Singapore Fast Facts

The island and city state of Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia in terms of area. He has no direct neighbors. Malaysia and Indonesia are the closest. The metropolis with a population of 4 million is considered the cleanest city in Asia and is an important global financial center. Travelers will find a breathtaking mix of impressive buildings paired with diverse culture. See andyeducation.com for education in Singapore.

Capital City Singapore
Size 719.2 km²
Resident 5,607,300
Official Language Tamil, Malay, Chinese, English
Currency Singapore Dollar
Time Zone UTC+8
Telephone Area Code +65

Fast facts to know

  • Medical care in Singapore is excellent.
  • The red of the national flag stands for human equality, the white for purity and virtue, the 5 stars symbolize democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
  • The symbol of Singapore is the Merlion, a hybrid of a lion and a fish.
  • As an important financial metropolis, Singapore is very wealthy and therefore rather expensive.
  • Drug possession carries the death penalty.
  • The city consists of 63 islands.
  • Singapore has some really impressive artificial waterfalls.
  • Shaking hands and eye contact are undesirable for most Singaporeans.
  • A Formula 1 night race is held in Singapore every year.
  • Singapore is considered one of the greenest and cleanest cities in the world.
  • The import and trade of chewing gum is prohibited.
  • Tipping is not customary in Singapore.
  • Homosexuality is still considered a crime.

Exciting places in Singapore

Singapore is a city-state and by definition exciting on every corner!

History of Singapore

  • First mention as an outpost of the Srivijaya Empire in the 3rd century.
  • First British branch established in 1819.
  • Previously a refuge for pirates.
  • From 1867 British Crown Colony.
  • Taken and occupied by Japan 1942-45.
  • 1945 again under British rule.
  • 1959 Singapore becomes a self-governing crown colony.
  • 1962 Singapore becomes part of the federation with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.
  • Independent from the UK in 1963.
  • 1965 Sovereignty recognized as a separate state of Malaysia.
  • 1959-1990 economic rise from a developing country to an industrialized nation (one of the 4 Tiger States).

Climate & travel weather in Singapore

  • Tropical warm weather.
  • High temperatures all year round.
  • Heavy rain showers are constantly possible throughout the year.
  • High humidity of 80-85%, when it rains up to 100%.
  • Northeast monsoon between November and January with most precipitation.
  • Water temperature around 25° all year round.
  • Recommended travel time:
    • March-September (less rainfall).

Ideas for trips in Singapore

  • Sky Park Observation Deck
  • Gardens by the Bay with Supertrees & Garden Rhapsody music and light show
  • Merlion – the symbol of the city
  • Chinatown & Little India
  • colonial district
  • Marina Bay Sands Resort features the world’s tallest infinity pool
  • Singapore Zoo with Night Safari
  • Boat trip on the Singapore River
  • Flower Dome & Cloud Forest Dome
  • SEA Aquarium & Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa Island
  • Relaxing at Tanjong Beach
  • Visit street food market
  • Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
  • Helix Bridge
  • Art Science Museum
  • Sri Mariamman Temple
  • Sultan Mosque
  • Orchard Road amusement street
  • Ride the Singapore Flyer
  • Haw Par Villa
  • Chinese Gardens
  • Dine at the DC Super Heroes Cafe

Food & Drink in Singapore

  • The culinary diversity in Singapore is huge. The full spectrum of Asian cuisine is available as well as European and Australian cuisine.
  • The private cuisine is the Peranakan cuisine.
  • Food is an important issue in Singapore, street food is very popular.
  • While the hawker centers are reasonably priced, dining out can be arbitrarily expensive.
  • Alcoholic beverages are usually expensive.
  • Typical dishes:
    • Bah Kut Teh (spicy herb soup with pork and offal).
    • Chai Tow Kway (pancakes with spring onions and sweet black sauce).
    • Hokkien Mee (yellow noodles stir-fried with vegetables, pork or squid).
    • Laksa (hot soup with thick, yellow noodles, pieces of chicken or fish, diced tofu, coconut milk or tamarind juice).
    • Nasi Lemak (Malay breakfast of sticky rice cooked in coconut milk with small sardines and lots of chili).
    • Rojak (tropical salad of cucumber, pineapple, mango, grilled tofu, tamarind juice, fried dough pieces with shrimp paste, peanuts).
    • Roti Prata (Indian pancakes made from thin batter with different fillings).
    • Frog Porridge
    • Oyster omelet
    • Chili crab

Particularly scenic

  • Chinese garden
  • Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
  • Botanic Garden
  • Beautiful beaches:
    • Palawan Beach
    • Siloso Beach
    • Tanjong Beach

Singapore Fast Facts