Singapore may be a small country, but it’s a big city filled with things to do. Many travelers only stop in Singapore for a layover before jet-setting to other destinations in Southeast Asia. But, Singapore deserves its own three-day itinerary to explore the culturally rich, modern city.
Three days is the perfect number of days to see the must-see sights of the city and dive deep into cultural neighborhoods. To make the most out of your three days, this itinerary will be jam-packed with sights, food tours, and neighborhood walks.
This three-day Singapore itinerary excludes any time for flying in and out of the country, accounting for three full days of exploring. If you’re using this itinerary to plan your trip, Chinatown is the best neighborhood to stay in because it’s easily accessible to all the breakfast and dinner recommendations.
Let’s get into it.
Day 1: Chinatown + Gardens by the Bay
We’ll start your first day in Singapore with an introduction to the most culturally significant neighborhood in the city and finish it by visiting the most popular tourist attraction that needs to be checked off your bucket list.
Breakfast at Glasshouse
Begin your day at Glasshouse in Chinatown. This trendy cafe serves food that both looks good and tastes good. The matcha and coffee were especially delicious.
Go temple hopping in Chinatown
The best way to see Chinatown is by hopping between its many temples. On a self-guided temple-hopping through Chinatown, you’ll visit Thian Hock Keng Temple, Sri Mariamman, and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which are all free to enter.
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.
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. From Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay is a quick subway ride on the Thomson East Coast Line (TE) or a 35-minute walk.
Start your visit at Gardens by the Bay 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 on tickets during your visit.
Read What to Know Before Visiting Gardens by the Bay for a full guide to the park.
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.
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.
Day 2: Cultural Neighborhoods + Riverwalk + Marina Bay
We’ll spend most of your second day in Singapore exploring everything around and north of the Singapore River starting with cultural neighborhoods. But, first, fill up at an Aussie breakfast spot in Chinatown.
Breakfast at Sarnies
Start your day at Sarnies, an Australian-style cafe in Chinatown. It’s the perfect place to fill up on big breakfast plates to fuel you through this jam-packed day.
Stroll the streets of Kampong Glam
After breakfast, start your cultural neighborhood tour in Kampong Glam, the Muslim quarter of Singapore. Kampong Glam is home to Middle Eastern rug shops and colorful facades.
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
After exploring Little India, it’s time for a drink in the Raffles area. 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.
Hungry for more than peanuts? Go to CHIJMES, a beautiful Catholic convent that has been converted into a mall with dining options.
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.
Walk down the Riverwalk
Next up: the Riverwalk. Along the Singapore River, you’ll pass many quays (pronounced keys) like Boat Quay, Robertson Quay, and Clarke Quay. While walking by the river be on the lookout for wild river otters floating by.
Coffee or Drinks at Swee Lee in Clarke Quay
The colorful Clarke Quay is the most popular of the quays along the river. Within Clarke Quay is Swee Lee, 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 coffees 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.
Marina Bay and the Merlion
The end of the riverwalk will bring you to Marina Bay, the most popular vista in Singapore. One of the best views of the city is at the Merlion, a fountain that is half mermaid, half lion. While the Merlion itself isn’t that impressive, it’s a great place for views of Marina Bay.
Marina Bay Sands
Across the bay from the Merlion is Marina Bay Sands, the famous hotel that looks like a boat sailing in the sky. You can do a loop around Marina Bay to reach Marina Bay Sands and get more epic views of the city.
Marina Bay Sands is famous for a guest-only infinity pool on its rooftop. While you can’t visit the cool, you can visit CÉ LA VI Singapore, a bar on the top floor with similar views. The street-level entrance of Marina Bay Sands is open for anyone to visit the many luxury shops or the casino.
That Planner Friend Tip: Marina Bay Sands is a great place for a pit stop to use the restroom in the area.
Dinner at Lau Pa Sat
After you made a loop around Marina Bay, it’s time to head downtown for dinner at Lau Pa Sat, one of the most historic hawker centres in Singapore. Taste local Singapore dishes like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and carrot cake.
Day 3: Local Spots
On your final day in Singapore, you’ll explore the residential, local spots that Singaporeans get to enjoy every day.
A morning stroll in Tiong Bahru
Start your day near the city center by wandering around Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore’s oldest residential neighborhoods. For a morning coffee visit the original Tiong Bahru Bakery in the center of the neighborhood.
By exploring the neighborhood you’ll find its distinctive Art Deco architecture, small gift shops, and the local hawker centre market. A walk around Tiong Bahru is a peaceful way to start your day.
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.
Going to Singapore for more than three days? Check out this 4-day Singapore itinerary.
More Singapore guides
The Ultimate Guide to Singapore
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