Singapore
Getting there
Singapore's airport, the high-tech Changi, is one of the busiest
airports in Asia, both in terms of passengers and cargo. It's still
seen as the main stopover to Australia from Europe and is a big
contributor to Singapore's economy. There are three
terminals.
Around 80 airlines fly to Changi from 179 cities and 57 countries;
the main ones include:
Singapore Airlines, whose home
airport this is and who fly to Abu Dhabi, Adelaide, Ahmedabad,
Amsterdam, Athens, Auckland, Balikapar, Bandar Seri Begawan,
Bangalore, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Brisbane, Cairo, Cape Town,
Cebu, Chengdu, Chennai, Chomgqing, Christchurch, Colombo,
Copenhagen, Denpasar, Delhi, Dhaka, Dubai, Frankfurt, Fukuoka,
Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Hyderabad,
Istanbul-Atatürk, Jakarta, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Karachi,
Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles,
Malé, Manchester (UK), Manila, Melbourne, Milan-Malpensa,
Moscow-Domodedovo, Mumbai, Nagoya-Centrair, Nanjing, New York-JFK,
Newark, Osaka-Kansai, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Penang, Perth,
Rome-Fiumicino, San Francisco, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai-Pudong,
Sydney, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tokyo-Narita, Vancouver, Zürich.
Air China to Beijing and Chengdu
Air France to Paris-Charles de
Gaulle
Air India to Chennai, Hyderabad,
Kolkata, Tiruchirapally
Bangkok Air to Koh Samui
British Airways to London-Heathrow and
Sydney
Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong,
Colombo and Bangkok
Emirates Airlines to major Australian
cities, Jakarta, Colombo and Dubai
Garuda to destinations
including Beijing, Denpasar, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Makassar,
Padang, Pekanbaru, Semarang, Shanghai-Pudong
Japan Airlines to Kuala Lumpur,
Osaka-Kansai, Tokyo-Narita
KLM to Amsterdam
Korean Air to Seoul
Lufthansa to Frankfurt, Jakarta
Malaysia Airlines to Kota
Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Langkawi, Penang
Northwest Airlines to Portland Oregon,
Tokyo-Narita
Pakistan International Airlines to
Islamabad, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur
Qantas to Adelaide, Brisbane, Denpasar,
Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and its
subsidiary Jetstar to Cairns and
Darwin
Qatar Airways to Doha and
Jakarta
Saudi Arabian Airlines to Jakarta,
Jeddah and RiyadhSriLankan Airlines
to Colombo, Kuala Lumpur
Swiss International Airlines to Bangkok
and Zürich
Thai Airways International to
Bangkok and Jakarta
Turkish Airlines to
Istanbul-Ataturk
United Airlines to Chicago-O'Hare, Hong
Kong, Tokyo-Narita and Washington-Dulles
Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi and Ho
Chi Minh City
back to topGetting Around
FROM THE AIRPORT
Changi is 20km from downtown Singapore and is accessed by the East
Coast Parkway by car. Most visitors will take the Mass Rapid
Transit (MRT) metro network, which takes you straight to City Hall
Station in half an hour with a cross-platform change at Tanah Merah
Station. Alternatively, you can take an airport bus from the
basement of either terminal. Taxis are plentiful but may incur an
additional surcharge depending on the time of day. Car rental
services are located in Terminal 2 - we recommend
Holiday Autos
which is usually the cheapest.
WITHIN THE CITY
Road expressways connect all parts of the island but private cars
are discouraged in the centre of the city with tolls and an
electronic road pricing system operational at peak times.
BY METRO
Singapore has an efficient and inexpensive metro called
MRT, which is an easy way to get around
the city and has a clever Smartcard ticketing system.
BY BUS
The most popular method of transport, buses are usually
air-conditioned and some even have televisions. But be prepared to
wait in the heat and humidity for them, and remember they get very
busy in the rush hours. You must also have the exact change.
BY TAXI
Taxis are plentiful, cheap and safe (all have to be licensed and
must clearly display their cab number).
Smart Cabs (Tel: 65 6485 7777)
drivers will have been on a tours course so should have a good
knowledge of the Singapore sites, and most drivers speak English
and enjoy telling you about their city. Cablink is the largest taxi
company (Tel: 65 6552 1111). If you book a cab remember to take the
number to prevent someone else from taking yours!
When To Go
Situated 1 degree north of the Equator, Singapore doesn't have
distinct seasons. Its climate is tropical (warm but humid), and
afternoon thunderstorms are a frequent occurrence. As a result,
it's a good place to visit any time of year but if possible try
base your visit around 1 of the many festivals and
events:
Thaipusam, February: a Hindu festival during which people
pray, fast and mortificate their flesh to prove their religious
devotion.
Singapore Fringe Festival, February: 2 weeks of music,
theatre, dance and art exhibitions, with events running
concurrently at the Arts Museum.
Singapore Arts Festival, May-June: a month-long annual
event, displaying contemporary arts with an Asian influence, and
amazing dance displays.
Singapore Food Festival, July: a month-long celebration of
the country's best dishes.
The Great Sale, June & July: an 8-week shopathon around
the city, with discounts of up to 70% in the department
stores.
National days (exact dates may vary):
1 Jan: New Year's Day
1 Feb: Thaipusam
18-19 Feb: Chinese New Year
6 April: Good Friday
1 May: Labour Day
31 May: Vesak Day
9 Aug: National Independence Day
13 Oct: Hari Raya Puasa
8 Nov: Deepavali
20 Dec: Hari Raya Haji
25 Dec: Christmas Day
For more generic info try
visitsingapore.com, or for a
listing of current events try
AngloInfo.
back to topOther Essentials
Healthcare
Singapore has excellent high-quality hospitals but all medical
treatment is private (you will need to pay for a consultation). NUH
(National University Hospital) is subsidised by the Singapore
government and has a specialist children's emergency unit. For
expat doctors, contact the International Medical Centre in Tanglin
Shopping Centre (5th Floor, 19 Tanglin Road, tel: 65 6733 4440) -
not to be confused with Tanglin Mall.
Mosquitoes
There is no malaria risk in Singapore, but always use repellent in
the evenings and countryside as the mozzies carry dengue
fever.
Drinking water
Tap water is safe to drink but to avoid any chance of an upset
stomach, stick to bottled water - available everywhere and very
cheap.
Tipping
Not expected in Singapore, and it can actually be viewed as
insulting. The only exception is taxi drivers but only round up the
fare to the next dollar.
Laws
The Singapore government has very strict rules and laws which carry
heavy penalties if not adhered to. Prostitution is legal but
strictly regulated, and while it is not illegal to be homosexual it
is illegal to carry out any sexual act that cannot result in the
procreation of children. Littering and jay-walking can result in an
instant fine, as can smoking in a public place. Lastly, to quash an
urban myth, chewing gum is not illegal but it is not on sale here.