Know before you go ...

Singapore is known as a fine city and for good reason — you can be fined, and even caned or jailed — for breaking seemingly draconian laws that the locals have learnt to live with. Since 1992, after a vandal stuck a piece of chewing gum on an MRT door sensor that resulted in the disruption of train services, the sale and import of chewing gum has been banned in Singapore. You can still chew gum, but dispose of it properly.

Smoking is banned in restaurants, cinemas and all indoor public spaces. Since mid-2013, the ban has been extended to include public spaces such as overhead bridges and outdoor hospital compounds. Vandalism is also a punishable offence and so are littering, spitting, jaywalking and failing to flush the loo.