Sri Mariamman Temple
Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, topped by a tall tower covered in colourful sculptures of deities. Visitors should remove their shoes and dress modestly.
Chinatown
Street markets selling souvenirs, hawker food centres, temples and shophouses fill this historic quarter.
Attractive locations
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Temple built by Hokkien migrants in the 19th century and dedicated to Mazu, goddess of the sea. Ornate carved beams and roof figures are the main features.
Masjid Jamae (Chulia Mosque)
Mosque founded by south Indian Muslims in the 19th century, with a blend of Indian and local design. It is a working mosque, so visitors should dress modestly.
Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka
One of the oldest mosques in Singapore, close to the river. Visitors are asked to dress modestly and respect prayer times.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
A large Tang-style Buddhist temple in Chinatown, built to house a relic said to be a tooth of the Buddha. Inside are gilded halls, a museum and a rooftop garden.
Chinatown Heritage Centre
A museum in restored shophouses on Pagoda Street showing how early Chinese immigrants lived and worked in cramped rooms. Recreated interiors and period objects fill the displays.
Maxwell Food Centre
A long-established hawker centre at the edge of Chinatown with dozens of stalls selling local dishes such as chicken rice, noodles and congee. It is busiest at lunchtime.
Airports
Singapore Changi Airport SIN
It is about 18 km in a straight line from Chinatown.
Seletar Airport XSP
It is about 15 km in a straight line from Chinatown.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Singapore page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan25.9 °C235 mm
- Feb26.2 °C102 mm
- Mar27.0 °C168 mm
- Apr27.8 °C193 mm
- May28.1 °C199 mm
- Jun27.6 °C164 mm
- Jul27.1 °C174 mm
- Aug27.1 °C173 mm
- Sep27.2 °C167 mm
- Oct27.3 °C210 mm
- Nov26.9 °C283 mm
- Dec26.3 °C300 mm
Driest months: Feb, Jun, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 61% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Chinese New Year in Chinatown
Hotels get filled and prices go up for this event, one of the country's biggest each year, so plan early.
culture
Mid-Autumn lanterns
Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay both feature lanterns and mooncakes.
festival
Chinese New Year in Chinatown
Hotels get filled and prices go up for this event, one of the country's biggest each year, so plan early.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 999. Ambulance and fire 995.
local government
Singapore Police Force (emergency and hotlines)
Helps with: Singapore's national police. Call 999 for immediate police help, or text 70999 when it is not safe to talk. A separate police hotline takes crime-related information.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Singapore, including visitors. The police page lists no tourist-specific police unit.
Phone: 999
Address: Police Headquarters, New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329560
local government
Singapore Tourism Board (Tourist Information Hotline)
Helps with: Singapore's national tourism board. Its tourist information hotline answers visitor questions on weekdays 9am to 6pm excluding public holidays; feedback can go through its online form.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Singapore or planning a trip there.
Phone: 1800-736 2000
Address: Tourism Court, 1 Orchard Spring Lane, Singapore 247729
ngo
Singapore Red Cross
Helps with: Singapore's national Red Cross society, a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It runs first aid training, blood donation drives and community support programmes.
Who qualifies: People in Singapore who need its first aid, blood donation or community support services.
Address: Red Cross House, 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Singapore (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The Singapore foreign ministry's directory links to each mission's contact page.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.
local government
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
Helps with: Singapore's fire and rescue service. Call 995 for an ambulance or fire emergency, or send an SMS to 70995.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Singapore who needs an ambulance or fire service in an emergency.
Phone: 995