Singapore has been ranked the safest country to walk alone at night this year, according to Gallup’s Global Safety Report 2025.
The city-state, known for its strict laws and low crime rates, was also named the safest country in Southeast Asia in March, according to Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user-contributed data.
Singapore’s reputation for safety does not just make it a great place to visit — it also gives rise to some seriously unique habits that would never fly elsewhere.
Here are some things you can get away with here as recommended by The Smart Local, Singapore’s leading travel and lifestyle portal.
1. Using personal belongings to reserve tables
Singaporeans usually use bags, laptops, phones, or even cash to reserve tables in public, known as “chope culture” in the city-state.
This habit is seen everywhere: hawker centers, cafés, and study spots.
The tourist posted on her Xiaohongshu account: “This is Singapore. The [owner of the phone] is nowhere in sight, but their phone is still here.”
2. Leaving the front door wide open during the day
In Singapore, visitors can see many apartments with their front doors open all day.
Walk down your nearby corridor, and you’ll get a live peek into someone else’s flat. It might be shocking to visitors, but it is normal here.
3. Losing your phone or wallet… and actually getting it back
A person recalled his experience of losing both phone and wallet within six months — and somehow got both back.
A good Samaritan handed his wallet to the police, while he got his phone back simply by using Find My iPhone.
4. Shops staying open after hours
Some retail kiosks, especially in MRT station corridors, don’t even have shutters. After closing time, staff just drape a cloth over the counter or pull up a flimsy barrier, without using locks or alarms.
5. Keeping your phone or wallet in your back pocket
Even in crowded spots like Bugis Street or Gardens by the Bay, you can stroll around with your phone in your back pocket and not think twice.
During my trip last year, my tour guide reassured me: Singapore is very safe — just hold your phone, take pictures freely, and tuck it in your back pocket. I followed and my phone was totally safe during the five-day trip.
6. Leaving parcels at the door
Whether you’re at work or on vacation, your parcels can sit outside your door for hours — and they’ll still be there when you get back.
That said, it’s not foolproof. A few rogue incidents have popped up, so using parcel lockers or asking a neighbor to keep an eye out is also recommended.
7. Falling asleep on public transport
Some people nodded off on the bus or MRT and woken up in a mild panic — only to find everything exactly where they left it.
In Singapore, the worst that’s likely to happen is missing your stop.
One content creator tested this by leaving her phone unattended at Chinatown MRT; ten minutes later it was still there.
But low crime doesn’t mean no crime.
A Thai tourist recently reported that her Richard Mille luxury watch, valued at around S$400,000 (US$305,990), was stolen while she was visiting Singapore during the Formula One event in early October.
She added that she could not share further details about the alleged theft due to ongoing police investigations, according to Asia One.
