11 Unwritten Rules to Know Before Visiting Singapore

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Don’t litter; don’t vandalize public property; don’t chew gum. Singapore, which Condé Nast Traveler readers named one of the best cities in the world in 2024, has laws so famously stringent that T-shirts gently poking fun at them make popular tourist souvenirs. (The gum thing is actually often misconstrued: it’s actually illegal to import and sell gum, but not to chew it.) That said, in this intricately multicultural East-meets-West metropolis of nearly six million people and 95 ethnic groups, it’s the rules that tether society. Which is why we Singaporeans are such sticklers for them; in fact, we’ve added many of our own unofficial decrees to the rule book—from the correct way to save a table at a hawker center, to how to behave on the local subway system. If you overhear one person grumbling, it’s more often than not because another has breached this community code of conduct.

As a visitor, how should you navigate all this? Singaporeans are notoriously reticent—we generally try to avoid confrontation, or even creating situations that might lead to it—so it’s unlikely anyone will correct you for public faux pas. But ask for help and you’ll find that most locals aren’t just happy to open up; they’ll go out of their way to give it. To get you started on navigating this compact yet complex country, here’s our list of the top unwritten rules to follow.

Prep for warm and cool temperatures

Singapore’s weather averages 32°C (90°F) all year round, with humidity ranging between a skin-dampening 70 and 90 percent. But don’t let the numbers trick you into packing only for the tropics. Many attractions are air-conditioned and can be surprisingly chilly, so it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket for the days you want to shop up a storm along Orchard Road, check out Marina Bay Sands or visit the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay.

Download the essential apps to get around

Singapore’s six subway lines and nearly 400 bus services make getting around by public transport simple so long as you know what you're doing, and the easiest way to plan your journey is with Google Maps, the most accurate resource for routes and arrival timings. If you’re thinking of taking a taxi, try ride-hailing instead—private hire vehicles outnumber cabs by more than three to one, and booking a ride is much easier than finding a taxi on the road (or even at a cab stand). Of the local ride-hailing apps, Grab—Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber—is the most popular. Other options to try include Gojek, Tada, and CDG Taxi (which is run by Singapore’s main cab company). Prices can vary wildly during peak periods, so it’s worth downloading more than one app to compare fares.

Know how to act on the MRT

The Mass Rapid Transit system (say “MRT”) is Singapore’s public train network—over half the population rides it daily. During peak hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning, and 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. in the evening), it gets busy and tempers can flare, so there are a few things you should remember to stay out of cranky commuters’ way. First, join a queue on the boarding platform and only board when it’s your turn. Once you get into the carriage, move to the middle or the back, so others can enter (yes, even if you’re getting out at the next stop). If you find a seat, society dictates that you should first offer it to any elderly person nearby who doesn't have one. And if you’re on a call, tuning in to music, or watching a show on your phone, use your headphones and speak quietly—commutes are precious downtime in this busy city, and many Singaporeans prefer a quiet carriage.

Note the hawker center rules

There’s no experience more Singaporean than having a meal at a hawker center, where locals from all walks of life go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. These street-food marketplaces are inevitably crowded, so do as everyone does and save (or, as we say colloquially, ‘chope’) yourself a spot before getting your food by leaving a pack of tissues on any empty table. One tissue pack indicates one saved place; if you’re with a bigger group, feel free to sprinkle more across the table. Remember that hawker centers are essentially fast-food eateries and diners are often in a hurry, so make sure you decide what you want to order before approaching a stall to avoid impatient looks from other diners or brusque treatment from stallholders. And bring cash: while most of Singapore is now cashless, many hawker stalls accept digital payments only via a system that requires a local bank account.

Understand that food is life

Don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with “have you eaten?” instead of “how are you?”—in Singapore, life revolves around food. Discussing where to have your next meal before you’re done with the first is common; the most valued friend in a group chat is the one who knows where all the hot new restaurants are (kidding not kidding!). One of the best ways to connect with the locals is to ask them for food recommendations—most people love to share their favorite haunts, and you’ll probably get a few suggestions that will lure you away from the usual tourist spots.

Learn the coffee lingo

In Singapore, a ‘coffee shop’ doesn’t mean a hipster java joint or a cannabis cafe. It’s a casual, often non-air conditioned eatery, similar to a small hawker center filled with different food stalls, of which one will sell coffee. Here, you don’t order a cuppa like you would at Starbucks. The standard order is kopi, or locally roasted coffee with milk and sugar; if you want a variation of that, add the appropriate suffix: “o” for without milk, “siew dai” for less sweet, “gau” for more robust”, or “peng” for an iced version. For example, if you ordered a “kopi-o peng siew dai”, you’d get a black iced coffee with less sugar. This may take a while to master, but the coffee aunties and uncles who make the drinks are usually happy to help tourists along, and will clarify your request before whipping it up.

Dress (casually) for the occasion

Despite what Crazy Rich Asians may have you believe, Singaporeans are as sartorially pragmatic as they come. We dress for comfort and are happy to let the weather dictate our style. For visitors, this means that beachwear (with the exception of walking around in public in your bikini or swim trunks) and athleisure are acceptable almost everywhere. For weddings or meals at posh restaurants though, feel free to channel your inner crazy rich Asian.

Shoes off for inside

Like in many other parts of Asia, Singaporean homes have a strictly no-shoes-inside rule. If you’re invited to someone’s house, it’s polite to remove your shoes and leave them outside before you enter. If they’re a particularly fine pair and you’re worried someone will pinch them (a relatively rare occurrence in Singapore, TBH), ask your host if you can leave them inside the door.

Go beyond the usual attractions

Most tourists stay in Singapore for about four days, which is barely enough to visit all the main attractions. But if you have some extra time, it’s worth wandering beyond the glossy Instagram icons to less-well-known locations that offer a deeper local flavor, like the Bougainvillea Park in the east, a spirit-lifting profusion of pink along a popular local beach, or Haw Par Villa in the west, a fascinatingly macabre theme park inspired by Chinese mythology.

Bring your own shopping bags

Since 2023, as part of the national Resource Sustainability Act, Singapore has made it mandatory for supermarkets to charge for disposable carrier bags, and many other stores have followed suit. If you plan to shop, BYOB—you’ll be saving yourself some money and contributing to eco efforts, too.

Embrace Singlish

English is the main teaching language in Singapore schools, but in practice, most Singaporeans speak Singlish, a hybrid language reflecting the country’s multicultural history that blends English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil, and has its own grammar rules. It also mirrors the local culture in how efficient it is. For example, “can you please turn on the light?” is clipped to “can you on the light?”. “Cannot meh?” means “can’t that be done?”; and “cannot lah!” means “of course not!” Speaking Singlish is a true sign of belonging in Singapore, so if you’re keen to learn, just ask a local for tips—most Singaporeans find it amusing when others are curious about the language and are only too happy to teach.

Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler

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