Taxis are easily accessible all over Singapore, you will mostly find them in groups around hotels, shopping malls, eateries and tourist attractions as well as outside the MRT stations and bus stations and the airport. Most taxi drivers are able to speak English and a general fare will cost you around S$5 – S$15 depending on the distance traveled. There are surcharges applied in taxis for rides from the airport, during peak hours and for making payment by credit card. You can hail a taxi anytime but there is designated taxi stands around the city. Taxis can be difficult to come across during peak hours and when it is raining.

Singapore is an island so getting around on boat can be a popular option, rides down the Singapore River from point to point can cost approximately S$3 or longer cruises costing about S$13. You can get a shuttle boat to Pulau Ubin from Changi Village for around S$2.50.

Renting a car in Singapore is really not necessary and just not convenient with all the public transportation options and the vast areas covered. You really don’t need a car to get around here. It is not a popular option and can cost upwards of S$100 a day for a small car and gas prices are high. A rental company named smove offers electric cars for rent in the Buona Vista area, there is a S$19 registration fee and prices vary depending on the length of rental, you can rent an electric vehicle for 15 minutes to a full day. Other major rental car companies can be found at the airport and in the city.

There is a reloadable stored value travel card called the EZ-link card that can be purchased for use on public transport such as the MRT, LRT, buses and taxis (TransCab and SMRT taxis only), the cards are available for purchase at all MRT stations, TransitLink Ticket Offices and 7-Eleven stations and Shell petrol kiosks. The cost for a card is S$12, with S$7 stored value for use and S$5 which is nonrefundable.

There are self-service kiosks available at the airport for making transportation bookings upon your arrival. You can choose your vehicle type and enter your destination, make your payment and a driver will then pick you up at the waiting area provided.

A Ground Transport Desk can be found at each terminal in the arrivals halls, they are open 24 hours. They offer a shuttle service to most hotels in the downtown area, a shuttle bus departs every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours with an approximate cost of S$9 per adult and around S$6 for children up to 12, the journey is approximately 30 minutes. This is a good option late at night to avoid the long lines for taxi`s and avoid taxi surcharges.

The underground train/MRT (Mass Rail Transit) is offered at the airport. The station is located in between Terminals 2 and 3 underground. The easiest and fastest way into the city is to take the train from the airport to the Tanah Merah station and change trains, then catch a city-bound train to City Hall, exit through the left-hand side doors and cross the platform. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and costs approximately S$2.70 per person. The last train from the airport leaves at 11:18 pm and the first train departs at 5:30 am.

The bus stops can be found in the basement under Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at the airport and run from 6:00 am to midnight daily, the fares cost approximately S$2.50 (please have exact change, no change provided) and the journey takes around an hour to reach the city. Take bus 36/36A to the city.

The Taxi stands are located outside the arrivals halls in each terminal, follow the signs. Taxis are metered and the journey into the city takes approximately 30 minutes and costs approximately S$20 – S$40 with an additional airport surcharge of S$3 – S$5 and a 50% additional surcharge after midnight until 6:00 am.

Several car rental companies can be found at the airport, rental counters can be found in the arrival halls on all three terminals.

Hiring a car in Singapore can be difficult and expensive; it is not a popular option for visitors due to the need for an international driving permit, AutoPass, road taxes, gas prices, insurance, and inspection. The cost to rent a car can exceed over S$100 a day. And with the public transportation options throughout the city, a car is really not necessary.

There is a company called smove that offers electric car rentals in the Buona Vista area of Singapore where you can get a vehicle for around S$19 for 15 minutes and up to a full day.

Taxis are available around the city and a popular way of travel in the compact city with relatively low pricing compared to other major cities. A taxi can be hailed anytime along public roads outside of the city center, in the city center a taxi can only pick up passengers at taxi stands. Taxis can also be found outside major hotels and attractions including the MRT and bus stations. Taxis can be scarce at times throughout the city with none available for hours at a time during weekly peak commute hours or inclement weather with long waits at taxi stands

The fare system can be complicated with surcharges being applied during peak hours as well as midnight and 6:00 am and airport surcharges.

Taxis are metered with basic fares starting around S$3.50 with a charge of around S$0.25 every ¼ mile. There are surcharges applied to taxis in Singapore depending on where and when you travel, it is best to get a rough idea of your final fare from the driver and ask for a receipt. Here is a general idea of some of the surcharges you can expect, which are applied in addition to your taxi fare. During peak hours (7:30 am – 9:30 am and 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, except Sundays), the airport adds a S$3 and after midnight a 50% surcharge is added. Visit www.taxisingapore.com for more information or call tel. 6342-5222 (6-DIAL-CAB) for bookings.

The city of Singapore is a large city, but the city center is relatively small with hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants that are within walking distance along with other areas such as Clarke Quay, Orchard Road, Merlion Park, Chinatown and the island of Sentosa that are compact enough to walk around and do some shopping as well as explore the area and find somewhere to eat.

There are hundreds of MRT stops all over the city and most are within walking distance to the major attractions making it easy to catch the train and hop off at the stops you want. Many of the streets in the city feature dual sidewalks on each side of the road, due to rainy afternoons in the city most of the year there is a covered path on at least one side of the street to stay dry during the afternoon showers. Pedestrian crosswalks are plentiful as well as elevated walking bridges with escalators leading up to them.

Singapore offers some great areas for cycling with a large network of parks, the Quays, Sentosa and the areas such as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Tampines which are well-known mountain biking destinations. Bike rentals are offered at several places in the city and on the island of Sentosa with prices ranging from S$5 – S$10 a day.

The city of Singapore is one of the world`s safest cities, but like any other major capital be mindful of petty crimes such as pickpockets who target tourists and be aware of your surroundings especially when walking in the city at night especially the red light district of Singapore, the `lorongs` in Geylang.

Singapore is a very clean city and has some strict rules against public nuisances such as jaywalking, spitting (especially gum), littering, smoking in public (there are designated areas) and drinking or eating on public transportation which is prohibited. Keep your eye out for signs posting the `don’ts` and the fines that are associated with such offenses.

Singapore has a death penalty for drug offenses and the unauthorized possession of firearms.

Singapore is a premier shopping destination, a world-class city known for its style and designer labels offering shoppers an abundance of shopping malls, luxury boutiques, high-end stores and street side markets. Orchard Road is a renowned shopping street filled with different stores at every turn; the road stretches for 1 ½ miles and features 22 shopping malls, 6 department stores, four movie theaters, restaurants, galleries, and nightclubs. Vivo City is the largest mall in Singapore located in the HarborFront precinct with over 1,000,000 square feet of retail space divided into 7 levels, with a movie theater, the largest Toys R Us, an amphitheater and a wading pool with four food courts! Most of the malls and larger stores in the city are open 7 days a week from 10 am – 10 pm with some areas open for late night shopping (midnight) the first Friday of every month.

No matter what your budget is the city has something to offer everyone, it is truly a shopper`s paradise.

There is a `Tax Refund` of 7% on goods and services (GST) in Singapore offered to tourists. If you make a purchase over S$100 at participating stores (look for the `Tax-Free` logo) and claim your money back upon departure. Look for the Electronic Tourist Refund self-help kiosks found at the Changi Airport in the departure hall or the Departure Transit Lounge which is after immigration and apply for your GST refund using the machines.

The units of currency in Singapore are the Singapore dollar $, S$ SGD. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Singapore dollars (S$) upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Singapore by clicking here Singapore.

The weather in Singapore is tropical due to its close proximity to the equator (85 miles north) with average temperatures in the low to high 80`s with low’s in the mid 70`s throughout the year, it is humid year round with the daily average being 84! The hottest months are June and July. Singapore is also known for monsoons with the Northeast Monsoon season from November until mid-March and the Southwest Monsoon season falling between June and September.

Singapore celebrates an array of festivals year round, weekend music festivals, food festivals and festive celebrations which are a reflection of the diversity of the city and its multi-ethnic culture with several ethnicities and religions all in one place. The Chinese New Year takes place in January, June offers the Great Singapore Sale for shoppers, July is the Singapore Food Festival, National Singapore Day is August 9th, The F1 Singapore Grand Prix takes place in September, Deepavali the Hindu festival of lights is in October and Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay is a magnificent scene with Christmas markets and amazing light sculptures.

The food is Singapore is outstanding with a melting pot of cuisines from around the globe, the city has a colorful blend of several different cultures including Malaysian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese and Cambodian, and so you can be sure to find an array of local, international and regional cuisines all over the city. Makan means `eat` in Malay and Singaporeans are known for their love of food and eating is declared a national pastime and food is a national obsession. The basic five food groups consist of noodles, rice, meat, and seafood along with desserts or snacks. Singapore is an island and due to its location to the ocean it is well renowned for its fresh seafood, Chili crab and black pepper crab are two local dishes that are very popular and highly recommended. The city features an estimated 2,000 plus eateries, including fine dining at glamorous palaces to bustling hawker centers along with food courts to many hotels offering excellent dining options.

Some of the most popular dishes served in Singapore are Hainanese Chicken Rice, Chilli Crab, Laksa Char, Kuay Teow, Hokkien Prawn Mee, Barbecued Stingray, Fish Head Curry, Satay, Char Siew and Oyster Omelettes.

Singapore offers visitors a vibrant selection of nightlife. After dark, the Lion City transforms itself from a busy business hub to a bustling entertainment scene featuring an array of pubs, bars, and internationally renowned nightclubs. Here you can sip on a Singapore sling and dance until the sun comes up! Some of the best nightlife options can be found around the city center including Clark Quay, Marina Bay Sands, and Orchard Road and the clubs of Sentosa Island. There are two casinos that are popular in the city, Mariana Bay Sands at Marina Bay and Resorts World Sentosa in Sentosa with free admission for visitors after presenting a passport.

English is one of the three official languages spoken in Singapore along with Malay and Mandarin the national language is Malay. Most Singaporeans are bilingual and Singaporean English is based on British English and is used in the school systems and in business. There is a localized English dialect known as singlish which can be difficult to understand, it is based on the English language with Malay, Indian and Chinese influences. We suggest you get a good English-Singapore dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

If you are in need of medical assistance dial 995 for an ambulance or in the case of a fire. Dial 999 for police and emergency services.

Singapore General Hospital dial +65 6222 3322.