Organize your stay Singapore City
Money Singapore City
The currency is the Singapore dollar (SGD, indicated S$), divided into 100¢. S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$500 and S$1,000 bills and S$1, S$5, S$10, S$20, S$50 coins
1 S$ = €0.70 and €1 = S$1.42
Credit cards are accepted everywhere, except in some small shops and Hawker centers.
You can obtain foreign currency at Changi airport, exchange offices and ATMs. Withdrawing money is very easy in Singapore, and there is no shortage of ATMs! Bank opening hours vary from branch to branch: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Exchange rates can be quite high, and vary from branch to branch. You can use your bank card everywhere, to pay or withdraw money, but check with your bank to find out whether your card works overseas, what the charges are for foreign transactions, and whether you need to increase your withdrawal limit.
Budget & Tips Singapore City
Living in Singapore is much more expensive than in the rest of Southeast Asia, but you can still eat at a reasonable price and find cheap dormitory accommodation. To help you plan your daily budget, here are three examples to suit all budgets.
Low budget: €50 per day per person (public transport, dormitory accommodation and 3 meals in a food court or on the go).
Medium budget: €100 per day per person (public transport, accommodation in a mid-range hotel, meals in a decent restaurant and one paid activity).
Big budget: Over €300 per day per person (cab transport, luxury hotel accommodation, fine dining, paid activities).
Tipping is not de rigueur in Singapore, either in restaurants or hotels, although some cabs may appreciate a small gesture. As for haggling, this is not a common practice in the country. Prices are fixed and generally non-negotiable.
Passport and visas Singapore City
The French Embassy is open Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and by appointment the rest of the time.
No visa is required for French, Belgian, Canadian, Luxembourg or Swiss nationals holding a valid passport. Travelers must ensure that their passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of the end of their trip, as well as for neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand. The duration of stay must not exceed 3 months, except for Canadians where the maximum stay is 30 days.
Be sure to fill in the appropriate form online (www.ica.gov.sg) as early as 3 days before departure. Although this is not a visa, it is required to enter the country. For all questions concerning illnesses, vaccinations and pets, the website of the French Embassy in Singapore (www.sg.ambafrance.org) is very comprehensive.
French Embassy. 101-103 Cluny Park road, +65 6880 7800, www.sg.ambafrance.org
Customs
Travelers arriving in Singapore are not authorized to import the following items:
Chewing gum (except dental gum or nicotine gum) ;
Chewing tobacco and imitation tobacco products;
Pistol- or revolver-shapedlighters;
Controllednarcotics and psychotropic substances;
Dogs of certain breeds;
Endangered wild species and by-products;
Firecrackers;
Pornographicobjects, publications, cassettes, DVDs and files;
Reproduction of copyrighted publications, video cassettes, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records or audio cassettes
protected by copyright;
Seditious and treasonouscontent.
Importing or exporting drugs is punishable by death.
You can only enter Singapore with an open pack of cigarettes. Beyond this quantity, you will have to pay taxes.
Persons (aged 18 or over, who have spent more than 48 hours outside Singapore prior to arrival, and who are not arriving from Malaysia) may enter Singapore with 1 liter of beer, 1 liter of wine and 1 liter of spirits (or 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of beer, or 1 liter of wine and 2 liters of beer) tax-free.
Driver's license Singapore City
To drive in Singapore, you need an International Driving Permit, which is free of charge, but can take a long time to obtain. You can apply online at www.ants.gouv.fr. In an emergency, you can present your French driver's license, provided you have a certified English translation.
Health Singapore City
Singapore's sanitary conditions are beyond reproach. Tap water is safe to drink, and in the event of a problem, the hospitals are among the most reputable in the world.
Pharmacies don't operate in the same way as in France, and medicines are bought directly from the doctor after the consultation. Over-the-counter medicines are available in supermarkets, 7-Eleven, Guardian and Watsons stores. Should you need it, the Mustafa Center pharmacy is open 24 hours a day.
Mandatory vaccination Singapore City
No vaccinations are required for travel to Singapore. Tetanus, diphtheria, polyomelitis and hepatitis A are recommended, as in France.
Security Singapore City
Singapore is a very safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. No aggression to fear except for bicycle thefts, which are strangely recurrent.
Time difference Singapore City
The time difference with Singapore is +6 hours in summer and +7 hours in winter.
Spoken languages Singapore City
Each ethnic group has its own language, and four have been designated as official languages: English, Mandarin, Tamil and Malay. Stamps and banknotes are printed in all four languages, and administrative documents are also drawn up in four languages. In transport and public places, too, announcements are made in all four languages. At school, teaching is in English, and pupils are obliged to learn their "mother tongue". Since 1966, English has been recognized as the country's first language.
Communication Singapore City
Singapore is a hyper-connected city, with around 2 out of 3 Singaporeans owning a smartphone. The territory is 95% covered, with 4G working almost everywhere. Singtel Mobile is the leading operator, followed by Starhub and Mobile One. The government recently set up a free nationwide wifi network, wireless@sg, available to everyone throughout the country. Otherwise, all public places and the vast majority of businesses give you free access to their network.
Electricity and measurements Singapore City
The electricity is 220V-240V. The plugs are not like in Europe, so you need a universal adapter. Despite the English influence, the metric system is used for measurements.
Luggage Singapore City
It's hot all year round in Singapore, so pack light clothes, but above all don't forget a sweater, as it can get very cold in air-conditioned areas (shopping malls, museums...). Take good shoes if you like walking, flip-flops, swimsuit, shorts, and a dressier outfit for your evening escapades. Take an umbrella too, as showers are fairly frequent, especially in the wet season. Mosquito repellent may be useful if you're visiting the reserves, but not in the city center.
