Calling code +65

You can arrange your mobile phones using international roaming. Normally the phone charge is calculated from your home country to the destination number and can be very expensive. You can purchase the prepaid card in Singapore and look for the Singtel, Starhub or M1 are the leading service providers.

IDD (International direct dialing) is Available from most hotels. Check rates, hotels often levy a surcharge. Costs vary with the time of day and charge for a minimum of 1 minute) Dial 100 for Operator-Assisted Overseas. For IDD dial 001 followed by country and regional codes.

You can also phone from International payphones found at the airport and most tourist areas using credit card or phone cards which can bought at most convenience stores.

Internet TLD .sg

Most hotels now have Internet access either directly from the room if you plug in your laptop, or from their business centre. The Internet cafe charges vary from around $3 for the first 1 hour with lower charges afterwards. Additional surcharges times apply, so check first. There are most Internet cafes in shopping areas which are generally expensive. Connections, however, can be slower than in your home country.

Voltage is

230V/50Hz (British Plug)

with flat 3 pin plugs. You can buy an adapter for shavers, laptop computers, mobile chargers, etc., on arrival at most department stores. 

English is fairly widely understood and spoken in most tourist areas of Singapore. English has been heavily promoted as the country's language of administration since its independence. The English used is primarily based on British English, with some American English influences. The second most common language in Singapore is Mandarin, with over seventy percent of the population having it as a second language. Most Singapore Chinese are, however, descended from immigrants who came from the southern regions of China where other dialects were spoken, such as Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese. Mandarin use has spread largely as a result of government efforts to support its adoption and use over the dialects.

2008 estimate 4,839,400 people
Density 6,489/km2

The dollar (sign: $; code: SGD) is the currency of Singapore. The currency is the Singapore dollar (S$). Singapore uses 1c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, and S$1 coins. Notes are in denominations of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$500, and S$1,000. The islands also has a S$10,000 note.

ATM machines are available at most banks and shopping centres throughout the city. ATMs generally have English language displays and will accept most internationally recognised foreign cards. Many ATM's will also accept cards under the CIRRUS, Maestro, VISA or Mastercard system.

Travellers Cheques / Credit Cards Most traveller cheques can be cashed at banks. Take your passport or ID. Mastercard and VISA are widely accepted by major banks, restaurants and shops.

Banks Open Monday - Friday from 09:30 to 15:30, except public and bank holidays. Currency exchange centres operate in most tourist areas from 07:00 to 21:00, everyday, including holidays.

Tourists may claim for refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on goods purchased from retailers participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme. Please note there are eligibility criteria and conditions.

Drives on the left

At Arrival Hall, look for 'Taxi' sign, get into a waiting taxi.
Airport Taxis gets you to city hotels in around 20-40 minutes. A trip to the city costs only S$15-30, including all surcharges. Especially cost-effective if you are travelling in a group of 2-4 persons.

Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore.
It is prohibited at the airport and discouraged at hotels and restaurants where a 10% service charge is included in the bill. A tip should only be exercised when the bill does not include a service charge.

Standard time zone: SST (UTC+8)

Visas are not required for Commonwealth citizens, British passport holders, and Republic of Ireland citizens for a stay of up to 14 days. All onward visitors should have passports valid for at least three months from the time of arrival. They should also have return tickets, and sufficient funds for the length of their stay in Singapore.

Like most of Southeast Asia, Singapore is generally hot and humid. It's warm and humid year round, with the temperature almost never dropping below 20°C (68°F), even at night, and usually climbing to 30°C (86°F) during the day. Recent times, it even reached till 35°C. Humidity is high, mounting over a 75% mark.

November and December is the rainy season. June-August is considered to be the best time to visit, but even then it rains often. Don't let the climate stop you from going, however. Most buildings are air-conditioned (to the point that you may want to take a sweater), and pains have been taken to make everything as comfortable as can be, all things considered. When it does rain, it's generally only for a short period.

Singapore Map

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E

Area: total: 647.5 sq km

Land: 637.5 sq km

Water: 10 sq km

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 193 km