The food in Singapore is so good because of its diverse and rich culinary heritage. The country’s food scene is a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan influences, resulting in a wide array of flavors and dishes. Singapore’s …
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Backpacking Singapore in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Singapore with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Welcome to Singapore, where modernity, cleanliness, and cultural diversity define a unique backpacking experience. Pros? Explore a city-state that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, offering excellent public transport and safety. However, Singapore can be pricier than many Southeast Asian destinations. For backpackers seeking a meticulously organized, technologically advanced, and food-centric urban adventure, Singapore stands out as a compact, dynamic, and efficient destination, where every street corner reveals a fascinating mix of cultures and experiences.
Best known for:Known for: safety | food
Best time to visit: November-April
Best known for:Known for: safety | food
Best time to visit: November-April
Why to go?
Why backpacking in Singapore
Food
💡 Highlights
Top-5 things to do in Singapore
- Marina Bay Sands: This iconic landmark offers stunning views of the city skyline and is home to a luxury hotel, a shopping mall, and a rooftop infinity pool. It is a must-visit for its architectural beauty and breathtaking panoramas.
- Gardens by the Bay: These futuristic gardens feature towering Supertrees, a Flower Dome, and Cloud Forest. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature, enjoy beautiful floral displays, and experience the unique Cloud Walk, offering a bird’s eye view of the gardens.
- Sentosa Island: This resort island is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. It offers a variety of attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark, and beautiful beaches. It is the perfect place for fun and relaxation.
- Chinatown: Immerse yourself in Singapore’s rich cultural heritage by visiting Chinatown. Explore the vibrant streets, visit traditional Chinese temples, indulge in delicious street food, and shop for souvenirs at the bustling markets.
- Hawker Centers: Singapore is renowned for its diverse and delicious street food. Visit hawker centers like Maxwell Food Centre or Lau Pa Sat to sample local delicacies such as Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and chili crab. It’s an affordable way to experience the local food culture.
But Singapore offers more...
🎎 Festivals: Chingay Parade, Lantern Festival, Singapore Food Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore Night Festival
× Singapore
Traveled route: Singapore, Little India, Orchard Road, Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay
🌤️ When to go?
Best time to go backpacking Singapore
The best time to visit Singapore for backpacking would be during the months of February to April, or from November to January. During these periods, the weather is generally pleasant with lower humidity and less rainfall.February to April is considered the shoulder season, offering fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices compared to the peak tourist season. The temperatures are also more comfortable, ranging from 24 to 31 °C (75 to 88 °F).
November to January is another great time to visit as Singapore experiences its monsoon season during this period. While there may be occasional rain showers, the temperatures remain relatively cooler, ranging from 23 to 30 °C (73 to 86 °F). This is also the festive season in Singapore, with events like Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year, which adds to the vibrant atmosphere of the city.
Risk level: low (0%)
Safety advice for Singapore
- Unauthorised public demonstrations are illegal. You need a police permit for any public gatherings, even if you're the only one demonstrating or protesting. Public demonstrations are only allowed at Speakers Corner in Hong Lim Park. If you're not a permanent resident, you need a police permit to join these.
- Violent crime against tourists is rare. Petty crime, such as theft and pickpocketing, happens at the airport, in tourist areas and on public transport. Safeguard your belongings.
- Scammers call or send text messages and pretend to be local government officials, banks or telcos. They try to obtain your personal information. Hang up immediately if the caller cannot identify themselves correctly. Delete texts quickly. Verify first by going to official websites or calling the company's hotline.
- Scammers pretend to be landlords on property websites and offer fake rental properties. Research the property and landlord before agreeing to a property rental or sale contract.
- Terrorism is a possible threat. Perpetrators may be self-radicalised individuals. Potential targets include businesses and public areas popular with foreigners. Take official warnings seriously.
- Strong winds and heavy rain happen during the monsoon seasons from December to March and June to September. Follow the advice of local officials.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
Singapore
My tips to get you on the way!
Does Singapore sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Singapore. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Singapore may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Singapore. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Singapore may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Singapore, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Singapore, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 23 September 2024