Singapore tourist guide, practical information and things to know to organize trips and vacations, what to see in the city state of South Asia.
Singapore in a nutshell
- Capital: Singapore
- Area in sq km: 699.4
- Population: 3,608,595 (2009)
- Religion: Buddhist majority, the remainder is made up of Muslims, Christians, Taoists, Hindus and others.
Where is it
The Republic of Singapore is a city state of southern Asia, located at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, it includes the island of the same name and 59 islets, of which the main ones are Jurong, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin and Sentosa.
Singapore is connected in the north to the Malaysian state of Johor, by the Johor-Singapore Causeway bridge and the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link bridge, while to the south is the island of Riau, belonging to Indonesia.
Near the center of the main island is Bukit Timah, a hill that represents the maximum height, approx. 163 meters above sea level, of Singapore.
In this area a part of the tropical forest typical of these places has remained, a nature reserve preserves the various plant species.
Flag
The flag is composed of two horizontal bands of red and white color symbolizing respectively universal brotherhood, understood as equality between men, and purity understood as virtue.
History
A Malaysian legend attributes the foundation of this city to a Prince of Sumatra who considered meeting a lion in Temasek a good omen.
Various archaeological finds demonstrate the existence of a town with origins in the fourteenth century, equipped with walls and moat.
Hydrography
The rivers of Singapore have an insignificant length, the longest being the Kallang and it is 10 Km long. The Singapore River, the most famous, runs through the central area. The territory has a natural drainage network, necessary for the abundant rainfall typical of the tropical climate.
Climate
Singapore's climate is equatorial, hot and humid throughout the year, with a temperature ranging between 24 ° C and 32 ° C.
The rainiest period is from November to January, the least rainy period is from May to July, although the difference is minimal.
Recommended readings- Singapore: useful information
Temperatures vary little, both between one season and another, and between day and night.
Population
The population is mostly made up of Chinese, the remainder is made up of Malaysians, Indians and others.
Time zone
The time difference in Singapore is 7 hours ahead of Italy, 6 hours ahead of Italy when daylight saving time is in effect.
Spoken language
The official languages in Singapore are Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil.
Economy
Singapore's strategic position and efficient port favor the country's economy, which is very linked to international trade, including re-export from Singapore.
The predominant sector is industry, dominated by foreign multinationals and some large national companies.
It dominates the entire electronics sector, followed by wholesale and financial services, while the pharmaceutical sector is emerging.
The chemical and refining industries play an important role in Singapore's economy.
Agriculture due to the scarcity of agricultural land is not a significant sector.
When to go
Preferred months to visit Singapore are from May to September.
Necessary documents
To enter Singapore, Italian citizens need a passport with a residual validity of at least 6 months.
A visa is not necessary for a tourism or business stay of less than 30 days.
Phone
- The international code to call from Italy to Singapore is: 0065
- The international code to call from Singapore to Italy is: 00139
Cell phones work throughout the country.
Electricity
The electric current is 220V-50Hz. The sockets are of the English type, therefore a power adapter is required.
Currency
The official currency of Singapore is the Singapore dollar (SGD). The main credit cards and travelers checks are normally accepted.
Banks and ATMs are widespread.
How to get
The airline Singapore Airlines connects Italy directly to Singapore, with seven weekly frequencies from Milan and two from Rome.
Airlines offering connecting flights include Air China International, Emirates, Qatar Airways and major European airlines.
Vaccinations
No mandatory vaccinations are required to enter Singapore.
Vaccination against yellow fever is required only from those who come from infected areas.
Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended, and it is good to follow the usual hygiene rules.
Before departure, it is advisable to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and any repatriation.
What see
Singapore's main tourist attractions undoubtedly include botanical gardens which, spanning more than 52 hectares, also include the National Orchid Garden, which contains a collection made up of three thousand types of orchids.
The typical Singapore fruit is durian, produced from Durio which is a tree belonging to the Malvaceae family.
Singapore is also famous for having given birth to the singer Masia One, for being the setting for the film The Pirates of the Caribbean and for the Formula 1 Grand Prix which is held at night in a very suggestive scenario consisting of the night panorama of the city.
