Singapore, Singapore: Guia de viagem

The cleanest, safest, most efficient food paradise in Asia.

Melhor época: February to April (driest months)
Orçamento diário: $90 to $160 USD
Duração ideal: 3 to 5 days

Singapore is the city that convinces sceptics. Yes, it is orderly. But it is also home to the best street food on earth (two hawker stalls have Michelin stars), the most dramatic skyline in Southeast Asia, and neighbourhoods that feel like different countries. Joy Plus times your hawker visits before the lunch rush and routes the Gardens by the Bay for the right light.

Bairros

Chinatown: Heritage shophouses, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Maxwell Food Centre.
Kampong Glam: The Malay-Muslim quarter. Sultan Mosque, hip cafés, fabric shops.
Tiong Bahru: Art deco flats, indie bookshops, the city's coolest brunch scene.
Sentosa: Beaches, Universal Studios, the southernmost point of continental Asia.
Joo Chiat & Katong: Peranakan houses, the best laksa, local Singapore without the Marina Bay price tag.

O que fazer

Satay and satay at Lau Pa Sat (after 7pm): The street closes, the grills come out, the air smells of peanut sauce.
Gardens by the Bay at 7:30pm: The light show starts at 7:45pm. Arrive early, stay for the Supertrees.
Hawker centre crawl: Maxwell, Old Airport Road, Chomp Chomp: Chicken rice, chilli crab, carrot cake. Three centres, one perfect day.
Sunset at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark: Book ahead. The city lights up at dusk and it is genuinely spectacular.
Hawker centre feast at Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat: The soul of Singapore's food scene and incredible value. Chase a Michelin-listed chicken rice or chilli crab, then satay by the dozen, expect to queue at the best stalls, that is how you find them.
Gardens by the Bay light show: The Supertree Grove's free Garden Rhapsody show after dark is pure spectacle, towering steel trees lit and synced to music. Pair it with the Cloud Forest dome and the Marina Bay waterfront walk.

Segredos escondidos

Pulau Ubin, rent a bike, ride through jungle, no Singapore skyline in sight.
The Projector, independent cinema in a restored cinema hall.
Bukit Brown Cemetery, overgrown Chinese graves, a different side of Singapore.
Chwee Kueh at Jian Bo Shui Kueh (Tiong Bahru Market) for $2.

O que comer

Hainanese chicken rice at Tian Tian (Maxwell)
Chilli crab at Jumbo Seafood
Laksa at 328 Katong Laksa
Kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs at Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Como se deslocar

The MRT is spotless, cheap and covers everything. Get an EZ-Link card. Buses are great too. Taxis and Grab are affordable. Walking is fine in the heat if you stick to covered walkways (many exist).

Segurança

One of the safest cities on earth. Solo travellers, including women, walk home at 3am without concern. The main risk is the heat, hydrate, use sunscreen, and plan indoor breaks.

Perguntas frequentes

How many days do you need in Singapore?

Three days for the highlights, five if you want to explore neighbourhoods slowly and add a day trip to Malaysia or Indonesia (Johor Bahru or Batam).

Is Singapore expensive?

Hotels and alcohol are pricey ($15 to $20 for a beer). But hawker food is $3 to $6 per meal and public transport is cheap. You can do Singapore well on $80 to $100 per day if you stay in a hostel and eat hawker.

Is Singapore boring?

Only if you stay in Marina Bay the whole time. The real Singapore is in the hawker centres, the backstreets of Joo Chiat, the live music in Tiong Bahru, and the jungle on Pulau Ubin.

Which hawker centre is best in Singapore?

Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown for chicken rice (Tian Tian) and the convenience. Old Airport Road for variety and depth, locals say it is the most consistent. Lau Pa Sat after 7pm for satay street. Chomp Chomp in Serangoon for BBQ stingray. Avoid Newton Food Centre, it is tourist-priced.

Is the Singapore MRT easy for tourists?

Yes, signage is fully in English, trains run every 2 to 4 minutes, every major attraction has a station within 500m. Buy an EZ-Link card or just tap your contactless credit card at the gate. A typical ride is S$1.50 to S$2.50.

Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?

Most Western passports (US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada) get a 30 or 90-day visa-free entry stamp on arrival. Bring proof of onward travel and a hotel address. The Arrival Card must be filled in online (free, official site only) within 3 days of arrival.

Is Singapore expensive to visit?

Hotels and alcohol are pricey, but you can eat like royalty for a few dollars at hawker centres and get around cheaply on the spotless MRT. Skip the rooftop cocktails to keep a trip affordable.

Is Singapore a good layover or stopover destination?

One of the best. Changi airport is a destination in itself, and 2 to 3 days is enough for the gardens, hawker food, the neighbourhoods and the waterfront, a perfect break on the way to or from the region.

What are the rules tourists should know in Singapore?

It is famously strict, no chewing gum sales, no eating or drinking on the MRT, no jaywalking, and heavy fines for littering or smoking outside zones. Follow the signs and you will have no trouble.