travel tips | singapore (eng.)

SINGAPORE

TRAVEL TIPS

VISÃO GERAL ATRAÇÕESTRANSPORTE COMPRAS ONDE FICAR ONDE COMEROVERVIEW ATTRACTIONSTRANSPORTATION SHOPPINGWHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT

OVERVIEW

The name Singapore means lion city in the sanskrit language. The country was probably given the name because of the large number of tigers, mistakenly called lions, that once inhabited the region.

Situated on the tip of the Malaysian Peninsula in Southeast Asia, Singapore is made up of a main island and over 60 other smaller islands. A former British trading colony, this thriving island-state, has overcome its limited supply of natural resources to become one of the world’s most prosperous countries.

Almost all of the country’s population lives in the capital, also called Singapore, which lies on the southern coast of the main island. This crowded, bustling city is a world centre of trade and finance and a popular travel destination, making tourism one of its largest industries.

The population of Singapore is highly cosmopolitan and diverse with its various ethnic groups creating a variety of cultures within the country. The majority of Singapore’s population is Chinese. Malays make up the largest minority group, followed by Indians, Eurasians, and ex-pats from all over the world.

Singapore is a multi-lingual nation with four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil. English is the language of instruction in all schools in Singapore.

DUFRY TRAVEL TIPSSINGAPORE

BEST TIME TO VISITWeather wise, June to August is considered to be the best time to visit Singapore, but even at this time of year it often rains. For those who enjoy the sun and the beach, Singapore is an ideal place, as there is hot sunshine there throughout the year.

Although Singapore is a small country, due to its mixture of cultures and traditions, there are major events and festivals all year around so visitors can choose what interests them most.

In January or February, the Chinese population of Singapore celebrates the Chinese New Year with parades, lion-dancing and temple worshiping. Colourful decorations and beautiful luminaries light up Singapore’s Chinatown and the whole neighbourhood wears a festive look.

At the same time of the year, Singapore’s Hindu population holds a one-day Thaipusam festival honouring the Hindu deity Subramanian with a colourful parade.

In May and June, the city hosts one of Asia’s best and most varied arts festivals with international dance, music and drama.

In July, a much-cherished, four-week festival celebrates the diversity Singapore’s culinary tradition.

In September, the Formula 1 comes to Singapore. The city is home to the only floodlit night F1 race which runs through the city’s streets and around Marina Bay.

In November, the Indian community celebrates Deepavali, the Indian Festival of Lights - three weeks of festival and carnival with lights, music, dance, cultural programs.

CLIMATELying almost on the equator, Singapore has a tropical rain forest climate with no true distinct seasons. Like most of Southeast Asia, the country is generally hot and humid all year around with an average annual temperature of about 86°F (30°C).

Despite its small size, there may be sunshine on eastern side of the main island while there is rain on western side. This is due to the rain shadow effect caused by the small Bukit Timah hill situated in the centre of the island.

Singapore has two monsoon seasons interrupted by two short inter-monsoon periods. The Northeast Monsoon season occurs from December to early March and the Southeast Monsoon season occurs from June to September.


At the same time of year, the Malay Muslim community celebrates Hari Raya Puasa to mark the end of their fasting season, Ranadan.

Christmas is a magical time for everyone and another great time to visit Singapore. Visitors can sense the great build-up as early as mid- November when fairy lights, multi-coloured ornaments, and 15m tall Christmas trees begin to decorate the streets. And, finally, there are the New Year’s celebrations. The annual countdown to the New Year happens at Marina Bay and is accompanied by live music and spectacular displays of fireworks.

TRANSPORT

Singapore’s efficient and clean public transportation network makes getting around the city quick, easy and economical thanks. Every corner of the island can be reached either by bus, MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - Singapore’s underground rail network), taxi, rented car and motorbike or even on foot.

The MRT trains are frequent, as well as extremely clean and safe. The cost for an MRT trip will range from 60 cents to SG$1.50. Tickets can be bought for each individual journey; or, if you intend to travel a lot by MRT, TransitLink Cards costing between SG$ 10 and SG$ 50 can be purchased. These allow travellers to make multiple trips via MRT and public bus, until the value runs out. There are fines for littering, smoking, eating and drinking in MRT stations and on board the trains. The MRT operates from 6 a.m. to midnight at frequencies of 3 to 8 minutes.

The MRT system is not as extensive as that of New York, London or Paris, so for door-to-door public transportation, public buses are sometimes the best option. Singapore’s bus network is extremely frequent and comprehensive. Visitors rarely have to wait more than a few minutes and a bus will take you anywhere. Travellers can buy tickets for each individual journey or, as mentioned above, buy a TransitLink Card allowing you to make multiple trips via MRT and public bus. If you are planning to travel a lot by public transport, it is best to purchase a copy of the TransitLink Guide, which has a list of all bus and MRT services. Most buses operate between 6 a.m. to midnight.

It’s usually quite easy to get a taxi in Singapore. An exception however, is during rush hours. When taxis go into restricted areas where cars are not allowed, there is a charge which the passenger pays.

Singaporeans drive on the left side of the road, and wearing a seat-belt is compulsory. If you intend to drive around Singapore you should have a valid driver’s license from your country of residence or an International Driving License.

Another travel option is to take a bumboat tour. In Singapore, the term “bumboats” is applied to the small boats used to take tourists on short tours. Taking a bumboat cruise down the Singapore River is a great way to experience what central Singapore and its harbour must have been like in the old days.


ATTRACTIONS

For a small country, Singapore has a lot of interesting attractions to offer to its visitors. We list but a few here.

BUKIT TIMAH NATURE RESERVE is a 164-hectare reserve which includes Singapore’s highest hill from which it gets its name. The reserve retains the only substantial area of primary rainforest left in Singapore and is one of the world’s two tracts of rainforest located inside city boundaries, the other being in Rio de Janeiro.

You won’t see any large native animals in the reserve because they were disturbed in the past when almost all of Singapore’s rain forests were cleared. However, the jungle is inhabited by birds, butterflies, monkeys, and lemurs and well-marked paths make Bukit Timah Nature

Reserve an excellent hiking spot.

Entrance to he reserve is located at 177 Hindhede Drive and opening hours are from 8:30 to 18:00 and admission is free.

CHANGI CHAPEL AND MUSEUM houses letters, photographs, drawings and personal effects that tell the dreadful story of the more than 50,000 civilians and soldiers who were killed during the Japanese occupation of Singapore (1942-45). The museum also contains a series of murals recreated from originals painted by Bombardier Stanley Warren.

The Changi Chapel within the open-air courtyard of the museum is a replica of one of the many chapels that were built during World War II.

The chapel and museum are located at 1000 Upper Changi Road North and are open from 9:30 to 17:00. Admission is free.

JURONG BIRD PARK is among the largest bird parks in the world. An open-concept park, it covers over 20 hectares and is home to more than 8,000 birds from 600 different species.

Among the highlights of the park is the world’s largest walk-in aviary, African Waterfall Aviary. This aviary contains the world’s tallest man-made waterfall where visitors can enjoy a close-up view of free-flying birds from Africa and South America. Southeast Asia’s exotic and endangered species can be seen at the Southeast Asian Birds Aviary where a thunderstorm is simulated everyday at noon. The Penguin Exhibition has a viewing gallery from which over 200 penguins can be watched feeding.

Jurong Bird Park is located at 2 Jurong Hill and opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:00. There is an admission charge.

RAFFLES HOTEL, built in 1887, is one of the world’s last great Victorian hotels. Perhaps Singapore’s most famous landmark, Raffles was declared a National Monument in 1987. Later, a multi-million dollar face-lift in 1991 brought back the hotel’s colonial charm. As well as being a hotel, Raffles contains shops, restaurants, a Victorian-style playhouse and a museum housing fascinating Raffles memorabilia.

Raffles Hotel is located at 1 Beach Road and is open to visitors.

THE MERLION is an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, and is the mythical symbol of Singapore. The original statue of the Merlion is situated at the Merlion Park at Marina Bay. This famous imaginary beast attracts over a million visitors every year. Merlion Park itself is in a wonderful location and offers great views of Singapore’s city skyline and landmarks as well as scenic waterfront.

SENTOSA ISLAND is a purpose-built island theme park. One of its principal attractions is Sentosa Underwater World, a huge tropical oceanarium with over 2,500 marine creatures including white sharks, eels, giant stingrays and dainty damsel fish. Visitors can examine the fish from a moving sidewalk which passes through a 272ft/83m acrylic tunnel. At Dolphin Lagoon, visitors are treated to a water show with a pink dolphin. A 121ft (37m) gigantic replica of the original Merlion is another feature of Sentosa Island.


THE SINGAPORE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, which displays its animals in wonderful natural setting, is home to over 3,000 mammals, birds and reptiles including white Bengal tigers, elephants, baboons, polar bears, komodo dragons, lions, giraffes, white rhinos and zebras. In the Cat Country exhibits, pumas, caracals, leopards and jaguars roam freely. The Australian Outback exhibit is home to kangaroos, cassowary, blue tongued skinks and frilled-neck lizards. There are numerous shows, demonstrations and informative talks throughout the day, plus elephant, pony and carriage rides. Visitors can stroll through the grounds, or take the tram, an air-conditioned alternative on exceptionally hot or humid days.

SINGAPORE’S NIGHT SAFARI, which displays tropical animals by night, is another unforgettable experience for animal lovers. 90% of animals housed in the world’s first night wildlife park are nocturnal. The safari shows animals at their most active by using clever lighting techniques. Night Safari presents a total of 1,040 animals from 120 species of which 29% are threatened species. Visitors can tour the park either on foot via three walking trails, or by tram.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE, which displays its animals in wonderful natural setting, is home to over 3,000 mammals, birds and reptiles including white Bengal tigers, elephants, baboons, polar bears, komodo dragons, lions, giraffes, white rhinos and


zebras. In the Cat Country exhibits, pumas, caracals, leopards and jaguars roam freely. The Australian Outback exhibit is home to kangaroos, cassowary, blue tongued skinks and frilled-neck lizards. There are numerous shows, demonstrations and informative talks throughout the day, plus elephant, pony and carriage rides. Visitors can stroll through the grounds, or take the tram, an air-conditioned alternative on exceptionally hot or humid days.

SINGAPORE FLYER, the world’s largest observation wheel, is a one-of-a-kind experience in Asia. Singapore Flyer is 150 metres in diameter, 165 metres in height and travels at 0.21m per second. Each of its 28 city-

bus-sized air-conditioned capsules can carry up to 28 passengers and a complete rotation of the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes.

This enormous Ferris wheel offers panoramic views of the downtown skyscrapers and the city beyond. From the top you can even get a glimpse of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia.

Singapore Flyer is located at 30 Raffles Avenue and functions from 8:30 to 22:30.

MASJID SULTAN OR SULTAN MOSQUE with its massive golden dome and minarets is the focal point of Muslims in Singapore. The mosque was built in 1928 and is an interesting mix of Middle


Eastern and Moorish influences. Visitors are welcome to visit the interior during non-prayer times. Modest attire is required (no shorts).

SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE, is the oldest and most magnificent Hindu temple in Singapore. It is famous for its pagoda-like entrance topped by an ornate gopuram (pyramidal gateway tower). Hundreds of brightly coloured statues of deities and mythical animals line the tiers of this towering entrance. Sri Mariamman Temple is a designated national monument.

The temple is located at 244 South Bridge Road and is open from 7:00 to 12:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. Visitors should leave their shoes at the door.

WHERE TO STAY

Singapore presents its guests with a wide range of accommodation options. Hotels are concentrated in two main areas, the Colonial District and the Orchard Road area.

COLONIAL DISTRICTIf you chose to stay here, you will be close to the city’s major events and festivals. You will be able to walk to the most important historical monuments, museums and art venues, ethnic enclaves, and restaurants and

pubs along Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. Major convention centres are also within walking distance, and the Orchard Road shopping belt and the Central Business District (CBD) are just a short ride away. The legendary Raffles Hotel, one of the world’s most opulent, luxurious and awardwinning hotels is situated in the Colonial District. Named after the country’s founding father, Thomas Stamford Raffles, this hotel is a national monument and one of Singapore’s sightseeing attractions.

ORCHARD ROADThe largest concentration of hotels is found in the Orchard Road area, Asia’s most famous shopping boulevard. There are many luxury hotels to choose from, as well as a wide variety of three-star and four-star hotels which provide a pleasant stay and good service. If you plan to spend most of your time shopping when you are in Singapore, you would be well advised to look for a hotel in this area of the city.

CITY FRINGEAs well as in the two areas already mentioned, high-end hotels are also found on Sentosa Island and in the River District. In Chinatown you will find both high-end and budget hotels, while Little India offers mostly budget hotels. North Downtown and East Singapore/airport areas are also popular locations for good deals for the more budget conscious traveller and, thanks to Singapore’s excellent public transport system, the centre of the city can be reached within minutes by bus or train.

DINING OUT

Singaporean cuisine is an example of diversity and cultural diffusion, with influences from Chinese, Indian, Malay and Tamil cuisine. Singapore dining has earned a worldwide


reputation for being both inventive and delightful. A rich array of local flavours can be found just about anywhere on the island. For the newcomer, deciding where and what to eat can be an intimidating, yet at the same time, exciting experience.

The best places to sample good local food in Singapore are the hawker centres where you will find rows of stalls selling all sorts of foods. The variety is amazing and prices are low.

Newton Circus Food Centre is the most well known hawker centre in Singapore. It’s easy to get to (just across from Newton MRT Station). It’s airy and there are plenty of stalls to choose from. If you are a seafood lover, do not miss this place as there are lots of seafood stalls to be found here.

The Maxwell Road Food Centre located in the heart of Chinatown is also worth a visit. With over 100 stalls, it offers one of the widest ranges of local Singapore food at one place. The food there is delicious as competition is keen and vendors work hard to maintain the quality.

Zion Road Riverview Food Centre, located directly opposite Great World City on Zion Road, also offers a great variety of food. Locals working around Orchard Road and Great World City usually drive or walk to this hawker centre for lunch.

Here are some delicacies you might try in Singapore:

CHINESE: Bak Kut Teh — pork ribs brewed in a herbal broth which includes pepper and garlic. Laksa — a popular spicy noodle soup made with spaghetti-like noodles served in a steaming coconut-curry broth, containing cockles. Tao Pok — fried tofu stuffed with green leaf lettuce, bean sprouts and slices of cucumber, served with a savoury sauce. Hainanese Chicken Rice, fragrantly made rice with a chilli-and-ginger condiment, served with roasted or boiled chicken meat.

MALAY: Nasi Lemak – fragrant rice served with small fish, cucumber and fried eggs.

INDIAN: Mee Goreng – fried noodles with chilli paste, small pieces of fried mutton or egg. Roti Paratha – fried dough made of wheat flavour served with fish or mutton curry.

Some other typical Singapore delicacies include Satay (barbequed meat skewers of Malay origin), Roti Prata (“Indian pizza”), Fried Kway Tiao (fried black noodles normally served with cockles), Hokkien Noodles (seafood noodle delight), and some local desserts such as Ice Kachang (flavoured ice with ingredients like red bean and jelly), Chendol (coconut based dessert), Grass Jelly (a refreshing black jelly that cools you down on a hot day) and Tao Suan (beans in sticky paste, topped by fried dough).

SHOPPING

Alongside ‘eating’, shopping is considered the national past time in Singapore.

The main shopping area ore is undoubtedly Orchard Road which is lined on both sides with shopping malls offering everything from designer clothes retailers to watches, electronics and compute equipment. Most shops and malls are open from 10:00 a.m. to approximate 10:00 p.m. daily. Apart from notable exceptions such as the Mustafa Centre and Holland Village Cold Storage which are open 24 hours a day.

If you want to get away from the crowds that constantly fill the Orchard shopping malls, head for the Raffles City Shopping Centre located in the Civic District. This huge complex houses two hotels and an office tower over a podium which contains a shopping mall and a convention certre. The retail mall is a veritable conglomerate of choices spread over four levels including the basement. It is the perfect place for some relaxed shopping.

At the Bras Basah Complex on Victoria Street, bookshops are the main attraction, and Queenstown Shopping Centre about 1 kilometre from the city centre is the sports equipment and apparel hub.

Arab Street is famous for its textiles, carpets, indigenous perfumes, exotic herbs and spices.

Little India around Serangoon Road is dotted with stores selling spices, jewellery, handicrafts and cheap Indian CDs as well as sumptuous textiles.

Chinatown, near Singapore’s financial district, is a colourful web of streets and alleys with a wealth of artefacts, jewellery, clothes, food and medicines behind traditional Chinese shop-house fronts. Tanjong Pagar is filled with traditional teashops, Chinese lacquer ware, kites and Asian handicrafts.

As shopping is one of Singapore’s favourite hobbies, it has its own festival, the mid-year Great Singapore Sale. For two months (usually the months of June and July) prices come down in all stores all over the city with discounts reaching up to 70% in places.


Unlike most Western countries, shopping hours usually start late morning and continue until 21:30 or 22:00 at night. They can extend to as late as midnight during festive season.

STREET MARKETSAt the Sungei Road Thieves Market you will find everything from car radios to mobile phones, old clothes and designer jewellery. Up to 500 sellers offer you their goods here every day. Many years ago, this flea market was allegedly the place to buy stolen goods. Hence the name ‘Thieves’ Market’. It’s worth just strolling over to the market and being surprised by what you can find there. The best times to visit are weekend afternoons.

Zouk Flea ‘n Easy Market is the place for young fashion lovers to hunt for bargains. The market happens every two months or so on the premises of one of Singapore’s top night clubs, Zouk Club on Jiak Kim Street. As well as fashionable clothes, at Zouk you will find the best jewellery, shoes and bags. You’ll also find vintage wares that can hardly be found in any shop elsewhere.

Tanglin Mall Bazaar is the place to go if you are looking for that cherished second-hand CD or vinyl record. It has more than 50 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, retro clothes and old toys. . Second-hand and used items are plentiful here, making it a handy location to pick up a good deal. The bazaar is set up along the walkway leading into Tanglin Mall Shopping Centre, and is usually held on the first and third Saturday of every month.

Mille Fleur Bazaar is a relatively new night markets in Singapore, situated on Clarke Quay in the main party district in the heart of Singapore. This market offers handmade jewellery, men’s and lady’s clothing, hair accessories, cosmetics, shoes, bags and much more.

Market Of Artists And Designers (MAAD) describes itself a being beyond the usual Information) 1800 542 4422 fashion-base, second-hand flea market. At this market “only original, creative, and more often than not, handmade works by talented painters, jewellery makers, product designers, visual artists, wordsmiths and eco-friendly seamstresses are sold”. Prices are above normal flea market prices, but you are buying unique pieces of art. The market is located at the Red Dot Design Museum on Maxwell Road.

In the hundreds of little stalls at Bugis Village Flea Market you will find some amazing bargains in arts and crafts, handbags, purses, T-shirts, clothes, and jewellery. For souvenirs of Singapore at a reasonable price, this is the place to look. The best way to get to this market is by taking the MRT and get off at the station called ‘Bugis’.

CURRENCYThe currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar, represented by the symbol S$ or the abbreviation SGD. The Singapore dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 dollar. Notes come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $1000, $10,000.

65999995

COUNTRY CODE

POLICE

AMBULANCE SERVICE

THERE IS NO CITY CODE

EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE

6748-9911

TOURIST INFORMATION

1800-7362 000

INTERNACIONAL CHANGI AIRPORT

(24 HOUR FLIGHT)

1800 542 4422

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

travel tips | singapore (eng.)

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