The ULTIMATE Three-Day Guide to Singapore
Welcome to our ultimate three-day guide to Singapore! The hyper-modern city is known for its unique blend of cultures, its impressive skyline and its reputation as a foodie paradise. What would you want more? During our 7-month Asia trip, we made a stop in Singapore for five days. To make the most of our time, we rushed through the city to cross all the items on our list. However, we soon realised that trying to rush through this captivating city is not for everyone! So, to help you make the most of your time and truly immerse yourself in Singapore, we crafted this three-day itinerary carefully for you.
In this blog, we will guide you through Singapore’s most iconic attractions, other must-see spots and culinary delights. From the fairly-like Gardens by the Bay to the bustling streets of Chinatown.
Remember, this itinerary serves as a starting point. You can switch up the days and items of this itinerary to your wishes. Happy travels!
Sentosa
In the south of Singapore, you can find the small island of Sentosa. All kinds of fun activities can be found on this island such as the Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium and water parks. If you want to visit Universal Studios or some other recreational places on the island, we would recommend booking one extra day in Singapore or skipping one of the days described below. Perfect when you are travelling with kids or if you are looking for something playful yourself.
Plan your visit
Depending on what time you arrive in this futuristic city, you can go out and discover or just relax in your hotel to get some rest after your flight. No matter what, don’t forget that the first highlight from Singapore is already at the airport! HSBC Rain Vortex is located inside Jewel, a shopping mall next to Changi Airport. Walk around in the shopping mall and admire this majestic waterfall from all angles.
The ultimate combo is catching the light show at Spectra at 8 pm and leave right after for the light show at Gardens by the Bay at 20h45.
Itinerary
Day One
Start your first day with a walk in the park at Gardens by the Bay and walk through Super Tree Forest. You can take the metro and get off at Bayfront. If you like, you can do the canopy walk in the Super Trees.
Continue your walk to Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. These two big and futuristic domes are located in the north of the park and you can buy your tickets at the entrance. Cloud Forest is a modern greenhouse with an indoor waterfall and lush vegetation from the tropical highlands. Flower Dome is another giant glass greenhouse housing exotic plants sorted by origin.
Estimated time spent at Cloud Forest: at least one and a half hour
Estimated time spend at Flower Dome: at least one and a half hour
Cloud Forest gets cloudy every two hours starting at 10h. Try to witness this mysterious event when you’re there.
Go to Satay by the Bay for lunch inside Gardens by the Bay. This might be your first time at a Hawker Centre! At a Hawker Centre, you will find multiple food stands selling different foods. Good for everyone as you can order from different stands and enjoy your meal at the shared tables.
After a full morning of exploring, it’s time for some shopping. Go and see The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Window shopping is also fine as there are only luxury brands inside this mall. Even if you’re not a shopaholic you can’t skip this building as you will find an indoor river with gondolas and even a vortex if you come at the right time.
If you’re into light spectacles you can visit the Art Science Museum which is located just in front of The Shoppes.
Estimated time spend at Art Science Museum: one hour
Take the Helix Bridge and walk around the lake towards Merlion. The Merlion symbolises Singapore’s origins as a fishing village and you will find a lot of tourists taking photos of this half lion – half fish. On the way to Merlion, you will see Esplanade, also called ‘the Durian’ by locals.
All that walking makes you hungry… From the Merlion, it’s a twelve-minute walk to Lau Pa Sat. This is our favourite Hawker Centre we visited; we would absolutely recommend going there! You will definitely find something good here as there are a lot of hawkers at this centre selling different kinds of food, even international dishes can be found here.
If you’re not tired yet you can go watch the light shows at Spectra and Gardens by the Bay afterwards or go sip a cocktail at Clarke Quay.
Day Two
It’s time to take the metro and see Singapore’s most bustling boulevard, Orchard Road. This is also the same name as the metro station where you have to get off. Now, you find yourself in the middle of the shopping and dining paradise of Singapore. Take your time to shop around. If you’re on a budget, wait for the next stop to eat. You will find more Hawker places and street food over there.
Finished with shopping and sightseeing here, take the metro to China Town. There is a lot to see and foods to try. Just stroll around this lively neighbourhood and have a look at Chinatown Complex Food Centre or at Maxwell Hawker Centre. Here you find all the locals going for their lunch/dinner. Go inside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and you might find monks praying. There are more religious sites if you’re interested such as Sri Mariamman Temple and Masjid Jamae.
End your day at Clarke Quay for a fancy after-dinner drink or dance. Or go back to see the light show at Gardens by the Bay or Spectra if you can’t get enough of it.
Day Three
On your last day, we will explore more of Singapore’s districts. Starting in the most vibrant district, Little India. Have some yummy Indian breakfast and don’t worry, there are tons of restaurants! You’re walking through streets filled with colourful Peranakan houses and murals. Save Tan Teng Niah in your maps as this is the most beautiful historic house that you absolutely can’t miss. Another spot in Little India is Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.
Walk further to Kampong Glam, the Arabic district. Walk down Arab Street to behold all the colourful houses in this busy street until you reach Beach Road where you turn left. Turn left again and walk down the picturesque Bussorah Street. At the end you find the Sultan Mosque which is worth a visit.
After visiting the famous mosque of Kampong Glam cross Arab street and stroll down Haji Lane. If you rather get lost in the streets of Kampong Glam you might find some beautiful murals.
If you haven’t already found some food on your way Bugis Street (mall) is your place to go!
Now it’s time to go back to your hotel and pack your bags. More time in Singapore? See underneath where to go!
More time in Singapore?
Katong District
Another bustling district of Singapore is Katong. Located a bit outside Singapore’s highlight you find this trendy district with Joo Chiat Roar in the centre. It’s the perfect place for cosy coffee shops, unique boutiques and pastel-coloured restaurants. If you’re there, go check out the Peranakan Houses at Koon Seng Rd.
Fort Canning Park
This is your go-to spot if you’re into history and nature. A whole lot of the origin of Singapore is written here and worth to check it out and deep diving into the history of the country. At Raffles House, you can spot Marina Bay Sands from above and sniff some history. There is also a tree tunnel where you can take some nice photographs.
Armenian Church
Although the Armenian Church might not be that impressive in comparison with all the hyper-modern and detailed historical buildings you can find in Singapore, it’s a 19th-century architectural piece that makes it the oldest church in Singapore.
