Do you know that struggle when you arrive in a new country, need to find an ATM, exchange money, don’t know how much you will spend, then try to get rid of the coins (in the best case, giving them to the cleaning staff at the airport), not to mention all the additional bank fees? Well, the misery is over.. at least when you visit Singapore. No more exchange scams; all you need is a contactless credit card in your pocket, and you are ready to explore.

I’ve been to Singapore several times and done all the touristy things, from hunting for street art and admiring architecture to the ultimate bucket list item, enjoying the city skyline from the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands. However, the last time I entered the city was in March 2020 (yes, just 3 days before the C-word completely transformed our world). Everything is changing, moving and evolving, and it was time for me to return to the cleanest and more fine-oriented city-state of Southeast Asia.

After (too) many months of island life, I looked forward to the urban experience, still the biggest highlight was not having to touch any cash during my 22-hour layover. While the Singapore dollar notes look pretty fancy, there is no more hassle with money changers and ATMs. Literally, everything is contactless, starting from the very first step: getting from Changi to the city.

You can call a Grab or use the MRT. I prefer the latter because it’s just great, saves you some money, and finally, you can forget about single tickets and plastic cards (then deal with refunds); simply use your credit card (Visa or Mastercard) to board the train and exit the station (the daily charges will appear on your card the next morning). And on the ride, you can contemplate how scared people are to touch things and each other but how much smoother travelling feels in this alienated world.

Aside from basic transportation expenses, there are plenty of ways to get rid of your money in Singapore.

The downtown hasn’t changed much in all these years: the traffic is almost nonexistent during the day, but the shopping centers and sightseeing spots are packed. There’s nothing you can’t buy here, although the prices always seem higher than they should be (we love taxes, don’t we?!). Village-size malls and the tourist hype Haji Lane are waiting to empty your card.

When I don’t have the urge to buy collectibles, I prefer to spend on food. All restaurants, bars, and most food courts have card terminals, so you don’t have to worry about an empty stomach. The cheapest and tastiest food is in Chinatown (what a surprise), but you can find exceptional restaurants or get hooked on addictive, unhealthy goodies in 7-Eleven, too – it all depends on your taste and budget. I don’t like sitting alone in a fancy place all dressed up, so for me, solo travelling means following my nose and eating what smells good. I usually go random, but I have a sweet spot for Gyoza King and the new finding, Magnum Lemon Cheese (judge away).

To give your bank account a break, Singapore also offers a few free entertainment options. The Gardens by the Bay and the Botanic Gardens are my all-time favourites, but when in an actual city, I always try to find contemporary art, exhibitions, and galleries to feed my soul. This time, I ran into Art Now at Raffles Place, which treated my eyes with extraordinary paintings (use your phone to see it better).

POV, the city’s biggest weakness is accommodation. Of course, high-end luxury is always available, but bedbug places cost nearly the same. If you don’t book in advance (especially around holidays), you’ll have way fewer options to choose from and end up spending way more than reasonable. To make your life easier, always choose one near MRT stations and new buildings instead of historical ones.

Once you’ve spent all your money in the most expensive city in Southeast Asia, let your card be charged one last time heading to the airport. And maybe your last purchase won’t be that MRT ticket because Changi and the Jewel are just too tempting to go shopping while waiting for your boarding time.