" Singapore is an island-state in Southeast Asia . Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the world's most prosperous countries, sporting the world's busiest port. Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences and a lush tropical climate, with tasty food, good shopping and a happening, vibrant nightlife scene, this Garden City makes a great stopover or springboard into the region."

How to Get In

Visa

Travellers should hold confirmed documents and tickets for onward or return travel and enough funds to cover their stay. Male travellers with long hair are advised to tie their hair back on arrival. Women who are six months pregnant or more may be refused entry. All nationals, regardless of visa requirements, may be issued with a Social Visitor's Pass on arrival allowing for a stay of 14 or 30 days provided their visit is for touristic or business purposes. Extensions are possible for S$40, but initial Pass is free. Passports must be valid for at least six months from date of arrival.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.By plane

By plane

Singapore is one of southeast Asia's largest aviation hubs, so unless you're coming from Peninsular Malaysia or Batam/Bintan in Indonesia , the easiest way to enter Singapore is by air. In addition to flagship carrier Singapore Airlines and its regional subsidiary SilkAir [8], Singapore is also home to Tiger Airways [9], and Jetstar Asia, which recently took over Valuair.

Changi Airport

As befits the country's main airport and major regional hub status, Changi Airport (SIN) [11] is big, nice, and well organized, and immigration and baggage distribution is remarkably fast. There are currently three terminals: Singapore Airlines and most Star Alliance partners operate from Terminal 2 (T2), whereas most other airlines use Terminal 1 (T1). The two are connected by a free "Skytrain" shuttle service, or you can just walk directly across. The separate Budget Terminal currently handles only Tiger and Cebu Pacific flights and is connected to T2 by free shuttle bus.

If you have over five hours to spare there are free city tours six times a day. Check in at the Singapore Visitor Centre in either terminal. Even if stuck in the airport there are plenty of ways to kill time, including a movie theater (T2) and a swimming pool and jacuzzi (T1). Internet access is provided free of charge, both wirelessly and via some 200 terminals, there are some X-Boxes set up to keep gamers entertained, and there's live lounge music at times. Food options are varied and generally reasonably priced, with some choice picks including the Peranakan-themed Soup Restaurant (T2 landside) and Sakae Sushi (T2 airside). The free fortnightly Changi Express paper "contains news and information on events and happenings around Asia Pacific, in Singapore , and at Changi Airport ".

Both terminals T1 and T2 have airside (i.e., accessible without passing through immigration) transit hotels on their third floors - tel. +65-6541-9106 or book online via the Ambassador Transit Hotel [12] website. A six-hour "block" for a single/double/triple costs $57.75/64.70/86.65, budget singles (shared bathroom) $40.45, extensions $13.90 per hour. You can rent a shower (without a room) to freshen up for $8.40. The Plaza Premier Lounges [13] in both terminals also offer a basic but functional gym with shower for $8.40 with a Singapore Airlines boarding pass.

From the airport there are a number of ways to get into the city:

* Taxi (cab) is easiest - simply follow the signs after clearing customs. Meters are always used in Singapore and prices are reasonable. A trip to the city will be between $20 and $30 (including $3-5 airport surcharge, but excluding the midnight to 6: AM +50% surcharge if applicable).

* Limousines charge a flat $35 to anywhere in the city and are a pretty good deal after midnight , as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized MaxiCabs, which are good for large families or if you have lots of baggage.

* Shuttle - six-seater MaxiCab shuttle service to designated areas/hotels costs $7.00 and can be booked in advance or in the arrivals hall. 6 AM to 2 AM , every 15 to 30 minutes.

* Subway - MRT trains run from T2, although you must cross the platform to a city-bound train at Tanah Merah. The 30-minute ride to City Hall station costs $1.40 plus a refundable $1 deposit, and trains run from 5:31 AM to 11:18 PM . All stations except Bishan, and Buona Vista station have disabled access i.e. lifts to platform and at least one exit.

* Bus - bus terminals can be found in the basements of both T1 and T2. 6 AM to midnight only. Fares are sub-$2.00, exact fare required (no change given).

Get around

Getting around Singapore is effortless: the public transportation system is among the best in the world and taxis are cheap. Very few visitors rent cars.

If you are staying in Singapore for some time, a farecard called ez-link [36] might be a worthwhile purchase. You can store value on it and use it to enter and exit the MRT and buses at a 15% discount, and you get a 25c discount on transfers too. The card costs $15, including $7 of stored value and a $3 refundable deposit, and the card can be "topped up" in increments of at least $10 at the farecard vending machines). Alternatively, the Visitors Card [37] also includes ez-link card functionality and a variety of discounts for attractions; prices start at $45 for 3 days.

By mass transit

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and LRT (Light Rail Transit) form Singapore 's transit system. They are a cheap and very reliable mode of transportation, and the network covers most points of interest for the visitor. Buy single trip tickets at the station either at user-friendly automatic machines or from the cashier; single trip tickets cost from $0.80 to $2.00, plus a $1.00 refundable deposit (just insert your used ticket into machine to get your dollar back). All lines are integrated, so you do not need to buy a new ticket to transfer.

Note that, in Singapore , a "subway" is an pedestrian underpass under a road.

What to See

Sights in Singapore are covered in more detail under the various districts. Broadly speaking:

* Beaches and tourist traps: Head to one of the three beaches on Sentosa. Other beaches include the East Coast and the Southern Islands (boat service from World Trade Centre).

* Culture and cuisine: See Chinatown for Chinese treats, Little India for Indian flavors and East Coast for delicious seafood and its famous chilli crabs and black pepper crabs.

* History and museums: The area north of the Singapore River is Singapore 's colonial core, with historical buildings and museums.

* Nature and wildlife: The Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park and Botanic Gardens are all in the North and West section.

* Skyscrapers and shopping: The heaviest shopping mall concentration is in Orchard Road , while skyscrapers are clustered around the Singapore River , but also check out Bugis to see where Singaporeans shop.

What to do

While you can find a place to practice nearly any sport in Singapore — golfing, surfing, scuba diving, even ice skating — due to the country's small size your options are rather limited and prices are relatively high. For watersports in particular, the busy shipping lanes and sheer population pressure mean that the sea around Singapore is murky, and most locals head up to Tioman ( Malaysia ) or Bintan ( Indonesia ) instead. See also Habitatnews and WildSingapore for news and updates about free tours and events.

Shopping

Shopping is second only to eating as a national pastime, which means that Singapore has an abundance of shopping malls, and low taxes and tariffs on imports coupled with huge volume mean that prices are usually very competitive. Most stores are open 7 days a week from 10 AM until 9 PM, although smaller operations (particularly those outside shopping malls) close earlier — 7 PM is common — and perhaps on Sundays as well. Keep an eye out for the Great Singapore Sale, usually held in June-July, when shopping centres pull out all stops to attract punters.

What to Eat

Singapore is a melting pot of cuisines from around the world, and many Singaporeans are obsessive gourmands who love to makan (eat in Malay). You will find quality Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese, Italian, French, American and other food in this city-state.

Eating habits run the gamut, but most foods are eaten by fork and spoon: push and cut with the fork in the left hand, and eat with the spoon in the right. Noodle dishes usually come with chopsticks, and Indian food can be eaten by hand, but nobody will blink an eye if you ask for a fork and spoon instead. If eating in a group, serving dishes are always shared, but you'll get your own bowl of rice and soup.

Drink

Singapore 's nightlife isn't quite a match for Patpong, but it's no slouch either! Some clubs have 24-hour licenses and few places close before 3 AM . Any artists touring Asia are pretty much guaranteed to stop in Singapore , with superclub Zouk in particular regularly clocking high on lists of the world's best nightclubs. Singapore 's nightlife is largely concentrated along the three Quays — Boat, Clarke and Robertson — of the Riverside , plus nearby Mohammed Sultan Road . Drinking age is 18, and while this is surprisingly loosely enforced, some clubs have higher age limits.

Stay Safe

As major international cities go, Singapore is one of the safest in terms of crime and personal safety, through swift dispensation of heavy penalties for all sort of offenses.

Note that there is strict enforcement of rules against activities that are tolerated in other countries. For example, jay-walking, spitting, littering, and drinking and eating on public transport are prohibited. Locals joke about Singapore being a fine city because heavy fines are levied if caught committing an offense. Look around for sign boards detailing the Don'ts and the fines associated with these offenses and heed them. Chewing gum, famously long banned, is now available at pharmacies if you ask for it directly, show your ID and sign the register, and you may also bring "personal use" quantities into the country.

While T-shirts sport the slogan Singapore is a Fine City , police are not hiding around every corner ready to jump out and plaster you with tickets. Fines are there as a preventive measure and for the most part they work and mean that Singapore is a very safe and clean place.

Stay Healthy

Tap water is safe for drinking and sanitation standards are very high. As a tropical country, Singapore is hot and humid so drink a lot of water. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Singapore was way back in 1934, when it hit a low of 19.4 degrees Celsius.

Malaria is not an issue, but dengue fever is endemic to the region. Singapore maintains strict mosquito control (leaving standing water around will get you fined), but the government's reach does not extend into the island's nature reserves, so if you're planning on hiking bring along mosquito repellent.