Singapore

Mongolian citizens get up to 30 days visa-free on any passport type. Passport valid 6+ months, an onward/return ticket, hotel booking and the ability to show sufficient funds at the border. Singapore applies its entry rules strictly — answer questions briefly and honestly.

Every traveller submits ICA's SG Arrival Card online, free, within the 3 days before arrival (health declaration included). A family can be entered in one submission. Keep the confirmation email — it may be asked for at the border.

Tip: 'Arrival card' sites that charge a fee are fakes — only ica.gov.sg.

Chewing gum, e-cigarettes/vapes and imitation tobacco are prohibited imports — carrying a vape means a fine. There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes; declare them on arrival. Bring medicines with the prescription and packaging; some (codeine, sedatives) need approval. Drug laws are the world's harshest (death penalty).

Hot and humid all year; afternoon downpours are normal and November–January is wettest. Light cotton clothes, an umbrella, sunscreen and one warmer layer — indoor air-conditioning is cold. Hospitals are excellent but very expensive — travel insurance is a must.

Tip: Carry a water bottle: public drinking fountains are common and tap water is safe.

Hotels, Universal Studios, the zoo and the Gardens by the Bay domes are cheaper and queue-free bought online in advance. Child tickets and family bundles exist. During school holidays (June, December) and the Formula 1 weekend (September) hotels fill up and prices rise.

Changi is one of the world's most comfortable airports; your SG Arrival Card data is linked to your passport, so it's usually an automated gate or a fast lane. After clearing, see the Rain Vortex waterfall at Jewel (free) and head into town.

Changi Airport MRT station (between T2 and T3) → change at Tanah Merah to the East West Line → city centre. First train around 5:31 on weekdays, last around midnight. Just tap a foreign contactless Visa/Mastercard on the gate — no ticket needed.

A metered taxi to the centre is typically S$25–45 and about 30 minutes; airport surcharge S$8 from 17:00 to 23:59, S$6 at other times; +50% after midnight, +25% at peak. Grab/Gojek pick up from designated points at each terminal — fare shown up front, good with luggage and kids.

Tip: Taxis are reliable and scam-free — metered, and you can pay by card.

Singtel's hi!Tourist plans: a physical SIM from Changi, Singtel shops, 7-Eleven and Cheers, or an online eSIM; generous data, and some bundles include an EZ-Link transit card or a Universal Studios ticket. Registered with your passport.

StarHub's Travel Prepaid SIM is also sold at Changi and in shops at similar prices and data. For a short trip, your Mongolian operator's roaming package or an international eSIM works too — Singapore has fast 5G coverage everywhere.

Free Wi-Fi at Changi, malls, MRT stations and public libraries; the Wireless@SG network accepts foreign phone numbers for registration. All Google services work without restriction.

Tip: Register Grab with your Mongolian number and link your card before you fly — use it the moment you land.

Tap a foreign-issued contactless Mastercard/Visa/Amex directly on MRT gates and bus readers — no registration. Foreign Mastercard/Visa cards pay an extra S$0.60 per day of use; make sure the card is enabled for overseas use. Each family member needs their own card (one card, one person).

Without a bank card, or for children, buy and top up an EZ-Link/SimplyGo card (MRT stations, 7-Eleven). Singapore Tourist Pass: 1 day S$17, 2 days S$24, 3 days S$29 — unlimited MRT and bus; from the EZ-Link machines at Changi T2 and T3 and some city points. Only worth it if you ride many times a day.

Adult card fares run from S$1.28 to S$2.57 by distance. No eating or drinking on trains or in stations (fines), no durian; stand on the left on escalators; leave the reserved seats free. Lifts for strollers and wheelchairs, every station step-free.

The currency is the Singapore dollar (S$). Cards and Apple/Google Pay work almost everywhere — restaurants, taxis, shops, the MRT. Cash is only needed at hawker centres, markets and small shops; even there PayNow QR (local banks) is common but doesn't work for foreigners.

Tip: Money changers (Mustafa, Raffles Place, People's Park) have good rates; Changi's are poor.

ATMs are everywhere (DBS, OCBC, UOB) and take foreign cards; only your own bank's fee applies. Singapore dollars are rarely stocked in Mongolia, so bring US dollars to exchange or simply withdraw. When paying by card choose 'pay in SGD' — the terminal's offered conversion has a bad rate.

Singapore doesn't tip. Restaurants add a service charge and 9% GST on top of menu prices (the '++' sign), so the bill comes out above the menu; hawker centres and cafés don't. In taxis you pay the meter total.

Hotels, alcohol, taxis and attractions are expensive; hawker food, the MRT, public parks, the outdoor part of Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay light show are cheap or free. For families, museums (National Museum, Science Centre) are relatively cheap and air-conditioned.

Hawker centres are government-regulated, clean, cheap food halls: Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat, Old Airport Road, Chinatown Complex. Try Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, char kway teow, satay, chilli crab (pricey), roti prata. Each stall shows a hygiene grade (A/B/C).

Tip: Reserving a seat with a packet of tissues ('chope') is a local custom — respect it.

After eating, take your tray to the return point yourself — it's required by law and inspectors fine offenders. Mynah birds snatch food, so don't leave anything on the table. Drinks come from a separate stall (sweet 'kopi' and 'teh' — watch the milk and sugar).

Tap water is safe — no need to buy bottled. Alcohol is heavily taxed and expensive; shops can't sell it late in the evening and public drinking is restricted. Sweet drinks and tropical juices are everywhere; try durian (not allowed in hotels or on the MRT).

A mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan cooking — plenty of meaty options (satay, bak kut teh pepper pork-rib soup). Halal and vegetarian choices everywhere. For kids, chicken rice, noodles and fruit are easy; supermarkets (FairPrice, Cold Storage) are nearby and often open 24 hours.

Littering, jaywalking (crossing away from lights or crossings), smoking in public outside marked zones, vaping, eating on the MRT, not flushing a public toilet — all carry fines. Drugs — up to the death penalty; never carry someone else's bag.

Sun and humidity are strong: drink a lot, stay indoors at midday, hats for kids. Thunderstorms arrive suddenly — stay away from open fields and pools. From June to October haze from Indonesian forest fires can occur — a mask if you have respiratory issues.

Tip: Few mosquitoes, but dengue exists — NEA publishes cluster alerts; use repellent in the evening.

Asia's best hospitals: Singapore General, Mount Elizabeth (private), KK Women's and Children's (paediatric). Top quality and top prices — without insurance an emergency visit costs a fortune. Pharmacies (Guardian, Watsons) are everywhere and many medicines are over the counter.

Chinese, Malay (Muslim), Indian (Hindu) and Christian places of worship sit side by side. At Sultan Mosque and Sri Mariamman Temple remove shoes and cover shoulders and knees (robes are lent); don't enter the mosque during prayers. In Buddhist temples remove hats and photograph only where allowed.

Singaporeans queue strictly — board the MRT from the sides and let people off first; stand left on escalators, walk right. Loud talking, music out loud and loud phone calls are frowned upon in public. Smoking only in zones marked with yellow lines.

Tip: 'Can' / 'cannot' in Singlish simply means yes / no.

Sharing a table with strangers at a hawker centre is normal — ask 'Can I sit here?'. Malay and Indian food is eaten with the right hand (a spoon is fine). Chinese food with chopsticks, never stuck upright in the bowl. English works everywhere; don't be surprised by 'lah' at the end of sentences.

Unauthorised demonstrations and public political activity are off-limits to foreigners. Photos on rooftops or trains and drone flights need permission. Same-sex relationships are legal, but public displays are limited. Enforcement is strict and 'I didn't know' is not a defence.

Grab is Singapore's super-app: rides (GrabCar, metered taxis), food delivery, GrabPay. Register with your Mongolian number and link a foreign card. With kids choose 'GrabFamily' (child seat); with luggage, a larger car.

Google Maps' transit mode is very precise in Singapore: live bus times, MRT exits. Register your card in the SimplyGo app to track daily spend and the foreign-card fee. Every bus stop has a board with route numbers and times.

Buy attraction tickets ahead on the official sites (Mandai zoo, Sentosa, Gardens by the Bay) or platforms like Klook/Pelago. The Visit Singapore site lists events and festivals. Google Translate is rarely needed — English is everywhere.

From the centre about an hour by MRT (change at Tanah Merah), about 30 minutes by taxi. Changi is fast with automated gates, so the usual international advice on timing is enough; add time for a meal or shopping at Jewel. No SG Arrival Card is needed to exit.

Spend S$100 or more (GST inclusive) in one 'Tax Free' shop and you can claim back the 9% GST: show your passport and register the purchase in eTRS. At Changi, before immigration (before checking in luggage, with the goods ready to show), approve the claim at an eTRS kiosk and receive it on your card or in cash. You must leave within 2 months of purchase.

Tip: The refund operator's fee is deducted — for small amounts the hassle can exceed the gain.

There is no separate departure tax — it's in the ticket. If you bought an old-style Tourist Pass with a deposit, return it at the EZ-Link point at Changi for the deposit; if you travelled on a bank card there's nothing to do. Spend leftover Singapore dollars rather than exchanging them at Changi's poor rate.