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at a Glance ||
Introduction || Places of Interest
Singapore Hotels || Map of Singapore || Guide to the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT)
Things You Need To Know
Airport information || Money changing || Custom formalities || Drinking water
Entry formalities Exit formalities || Littering || Medical facilities
Post office & telephone || Smoking || Tipping || Weather & climate
General Information About Singapore
Singapore is a vibrant metropolis where about 4 million Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians live and work side-by-side. Visitors call it "Surprising Singapore", "Garden City" and even "Instant Asia."
All these descriptions are true. Singapore has a truly international atmosphere with the warmth and friendliness of Asia. It is small - just under 640 square kilometres. Yet within this space are all the attractions a visitor could wish to find. From theme attractions to nature parks, from offshore islands to landmarks, museums and places of worship, Singapore is a destination that cannot wait to be discovered.
There are 4 official languages in Singapore: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. English is the language of business and administration, and is widely spoken and understood. Most Singaporeans are bilingual, and speak their mother tongue as well as English. Malay is the national language.
Singapore is serviced by more than 60 major international airlines. With the new Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, visitors can travel conveniently to and from the airport to destinations all over the island. Taxis are also abundantly available from the airport to the city centre. There is a surcharge for all taxi journeys commencing from the airport and for after-midnight rides. The rates are displayed in each taxi. Public buses also ply the airport route and visitors may catch one to town from the underground bus station at the Arrival Hall. Singapore's efficient transport system - bus, taxi and MRT - ensures that visitors can get to any destination within the island with minimum fuss and maximum ease.
A Passenger Service Charge of S$21 should be incorporated in the air ticket. If this has not been done, you can buy the airport tax coupon in advance at most hotels, travel agencies and airline offices. Passengers who are in transit for less than 24 hours may leave the airport without having to pay the service charge upon departure from Singapore.
Visa and Entry Facilities
A valid passport or international travel document is required for all visitors. Visas are not generally required for social visits of fewer than 14 days, and visitors arriving as tourists are given a 14-day social visit pass on arrival. If you want to stay longer, you may apply to the Immigration Department after your arrival.
Entry visas are required for visitors from Afghanistan, Algeria, Cambodia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Syria, Tunisia Vietnam and Yemen. Visa-free entry is available to citizens of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. As regulations may change from time to time, check with your nearest Singapore Embassy or Singapore Tourist Promotion Board office before departure.
ASEAN Visa-free Facility
Citizens of the ASEAN countries holding valid passports can visit Malaysia and Thailand for 14 days without a visa. The Philippines only requires a visa for a stay exceeding 21 days. Indonesia offers two months visa-free entry for tourists, provided they have an onward ticket and use designated ports of entry and exit.
The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Other than the Singapore dollar, the United States and Australian dollars, Japanese yen and British pound are also accepted in most shopping centres and big departmental stores.
Banks and hotels can change money and most shopping complexes have a licensed money changer. Visitors are advised not to change money with an unlicensed operator. Most banks open from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm on weekdays and 9.30 am to 11.30 am on Saturdays.
Major credit cards are widely accepted in Singapore. Hotels, retailers, restaurants, travel agents and even a taxi company readily accept international credit cards. For more information, you can contact the local office of the credit card operators at the following numbers:
American Express Tel: 6299 8133
Diners Card Tel: 6294 4222
Master Card Tel: 6533 2888
Visa Card Tel: 1-800-3451345 (Service Centre)
There is no limit on the amount of currency you may bring into Singapore.If you are 18 years old or above and are arriving from a country other than Malaysia, you may use the following duty-free concessions for personal consumption:
Spirits : 1 litre Wine or port : 1 litre Beer,stout or ale :1 litre
There are no concessions on cigarettes and other tobacco products. This is in line with the Singapore government's campaign to discourage smoking. If you are carrying excess dutiable items, you may leave these in Customs Bond until your departure, provided this is from the same point of entry. Storage costs are chargeable.
Dutiable items include garments and clothing accessories, leather bags, wallets, imitation jewellery, chocolate and sugar confectionery, pastries, biscuits and cakes. Restricted amounts of these items may be brought in duty-free, provided they are meant for personal consumption.
In line with most other countries, Singapore prohibits the entry of some items, while others are subject to controls and restrictions.
Prohibited items include:
- Controlled drugs and psychotropic substances
- Cigarette lighters of pistol/revolver shape
- Toy coins and toy currency notes
- Reproductions of copyright publications, video tapes or disks, records or cassettes
- Endangered species of wildlife and their by- products
- Obscene articles and publications
- Seditious and treasonable materials
If you have any of the articles listed, entry will only be allowed when you produce the import permit or authorisation from the relevant authorities.
A traveller who has medicines which may only be obtained through prescription under Singapore law, especially sleeping pills, depressants, stimulants, etc, must possess a prescription from a physician confirming that the medicines are used for the traveller's physical wellbeing while travelling.
The above lists of dutiable, non-dutiable, prohibited, controlled and restricted goods are not exhaustive. If you need clarification or further information, please contact:
Head, Terminal Section Airports Branch Customs & Excise Department
Singapore Changi Airport Changi Airport P.O. Box 5 Singapore 9181 Tel: 5459122 or 5427058
The Customs Officer Singapore Changi Airport Tel: 5412572 or your nearest Singapore Overseas Mission.
Singapore water is clean and safe to drink from the tap, and need not be boiled.
Visas are not generally required for social visits of under 14 days, and visitors arriving as tourists are given a 14-day social visit pass on arrival. If you want to stay longer, you may apply to the Immigration Department after your arrival.
You should have an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds for your stay. Entry visas are required for visitors from the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, India, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. Visa- free entry is available to citizens of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Visa- free entry is permitted to citizens of other countries for stays ranging from 14-90 days. As regulations may change from time to time, check with your nearest Singapore Embassy or Singapore Tourist Promotion Board office before departure.
There is no export duty. Export permits are required for firearms, ammunition, explosives, animals, gold in form, platinum, precious stones and jewellery (except reasonable personal effects), poisons and drugs. Any goods in excess of reasonable personal effects should be declared at exit points and an Outward Declaration form prepared, if need be. For inquiries, call the Airport Customs Department at 5427058.
Singapore's clean and green image is the result of more than two decades of public education campaigns and strict laws against littering. Littering of any kind is subject up to S$1,000 fine for first offenders, and up to S$2,000 fine and a stint of corrective work order cleaning a public place for repeat offenders. As an extension of the law against littering, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum is prohibited. The high costs and difficulty in removing indiscriminately discarded chewing gum were the reasons for the prohibition.
Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the world, with well-qualified doctors and dentists. Pharmaceuticals are available from numerous outlets including supermarkets, department stores, shopping centres and hotels. Most hotels have their own doctors on 24-hour call. For an ambulance, dial 995.
Most hotels provide postal services at the front desk. The Changi Airport Post Office is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm daily from Monday to Saturday. Basic postal services are available round the clock at the General Post Office and the Comcentre branch. International Direct Dialling (IDD) is available at the General Post Office and the Comcentre. IDD calls can also be made from the numerous phone card and credit card phones located at post offices and around the city area. Phone cards come in five denominations of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$20 and S$50 and are sold at Singapore Telecom service outlets, post offices, convenience stores and some retail shops. A 20% levy is normally imposed on IDD calls made from hotels.
Singapore's voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second. Most hotels can provide visitors with a transformer, which can convert the voltage to 110-120 volts AC, 60 cycles per second. The power plugs used in Singapore are of the 3-pin, square-shaped type.
Smoking in public buses, taxis, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices and air-conditioned restaurants and shopping centres is against the law. First-time offenders may be fined up to a maximum of S$1,000. While it is an offence to smoke in air-conditioned eating places, smoking is not prohibited in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.
Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore. It is prohibited at the airport and discouraged in hotels and restaurants where there is a 10% service charge.
Weather and Climate
Singapore has a warm and humid climate throughout the year with a daily average temperature range of 24oC to 32oC. Rain falls throughout the year, with more consistent rain coming during the monsoon season from November to January. Showers are usually sudden and heavy, but also brief and refreshing.
What to Wear
Singapore's tropical weather makes light summer clothing (preferably of natural fabrics) most practical, especially for outdoor activities like sightseeing. Most restaurants and nightspots are not restrictive on the dress code - polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, slacks, blouses, skirts, sun dresses and sneakers are acceptable at most places. Although some establishments require formal wear for the evening, suits and evening dresses will never be out of place in Singapore's trendy nightspots. It is always advisable to check beforehand on dress regulations, if any. .
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