Go.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Singapore
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Pickpocketing
Pickpockets operate in crowded areas. Maintain common sense to avoid becoming a target.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Prohibited public behaviors
Jay-walking, spitting, littering, and eating or drinking on public transport are prohibited and subject to heavy fines.
Smoking restrictions
Smoking is prohibited in designated non-smoking zones.
Police interrogation rules
You do not have the right to silence and must answer police questions truthfully. You cannot speak to a lawyer until after your interrogation is finished.
Defense disclosure
You must disclose all facts in your defense during police interrogation. Failure to do so may result in a judge rejecting these facts if raised for the first time at trial.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Tap water safe to drink: Yes
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of Singapore deals with the requirements a traveller must meet to enter Singapore. A foreign national, depending on their country of origin, must meet certain requirements to obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel, to enter and remain in the country. A visa may also entitle the visa holder to other privileges, such as a right to work, study, etc. and may be subject to conditions.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Singapore cannot be ruled out.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Singapore. However, the law does not recognise same-sex marriage and partnerships. This means, for example, that foreign residents cannot easily get a dependant’s pass for a same-sex spouse or partner. A child from a same-sex partnership may not be recognised as the child of one or both parents. It is possible to change legal gender in Singapore, subject to medical procedures. LGBT+ support groups and social venues exist in Singapore. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
- How all united kingdom flights are affected by Indonesia volcano eruption2026-09-07
- Brits to avoid travel to parts of Indonesia as volcano erupts2026-09-06
- Anak Krakatau LIVE : All flights cancelled at Indonesia Soekarno - Hatta as people stranded | World | News2026-09-06
- Indonesia volcano eruption disrupts Jakarta flights2026-09-06
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Singapore is effectively devoid of the typical street crime that plagues other major cities. Travelers report no specific concerns regarding violent crime or walking alone at night. The primary safety hurdle is not physical danger, but the rigid enforcement of customs regulations regarding prescription medication. If you are carrying controlled substances like Diazepam, you must have a written prescription from your doctor and keep the medication in its original packaging to avoid trouble with authorities. Beyond these bureaucratic requirements, the city is straightforward and safe for transit, provided you respect the local laws regarding what you bring across the border.
“I travelled through Singapore and Athens airport on my way here with no difficulties
— r/travel
“I’m currently waiting on a response from my GP to have a proper written prescription notice in case I need it for customs questioning
— r/travel
“will this be enough alongside keeping the tablets in their original packaging or will I need more evidence?
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / G / M · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 999 / ambulance: 995 / fire: 995
Tipping
Tipping is generally not practised in Singapore. However, it is common for hotels and restaurants to levy a 10% service charge before GST, the local Goods and Services Tax. Restaurants and hotel room rates often display prices like $19.99++, which means that service charge (10%) and GST (9%) are not included and will be added to your bill. "Nett" prices already include all taxes and service charge
SIM / Data
The international telephone country code for Singapore is 65. Phone numbers in Singapore have the format <code>+65 XXXX XXXX</code>. There are no area codes. Any number starting with <code>8</code> or <code>9</code> is a mobile phone, while numbers starting with <code>3</code> or <code>6</code>are fixed lines. Toll-free numbers start with <code>800</code> or <code>1800</code>, followed by 7 digits
Cash vs. Card
The Singaporean currency is the Singapore dollar, denoted by the symbol S$ or $ (ISO code: SGD). It is divided into 100 cents, denoted ¢. There are coins of 5¢ (bronze or gold), 10¢ (silver), 20¢ (silver), 50¢ (silver) and $1 (2nd series: gold; 3rd series: silver with gold rim). Notes are in denominations of $2 (purple), $5 (green), $10 (red), $50 (blue), $100 (orange), $1,000 (purple) and $10,000
Zoom in
One Singapore city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- gdelt — observed 2026-09-06
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09