For such a small country, Singapore has a lot of things to see, do, and eat. This four-day Singapore itinerary will take you all around the city, covering the most important sights.
Four days is the ideal number of days to spend in Singapore. It gives you plenty of time to explore without skipping anything. This itinerary is built for people visiting Singapore for the first time.
Could you spend five days or even a week in Singapore? Yes, it all depends on your pace. I bookended a trip to Bali with four nights in Singapore — three nights on the way in, and one on the way out. That being said, you don’t need four full days to see the city. But, it will give you time to explore the lesser-known, culturally rich neighborhoods.
For this itinerary, let’s assume four full days in the city, excluding travel days to fly in and out of the country.
Let’s get into it.
Day 1: Marina Bay + Gardens by the Bay
On the first day, you’ll explore the most popular, must-see places in Singapore: Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay.
Start your day with breakfast at Sarnies
Sarnies is an Australian-style cafe in Chinatown. If you’re fighting off jet lag, it’s a good place for an early morning breakfast, opening at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays. The portions here are huge so come hungry.
Exploring Marina Bay
Marina Bay is the sight to see in Singapore. It’s the epicenter of the city. From Sarnies, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Marina Bay. For a point of reference, put the Fullerton Bay Hotel into maps and walk there. There’s a great view of Marina Bay Sands Hotel from the Fullerton. For the rest of the morning, we’ll be making a loop around Marina Bay to see every angle of it.
Walk down the boardwalk to the Merlion
The Merlion is a half-mermaid, half-lion fountain that spurts into the bay. While the statue itself isn’t very impressive, the views around it are.
Cross the Helix Bridge
Continue your loop around the bay by heading toward the Helix Bridge. This modern bridge connects pedestrians to Marina Bay Sands, the famous hotel that looks like a boat floating in the sky.
Step into Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is a hotel, casino, and shopping destination. For a blast of AC to beat the heat, walk through Marina Bay Sands and window shop.
Marina Bay Sands is famous for its infinity pool on the top floor overlooking the city. Unfortunately, it’s only accessible to guests. For a similar view, you can go to the bar at the top of Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI Singapore.
Lunch at Lau Pa Sat
After you’ve made a loop around Marina Bay, it’s time to head back downtown for lunch at Lau Pa Sat. Lau Pa Sat is one of the most historic hawker centres in Singapore — you can tell from its colonial architecture. Taste local Singapore dishes like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and carrot cake for as little as 5 SGD.
That Planner Friend Tip: The hawker centres in Singapore don’t provide napkins, so you’ll want to bring your own if you’re a messy eater.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a must-see tourist attraction in Singapore. It’s home to Supertrees, the towering vertical gardens that look like trees from the future.
After lunch, walk back toward Marina Bay to reach Gardens by the Bay, behind Marina Bay Sands. Start your visit by going up the OCBC Skywalk in Supertree Grove to walk from Supertree to Supertree on a network of bridges. You’ll want to check this off your list before it gets dark.
After, head to The Canopy to go to the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. All these attractions require tickets that you can buy near the attractions themselves. You can expect to spend about 50 SGD during your visit on tickets.
For a full guide on your Gardens by the Bay visit, read What to Know Before Visiting Gardens by the Bay.
Dinner at Satay by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay has many food options, but the best is Satay by the Bay, a hawker centre within the gardens. Satay is grilled skewers popular in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Singapore.
Satay by the Bay serves a variety of cuisines, not just satay. Grab a bite to eat here before heading back to your hotel to sleep off the jet lag.
Day 2: Chinatown + Orchard Road
Chinatown is the most important culturally significant neighborhood in Singapore. Singapore would not be its own nation if it weren’t for the generations of Chinese immigrants who settled here. But, Chinatown isn’t all traditional temples and authentic dumplings. It has evolved into an area with trendy new restaurants and shops.
Breakfast at Glasshouse
Begin your tour of Chinatown at Glasshouse, a trendy cafe. The food here both looks and tastes good.
Go temple hopping
Chinatown is home to many temples of different faiths. After breakfast, it’s time to go temple hopping to visit: Thian Hock Keng Temple, Sri Mariamman, and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. All of these temples are free to visit.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
The first stop is the Thian Hock Keng Temple, a Taoist temple with a low-key vibe. The outdoor temple is a venerated place that isn’t as popular as the rest, making it more peaceful.
Sri Mariamman Temple
Next stop: Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest and largest Hindu temple in Singapore. The architecture and art on the outside draw you in with its bright colors and intricate details, but the inside isn’t as spectacular. If you do choose to enter, make sure to take off your shoes and grab a pashmina to cover up.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
The final stop is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the grandest of them all. The exterior and interior of the temple are very impressive, featuring pagoda-style architecture and shimmering gold statues. At the entrance, you can borrow pashminas to cover your legs and shoulders if they’re exposed.
Lunch at Chinatown Complex
Right behind the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is the sprawling Chinatown Complex. Chinatown Complex is home to a market selling Chinese goods from lanterns to spices and the biggest hawker centre in Singapore. Walk through the merchandise stalls and then grab a bite to eat here but make sure to save room for dessert.
Dessert at Birds of Paradise by Duxton Plain Park
Get a sweet treat at Birds of Paradise, a gelato shop on the outskirts of Chinatown. Birds of Paradise serves creative gelato flavors inspired by Asian ingredients like chrysanthemum, pandan, and hojicha.
The gelato shop is right next to Duxton Plain Park, an old railroad route that was converted into a pedestrian thoroughfare and park. Grab your gelato and go for a stroll.
Go to Orchard Road
If you love to shop when on vacation, or just need a break from the humid streets of Singapore, go to Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping destination. Orchard Road is a network of indoor shopping malls with luxury stores like Prada and more accessible chain stores like Zara.
Dinner at Maxwell Food Centre
For dinner, go to Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown. Maxwell is home to the most famous Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore which draws long lines. The stall is called Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice but it closes at 7:30 so make sure to visit before closing time.
I didn’t get a taste of the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice because I visited on a Monday (when it’s closed) but I did enjoy a delicious bowl of laksa from No. 1 Maxwell.
Day 3: Cultural Neighborhoods + Riverwalk
On day three, you’ll explore the north side of the city of Singapore, visiting more cultural neighborhoods and the riverwalk.
Coffee and pastries at Tiong Bahru Bakery
Is Tiong Bahru Bakery a chain? Yes, but it’s a local chain with carefully crafted pastries and good coffee. There are two locations on the north side you can visit before heading to the cultural neighborhoods, one in Fort Canning Park and another by the Raffles Hotel.
Spend the morning at Fort Canning Park
Before spending the day exploring the city, escape into nature at Fort Canning Park. Fort Canning is a hilltop park with historical gardens and lots of trees. Most of its history is tied to Singapore’s colonial past, but it’s a nice place for a morning stroll.
Stroll the streets of Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is the Muslim quarter of Singapore. There are Middle Eastern rug shops and colorful facades. You can reach Kampong Glam by walking about 30 minutes from Fort Canning Park or you can take the subway.
The walk to Kampong Glam is safe but there aren’t many sights to see until you reach the heart of the neighborhood, so unless you want to get your steps in, I recommend taking the subway.
Visit the Sultan Mosque
The Sultan Mosque is the heart of Kampong Glam. It’s situated on a palm tree-lined pedestrian street with a surprising number of Turkish restaurants. The inside isn’t worth a visit but the outside is a great photo opp.
Go to Haji Lane
After seeing the mosque, go to Haji Lane, an alley-like street with cafes, bars, and shops. Haji Lane is a bit too touristy for my liking (It’s giving 2010s millennial Instagram core) but you’ll see it on almost every Singapore blog post you read.
Explore Little India
From Kampong Glam it’s a short walk to Little India. In Little India, you’ll feel transported to a new place with people selling flowers to offer to the Hindu gods on the street and traditional gold shops on every corner. On the main street is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, an impressive Hindu temple you can visit for free.
Enjoy a Singapore Sling at The Long Bar
It’s no surprise that Singapore is home to the Singapore Sling cocktail. It was invented at The Long Bar at the famous Raffles Hotel. The cocktail bar has a colonial tropical vibe and serves free peanuts. The peanuts help soften the blow of paying 41 SGD for the famous Singapore Sling cocktail. The bar can have long wait times so make sure to visit before 4 p.m. to avoid a line.
Raffles Hotel
Since you’re already at the Raffles Hotel, take a peek into the historic hotel. Beyond its colonial history, it was featured in the rom-com Crazy Rich Asians.
Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay (pronounced key) is the most famous quay along the Singapore River. It operates more like an outdoor mall than a pier but it’s a great place to explore.
Coffee or Drinks at Swee Lee
Swee Lee is one of the coolest cafes you’ll go to. Half music shop, half coffee shop, Swee Lee is a listening bar in Clarke Quay that serves coffee and cocktails. Order a drink and listen to a vinyl record from their library on a personal set of headphones. All you need to do is sign up for a free membership to access a 30-minute listening session.
Stroll up the Riverwalk
Walk up the Riverwalk from Clarke Quay to see the Singapore River. If you’re lucky, you’ll see wild otters floating by.
Dinner at CHIJMES
Up until now, I’ve only recommended dinner at hawker centres because that’s where you can find the best food in Singapore. If you’re craving a sit-down dining experience where you can be wined and dined, grab dinner at one of the many spots at CHIJMES.
CHIJMES is an old Catholic convent that has been converted into a dining and shopping destination. Fair warning that a sit-down dinner in Singapore comes at a price, especially if you’re ordering drinks since alcohol is taxed heavily.
Day 4: Local Spots
Exploring local neighborhoods is my favorite part of any trip. We’ve saved the best for last for your Singapore itinerary. On your last day, you’ll explore Tiong Bahru, Joo Chiat, and Geylang to live like a local.
Morning stroll around Tiong Bahru
You’ll start your day close to the city center in Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore’s oldest residential neighborhoods. The neighborhood is dotted with small gift shops and bakeries on a backdrop of white Art Deco architecture. It’s a pretty place to spend the morning wandering. This neighborhood can be easily reached by subway.
Late brunch at Common Man Coffeeroasters
Hop in a car and head to brunch at Common Man Coffeeroasters in Joo Chiat. Common Man Coffeeroasters has an Australian cafe vibe with good food and coffee. It’s on the main road in Joo Chiat making it a great jumping-off point to explore the neighborhood.
Shopping in Joo Chiat
After brunch, walk down Joo Chiat Road and pop into shops like Crane that sell art, home goods, and tasteful souvenirs.
Take a photo at the Peranakan Houses
Off Joo Chiat Road on Kool Seng Road are the Peranakan Houses, a row of colorful heritage shophouses that are a symbol of Singapore.
These houses are a must-see in the neighborhood but you’ll notice many shops on Joo Chiat Road have the same beautiful architecture, so don’t forget to look up.
Dinner on Geylang Road
For your last meal in Singapore, go on a self-guided food tour of Geylang Road. You’ll start off strong at J.B. Meng Restaurant for their famous white pepper crab and san lou mee hoon which is a crispy noodle pancake. J.B. Meng is cash only so make sure to bring at least 100 SGD if you’re ordering the crab. (It won’t be that expensive but you’ll want to be safe for dinner for two).
After feasting on crab, walk down to Durian 36 to try the infamous smelly fruit. Durian has such a pungent smell that it’s not allowed on public transit or in most hotels.
The fruit is an acquired taste. To me, it tastes like overripe cantaloupe. At Durian 36 you can get a pre-sliced piece to eat at a sidewalk table.
End your food tour at Haig Road Putu Piring at the Haig Road Market & Food Centre. Putu Piring is a sweet treat of steamed rice flour filled with palm sugar. It’s the perfect sweet finish to your trip to Singapore.
Planning a trip to Singapore? Check out more Singapore guides.
More Singapore guides
The Ultimate Guide to Singapore
Reply