorful Singaporean cuisines. 

Here are some must tries：

Hainan Chicken rice

Our mouthwatering food list start with Hainan Chicken rice. As the name implied, it is a simple dish consisted of freshly flavored chicken and served with fragrant rice. Yet, simple as it seems, the devil is in the detail. The key is the sauce, which brings up the flavor of the tender chicken. It is sometimes chili soy sauce with ginger, depends on the restaurant. Simple but subtle, as soon as you tried the dish, you will fully understand why Hainan chicken rice one of the most popular classic in Singapore. 

Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh, which exactly means pork bone tea, is a famous dish throughout Malaysia and Singapore with Chinese origins. You might be wondering, pork and tea? Well, it is not exactly the black tea you think. Instead, it is a pork rib dish simmered in a complex broth including many kinds of herbs and spices. Although there is a tea in the name, there is no actual tea in the dish. The steamy broth will warm you up and create a comfy feeling. 

Laksa

This iconic noodle dish is one of the best demonstrations of the combination of Chinese and Malay flavors. Made with a rich, spicy coconut-milk curry broth, it is served with rice noodles, with a final touch of pieces of protein, some vegetables and herbs. Like Hainan Chicken rice, it is one of Singaporean classics. However, the flavor is way stronger. Its iconic strong taste makes it extremely famous in Singapore. 

Pandan chiffon cake

For sweet tooth lovers, you will find your heaven in Singapore. One of Singaporean classic desserts-this soft, tender and moist pandan chiffon cake has its origin from Indonesian or Malaysian shaped with Dutch influences. Its iconic green color comes from the juice of pandan, which is a very popular ingredient for desserts in Asian. Blended with Coconut milk, which is another essential ingredient in south Asia, giving the cake a creamy touch. Also known as ‘Singapore’s national cake’ –giving you another reason to taste this delicious cake. 

Ice Kachang

With the mercury in the scorching 30s, you find yourself craving for some cooling, refreshing stuff. Yes, another Singaporean dessert classic, known as Ice Kachang, or Ais kacang, which literally means bean ice. It is a Malaysian dessert but widely common in Singapore. Originally made of only shaved ice and red beans, now it is topped with all kinds of diverse toppings such as jelly, red beans, sweet corn, roasted peanuts. Yet, there will be eventually a final topping, and that is sweet and thick evaporated milk. Remember to try some Ice Kachang to keep yourself cool like a cucumber during the hot weather in Singapore!　

With the tips for your first time in Singapore, save it for your next trip in Southeast Asia and make your next vacation a memorable one! Want a local to show you around? Browse our Singapore tours.

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