Tips and tricks for Singapore

After a 17 hour flight from Amsterdam to Dubai to Singapore, my backpacking trip finally started! I have been in Singapore for three days and have some tips and tricks you should definitely know before visiting.

Transport

Singapore has a lot of transportation options. Starting with the MRT. This is the train that goes from the Airport (Changi) to Singapore and brings you to all kinds of different places around the city.

The bus is also an option. There are a lot of bus lines through all of the city. Important: You need to have the exact fare, because the bus chauffeur can not change your money and a card is not accepted, the bus fare is also more expensive in rush hours.

Then there is the option of a taxi, or what we used, Grab. It works like a taxi but is way cheaper and more used around Singapore than Uber.

Connect

You can access wifi hotspots all around the city by signing up with your foreign number at Wireless@SG. You get your login details through a SMS and you are connected.

Language

English is the spoken language and traffic boards, bus stops etc. are written in English so you should not have any trouble finding places. Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and various other dialects are also spoken within Singapore.

Payment

A lot of the stores in Singapore do not accept a Maestro card, so take a Visa or MasterCard with you if you visit Singapore. Also take enough cash from an ATM, because not every street stand has the option to pay by card.

Tipping

It is not common to tip the waiter in restaurants, although it is appreciated by the staff. A service fee is already included most of the time to the bill, so make sure to check your bill.