Singapore is a great place to fill the gaps between your adventures in Asia. It is also a common layover spot for many flights, worth taking advantage of!
Singapore is a city-state and one of the smallest countries in the world while being the smallest in Asia. It is located just off the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. Mainland Singapore stretches 50km from east to west and 27km down the way. The whole country covers a total area of 719 square kilometers. Singapore’s population stands at 5.63 million people (2022)! Despite the high population, the country has an effective system to cope with overcrowding.
Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world, being among one of the worlds leading global financial centers. Not only is Singapore among one of the richest countries in the world, but it is also one of the world’s most sustainable cities! You will see a lot of greenery incorporated into the city – it’s truly amazing. That is one of the things I love the most about Singapore!
PRE-TRAVEL GUIDE
LANGUAGE: Singapore has 4 official languages, Malay, Tamil, Mandarin Chinese, and English. I found communicating in Singapore fairly easy, as most people speak English!
CURRENCY: Singapore Dollars (SGD).
RELIGION AND CULTURE: Singapore is a multi-religious society with five main religions: Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and Hinduism. Buddhism is the biggest religion.
There is no official dress code in Singapore, however, if you are visiting any temples you must cover your shoulder and wear a skirt below your knees or long pants.
TRANSPORT: Getting around Singapore is extremely easy! Singapore uses MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and an extensive bus system. There are plenty of MRT stations and bus stops scattered around the city. Public transport in Singapore is very affordable and efficient!
If you are looking for private transport, ‘ComfortDelGro‘ and ‘GoJek‘ Taxi services are among the most popular ones. I do have to say taxis can be quite pricey in Singapore, so try to get a rough price before you accept the taxi! You can also find ‘Grab‘ in Singapore.
i highly recommend looking in to the day passes for public transport here. Alternatively, you can use hop-on-hop-off buses to see the main sights!
BEST TIME TO VISIT: If you are not a fan of intense heat – then avoid visiting in Summer! Singapore’s dry season is from February to June. You can also experience cooler temperatures at this time, making it easier to explore the country!
However, that being said, I did travel in July (one of the hottest months of the year!) and I found the heat to be very intense but somewhat bearable.
HOW LONG TO STAY: 3-4 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Singapore. This will allow you to see all the main attractions while also leaving time to relax. If you want to explore the city in more depth and perhaps visit some lesser visited sights, then 5 days is ideal.
SIDE NOTE: Chewing gum in banned in Singapore – unless its a medical gum prescribed by a dentist…
For the next three days, I have put an itinerary that allows you to see all the main attraction while also getting know the city and it’s people.
DAY 1 – EXPLORE THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS
On your first day get to know the city and explore the modern day Singapore, including some of the most popular attractions.
TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST: Before you head out, enjoy a traditional Singapore breakfast called ‘Kaya Toast’. It consists of toast with butter and 2 soft-boiled eggs, and a cup of coffee (or Kopi – in Singapore). ‘Kopi’, also known as ‘Nanyang coffee’ is highly caffeinated brewed coffee served with sugar and/or milk. You can find plenty of nice cafes in the city!
1.) MERLION PARK
Visit one of the most iconic statues in the city. This mythical creature has a head of a lion and a body of a fish – representing Singapore’s origins as a fishing village. The upper part of the statue symbolizes the original name of Singapura, meaning ‘Lion City’ in Sanskrit.
Also, here you can enjoy the views of the stunning Marina Bay Sands Hotel!
NOTE: As it’s one of the most popular attractions in the city, you can expect a lot of crowds here. If you want to take some less crowded photos with the statue, try visiting early in the morning or late in the evening! However, I do recommend returning here some evening to see Marina Bay in the evening!
2.) MARINA BAY SANDS OBSERVATION DECK
Next, make your way to the Marina Bay Sands observation deck. It’s a 5-minute car ride or a 20-minute walk from Merlion Park.
This impressive ship-like hotel stands 198 meters high (57 floors). Meanwhile, the top of the building stretches to 300 meters, making it taller than the Eiffel Tower! At the top of the hotel, you can find the world’s longest infinity pool (142 meters) and a spectacular observation deck. From here you can observe the city, where you can see the famous Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Flyer.
purchase tickets for the observation deck here.
NOTE: The infinity pool is only open to the guests of the hotel and access tickets cannot be purchased separately. If you wish to spend more time at this stunning hotel, check out the prices for over night stays to get the full perks here.
GET LUNCH: Before you head off to Gardens by the Bay, I recommend grabbing something to eat as the gardens will likely take up the rest of your evening. If you want to get food later, there are a couple of restaurants and cafes across the park, so don’t worry! Although some of them can be quite pricey, on the bright side, among them you can find McDonald’s – if you are looking to save some $$. Don’t worry, no judgment here, I indeed got Mcdonald’s and it was great. 🙂
3.) EXPLORE GARDENS BY THE BAY
Gardens by the Bay is by far the most popular attraction known in Singapore. At this stage, I am pretty sure you have seen some photos of these majestic gardens somewhere!
In this 250-acre natural park you can discover the famous Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, OCBC Skywalk, Floral Fantasy, and Supertree Observatory.
NOTE: Be prepared to spend anywhere from 2 to 4 hours exploring Gardens by the Bay. There is plenty to see and discover!
TICKETS: There are various ticket combos you can get starting from €7.39 per person, depending on what attractions you want to visit. Check out the ticket combos here.
Just to make it clear, Gardens by the Bay itself is free to explore, however, if you wish you visit any of the attractions such as the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, or the OCBC Skywalk then you have to purchase admission tickets.
CLOUD FOREST
Take a fascinating journey through this beautiful contemporary glasshouse. Here you can find some of the most exotic plants from all over the world and witness one of the largest indoor waterfalls! It’s truly a spectacular and unique place to visit and cannot be missed on your visit to Singapore.
TIP: If you want to see the cloud forest at its most beautiful state when its covered in mist, make sure to visit during misting hours! This is something I was not aware of at the time of my visit, I didn’t realize the mist is not there through the whole day.. so I’m here to tell you better!
The misting is scheduled every two hours as follows: 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm, and 8
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm daily. Book your tickets here.
FLOWER DOME
Both domes are very beautiful and worth visiting. If you are visiting one of these domes, it’s worth covering both as they are right next to each other and you can easily get a combo ticket at a great price.
Opening hours: 9am – 9pm.
NOTE: Each dome goes through regular maintenance at scheduled dates during the year. Usually, the maintenance takes place on separate dates for each dome individually. Make sure to check for these dates as the domes will be completely closed off during this time, to avoid any disappointment!
OCBC SKYWALK
One of the most beautiful and magical attractions in the park! You can find the OCBC Skywalk at Supertree Grove. This is a 128-meter-long walkway connected by 6 Supertrees at 22 meters high! From here you can get a beautiful aerial view of the gardens paired with Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Don’t miss the music and lights show every evening at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm at the Supertree Grove! It’s by far the most spectacular part of the Gardens by the Bay! They also do different themed shows depending on the time of the year – check out here.
TIP: If you want to get the most magical aerial views from the OCBC Skywalk, try and queue up in time for the sunset or for the light show start!
NOTE: To enjoy the Supertree Grove and the light show itself is FREE, but if you wish to go up to the OCBC Skywalk then you have to purchase an admission ticket! You should also know the queues can get extremely long, and if you want to make it in time for the sunset, then make sure to queue up early enough. However, I do believe it’s worth the money, and I highly recommend going to the OCBC Skywalk!
DAY 2 – EXPLORE ETHNIC DISTRICTS – CHINATOWN, LITTLE INDIA & KAMPONG GLAM
Now you have seen modern-day Singapore – tall skyscrapers, one of the best hotels in the world, the famous Gardens by the bay, and Merlion Park. It is time to explore Singapore’s heritage towns and see where it all began. Learn more about the history of Singapore and how different cultures are integrated into today’s world.
For this day, you can choose to get a hop-on-hop-off bus to cover all three areas. The distance from Chinatown to Little India is about 3.9km, which is a 45-minute walk. Little India to Kampong Glam is 2.2km away (20-minute walk). So if you feel like taking it easy, I recommend purchasing the hop-on-hop-off bus ticket. You can also choose to stop at other destinations along the way! Otherwise, you can take public transport or walk if you’re up for getting those steps in!
CHINATOWN
Here you can explore the beautiful Chinatown district, where you can discover delicious Chinese street food and find plenty of unique Chinese shops! Make sure to pass the Chinatown street Market– as here you will find many of the food stalls and shops. Get lost in the narrow streets and enjoy a true China atmosphere.
What is particularly interesting about the Chinatown district in Singapore, is that it is the only Chinatown in the world to have 3 different ethnic temples on a single road. On Telok Ayer Street, you can find a Buddhist temple, a mosque, and a Hindu temple!
BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE AND MUSEUM: This is a beautiful Buddhist temple with a striking pagoda. Inside, you can find mandala-covered architecture representing a universal connection, a concept between Buddhist and Hindu spirituality.
This temple has no entrance fee and is open 7 am to 5 pm daily. Donations are welcome at the temple. Make sure to have the appropriate clothing – covered shoulders and a skirt/pants below the knees!
MASJID JAMAE: This is a mosque built in honor of the Muslim population in Chinatown. The mosque stands tall with a tower on each side of the entrance paired with an archway. You cannot miss it!
SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE: This is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. Here you can enjoy beautiful murals and shrines. The temple’s pagoda is decorated with fun colorful statues!
Again, there is no entry fee for this temple! This temple is open at two separate times during the day – 6 am-12 pm and then it re-opens at 6.30 pm to 9 pm. These hours apply for most days of the week, except for Tuesday and Friday: during the second part of the day, the temple opens an hour earlier, from 5.30 pm to 9 pm.
LITTLE INDIA
Little India is located along the Serangoon river which was once an attractive location for cattle raising and livestock trading. In this cultural hub, you will see vibrant architecture, stunning temples, mosques, and street art. Here you can find a choice of good-quality gold jewelry, silk, and fresh flower garlands.
Make sure to explore the Serangoon road, here you can explore many of the attractions and treasures of Little India!
TIP: You can get the MRT train to Little India from Chinatown, or use the hop-on-hop-off bus ticket!
KAMPONG GLAM
This is Singapore’s Muslim quarters where you can enjoy flavorful and spicy foods, and explore elaborative textile shops, clothing boutiques, street art, and more! One of the most popular attractions is the Sultan Mosque – a huge beautiful golden mosque that cannot be missed.
Meanwhile, Bussorah Street is one of the most picturesque streets you can find in Singapore! A tiled pedestrian street surrounded by tall palm trees and colorful heritage buildings. This street is a perfect spot for that eye-catching Instagram photo!
If you walk to Kandahar street around the corner, you will see beautifully restored shophouses, along with the Malay Heritage Center, showcasing 9 galleries of Malay History!
DAY 3 – RELAX AND HAVE SOME FUN!
For your last day in Singapore, you can finally take it easy and enjoy some natural surroundings away from the city.
1.) SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS
Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens founded in 1859! This is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The gardens are filled with various exotic plants such as bamboo, palm trees, and orchids. As you walk through the park, you may meet some local inhabitants (lizards, turtles, and frogs ). But don’t worry, they like to mind their business and get out of your way. Although, I do have to say they are very cute, so you might be the one to say hi first. 🙂
Also, have I mentioned you can enjoy this wonderful park for free?! However, the most popular garden is the National Orchid Garden, housing over one thousand orchids! Among these orchids, you can find Singapore’s national flower called ‘Miss Joaquim’, which is a hybrid orchid. This the only part of the gardens that have a small fee to enter. You can purchase your tickets here. I highly recommend visiting this part of the gardens as it’s one of the main attractions.
It is open daily from 5 am to 12 am! Be prepared to spend around 2 hours here.
TIP: The Botanic Gardens are located right next to a busy shopping street – Orchard Road. You can find some of the best shopping malls here, such as the Ion Orchard shopping mall!
2.) TAKE A SCENIC EVENING CRUISE THROUGH THE SINGAPORE RIVER
To end your trip to Singapore, take a scenic cruise through the Singapore river. Sit back and relax while passing by the Merlion statue and other popular landmarks. Learn some fun facts about Singapore and enjoy the city at night -when everything comes to life.
For some nightlife adventures and some good food, I recommend visiting Clarke Que for a lively atmosphere! You can find many restaurants and clubs in this area.
OTHER POPULAR ACTIVITIES
This itinerary pretty much covers the most popular attractions in Singapore! However, there are a few other things you can do or perhaps swap it up with some of the mentioned activities.
SENTOSA ISLAND
Alternatively, on your last day in Singapore, you can visit the Botanic Gardens early in the morning (or skip them all together )and head off to Sentosa Island!
This is a massive resorts island filled with many fun things to do, while also having the best beaches! Discover, scenic cable car rides, Dolphin Island, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A Aquarium, Universal Studios and much more! This island has an endless list of fun things to do. You can easily spend here a full day. This resort’s island is huge, but don’t worry there is a free shuttle bus going around the island!
If you are a real adrenaline junkie like me and love a good roller coaster, I highly recommend visiting Universal Studios! This was truly one of my favorite highlights from my trip!
TIP: If you are a solo traveler, make sure to take full advantage of those solo queues and don’t be shy to put yourself forward for any empty single seats (that just get wasted)!
NOTE: Be wary of long queues and high peak times (summer holidays, weekends). For most of the attractions, you can pre-book your tickets online or get an express pass to save some queuing up time. Check out more information and ticket pricing here.
EXPLORE MUSUEMS
There are plenty of interesting museums and art exhibitions in Singapore you can visit. Some of the popular museums include the ArtScience Museum, the National Museum of Singapore, and the Singapore Art Museum.
SINGAPORE FLYER
This is the biggest and highest observation wheel in Asia. Enjoy the city from a glass capsule at 165 meters high! Book your tickets here.
Hope you enjoyed this itinerary I have put together! Of course, you don’t have to follow the itinerary in chronological order, you can swap around activities and days in the order you prefer! However, this is a great itinerary for covering all the popular attractions in 3 days, while also giving you some insights for things to do. 🙂
If this is your first time travelling to Asia, make sure to check out: PLANNING YOUR FIRST TRIP TO ASIA: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
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One thought on “HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN SINGAPORE – THE PERFECT ITINERARY”
Wow, great post! 🙂