Wondering what to pack for a trip to Singapore? As a local Singaporean and someone who prefers to travel light, I promise this packing guide will have you well-prepped and comfortable as you explore the “Lion City”.
This tropical city-state is known for its varied architecture, delicious food, and nightlife…as well as sweltering heat and thunderstorms.
THE PACKING LIST: SINGAPORE
What to pack for Singapore: travel logistics
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is a must for any trip. Singapore’s healthcare system ranks among the best in the world and you’re guaranteed excellent care if anything untoward happens, but it isn’t cheap for foreigners. I highly recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance for its flexibility – you can buy it no matter where you’re from and get comprehensive coverage from 5-day trips to as long as you need.
SG Arrival Card
Don’t worry about immigration queues at Singapore Changi Airport: you can use the automated immigration gates as long as you hold a biometric passport! All travellers, including returning residents of Singapore, must fill out an arrival card beforehand. To save time, submit your arrival card online (you can only do so 0-3 days before arrival).
Travel SIM card
Singapore has some of the fastest Internet speeds in the world as well as excellent coverage, so you won’t really need outgoing minutes or text: just get data for Wi-Fi calling and WhatsApp or Telegram! These days, eSIMs eliminate the need to fiddle around with SIM cards, and Airalo usually gives me the best prices.
Tip: Use NEWTOAIRALO15 for 15% off your first purchase or AIRALOESIM10 for 10% off eSIM purchases of $10 or more!
Everyday essentials to pack for Singapore
When it comes to essential items, these are the things you’ll definitely want to have when travelling in Singapore. If you forget these or simply prefer to travel light, good news: you can easily buy them in supermarkets or drugstores like Guardian or Watsons.
Deodorant
Deodorant is an absolute necessity in Singapore – not just because of the heat and humidity, but also because of the many enclosed, air-conditioned spaces where people seek shelter. You especially don’t want to be stinking when you’re in a bus or MRT train!
I prefer to avoid antiperspirant chemicals, but if you come from a relatively dry climate and can’t stand having swampy pits, you’ll want to use a deodorant with antiperspirant. Choose stick deodorants and other solid toiletries to make packing easy.
Sunscreen
Singapore’s UV index is perpetually high and can reach extreme levels (11 or more) on a sunny day. For this reason, you’ll find a wide variety of high-quality European, Japanese, and Korean sunscreens with modern UV filters that North American sunscreens lack.
Some great face sunscreens you can find in local drugstores are Allie and Anessa sunscreens (Japanese), or Avène and La Roche-Posay (French). For the body, I like Nivea SPF50 sunscreens made in Europe (not Japan or Southeast Asia). These should have the UVA star rating on the bottle.
Geekery: Japanese (PA) and UK (star) UVA protection ratings
Insect repellent
Bugs thrive in Singapore’s tropical climate, with Aedes mosquitoes being the biggest concern as they’re a vector for dengue fever. Sandflies are also a real pain at beaches. If hiking and other outdoor activities are in your itinerary, insect repellent is a must.
I highly recommend picaridin/icaridin bug spray as icaridin is just as effective as DEET while being much less irritating and toxic. Plus, it’s colourless, odourless, and won’t dissolve plastics and synthetic fabrics. Stick-on mosquito repellent patches are also commonly sold here, but most of them just use “natural ingredients” like citronella oil and have limited efficacy.
Tip: Apply sunscreen first and insect repellent after sunscreen.
Umbrella
Sudden showers and thunderstorms are common in Singapore’s wet climate, so you’ll want to carry around a compact folding umbrella just in case. It also helps to have a plastic bag to store your dripping wet umbrella once you get indoors.
Reusable water bottle
It’s vital that you stay hydrated when you’re perspiring loads from the tropical heat. I always pack an insulated stainless steel water bottle when travelling as it keeps my drinks refreshingly cool in the heat and piping hot in the cold, but any reusable bottle will help you travel more sustainably.
What to wear in Singapore
Singapore’s climate is hot and humid year-round: while the average temperature is 30ºC, it regularly feels like 35ºC or more. You’ll start feeling sweaty and sticky after just 5 minutes outside – and that’s why the city is full of sheltered walkways and air-conditioned buses and buildings.
When choosing what to wear in Singapore, prioritize lightweight breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. While athleisure apparel can also work well, keep in mind that synthetic fabrics like polyester and spandex/elastane stink up more easily. Here are the essentials I recommend:
Casual
- Tops: t-shirts, sleeveless tops
- Bottoms: denim shorts, cotton twill shorts, jeans, cargo pants
- Footwear: comfortable walking shoes (I have wide feet and love Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s), sandals
- Outerwear/accessories: light cardigan (many indoor areas will have the A/C set to freezing), hat (for sun protection), sunglasses
Semi-formal or formal
- Tops: cotton/linen/silk shirts and blouses
- Bottoms: chinos, crepe skirts, jersey skirts, hiking pants that pass for formal pants (like the Lululemon ABC pant)
- Dresses: multi-way dress
- Outerwear/accessories: Oversized blazer for women, fitted suit jacket
Hiking and outdoor adventures
Keep your base layers and technical mid layers at home – you won’t need them in tropical Southeast Asia unless you’re going mountaineering!
- Tops: Uniqlo Airism t-shirts, merino wool shirts, sports tops
- Bottoms: running shorts, lightweight leggings
- Footwear: merino wool blend socks (less sweaty and stinky), running/hiking shoes
- Outerwear/accessories: breathable rain shell
Visiting religious venues and places of worship
Singaporean society is generally relaxed about appearances; if you explore local neighbourhoods, you’ll notice that people dress casually and it’s fine to bare your shoulders, arms, or legs, even if you have tattoos. However, you still need to dress conservatively when visiting churches, mosques, temples, or any other places of worship. Make sure to pack scarves, shawls, or other clothing to cover your shoulders and legs just in case you chance upon a religious landmark.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Find more Singapore travel inspiration with our guides. Better yet, start planning your trip!
