Since Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in the world, most travelers wonder what the prices are in Singapore and how they can save money. We also had to solve this problem, and we succeeded quite well. Therefore, below I will share my finds and ways to save.

So, how to save money in Singapore:

1. The most expensive item of travel expense is most often housing. And Singapore is no exception - prices for a double room in a modest hotel here start at $70, and a bed in a hostel costs, on average, $20 (for one person). I found two ways to save on housing.

The first is to ask to visit couchsurfers. In this case, housing will not cost you a penny. I was lucky, my first request on the couchsurfing site was satisfied. But on the day of check-in, a problem arose - our host’s toilet broke down in the apartment. Therefore, we urgently had to look for another budget accommodation option. In principle, you could write to other couchsurfers; many are ready to agree to an emergency request. But we wanted to stay in the famous space capsules in hostels in Singapore, so I found a second option to save money.

The second option is to book accommodation on Booking using referral links. With such a booking, after its completion, part of the amount will be returned to your card (here is my link to a refund of 1 thousand rubles for a booking of 2 thousand rubles). I booked each night separately to get cashback from each night (this requires different links from different users). We spent the first night at Galaxy Pods Hostel @ Chinatown, the remaining two nights at MET A Space Pod @ Chinatown (as there was no room in the first one). The first hostel is cheaper, but objectively worse than the second. However, if Galaxy Pods had free capsules, we would have stayed there - for its price it’s quite good.

Thus, for 3 nights we spent 9,456 rubles (approximately $165) on accommodation. And this despite the fact that the second hostel was quite expensive.

You can read more about hostels in Singapore with space capsules.

2. To travel to Singapore you need to have a visa, but it is quite expensive. But for travelers from Russia there is a loophole on how to save on a visa, or rather, not pay a penny. The fact is that in the case of transit flights through Singapore for Russians visa not needed if you manage to leave the country within 96 hours. To take advantage of visa-free transit, you must have a ticket to a third country within 4 days of entering Singapore. That is, if you flew/arrived, for example, from Malaysia, you should fly to any other country, and not back to Malaysia.

We took advantage of free transit and ended up not spending a penny on a visa to Singapore.

3. Another significant expense item in Singapore is entertainment. On the Internet, it is often advised to buy tickets for them in advance on official websites, supposedly the price on the website is lower than at the box office. Not true! I specifically checked the prices. The price was lower only for the Wings of Time show - 16.2 Singapore dollars on the website versus 18 at the box office. All other prices were the same!

But I found a way to save money - a coupon site. Through him I bought tickets to the Futuristic Gardens (both greenhouses), the Sentosa Aquarium and the Wings of Time show. At the box office, such a set for two (adult + child) would have cost me S$147. Via KLOOK - $116. Plus, I found a promotional code for a small discount and ended up paying $111.79. The savings amounted to $35.21 (approximately 1,680 rubles). By the way, if you register using my link, KLOOK promises a small bonus (4.2 Singapore dollars).

This site had coupons for the zoo, including day and night safaris, all the things to do in Sentosa, cafes and much more. But I didn’t find coupons for the museum of science and art there, so we bought tickets there at the box office - 33 Singapore dollars for two (on the website the price was 1 dollar less per ticket, but upon payment a commission was charged in this amount, so in the end the cost the tickets were the same).

Also don't forget about free entertainment in Singapore, there are a lot of them!

Our result is that we spent a little less than 145 Singapore dollars (approximately 6,320 rubles) on entertainment.

P.S. Still, don’t discount official websites—complex tickets often appear on them, which allow you to save a lot. Similar complex tickets are also available on the KLOOK website, be sure to check.

4. And finally - nutrition. Everything is expensive in Singapore, including food. Therefore, the cheapest way to eat is either store-bought products, or in fast food cafes, or in food courts in shopping centers. But if you watched “Heads and Tails” in Singapore, then you know that in this country there are those that have received a Michelin star, and their prices have remained the same. Both of these locations are marked on the map below. We liked the first one - in Chinatown. And there we had the lowest bill - even cheaper than at McDonald's. The second one – in the Indian quarter – I didn’t like it at all! Don't waste your time on the road and queues at this place. Expensive (compared to the first place) and not tasty!

Hotels with breakfast included also have a very good impact on your food budget. We chose these hostels, so our first meal every day was free.

With water in Singapore, everything is simpler - it goes through a multi-stage purification system, so you can buy a bottle once and then fill it from the tap anywhere, including toilets.

By the way, please note that at the Museum of Science and Art, the ticket price includes a bottle of fortified water (this is written on the ticket). But no one gives it out just like that - you need to come up with the ticket and ask (at the exit from the museum).

For 4 partial days, we spent about 6,350 rubles (about 110 US dollars) on food for two.

5. Fare– another important article. The main way to save on transport in Singapore is not to use it. Most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other, but to be honest, walking in the heat is still a pleasure. Therefore, we decided to use transport, especially since initially we had to live with a couchsurfer far from the center.

You can pay for transport in three ways - regular single tickets, EZ-link cards and Singapore Tourist Pass cards. The latter are unlimited cards, which is of course very convenient. Their cost depends on the number of days - 10, 16 and 20 Singapore dollars for 1, 2 and 3 days, respectively. When purchasing a Tourist Pass, an additional $10 deposit is required, which can be refunded when you return the card. The downside of these cards is that they are valid only until midnight, and not 24 hours from the moment of activation. That is, if you bought a card for 1 day on Monday evening, it will no longer be valid on Tuesday.

The EZ-link card costs 12 Singapore dollars, with 5 dollars being the cost of the card itself, and 7 dollars remaining in your account. You can top up your card with amounts that are multiples of $10. Before leaving Singapore, you can return the card to the ticket office and receive the unused balance. With this card, the fare will be much lower than with one-time tickets.

To decide which card to choose (EZ-link or Singapore Tourist Pass), I recommend first working out a travel plan, and then using this website to calculate how much money you will spend on your route with the EZ-link card (don’t forget to add the cost to the amount received the card itself is $5). This will make it clear which option is more profitable.

Our EZ-link card turned out to be more profitable. With her, we spent 28 Singapore dollars on transport for two (about 1220 rubles). You can read more about public transport in Singapore.

By the way, all transport in Sentosa is free. Only transport to the island itself is paid for. But you can reach it on foot via a bridge equipped with travelators completely free of charge. And going back by monorail or bus is free.

Thus, excluding the cost of flights for 4 half days in Singapore, it cost us about 23,350 rubles. And if we had stayed with a couchsurfer, as originally planned, the costs would have been almost two times lower - 13,900 rubles. At the same time, we visited all the entertainment that we had planned, and did not save much on everything else. Honestly, I expected to spend much more in one of the most expensive cities in the world))

I really hope that my ways to save money in Singapore will help you reduce your budget for this beautiful country a little.

P.S. More information about our travels and photos in my

It's definitely worth going to Singapore on your own. It will cost about half as much as taking a tour. Firstly, tours are not offered from all Russian cities, mainly from Moscow. And you still need to get from the region to Moscow. But air tickets to Singapore can be bought from the regions, and if you’re lucky, the price of a round-trip air ticket will be about 25 thousand per person. You can cheat and take a flight to any city in Southeast Asia, for example, to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong or Manila. And there, you can fly to Singapore using low-cost local airlines. For example, a plane ticket from Bangkok to Singapore with Tiger Airways costs about $100 one way.

Considering that the cost of hotels in Singapore is quite high, the tour organizer will charge you a tidy sum. It's easier to research hotels, their prices and location relative to the attractions you want to visit on booking sites such as Booking and Agoda. There you will find a hotel that suits your needs and will not overpay for unnecessary services.

Before traveling on your own, you need to carefully consider the route: what, when and on what day you plan to visit, this will make your life much easier. Arranging sights and distributing routes over time is not so difficult if you use online maps. This is especially important if you have little time, but you want to see a lot.

Remember about the visa regime! Russian citizens can use visa-free transit for a period of no more than three days, but at the same time, you must fly from Singapore to a third country. For example, this trip: Moscow - Singapore - Kuala Lumpur - Moscow. Or Krasnoyarsk - Bangkok - Singapore - Denpasar - Bangkok - Krasnoyarsk. In all other cases, you need to apply for a visa. It is very simple, all documents can be completed on the Internet, the cost of a visa to Singapore is 1,500 rubles, it is valid for 5 weeks from the date of registration.

And I’ll also add the obvious advantages of an independent holiday in Singapore. Firstly, you will spend as many days in the country as you want, based on your budget. Let me remind you that a holiday in Singapore is not cheap, and you can control your expenses on your own. Secondly, it is very profitable to vacation in Singapore with three, four or five people - in order to split the cost of a taxi - moving around the city will be faster and cheaper.

And thirdly, especially if you are vacationing with children, you can create your own cultural program. And without children too.

Singapore is a beautiful, but expensive city for those traveling for the first time. Most tourists stay here only for a day, on the way to Bali or back. However, if you go to Singapore for more than tribute, you will have to learn to save money. It's easy and quickly becomes a habit. So, 10 tips on how you can relax in Singapore inexpensively.

1. Save on hotels in Singapore

In the photo: Hotel81 - one of the cheapest hotel brands in Singapore

The main cost item on holiday in Singapore is accommodation. Hotels in Singapore are very expensive, but on weekends prices in hotels are significantly lower. Therefore, to stay inexpensively in a hotel in Singapore, here are some tips for you.

First of all, check the offers of hotels from - here you will find not just the cheapest hotels, but with an excellent location and clean rooms (alas, even in Singapore there are red light districts with dirty rooms and cockroaches).

In the photo: view from the window of the Holiday Inn Express Katong, Singapore

Secondly, try to book weekends for your stay - the best chances of getting low hotel rates in Singapore will be on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

The third tip about housing is to book apartments or rooms from private owners. Sometimes you can live in a nice apartment for less money. Unfortunately, recently. However, check what offers are available in Singapore through this service.

By the way, a good way to save money is to apply for a visa to Singapore not through Moscow intermediaries, but on your own on the Internet. And if you are going to Singapore for 2-3 days, then a visa is not needed at all– you shouldn’t waste time and money on it. We have already written in more detail about how to apply for a visa to Singapore online or travel without a visa.

2. Food and drink in Singapore

In the photo: in Singapore you can dine economically in food courts

The best ones can be found in numerous food courts - these are everywhere in Singapore, in all shopping centers or even in large metro stations. Even if you just want to drink tea, find the nearest food court, it will be cheaper there. The best food courts in Singapore, in my opinion, are “Food Republic”.

In addition, it is useful to keep an eye on the signs of cafes and all kinds of bars. During certain hours (Happy Hour, usually from 5 to 7 p.m.), many establishments offer discounts on drinks or certain dishes. Be careful and it will help you save money :)

3. Choose inexpensive grocery stores

FirePrice stores in Singapore are much cheaper than the usual 7/11

Those who come to Singapore from Thailand tend to buy drinks and small snacks at 7-Eleven stores out of habit. Forget about it. For some reason, 7/11 stores are very expensive in Singapore. If you want to save money, go to Fair Price or Giant stores.

4. Save on transport in Singapore

In the photo: exploring Singapore by bus

To see more in Singapore, you need to drive or walk more. Give up taxis in favor of buses. Buses in Singapore are an excellent form of transport, and in the heat you can just cool down a little :)

If you are planning to stay in Singapore more than two days, buy yourself EZ-Link travel cards. You can pay with them in, on buses and even at the entrance to Sentosa Island. EZ-Link cards are much more economical for tourists than purchasing one-time travel cards through ticket machines. The card is valid for several years, so the next time you come to Singapore, simply top up the card and you can use transport again.

5. Singapore Museums – Evening Tours

To save even more money, visit the main museums of the city after 18-00. At this time, most museums are open for free or at a deep discount.

6. Self-guided tours of Singapore

Most of Singapore's attractions can be seen on your own. You just need to find out on the Internet where and what is located, take a map of Singapore and make a route. Here’s the finished product – 9 of the most interesting places you can’t miss.

Such excursions will be inexpensive, but no less interesting than if you made them with the help of travel agencies. You can go up to the observation deck on your own, take a walk around Chinatown, or have a great time on the beaches of Sentosa.

If you don’t want to plan your route around Singapore yourself, turn to the services of local residents. It will be both cheaper and more educational. For example, guide Olga offers all newcomers to Singapore an excellent tour, with visits to the best observation decks and all the most iconic attractions. In 3 hours you will learn a lot about Singaporean life, take cool photos and get valuable tips on how to plan your vacation cheaper and more interesting.

In fact, Singapore is such an interesting city that it itself surprises and amazes like the Museum of the Future. Here you can walk the streets all day long and enjoy the city itself: how it is structured, how convenient everything is for people. You can enter many places completely free of charge. Or watch great shows for free.

In the photo: evening illumination in the Garden by the Bay park in Singapore

And here what you can see in Singapore for free:

• Evening show at Marina Bay - get early to the best seats at the Esplanade Theatre.
• promenade around Marina Bay.
• A visit to the “Garden by the Bay” park – admission is free, you can walk around the park as much as you like, individual pavilions and events inside the park are paid.
• Botanical Garden.
• Chinese garden
  ... see the article for the full list - this is the best and most detailed guide to Singapore.

7. Loyalty cards

Photo: Soup Spoon cafe loyalty card in Singapore

If you are addicted to certain establishments in Singapore , find out if you can get a loyalty card from them (Member Card). It turns out that it’s not difficult to get such cards, and you can save a lot of money with their help.

8. Free buses

After checking into a hotel, find out if it has a free shuttle bus. If there is, this will save on transport. There are also free buses at major shopping centers in Singapore, such as Funan Digital Mall or Ikea.

Traveling to Singapore on your own will save you money and give you an unforgettable experience. You can also purchase a trip to this wonderful city-state from travel agencies, but it will cost 30-70% more than “your” vacation. Organizing a trip to Singapore on your own is quite simple, you can get a visa via the Internet (or you can go without it, details are below), there are a lot of hotels for such a small area and most of them can be booked online, you can buy air tickets in just 5 minutes.

Modern Singapore is not only a huge business center, but also an excellent place for tourism. 5% of the country's territory is occupied by nature reserves, public transport and the streets are always clean, and the crime rate is one of the lowest in the world. Most often, those travelers who come here are those who have already visited many places on the planet, but are looking for something new. You can simply relax here.

Travel plan

1. Decide on the date of departure for your trip
2. Calculate your travel budget
3. Buy air tickets
4. To book a hotel
5. Take out health insurance (preferably, but not required)
6. Obtain a visa (if required)
7. Go on a trip

Flights

The most convenient way to get to this state is by plane. The best way to buy air tickets to Singapore is on the website. This service finds inexpensive tickets by scanning offers from most international airlines. On different sites, the same air ticket may cost differently, but thanks to Aviasales you will receive a ticket at the lowest price. I have been using this site almost since its opening and have no complaints about its work. Typically, inexpensive tickets to Singapore (round trip) cost 450 €.

You can fly to Singapore with departures in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Minsk, and sometimes there are flights from the regions. Direct flights are more expensive; if you want to save money, purchase tickets for flights with transfers. And another tip: buy tickets in advance, the sooner the better, at least 3 months in advance, and preferably 6 months in advance, then prices will be minimal.

If you are already in one of the countries of Southeast Asia, then it is easier and cheaper to fly to Singapore on a low-cost airline (low-cost airline). A ticket will cost several tens of dollars.

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

Check airfare prices:

Hotels

There are no cheap hotels in Singapore, only relatively inexpensive ones. But they are all comfortable, there are air conditioners everywhere (this is simply necessary, considering that the average temperature in the city is + 32 0 C: the equator is not far away), the staff is friendly and caring. There are, of course, hostels where staying will not greatly affect your budget, but not all travelers agree to exchange a hotel for a hostel. Read what a hostel is and how to stay on a budget.

The most reliable way to book a hotel in Singapore is on the website. This is an international project, the opportunities of which have been taken advantage of by millions of people around the world. Moreover, the room prices will please anyone. There is also a similar company that provides similar search capabilities, but is not as convenient, has fewer search filters and thematic selections of hotels, which make choosing a place to stay much easier. Read about how to book a hotel yourself.

Find a cheap hotel from Roomguru right now:

Rental of property

When traveling around the world, it is important for every tourist to solve the problem of a place of temporary residence. When traveling to Singapore, many are ready to stay in local hotels and boarding houses. But a hotel room is not a cheap pleasure, especially when the planned trip is quite long and includes more than 5 people. For this case, the Airbnb website was created, where you can independently book an apartment, a small room or a house; this type of accommodation is sometimes more profitable for a large company than staying in a hotel, although it has its drawbacks, in particular, you need to pay special attention to safety and choosing the appropriate option, so you need to find out in advance what features it has. But let’s figure out why this service attracts tourists so much.

• Opportunity to save. The Airbnb website has many great deals, thanks to which renting apartments in any country in the world, including Singapore, is no longer a problem for companies/families of 5 or more people. Here, booking accommodation becomes especially important during the holidays, since the cost of staying in hotel rooms increases greatly, but the price of rented apartments remains the same. There is also a special one, which is given for the first rental, and allows you to save a little.
• Opportunity to rent housing in absolutely any area of ​​the city. Booking apartments will allow you to live in a wide range of accommodation options. You can rent a choice of apartments located in a skyscraper, ordinary apartments, detached villas and attics, large cottages and even yachts. At the same time, there is a budget option - a room in an apartment. So to speak, you can choose housing to suit every taste and budget.
• An unforgettable impression and experience. By renting an apartment through Airbnb, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the country's traditions, broaden your horizons and gain valuable experience. Rented housing in Singapore is an excellent opportunity to appreciate the features and quality of life.
• Communication with the owner of the apartment will allow you to improve your own language skills. Thus, you will be able to clarify information about the location of a particular attraction, learn something from the history of the country, about real prices and life principles in Singapore.

And in conclusion, I would like to note that the rental service is an excellent assistant not only for selecting and renting housing, but can also become a real lifesaver for you. While you are traveling around the world, you can also rent out your own apartment without intermediaries through this site, which will allow you to cover, for example, the costs of the same trip.

Attractions

There are quite a lot of attractions of different types in Singapore, so upon arrival people rarely wonder what to see and where to go. Everyone can create their own program for visiting interesting places. The most popular are: the Singapore Zoo (in 2006 recognized as one of the best places in the world for family holidays), the Ferris wheel (the largest in the world), and the botanical garden. Here is a list of the most memorable attractions in Singapore:

• Zoo
• Ferris wheel
• Botanical Garden
• Museum of Optical Illusions
• Oceanarium
• Parks Night Safari and River Safari
• Jurong Bird Park
• Universal Studios Amusement Park

Travel documents

If you are visiting Singapore in transit and intend to stay in the country for less than 96 hours, you will not need a visa. Upon arrival at the airport of this country, you will be issued a transit visa if you have:

• Availability of an air ticket for a specific date to a third country
• International passport with a blank page and valid for more than 6 months
• Funds for your stay in Singapore or confirmed hotel reservations for the entire duration of your stay

A trip will be considered transit only if it is confirmed by an air ticket to a third country. For example, fly from Moscow to Singapore, and then from Singapore to Bangkok (Moscow - Singapore - Bangkok) - along this route you will be issued a transit visa. But if the route is as follows: Moscow-Singapore-Moscow, then you can’t count on a transit visa, you’ll have to apply for a regular one.

It is important to know that some low-cost airlines (for example, AirAsia) require a regular visa in all cases, even if you are flying to Singapore in transit, so always check this point with the airline. If you were still counting on a transit visa and bought a ticket from a low-cost airline, but you are not allowed on board the plane, then refer to the TIMATIC information system, specifically to the “transit” section (low-cost airline employees like to refer to the “entry” section, which indicates that a visa is required for entry, but you are on a transit trip). It is best to print out these sections and present them if problems arise.

In all other cases, a visa is required. You can get a regular visa (not a transit visa) online. If you need help, contact Pony Express (they will help you fill out the application, scan all the necessary documents, the company has branches throughout Russia).

To Singapore from Asian resorts

Some travelers who are already on vacation at resorts in nearby Asian countries (mainly Thailand and Vietnam) use this trick, which allows them to obtain a transit visa even if they return directly to their resort. Here is an example of how to get from Thailand to Singapore on your own: You are currently on vacation in Bangkok, but want to drop by Singapore for a couple of days and return back to Bangkok, then the procedure is as follows: buy the cheapest return ticket (from Singapore) to any other nearby third country (Malaysia or Indonesia), this will confirm that you are visiting Singapore in transit, and after the trip you simply do not fly to Malaysia or Indonesia, you can immediately return to Bangkok. True, a ticket to a third country will be lost, but it only costs a couple of tens of dollars, but you won’t have to bother with a visa. This method is used mainly by travelers from Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.

If you are planning to vacation in Singapore for longer than 4 days, then apply for a regular visa.

Fines

It is important to remember that Singapore has very high fines even for minor offences. If you chew chewing gum in a public place, you will pay $500 (Singapore dollars), for a snack in a public place the penalty is exactly the same, for smoking you will have to pay $1000, and for bringing a highly flammable substance into a public place you will be fined $5000 . Fines for motorists range widely, from $120 to $1000, and there is also a penalty of arrest for up to 6 months. For example, if you drive through a red light, you will lose $200.
There are signs everywhere that say what is prohibited and how much the fine is, so follow local laws.

Here are some fines in Singapore (from $500):

• Throw garbage away from the trash can
• Eating in a public place
• Importing more than one cigarette blog
• Launching fireworks in the wrong place
• Spitting in a public place
• Exceeding the speed of 50 to 60 km/h in a car (up to $1000 or arrest for up to 6 months)
• Talking on a cell phone while driving (deprivation of license or arrest)

Some violations involve corporal punishment (strikes with a thin stick that leaves marks on the body after the blow), these include: vandalism, attempted murder, armed robbery, violation of immigration laws and periods of stay in the country. Singapore also has the death penalty, which is applied in most cases to drug traffickers.

Cost of holiday

Traveling to Singapore is quite expensive. The main expense items are the following (standard vacation per person, per week):

• Round trip flights = 500 €
• Hotel room (6 nights) = 700 €
• Food = 150 €
• Public transport = 100 €
• Attractions = 200 €
• Various purchases = 250 €
• Visa = 35 €

How to save on travel

Now you know how to travel to Singapore on your own. Use these tips and recommendations, they will significantly improve your vacation. Holidays in this country are interesting and quite unusual. Don’t delay your trip, because life goes on, you need to see as many beautiful places on our planet as possible. Best wishes to you!

Happened not just in transit on the way to Indonesia - to the islands Java And Bali, it was a full three-day visit to the most properly organized city in the world. We didn’t set out to run around all the sights, the list of which was practically cemented in my brain after reading a dozen reports and advice from friends. Even in a popular tourist destination Marina Bay We arrived only in the evening of the second day of our stay in Singapore. To each his own, we set our priorities so as not to fall off our feet by the end of the day, so we alternated moving around the city with relaxing in parks and city gardens and in local bars .

City Gate – Changi airport. They say this is the most successful investment of local authorities, and this is certainly true. We flew with the Swiss airline SWISS and our impressions about this company are posted . The choice was made based on the name and price of the ticket - it was “delicious”: Kyiv-Zurich-Singapore (2.5 + 13 = 15.5 hours flight) - USD850. If we had flown in Turks, we would have gotten there a few hours faster, but also cost $300 more. At the time of purchase it was the best offer on the market. A free pleasant bonus was a 5-hour connection in Zurich .

I recently learned to sleep on planes on long flights and arrived in Singapore much fresher than last year. Hong Kong. Changi is an exemplary airport and regularly tops profile ratings. Four luxurious terminals, one of which is completely dedicated to low-cost airlines, a free Sky Train between the terminals, and even those who, as a child, spent time in the local wine shop instead of schoolwork, will find their way by the signs and signs.

Walking along the carpeted surface of the arrival hall, I begin to understand that my native Boryspil is at the very beginning of its evolutionary path and is unlikely to even come close to the leader in the near future - the weight categories are too different. If I were an airport official, I would fly here on business trips to gain experience. After Changi, I’m even thinking about changing my beloved Suvanapumi in Bangkok, as a transit hub in Southeast Asia.

Inside, the airport is more reminiscent of the huge lobby of either a modern cinema, or a reception palace, or a cool high-tech museum. Carpeting, fresh air, tropical gardens, various electronic gadgets, sculptures. Well, maybe a football or golf field is not enough, but the size is quite sufficient.

The huge amount of money invested in the airport does not in any way affect the final price for the consumer, whether we are talking about food, luggage storage or just food - everything costs affordable money. I immediately remember a cold ciabatta in Boryspil for the price of truffles in a high-status Kiev restaurant. On the way back, when a few coins of the local currency timidly jingled in our pockets, and we were too hungry to eat, we settled on just 12.80 local dollars for two for food (pictured). This is approximately 9 US dollars. There was no money left for anything more authentic than fast food.
More photos from Changi to understand why you should choose Singapore for transit and kindly envy the happy, rested passengers.

How to get from Changi Airport to Singapore, getting around the city

The easiest and most expensive way is a taxi. It’s better to use it only upon arrival, when you haven’t yet entered the city transport system, and we were just too lazy to look for a hotel with our backpacks. Delivery of bodies and backpacks cost S$25. Another simple but cheap way is the MRT metro; at the airport you need to follow the signs - it’s hard to miss. So we got back to the flight, having completely understood the city logistics.

The best way to get around Singapore is by MRT metro, the bus will only be needed to travel to zoo, more about this below. The metro covers all major locations. The price varies depending on the distance - maximum 1.88 SGD. We spent 20 Singapore dollars plus a deposit for the EX Link travel card for two active days of travel. It can be purchased in front of the metro escalator entrance with a minimum deposit of S$10. When entering or exiting, the balance of funds is displayed on the board. You can top up through the machine at the stations. (see photo below)

Choosing a hotel in Singapore.

“To expensive housing,” my friends carefully warned me. Yes, if you live on River Side or in Marina Bay the price starts from 120 US dollars per double per day in the cheapest hotel. A survey of more advanced travelers led us to the “81” chain of budget hotels, which is often used by those who do not have extra dollars and need the hotel only as a place to sleep. I fell under the price ceiling I set Hotel Lucky 81 in a well-known budget area Gaylang- price 70 US dollars per double per day.

In the evening, this area is known as a center of prostitution, a dense population of Hindus and a concentration of nightclubs of the same type. Despite the lush nature of the area and free morals, in reality everything turned out to be surprisingly decent, peaceful and even clean, although there is a little more garbage here than in the rest of Singapore. The Hindus hung out peacefully in certain places, all sober; at dusk, the prostitutes went out on their watch along the main street. No one grabbed anyone by the hand, no drugs were offered, and no wallets were taken. In Kyiv on Khreshchatyk it is much more dangerous in the evening than in Singapore red light district . I will definitely stay here next time I visit the city.

Hotel Lucky 81– an ideal option to spend the night, wash and take a shower. There was even a practically unnecessary TV and electric kettle, and decent internet. The view from the window, of course, was not pleasing to the eye, but the price was pleasantly surprising - 70 US dollars per day for a double.

Getting to Geylang area very simple - Aljuned metro station, then walk 15 minutes.

Another advantage of the area is the presence of a huge number of eating places and food courts. Here, in addition to the pleasant price and excellent quality of food, local flavor, an almost complete absence of tourists (a couple of traveling backpackers don’t count) and observation of city life during the meal. Attention! Some establishments do not sell beer, but they are noticeably cleaner and easier to find a place - the same establishments, but with the option - beer, are usually crowded, especially on Friday-Saturday. And the beer won’t run away – any 7/11 store is at our service. By the way, here for the first time I saw Indians drinking beer.

A little more about the hotel. For me, the main indicator of the “goodness” of a hotel is my sound sleep. For this position the hotel Lucky 81 confidently occupies the top positions in the ranking. The expectation that the constant background of our night's rest would be the screams and noise of the guests was not confirmed. Either the isolation of the room is excellent, or the audience is in calmer than in the same Bangkok or Istanbul. And of course everything is very clean, functional, even the wake-up option works, this is when the staff wakes you up at 6 o’clock in the morning at your request.

Singapore walking plan

The next day we planned to thoroughly explore the city and even drew up a rough plan. The plan turned out like this:

• Botanical Garden
• Orchid garden
• Little India
• China Town
• Suntec city
• Fountain of Wealth

Lunch time is best spent by the water - River side And Clark Quay area with gatherings over beer near the Singapore River.

We planned to end the evening in Marina Bay. The program included dinner on the embankment, an evening laser show and photo shooting of Singapore skyscrapers. It might not seem like much, but we weren’t going to set any sightseeing records.

is famous for its draconian fines and this is the first thing your friends who return from there will tell you about. You are not allowed to smoke, chew gum or even gamble in some hotels. Signs are everywhere, although we have seen quite a few “criminals” smoking while walking, and jaywalking is a common theme. Conclusion: we think less about fines, don’t break violations and enjoy the city, in general we behave decently and no troubles threaten us.

We were a little afraid of getting stuck in tourist Marina Bay and given the beauty of the area, we decided to save it for evening dessert.

Singapore Botanic Garden

In the meantime, we went to the morning Botanical Garden- there is guaranteed to be no tourist there until 9.00 am and we had time to enjoy the coolness and recharge for the whole day. This place is unlikely to suit lovers of action - it is quiet, beautiful and green. The planned hour-long walk with the orchid garden easily turned into a three-hour walk. Animal photographers - there are a lot of strange birds here, athletes, mothers with children, just city couples who prefer active mornings. All this, naturally, is diluted with a dozen or two of the ubiquitous Chinese tourists. Tourists in such numbers do not pose a danger - there is enough space for everyone.
In addition to flora and fauna, there are sculptural subjects - this is Mozart, for example ...
We love orchids and do not pass them by anywhere; there are about a dozen different greenhouses with orchids in the collection.

How to get to the botanic garden - Singapore Botanic Gardens

Login Singapore Botanic Garden– free. It is open from five in the morning until midnight. A ticket is required for Orchid National Park. Cost for adults is SGD$5, for children under 12 years old free. The opening hours of the orchid garden are 8:30 - 19:00. Get to the botanical garden you can take the metro, go to the station Botanic Gardens Station(MRT yellow line).

Suntec City and Fountain of Wealth

You can successfully both spend and earn. The city is structured in such a way that the majority still spend money here, providing a good profit for the minority. IN – in addition to ordinary tourism, financial tourism is widely developed - the headquarters of most offshore companies are located in Suntec City. It was decided that we would touch at least one side of the place where the financial destinies of half the world are decided. This is the fountain of wealth, the largest fountain in the world. It amazes more with its size than with the elegance of its forms, no wonder.

The fountain is surrounded by five skyscrapers that resemble a palm. The photo shows two of the five fingers.

How to get to Suntec City

Get to Fountain of Wealth simple - get off at the station metro Promenade, which is easy to reach from Singapore Botanic Gardens without transfers - also the yellow line. A business complex is a stone's throw away Suntec City. It consists of five towers, which, if you use your imagination, resemble the outstretched fingers of a hand. In the center is the largest fountain in the world - the fountain of wealth.

They say you need to go around the fountain three times - then you will get rich. I just tossed a coin in hopes of financial “growth” in the future. The fountain itself turns on according to its own schedule. We were in no hurry and saw this miracle 10 minutes later. We could build another shopping center underground around the fountain, similar to the Kyiv “Squares” or “Globuses”. IN What did they put there instead? Of course a huge food court! Prices are slightly higher than in Gaylang (Aljuned Subway), the assortment is thinner compared to other city places. But there is delicious coffee and pastries here.

Little India & China Town

The essence of Little India and Chinatown is an organic combination of bright houses, colorful alleys, temples and small eateries. Moreover, without each other, all this is unlikely to exist, and all together create a unique flavor of the ethnic city quarter. The Singaporean version of Little India is much softer than its counterpart in Kuala Lumpur: less dirt, trash and exoticism.

What to do in Little India - Singapore? Wander around the area, looking into the local jewelry shops, be amazed once again how two-three-story shacks coexist with the skyscrapers next door, the bravest ones dare to have lunch at the local Tamil cafe.

Just like in real India, everything here is very bright and beautiful in appearance... Mostly Tamils ​​live here. Street food in little India is the only place where I didn’t dare to experiment on myself and waited Chinatown- gastronomic mecca .Chinatown we liked it better, no offense to the Indians. This is a traditional place to have a delicious meal. There are many Thai cafes with traditional Tom Yum soup, just as spicy and tasty as in the homeland, Singha beer and a special coziness, as for me. Chinatown– this is another opportunity to look at the skyscrapers of Singapore from the outside, in the immediate vicinity of the high-rise Marina Bay Sands And Clark Quay.

The Chinese are not embarrassed by the presence of the Indian temple Sri Mariamman (Sri Mariamman Temple, 244, South Bridge Road) in their neighborhood. The entrance fee is symbolic, but the harmless requirement to take off your shoes turned out to be an insidious trash - the temperature of the asphalt almost reached the state of a hot baking sheet on which the Chinese fry chicken wings. It is clear that I did not stay there for long, although the temple itself is beautiful and charismatic. Going out in short runs along the shady side of the yard and contemplating the figures clinging to the building like apples on a tree in a harvest year.

Stalls China Town as bright as the entire quarter, the assortment was not surprising, but if you want, it’s not difficult to find souvenirs and clothes for a trip to the islands. I really like to walk between the rows of streets and watch the people, occasionally interrupting the leisurely process of walking with a bottle of ice-cold beer. A traditional activity in local cafes is watching the public. There are minimal tourists here, and the local characters are quite colorful.

How to get to China Town

To get to Singapore Chinatown you need to get off at the MRT station of the same name. You can go first to Little India (MRT), and then go on foot to Chinatown - this option is better. The sequence is also the same, after a half-hour walk through little India, I don’t know what else to do there, we walked on foot to Chinatown and here you can spend an hour or two, depending on your goals.

IN Chinatown there are no conventions - a foot massage successfully coexists with a seafood restaurant and a shop selling cheap T-shirts, no rushing metropolis and crowds of tourists. I saw a Thai cafe – we stopped in for old times’ sake. The role of a tablecloth is successfully performed by a map of Thailand, which is only a couple of hours away by plane, a fan overhead and steamed glasses of beer - that’s all Asian comfort. By the way, the price of beer is slightly cheaper than in the pro-European region Clark Quay that's on the embankment Singapore River.

The lack of conventions also applies to visiting local churches. There was a service going on, there were no restrictions and we entered, attracted by the chanting of mantras. The praying people were not embarrassed by strangers with cameras, there was no dress code or entrance fee - for some reason I again remember the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The praying public was immersed in a trance and no one paid attention to what was happening around. Monotonous mantras echoed in my head for another half hour, mixed with car horns and voices. In short, it was memorable.

Spiritual food here closely coexists with earthly food; not far from the temple there is an attraction of no less importance - the main street of food - China Town Food Street with a full range of the finest Asian cuisine. You can't just lure a hungry man out of here. Hence the recommendation - to visit Chinatown It’s more convenient during the day, combining a walk with lunch. Turn out to be a little more expensive than a meal in Geylang area(the block where our hotel was located, metro Aljuned) (see the beginning of the report)

Multinational city and if you're tired Chinatown and not entirely pure little India, you can always spend money on truly European entertainment. Museums were not part of our plans - well, honestly, they need at least one more day. Shopping at a famous Orchard Road was not even considered due to the meager budget and lack of needs at that time. Choosing the embankment of the Singapore River - area Clark Quay. This is an area where Europeans of all nationalities gather, but the main movement begins after sunset - local bars are the most popular in the city. And around 16:00 in all Happy Hour establishments there is complete calm and all sorts of tasty bonuses in the form of discounts on beer or snacks. Such a slight calm before the evening “storm”, which we took advantage of.
Alcohol in Singapore is expensive everywhere, so my credit card can hardly handle more than two glasses - the price of beer is from 8 to 15 Singapore dollars, compared to cheap Thailand or Cambodia, draconian. We probably didn’t spend those three hours very wisely, wandering along the embankment, drinking local beer. From the point of view of an organized tourist, this is practically a crime, but we had a good time together - that’s the main thing, isn’t it.

This house with multi-colored shutters is actually some kind of ministry. And this is in mega-modern and serious Singapore!
And this is an Armenian church, we stumbled upon it unexpectedly, sat alone on a bench, thought about the frailty of tourist life and why everyone sticks to honey like flies Marina Bay! There are a million places in the city where we felt good.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel, looks more like a giant metro station and can be seen in the distance...

Marina Bay

It looks like the Singapore authorities have found a way to localize tourists in one place. 90% of the visiting people are concentrated in Marina Bay and try to prove the opposite. As they say: “And the sheep (locals) are safe and the wolves (tourists) are fed.” Moreover, they are well-fed in the literal sense of the word; most of the places where people eat crabs, Laksa soup and other local delicacies are concentrated in the Marina Bay embankment area. Finding a free table at lunchtime, and it is here from 11 a.m. until sunset is impossible even theoretically, let alone practically. Not for us, seasoned in the struggle for a place in the sun in Kyiv traffic jams and a crowded metro.

Just half an hour after choosing a food court, we are already enjoying real black pepper crab - a signature dish that is prepared in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Black pepper crab is a local gastronomic high point that can be conquered for as little as SGD 15-20 each. For the sake of crabs, we once again abandoned the banal lobsters and we were right.

Gnawing the claws with my teeth, I got to the most tender crab meat and literally sucked every last molecule from its limbs. By the middle of the meal, my hands were up to my elbows in the sauce and spices with which the crabs were flavored to my heart's content. There were two of them, two beauties, who arrived from the shores of Sri Lanka only to be eaten by two fans of Asian food on the Marina Bay embankment.

By the way, contrary to popular belief, living in Marina Bay better not at the hotel Marina Bay Sands , which inside looks like a huge shopping center, and, for example, in a hotel Mandarin Oriental . It is located on the opposite side of Marina Bay and it is from its balconies and terraces that the best view of the bay, evening laser show and Marina Bay Sands Hotel . Prices in five-star hotels there start from 400 US dollars for a modest standard, so if you don’t have that kind of money, it’s better to stay like us in simpler areas.

The duration of the laser show is only 15 minutes - I didn’t even know the schedule, I was just lucky. It is held on Fridays and Saturdays three times per evening: 20:00, 21:30 and 23:00. On other days, only twice - at 20:00 and at 21:30. It's free. We saw something similar in Hong Kong, where skyscrapers were painted with lasers, and laser cartoons were shown on an unusual theater building.

I love the skyline views of the city, but my phone was ringing off the hook with warnings about the ever-decreasing limit on both my credit cards. What was saved on the hotel had long been eaten and drunk, the rest of the budget was quietly spent on travel, entrances and souvenirs. It is impossible to embrace the immensity and get around Singapore in two days, especially since the second day is almost entirely devoted to the zoo and relaxation before the long flight home.

For the above reason, going to the observation deck hotel Marina Bay Sands was postponed until the next visit, which must take place. The waiting list has been put on the same short list Sentosa Island with its tourist attractions in the form of an aquarium, excavator shows, restaurants and a luxurious beach. But we took a walk through the gardens near the bay - the latest miracle of Singaporean engineering...

Singapore ZOO

The only people who haven’t heard about it are those who didn’t want to hear or are indifferent to zoos. And we love and don’t miss it in almost every city that fate brings us to. Previously, in my personal ranking of zoos, the highest places were occupied by Berlin and Vienna, but Singapore is more than a zoo, it is a luxurious hotel for animals from all over the world with a complete imitation of the natural environment. Read more about it in my blog - Singapore Zoo - Five Star Animal Hotel

Practical information: How to get to the Singapore Zoo?

The easiest way for the lazy and rich is Taxi, the road will cost SGD$25-30 if you drive from the Marina Bay Sands hotel. It's unsporting and expensive.

By public transport: MRT metro to Choa Chu Kang station, then bus No. 927, which will take you directly to the zoo, or MRT metro to Ang Mo Kio station, then bus No. 138. Approximate time 50 minutes, buses run on schedule. Stop number 927 is located on the left when exiting the metro, 50 meters away. On buses, payments are also made using EZ Link cards, and you need to swipe it across the terminal at the entrance (the maximum fare amount is read) and at the exit (the unused amount is returned). The price of the bus is approximately 20 cents, the metro is SGD$1.88.

It’s worth going to the zoo in the morning or at lunch; feeding the animals is another free show. At this time, even the monster crocodiles, which usually lie like logs on the bank of the river, come to life. The cult character of the zoo is the polar bear - his presidential suite with a swimming pool, 5 meals a day and animation can easily be the envy of the average citizen of the Earth.

There are no cages, fences or other barriers. Naturally, primates have the highest rating for mobility and emotionality. After watching the orangutans, I no longer want to go to Sumatra, to see a forest man in the wild. A complete imitation of the natural conditions of the Indonesian jungle, better than any quality movie about animals. The planned 3 hours for the Zoo somehow unexpectedly turned into almost 6 hours.

Practical information about the Singapore Zoo

You can have lunch near the zoo, although you will have to pay a wild sum for fast food, around 40 dollars for two without drinks. Therefore, before the zoo we had lunch in normal Asian food courts, but you can drink beer there too. Prices are equally high everywhere. It is better to take water with you.

After Singapore and a subsequent trip to Indonesia, I realized that you need to safely add at least one or two hours and about 20-30 dollars to a planned visit to each point of interest in a city like Singapore. The proximity of objects and points of interest to each other is only apparent, and the attractions themselves or just city blocks make you wander around them much longer than planned. The ideal is to not plan at all, but in return be prepared to give up your time.

Review of Singapore

Singapore did not become “one of the best” in these less than three days, but it confidently took a place in my TOP 5 megacities in the world. Here we fell into childhood, became adults again, enjoyed the warmth, local architecture, ethnic flavor, excellent beer and freedom, without thinking about anything else. This is what I wish for all readers.

Budget accommodation in Singapore

Budget accommodation or hotels in Singapore cheaper to search through the booking system Hotels Combined (Room Guru), a service I use myself. The advantage of the service is that it compares prices from dozens of booking systems - you just have to choose the best offer. In each article or report, I provide links to hotels where I stayed and which I liked. We lived in a hotel 81 Lucky on Geylang Street - "red light district", no comments, the level of comfort is minimal, but sufficient for an overnight stay (TV, shower, clean bed, window, internet, telephone). On the plus side, the food in this area is very tasty and cheap.

How to get to Singapore

Air travel from Kyiv can be purchased directly from SWISS airlines, for example, but it is most profitable to take advantage of flight offers for direction Kyiv-Singapore from aviasales.ru, an aggregator that I use myself. The service selects the most advantageous offers - you just have to choose the best by price, departure time or airline.