Read this 3-day Singapore itinerary to make the most of your first time visit.
Singapore is a bustling island city-state at the crossroads of Asia. This population destination carries a rich historical significance that spans from its early days as a British trading post to its emergence as a global financial hub. The city-state's strategic location has contributed to its historical importance as a key maritime and economic center. Despite its compact size, Singapore is a melting pot of cultures and languages. English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil are the official languages, reflecting the country's multicultural ethos. Singapore's appeal extends beyond its economic prowess, drawing a diverse expatriate community enticed by its high standard of living, efficient infrastructure, and cultural diversity.
When to visit Singapore?
Singapore is a great year-round destination as the average daily temperature in Singapore is very stable. No matter when you visit, you will have weather of around 25-30 degrees Celsius. Like most of Asia, it does have a rainy season, but it's not too severe. If you are looking to avoid the worst of the rainy season then stay clear of November, December, and January.
How to get around Singapore?
We found Singapore to be extremely accessible and easy to navigate for tourists. The easiest way to get around and explore the city is by public transit (metro and bus). You don't even need to buy a metro card, you can tap your credit card! Although, by the end of our time there we each had a credit card flagged as fraud from this. Make sure you let your bank know you are heading here to prevent any problems.
What to do in Singapore?
Day 1: Downtown
The downtown skyline of Singapore is one of the most famous skylines in the world. We recommend this be one of the first places you go in Singapore. Whether it be day or night, the Singapore skyline is impressive. We recommend visiting downtown for sunset so you can see it in both.
You can catch the Spectra light show at Marina Bay Sands every night at 8 and 9pm. Beware, if you choose to watch from the lower observation deck you will get wet.
Grab dinner from one of the fantastic options at the Marina Bay Sands food court featuring both local and international foods.
Walk across the Helix Bridge to take in the full beauty of the Singapore skyline.
Visit the Merlion, the national symbol of Singapore. This mythical creature has the head of a lion and the body of a fish to represent Singapore's origins as a fishing village and it's original name that mean 'lion city'.
Day 2: Cultural Exploration
Singapore is known for it's multicultural neighbourhoods and one of the most colourful is Little India. This is the place to go for delicious restaurants, street art, temples, shopping and architecture.
Your first stops should be the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple as they are both on Serangoon Road. These beautiful and colourful hindu temples are a great way to learn about the city. On our visit, only Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was open to the public.
From Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple you can walk to the heart of Little India. This is where you can see the Tan Teng Niah house, a conserved two-storey bungalow that’s known for its psychedelic exteriors.
This house is said to be Little India’s last remaining Chinese villa, built in the 1900s by a local businessman. It features Chinese and European architectural inspiration and is now a commercial space.
We highly recommend you keep walking so you don't miss anything on the way to your next stop, the Masjid Abdul Gaffoor. This architectural standout was originally built in 1859 for the South Indian Muslim merchants. It is now regarded as one of the country’s national monuments and continues to serve the local community. Unfortunately, it is closed at the time of our visit to the nonfaithful.
We went to visit the Sultan Mosque next, a national monument in a Kampong Glam. This mosque is in a prime area to grab lunch if you didn't while in Little India. This historical and colourful street is full of Arab restaurants and gift shops.
From here you can head to Chinatown to visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple! This temple was open to the public and is a stunning place to visit.
It's time to jump back onto transit and head to Gardens By the Bay. Tonight is more of a photo opportunity and not a full exploration. If you don't want to go to Gardens By the Bay twice then consider checking out;
A river cruise
Sky Park Observation Deck
Singapore Flyer
The best time for this photo is at sunset, it is still one of the lesser known instagrammable places so you shouldn't have a problem getting a photo there.
Here is the pinned location for this photo spot. Please note, you do have to take a step in the shallow pond to get on the rock.
After getting your perfect shot then we recommend visiting the Super Trees for their light show. The futuristic avatar inspired Super Trees tower over the park. There are 18 trees total, with 12 being in the Super Tree Grove where the show is displayed. The show occurs every night at 7:45 and 8:45 pm. It is free to attend, but there is a fee if you'd like to go up them to the skywalk.
Day 3: Nature
It is possible to spend a whole day in Gardens by the Bay without spending any money, bring a picnic lunch, wander the grounds and enjoy the many viewpoints.
We recommend purchasing a bundled ticket and taking advantage of the magnificent experiences they have to offer. We choose to visit the Cloud Forest for the Avatar Experience and the Flower Dome.
Bonus: The Jewel
Singapore's airport is world famous for being a destination in itself. Even if you don't have an opportunity to explore the city itself, make the most of a layover exploring the Jewel.