Singapore
Where can I see your posts on Singapore?
Click the see articles button on the right sidebar, or scroll to the bottom of the page for mobile.
When did you travel to Singapore?
The first trip to Singapore was a weekend run from Thailand in 2014 to renew our visas.
The second trip was in 2019 for a 24-hour layover, en route to Indonesia.
Why did you go to Singapore?
Singapore has sadly never been the end destination for us, although it is deserving of its own trip. The first time we visited, we were living in Thailand on tourist visas, which required us to leave the country periodically. When planning for one such instance, Fletch and I decided to look at all the direct flights out of the nearest airport on Koh Samui. There were maybe three or four international options. Singapore caught my fancy as I was obsessed with the food there. (Oh yeah, I also visited Singapore on an earlier occasion in college, but that was another time and an earlier blog). So long story short, I chose Singapore for the food.
The second jaunt through this impressive city was a layover en route to Indonesia that we decided to extend to 24 hours. Yes, Singapore is definitely worth extending a layover for. Even if you never leave the airport, which by the way just opened up the world’s largest indoor waterfall.
How did you get to your final destination from the US?
United Airlines offers direct flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN), which are just over or under 16 hours depending on which direction you are traveling.
Once in Singapore, the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is a breeze, and can bring you directly from the airport to any major area. The bus system is a bit trickier to navigate, and I recommend avoiding it if possible.
What advice do you have for someone visiting Singapore?
Where to Stay: If you are limited for time, it is worth spending a little extra to find a hotel room that is easily accessed by the MRT. On our first trip to Singapore, our hotel was steps away from Bugis Station, and sightseeing was a piece of cake. We were able to pack a lot in, and without any planning. Our second stay we decided to go for a cheaper option which ended up being an hour bus ride away from all the main sights. We wasted a lot of time bussing around and didn’t get to see nearly as much.
How to Get Around: The MRT is Singapore’s subway system, and is easy to use with color coded lines. EZ-Link cards can be purchased and fare added to them at most stations, and 7-Eleven stores.
What to Eat: Everything! Singapore is a foodie’s paradise. As a melting pot of cultures from all over Asia, Singapore has a lot to offer culinarily. Not to be missed are Maxwell’s Hawker Center, and Food Street in China Town. I recommend avoiding big meals, and instead hopping from one stall to the next and trying a little bit of everything.
What to Do: There are endless sights to be seen in this remarkable city. My favorites include the Gardens by the Bay, in which the Skyway and Cloud Dome are definitely worth paying extra for; and the Singapore Flyer, where you can spend 30 minutes sipping cocktails and gawking at the impressive skyline.
Shop ‘Til You Drop: If you enjoy shopping, then you will never want to leave the endless expanses of never-ending malls in this city. If shopping isn’t really your thing, then avoid them like the plague, because it will be a few hours before you find your way back out again. Beware that many MRT stops are located within shopping malls and it can be a dizzying task trying to find your way out!
Basic Information:
→ Capital: Singapore (city-state)
→ Population: 5,638,700
→ Area: 279 square miles (722 square kilometers)
→ Currency: Singapore Dollar
→ Time Zone: UTC +8 (Singapore Standard Time)
→ Official Languages: English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil
→ Religions: Buddhism (33.2%), Christianity (18.8%), Irreligious (18.5%), Islam (14%), Taoism and folk religion (10%), Hinduism (5%), other (0.6%)
