If you plan on spending a few days in Singapore and want to make the most of it, here’s the best three days itinerary in Singapore.
From the futuristic Gardens by the Bay, to Chinatown and Little India, including the incredible Marina Bay, I’ll show you the ultimate circuit around the city. If you need a longer itinerary, I’ll also indicate which activities and sightseeing can be added when coming for a few more days.
I also made an article about everything to know before coming to Singapore, you can find it here.
Moving on to this itinerary !
- Day One – Traditional Singapore : Little India, Chinatown, Arab Street, Botanic Garden
- Day Two – Futuristic Singapore : Marina Bay, Art Science Museum, Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
- Day Three – Off the beaten path : CapitaSpring, Raffles Hotel, Old Hill Street Police Station, Fort Canning Park, East Course Park
Day One
Start your first day by exploring the traditional side of Singapore. Almost everything can be done by foot, or by taking the MRT.
Circuit : 1h30 of walk, then take the MRT to the Botanic Gardens (20 minutes journey)
First stop of the day : Little India.
Little India is a colorful neighborhood reflecting the rich culture and heritage of the Indian community in Singapore. It is famous for its vibrant streets and murals, aromatic spice shops, and traditional temples, as well as cultural festivals, such as Deepavali, where the streets come alive with lights and decorations.
Here are the must-see in Little India :
- Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a 1927 Buddhist temple famous for its massive Buddha statue, also known as the “Temple of 1,000 Lights.
Entrance fee : Free
Opening hours : Everyday from 8am to 4:30pm
- Mustafa Centre is a huge shopping mall built in 1973. Here you can find absolutely everything from spices to electronics, including groceries.
Opening hours : Previously open 24/7, it is now open from 9:30am to 2am daily since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, was built in 1881 by Indian immigrants who worshipped the goddess Kali.
Entrance fee : Free
Opening hours : Everyday from 5:30am to 12pm, and from 5pm to 9pm
- Tekka Centre for shopping and for the delicious local food.
Opening hours : Open daily from 6:30am to 9pm
- The Indian Heritage Centre is a cultural institution showcasing the heritage and histrory of the Indian community in Singapore.
Entrance fee : Free for Singaporean, 8 SGD for adults (5,5€) and 5 SGD (3,45€) for students and 60+ years old).
Opening hours : Closed on Mondays. From 10am to 6pm every other day.
Take some time to stroll in the streets of Little India, there are many street vendors and murals that are worth the detour :
Arab Street is a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood known for being the hub of Middle Eastern culture and cuisine.
Here are the must-see in Arab Street :
- Sultan Mosque, built in 1824, is an iconic mosque, known for its majestic golden dome, and is able to host 5000 worshippers.
Opening hours : Closed on Sundays. Open every other day from 9am to 5:30pm
- The numerous carpets and textiles boutiques,
- Haji Lane, a creative and trendy street with colorful street art, cute cafés, unique shops, vintage fashion and many photobooth :
Chinatown is a lively, historic neighborhood rich in Chinese culture and heritage. Don’t miss Singapore’s Chinatown because it has beautiful murals, great food, and a nice atmosphere.
Here are the must-see in Chinatown :
- Sri Mariamman Temple is the city’s oldest Hindu temple, established in 1827. Dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, it is known for its striking tower adorned with vibrant sculptures. Make sure to walk in the adjacent little streets to see the beautiful murals.
Opening hours : Everyday from 6am to 12pm and from 6pm to 9pm
- Chinatown Street Market is a lively area filled with stalls selling souvenirs, traditional goods, and street food. It’s also a nice spot to experience local culture and cuisine :
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a prominent Buddhist temple renowned for its striking architecture and its display of a sacred relic believed to be a tooth of the Buddha.
- Maxwell Food Centre is a popular hawker center in Singapore’s Chinatown, known for its wide variety of affordable and delicious local dishes. Opened in 1986, it is a go-to spot for both locals and tourists craving classic Singaporean dishes, including famous stalls like Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
- Thian Hock Keng Temple is a taoist temple built in 1839 dedicated to the Taoist goddess of the sea.
- Lau Pa Sat : Lau Pa Sat is a historic hawker center, originally built in the 19th century as a market for fresh produce. It is known for its Victorian architecture and unique octagonal design. I find it to be the best food court in Singapore, it has a lot of amazing food options, and is famous for its satay street. Vendors set up in the evenings to serve grilled skewers in an open-air setting. Personally, I would recommend Lion City Dim Sum stall (see third picture below), for their amazing baos (the sweet custard one is also delicious !).
End your day by taking the MRT to visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
It is a beautiful, large park in the city, known for its lush greenery and diverse plant life. Established in 1859, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with highlights like the stunning Orchid Garden (home to over 1000 species of orchids), a peaceful lake, and a tropical rainforest. It’s a great spot to relax and enjoy nature, right in the heart of Singapore.
Entrance fee : The park is free, but the entry to the National Orchid Garden is 5 SGD (3,45€) for adults and 1 SGD (0,7€) for students.
Opening hours : The gardens are open daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
Day Two
This second day is all about discovering the impressive, futuristic and modern Singapore.
Circuit : 50 minutes walk
Start of your day at the Merlion, Singapore’s symbol. This statue completed in 1972, featuring the head of a lion and the body of a fish, symbolizes Singapore’s history as a fishing village and its strength and courage.
Next, you’ll see, Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay which is an art complex hosting a wide range of art performances such as concerts, theater, dance and opera. You will easily spot it with its distinctive durian-shape design. The two large domes are covered with thousands of triangular to mimic the spiky shell of the tropical fruit. By using this design, the building connects to local culture and traditions while standing out as a modern architectural piece. Plus, the shape helps with natural ventilation and shading, making the building more functional.
Check out the official website for the programmation if you are interested to attend an event.
Now take the Helix Bridge to get to Marina Bay. This stunning pedestrian bridge with a double-helix design is inspired by DNA and lights up beautifully at night.
First stop of the day will be the Marina Bay. It is a dynamic waterfront area renowned for its stunning skyline and iconic landmarks. It offers a mix of modern architecture, luxury shopping and a pleasant waterfront promenade.
Make sure to also take a stroll at night it is beautiful :
It features the futuristic Marina Bay Sands resort with its three interconnected towers topped by an oservation deck that offers panoramic views of the city and the famous rooftop infinity pool. The resort also features a high-end casino, an extensive shopping mall, and a variety of dining options.
The promenade makes also for a nice stroll under the palm trees and facing the marina :
The area is also known for its impressive ArtScience Museum (right next to the pond with the water lilies) and the scenic Gardens by the Bay with its futuristic Supertree Grove.
The ArtScience Museum is a unique, lotus-shaped building that hosts a range exhibitions blending art, science, and technology.
The building itself is really worth seeing, but the exhibition I would say are a bit pricy for the time you will spend there. It is a great activity to do with kids.
Entrance fee : 30 SGD (20€) for adults for the Future World exhibit.
Opening hours : Everyday from 10am to 7pm
Moving on to the next spot : the famous Gardens by the Bay ! It is a wonderful park blending nature and technology.
The futuristic Supertrees are towering vertical gardens, using solar panels and rainwater systems. It is a really ingenious system : by day, they support diverse plants, and by night, they light up to offer a vibrant show. This show starts everyday at 7:45pm and 8:45pm and it is free to attend.
The park also features many themed gardens, the Flower Dome, showcasing flowers from around the world, and the Cloud Forest, an indoor lush garden with an impressive waterfall.
The Cloud Forest is an indoor garden with a massive, foggy mountain and an amazing waterfall that flows down its side. You can stroll among lush, high-altitude plants, walk along the misty Cloud Walk, and enjoy great views from the Flower Dome.
In my opinion this is the best paid attraction in Singapore, the atmosphere is really unique and the vegetation is absolutely beautiful. So if you only want to pay for one activity, this should be the one !
Entrance fee : Combo ticket for both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome was 22€ on Headout.com for adults (it’s more interesting than to book on the official website of at the entrance).
Opening hours : Everyday from 9am to 9pm
Here are a small selection of flowers you will encounter :
Right next to the Cloud Forest is the Flower Dome. It is a beautiful indoor space filled with colorful, blooming flowers from around the world. You can wander through different themed gardens (Japanese, Méditerranean) and see seasonal blooms like cherry blossoms and tulips.
Entrance fee : Combo ticket for both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome was 22€ on Headout.com for adults (it’s more interesting than to book on the official website of at the entrance).
Opening hours : Everyday from 9am to 9pm
To end the day beautifully, head to one of the rooftop bars of Marina Bay Sands. The view alone is worth it. Try to get there around 6:30pm so you can enjoy the sunset and then see the city lighting up. CéLaVi has become quite famous so the prices are more expensive, but it is still more interesting than paying the entrance fee of the Observatory deck.
My two favorite options are :
- Spago : There is always room so you can get a drink (juices are 8 SGD, so with the taxes, it will round up to 11€) without having to wait and you can take in the views from both sides of the Marina Bay Sands. Plus, you can also see the infinity pool from this place.
- Lavo : You can get only a drink or snacks here as well and enjoy the beautiful panoramic view. But this one is very often fully booked for sunset.
Look at the amazing panorama for sunset :
And then at night :
Day Three
For this last day, I’ll suggest a circuit to see the less known places of Singapore but that are totally worth to spend a day.
Circuit : 30 minute walk, then you can either take the MRT for East Coast Park or walk an additional 30 minutes.
CapitaSpring is a 280-meter tall skyscraper completed in 2022, featuring sate-of-the-art architecture with a curved glass facade and impressive greenery. It has office spaces, retail areas, stunning public gardens including a rooftop park with great city views.
This is really worth going to admire the unique architecture and the view over the city.
Entrance fee : Free but you have to book a slot on here beforehand.
Opening hours : Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 10:30am and from 2:30pm to 6pm
Take time to explore the architecture in this district because a lot of buildings are unique and very modern :
The Old Hill Street Police Station is a former police station building with rainbow-hued windows. It now houses government offices but remains an attraction for its colorful facade.
Fort Canning Park is a 24/7 historic and scenic green area. It has beautiful gardens and interesting spots like the Fort Gate and the Battlebox (an old underground military site).
Funan is a massive shopping mall in Singapore, boasting numerous cutting-edge tech stores, a climbing wall, and, most importantly, a rooftop terrace offering stunning city views, all accessible via the mall’s elevators or escalators.
Raffles Hotel is a historic and luxurious hotel known for its elegant colonial architecture and rich heritage. Even though you are not a guest there, the public areas such as the beautiful courtyard can be visited freely.
Opening hours : Everyday from 10am to 10pm
Head to East Coast Park to end your final day perfectly.. It is a popular seaside spot great for outdoor activities. Along the coast, you’ll find cycling and jogging paths, barbecue pits, picnic areas, and sandy beaches. You can do water sports, chill by the sea, or grab a bite at various food stalls.
When going to East Coast Park, take a small detour to Katong and Joo Chiat Road. This neighborhood is known for its rich Peranakan heritage, colonial bungalowns ad colorful shophouses. ,
Of course, when leaving, you HAVE to make a detour to the Jewel at Changi Airport. This is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery and a lot of benches to take a break and enjoy the area.
The Jewel is right at the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 1.
Take also some time before your flight to wander in the best airport of the world. Here’s a list of everything you can do there.
If you plan on spending another day of two in Singapore, here are some other popular spots that I decided to not do because it’s either far away or too crowded for my taste :
- Sentosa island : This island resort is connected to the city by road, cable car, monorail or you can even take a pedestrian boardwalk to get there. There’a a waterpark, many beaches (like Palawan Beach or Tanjong beach), a golf club, and of course the Universal Studios. Personnally, I find the area to be too touristy and it’s not the authentic vibe I’m looking for when visiting a country.
- Universal studios : This theme park located on Sentosa Island opened in 2010 and is the only Universal Studios in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it attracts millions of visitors annually with its movie-themed attractions, rides, and shows.
Entrance fee : 57€ for adults, 42€ for kids
Opening hours : Everyday from 10am to 7pm (8pm in Fridays)
- Mac ritchie reservoir : Singapore’s oldest reservoir (1868) offers scenic hiking trails, a treetop walk, and kayaking. This place creates a perfect escape from the city bustle. You can encounter birds and monkeys to add to the charm of the lush greenery. This reservoir, playing a key role in the city’s water supply, is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature.
And that wraps up my three days itinerary in Singapore !
It is truly a futuristic and unique city, in three days you get a really good feel of Singapore and can do a lot ! If you plan one going for a only one or two days (as a layover), it’s totally possible to do this itinerary in 1,5 days but expect to walk around 15 to 20km a day !
If you need a personalized itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll find you the best accommodations, flights and itinerary !
