At just north of the equator, Singapore’s climate is hot all year round, with frequent thunderstorms. Singapore is a thriving modern metropolis bringing together cultural and religious diversity, international business, trade and shopping brands as well as offering tourists a rich colonial and Malay heritage to explore. Known as "The Lion City", or Singapura, meaning Lion (Singa) City (Pura) in Sanskrit, visitors can visit the majestic ‘Merlion’, a sculpture and widely recognised symbol of Singapore. It features a lion’s head, representing the lion reportedly seen on the shore at the time Singapura was re-discovered by a Malay prince in the 11th Century AD, and a fish tail, acknowledging Temasek’s (Singapore’s original name, a Javanese word for sea) fishing heritage.

Singapore has traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens and pearl luggers for towers of concrete and glass, and its steamy rickshaw image for hi-tech wizardry, but you can still recapture the colonial era with a Singapore Sling under the languorous ceiling fans at Raffles Hotel.

Singapore is one giant sauna anytime of the year. November to January are the wettest months but the other months are not exactly dry either. The only real deterrent is the lack of refreshing winds during March and September. Generally, expect average temperatures to reach around 31°C (88°F) during the day and linger around 24°C (75° F) at night.

Singapore Zoo & Night Safari
Tel: 65 6269 3411
Renowned for its Open Zoo concept, Singapore Zoo is set on a peninsula jutting into the Upper Seletar Reservoir, where the zoo's 28 lush, landscaped hectares are home to more than 4000 residents. Newer attractions like the 'Australian Outback' exhibit and the 'Hamadryas Baboons - The Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia' convey entire ecosystems: animal, mineral, vegetable and human.
Web: www.zoo.com.sg

Asian Civilisations Museum – A Timeless Realm
Tel: 65 6332 7798
Built in 1865, the imposing Empress Place building (named in honor of Queen Victoria) lived through various incarnations before it was turned it into a museum in 1988. The museum hosts touring and special exhibitions in addition to its 10 thematic galleries over three levels, which explores the traditional aspects of pan-Asian culture and civilisation.
Web: www.nhb.gov.sg/acm

Jurong Bird Park Squawker Centre
Tel: 65 6265 0022
Even those of us who don't like to wear khaki waterproofs and hide in bushes all day with binoculars strapped to our heads will love this place. Covering 20 ha in the west of the island, the bird park is a feathery delight, particularly the Waterfall Aviary: a huge open -air forest dome featuring a 30m waterfall and thousands of beautiful 'free-ranging' birds. Check out the flamingo lake, pelican cove and underwater viewing gallery.
Web: www.birdpark.com

Singapore is a very safe country with low crime rates. Pickpockets are not unknown but in general crime is not a problem. This is not surprising given the harsh penalties meted out to offenders. The importation of drugs carries the death penalty, which is regularly carried out. Drugs in Singapore should be avoided at all costs.

The state of Singapore takes a tough line on antisocial issues - the most famous being its ban on chewing gum (well, it does mess up the pavement and could stop the MRT from working). While having gum for your own consumption is no big deal, bringing it in bulk into Singapore will attract a heavy fine - the standard way of stamping out un-Singaporean activities.

Smoking in all public places, littering, jay walking and eating or drinking on the MRT are all punishable with hefty fines.

Most airlines fly into Singapore's heavily trafficked Changi International Airport. If you're coming from Malaysia, your options are myriad, ranging from comfy buses to ferries and even taxis.

Plane
A swag of airlines fly into Singapore's ultramodern Changi International Airport - often voted one of the best airports in the world. It's certainly one of the most heavily trafficked, with a glut of facilities ranging from 24-hour meditation centres to boutique shopping - and even a little-known rooftop swimming pool. The best way to get from Changi Airport to the city (20km/12mi away) is by train. There is also a wide choice of bus and taxi services.

Ferry
A passenger ferry operates between north Changi and Tanjung Belungkor, east of Johor Bahru. There are no direct passenger ferries between Singapore and the main ports of Indonesia, but it is possible to travel between the two countries via the Indonesian islands of the Riau Archipelago, immediately south of Singapore. Modern ferries link Singapore with the islands of Batam and Bintan in the archipelago. Speedboats link Batam with Pekanbaru in Sumatra, and several ships a week link Bintan with Jakarta.

Bus
Lots of visitors to Singapore combine their stay with a visit to Malaysia, which is just a kilometre away across the causeway over the Straits of Johor. You can travel between Malaysia and Singapore very easily by bus. Immaculate air-conditioned buses link Singapore to almost all large Malaysian cities; fares are generally inexpensive.

Taxi
You can travel between Malaysia (just a kilometre away) and Singapore very easily by taxi.

Car
A second road link has opened between Singapore and Malaysia to ease congestion - a bridge between Tuas in Western Singapore and Geylang Patah. It's known pragmatically enough as the Second Link. It can only be used if you have your own transport.

Train
Singapore is the southern terminus of Malaysia's rail system and there are three trains a day to and from Kuala Lumpur (four on weekends).

Singapore's public transport is plentiful and varied. You have the option of using metered taxis (rickshaws are really only in Chinatown and the back streets), the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system or the convenient bus services. You can get around on the water by ferry or bumboat.

Bus
Singapore has a comprehensive bus network with frequent services; it's cheap and simple to use.

Underground Rail
Singapore has a convenient MRT subway system that won't cost you a fortune or tax your brain too much.

Taxi
There is a good supply of taxis and all are metered. Taxis can be flagged down on the street or found at taxi stands near major hotels and shopping centres. During heavy rain, peak hours or late at night, taxis can however be almost impossible to get in many parts of the city centre.

Small Boat
You can charter bumboats (motorised sampans) to take various tours on the Singapore River,while luxurious junk tours can be taken around the harbour.

Car
Singapore’s major rent-a-car companies are easily available around the island. Daily rates can be prohibitively high, but weekly rates are reasonable.

Ferry
Regular ferry services operate from HarbourFront Centre to other islands, including Batam in Indonesia.

Cycle Taxi
Rickshaws have all but disappeared from Singapore's main streets but can still be found operating for tourists in Chinatown and some central city streets; agree on a fare beforehand.

GMT/UTC +8

Metric

683 sq km (266 sq mi)

220V 50Hz

There are no area codes in Singapore; just dial the eight-digit number.

The population of Singapore is around 4,500,000, with 76.4% of Chinese origin, 14.9% Malay and 6.4% Indian.

English (official)
English is widespread. Children are taught English at school but also learn their mother tongue to make sure they don't lose contact with their traditions. The only communication problem English-speakers are likely to have in Singapore is with older Singaporeans who did not learn English at school, though trying to understand the unique patois called Singlish - which uses a clipped form of English mixed with Malay and Hokkien words - can be taxing.

Malay (official)
Mostly restricted to the Malay community.

Chinese (official)
Chinese dialects, such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hainanese and Hakka, are still widely spoken. The government's long-standing campaign to promote Mandarin has been very successful and increasing numbers of Chinese now speak Mandarin at home.

Tamil (official)
Tamil is the main Indian language, though Malayalam and Hindi are also spoken.

Singapore Dollar (S$)

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