How I Packed for My Trip to Singapore

Singapore is a particularly easy country to pack for.

Simply remember the hottest day you’ve ever encountered at home, and whatever you wore to get through it will be similar to what you’ll wear in Singapore.

This is a hot and humid country at almost every time of year, so you’re going to want to focus heavily on lightweight, breathable clothing. There’s no real need to dress conservatively in Singapore, or wear anything particularly different; this isn’t the Middle East! The locals will typically wear shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops, and so you can get away with wearing pretty much anything that you would at home. You’ll want to make a bit of an effort and dress up when visiting nice bars (no flip-flops!), but other than that, feel free to dress casually.

This is a modern, developed country, too, so there’s also no need to panic about forgetting anything. You’ll be able to buy anything you’ve forgotten once you’ve arrived, so don’t tie yourself up in knots over anything you might have missed.

It’s been many years since I last published a packing list article on this site, so I figured I’d put one together after my trip to Singapore; if you’re wondering what sort of things I currently travel with, I’ve listed them all out here!

Let’s get stuck in.

My Luggage Recommendations for Singapore

Odds are, you already own your own luggage, and if that’s the case: take it with you! There’s no point spending extra money on a new backpack or suitcase if the one you have works perfectly fine for you.

I’m a huge fan of travelling with a carry-on-sized backpack, as I appreciate the lack of back pain, the added ease of moving through the crowds, and not having to worry about lost luggage. As always, in Singapore, I took my Osprey Farpoint 40l backpack. I think I’ve owned this backpack for a decade at this stage! And yes, it’s still going strong. It’s comfortable to wear, easy to pack, and has plenty of compartments to keep your belongings organised. Osprey also offers a lifetime guarantee for all of their backpacks — they’ll replace or repair them for any reason — which makes opting for one a no-brainer.

What about a day pack? 

You’ll definitely want one of those!

Think about it: are you going to want to take your main backpack or suitcase out with you while you’re roaming the streets of Singapore? If you’ve got something you’re happy to bring with you from home then do that — a handbag, purse, or small backpack will work well. You don’t really need to worry about pickpockets in Singapore, but if you’re concerned, choose something that has zips and that you can keep close to your body.

Honestly, a lot of the time, I’ll just shove my phone and a debit card in a pocket and head out without a bag. I will confess, however, that I am alarmingly reluctant to step outside while having to carry anything. Singapore is a pretty cashless society, too, so you can pay for almost everything with your phone.

On to the specifics!

Clothing

You’ve got plenty of seasons in Singapore to contend with. You might encounter the “hot and humid” season. Or maybe even the “slightly hotter and slightly wetter” season. Maybe you’ll run into the “hottest and wettest I’ve ever been” season.

Forget spring flowers and autumn leaves — and definitely don’t expect to feel anything even approaching the concept of cold. Well, until you step inside any building, that is; the air conditioning here is full-on! Regardless of the time of year you’ll be visiting, you’ll want to be prepared for hot weather, spontaneous rainfall, and a significant amount of humidity.

I’m somebody who thrives in the tropics, so I love the weather in Singapore. And yes, I am aware that I’m fully in the minority here. So, what to pack?

Lightweight, thin, breathable clothes that dry quickly are going to be key, with options for covering up when entering temples or being devoured by mosquitoes.

I generally subscribe to the rule that you should bring around seven days of clothes and wash them when you get through them. However, as a small person, and somebody whose tops weigh about 50 grams, I usually end up with about two weeks’ worth of clothes instead. Here’s what I packed for this trip:

• Two strap tops: You’re going to want to wear lightweight, thin tops to stay as cool as possible. I packed a couple of strap tops for those days where I couldn’t bear the thought of wearing anything larger. There’s no real need to cover up while you’re out exploring in Singapore; people dress as they would in any other major, modern city.
• Three tank tops: I packed a handful of tank tops to give me some variety with my clothes.
• Three t-shirts: T-shirts are also good for cloudier days or if you feel uncomfortable showing any more skin.
• Two dressy tops: I packed a couple of nice tops for evenings spent bar-hopping across the city’s rooftops.
• One very thin long-sleeved shirt: To throw on whenever I entered a shopping centre or museum and ended up shivering.
• One long skirt: To cover my legs in the evenings when the mosquitoes are out.
• One long pair of linen pants: Again, to cover up, when needed. I didn’t wear these very often, though, as they made me feel too hot!
• Two pairs of lightweight shorts: Nothing denim, either, unless you want to feel very uncomfortable! Loose-fitting cotton shorts or skirts are a great option.
• One scarf to cover up your shoulders: Most of the temples in Singapore have boxes of shawls to use to cover your shoulders and knees, but I still bring my own anyway.
• One raincoat with a hood: Personally, I have an odd aversion to umbrellas, so don’t travel with them. Instead, I travel with an ultra-lightweight rain jacket that won’t be a pain to carry. The good news is that the rain is usually warm and you’ll dry off very quickly if you get caught in a shower!
• Swimwear: If you’re thinking you’ll be heading to the beach or are lucky enough to have access to a hotel pool, you don’t want to forget your swimwear.
• Enough underwear for the length of the trip: I usually travel with enough for a week and then wash them in the sink throughout my stay.

Shoes

Odds are, you can get away with one pair of shoes while you’re in Singapore. See if you have anything that’s relatively casual, comfortable to walk in, with good grip, but can still work with nicer outfits. That’s not much to ask for, is it?

I did a bunch of hiking while I was in the country this year and I didn’t needing hiking shoes at all — the paths were all paved and well-maintained. Don’t pack brand new shoes unless you want to rapidly develop blisters!

Here’s what I took with me on my recent trip to Singapore:

• Some form of multi-purpose shoe: You’ll want to try to minimise the number of shoes you bring with you, as they take up so much space in your bag! I brought these white leather shoes with me that I put custom-made orthotics inside. I was able to comfortably walk for 10 hours a day (on this trip, I took 36,000 steps in a single day in Singapore!) but not look as though I’m wearing hiking shoes. They can also be dressed up with nicer outfits in the evenings when I’m going out.
• Flip-flops: Only bring these if you plan on heading to the beach, as you won’t have much use for them elsewhere in Singapore. I packed these as an emergency option in case I got caught in a rainstorm and ended up with wet shoes that I couldn’t wear the following day.

Accessories

• Sunglasses: Fun fact: Singaporeans rarely wear sunglasses, so by putting some on your face, you’ll be outing yourself as a tourist! However, unlike many of the locals, you’ll be spending most of your days outside in the bright sunshine. It’s important to protect your eyes (and to actually see the attractions you’ve spent all that money on). Bring a hat, too, if you usually wear one when it’s sunny.
• A quick-dry travel towel: I love, love, love my Nomadix travel towel! It weighs next to nothing, dries within minutes, repels sand, and lasts for years. After many years of travel, it still smells and looks like it’s new, and I love that they have so many aesthetic design options. If you’ll be heading to the beaches of Sentosa, it’s a good idea to bring one with you; so many hotels don’t like to give you beach towels!
• A dry bag: Again, if you’re planning on hitting the beach while you’re in Singapore, it’s a good idea to bring a dry bag with you. It’ll keep your belongings safe and dry, and you can even take your stuff in the ocean with you if you don’t have anyone else to look after them. I use the 8-litre ultra-lightweight one from Sea to Summit.
• An eye mask: You can’t guarantee that your hotel is going to have blackout curtains, so if you need total darkness to sleep, bring an eye mask with you. I’m obsessed with the beautiful eye masks that Elizabeth Scarlett (U.K.-based, but ship overseas) makes.
• Jewellery: I usually take a few options with me so that I can feel more put together.
• A collapsible water bottle: I’ve been travelling with a Vapur Water bottle for years; as you can see from my photo above, it collapses down to a tiny size. The tap water is safe to drink in Singapore, so fill up your bottle before you leave and you won’t have to keep buying bottled water as you explore.

Medication for Singapore

I’ll start this section with a stark warning: Singapore has some of the strictest drug laws on the planet, executing a dozen people every year for drug-related offences — yes, really!

Needless to say, you’re going to want to be careful about what you bring into the country. If you’ll require any prescription medication for your stay, you’ll often need advance approval from the Health Sciences Authority. There’s a useful tool on their website where you can check if any of yours may need this; what may not require a prescription at home might be controlled in Singapore! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Some common medications that require advance approval include codeine, pseudoephedrine, diazepam, methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and zolpidem.

I have ADHD and travel with Vyvanse, which does require approval to bring into Singapore. I simply filled in this form on the government’s website and waited for approval to be emailed to me. Despite the website saying you need to do so two weeks before your departure date, I received mine exactly 24 hours later, so don’t panic that you may have left it too late!

With that slightly-frightening warning out of the way, let’s talk about everything else.

I’m somebody who travels with a hefty first-aid kit. It’s not that I’m neurotic when it comes to my health, but rather, I absolutely hate having to find a pharmacy when I’m feeling unwell. And when a small blister pack of pills weighs something like 10 grams? I’m not going to get concerned over whether I should bring it or not.

One other note: I’m particularly prone to food poisoning when I travel. Because of this, I go all in on precautionary measures. While food safety standards are high in Singapore, you may still want to take action to lower your risk. If you’re concerned, I have an unhinged amount of plenty of recommendations!

Here’s what I packed in my travel first-aid kit for Singapore:

General Medications

• Painkillers: The heat and humidity in Singapore make it tricker to stay hydrated. In case of headaches or cramps, I usually travel with half a dozen acetaminophen tablets and half a dozen ibuprofen.
• Antihistamines: You never know when you might spring an allergic reaction, whether from a bug bite, a different laundry detergent, or one of the many pollen-producing plants in Singapore. I always travel with fexofenadine, just in case. Fexofenadine is one of the few antihistamines without an anticholinergic burden, which is linked with dementia, so if you’re allergy-prone, that’s the one to go for!
• Dramamine: If you suffer from motion sickness, you’ll want to make sure you have a couple of Dramamine tablets handy. I usually try to go for the non-drowsy ones, which are basically just ginger, unless it’s really bad. I’ve been surprised by how effective they are!
• Rehydration sachets: You’re going to sweat so much while you’re in Singapore! That, combined with drinking alcohol, can often leave you dehydrated. LMNT are my absolute favourite brand of electrolytes, as they’re not packed full of sugar like most of the alternatives. They’re paleo, keto, vegan, and gluten-free; I mix one up with a bottle of water before bed most evenings while I’m in the tropics.
• Band-aids: I’ll always pack a couple of me, just in case I cut myself or relentlessly scratch my mosquito bites until they bleed. I also pack a tiny tube of antiseptic ointment to help prevent any infections.
• Insect repellent: Speaking of mosquitoes, there’s a whole lot of them in Singapore and dengue fever is widespread. Trust me on this: you definitely don’t want to catch dengue! DEET is really the only insect repellent that truly works, so look for a product with the highest percentage you can find. I use the small 30g bottle from Ben’s; it’s some of the most effective I’ve found.
• Birth control: Don’t want to forget this or you could have quite the souvenir from your trip to Singapore!
• Contact lenses and solution: I travel with a couple of monthly contact lenses, plus a perfect-for-travel-sized 60 ml bottle of disinfecting solution.

My Over-the-Top Attempts at Preventing Food Poisoning

• Travelan: Travelan is a colostrum-based supplement that has had promising results in studies. In one case, Travelan showed over 90% protection against E. Coli, which is the most common cause of traveller’s diarrhea.
• Pepto Bismol: Studies around Pepto Bismol and food poisoning are impressive, recording a protection rate of 65% for traveller’s diarrhea in visitors to Mexico. I pack a box of chewable tablets for every trip and take one before every meal.
• Travel-specific probiotics: Every little helps! I take travel-specific probiotics; studies have shown that the S. boulardii strain reduces the incidence of traveller’s diarrhea by 10%.
• Imodium: I always keep a handful of Imodium on hand for any times when the local food doesn’t agree with me. It’s been a life-saver on days when I’ve needed to get out and explore but wouldn’t have otherwise been able to!
• Pudin Hara: This is something I discovered while travelling in India, and it made such a difference to my digestion that I now take it on all of my trips! It’s peppermint oil, essentially, which is great for improving digestion, but I love it because it has a cooling sensation in my stomach and helps counteract the smell of curry that inevitably emanates from me when I travel! It helps reduce stomach cramps and eases nausea, too. You can even buy it on Amazon!

The Toiletries I Packed for Singapore

There’s nothing out of the ordinary that you’ll need to pack for Singapore when it comes to toiletries. If you’ll be travelling with a carry-on-sized backpack, you’ll want to make sure that your liquids are under 100ml, or resolve to buy them after you arrive.

I travel with a Osprey toiletry bag. I’ve used this one for about seven years now, so there’s a newer version out now; the Ultralight Roll Packing Organizer. It’s waterproof, sturdy, and weighs just 90 grams. I’ve been really happy with mine and take it on every trip.

Here’s what I packed:

• Bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste: I use a bamboo toothbrush when I travel, as I’m always trying to find ways to reduce my plastic consumption. The Sea Turtle toothbrushes are biodegradable, comfortable to use, great for sensitive teeth, and 100% derived from plants — even the bristles. I also pack toothpaste tablets (cutting down on liquids), which come in zero-waste packaging, and biodegradable charcoal dental floss (plastic-free!).
• A razor: I’ve made the switch over to safety razors and I can’t stop singing their praises. Not only are they plastic-free and last forever, but the replacement blades are so cheap to buy; a hundred blades are like, $6, and stay sharp for a solid month! I swear, I must save hundreds of dollars each year just from making this simple change. I travel with the King C Gillette safety razor plus a box of five replacement blades.
• Deodorant: I pack whatever I’m currently using at home.
• Sunscreen: There’s a definite risk of sunburn in Singapore, especially if you’ll be out exploring everyday. If you’re travelling carry-on, buy some sunscreen when you arrive — if you’re checking your bag, grab a bottle before you leave. I usually just grab a travel-sized bottle from a pharmacy before I leave.
• Solid shampoo and conditioner: I love LUSH’s solid shampoo bars — they leave my hair feeling soft and shiny, are lightweight and small, and last me over six months when using them continuously! Because they’re so compact, I’d recommend picking up some solid conditioner, too. The cork pots that are sold by LUSH are perfect for storing your bars as you travel.
• K18 hair treatment: If your hair is damaged in any way, this leave-in hair mask will solve your issues! I dye my hair, so it’s not usually in the best condition, and it definitely gets worse when I travel and can’t take proper care of it. K18 helps reverse damage to your hair while keeping it feeling soft and smooth.
• A small bar of soap: I usually grab a bar of soap before a trip, as it’s another way to cut down weight and space in my bag.
• Perfume: I love Jo Malone perfumes and am often gifted sample packs from friends and family. Every time I leave for a trip, I grab a few of them to use while I’m away.
• Tangle Teezer hairbrush: I’ve been traveling with a Tangle Teezer since I first left the U.K., and it’s the only detangling hairbrush I’ve found that can get rid of all of the knots in my crazy, curly hair.
• Shower cap: I have a lot of hair and drying it can take several hours — and that’s before I start styling it! Needless to say, I absolutely cannot wash my hair everyday. I therefore always bring a shower cap with me when I travel.
• Laundry detergent: I’m usually travelling for three months at a time so pack laundry detergent to wash my clothes on the go. The one from Sea to Summit is the best I’ve found so far. It smells great and usually lasts me a month of frequent washes
• Hand sanitiser: I use this to try to avoid getting sick, usually on planes, before meals, and when I get in from a day of exploring.

Make Up and Skincare

Don’t plan for a full face of make-up in Singapore because — as I’ve mentioned many times! — the humidity is brutal. Most likely, you’ll sweat off any foundation within a few hours of applying it. Instead, go for a clean girl aesthetic, make use of tinted sunscreens and moisturisers, and keep the make-up to a minimum; your skin will thank you! I travel with the following:

• A couple of small eyeshadow palettes, which I usually try to optimise, with a brown to wear in the crease, black to double up as eyeliner, pink to use as blush, and a glitter for the lid.
• Mascara
• Eyebrow pencil
• Lip gloss and oil
• Lip balm
• Tweezers
• Various make-up brushes that definitely need a clean
• As many hairbands as I can fit in my bag. I swear I go through one a week while I’m travelling!

I keep skincare to the bare minimum and also make sure to keep hold of any samples I rack up throughout the year so I can keep the weight of my luggage down.

• Sunscreen: Because of course! I always bring a facial sunscreen with me on my trips, and it’s always an Australian brand. Fun fact: basically every sunscreen I’ve used in my life is not available in Australia, because they don’t pass our extremely stringent tests. If you want great, effective sunscreen, buy an Australian one. My favourite brand is the skincare-focused Ultra Violette (although not available in the U.S., unfortunately).
• Tretinoin: This retinoid is the gold standard for anti-aging and generally having excellent skin! I buy mine from All Day Chemist or over-the-counter in India whenever I’m passing through.
• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: The best vitamin C serum that money can buy! It provides additional protection from the sun and pollution, reduces fine lines, and brightens hyperpigmentation.
• Cleanser and moisturiser: I just use a random cleanser and moisturiser that I found in the cupboard; nothing fancy here!

Travel Technology and Electronics

It’s been so interesting writing about travel technology over the years. Back when I first started this site, in 2010, this was easily the biggest component of the packing lists I published.

I used to travel with a laptop, a large DSLR camera, a smaller Point and Shoot camera, filters, tripod, additional lenses, and a GoPro[!]. I had a Kindle, a bulky hard drive, and an external battery pack. Not to mention all the adapters and cables and SD cards and chargers for all of those products. It’s kind of remarkable that in this day and age, we can reduce all of that down to a single device.

So, when it comes to electronics, what you decide to pack will depend on the type of traveller you are. I work as I travel, so a laptop is, unfortunately, a necessity for me, as I can’t effectively do so on a phone. If you don’t work online, however — or only need to check emails occasionally — there’s little need for you to bring a laptop with you.

And likewise, you most likely don’t need to bring a separate camera with you if you own a relatively recent smartphone; especially if you’re only taking photos to share on social media.

If you already own an e-reader, like a Kindle, and use it regularly, it may be worth bringing it with you. There are e-reading apps for phones — I use the Kindle app on my iPhone — but using such a small (and reflective!) screen doesn’t make for the most peaceful reading experience on the beach. I much prefer using a Kindle, so always take it with me unless I’m really trying to minimise what I pack.

Here’s the technology that I bring with me in 2024:

• A smartphone: I travel with an iPhone, but there’s no real need to upgrade your phone for your trip — just take whatever you normally use at home. I also recommend buying an eSIM with AloSIM before you arrive (I tested three different eSIMs and data speeds with AloSIM were significantly faster.)
• A Kindle Paperwhite: I read so much when I travel, and a Kindle allows me to power through a travel memoir a day without adding weight to my luggage. I think I’ve had this one for about eight years now, so they’re definitely durable!
• A Macbook: I’ve got to have this for work purposes, otherwise it’s probably not necessary or you could take a tablet instead.
• International travel adapter: Singapore has the same power sockets as the U.K., so make sure to bring a travel adapter with you if you hail from elsewhere. I have strong opinions on travel adapters after spending the better part of a decade wrestling with them as they continually fell out of the wall. These days, I travel with the Unidapt and used it in Singapore. If you’re American, make sure that any devices/appliances you bring with you are dual voltage, or you’ll need a voltage converter.
• Airpods Pro and Airpods Max: I use the Airpods Max for noise cancellation on planes, and the Pros for listening to podcasts while I’m out exploring, or blocking out traffic noise while I’m trying to sleep. Having said that, the Airpods Max are absolutely not necessary; I just enjoy having noise-cancelling headphones on a plane and these are the only ones I own.
• External battery pack: Anker is king when it comes to portable chargers, and I’m always recommending them to readers! I tend to take hundreds of photos when I’m travelling, along with using Google Maps and researching things to do; because of this, my phone’s battery rarely lasts the entire day. On my first day in Singapore, I was doing so much that I was down to 20% battery by 11 a.m.! Carrying an external battery pack means that I can keep my device charged and not have to pause my sightseeing to sit beside a power socket for two hours. My current favourite is the 533 Powecore 30W powerbank, which is 10,000mAh and offers charging off of both USB-A and USB-C. It stores enough power to charge my iPhone twice, so is super-useful when I’m out and about.
• Hair straighteners: Singapore is humid and my hair is uncontrollable. I travel with a pair of GHDs in an attempt to look as though I haven’t just prodded a power socket with my finger.
• Charging cables: Make sure you have enough cables to charge all of your devices; I also travel with a 10-foot-long cable in case the power sockets are miles away from my bed.

Miscellaneous Items

You have remembered to pack your passport, right?

On top of that, make sure you bring a driving license (for ID purposes), debit/credit cards (although most places allow you to use Apple Pay, etc), and a pen (always useful!)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

If you’ve read any other posts on Never Ending Footsteps, you’ll know that I’m a great believer in travelling with travel insurance. I’ve seen far too many Go Fund Me campaigns from destitute backpackers that are unexpectedly stranded in a foreign country after a scooter accident/being attacked/breaking a leg, with no way of getting home or paying for their healthcare. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.

Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and now you need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.

I use and recommend HeyMondo for travel insurance in Singapore. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. They’re one of the more affordable companies around, which is an added bonus!

And that’s about it for my Singapore packing list! I hope you found this guide useful and have a fantastic trip to the country! 🙂

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