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The Travel Guides are back for their wildest adventure yet in Season 5

The borders are opening, flights are back on and it's time to think about your next holiday!

That's right, after a long-awaited return, our favourite Travel Guides are returning to Channel 9! After the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on international travel, our Guides are ready to get their passports back in action and head around the globe.

But before Season 5 kicks off, here's everything you need to know about Travel Guides .

Stream complete seasons of Travel Guides on 9Now.

When will Travel Guides return?

Season 5 of Travel Guides will premiere on Wednesday March 30 at 7.30pm.

Who is the cast of Travel Guides ?

All our favourite travel critics are back, including the loveable The Fren Family , twin cowgirls Stack and Mel , "holiday snobs" Kevin and Janetta , best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng (AKA The Target Boys) , and travel addicts and longtime couple Matt and Brett .

Where will the Travel Guides be set?

In the new season our Guides hit the road for a supersized, two-week USA road trip taking them through Texas and the Deep South for a big taste of big hats, big portions and big wheels.

The Guides are then off to traverse our great Southern Land. They'll take in the beauty of the Twelve Apostles, the wilds of Fraser Island and the sparkles of Noosa, the tall ships of Sydney Harbour, swimming with dolphins off the coast of Western Australia, and the delights of the Great Ocean Road on a week-long, family-friendly road trip that includes a taste of Sovereign Hill in beautiful Ballarat. 

They'll also head off the beaten track into the South Australian Outback, exploring the mighty Murray River and fantastic Flinders Ranges, as well as soaking up the best bits of Brisbane — from fine dining to adventure park thrills — for an activity-packed week based in the river city holiday hotspot. 

What can I expect from Travel Guides ?

In each episode of Travel Guides, the five groups of critics visit the same location for the same week-long holiday, reviewing the cuisine, accommodation, activities, and tourist sights.

READ MORE: How to watch every episode ever of Travel Guides

Opinions always differ, leading to brutally honest and often outrageous reviews as our Guides tell it exactly how they see it and rate each holiday out of five stars.

Where can I watch Travel Guides ?

Travel Guides kicks off 7.30pm, Wednesday, March 30 on Channel 9 and 9Now.

You can stream complete seasons of Travel Guides for free on 9Now .

• Kev Dorian And Teng
• Matt And Brett
• Stack And Mel
• Kevin And Janetta

Property News: Couple strike it rich after finding 400-year-old coins hidden under their kitchen floor.

• Destinations

The ultimate guide of everything to see and do on a trip to Singapore, according to a local

By Jemima Skelley | 1 month ago

To many of us, Singapore is primarily a stopover destination to go through on the way to Europe or elsewhere in Asia .

But in reality, the island city-state has so much going on, it should be a bonafide destination on everyone's bucket list.

But where to start? It's probably best to consult an expert.

9Travel chatted with Andreas Kraemer, GM of InterContinental Singapore to get his take on the best things to do in the city.

READ MORE: Best places to eat and drink on the Gold Coast

Kraemer has been working in the hotel industry for over 30 years, and after nearly five years of living in Singapore - and giving recommendations to guests - he knows his way around the place.

For food, here is his complete guide on what to eat and where.

Things to do in Singapore

For sightseeing and drinks - Haji Lane & Arab Street

This is Singapore's original indie neighbourhood. This buzzing, all-hours enclave in eclectic Kampong Glam is peppered with cool boutiques, bars, cafes and restaurants. It is also surrounded by street art, making it a popular spot that travellers and locals keep coming back to. 

For history & culture - Natural Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore is the nation's oldest museum. Its history dates back to 1849. This is a fond family memory, as it was one of our first visits when we arrived in Singapore and it told us a lot about the history of Singapore. My kids were fascinated as it's so interactive too. 

READ MORE: Three uniquely Brisbane experiences under $100

Things to do in Singapore for families

Mandai Wildlife Reserves – Bird Paradise and Zoo

After seeing it post-renovation, we were blown away by the thoughtful design for families. It's no longer a bird park – it's a fun park where families can spend the entire day; dining, playing and learning at the same time.

East Coast Park 

This is made for families with kids. We use it to go for walks, or to rent a family bike and ride along the coast. There are also great coffee shops with playgrounds which our kids love and a fabulous local hawker center.

Wild Wild Wet Singapore

The largest water theme park in Singapore. Need I say more?

READ MORE: Things to do in Adelaide for the perfect weekend away

Singapore Botanical Gardens

A 165-year-old tropical garden located at the fringe of the Orchard Road shopping district in Singapore. It is one of three gardens, and the only tropical garden, to be honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Gardens by the Bay

A national garden and premier horticultural attraction for local and international visitors with fun activities for kids, including a Children's Garden. 

Must-visit neighbourhood in Singapore: The Bugis and Bras Basah district

"This area, where InterContinental Singapore is located is a must-visit as it offers travellers a rich cultural and historical experience," says Kraemer.

Cultural Exploration in Bugis:

• Explore the vibrant Bugis Street, known for its bustling markets and diverse shopping options. It's a great place to find souvenirs, trendy fashion, and local street food.
• Visit the Sultan Mosque, a stunning piece of Islamic architecture in the heart of Bugis. It's an excellent spot to learn about Singapore's religious diversity.

Art and Heritage in Bras Basah

• Immerse yourself in the arts at Bras Basah Complex, home to numerous bookshops, art galleries, and cultural institutions. The National Library and Singapore Art Museum are must-visit spots.
• Take a stroll along Waterloo Street to discover the vibrant street art, historic temples, and art schools contributing to the creative atmosphere.
• Visit one of Singapore's most famous temples - Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street.

Foodie Delights

• Try local delicacies at the Hawker centres in Bugis, such as the famous Albert Centre Hawker Centre. Indulge in local favourites like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Singapore Laksa, and Char Kway Teow.
• Explore the hidden gems of Bras Basah for unique cafes and eateries. The area is known for its fusion of traditional and modern cuisines.

How to get around Singapore

Utilise Singapore's efficient public transportation system, including the MRT, to easily navigate between districts.

Look for a hotel that's located on a well-connected line. The Intercontinental is right near the Bugis MRT station, which is the interchange to the East-West Line and the Downtown Line.

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The ULTIMATE Singapore Travel Guide

A vibrant, bustling city, Singapore combines all the charm of South-East Asia with the wonder of the modern world. One minute you’re wandering past high-end storefronts on Orchard Road and the next, you’re tucking into the island’s very best food, elbow to elbow with locals at a Hawker Centre. From unique cultural experiences and a fascinating history to unbelievably good food and modern-day fun, there’s a lot to see, do and eat in Singapore . A popular transit hub, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself transiting through this eclectic country at one point or another. Whether it’s a stopover or a longer stay, Singapore has a lot to offer travellers. To help you #TravelWell here’s our ultimate guide to Singapore!

Planning your trip? ••• Hotels, we use Agoda Rentals: Discover Cars Transfers: Welcome Pickups Insurance: Cover-More SIM Cards: Simify

I register as an affiliate for anything I use and recommend. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click these links and make a purchase I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and in some cases, these links may even unlock savings or give you bonuses I’ve negotiated. You can find out more about this  here  and  here .

You might also like to read:

• The BEST guide to visiting Jewel at Changi Airport in Singapore
• The best (and worst) places to stay in Singapore…
• Where to stay in Singapore: Swissôtel The Stamford

Where is Singapore?

You’ll find Singapore located just off the tip of the Malay Peninsula , about one degree north of the equator. It is comprised of one main island with a number of smaller islets and islands forming part of the country too. Established as a trading post of the British Empire in 1819, Singapore has long been a port for travellers and that unique history continues today as more than 65.6 million passengers pass through Changi Airport each year.

How to get to Singapore

To get there we fly direct from Australia to Singapore with Singapore Airlines with a flight time of around 8 hours. Owing to its central location there are many airlines with flights to Singapore but, for us, Singapore Airlines is always our first choice. We’ve experienced Singapore Airlines economy, premium economy and business class and have found, no matter where you sit on the plane, the service is always the same! There’s a consistent approach to customer service that makes you feel like your needs matter. The staff are always so welcoming, friendly, patient, kind and attentive. There’s genuine pride in working for the airline, which flows through into the customer service we, as guests, receive.

In addition, we find the seats are very comfortable, there’s always a great selection of entertainment (featuring tv shows and movies you actually want to watch!) and the food is delicious too. They offer a great range of meals for dietary requirements (note: if you love Indian cuisine you should try the Indian vegetarian meals, they’re fantastic). A full-service airline, our luggage and seat selection are included in our fare, which makes the experience all the more stress-free. If you’re planning a trip and looking for an airline recommendation we highly recommend Singapore Airlines and fly with them every chance we get.

Read: 

• Is Premium Economy worth it?
• 6 Thoughts I had flying Business Class

Is Singapore a safe destination for travellers?

Singapore is renowned for being a safe destination for residents and travellers alike. As someone who has lived in Singapore and travelled there repeatedly, I have never had an experience that has made me feel unsafe in any way. When we’re in Singapore we have no hesitations about withdrawing cash from an ATM late at night or wandering around with our cameras out. With that said, it’s always important to be mindful wherever you travel in the world so we follow the same basic safety principles as always. We’re mindful to keep our belongings where we can see them at all times and use our hotel room safe to store valuable items.

Is Singapore a budget-friendly destination?

If I had never lived in Singapore I would have been of the opinion it is an expensive destination. This is due to the cost of accommodation, alcohol, some experiences and restaurants as well as Singapore’s famous high-end shopping scene. But there are many layers to Singapore and, in my opinion, some of the best experiences are the least expensive. Instead of eating at restaurants for every meal try eating at Hawker Centres dotted across the island. Here, you can feast like a King for under SG$10!

The best food on the island is found in Hawker Centres so not only will you save money, you’ll be trying authentic local cuisine. The alcohol tax means booze prices are high so try taking advantage of your hotel’s club lounge benefits as they usually include two or three-hour-long happy hours where drinks are free! In place of catching taxis or ride-shares around the island, get yourself an EZ-Link Card and catch the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) instead. The train system in Singapore is incredibly easy to figure out and use. It’s also very safe, clean and affordable.

10 Must-know tips for visiting Singapore

Here are a few things you really need to know before you travel to Singapore:

• The local currency is the Singapore Dollar (SG$) and no other currency is accepted (i.e. US Dollars). Downloading a free currency conversion app that works offline, like  XE Currency , will come in very useful!
• Singapore has four official languages; English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil but there’s a fifth unofficial language; Singlish! This unique hybrid of English and local dialect influences is a beloved part of Singapore. When talking to locals the speed at which they talk may make it seem as though they aren’t speaking English but listen closely and your ears will adapt. Before you know it, you’ll be adding ‘lah’ and ‘ah/uh’ to your sentences, calling people Aunty and Uncle and clipping your sentences (it kinda reminds me of that episode of The Office where Kevin starts cutting out unnecessary words!).
• While Singapore’s laws are very strict, I often hear people express worry they’ll be arrested for things like accidentally dropping a food wrapper. Don’t worry, it’s not like that! If you do litter, just pick it up and put it in the trash.
• The heat and humidity in Singapore can be very intense, especially if you aren’t used to it or are coming from a cold climate. Trust me, you don’t want to underestimate it. To avoid heatstroke and exhaustion you may want to plan to do your sightseeing in the mornings and afternoon/evenings, outside of the hottest parts of the day. Use sun protective gear (I always carry an umbrella to shade me), rest often, and drink lots of water.
• While cards are widely accepted, you’ll want to make sure you have cash on you if you’re visiting Hawker Centres as it’s unlikely they’ll take your card for payment.

• There’s a large expat community in Singapore, which makes it even more multicultural than it already was to begin with! As a result, you’ll find a broad range of restaurants and bars catering to just about every nationality you could think of. It also means it’s a great place to meet people from all over the world and make new friends.
• With so many expats living in Singapore and many business deals going down over drinks, Singapore’s nightlife scene is kind of epic! So, if you do love to party, you’re in for a real treat.
• While Singapore is renowned for it’s super safe, squeaky-clean image, there is a ‘red-light district,’ in Geylang. Honestly, there are some pretty great restaurants there and I’ve never had a problem when I’ve visited! But, if you are keen to see Singapore’s ‘other side,’ head there after dark.
• You can easily visit Malaysia by catching the bus, walking or driving a car across the border. We used to do this a lot when I was living there, heading over to Johor Bahru for a day of shopping and great Malaysian food. Just beware, while the border control staff in Singapore are all above board, we have had situations where staff on the Malay side of the border sought bribes to allow us to enter or leave.
• Tipping isn’t required in Singapore, though you’re welcome to if you would like to, of course
• Read our full guide to 11 things to know before you go to Singapore here .

The best time to visit Singapore

Singapore is a great destination year-round. I often read articles talking about the different seasons and, yes, there are technically different seasons but there’s not really going to be a time to visit that will allow you to escape the heat altogether. Remember, earlier, when you read that bit about it being one degree north of the equator?! Yeah, that ain’t changing which means the heat ain’t changing either. With that in mind, planning a visit around January to March will see you coinciding with some of the island’s festivals like Chinese New Year and Holi. Singapore also comes alive from November to December with Deepavali (the festival of lights) and some absolutely epic Christmas and New Year celebrations!

How to get around in Singapore

In Australia, taxis are so expensive we rarely use them. In Singapore, they’re really well-priced which makes catching taxis around the island a viable transport option. Also, you’re very unlikely to get ripped off in a tourist scam as Singaporean taxi drivers run a fare meter. Make sure when you get in, the meter is started, just as a precaution. It’s also important to bear in mind that torrential afternoon downpours are common in the rainy months, coinciding perfectly with peak hours. This creates a huge demand for taxis which can make it virtually impossible to get one so, if this happens, public transport is a better option.

While Uber has been outlawed, you can use ‘Grab’ which is essentially the same thing. Just make sure you download the app and register an account before you leave home as you’ll need to verify your mobile number and, if you don’t’ have an international sim, won’t be able to do it once you arrive. The easiest and most affordable way to get around Singapore as a tourist has to be by public transport. Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is incredibly well organised, very clean, reliable, and easy to navigate. Catch the bus or train around the island paying for tickets as you go or pick up an EZ-Link card which can be topped up with credit to make it even easier!

Where to stay in Singapore

Given the size of the island and how easy it is to get around, you can’t really go wrong when choosing an accommodation spot. While it may be tempting to book a hotel right on Orchard Road, I would only recommend that location if you’re really into shopping. Otherwise, I’d recommend spots around the Downtown area. Ideally, you want to find a place right above or very close to an MRT station. Look for spots near City Hall, Esplanade, Raffles Place, Telok Ayer and Downtown MRT stations. Find great Singapore hotels here!

Swissôtel The Stamford

This hotel truly has it all and is our favourite place to stay in Singapore! Swissôtel The Stamford is perfectly located in-between two MRT stations, with one being directly below the hotel. There’s plenty of great food options close by, within easy walking distance and you could also do a lot of our exploring on foot, owing to its great location. Our favourite things about the hotel have to be the incredible views over the city, out to the water and beyond as well as the incredibly luxurious, modern rooms. Find Swissôtel The Stamford here and read my full review of it here.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport 

We often find ourselves transiting through Singapore, with one or two days layover. In those instances, we love staying at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. It only takes a few minutes to walk from baggage collection to the hotel reception and, before you know it, you’ve had a shower and are all cosied up in bed, relaxing. The rooms here are very spacious and well fitted out, with everything you could possibly need to have a great stay. Best of all, it’s located a short walk from Jewel at Changi Airport, has an awesome pool and an epic club lounge! We love visiting time and time again to reconnect with Raymond, the amazing Club Lounge manager who never forgets us. Find Crowne Plaza Changi Airport here.

If you love boutique hotel experiences you should definitely check out Amoy Hotel. Located in Singapore’s Central Business District, the Telok Ayer MRT is right outside the hotel’s unique temple entry-way. Inside the decor throws back to Singapore’s spice trade routes, with dark wood, vintage pieces, exposed brick, warm lighting and split-level rooms. With plenty of great food closeby, a distinct heritage feel and a convenient, central location, Amoy is a great base for your Singapore adventures. Find Amoy Hotel here.

Here are 8 more awesome places to stay in Singapore: 

• Marina Bay Sands
• The Fullerton Bay Hotel
• Rendezvous Hotel 
• Holiday Inn Express Orchard Road 
• Oasia Hotel Novena
• Shangri-La Hotel
• Village Hotel Katong
• Mandarin Oriental

15 Foods you must try in Singapore

Eating is pretty much a national pastime in Singapore! Honestly, I have to recommend that you eat as much food as possible, sampling from the broad range of cuisines on offer across the island. If you went to Singapore and didn’t stuff yourself… did you really do it right? I think not. Here are my tips on must-try food in Singapore. It’s important to note the very best food goes down at Hawker Centres so nearly all of these recommendations can be found at one of the many great Hawker Centres across the island, making them very budget-friendly.

• Start your day the traditional way with Kaya Toast , made from a sweet, coconut jam, and delicious silk-stocking tea or coffee
• Dive mouth-first into delicious dumplings either from a Hawker Centre or spots like Din Tai Fung , Mouth or 126 Eating House
• If you love noodles, be sure to sample Char Kway Teow , a delicious combination of flat rice noodles, dark soy sauce, egg, seafood/sausage and more
• You absolutely must try fried carrot cake , one of my favourite Singaporean dishes! Interestingly, it is not  a cake and does  not  contain any carrot!
• The perfect mix between fresh, spicy and sweet, Rojak is a tropical fruit and vegetable salad perfect for something light or as a vegetarian option

• You cannot visit Singapore without trying Hainanese Chicken Rice at least once! It’s pretty much the national dish and they love it so much they made a whole Romeo and Juliet inspired movie about it.
• One of my all-time favourite things to eat in Singapore (and the world) is Masala Dosa . In my opinion, the very best one is from Komala Villas in Little India .
• Speaking of Little India, if you love curry be sure to head to the Banana Leaf Apolo for truly delicious curry and Indian fare.
• Another of my all-time favourite things to eat in life is Roti Prata , a crispy, delicious flatbread cooked over a grill and served with dipping curry.
• If you love chicken wings keep your eyes peeled for crispy, golden BBQ chicken wings or ‘teddy-bear wings’ found at Hawker Centres. The chilli they serve them with will blow your mind!

• Vegetarians and vegans will love sampling clay hotpot, which includes a mouth-wateringly good veggie gravy and loads of yummy veg and tofu too! They also have meat options, of course, for the carnivores.
• Head to Lau Pa Sat after dark and eat your way through the iconic ‘Satay Street’ where you can sample some of the islands very best satay, accompanied perfectly by gooey peanut satay sauce. Y-E-S!
• Singapore is famous for its incredible Chilli Crab. You’ll definitely get covered in crab juice but it’s worth it to sample the BBQ’d perfection and spices!
• If you’re feeling adventurous, BBQ Stingray is a local delight that will expand your horizons and it tastes absolutely amazing.
• It’s so hot in Singapore that ice creams and rich desserts don’t usually sit too well. Instead, try ice kachang! It’s essentially shaved ice topped with syrup, condensed milk, jelly, fruits and some pretty unique toppings like red kidney beans and even corn. Don’t knock it till you try it!
• Read our full guide on must-try food in Singapore here. 

8 of the best things to do in Singapore

There’s no shortage of wonderful things to do in Singapore! Here are a few to get you started:

• Soak in the very best views of the island from above by visiting rooftop spots like Pinnacle @ Duxton and 1-Altitude
• Visit the iconic Gardens by the Bay ; exploring the Cloud Forest , Flower Dome and spectacular Supertree Grove
• See a different side of Singapore by heading out to the East Coast Parkway to ride bikes and sit on the beach
• Make your way to Chinatown , visiting the incredible Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Maxwell Food Centre

• Spend a day exploring the vibrant streets and temples of Little India , making sure to check out the Tekka Centre and wet market
• Have an amazing day at the Singapore Zoo or a unique evening experience at the epic Night Safari
• Step back in time to the 1920s as you wander the gorgeous streets of Tiong Bahru , making a visit to the iconic Tiong Bahru Bakery
• Head over to Sentosa Island to visit Singapore’s beautiful beaches and visit Universal Studios for a fun-filled day
• Read our full guide to 16 Things you absolutely must do in Singapore here. 

What to pack for a trip to Singapore

Here’s what you need to pack for a trip to Singapore:

• Overall, you’ll want to pack clothing that is breathable. For Matt, this is usually shorts and a sweat-wicking t-shirt. For me, it’s usually summer dresses, cotton skirts and linen tops. It’s going to be hot and humid so make sure your clothing is going to allow your skin to breathe and keep you as cool as possible.
• I always recommend wearing high SPF sunscreen and a hat if you’re out exploring during the day
• In terms of footwear, I find we’re on our feet a lot in Singapore so we prefer to wear comfortable sneakers or breathable sandals
• Make sure you pack your swimmers so you can take advantage of the hotel pool!
• If you’re planning on dining out at nice restaurants, you’ll want to bring a few special outfits with you. Singapore is very fashion-forward so don’t be afraid to get all glammed up for a special dinner
• You will absolutely need a good quality, strong deodorant, especially if you typically sweat a lot as-is
• Surprisingly, I always recommend packing a really warm jumper or jacket . You see, to compensate for the heat, shopping malls, hotels etc. will have the air conditioning set to ‘freeze’ and you can quickly become very cold.
• Read our full guide on what to pack for a trip to Singapore here.

Get connected with a local SIM card from Simify . Get it delivered before you leave home, ensuring you’re able to connect and navigate as soon as you arrive + find great things to do on the go!

Some of the experiences included in this guide were generously hosted by the brand/provider or Singapore Tourism Board. This guide was not paid for and all opinions, as always, are authentically our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Best travel resources for your trip!

If you found this post useful, please use the affiliate links below. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, these are the products and services I love and use . Read the disclaimer for more information. Thanks for your support! – Matt.

Agoda – hotels Booking.com – hotels Cover-More – insurance DiDi – rideshare Motorhome Republic – RVs Discover Cars  – rentals Simify  – SIM cards Skyscanner – flights Surfshark – VPN TourRadar – tours Welcome Pickups – transfers

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Little Grey Box Newsletter

Singapore Travel Guide

Asia's smallest and most diverse country, where modern skyscrapers meet traditional temples and luscious rainforests.

Best time to visit Singapore

Travel insurance for singapore, best places to visit in singapore, 7 best things to do in singapore, map of singapore, weather in singapore.

Singapore has tropical rainforest weather for most of the year, bringing high humidity and temperatures. The monsoon season occurs from November to January, whereas June to August sees drier, hotter days.

How to Plan a Trip

How to travel safe.

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find Hostels via Hostelworld
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Cheap Flights via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via Viator
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go
• Get a Visa via iVisa
• How to pack light for your trip
• How to plan your trip our tips

Why is Singapore worth visiting?

A fantastic blend of cultures, languages, traditional buildings, and towering skyscrapers exist in harmony in cosmopolitan Singapore! The jaw-dropping skyline, home to innovative architecture, is peppered with traditional Buddhist and Hindu temples — set against a backdrop of luscious rainforests.

Is Singapore cheap to visit?

There’s no doubt that Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive cities to visit. Luxury is in the air, with upscale hotels costing around $200-400 a night and hostels upwards of $25. Although it might not be a backpacker’s dream, there’s still a way to visit Singapore on a budget; head for the hawker stalls in the markets or Little India, where you can find cheap local eats from $5.

Can I drink tap water in Singapore?

Singapore has some of the best hygiene standards in the world, with exceptional water quality treatment. This means you can drink from the tap worry-free! Pack your reusable water bottle in an effort to reduce plastic and fill up at hotels and restaurants throughout your trip. 

Do I need a visa for traveling in Singapore?

Great news! Most tourists can enjoy Singapore visa-free for between 30-90 days, depending on your nationality. However, checking your country’s entry requirements in advance is always recommended, as some places are subject to stricter visa rules. 

What language do they speak in Singapore?

Singapore is a melting pot of different nationalities, meaning you’ll hear several languages spoken on the streets. Although Malay is the national language used for road signs and important documents, the primary language spoken by most people is Mandarin (you’ll also hear Tamil). Moreover, due to its colonial British past, most of the population also widely uses English, so you’ll always be able to be understood on your trip.

Do I need travel insurance for Singapore?

Travel insurance is your safety net for your vacation in Singapore, protecting you against unexpected events, whether that’s a flight cancellation, lost luggage, or medical care. Go indoor surfing or bungee jumping, get a bird’s eye view from the Singapore Flyer, or zoom around on Sinapore’s thrilling Formula 1 Circuit.

Is Singapore safe?

Singapore has strict laws designed to keep locals and travelers safe. The crime rate is extremely low, and cleanliness is paramount. In fact, it’s illegal to chew gum in order to keep the streets as clean as possible. As with all destinations, keep an eye on your belongings in case of pickpockets, especially if you find yourself in busy places like the subway, festivals, or events. 

What power plug type does Singapore have?

Singapore uses type G (the same as in the UK), a three-rectangular-pronged electrical plug. However, type C (European) plugs are also used throughout the nation, meaning it’s a good idea to carry an adapter. Don’t worry if you forget; you can always buy one at the airport or stores in the city.

Why do people love Singapore?

Singapore has a unique atmosphere that is hard to beat, teeming with people from all over the world who have chosen to call this tiny country home. This cosmopolitan city offers luxury vacation experiences for travelers with endless 5-star hotels, infinity pools, spas, and rooftop cocktail bars across the skyline. However, it’s also popular for backpackers who want to dive into its buzzing markets, street food, botanical gardens, and fantastic free activities like the Sky Garden.

Traveling in Singapore

A vacation in Singapore is second to none; you get all the benefits of exploring an entire country but with the compact size of a city! The incredibly safe and vibrant metropolis offers everything a traveler could want: dine on cheap street food and peruse bustling markets, sip on zesty cocktails in luxury rooftop lounges, or head into the neighboring jungle for nature adventures.

How to Plan Your Trip to Singapore

Follow our Singapore travel guide to plan your ideal city trip, where you’ll find all our top tips for cultural and gastronomical highlights. Singapore is often a stop-off point for travelers heading to Australia or other destinations in Asia , and as such, it caters excellently to those looking to relax and refresh. Luxury is found on every street corner here, where you’ll find five-star hotels with rooftop pools, endless cocktail bars, high-end restaurants, and spas aplenty. There’s even a rooftop pool at Singapore Changi Airport for those who want a quick dip before or after their flight! Discover all the best places in Singapore by following our complete travel guide.

Best Time to Visit Singapore

Looking for the best time to plan your Singapore holiday ? Find out about the climate in Singapore with this seasonal information.

Hot Season (June-August): Singapore is nearly always humid; however, June to August sees the lowest humidity and the hottest and driest months. During this time, temperatures soar to between 32-34 °C. Although this season is the warmest, it’s the most popular because of the lower humidity, attracting sightseers and those looking to escape the cooler temperatures in countries like Australia and New Zealand . This makes it the busiest season for tourism, with hotel prices rising and tours and accommodation getting booked quickly. 

Tip: Book a hotel with a rooftop pool to cool down after a morning of sightseeing.

Wet Season (November-Jan) : Singapores sees heavy rainfall during this time, but rest assured, it won’t last long! The wet season in Singapore sees short, heavy rains (generally accompanied by mesmerizing thunderstorms), so although you might have to shelter for a moment, you’ll be back out sightseeing in no time. This is also the best time for backpacking in Singapore as it’s the low season with fewer crowds and more affordable prices. 

Cool Season (December-February): Temperatures remain relatively consistent year-round in Singapore, but for the coolest temperatures, consider December to February the best time to visit Singapore. During this time, temperatures are milder (25 – 30 °C), making it an excellent time for exploring the city and making the most of outdoor activities in the city’s jungle fringes. Please note that Christmas makes December one of the most popular times to visit, and accommodation and tours can be more expensive, so book well in advance.

Coastlines and Beaches in Singapore 

Although Singapore is not known for its coastline, it is home to some beautiful urban beach spots. Sentosa Island, in particular, is deemed by locals as one of the best places to visit in Singapore , home to several lovely beaches like Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach. The island is mainly known for its water parks and beach clubs and is considered more of an entertainment destination rather than for beach relaxation.

East Coast Park is another popular spot, offering respite from the city and popular with families who flock to its shores for rollerblading, picnics, and BBQs. Although the waters aren’t the clearest, locals and tourists alike love the space for outdoor activities — it’s the perfect place to rent a bike and explore the unexpected natural surroundings of this sprawling urban jungle.

More natural experiences can be found in the jungle and nature reserves surrounding the city, which are just a bus ride away! Spend your vacation in Singapore spotting monkeys in the rainforest canopy in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, ride the cable car to the top of Mount Faber, or get your adrenaline pumping as you look for crocodiles and monitor lizards in the spectacular Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. 

Wherever you choose, the countless natural experiences in Singapore make it one of the most unique cities to visit in the world! There’s nowhere else where you can sip coffee under lofty skyscrapers in the morning and be immersed deep in a serene jungle landscape by afternoon. Zipline across Sentosa Island, gaze in wonder at the waterfalls of the cloud forest, and cross suspension bridges in the forest canopy at MacRitchie Reservoir —  Singapore is not to be missed!

Food, Culture, and Religion in Malaysia 

As a city-state with a long history of colonization and immigration, Singapore is one of the most incredible melting pots of different cultures and religions. Instead of these differences being divisive, the community is incredibly harmonious, with groups of people from all different backgrounds coming together to share and enjoy various traditions. This makes Singapore travel a truly fascinating experience. 

Religion: There is not one predominant faith in Singapore. Instead, the city sees the practice of Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and the lesser-known Taoism (a philosophy indigenous to China). Because of the unique range of religions that co-exist here, travelers will find an incredible array of temples in the city, with some of the most famous being the beautiful red Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the pristine white cathedral of St Andrews, which stands out among the contemporary skyscrapers of Singapore’s central business district. 

Food: The food scene in Singapore is iconic and is one of the main things to enjoy about a holiday in Singapore ! The city’s multiculturalism has created a haven of flavors, from the spices of authentic Indian food to the cheap and fragrant hawker stalls in Chinatown. Chinese and Malaysian influences come together to produce Hainanese chicken rice, chili crab, and Nasi Lemak. Alternatively, you can dine on the most delicious Roti and Biryani curry under the colorful facades of vibrant Little India. International dishes have also made their way to the city, with an upscale dining scene led by famous chefs from all over the world, each pushing new innovational recipes and gastronomical wonders. 

Experience a mix of everything; eat curry with your hands as you sit on stools on the street edge in Little India, sample a delicacy from each vendor in the busy hawker centers, or reserve a table at one of the Michelin Star restaurants, dining on regional delicacies while drinking in night time city views. There’s a dish and a restaurant for every traveler; enjoying the food is one of the best things to do in Singapore ! 

Tip: Make sure to try the Hawker favorite: Char Kway Teow, a delicious wok noodle dish from China (usually served on a banana leaf with a squeeze of lime!).

Culture: The culture in Singapore is vibrant, warm, and a testament to the harmony and cohesion of the community. With so many languages, faiths, and nationalities living together in the same area, the city offers a unique social landscape where blended families and friends come together to celebrate each other’s religious holidays, traditional plates, and dialects. In fact, the icon of Singapore represents precisely this: look out for the Merlion, a statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish that represents the humble beginnings of Singapore as a fishing village and a fusion of cultures. On your vacation in Singapore , celebrate world-famous religious festivals like Chinese New Year and Deepavali, and learn more about the arts, such as Malay dance, Chinese opera, or Indian songs. 

The intermingling of religion , culture , and delicious food makes traveling in Singapore a multicultural feast for the senses!

Why You Should Travel to Singapore

A city of endless possibilities; that’s why Singapore is so infectious! Exciting contrasts meet you at every corner, from the fusion of cultures and religions to the juxtaposition between tradition and modernity. In no city can you find such a landscape of extremes, where a monkey-inhabited rainforest grows between innovative architectural wonders. With so much to explore and the addictive personality of this magical city, there’s always more to see on another vacation in Singapore !

Visitors are mainly drawn to Singapore for the luxury restaurants, hotels, and fantastic shopping in one of the world’s cleanest and most beautiful cities. But Singapore isn’t just about glamor – there’s ancient history and tradition to be found, too, among the numerous temples, colonial buildings, and authentic streets of districts like Little India and Chinatown. It’s something special that in 24 hours, you can wander under traditional lanterns and temples, see monitor Lizards in the wild, and dine on the most luxurious food — all in one place!

For a bucket list activity on your Singapore holiday , head to the unforgettable Gardens by the Bay, where you can see one of the most spectacular free light shows, accompanied by music that echoes from avatar-like structures. Or for those who like their days accompanied by a little adrenaline, ride the rollercoasters at Universal Studios, go ziplining at Sentosa Island, or be blown away by the G-force of the cars at the Singapore Grand Prix! 

Safety and Travel Advice in Singapore

Singapore is one of the safest countries to travel to, with the government working hard to ensure the security of travelers and residents. However, like any destination, it’s always good to exercise precaution on your travels. Use the following information to help you get the most out of your journey. 

Natural Disasters: Singapore is unlikely to experience any natural disasters. However, thunderstorms are frequent during the wet season (November to January). Always keep an eye on the weather, and take shelter indoors during storms. Stay informed by registering with your embassy to receive emergency updates on your trip.

Crime and safety in Singapore: Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates globally! Nevertheless, exercise caution by keeping valuables secure and leaving any important belongings at home. Like any destination, we recommend avoiding isolated areas at night, sticking to well-lit spots with more people, and being extra vigilant in crowded places and when withdrawing cash at ATMs. 

Learn more about travel safety

Traffic in Singapore: The infrastructure in Singapore is fantastic, and strict traffic rules keep people safe. The government has enforced high costs to own and drive a car in Singapore (to keep congestion low), so it’s unlikely you’ll drive on your trip. Rest assured, though, the public transport system is fantastic and is the best way to get around on your vacation in Singapore .

Cultural Sensitivity: Singapore has an incredibly diverse range of faiths, and everyone lives harmoniously and respectfully. Adhere to their customs and traditions by covering up when visiting places of worship, removing shoes before entering temples and people’s homes, and asking permission to take photos of local people. Please note that public displays of affection are often frowned upon.

Drugs and Drinking: Singapore has very strict drug laws and high penalties for possession. Always consume alcohol responsibly, bearing in mind that drunken and disorderly behavior is sanctioned and can lead to fines or even arrest.

Note: Chewing gum is not sold in Singapore (its sale is completely banned!). You can be fined for chewing, so avoid bringing it into the country. This is part of the government’s efforts to keep the city clean. 

Travel Insurance: One of the most important things you must do before your Singapore holiday is purchase travel insurance. This gives you assurance for unexpected accidents – for example, an injury, canceled flight, or lost baggage. Please note that Singapore has high medical care costs, so ensure you have comprehensive insurance covering high medical expenses. Check out these best travel insurances .

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Albom Adventures

Capturing the essence of travel through photography

Inspiring travel through photography

Singapore Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Modern, immaculately clean, tropical, and culturally diverse, Singapore is fascinating, but there are things you should know before you visit. This Singapore travel guide will help you discover the country’s unique rules and guidelines. We have filled it with useful Singapore travel tips and our personal recommendations.

Where is Singapore?

Singapore is a small island city-state off of the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, west of Sumatra and Borneo.

A tropical island, it sits about one degree north of the equator in Southeast Asia; consequently, it’s hot and humid.

A city-state is a small, independent country consisting of a single city and its dependent territories. Singapore, Monaco, and Vatican City are good examples.

Singapore travel guide: Quick reference

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With a multicultural population of 6 million people on an island a bit over 700 km² in area, Singapore boasts one of the world’s highest population densities at over 8,000/km² according to World Population Review .

• Emergency numbers: Police (999), Ambulance and Fire (995)
• Official Languages : Malay, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil (Most Singaporeans can speak English)
• Currency : Singapore dollar (SGD)
• Credit cards : Mastercard is more widely accepted than Visa 
• ATM Machines : Easy to find in Singapore
• Electricity : 230V 50Hz Type G connectors (same as those used in the UK)
• Telephone country code : +65
• Water : Tap water is considered safe to drink
• Tipping : There is often a 10% service charge/gratuity automatically added at restaurants. Aside from that, tipping is generally not done in Singapore, except in cases of outstanding service.

Best time to visit Singapore

Hot and humid, it rains frequently in Singapore. Aside from a dry and wet season, the weather doesn’t change dramatically. Year-round average temperatures barely fluctuate from 26 – 27°C (79 – 81°F), with average highs and lows of 23°C and 31°C (73 – 88°F) respectively.

Plus, there is little variance in the number of daylight hours between summer and winter.

Singapore travel guide to the weather

February to April

• Avg temps: 27°C (81°F)
• Considered best time to visit.
• More crowded.
• Requires booking ahead.

May to July

• Smokey and hazy from burn off in nearby Sumatra.
• Fewer tourists.
• Less planning required.

August to October

• Longer rains.

November to January

• Avg temps: 26°C (79°F)
• Slightly cooler temps.
• Torrential rains.

Annually, there are 11 public holidays observed in Singapore, many of which have religious roots. The majority of Singapore’s population classify themselves as Buddhist 33.2%, Christian 18.8%, Muslim 14%, Taoist 10%, or Hindu 5%. The key Singapore holidays and festivals that affect travel (larger crowds, higher prices) include:

• Chinese New Year  (January or February): Also called the Lunar New Year, it is a fifteen-day festival in Singapore with markets, lion dances, a major parade, and lots of feasting.
• International Jazz Festival (early March): A three-night festival held at Marina Bay Sands.
• Ramadan (Fluctuates): This month-long celebration includes extensive night markets, as those who celebrate fast during the days.
• National Day (August 9): Commemorates the country’s independence from Malaysia in 1965.
• Singapore Grand Prix (September or October): A huge event in Singapore, it is a “jewel in the Formula One crown”.
• Deepavali (Diwali) (November): A five-day festival of lights, which affects mostly Little India.

Singapore travel tips: Know before you visit

Tourist visas are not required for stays up to 90-days for visitors from many countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, and the USA. Click here to check the official government site to see if you need a visa. However, entry cards are issued at immigration and should be carried at all times with your passport whilst you are visiting Singapore.

Also, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required from travellers who are either from or have travelled in or through any of these African or Latin American countries in the past six days.

Singapore is considered to be one of the safest countries in Asia. However, that doesn’t mean nothing bad ever happens. Petty crimes are the largest threat, and like everywhere, visitors should remain vigilant to their surroundings and their belongings.

From a health perspective, when we visited dengue fever was at epidemic levels. As a person who has already had this mosquito-borne illness , I can’t recommend highly enough to check the status with CDC before you visit, and use an insect repellent containing DEET , especially if there is an active threat.

If you are concerned about travel in Singapore and COVID-19 (coronavirus), check the official Singapore government information on it .

Note: World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Hot and tropical, Singapore’s consistent weather means you can leave that winter coat at home. You will want a good pair of walking shoes, a sun hat, and swimwear.

We always travel light and include clothes and light jackets that can be layered as needed. Therefore, our basic kit needed nothing extra for Singapore. You can get a free copy of our packing list when you sign up for our newsletter.

Singapore is filled with fascinating and unusual things to do. Below is a summary of the highlights. Click here to see our detailed recommendations.

• Gardens by the Bay
• Little India
• Singapore Botanic Garden
• Kampong Glam
• Jewel Changi airport
• Night Safari
• Spectra sound and light show
• Garden Rhapsody
• Sands SkyPark Observation deck
• One of the many interesting bars

Travelling in Singapore

With the exception of one taxi ride, we took public transportation or walked everywhere in Singapore. We neither had nor needed our own car.

The MRT trains and buses are easy to use, on-time, and immaculate. In fact, I have never been on public transit that was so clean. One of the reasons is that there is no drinking, eating, smoking, or carrying durian fruit on the MRT. There are huge fines for the first three, and just a rule about the durian. 

Pro tip: Get a Singapore MRT Tourist pass

• If you are planning on taking public transportation, you can get an MRT Tourist pass for one, two, or three days. The cost is a $10 deposit for the card plus $10 – $20 fee depending on the number of days you will use the pass. Your pass can be topped up if you are staying longer.
• Return your pass within five days of its expiration, and the $10 deposit is refunded.
• We returned ours at the MRT station inside Jewel Changi Airport and were given $10 cash. Of course, we turned around and spent the Singapore dollars at the airport as we were leaving the country.

In Singapore, people drive on the left side of the road. It’s a small island nation with heavy traffic despite high taxes for vehicle owners.

As stated just above, we found the MRT system to be easy to use. Alternatively, we took a taxi. However, if you have your heart set on driving yourself, you can easily rent a car in Singapore. As always, we recommend RentalCars.com . We have been renting cars through them successfully worldwide since we discovered them a few years back.

We travelled on our own in Singapore and found it easy to get around. If you prefer a local Singapore tour guide, here are four top-rated options. Be sure to read the reviews and details before booking.

Private customizable tour with a local host : An ideal option for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable on their own but doesn’t like the confines of a group tour. This one is flexible for time (from 3-8 hours) and activities, allowing you to see it all or just a few of the best places in Singapore. Plus, you get the added bonus of the knowledge that comes from a local guide. You will get an opportunity to discuss and select the details of your tour with your guide on the night beforehand. ⇒  Check price and availability for this private customizable tour

Lion city highlights half-day bike tour:  See more in less time on a bicycle during this 4.5-hour tour that starts at 9 am and hits many of the key Singapore tourist spots. Ride through Marina Bay, Merlion Park, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, and more. Remember, Singapore is close to the equator, therefore, hot and humid during the day. Refreshments are included, but a reasonable level of fitness is required for this Singapore city tour. ⇒  Check price and availability for this half-day bicycle tour

Big Bus night tour : This 3-hour evening tour on an open-top double-decker bus includes Marina Bay, Chinatown’s food street, Gardens by the Bay (including the Garden Rhapsody show), fresh tropical fruit samples at Singapore’s largest night street market, a ride down Orchard Street, and a few surprises along the way. ⇒   Check price and reviews for Big Bus night tour

Private nighttime sightseeing with a river cruise : Another evening option, this private tour is loaded with fun, including a visit to Little India, watching the light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay, a visit to the Skybar on top of Marina Bay Sands Hotel, and a river cruise to see the skyline light up. ⇒  Check price and reviews for this private nighttime tour

Singapore travel guide: laws you need to know about before you get fines

Generally, everywhere we went was immaculate, even the public toilets. Some of the unique laws in Singapore help to explain this phenomenon:

• Selling chewing gum: fines up to $100,000 and up to 2 years in prison
• Littering (even small items): fines of $300 to $1000 and community service for repeat offenders
• Spitting in public: fines up to $1000
• Eating on public transportation: fines up to $500
• Failing to flush a public toilet: fines of $150
• Urinating in a public elevator may trigger the UDD (Urine Detection Devices), which will automatically lock the door until the police arrive
• Vandalism, like graffiti: both jail time and caning
• Entering Singapore under the influence of drugs: fines up to $20,000 and 10 years in prison
• Possessing illegal drugs (including cannabis): fines up to $20,000, 10 years in prison, and the death penalty for trafficking
• Smoking in public places: fines up to $1000

• Jaywalking: fines up to $1,000 or 3 months in jail
• Connecting to another user’s Wifi: fines up to $10,000 and up to 3 years in prison
• Feeding pigeons: fines of $500
• Singing in public if the words have obscene lyrics: fines and up to 3 months in jail

If you’re going to spend any time in Singapore, even just a day, there are a few culinary delights and drinks you will want to try. Of course, we found the best way to discover culture through food is with a cooking class from Food Playground (one of the highlights of our time in Singapore).

• Chilli Crab : Singapore’s most famous dish (sometimes referred to as the national dish) is either prepared with a spicy tomato chilli sauce or with a black pepper sauce
• Chicken Rice : This simple dish is probably Singapore’s most popular
• Nasi Lemak : A popular Malay dish made with fragrant rice, cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf
• Laksa : a Peranakan (mix of Chinese and Malay cultures) dish typically made of vermicelli, coconut milk, beancurd puffs, fish slices, and shrimp
• Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway): don’t let the name fool you, there are no carrots in Singapore’s carrot cake. Instead, it is a fried patty made from rice flour, egg, and daikon radish
• Durian fruit : We tried it in Malaysia years ago; once was enough. But if you do try durian, remember not to bring it on public transportation. (It’s rather stinky.)
• Singapore Sling : This gin, Cointreau, benedictine, and pineapple drink is made famous at the Long Bar in Sinpare’s Raffles hotel

• If you are touring on your own, be sure to check out the Go City Pass for savings of up to 40% on a variety of activities, including the hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Reserve your Go City Pass here .
• Every public toilet block I entered had western (sit down) toilets. Some also had squat toilets. If you don’t like the style in your stall, check out another stall. 
• At the airport on your way out, immigration (passport control) is early in the process, but security screening takes place near the gate. Therefore, you can keep your water right up until you enter your gate area. 
• Tourists who buy more than $100 of goods at participating retailers can get 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunded through the Tourist Refund Scheme .
• Visitors can register for a free public Wi-Fi account (even with foreign mobile phone numbers) at any Wireless@SG hotspot.
• Singapore is a major world financial centre and has one of the world’s strongest economies. Real estate in Singapore is often ranked as the highest in the world.

Save for your visit to Singapore

If you enjoyed this Singapore travel guide, please share it on social media and save it for later on Pinterest.

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Disclaimer: We worked with  the local tourism board,  Visit Singapore. Various entrances and other assistance were provided to aid in writing this page. The opinions expressed here are strictly our own.

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Lauren Bonheim

February 24, 2020 at 10:36 am

This is such a great guide for first-time visitors. So complete- and a ton of info. I especially love the weather section, as it really helps you get a feel for the best time to go. Amazing post!

Annick Lenoir-Peek

February 21, 2020 at 1:51 pm

I went to Singapore about 30 years ago and only got to spend overnight. I’m so jealous that you stayed at the Marina Sands! That has been my dream ever since I saw it on a tv show a few years ago. I’d love to visit the Gardens by the Bay. I love all the detailed information you gave about the country too and to prepare visitors. Things we take for granted, like eating food in public or singing songs that might be risqué in public that might expose us to fines are important to know ahead of time. I’m definitely planning on going and this blog post will be a useful resource.

February 21, 2020 at 10:35 am

I haven’t visited Singapore…yet! When we were in Thailand, my friend talked fondly of it and as you mentioned, how clean and safe it is. Good to know on the Yellow Fever vaccine-best thing I ever got I think! I love all of the tips you provide on where to find everything, the free wifi account travelers can sign up for. I’m dying to see the light show at the Gardens. But the things you can be fined for stopped me in my tracks-selling chewing gum? Singing in public (granted with profanity but still) and the UDDs that will shut down elevators? I do have to appreciate how hard they work to keep order, crime down and everything clean!

February 21, 2020 at 8:17 am

What a comprehensive guide! I would LOVE to visit Singapore one day. The section about their unsual laws is fascinating. No selling chewing gum? Urine detection devices?! I can think of a few US cities that could benefit from both of those lol.

Marie Moody

February 20, 2020 at 1:04 pm

Being disabled I don’t get to travel hardly at all, so I live my life through people like you sharing your trips with us all. I thank you very much. These pics are awesome. Actually it’s all things I would be interested in too! Awesome pics! Thank you so much!

February 20, 2020 at 9:27 am

I think I visited Singapore at the very beginning of summer and couldn’t believe how humid it was! I felt sorry for the poor kids walking to school or to catch the bus. It felt like I was breathing water. I’m sure you get used to it though.

Suzy Godfrey

February 20, 2020 at 1:41 am

Fantastic photos! What an awesome place to visit. Thank you for the tour!

February 19, 2020 at 2:45 am

There are so many things about Singapore in this comprehensive guide I didn’t know about! Some are fascinating, like the fines for singing songs with obscene lyrics in public, and others are really important for me to know: I am sure I would have been guilty of eating on public transportation. I do that all the time! I appreciate you saving me some embarrassing and potentially costly scenarios in Singapore. Thanks also for all the fun things see and do. I’d love to catch the Jazz Festival at Marina Bay Sands. I’ve heard great things!

Shiju Sugunan

February 18, 2020 at 8:04 pm

This is really exhaustive! Will be really helpful.

Sandra Papas

February 18, 2020 at 5:55 pm

A great guide for a great city! Aren’t those some crazy fines though! No wonder the city is so clean and pristine. Perhaps other countries need to take note.

February 18, 2020 at 1:02 pm

This is a great guide, Rhonda. It’s good to hear that Singapore is not only modern and beautiful but also very clean. I like the idea with the security check placed close to the gate. I always hate to throw my water bottle away and have to buy another one a few minutes later. However, having to pay $1,000 or stay 3 months in jail for jaywalking seems ridiculous!

February 17, 2020 at 8:59 pm

Singapore is a lovely place! Lived there for 1.5 years – it is a very clean and safe place to live.

February 17, 2020 at 2:55 pm

Thank you for sharing this information and wow I knew about some of the laws back in 2018 when I went there but didn’t know about the ones in your post!

Cassie Bailey

February 17, 2020 at 1:11 pm

Really enjoyed my solo weekend in Singapore. So many unique things to do there! Great, informative post too.

February 17, 2020 at 8:48 am

Thanks for the great guide! I’ve not visited Singapore before so I’ll be sure to save this to come back to when I get to go!

February 17, 2020 at 5:16 am

I’ve never been to Singapore, but it looks like such a cool place to visit! That rooftop pool looks especially amazing!!

Paul Pietrangelo

February 17, 2020 at 3:18 am

All these scary laws would frighten me to want to go Singapore. The Garden Rhapsody sound and light show at Gardens by the Bay looks fantastic and the city itself looks great but the laws scare me enough to stay away. I might break one of their laws without knowing and then what would happen? No away. I did enjoy your story about the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and that beautiful pool. Is I did go to Singapore, I would just say in the hotel. See ya Rhonda.

Cruisin Paul

February 16, 2020 at 11:17 pm

So many interesting things to see and do. The architecture looks particularly amazing! I do like those strict laws. I agree with them all!

February 16, 2020 at 4:49 pm

Good guide for first-timers. I’ve been there many times (including right now). Singapore is a fantastic place to visit. You might add that Singapore has Grab (not Uber), though I agree that mass transit is the very best way to get around.

February 16, 2020 at 10:02 am

Going to Singapore at the end of the year! Great post, saved for future reference 🙂

Alex J. Cavanaugh

February 16, 2020 at 3:33 am

Some steep fines. Promise I won’t spit if I go to Singapore. With that many people, I’m amazed they have room for that garden. I couldn’t tell – what is in that drink that looks like it contains black beans and green beans?

February 16, 2020 at 2:09 am

What a great post! I loved Singapore so much, reading this post makes me want to go back. Those fine amount are ridicelous aren’t they? But the city is so green and clean!

Suvarna Arora

February 16, 2020 at 1:51 am

This is really a very informative and comprehensive post about Singapore. I love how you have captured everything for the first timers.

February 16, 2020 at 12:14 am

You’ve really captured all the important information for a first time visit to Singapore. it’s so helpful. And even though I’ve been before, there are some new things that I haven’t seen. Great post!

Travelling Tam

February 15, 2020 at 11:51 pm

How interesting! I was thinking about having an extended stop over in Singapore for a few days o an upcoming trip actually. Singapore has always intrigued me. I’d have to take note of all those laws to ensure I don’t get fined though!!

February 15, 2020 at 10:23 pm

A comprehensive and almost exhaustive guide to Singapore visitors! I love this city although i am not a fan of its humidity. It is so inclusive to other cultures to the extent that its news channels include Chinese and Tamil (South Indian) languages apart from English! 🙂 Also, I remember years ago, the government offered part time jobs to housewives encouraging them to contribute to its economy rather than bring outsiders.:-)

February 15, 2020 at 7:45 pm

Thanks, really helpful guide – thanks for the jaywalking tip – I always jaywalk so will have to keep that in mind.

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Singapore Ultimate Travel Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Singapore is a modern, cosmopolitan city. The city is small, which is only around 719.2 sqm land area, but there’s still a lot to see and do. It has something for just about everyone – nature park reserves, beaches, museums, architecture, amusement parks, world-class shopping, and many more! With its location, this city is a convenient gateway to the rest of South-East Asia. You can either start, stop, or end here!

Do you have travel insurance? This is something you should have but wish you never want to use. Accidents can happen anytime and having travel insurance can save you a lot of money in case something goes wrong during your travels! Never travel without one. Get a free quote here.

Table of Contents

Getting To Know Singapore

If you’re looking for a true “Asian” experience, Singapore won’t be at the top of your list. However, it’s a place that packs a lot of inspiration being a world-class technology hub in Asia.

Not only that, but it’s also known as a super clean city, “fine” city, the land of shopping malls, and having one of the best airports in the world. Although known as an expensive city, it has a lot of cheap and great street food!

Before we delve into traveling around Singapore, we’re answering the most frequently asked questions!

What’s the currency in Singapore? SGD (Singaporean Dollar) | January 2021 Conversion Rate: 1.33SGD = $1 USD

Should I tip Singapore? The country does not have a tipping culture. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill so a tip is expected. 

What are the most common languages spoken in Singapore? English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil 

What’s the national language? Malay, but most Singaporeans speak English

Helpful Phrases To Know: Malay

• Hello = apa kabar
• Thank you = terima kasih
• Delicious = lazat
• Coffee = kopi
• Bathroom =  bilik mandi
• How much? = berapa banyak
• Too expensive = mahal
• Don’t want = tidak mahu

Helpful Phrases To Know: Singlish (an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore)

• Very good/delicious = shiok
• Black coffee (without milk) = kopi o
• Coffee with condensed milk = kopi c
• Coffee with less sugar = kopi siu dai
• Eat = makan
• Thank you = thank you ahh

What’s Singapore’s religion and culture? The main religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

How do I get around Singapore? The best way to get around Singapore is via its MRT subway system. Consider buying an EZ-link card or a Singaporean Tourist Pass to spend less and make your trip more convenient.

What’s the plug and socket type in Singapore? In Singapore, the power plugs and sockets are of type G. Bring a power plug adapter for convenience.

When’s the best time to visit Singapore?  

Climate in Singapore

Singapore’s climate is classified as tropical rainforest, with high humidity and abundant rainfall. The best time to travel to Singapore is between February to April. However, the climate is more or less the same all throughout the year. 

•       Rainy season: December-March and June-September
•       Coldest month: February

The peak season for tourists is from   November-January, June, and July. If you don’t like crowded places, better avoid traveling during these months.

Are there any major festivals in Singapore?

• Chinese New Year: mid-January to mid-February
• Thaipusam (Indian festival): first/second week of February
• Singapore Art Festival: May-June
• Hari Raya Puasa (Malay festival for Muslims): June-July
• National Day: August 9
• Singapore River Festival: October
• Lantern Festival: September 15th

Note: The exact dates vary each year.

Travel Tip: Check schedules and availability of buses, ferries, taxis or flights to book online with 12Go Asia.

Before booking your flight and for safe travel, see this  Updated Entry Requirements to Singapore  from Traveloka to get the latest travel information, restrictions, and other arrival preparations to enter Singapore.

Top Things to Do in Singapore

• Explore Gardens by the Bay – Spend a few hours wandering around Marina Bay’s gardens, an iconic destination in Singapore! It has three gardens spanning more than a hundred hectares of reclaimed land. Book your Gardens by the Bay and OCBC Skyway tickets from Klook at a discounted rate!
• Shop on Orchard Road –  Shop till you drop. From everyday items to luxury ones, you can find them here. 
• Have fun at Universal Studios –  Bring out the kid in you and ride all you can at Universal Studios Singapore. You can book discounted Universal Studios tickets from Klook.
• Ride Singapore cable car – Fly at night from Faber Peak Singapore to Sentosa Island and get priceless scenic views of Singapore. Get a discounted Singapore Cable Car Skypass from Klook.
• Visit Night Safari –  Have a wildlife science tour at night. Located next to the Singapore zoo, this park is the world’s first nocturnal park and rainforest lumina. It is open from 7:30 pm until midnight. Get a glimpse of more than 130 species of animals in action, including nocturnal animals. Don’t forget the 20-minute Creatures of the Night show held three to four times per night. Reserve your Singapore Night Safari Open Dated Ticket With Tram Ride from Klook.
• Join a Cooking Class –  Love food? Try joining a cooking class to learn more about Singapore’s culture and food heritage. Book a discounted cooking class ticket from Klook.
• Go on an Adventure at Skyline Luge – For a thrilling experience, the Skyline Luge and Skyride is a must-try! Book discounted tickets from Klook!
• Taste the Ya Kun Kaya Toast –  Taste Singapore’s iconic breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast at a discounted rate. Reserve here.

Top Attractions & Places To Visit in Singapore

Gardens by the bay.

Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare park, combining nature and technology. Check out its Supertrees, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome. These contain ferns, orchids, and flowers from many places in the world like Spain, Italy, and South America!

Entering the park and having your selfie near the Supertrees are free, but you need to pay a fee to explore the Cloud Forest and Forest Dome. 

Book a discounted ticket to Gardens by the Bay here.

Marina Bay is literally a bay, with its surrounding area also called Marina Bay. It’s built on reclaimed land. You can find here Marina Bay Sand, an integrated resort owned by Las Vegas Sands.

It is also known as the world’s most expensive standalone casino, including its land cost. It has three towers connected by a 1-hectare roof terrace, Sands Skypark. Its observation deck provides a dazzling panoramic view across the bay.

Planning to visit Marina Bay? Tour around with a segway guided tour. Book a discounted ticket via Klook.

You can also bike along the bay at night for the best view of the city. It’s one of the best things to do in Singapore at night . You can join a group tour or go alone.

Orchard Road

Known as Asia’s most famous shopping street with nearly 30 shopping malls lined up on its 2.2 km-length, it offers all your shopping needs, from everyday staples to luxury items. You can also find here the National Museum of Singapore. 

A home to different cultures and multi-ethnic culinary traditions, there’s always something exciting in Chinatown.  Whether you are touring age-old temples or looking for a place to eat or drink, check this place out. 

Reserve your Chinatown Singapore Walking Tour from Klook for discounted rates!

Known as “Asia’s Favorite Playground.” It includes casinos, forest adventures, and beach resorts, which makes it a wonderful island for relaxation and recreation. For those who love amusement parks, Universal Studios Singapore is right in this park.

Reserve your Sentosa Fun Pass tickets here for a discounted price!

Or purchase a Sentosa Express Train Ticket here.

S.E.A. Aquarium

Experience the biggest museum in Singapore at S.E.A. Aquarium with a VIP tour from Klook! Reserve a ticket here.

What To Eat In Singapore

Food in Singapore has cultural influences from everywhere-Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, and Indian.

We recommend

•       Chili Crab: national dish of Singapore
•       Hainanese Chicken Rice: originated from Hainan Province
•       Nasi Lemak: famous Malay dish, rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf
•       Biryani: fried rice dish of Indian Muslim influence
•       Roti Prata: a pancake-like bread served with curry
•       Fried Hokkien Mee: famous Singapore fried noodles

Singapore Travel Budget

The Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer by Post Office suggests that Singapore is the most expensive holiday destination worldwide. Still, you can tour Singapore without breaking your bank account. 

Good to know: To spend less, eat your meals at hawker centers. Most destinations can be reached on foot, so just walk. Plus there are free attractions in Singapore such as the Merlion Park, Singapore Botanical Garden, and Gardens by the Bay.

How much should you budget in Singapore (per day)?

The amount usually varies on whether you are a budget or a midrange traveler and if you like to splurge on some things. However, here’s a typical budget when traveling around Singapore.

For the Budget traveler: If you are on a tight budget and watch your spending closely, 40-60 USD per day. 

For the Mid-range traveler: If you want to have a few splurges and stay in nicer accommodations, plan to budget 100-120 USD per day.  

Accommodation

• Dorm bed = 9-12USD
• Budget room = 30-60USD
• Mid-range = 120USD
• Luxury hotel = 500USD
• Street food/hawker center = 2-4USD
• Mid-range restaurant = 10-20USD
• Bottled water = 4.50USD/liter

Transportation

• MRT = an average of 1USD per ride 
• Grab taxi = around 0.16SGD per minute
• Taxi from airport to city center = 14-25USD

Entertainment

• Universal Studios Singapore = 79 USD/one day pass  ( RESERVE YOUR TICKET HERE )
• Skypark viewing deck entrance fee = 23 SGD/adult, 17 SGD/child (2-11 years old)
• Singapore Zoo = 37 USD/adult, 25 USD/child 
• Singapore Cable Car = 35 SGD/adult, 25 SGD/child
• Night Safari = 55 SGD/adult, 39 SGD/child (ages 3-12 years old)
• Cloud Forest and Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay = 28 SGD/adult, 15  SGD/child (3-12 years old)

Budget Tip: For tours and tickets, Klook offers discounted rates for hassle-free trips. 

Where to Stay

These accommodations cost around 40 USD/night, good for 2 people.  

Beat Capsule Hostel

Located in the Boat Quay district of Singapore, this property is found right in the heart of Chinatown. It also gives easy access to MRT and bus stations. Boat Quay is a wonderful choice for travelers interested in skyline views, botanical gardens, and city walks. 

Book here for discounted rates

Conservation Shophouse

Conveniently located in Bras Basah and very close to the following stations: Basah MRT Station (651 meters), City Hall MRT Station (450 meters), and Bugis MRT Station (550 meters). 

Royal Lodge @ Pagoda Street

Just a few steps from Chinatown Heritage Center. The location is right next to Chinatown MRT Station.

7 Wonders Hostel @ Upper Dickenson

Located in Little India. It is near Bugis Street, which is one of the biggest and cheapest places to shop in Singapore, and the Singapore Art Museum. Little India MRT Station is just 300 meters away. 

Beary Best! Kampong Glam

This property is a 10-minute walk from Bugis Street and 300 meters away from Bugis MRT Station. It is also very near the Singapore Flyer and the Singapore Art Museum. Enjoy a nice view of Arab Street from the roof deck! 

Sustainable Travel Tips in Singapore

With how travel has taken the world by storm, we want to influence travelers on traveling more responsible.

So what is responsible travel? According to HuffPost,

Responsible travel (aka responsible tourism) is simply this: Being socially and culturally aware when you travel (i.e. use more common sense people!), understanding your affect on the places you visit and trying to make that affect a positive one.

Walk/ride a bike

A lot of destinations in Singapore are within walking distance, but if you want to cover more distance, you can also join a bike tour in Singapore. 

Instead of buying bottled water, drink tap water!

You can drink water straight from the tap as the water in Singapore passes the standards of the World Health Organization. You can also bring your own refillable water bottles and simply refill. Help save the Earth by reducing your plastic waste.

Talk to the locals

Immerse yourself in the local culture and what better way to do that than talking to the locals? Learn a few bits about their language and meet amazing people!

Respect the places you visit

Know what are the dos and don’ts in the place you are planning to visit. You might unknowingly disrespect the people, the culture, and the environment of the places you visit.

Enjoy the view

It’s nice to take photos to preserve memories but don’t forget to take the time to also appreciate the view. You might be too busy taking photos and selfies that you forget to enjoy the place.

Singapore Packing List

So now you have your flight tickets, it’s time to pack!

• Reef Safe Sunscreen
• Mosquito Repellent
• Refillable Water Bottle
• Travel Adapter
• Cotton Shirts, Pants, Shorts
• First Aid Kit
• Comfortable Shoes
• Skirts & Dresses (for the ladies)
• Umbrella – if you’re going during the rainy season
• Light Jacket – better yet, a waterproof jacket !
• Pocket WiFi
• Menstrual Cups (for girls only)
• Portable Charger / Power Bank
• Don’t forget your travel insurance!

Our Camera Gear

• Mirrorless Camera: Fujifilm XT3
• Lenses: Fujifilm Fujinon kit lens (18-55mm) | Fujinon 35mm f2 | Fujinon 50mm f2
• Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• GoPro: GoPro Hero Black 7
• Power Bank: Romoss Powerbank
• Camera Backpack: Case Logic Camera and Laptop Backpack
• Monopod: Ifootage Cobra 2 a180
• Mic: Rode VideoMicro
• Gimbal: Zhiyun Weebill-S

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• Hong Kong Budget Travel Guide: Six Days Backpacker Trip Itinerary
• The Best Travel Apps For To Help You Travel Better
• Where to Get Discounts For Your Travels (Plus Sales & Travel Deals)
• 7 Exciting Things to do in Dubai

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“The handiest and most marvellous city I ever saw”, wrote the natural historian William Hornaday of Singapore in 1885, “as well planned and carefully executed as though built entirely by one man. It is like a big desk, full of drawers and pigeonholes, where everything has its place, and can always be found in it.” This succinct appraisal seems apt even now, despite the tiny island’s transformation from an endearingly chaotic colonial port, one that embodied the exoticism of the East, into a pristine, futuristic shrine to consumerism. In the process, Singapore acquired a reputation, largely deserved, for soullessness, but these days the place has taken on a more relaxed and intriguing character, one that achieves a healthier balance between Westernized modernity and the city-state’s traditional cultures and street life.

Top 5 dishes

Sri mariamman temple, taking chinese tea, tanjong pagar, the baba house, drinking and nightlife, entertainment, street theatre, tailor-made travel itineraries for singapore, created by local experts.

6 days  / from 3950 USD

Indulgent Singapore

From the infamous Singapore Sling to fabulous shopping and nightlife, colourful neighbourhoods and mouth-watering cuisine, the small city-island of Singapore packs a punch. Come here for a relaxing break or a luxury respite before heading on to one of its more frantic neighbours.

5 days  / from 850 USD

Uniquely Singapore

There’s plenty to enjoy in Singapore, from visiting ethnic neighbourhoods like Little India and Chinatown, to night safaris, authentic street food and sampling the eponymous cocktail, or two. Singapore is, in short, the ideal introduction to Asia in one fell swoop.

12 days  / from 1250 USD

Singapore & Bali - A Unique Exploration

Combine Southeast Asia's smallest country Singapore with its largest country: Indonesia. Spend a few days exploring the metropolis before flying to the magical island of Bali. Temples, volcanoes and ceremonies are part of your itinerary, as are the gorgeous beaches of Nusa Lembongan.

The foundation for Singapore’s prosperity was its designation as a tax-free port by Sir Stamford Raffles, who set up a British trading post here in 1819. The port plays a key role in the economy to this day, though the island now also thrives on high-tech industry, financial services and tourism, all bolstered by a super-efficient infrastructure. All these achievements were accompanied by a major dose of paternalism, with the populace accepting heavy-handed management by the state of most aspects of life in exchange for levels of affluence that would have seemed unimaginable a couple of generations ago. Thus it is that since independence much of the population has been resettled from downtown slums and outlying kampongs (villages) into new towns, and the city’s old quarters have seen historic buildings and streets bulldozed to make way for shopping malls.

Yet although Singapore lacks much of the personality of some Southeast Asian cities, it has more than enough captivating places to visit, from elegant temples to fragrant medicinal shops to grand colonial buildings. Much of Singapore’s fascination springs from its multicultural population, a mixture of Chinese, Malay and Indian, which can make a short walk across town feel like a hop from one country to another, and whose mouthwatering cuisines are a major highlight of any visit. The city also rejoices in a clutch of fine historical museums that offer a much-needed perspective on the many successes and sacrifices that made Singapore what it is today, plus a lively arts scene featuring no shortage of international talent and local creativity.

Top image © weerasak saeku/Shutterstock

Singapore has no national dish – but that’s because it has any number of dishes that could happily qualify for that title. As many travellers never graduate beyond extremely predictable fried rice and noodle plates, here’s our selection of five of the best things to try.

Satay A mainly Malay dish of mini-kebabs on twig-like sticks, barbecued over coals and eaten dipped in a peanut-based sauce, accompanied by glutinous rice cakes and cucumber and onion slices.

Fish-head curry Many Indian restaurants offer this fiery stew containing a large fish head – eyes and all; the cheeks are the best bits.

Chicken rice Widely available at hawker centres, this Hainanese speciality features steamed chicken served atop rice cooked in chicken stock, served up with chicken consommé – the simplest of concepts, but incredibly satisfying.

Chilli crab Whole crabs wok-fried and served in a gloopy gravy made with tomato, chilli, garlic and a little egg. It’s mainly served at seafood outlets, though some ordinary Chinese restaurants offer it too.

Laksa A Peranakan classic of rice noodles, prawns and other morsels steeped in a rich, spicy, curried coconut soup; not hard to find at hawker centres and food courts.

The two square kilometres of Chinatown , west and south of the Singapore River, were never a Chinese enclave in what is, after all, a Chinese-majority country, but they did once represent the focal point of the island’s Chinese life and culture. More so than the other old quarters, however, Chinatown has seen large-scale redevelopment and become a bit of a mishmash. Even so, a wander through the surviving nineteenth-century streets still unearths musty and atmospheric temples and clan associations, and you might hear the rattle of a game of mahjong being played.

The area was first earmarked for Chinese settlement by Raffles, who decided in 1819 that Singapore’s communities should be segregated. As immigrants poured in, the land southwest of the river took shape as a place where new arrivals from China, mostly from Fujian (Hokkien) and Guangdong (Canton) provinces and to a lesser extent Hainan Island, would have found temples, shops with familiar products and, most importantly, kongsi s – clan associations that helped them find lodgings and work as small traders and coolies.

This was one of the most colourful districts of old Singapore, but after independence the government chose to grapple with its tumbledown slums by embarking upon a redevelopment campaign that saw whole streets razed. Someone with an unimpeachable insight into those times, one Lee Kuan Yew, is quoted thus in the area’s Singapore City Gallery: “In our rush to rebuild Singapore, we knocked down many old and quaint buildings. Then we realized that we were destroying a valuable part of our cultural heritage, that we were demolishing what tourists found attractive.” Not until the 1980s did the remaining shophouses and other period buildings begin to be conserved, though restoration has often rendered them improbably perfect. Even so, as in Little India, the character of the area has had a bit of a shot in the arm courtesy of recent immigrants. As regards sights, the Thian Hock Keng, Buddha Tooth Relic and Sri Mariamman temples are especially worthwhile, as is the Chinatown Heritage Centre museum, and there’s plenty of shophouse architecture to justify a leisurely wander.

Though Singapore has no shortage of striking modern buildings, it’s the island’s rows of traditional shophouses that are its most distinctive architectural feature. Once often cramped and unsanitary, many were demolished in the years following independence, but since the 1980s whole streets of them have been declared conservation areas and handsomely restored.

As the name suggests, shophouses were originally a combination of shop and home, with the former occupying the ground floor of a two- or three-storey building; eventually many came to be built purely as townhouses, but the original name stuck. Unusually, the facade is always recessed at ground level, leaving a space here that, combined with adjoining spaces in a row of shophouses, would form a sheltered walkway at the front (the “five-foot way” , so named because of its minimum width) – hence the lack of pavements on Singapore’s older streets. Another notable feature is that shophouses were built narrow and surprisingly deep. Behind the ground-floor shop or reception hall there might be a small courtyard, open to the sky, then yet another room; this layout can be seen at the Baba House and the Katong Antiques House. Also, shophouses were usually built back to back, with tiny alleyways separating the rear sections of adjoining rows; it’s down one such alleyway that the brothels of Desker Road are tucked away.

Shophouses began to be built from the mid-nineteenth century. The oldest ones are no longer standing, but slightly later examples, which still exist on and around Telok Ayer and Arab streets, for example, feature the characteristic shuttered windows and tiled roofs that continued to be used for several decades. Otherwise, their decoration was limited, say, to simple stuccowork, but by the turn of the last century, the shophouse had blossomed into a dizzy melange of Western and Eastern styles, which both European and local architects enjoyed blending. So-called Neoclassical, Chinese Baroque and Rococo shophouses featured decorative Corinthian columns, mini-pediments, fanlights, a riot of multicoloured tilework and stucco, even curvy gables. Local ornamentations included wooden trelliswork and eaves overhung with a row of fretted fascia boards, both often seen in Malay palaces; Peranakan pintu pagar , half-height swing doors like those in Wild West bars; and Chinese touches such as floral and animal motifs. You can see fine wedding-cake-like rows of shophouses in these styles around Joo Chiat Road in Katong and on Sam Leong and Petain roads at the northern edge of Little India.

By the 1930s, global recession and prevailing artistic trends had caused a swing towards more sober Art Deco and modernist buildings, with simpler, geometrical facades often topped by a central flagpole. Shophouses with so-called Tropical Deco stylings continued to be built in Singapore after World War II, even though Art Deco had become old hat elsewhere, and there are quite a few examples in Chinatown, on South Bridge Road for example.

Boxy 1960s shophouses were the form’s last hurrah. By the 1980s, shophouses had pretty much fallen out of favour as they were just too small to make efficient use of scarce land, though a semblance of the five-foot way lived on in some concrete shopping developments of the time.

As with heritage buildings the world over, today’s surviving shophouses are often but a handsomely restored shell concealing insides that have been totally gutted and rejigged. Many no longer serve as shops, homes or clan houses, functioning instead as bars, beauty salons or offices.

Singapore’s oldest Hindu shrine, the Sri Mariamman Temple, boasts a superb entrance gopuram bristling with brightly coloured deities. A wood and atap hut was first erected here in 1827 on land belonging to Naraina Pillay, a government clerk who arrived on the same ship as Stamford Raffles when he first came ashore at Singapore; the present temple was completed around 1843. Inside, look up at the roof to see splendid friezes depicting a host of Hindu deities, including the three manifestations of the supreme being: Brahma the creator (with three of his four heads showing),

Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer (holding one of his sons). The main sanctum is devoted to Mariamman, a goddess worshipped for her healing powers.

Smaller sanctums dotted about the walkway circumnavigating the temple honour other deities. In the one dedicated to the goddess Periachi Amman, a sculpture portrays her with a queen lying on her lap, whose evil child she has ripped from her womb; it’s odd, then, that Periachi Amman is the protector of children, to whom babies are brought when one month old. Once a year, during the festival of Thimithi (Oct or Nov), an unassuming patch of sand to the left of the main sanctum is covered in red-hot coals that male Hindus run across to prove the strength of their faith. The participants, who line up all the way along South Bridge Road waiting for their turn, are supposedly protected from the heat of the coals by the power of prayer.

At two Tanjong Pagar teahouses, Tea Chapter and Yixing Yuan Teahouse, visitors can glean something of the intricacies of the deep Chinese connection with tea by taking part in a tea workshop lasting up to an hour. Participants are introduced to different varieties of tea and talked through the history of tea cultivation and the rituals of brewing and appreciating the drink. The water, for example, has to reach an optimum temperature that depends on which type of tea is being prepared; experts can tell its heat by the size of the rising bubbles, described variously as “sand eyes”, “prawn eyes”, “fish eyes”, etc. Both venues also stock an extensive range of tea-related accoutrements such as tall “sniffer” cups used to savour the aroma of the brew before it is poured into squat teacups for drinking.

The district of Tanjong Pagar , fanning out south of Chinatown between Neil and Maxwell roads, was once a veritable sewer of brothels and opium dens. Then it was earmarked for regeneration as a conservation area, following which dozens of shophouses were painstakingly restored and converted into bars, restaurants and shops, notably on Neil Road and Duxton Hill just south of it. A grander example of the area’s architecture can be found right where South Bridge Road flows into Neil and Tanjong Pagar roads: here you’ll easily spot the arches and bricked facade of the Jinrikisha Building , constructed at the turn of the last century as a terminus for rickshaws. They were superseded by trishaws after World War II, and today the building serves as office space – with a celebrity landlord, the Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan.

Tanjong Pagar’s main sight is the Baba House , though as an architectural attention-grabber it’s rivalled by the seven interlinked towers of the Pinnacle@Duxton , a showpiece public housing development that offers fine views over much of Singapore.

The Baba House is one of Singapore’s most impressive museums, because it is and isn’t a museum: what you see is a Peranakan house from the turn of the last century, meticulously restored to its appearance in the late 1920s, a particularly prosperous time in its history.

The house is easily spotted as it’s painted a vivid blue. Note the phoenixes and peonies on the eaves above the entrance, signifying longevity and wealth and, together, marital bliss. Even more eye-catching is the pintu pagar , the pair of swing doors with beautiful gilt and mother-of-pearl inlays.

With its affluence and large expat community, Singapore supports a huge range of drinking holes , from elegant colonial chambers through hip rooftop venues with skyline views to slightly tacky joints featuring karaoke or middling covers bands. There’s also a bunch of glitzy and vibrant clubs where people let their hair down to cutting-edge sounds minus – this being Singapore – any assistance from illicit substances. Some venues regularly manage to lure the world’s leading DJs to play, too.

Singapore offers an excellent range of cultural events in all genres, drawing on both Asian and Western traditions, and even on a brief visit it’s hard not to notice how much money has been invested in the arts. Prime downtown property has been turned over to arts organizations in areas like Waterloo Street and Little India, and prestige venues like Theatres on the Bay bring in world-class performers – at top-dollar prices. This isn’t to say that all is hunky-dory: questions remain over whether creativity is truly valued when censorship lingers, if not as overtly as in the 1970s and 1980s, then in terms of there being well-established red lines concerning party politics, ethnicity and religion which no one dare cross. More cynically, some say that support for the arts is a way to keep Singapore attractive to expats and its own sometimes restive middle class.

Walk around Singapore long enough and you’re likely to stumble upon some sort of streetside cultural event, most usually a wayang – a Malay word used in Singapore to denote Chinese opera. Played out on outdoor stages next to temples and markets, or in open spaces in the new towns, wayangs are highly dramatic and stylized affairs, in which garishly made-up characters enact popular Chinese legends to the accompaniment of the crashes of cymbals and gongs. They’re staged throughout the year, but the best time to catch one is during the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, when they are held to entertain passing spooks. Another fascinating traditional performance, lion-dancing , takes to the streets during Chinese New Year, and puppet theatres may appear around then, too. Chinatown and the Bugis/Waterloo Street area are places where you might stumble upon performances.

With so many ethnic groups and religions present in Singapore, it would be unusual if your trip didn’t coincide with some sort of traditional festival, ranging from exuberant, family-oriented pageants to blood-curdlingly gory displays of devotion. Below is a chronological round-up of Singapore’s major festivals (excluding commercial events themed around shopping or the arts, for example, which are covered in the relevant chapters), with suggestions of where best to enjoy them. The dates of many of these change annually according to the lunar calendar; we’ve listed rough timings, but for specific dates it’s a good idea to check with the Singapore Tourism Board ( w yoursingapore.com ). Some festivals are also public holidays, when many shops and restaurants may close.

Singapore is the only country with an ethnic Chinese majority not to use Chinese as its main language of education and business. English enjoys that role – but here it’s often upstaged by the entertaining, though often baffling, Singlish , a mash-up of English together with the grammatical patterns and vocabulary of Chinese and Malay. Pronunciation is staccato, with final consonants often dropped, so “cheque book” would be rendered “che-boo”. In two-syllable words the second syllable is lengthened and stressed by a rise in pitch: ask a Singaporean what they’ve been doing, and you could be told “slee-PING”.

Conventional English syntax is twisted and wrung, and tenses and pronouns discarded. If you ask a Singaporean if they’ve ever seen a Harry Potter film, you might be answered “I ever see”, while enquiring whether they want to go out to buy something might yield “Go, come back already”. Responses are almost invariably reduced to their bare bones, with words often repeated for stress; request something in a shop and you’ll hear “have, have”, or “got, got”.

Exclamations drawn from Malay and Hokkien Chinese complete this pidgin, the most ubiquitous being the Malay suffix “lah”, used to add emphasis to replies, as in: “Do you think we’ll get in for free?” “Cannot lah!” If Singlish has you totally confused, try raising your eyes to the heavens and crying “ay yor” (with a drop of tone on “yor”) – an expression of annoyance or exasperation.

Although these linguistic quirks often amuse foreigners and locals alike, there is much official hand-wringing that poor English could compromise Singapore’s ability to do business globally, so much so that a government-backed Speak Good English movement has been set up to try to shore up standards.

Travel advice for Singapore

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Singapore

• Eating and drinking in Singapore
• Travel Tips Singapore for planning and on the go
• How to get to Singapore
• Travelling with children in Singapore
• Shopping tips for Singapore
• Getting around Singapore: Transportation Tips
• Best time to visit Singapore

The Rough Guides to Singapore and related travel guides

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 11.10.2023

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PG Our intrepid Travel Guides have dusted off the slide projector, ready to take a walk down memory lane and reflect on the amazing holidays enjoyed over the past seven years.

• Tuesday 6 Feb

G Our Guides are on a tour of Great Britain taking in buzzing London, the English countryside and the wilds of Scotland and Edinburgh.

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• Monday 5 Feb

M Our Travel Guides are heading off on the beaten track for a super-sized, self-drive safari through South Africa before making a flying visit to Zambia's Victoria Falls.

• Thursday 2 Nov 2023

PG Our Guides are heading to Melbourne for a week long vacation in Victoria's capital of cool before a quick pitstop on Phillip Island.

• Thursday 26 Oct 2023

PG Our Travel Guides are about to embark on a Finnish adventure - a winter wonderland like no other! From the quirky cities to the rugged north, it's one heck of an Arctic ride.

• Thursday 19 Oct 2023

PG Hold on to your hobbit hats, because our Travel Guides are crossing the ditch to Auckland, New Zealand before hitting the road for an epic North Island road trip! S6 E6

• Thursday 12 Oct 2023

M Giddy Up! Our Travel Guides are getting behind the wheel on a real rural road trip through the New South Wales Riverina and Victorian High Country.

• Thursday 5 Oct 2023

G Our Travel Guides are ditching the rat race and hitting up the most chilled-out spot in the South Pacific - Vanuatu - for a tropical island adventure.

• Thursday 28 Sep 2023

ML Our Guides are in Malaysia for a truly multicultural experience. From the sights and sounds of Kuala Lumpur to the wilds of Borneo there's something here for everyone.

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In Singapore, a Culture of Service… and Surprises

By Tim Chan

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What do we want when we go on vacation?

It’s one of the most difficult questions to answer, let alone something to plan for. But as the world begins to move again after almost two years of a global pandemic, the answer it seems, is we want to do it all .

In Singapore, you might just be able to.

One of the crown jewels of Asia, Singapore is just starting to come out of a Covid-related shutdown itself. The country was closed off to travelers for almost two years, with the government welcoming back vaccinated visitors in April 2022 before opening up its borders to everyone — regardless of vaccination status — in August.

And while Singapore’s reopening is a little later than other countries, the charming country of five million has a lot to offer in terms of culture and conveniences, in a friendly environment that’s the perfect way to ease back into travel .

After a long 19-hour flight from the U.S., the warm smiles and friendly smattering of “Singlish” were a perfect introduction to Singapore, which has long been known for its hospitality. But Singapore is also one of the most diverse countries you can visit today, with a multitude of ethnicities, languages and religious groups that come together in a rich mosaic of food, fashion, adventure and art.

Nowhere is that better represented that on Orchard Road, the heart of Singapore’s world-renowned shopping district. “Vietnamese and Indonesian families love shopping here,” my tour guide tells me, as he guides me into Tangs Plaza, a popular Chinese-themed department store modeled after the grand palaces in the Forbidden City.

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The best place to start your shopping in Singapore though is at Design Orchard , a colorful modern bazaar of a space that’s like a gallery-meets-department store. Here, you’ll find exclusive goods from more than 100 home-grown designers, from popular Batik-print apparel — a signature of Singaporean design — to hand-poured candles, handmade jewelry and even pet accessories. The next generation of Singaporean artists are well-represented here too, with their work seen on everything from funky T-shirts and wallets, to avant-garde, genderless fashions.

Upstairs, find Alchemist at Design Orchard, a hidden coffee shop where you catch up with friends in the warehouse-style space or from the rooftop deck overlooking Orchard Road.

Back on the street, Orchard Road can be deceivingly quiet during the hotter months (note: the temperature in Singapore never dips below the 60s, so I suppose every month is a hot month to some). On a recent muggy September afternoon, the neighborhood was surprisingly devoid of pedestrians. “Where is everyone?” I asked my tour guide, who was in search of a beer for me to beat the heat.

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Of course, you don’t want to spend your entire trip to Singapore underground. Two of the country’s most famous landmarks are above ground — and high above ground to boot.

The Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares and three waterfront gardens in the Central Region of Singapore. Here, you’ll find the popular Flower Dome botanical garden, the Supertree Observatory (the Gardens’ highest point) and the iconic Cloud Forest, home to one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls and a lush indoor mountain enveloped by plants from around the world. Everything seems designed for Instagram here, with fauna-fueled photo ops inside, and unobstructed views of the Singaporean skyline looking out towards the water.

A short drive away from the Gardens by the Bay is the world-famous Marina Bay Sands complex. Made famous by the film Crazy Rich Asians , MBS (as the locals call it) is comprised of three sprawling towers connected at the top by the SkyPark and its dazzling rooftop Infinity Pool.

Inside, MBS is like a Vegas-style complex, full of luxury boutiques, fine dining (we loved Daniel Boulud’s DB Bistro and Oyster Bar) and even a small casino. You could really spend an entire day at Marina Bay Sands, and on one of the rare rainy days we experienced in Singapore, we almost did!

Once the rain subsided, we ended the night at Clarke Quay, a vibrant and bustling nightlife hub located along the Singapore River. Old warehouses have been transformed into bars and clubs, and people of all ages come out to eat, drink, hop on a ferry ride. or take in one of the many nightly attractions by the Clarke Quay Fountain Square.

You’ll also want to make time to eat at Singapore’s famous hawker centers, a style of open-air food court with vendors cooking up everything from roti prata and laksa to the country’s famous Haianese chicken. We ate at Maxwell Food Center, though you really can’t go wrong with any hawker stand in town.

Buy Book: IHG Robertson Quay

Prefer a less hands-on dining experience? We loved Publico Ristorante, located inside the InterContinental Hotel at Robertson Quay. Also situated along the Singapore River, the restaurant brings a little slice of Italy to Singapore, with hand-made pastas, perfect appetizer bites, and warm, fluffy pizzas overflowing with fresh toppings and cheese. The cocktail menu is equally spectacular and you’ll want to save room for the inventive desserts too.

Though it measures just 31 miles East to West, Singapore is home to a surprising number of natural spaces where visitors can get away from the bustle of city life. One of these is the Railway Corridor, a 2.5-mile section of walking trail built over a former railroad track. It’s a great place to get a morning run in, or a leisurely afternoon stroll. The path takes you through some of Singapore’s lush tropical greenery as well as over bridges that once connected trains from Singapore to neighboring Malaysia and back.

And then there’s Sentosa Beach, a popular waterfront destination that gives a sort-of beach club-meets-amusement park vibe, with endless bars, live entertainment and dining options that run the gamut from DJ-driven wet decks to family-friendly restaurants. Of course, the strip of beach is super picturesque and you’ll want to dip your toes in the sand too.

Everything is on island time here, meaning drinks flow well into the night and the dancing seemingly never stops. For the adrenaline junkies, time also comes to a standstill in the racing simulators and indoor skydiving experiences, though they’re not for the faint of heart.

The race itself is a wonderful microcosm for Singapore, with fans young and old repping their favorite drivers and teams, while the stands are filled with a mix of faces and cultures, who have come from all across the world to take in the scene.

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And it was true too, with the impeccable service I had experienced throughout my week in the city, and the pristine shops and streets as pretty as a postcard. Yet my favorite moments in Singapore were ones that were unplanned , and had nothing to do with perfectly-arranged photo ops or must-see attractions.

For me, the best part of visiting Singapore were the people: like the new friend at Design Orchard who directed me to a Chinese couple selling vintage-inspired band tees inside the nondescript Peninsula Center; her colleague, who invited me to a Devil Wears Prada screening followed by gay dancing inside a retro movie theater; the owners of Jigger & Pony, named the Best Bar in Asia , who took me to their award-winning bar for drinks, which led to introductions (and more drinks) with all the other award-winning bars in town; and my tour guide, who invited me to find him on Orchard Street on Friday night to watch him and his twin brother perform their street busking juggling act.

See, the thing that people often say they want on vacation, yet never really experience, is to live like a local . And Singapore, with its narrow alleyways of shophouses and fragrant hawker carts and hidden speakeasies and winding walking trails and mom-and-pop shops and knife-juggling buskers and gay dancing nights, offers exactly the kind of unpretentious yet unforgettable travel experience we all want. And that’s what makes it such a beautiful place to visit.

Sure the country has boomed in recent years, with a popular F1 race, the allure of Crazy Rich Asians , and scores of luxury buildings and shops, but the reason you’ll love Singapore is almost a little ironic if you think about post-pandemic travel: because even though you’re on vacation in Singapore, it doesn’t take long before you feel right at home.

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5 travel shows to get inspiration for your next big holiday

This time last year I was sipping fishbowl gin and tonics in Ibiza (well… maybe not sipping). Unfortunately, much has changed since then, and our world and way of life is unlike anything our generation has experienced.

Among many other things, international travel looks like it will be out of the picture for the foreseeable future.

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Since that trip, I've been on the lookout for the next big overseas holiday I want to put on my bucket list. And during lockdown these travel shows have been the pick of the bunch for inspiration for when we are able to travel again. Some are simply great armchair entertainment.

Race Across the World (Season 1)

Race Across the World is unlike any reality travel show you ever seen before. It has similarities to The Amazing Race , where couples travel around and need to make their way through checkpoints fastest, or run the risk of being eliminated. Checkpoints in Season 1 include places you may not have heard of, including: Delphi (Greece), Baku (Azerbaijan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Huangyao (China), Koh Rong (Cambodia) and Marina Bay (Singapore).

The big twist with Race Across the World is the teams of two need to find a way to get from London to Singapore without catching a single flight. They are only given a purse with money the equivalent amount to a one-way airfare to Singapore, and that's it. They don't even get mobile phones to help them navigate.

Along the way teams need to be conscious of their budget, resulting in the occasional detour to complete jobs in order to boost their funds. This detour also gives the teams time to focus on the experiences between checkpoints and appreciate different cultures.

Race Across the World is raw, different and extremely addictive. Watch the trailer in the above video.

Stream Season 1 of Race Across the World for free on 9Now.

Top Gear: India Special

You're probably thinking, ' Top Gear ? Isn't that a car review show?' Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have taken the program abroad many times, travelling through countries on modes of transport that may not be designed for that adventure, such as their Patagonian Special in super-powered cars whilst travelling through South America.

In Top Gear: India Special (currently streaming on Stan) the team embarks on a "trade mission" (purely satirical) to help boost the British economy and trade relations with India — all while driving second hand British cars.

In one example they put themselves in the shoes of Dabbawalas, a group of people who deliver food tins between homes and offices.

The trio used their cars to deliver the lunchboxes/tins whilst trying to navigate through the busy streets on Mumbai, a task that is normally performed via train in India.

The tone of these travel specials is always comical while also showcasing different cultures and the amazing countries they are exploring.

Top Gear: India Special is streaming now on Stan.

Travel Guides

Narrated by Australian comedian Denise Scott, Travel Guides series consists of five very different families and friends, all with different ideas of what a holiday should look like, as they partake in the same activities from selected tourist spots from around the world.

In Season 3 the guides headed off to Israel, a country filled with amazing ancient ruins and spectacular beaches.

One key location the guides visited was The Dead Sea, known for its "healing mud" and for being "ten times saltier than the ocean, meaning it's impossible to sink".

Travel Guides is all about trying something new, with a laugh.

Stream every episode ever of Travel Guides for free on 9Now.

Hamish & Andy's Perfect Holiday

If you're after some more laughs with a bit of culture, why not armchair travel with Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. The pair is very well known for their different take on travelling with their hit series Hamish & Andy's Gap Year (streaming on Stan), but their latest travel series Hamish & Andy's "Perfect" Holiday takes trying out new things to another level.

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In "Perfect" Holiday the pair plan each other's "perfect" holiday activities without the other knowing. In Episode 1 Andy surprises Hamish by enrolling him in a boxing match. However the opponent was not your average boxer, rather the world's hottest chilli .

Stream Hamish & Andy's Perfect Holiday for free on 9Now.

Dark Tourist

Finally, if your taste in travel is a bit more unusual, check out Dark Tourist on Netflix. The program follows David Farrier, who explores dark tourism, which he says is "a global phenomenon where people choose to vacation in places associated with death and destruction".

In March 2011 the world was in shock after one of the worst nuclear disasters to ever occur happened in Japan. An earthquake-turned-tsunami hit the region, which caused destruction and a nuclear leak at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

As David Farrier outlines in one of the episodes, the area is now a dark tourism hotspot, for those few brave adventurers wanting to get a glimpse of the highly radioactive location. During his radiation vacation, David's tour group noticed that the radiation levels were even higher than that of Pripyat (Chernobyl).

Dark Tourist airs on Netflix.

Nine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service   Stan .

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The Travel Sisters

Best travel shows to watch right now (on tv, netflix, amazon prime & other streaming services).

by The Travel Sisters | Oct 20, 2020 | Travel Inspiration | 3 comments

And if you are looking for more travel related things to watch, here is a list of the best travel movies of all time .

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Best Travel Shows and Series

Best Travel Shows on Netflix

The following travel shows and series are available on Netflix only.

Ugly Delicious

Recommended by Stephanie from Explore More Clean Less

Ugly Delicious is a relatively new food focused travel show that follows celebrity chef David Chang, founder of Momofuku, as he explores both across the United States and internationally. The episodes are loose and casual, showing Chang investigating the history of different regional cuisines and food rivalries. His guests range widely including other chefs, writers, actors, and artists, but they tend to share similar air time to the restaurant owners and people off the street. The focus blurs between culture and personal, feeling like you’re the fly on a wall while interesting people who love food hang out and chat about it. There’s no way to watch it and not be itching to travel to a new region and try some of the foods they highlight!

Travels With My Father

Recommended by Lee from The Travel Scribes

From the moment they touchdown in Bangkok, Thailand and make their way to the famous Khao San Road, the Netflix series Travels with my Father  will capture your heart, and tickle your funny bone.

Chronicling the experiences of British father and son duo, Jack and Michael Whitehall, this laugh a minute series not only showcases some of the globe’s most famous destinations but features the offbeat, slightly sarcastic relationship between Jack, a 30-something comedian still longing for his backpacker days and Michael, his elderly ever-suffering dad. The drama (and the giggles) are mostly driven by the vastly different travel styles of the two: Jack, the singlet and loud shorts-wearing millennial who is most comfortable in questionable hostels and eating street food and Michael, a slightly uptight luxury traveller who insists on wearing his ‘Sunday best’ on the streets of Southeast Asia and checking into five star hotels.

The show, now in its third season, sees the unlikely pair traverse the globe with jaunts in South East Asia, Europe and, more recently, a tour of the USA. This is must-watch viewing for anyone who loves British comedy and travel, in each measure.

Somebody Feed Phil

Recommended by Amber from Food And Drink Destinations

From the creator of the hit comedy series, Everyone Loves Raymond, comes the Netflix food travel series, Somebody Feed Phil. Following the culinary journeys of Phil Rosenthal, Somebody Feed Phil presents food travel from the “average” travelers perspective. Phil is by no means a food professional like Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern. Phil is an easy going family man who just happens to LOVE food. Over 2 seasons and 12 episodes, Phil with his mall crew, including his brother, travel to some of the best food destinations around the world. Phil’s childlike enthusiasm for each new destination, cuisine and culinary experience is priceless. His inquisitive nature and ability to connect with people makes Somebody Feed Phil a one of a kind culinary travel show. For those interested in traveling for food, Somebody Feed Phil attempts to alleviate the fear of trying the local food. It’s certainly worth watching. Netflix has also previously announced a season 3 with episodes scheduled to air sometime in 2020.

Dark Tourist

Recommended by Martha from Quirky Globetrotter

Nowadays, travel is often painted as an Instagrammable pastime. Yet, there is a surge of tourists who are looking for quite the opposite and want to see the not-so-glamorous parts of the world. We’re not talking off the beaten path. We’re talking more about what happens behind closed doors and what rumors try to speculate. The trend of traveling and diving into the taboo and unknown comes to life in the Netflix show, “ Dark Tourist .”

Whether it’s visiting radioactive nuclear sites or learning about gruesome assassinations, it’s the sense of forbiddenness or coveted secrets that these tourists ache for. Have you ever wondered why people are so enthralled by serial killer documentaries? The same thrill takes place in these destinations. (Don’t worry, there’s a Jeffrey Dahmer tour for you true crime aficionados.) Dark tourism profits off exposing the occult or veiled history of these locales.

Recommended by Laura from What’s Hot?

Our Planet is one of David Attenborough’s latest documentary series and was made directly for Netflix. Like all his other series, this one is beautifully shot, highly informative and well-loved by all the family. What sets One Planet apart from some of the others however is the focus upon how human life and global warming are destroying these natural havens. Attenborough takes us to some of the most beautiful and peaceful places on Earth before showing us the tragic consequences that have left other, similar areas barren wastelands.

Alternating between land and sea, you’ll go to the desert, the depths of the ocean, the jungles and the coast. This is an important one for avid travellers because it will jointly inspires us to travel more of the world’s secluded locations but also to do so in a way which doesn’t disturb our planet.

Emily in Paris

Recommended by Matilda

Emily in Paris is about a young American woman who lands a job in a Parisian marketing firm. The show was created by the same person as Sex and The City and has a similar vibe only instead of New York heavily features Paris. It is fun, somewhat campy and an easy watch. While I wouldn’t recommend it as an entirely accurate portrayal of French culture, the scenery is absolutely beautiful and reminds me why Paris is one of my all-time favorite cities.

Best Travel Shows on TV, Amazon Prime Video and Other Streaming Services

The following travel shows and series are available on TV, Amazon Prime Video and/or various streaming services (such as Hulu).

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An Idiot Abroad

Recommended by Haley Plotkin, Ready Set Jet Set

An Idiot Abroad is a hysterical British travel docu-series following Karl Pilkington, a man that one could call an “idiot savant”. What everyone has to know about Karl is, he really does not like to travel. Knowing this, his friends Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who one may know as famous British comedic actors, send Karl on epic adventures all across the world, with some twists and pranks along the way. These are the kind of trips that most people would kill for, but to Karl, he’d rather be home with a cup of tea. One of the highlights of the show is the Karl-isms along the way, such as: “The Great Pyramid is overrated. It’s a bad design. The lounge is going to be huge, but the bedroom is going to be tiny.” This is really not your typical travel show, and that’s what makes it a must-watch!

Where to Watch: This show is a few years old, so it is not currently airing anywhere in the US (it was created for Sky TV in the UK). In the US, you can buy it digitally on platforms such as Amazon Prime , Vudu , and iTunes .

The Layover

Recommended by Paula Morgan from Expert Abroad

The Layover was just one of the many travel shows that featured everyone’s favourite food traveller Anthony Bourdain. It aired for three seasons between 2011-2013 and after watching the very first episode on a 48-hour visit to New York it will likely change the way you travel forever.

No longer will you book the fastest trip to your destination. A stopover is not viewed as a hardship it is now something to embrace. The series covered 20 cities and racing against the clock Bourdain showed the audience the best things to eat, see and do, usually with a knowledgeable local as his sidekick.

The pace at times seems a little exhausting and you may not manage to cover as much in your 24 hours as the pro’s do but they make it easy for you to pick a few things for your next visit.

The team covered almost all of the main transit hubs across Asia, Europe and the USA including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and NYC. Next time you find a cheap flight because of a long stopover check the series list and start making some plans.

Where to Watch: You can watch The Layover on Amazon Prime or The Travel Channel . Some episodes are also on YouTube .

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Recommended by Arrianne Guzman from Travel Habeat

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown is a travel and food show featuring an amazing chef exploring destinations less traveled by. As it inspires you to explore off-the-beaten paths, you’ll delve into intricate cultures, rich history, and beautiful people. You’d realize that a dish is more than what goes in a plate, it’s about tradition, heritage, and way of living. Catch Anthony tries a delectable Filipino dish called sisig and a scrumptious dessert fondly named “halo-halo” while grasping how the Philippines spend an extended Christmas season. Unravel with him the complicated past of Koreatown in Los Angeles and see what it was like to grow up Korean American. Or maybe you’d agree with him how a salad of fermented tea leaves can taste good in Myanmar.

Where to Watch: An original CNN series, it is available in digital media platforms including Amazon Prime , iTunes, and Vudu .

Expedition Unknown

Recommended by Albi from Ginger Around the Globe

Expedition Unknown is a TV show that will sparkle the heart of every traveler, who loves history. Josh Gates will take you around the globe and at the same time, you will see him and other archeologists, solving ancient mysteries. You will get to know about Kruger treasure, where is the tomb of last Inka king and more Indiana Jones mysteries like this. So you will see all kinds of places and at the same time, know their history and local culture. It is very informative, fun and wanderlusty.

Where to Watch: You can watch the show on the Discovery Channel or on the Travel Channel . If you prefer streaming services, you can also find the show on Hulu or Amazon Prime Video .

Rick Steves Travel Series

Recommended by Noel Morata from Travel Photo Discovery

One of my favorite travel shows that turned me onto traveling was watching the PBS travel programs with Rick Steve’s. Primarily focused on travels in Europe, Rick Steve’s showcased an amazing series of places to visit around Europe and each lovely country. He initially visits a destination and hops around with a local expert to show the highlights, enjoy some local food and drink and see some cultural treasures along with connecting with locals, merchants and everyday people. It makes it so fascinating to watch his programs and really shows audiences the connection with people, place, culture and food makes traveling to Europe so wonderful and fun. Rick Steve’s has created a lot of guide books about individual countries that you can purchase or just watch his TV series on PBS for inspiration for planning a trip to a specific country in Europe that has always been on your bucklist of places to visit. So if you are looking for inspiration about a particular country with all the bells and whistles of what makes each area so unique and special, check out any of his programs on TV. You’ll be hooked and wanting to binge watch all of his programs in a row.

Where to Watch: On TV at PBS and Amazon Prime Video

Booze Traveler

Recommended by Megan Starr

One of the best shows to watch for those that love combining travel with beverages and food is Booze Traveler, a show by The Travel Channel that showcases a host traveling around the world in search for special alcoholic drinks in countries that he visits. I actually helped with a couple of the episodes back in the day (Lithuania and Armenia ) and it really brought to light how many unique drinks exist in every place that you travel! They travel across the globe from Hawaii to Armenia to Nepal and beyond. It is a really refreshing show!

Where to Watch: The best way to watch Booze Traveler is to catch reruns on-demand from The Travel Channel in the US. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video .

Recommended by Coni from Experiencing the Globe

Three Canadian friends decide to leave the Great White North behind and explore the world. They pack a bag, say goodbye to friends and family, and off they go. The initial plan is to spend a year traveling, but it quickly transforms into three whole years.

They spend a month in India, another in Japan, another in New Zealand. As they start feeling more comfortable on the road, the push their own boundaries and head to tougher destinations, like Libya and North Korea. They explore Greenland during winter, meet ancient tribes in Papua New Guinea and travel across the different scientific bases of Antarctica .

It’s impossible not to get inspired with the tons of wanderlust Departure sends our way.

Where to Watch: Available on Apple iTunes and Hoopla .

James May: Our Man in Japan

Recommended by Emma from Emma Jane Explores

Top Gear’s James May might seem like a strange choice for a travel show host, but the bumbling Englishman is an endearing host as he takes viewers on a comprehensive trip around Japan from North to South. Always happy to throw himself into any bizarre situation, Our Man in Japan sees May participate in all sorts of activities from dog sledding in Hokkaido to painting Mount Fuji with a renowned Japanese artist. Streaming on Amazon Prime, Our Man in Japan covers a whole lot of unique quirks that make the country a must-travel destination for all kinds of traveller types. Whether you’re a first timer to Japan or a serial visitor, Our Man in Japan will make you all kinds of eager to get back over to the land of the rising sun soon.

Where to Watch: You can watch on Amazon Prime Video only.

Planet Earth

Recommended by Roshni from The Wanderlust Within

The award-winning, BBC documentary series, Planet Earth was first shown in 2006. It took four years to film, using 71 cameramen in 64 different countries. The series was the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC and the first to be filmed in high definition. The 11 episode series is narrated by David Attenborough and celebrates the natural world in a way you’ve never seen it before. Each episode features a different biome or habitat on Earth and lasts 50 minutes plus an extra 10 minutes of behind the scenes footage showing the challenges of filming the episode.

Ten years after the first series, Planet Earth II was released showing how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth. A third sequel is planned to air in 2022.

Where to Watch: All 11 episodes of Planet Earth , and all 6 episodes of Planet Earth II are available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

Samantha Brown: Places to Love

Recommended by Francesca Makana of Homeroomtravel

Samantha Brown has been an icon in the travel world for my entire life. Back in the day, she was best known for her Passport series . Present-day she hosts Samantha Brown: Places to Love. In this show, Brown showcases some lesser-known destinations, like the Texas Hill Country, and covers things to do in that area. Although she does still cover larger, well-known cities, such as Shanghai, she will not just list the main tourist sites. Instead, she interacts with the locals and finds unique things to do in that location.

Where to Watch: Viewers can catch Places to Love on PBS and select episodes on the PBS website .

Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure

Recommended by Emily from Wander-Lush

There are few parts of the world that inspire wanderlust more than Central Asia. In this 2018 miniseries, British actress and supermodel, Joanna Lumley (you may recognize her from the 1990s comedy sitcom Absolutely Fabulous) retraces parts of the fabled Silk Road trading route from the perspective of a tourist.

Over four episodes, she travels from Venice to Uzbekistan via Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, visiting caravanserais, fire temples and bazaars along the way. This series brings to life the cross-pollination of ideas and influences that characterizes this part of the world where East intersects with West.

Lumley’s dry British humor and insatiable curiosity make her a terrific host. Even if you’re never considered visiting Central Asia and the Caucasus before, this series will inspire you to follow the footsteps of Marco Polo on one of the most epic overland journeys of all time.

Where to Watch: Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure is currently available to stream via Amazon Prime UK . Some episodes are also on YouTube .

Recommended by Ruby from A Journey We Love

Travel Man is a 30 minute British TV show hosted by Richard Ayoade shown on Channel 4 (UK). Each week, he travels with someone for a quick getaway (48-72 hours) and breaks down tourist sites, what to eat, facts about the city and banters around with his co-presenter for the week. For people living abroad, you can watch some of the shows on Channel 4’s website, and there are also full episodes available on Travel Man’s official YouTube channel . What makes the show interesting is that the host, Richard Ayoade, is not a big traveler nor is he a big fan of trying new things. It makes for a great perspective on how to plan quick weekend getaways for those who are planning trips with people who don’t like to travel and how to make it interesting for them. It also makes the series very funny because watching the host’s reactions and monologues is absolutely priceless.

Where to Watch: For people living abroad, you can watch some of the shows on Channel 4’s website, and there are also full episodes available on Travel Man’s official YouTube channel . You can also find episodes on Amazon Prime Video .

The Amazing Race

Recommended by us

The Amazing Race is our favorite travel show and we have been watching it from the beginning. The American reality competition show has aired 32 seasons on CBS since its premiere in 2001. If you enjoy the drama of reality competition shows and are also a travel lover then you will love The Amazing Race . Each season takes place in a few different countries and in total The Amazing Race has visited over 90 different countries and six continents. Teams of two people (usually couples, friends, or family members) race around the world, solving clues and completing tasks and challenges along the way. Relationships are tested and there are sometimes arguments between teammates and with other teams. The last team to finish each leg is eliminated until three teams race to the finish line in order to win $1 million. Fun fact: We actually applied to be on the show as a sisters team (more than ten years ago and long before we started this blog) but alas we were not chosen!

Where to Watch: You can stream old seasons of the Amazing Race on CBS All Access , Amazon Prime Video and various streaming services such as Hulu .

Did your favorite travel show or series make the list?

Some good recommendations on this list for sure. James May also has some other travel shows that can be found on Netflix, Youtube, etc. Although it’s a Vlog and not a true TV show I would add Kara and Nate’s Vlog show from Youtube. They have visited over a 100 countries and it’s one of the best. If you’ve never watched them, just start with their first show and binge watch it through to today.

Thanks for the suggestion. Will check them out!

I’ll recommend a few new ones. AppleTV has “Long Way Up” from the “Long Way Down” and “Long Way Around” fame. Actor Ewan McGregor and his friend, Charley Boorman from the tip of South America to Los Angeles on electric Harley Davidson motorcycles. I pretty much hate AppleTV+ but this show is so very good. You might check out Max&Lee on Youtube which has recently continued on with Max&Occy. This is one of many Vanlife travel vlogs but it’s better than most. Start at the beginning with Max & Lee and work your way forward for good binge-watching. I will also add in a bonus travel vlog from YouTube and that is Sergio & Rhoda in Isreal. This couple travels around Isreal and shows details about various historical sites with a local flair. Very interesting for those that enjoy this region.

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3 replies to this topic

Sean, what's the name of the show?

Hi Thailove,

The show is actually called Travelguides

https://9now.nine.com.au/travel-guides

Thanks will search online for it :)

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