Travel Guide Singapore
Singapore is a city-state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula: a main island, more than 60 smaller islands, and approximately 744 square kilometers, home to over six million people.
by Felix Gillen
Why Go To Singapore?
Singapore bundles Chinese, Malay, Indian, and colonial history across a few square kilometres, most evident in its Hawker Centres, whose food culture UNESCO recognised in 2020 as intangible cultural heritage. Between temples, mosques, and museums are Gardens by the Bay, MacRitchie Reservoir's rainforest, and the rustic island of Pulau Ubin. With short distances and excellent public transport, the city suits both a stopover and five more relaxed days.
More highlights in Singapore
Unique experiences that make Singapore unforgettable.
How to plan your trip to Singapore
From the guide to the road: here is what comes next.
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Use it on the road
Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.
Recommended Itineraries
Discover the best routes through Singapore.
Singapore in 5 Days with Islands and Nature
Five days that combine city and nature: Marina Bay and Chinatown, the Botanic Gardens, the wildlife parks at Mandai, a day by bike on Pulau Ubin and a beach day on Sentosa. Your base is a hotel at Marina Bay, and you reach the day trips by MRT, bus and boat.
Stops at a glance
View Route Details →
Singapore in 3 Days
Three days through the historic districts: colonial buildings in the Civic District, temples and hawker centres in Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, plus the gardens at Marina Bay and the Botanic Gardens. You stay centrally in Chinatown and reach every stop on foot or by MRT.
What you eat in Singapore
Good to Know
Essential info for your trip planning.
Land & People
Geography: Main Island, Islands, and Land ReclamationSingapore consists of a main island, over 60 outlying islands and…
History & Society
From Temasek to British Trading PostIn the 14th century, the island was known as Temasek, a fortified trading…
Food & Drink
Hawker Culture: UNESCO Heritage in Everyday LifeOn December 16, 2020, UNESCO inscribed Hawker Culture in Singapore as…
Practical Info
Health and SafetyFor current and authoritative travel, safety and health advice, see the UK FCDO Travel Advice (gov.
Getting Around
Arrival at Changi AirportAlmost all travellers arrive at Changi Airport (SIN) in the east of the island, which has four…
Traveling with Kids
Northern Wildlife Parks: MandaiLocated in the north of the island, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve is home to several…
Best Time to Visit
When is the best time for your trip?
27–29°C·105–164 mm(heavy rain)
Singapore is warm year-round, with daily averages, according to climate normals 1991–2020, between 26.8 and 28.6 degrees. The most pleasant months are February and March: February is the driest month with around 105 millimeters of rain and the most sunshine hours. June to August also bring relatively little rain, although cross-border haze can obscure the air during this time. November to January are the wettest, with December seeing around 330 millimeters. Rain mostly falls as heavy afternoon showers, so you can still plan your trip well with museums and covered Hawker Centres even during these months.
The Meteorological Service Singapore distinguishes four phases. The Northeast Monsoon from December to early March begins with a wet phase featuring prolonged rain and ends windier and relatively dry from late January. During the Inter-monsoon periods from late March to May, and in October and November, winds are light, with frequent, sometimes heavy thunderstorms forming in the afternoons and early evenings; the late-year phase is wetter. During the Southwest Monsoon from June to September, so-called Sumatra Squalls occasionally move across the island – lines of thunderstorms that can bring gusts of 40 to 80 km/h between early morning and midday.During the Southwest Monsoon and with light winds in the Inter-monsoon periods, light to moderate haze frequently occurs, according to the weather service. Additionally, transboundary smoke (haze) can form due to regional forest fires. The environmental agency NEA then publishes daily advisories based on the 24-hour PSI; you can find the current values on their website.
Seasons
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Northeast Monsoon, wet phase: prolonged rain periods and afternoon showers
Northeast Monsoon, dry season: windier, sunniest, and driest period of the year
Inter-monsoon: light wind, hot afternoons, afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Southwest Monsoon: short showers, early morning Sumatra squalls, occasional haze possible
Intermonsoon: frequent, at times severe thunderstorms, markedly wetter in November
Best Time to Visit
▶Show detailed monthly data
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sun (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.8 | 222 | 5.8 |
| February | 27.3 | 105 | 7.1 |
| March | 27.8 | 152 | 6.3 |
| April | 28.2 | 164 | 6.1 |
| May | 28.6 | 164 | 6.0 |
| June | 28.5 | 135 | 5.8 |
| July | 28.2 | 147 | 6.1 |
| August | 28.1 | 147 | 6.0 |
| September | 28.0 | 125 | 5.4 |
| October | 27.9 | 168 | 5.0 |
| November | 27.2 | 252 | 4.4 |
| December | 26.8 | 332 | 4.3 |
Travel advice
Safety, entry requirements and health: the official, up-to-date advice for Singapore is published by the UK government on GOV.UK.
Go to GOV.UK
Who's behind Fernweh?
Hi, I'm Felix.
I love to travel, and I love planning even more. Fernweh.guide is my attempt at building a really good online travel guide.