Travelling to Singapore requires a great deal of preparation. There’re many laws, regulations and customs that you’ll need to acclimatise to; whether you’re visiting briefly or for an extended period. Everything takes some getting used to and rather a lot of effort to adjust well, especially when you’re coming from the Western world.
That said, there’s no excuses or cutting corners here. If you’re travelling to somewhere new, then it’s only right that you get used to the native’s way of life and assimilate as best as possible.
Consequently, here is your ultimate Singapore travel guide for your convenience.
The Street Food Scene
Singapore is renowned for the quality of its street food, most of which can be found in Chinatown Food Street. Locals and tourists just can’t get enough of the delicious offerings, and it’s grown into a vibrant scene right in the heart of the island. It all evolved through the years by the influence of Indian, Malay and Chinese communities, each contributing their own flourishes and nuances to the trade.
Markets host vendors from noon till evening time, so there’s not a huge opening here for you to immerse yourself in this part of Singapore. However, there is indeed plenty of time to sample most of what’s on offer; Hainanese chicken rice, kaya toast, or bak chor mee and more. It’s all light food that can be consumed on the go, so tour round and be sure to have a bite to eat!
Must-See Attractions
Though Singapore is a small island city-state, it’s packed full of exciting attractions and stimulating activities to get fully lost and immersed in. For example, you could stop by Marina Bay, which features stunning lightshows, stunning architectural feats, and Marina Bay Sands Skypark, which allows you to see all of Singapore from on high.
There’s also The Gardens by the Bay in this area, which is a sprawling paradise of lush greenery, mesmerising artwork, and colourful gardens. There’s fun here for all demographics and it’s open for a full 12 hours, from 9am to 9pm! Consequently, you should make it a priority to explore this portion of Singapore; you won’t regret it!
Cultural/Lawful Differences
Despite Singapore being a relatively small island city-state, it’s grounded in its cultural ways. It could be said that’s it’s stricter about its customs and standards than many other places today. For example, though you can vape in the West as a healthier alternative to smoking, in Singapore the rules are rather different. It is illegal to use or even possess vapes in Singapore, keep these major differences in mind.
It doesn’t end there either. Chewing gum, spitting, littering, and smoking in doors can land you anything from a fine to even being incarcerated in jail. While these are obviously ill-mannered behaviours in most settings today, the punishments for them aren’t quite so severe anywhere else in the world as they are in Singapore. Always keep these things in mind – you don’t want any legal action being taken against you for things
