Overview
Singapore is a country in Asia according to politicsezine. Singapore is a cultural melting pot and impressively demonstrates the economic success of the region. Those who land here for the first time will sometimes be overwhelmed. In 2019, the former British trading post looked back on a 200-year history, which is a success story and tells how Singapore has developed into a global economic center and one of the richest countries in the world. In 2015, Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence from Great Britain. Modern Singapore is a vibrant combination of ultramodern skyscrapers, Remnants of tropical rainforest and some colorful neighborhoods, each with their own unique character. What really stands out about this tiny but vibrant city-state is its cleanliness. Strict regulations like the ban on chewing gum sometimes strike international astonishment, but the fact of the matter is that crime is low and Singapore is one of the safest places in the world. Singapore is a feast for the senses, a fantastic mix of the familiar and the exotic, and is suitable for all budgets. The Raffles Hotel, for example, offers absolute luxury and grandeur, while the unassuming and inexpensive (but very good) markets like Bugis Junction and Clarke Quay have all sorts of culinary delights for smaller wallets.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Singapore’s national carrier Singapore Airlines (SQ) offers flights to Singapore from Frankfurt/M. and Munich. Due to the codeshare between Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Eurowings (EW), Eurowings feeder flights from Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Vienna to Dusseldorf and from Hamburg to Zurich can be used. Lufthansa (LH) flies non-stop from Frankfurt and Munich to Singapore; Regular direct flights from Zurich are offered by Swiss (LX). Qatar Airways (QR) offers a connection to Singapore from Doha. Feeder flights to Doha are available from Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna and Zurich. Scoot (TR) flies from Berlin to Singapore.
Flight times
Frankfurt – Singapore: 12 hrs 20 mins; Vienna – Singapore: 15 hrs 05 mins (with stopover); Zurich – Singapore: 12 hrs 10 mins
airpasses
oneworld’s Visit Asia Airpass is also valid for Singapore. Travelers must book at least two flights with fixed flight dates for the first flight; the dates for further flights remain flexible. information on the participating airlines is available from oneworld.
Arrival by car
Two dams are the only land connections to Singapore; they cross the Straits of Johor, the Singapore-Malaysia border. Bus: Express buses connect Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Mersing and other places in Malaysia. Reservations are required. Tolls: The connecting roads between Singapore and Malaysia are subject to tolls. A toll based on both time and location is payable for journeys to downtown Singapore. The fee is collected electronically for vehicles registered in Singapore. Otherwise, a NETS CashCard can be purchased at banks and post offices and loaded with credit. Documents: The international driver’s license must be carried along in addition to the national driver’s license.
Arrival by train
To get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, travelers must transfer at Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to local trains bound for Woodlands, Singapore. You can then take the metro or bus to Singapore city centre. The Orient Express also runs between Singapore and Bangkok (Thailand). The representative for the Orient Express in Germany is Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, Tel. +49 (221) 33 80 300.
Arrival by ship
Singapore is one of the busiest port cities in the world.
Cruise ships
Numerous international shipping companies such as TUI Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean call at Singapore on their Southeast Asia cruises. AIDA offers cruises to Singapore from Hamburg.
Ferry provider
Limbongan Maju ferries connect Tanjung Belungkor (Malaysia) with Changi (Singapore) several times a week (journey time: min. 30 min.).
Transportation
Traveling by car/bus
Singapore’s road network is very well developed. A special regulation applies to the Central Business District of Singapore; it is closed to cars and taxis from Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Toll: Tolls to downtown Singapore are both time and location dependent. The fee is collected electronically for vehicles registered in Singapore. Otherwise, a NETS CashCard can be purchased at banks and post offices and loaded with credit. Gas stations are available everywhere.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
The roads are generally in very good condition.
Car rental
Rental cars can be booked at the airport or through hotels. The driver must be at least 21 years old and have held a driver’s license for at least one year.
Taxi
Numerous, relatively inexpensive taxis are available at the airport, in front of hotels or at taxi ranks. All taxis are metered. Often there are surcharges for luggage, night trips or trips to the airport. For round trips, it is advisable to agree a fare per hour in advance.
Bicycle
There are numerous bicycle and scooter rental companies in Singapore.
Coach
The bus company SMRT Buses is responsible for local public transport. There is no fixed bus timetable. At the bus stops, the distance between the buses is usually indicated (on average every 10-15 minutes). SN NightRider buses operate at night. Payment is possible with EZ-Link card or Singapore Tourist Pass. The pass is held in front of the card reader on the bus both when boarding and alighting. If paying in cash, no change will be returned. SIA Hop-On Buses allow travelers to explore Singapore on four different routes.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – left-hand traffic; – Children up to a height of 1.35 m must generally be transported in a child seat; – between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., lights are compulsory. Speed limits: – general: 50 km/h (40 km/h for teams); – Pay attention to the signs on expressways or city motorways.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC partner club in Singapore is the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA), Tel. +65 63 33 88 11. Repairs and other car-related services are offered in Singapore by SMRT Automotive Services Ltd., Tel. +65 68 66 26 71 or +65 68 66 26 72.
Documentation
The international driver’s license must be carried in addition to the national driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
Metro: Singapore has one of the best subway networks in the world operated by the SMRT Cooperation. Hours of operation are from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, depending on the route. Train timetables are posted in every station. Trains run approximately every 2-8 minutes. Bus: Buses are the cheapest mode of transportation in Singapore. Many destinations are easy to reach on the dense route network. Bicycle rickshaws: so-called trishaws can also be rented.
Traveling by ship
The Singapore Cruise Center is located at the HarbourFront Centre, 10 minutes from the city centre. Harbor tours and ferry services to the Singapore Islands, Malaysia and Indonesia’s Riau Islands depart from the World Trade Center pier and the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at Changi. Marina Bay Cruise Center Singapore is located at Marina South Pier.
