Sri Lanka is an excellent short-haul destination for Singaporean travelers, offering a completely different tropical experience with ancient culture, wildlife safaris, and misty hill country that provides a refreshing contrast to Singapore's urban landscape. Singaporean passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) costing $50 USD for tourism, the same standard rate as most non-SAARC countries. The process is straightforward and entirely online.
The ETA for Singaporean citizens permits a 30-day double-entry stay for tourism purposes and can be extended up to 90 days at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. Business ETAs cost $55 USD with multiple-entry privileges. Apply online at eta.gov.lk before departure and receive approval within 24 to 72 hours. SriLankan Airlines operates direct flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Colombo, with a flight time of approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes, making Sri Lanka one of the most accessible exotic destinations for weekend or short getaways from Singapore.
Singaporean visitors will find cultural parallels in Sri Lanka's multiethnic society, which includes Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities, echoing Singapore's own multicultural makeup. The island offers experiences that are hard to find in Singapore: vast national parks with wild elephants and leopards, ancient ruins dating back over 2,000 years, scenic train journeys through tea plantations, and uncrowded beaches stretching for kilometers. Sri Lanka is also remarkably affordable by Singaporean standards, making it an excellent value destination for food, accommodation, and activities.