Singapore Travel Guide

Language

Singapores official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A patois called Singlish, or Singaporean English is widely spoken. It is the by-product of mixing English, Chinese and Malay syntax and idiom.

Currency

Singapore's currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD), which is divided into 100 cents. The US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in the larger shopping centers. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely distributed and banks advance cash against the major credit cards. Travelers checks can be cashed at banks or licensed moneychangers and at selected hotels. Banks are open daily, but some do not do foreign exchange on Saturdays.

1.2270

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, square-shaped plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access code for Singapore is +65. The outgoing code is either 001, 002, 008 or 018, depending on the service provider, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). City or area codes are not used. Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take credit cards or phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and Telecom shops. Calls made from hotels are free of any surcharges. Several local mobile phone operators use GSM 900/1800 networks. Email and Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the city.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Singapore over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 1 liter of wine, spirits and beer. Chewing gum and tobacco products must be declared on arrival. Strictly prohibited is the trafficking in illegal drugs, which carries the death sentence. Prohibited items include meat and meat products, and firearms and explosives without a permit.

Tourist Office

Singapore Tourism Board: +65 6736 2000 or www.visitsingapore.com

Embassies in Singapore

• United States Embassy, Singapore: +65 6476 9100.
• British High Commission, Singapore: +65 6424 4200.
• Canadian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6854 5900.
• Australian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6836 4100.
• South African High Commission, Singapore: +65 6339 3319.
• Irish Embassy, Singapore: +65 6238 7616.
• New Zealand High Commission, Singapore: +65 6235 9966.

Singapore Embassies Abroad

• Singapore Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 537 3100.
• Singapore High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 8315.
• Consulate of Singapore, New York City, USA (also responsible for Canada): (212) 223-3331
• Singapore High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6271 2000.
• Singapore High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6035.
• Singapore High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 470 0850.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 995 (Ambulance).

Language

Singapores official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A patois called Singlish, or Singaporean English is widely spoken. It is the by-product of mixing English, Chinese and Malay syntax and idiom.

Currency

Singapore's currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD), which is divided into 100 cents. The US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in the larger shopping centers. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely distributed and banks advance cash against the major credit cards. Travelers checks can be cashed at banks or licensed moneychangers and at selected hotels. Banks are open daily, but some do not do foreign exchange on Saturdays.

1.2270

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, square-shaped plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access code for Singapore is +65. The outgoing code is either 001, 002, 008 or 018, depending on the service provider, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). City or area codes are not used. Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take credit cards or phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and Telecom shops. Calls made from hotels are free of any surcharges. Several local mobile phone operators use GSM 900/1800 networks. Email and Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the city.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Singapore over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 1 liter of wine, spirits and beer. Chewing gum and tobacco products must be declared on arrival. Strictly prohibited is the trafficking in illegal drugs, which carries the death sentence. Prohibited items include meat and meat products, and firearms and explosives without a permit.

Tourist Office

Singapore Tourism Board: +65 6736 2000 or www.visitsingapore.com

Embassies in Singapore

• United States Embassy, Singapore: +65 6476 9100.
• British High Commission, Singapore: +65 6424 4200.
• Canadian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6854 5900.
• Australian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6836 4100.
• South African High Commission, Singapore: +65 6339 3319.
• Irish Embassy, Singapore: +65 6238 7616.
• New Zealand High Commission, Singapore: +65 6235 9966.

Singapore Embassies Abroad

• Singapore Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 537 3100.
• Singapore High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 8315.
• Consulate of Singapore, New York City, USA (also responsible for Canada): (212) 223-3331
• Singapore High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6271 2000.
• Singapore High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6035.
• Singapore High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 470 0850.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 995 (Ambulance).

Language

Singapores official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A patois called Singlish, or Singaporean English is widely spoken. It is the by-product of mixing English, Chinese and Malay syntax and idiom.

Currency

Singapore's currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD), which is divided into 100 cents. The US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in the larger shopping centers. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely distributed and banks advance cash against the major credit cards. Travelers checks can be cashed at banks or licensed moneychangers and at selected hotels. Banks are open daily, but some do not do foreign exchange on Saturdays.

1.2270

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, square-shaped plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access code for Singapore is +65. The outgoing code is either 001, 002, 008 or 018, depending on the service provider, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). City or area codes are not used. Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take credit cards or phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and Telecom shops. Calls made from hotels are free of any surcharges. Several local mobile phone operators use GSM 900/1800 networks. Email and Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the city.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Singapore over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 1 liter of wine, spirits and beer. Chewing gum and tobacco products must be declared on arrival. Strictly prohibited is the trafficking in illegal drugs, which carries the death sentence. Prohibited items include meat and meat products, and firearms and explosives without a permit.

Tourist Office

Singapore Tourism Board: +65 6736 2000 or www.visitsingapore.com

Embassies in Singapore

• United States Embassy, Singapore: +65 6476 9100.
• British High Commission, Singapore: +65 6424 4200.
• Canadian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6854 5900.
• Australian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6836 4100.
• South African High Commission, Singapore: +65 6339 3319.
• Irish Embassy, Singapore: +65 6238 7616.
• New Zealand High Commission, Singapore: +65 6235 9966.

Singapore Embassies Abroad

• Singapore Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 537 3100.
• Singapore High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 8315.
• Consulate of Singapore, New York City, USA (also responsible for Canada): (212) 223-3331
• Singapore High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6271 2000.
• Singapore High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6035.
• Singapore High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 470 0850.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 995 (Ambulance).

Language

Singapores official languages are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A patois called Singlish, or Singaporean English is widely spoken. It is the by-product of mixing English, Chinese and Malay syntax and idiom.

Currency

Singapore's currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD), which is divided into 100 cents. The US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in the larger shopping centers. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, shops and restaurants. ATMs are widely distributed and banks advance cash against the major credit cards. Travelers checks can be cashed at banks or licensed moneychangers and at selected hotels. Banks are open daily, but some do not do foreign exchange on Saturdays.

1.2270

Time

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin, square-shaped plugs are in use.

Communications

The international access code for Singapore is +65. The outgoing code is either 001, 002, 008 or 018, depending on the service provider, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the United Kingdom). City or area codes are not used. Public phones are good for local and international calls; they take credit cards or phonecards, which can be bought at newspaper kiosks and Telecom shops. Calls made from hotels are free of any surcharges. Several local mobile phone operators use GSM 900/1800 networks. Email and Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the city.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Singapore over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 1 liter of wine, spirits and beer. Chewing gum and tobacco products must be declared on arrival. Strictly prohibited is the trafficking in illegal drugs, which carries the death sentence. Prohibited items include meat and meat products, and firearms and explosives without a permit.

Tourist Office

Singapore Tourism Board: +65 6736 2000 or www.visitsingapore.com

Embassies in Singapore

• United States Embassy, Singapore: +65 6476 9100.
• British High Commission, Singapore: +65 6424 4200.
• Canadian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6854 5900.
• Australian High Commission, Singapore: +65 6836 4100.
• South African High Commission, Singapore: +65 6339 3319.
• Irish Embassy, Singapore: +65 6238 7616.
• New Zealand High Commission, Singapore: +65 6235 9966.

Singapore Embassies Abroad

• Singapore Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 537 3100.
• Singapore High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 8315.
• Consulate of Singapore, New York City, USA (also responsible for Canada): (212) 223-3331
• Singapore High Commission, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6271 2000.
• Singapore High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 6035.
• Singapore High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 470 0850.

Emergency

Emergencies: 999 (Police); 995 (Ambulance).