Who has not heard about the main economic miracle of the 20th century? Who does not know the “Asian New York” – the capital of contrasts, a hodgepodge of cultures, the center of extreme and completely innocent pleasures? All this is Singapore. The city, which for some 50 years has become one of the world’s brands. A place where countless skyscrapers crowded together to keep the protected parks alive.
Singapore consists of several large areas: Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street. The symbol of the city is a strange creature “merlion” with the tail of a fish and the head of a lion.
People come here to “make big business”, spend money in casinos and boutiques, have fun and contemplate. Everything here is according to Feng Shui and the latest technology, here Chinese noodles are seasoned with an Indian bouquet of spices, and tea is whipped into a thick foam. In short, Singaporeans know exactly how to make the whole world talk about their city.
- JIBIN123: Entry requirements of country Singapore, including visa application, customs regulations and import export prohibitions.
How to get to Singapore city
From Moscow Domodedovo to Changi Airport and back regularly make direct flights “Singapore Airlines” and “ES Seven”: travel time 10.5 hours.
Direct flights are not available to residents of St. Petersburg, but the choice of carriers is greater: in 14 hours you can get Singapore Airlines with a transfer in Moscow, Emirates with a plane change in Dubai or Lufthansa, Finnair and Turkish Airlines with transfers in Frankfurt am Main, Helsinki and Istanbul respectively.
Changi is not just an airport, it is a whole entertainment conglomerate, where there is even a 40-meter waterfall.
From airport to city
Arriving at Singapore International Airport, there are a wide range of options for getting to the city centre. There are stops at the exit of the terminals where you can take a city bus or a shuttle (both modes of transport operate from 6:00 to 0:00, the trip takes about an hour, shuttles stop near the most popular hotels). The metro is open from 5:30 to 23:30, the station is located between terminals 2 and 3.
A taxi ride will also last half an hour, but it will cost several times more: from 30-55 SGD, on weekdays from 12:00 to 18:00 50% more expensive. But there are advantages – round-the-clock work, comfort, and sometimes chic (you can even leave in a limousine), and no need to share transport with random fellow travelers. The prices on the page are for October 2022.
Transport
Singapore’s powerful transport system is the envy of many European cities. There is a subway, high-speed suspension roads, light railroads, buses, minibuses. More than 18,000 air-conditioned taxis travel around the city.
Public transport
The main transport pride of “Asian New York” is the subway. 5 lines running above and below the ground cross the city far and wide, each station has an elevator, escalator and air conditioning, and it is also inexpensive. In addition, many stations are located directly at the main attractions or the largest hotels in the city.
Buses are also inexpensive, double-decker and comfortable. You can buy an electronic pass or pay the fare from the driver by throwing coins into the box next to him. They don’t give change on buses, so you need to collect the required amount in change.
You can save with Singapore tourist pass and EZ-link card. The first is a 1-, 2-, and 3-day pass that entitles you to unlimited travel on all forms of public transport, including the metro in the city and on Sentosa Island (except for express buses and night buses). EZ-link card – a card with a replenishable balance, rather for locals. With it, the fare will simply be lower. Both cards cost the same – from 10 SGD. For the Singapore tourist pass, they will also take a deposit in the same amount, it will be returned if you return the card within 5 days. You can buy EZ-link and Singapore tourist pass at the airport or from vending machines in the city.
City trolleybuses connect the main hotels and attractions. In some places in Singapore you can find cycle rickshaws, you should negotiate the price with them before boarding. Today, a cycle rickshaw is more of an attraction than a means of transportation, so it will cost more than a taxi.
- Singapore city map
Taxis and bicycles
Taxis are taken at special parking lots near shopping centers and hotels or called by phone. Fare payment – according to the meter. Access to Main Street, Business Center or Express Way is subject to an additional fee depending on the time and day of the week. The fare between 0:00 and 6:00 is half the price, so on average it comes out from 20 SGD. Almost all drivers, if they do not speak, then understand English. But it is better to make sure that the taxi driver knows exactly where to go.
Cyclists are rarely seen in Singapore – there is little pleasure in riding through the stone jungle in the wild heat, although there are rental points. Tourists and locals are happy to ride bikes only on the East Coast Park embankment and on Sentosa Island.
Hotels in Singapore
Singapore welcomes tourists of all income levels, as evidenced by hundreds of different accommodation options: from modest 1-2 * hotels to fancy five-star Hiltons and Marriotts. True, “middle peasants” prevail – 3 and 4 *, for a night in three rubles they ask from 70 SGD.
Among the extraordinary ones are The Pod boutique hotel, where you can rent a capsule room, including a business class, and the world-famous Marina Bay Sands with a glass rooftop pool (there is even a garden and a waterfall), an observation deck and its own spa. salon. Pleasure will cost 60 SGD per day.
The cheapest way to stay is in hostels – 56 SGD per night. In general, a suitable option is easy to find in any area of the city. Free Wi-Fi and proximity to the metro in Singapore hotels are the rule rather than the exception.
Rent a Car
On the one hand, renting a car in Singapore is justified – there are so many interesting places here that it is simply unrealistic to get to everyone on foot, and many do not like to use public transport in an unfamiliar country. On the other hand, traffic in the city is left-handed, and car rental prices are sky-high.
To save money, it is better for tourists to rent a car with a driver – it is almost 7 times cheaper. You can also save a dozen or two dollars by renting a car for a period of a week or more.
Being a driver here is ruinous: speeding and parking in the wrong place are punishable by high fines, gasoline is expensive, most highways are paid. But there are almost no traffic jams, the asphalt is perfect, insurance and round-the-clock support are included in the rental price. You can verify this by taking a car at rental offices at large hotels or at the airport. Of the well-known companies, Hertz, Avis, Sixt and others work here.
