Destination guide

Singapore

Fly into SIN. Aster compares live fares there across economy, premium economy, business and first - scored against your budget, sleep and legroom, with a straight answer on whether the upgrade is worth it.

Ask Aster for flights to Singapore

Singapore is a clean, safe, and remarkably green city-state, where Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures meet. It has futuristic gardens, old shophouses, famous hawker food and a tropical climate that is warm all year.

It is compact and easy to get around, which makes it a good stopover or a short trip in its own right.

How many days: 3

Three days is enough for the main sights, the food and the gardens. Four lets you slow down.

Plan outdoor activities for the morning or evening, and keep the hot afternoons for museums and malls.

What to do in Singapore

Walk through Gardens by the Bay
A futuristic park with giant tree-like structures and conservatories. The evening light show is a highlight.
Explore the Botanic Gardens
A heritage garden with an orchid collection. A calmer, shadier alternative.
Visit Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam
Each neighbourhood has temples, shops and food that show a different side of the city.
Walk along the Marina Bay waterfront
A promenade with views of the skyline and the famous hotel. Best at dusk.
See the Merlion
The city's symbol is a short walk from the waterfront. A popular photo stop.
Visit Sentosa Island
A resort island with beaches, attractions and a cable car. A good half-day.
Walk the canopy of a rainforest reserve
Bukit Timah and MacRitchie have jungle trails and a treetop walkway. Take water.
Visit a museum
The National Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum tell the story of the city and the region.
Take a river walk at dusk
A walk along the river, past old warehouses turned into restaurants and bars, shows the city's trading history.
Visit the Singapore Zoo or the night safari
Large, well-regarded wildlife parks with open enclosures. The night version is popular, so book ahead on the official site.
Visit the old Peranakan houses
Colourful shophouses and museums show the culture of the local Peranakan community. The Katong area is good for a walk.
Visit a hilltop or rooftop viewpoint
Several towers and rooftops look over the bay and the ships waiting offshore. Dusk is the best time.

What to eat and drink

Hawker food
Open-air food centres sell dishes from every culture, at low cost. The best places are busy ones.
Chicken rice
Poached chicken with fragrant rice and chilli sauce. A national favourite.
Laksa
A spicy coconut noodle soup, with seafood or chicken.
Chilli crab
A messy and delicious dish of crab in a sweet and spicy sauce. Order bread to mop it up.
Kaya toast
Toast with coconut jam and butter, served with soft-boiled eggs and strong coffee.
Fresh fruit and juices
Look for tropical fruit such as mango and durian in markets.
Satay
Grilled skewers served with peanut sauce, often at open-air stalls in the evening.
Ice kachang
Shaved ice with sweet toppings. A good way to cool off.

Getting around

The MRT metro is clean, air-conditioned and easy to use. Contactless payments work on trains and buses.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful.

Walking is pleasant in the evening, and many areas have covered walkways.

Good to know

  • It is hot and humid all year, and rain can come suddenly. Carry an umbrella and drink plenty of water.
  • Rules are strict on littering, and some items are banned. Check the official guidance before you travel.
  • Tipping is not usual, and a service charge is often added.
  • Air conditioning is very strong indoors, so bring a light layer.
  • Entry requirements, including a digital arrival card, vary by nationality. Check the official site before you travel.
  • Dress codes apply at temples and mosques, so cover shoulders and knees.
  • Most of the city is air-conditioned, and public places are well signed in English.
  • Learn the hawker centre etiquette. Reserve a table with a packet of tissues, and return trays where signs ask.

Where to stay in Singapore

6 neighbourhoods, described the way a friend would - what each is actually like, not the brochure version.

Marina Bay

Singapore's iconic skyline district -- Marina Bay Sands, the waterfront promenade and major sightseeing draws, right alongside the financial district. Polished and central, but with less of an old-Singapore character and a higher price point.

Orchard Road

Singapore's main shopping and dining strip -- mall after mall connected directly to the MRT, with the widest restaurant choice of any area on this list, though limited sightseeing or historic character of its own.

Chinatown

Heritage shophouses, temples and some of the best hawker food in the city, at a noticeably better price point than the bay-front areas, with excellent MRT access.

Kampong Glam

Arab Street and the area around the Sultan Mosque -- an arty, youthful district with a strong cafe and bar scene, good food, and a livelier evening atmosphere than the more heritage-focused Chinatown.

Sentosa

A resort island reached by monorail or cable car -- beaches and family attractions (Universal Studios, the aquarium), quieter after dark, but separated from the rest of the city and correspondingly less convenient for public transport into town.

Clarke Quay

The riverside dining-and-nightlife hub -- restaurants, bars and clubs along the water, very central and well connected, but correspondingly the busiest and loudest area on this list after dark.

What it costs

A typical day in Singapore, per person, in pounds.

£41

Shoestring - hostels, street food, public transport.

£107

Comfortable - a decent hotel, restaurants, the odd taxi.

Ready when you are

Tell Aster when you're thinking of going. It does the comparing; you keep the final word.

Start your search