First-Timer's Guide to Singapore: Essential Travel Tips

Singapore is one of the easiest places in Asia for a first trip: English is everywhere, public services run smoothly and you can be at your hotel within an hour or so of landing. A few practical details still make a big difference, from how to pay to what to pack.

Money and cards

The currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD, written S$). Cards and contactless payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, are accepted in hotels, malls, restaurants, taxis and on public transport. Cash is still handy at some hawker stalls, older shops and markets, so withdraw a modest amount from one of the many ATMs and keep small notes. Let your bank know you are travelling and check its foreign transaction fees.

Plugs, power and what to pack

Singapore uses Type G plugs, with three rectangular pins as in the UK, and a 230V supply. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug, and check that chargers are rated for 230V. Pack light, breathable clothes, a compact umbrella, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a thin layer for the strong air-conditioning in malls, cinemas and buses. A refillable water bottle earns its place in the heat.

Tipping and service charges

Tipping is not part of local culture. Many restaurants add a service charge and GST to the bill, shown by "++" beside menu prices, so there is no need to add more. Hawkers and taxi drivers do not expect tips, although rounding up a fare is appreciated. In hotels, a small tip for porters is optional.

Apps worth downloading

• Grab and Gojek for rides and food delivery.
• Google Maps or Citymapper for MRT and bus routes.
• MyTransport.SG, the Land Transport Authority's app, for live bus arrival times.
• A weather radar app to see storms coming.
• WhatsApp, which many hotels, guides and shops use to answer questions.

Etiquette in a nutshell

Queue patiently, keep your voice low on trains and leave priority seats for those who need them. At hawker centres, a packet of tissues on a table means the seat is taken, and you are expected to return your tray when you finish. Don't eat or drink on the MRT. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques, and take your shoes off when you enter someone's home.

Arriving at Changi: first steps

1. 1Check the official entry requirements well before you fly, as rules can change.
2. 2When you land, switch on your eSIM line, set it as the line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. Turn data roaming off on your home SIM.
3. 3Use your contactless card for the MRT, or head to the taxi queue or a ride-hailing pick-up point.
4. 4If you have time, see the indoor waterfall at Jewel, linked to Terminal 1, now or on your way home.
5. 5Trains stop around midnight, so late arrivals usually take a taxi or ride-hailing car.
6. 6On departure day, leave plenty of time: Changi is efficient, but it is also very large.

Stay connected in Singapore

From your first ride out of Changi to booking tickets and messaging your hotel, almost everything in Singapore runs through your phone. A HelloSIM eSIM keeps that simple: it is data-only, so your home number stays active for calls and texts, you install it at home before the trip, and it connects when you arrive. Need more data mid-trip? Top up the same eSIM in the app or your account. Heading on to other countries in the region? An Asia Pacific plan may suit you better.