I've lived in Singapore for 20 years, and there are 5 mistakes I keep seeing tourists make when they come visit

The bustling city-state of almost six million people has a land area of only 278 square miles. It's one of the world's most densely populated countries, the second-wealthiest country in the world, and one of the most expensive cities to live in.

And, because of its proximity and accessibility to other countries in the region, Singapore is also a tourism hub: It hosted over 19 million visitors in 2019.

While I was born in the Philippines, I moved to Singapore more than 20 years ago. I now call the tiny island-nation home, and have hosted friends and family from abroad over the years. I noticed many of them made the same few mistakes while traveling in the city-state.

Here are five of the most common mistakes I have seen tourists make.

Singapore has one of the most vibrant food scenes in the world, so there's no shortage of delicious, affordable food to be found at hawker stalls, or open-air food stalls. But many tourists only visit popular hawker centers in the city center, like Lau Pa Sat, or Chinatown Complex to try Hawker Chan's famed chicken rice.

Hawker centers located in residential towns offer a much different — and more authentic — experience of Singapore's hawker culture. One of my favorites is Changi Hawker Center in the eastern part of the country, which sells everything from hearty mutton soup to a variety of nasi lemak, a Malay rice dish.

Coffee shops (locally called "kopitiam") and mamak shops that sell Indian Muslim cuisine are also great alternatives to popular hawkers in the city. Many of these stalls are just on the side of road, making it the perfect place to grab a bite when exploring the outskirts of Singapore.

While Singapore's iconic landmarks make for some perfect Instagram photos, there's much more to explore in the city.

If you love spending time at the beach, East Coast Park, Changi Beach (pictured above), and Punggol Beach in the coastal east of the city-state are great alternatives to Sentosa. While Singapore is known for its busy and bustling city center, the coasts show a more relaxed side to the country.

Off-shore islands like Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa are some of Singapore's best hidden gems. They're also one of the few places tourists can explore wild nature in the heavily developed city-state.

I've stayed at several hostels in Singapore and they're not cheap by backpacking standards — prices range from 44 Singapore dollars, or $30, to over SG$100 for a night's stay.

My experiences at Singapore's hostels have been a mixed bag. Overall, I have found that budget hotels, which cost just a bit more than the mid-range hostel, are the best value-for-money accommodation in the city. They're clean, affordable, and located in neighborhoods across the country.

Earlier this year, I stayed in a spacious room at Hotel 81 in Singapore's red-light district. At SG$75 a night, it cost just SG$10 more than a bunk-bed capsule in the country's best-rated hostel, and it was a much more relaxing experience.

Private rooms in budget hotels in the city-state can cost as little as SG$49 a night.

Singapore is so close to parts of Malaysia and Indonesia — and it's easy to get there, even on a budget.

Malaysia's Johor Bahru is just a 30-minute ride from downtown Singapore (if there's no traffic at the border), and a bus across the border costs only SG$4.

Indonesia's Batam and Bintan are just 40 minutes away by boat. It costs around SG$70 for a return ferry ticket from Singapore to one of Indonesia's nearby Riau Islands.

Singapore's nickname is "The Fine City," which means that rules are strictly enforced in the city-state. Things that are common in other countries — like chewing gum and graffiti — are banned in the country. Breaking these laws might result in a fine or even jail time.

Other rules, like only smoking inside designated areas and wearing masks indoors are also strictly followed, so make sure to acquaint yourself with some of the rules of the city-state before visiting.