Visiting Singapore? A Filipino’s Travel Guide from Kababayans Who Already Live Here

This Singapore travel guide for Filipinos comes from kababayans who already live here. Filipino passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 30 days; below are the entry rules, Changi transport, where to stay and eat, and the laws that cost you money.

Visa, pass, and passport

Filipino passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa for short tourist visits, currently up to 30 days. Rules can change, so verify current entry requirements with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) before booking.

At Changi you clear immigration through the electronic e-Pass system, with no paper stamp for most travellers since 2022.

• Fill out the SG Arrival Card online at eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard within 3 days before arrival. It's free and mandatory.
• Keep proof of onward travel and accommodation ready.

Before you fly

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date.
• Declare food, plants and meat products. Dried meats, fresh fruits and some medications need declaring.
• Don't pack chewing gum (illegal to import in bulk), e-cigarettes or vape devices (banned and confiscated), or tobacco beyond personal-use limits without declaring.
• Cash: declare anything over S$20,000 (or equivalent) on arrival.

Arriving at Changi

• MRT: about S$2–3 into the city. Buy an EZ-Link card at any station (S$5 card deposit + top-up value) to tap in and out on MRT and buses.
• Taxi or Grab: S$25–40 to most city areas.
• Airport shuttle bus: about S$10 to major hotels. Book at the arrivals lounge.

Avoid unlicensed taxi touts outside arrivals. If it's not the official queue, don't get in.

Getting around: EZ-Link also works on some taxis and at many retailers, Google Maps nails bus arrival times, and Grab is the default ride-hail app.

Where to stay

Under S$100 a night usually means a hostel bed or very basic room.

• Orchard / Lucky Plaza area: close to everything and to Filipino food, but pricier (S$180–300 for mid-range).
• Little India / Bugis: budget hotels (S$80–150) with easy MRT access.
• Chinatown: atmospheric, budget-friendly, safe at night.
• Geylang: cheapest rates in the city, but read reviews; the area has a mixed reputation at night.

Visiting family who work here? Some OFWs can't host visitors at their employer's home, so settle this before booking flights.

Must-see, kababayan-style

1. Marina Bay Sands + Gardens by the Bay. Outdoor gardens free; Cloud Forest and Flower Dome charge admission.
2. Merlion Park. A 30-minute photo stop.
3. Sentosa Island. Half to full day. Universal Studios adds up fast (~S$80+); the beaches, cable car and Skyline Luge cost less.
4. Chinatown + Little India + Kampong Glam. Three cultural quarters in one afternoon.
5. National Gallery Singapore / National Museum. Air-conditioned, with some free admission days.
6. Lucky Plaza on a Sunday. Filipino food, remittance, and a photo with the Jollibee sign.

More ideas: Free Things to Do in Singapore and Affordable Experiences on Your Day Off.

Filipino food spots

• Lucky Plaza (Orchard): Filipino restaurants and carinderias, plates from S$7–12. Our Lucky Plaza 101 guide breaks it down.
• Peninsula Plaza (City Hall MRT): less crowded, with Filipino groceries and restaurants.
• Jollibee: branches across the island.
• Tanjong Pagar: more refined lechon, sinigang and regional dishes, including Café Mary Grace.

Where to meet kababayans

• Lucky Plaza on Sunday afternoon, the unofficial weekly gathering.
• Filipino-language Sunday masses at St. Joseph's Church (Victoria Street) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Ophir Road).
• Hong Lim Park, where Sunday community groups often meet.

Laws that cost you money

Tap water is safe, public toilets are clean and crime is very low. The rules bite, though:

• Littering: fines start at S$300.
• Jaywalking: cross only at designated crossings.
• Eating or drinking on the MRT: S$500 fine.
• Smoking outside designated smoking areas: fines up to S$1,000.
• Vaping: banned; possession is fined and devices confiscated.
• Chewing gum: not on sale here; small personal-use quantities are tolerated, but bulk imports are illegal.
• Drugs: zero tolerance. Even trace amounts can carry severe penalties, including for foreigners.

For current rules, see Singapore Statutes Online or the Singapore Government website.

Money

• Singapore dollars only; no one accepts pesos. Most ATMs take international cards, with fees.
• Carry cash for hawker stalls, wet markets and small vendors; cards work almost everywhere else.
• Money changers at Lucky Plaza, Mustafa Centre (24/7) and Raffles Place have some of Asia's best rates. Compare before you change.
• Tipping isn't standard. Restaurants often build a service charge into the bill.

Emergency numbers

• Police: 999
• Ambulance / Fire: 995
• Philippine Embassy in Singapore: check philippine-embassy.org.sg for the current hotline and the 24-hour duty officer number for Filipino nationals in distress.

A note for visiting family

Plan around your OFW relative's rest day. Most domestic workers have one rest day per week, often Sunday; EP and S Pass holders tend to work standard weekdays. Don't book tours on their only day off.

Bring pasalubong, but pack light. You'll buy more before you leave.

Related reading

• Lucky Plaza 101: A Filipino’s Guide to Little Manila
• Free Things to Do in Singapore Without Spending Much
• Filipino Food Month 2026 in Singapore