A lot of people think Singapore is so small that you can see everything in one day. Come here and you’ll realise how much we actually squeeze in. Tall buildings right next to temples, patches of green right in the city, and food everywhere you turn.
Because it’s all close together, you can pack a lot into one trip. Maybe a slow morning at the beach. After lunch, a wander around a museum. By evening, you’re at a hawker centre – plastic chair, noisy fans, eating a hot bowl of laksa like everyone else.
If you’re visiting, here’s how I’d plan it for friends:
- 3 days if you just want to cover the big stuff.
- 5 days if you want a bit more time to eat and soak in the culture.
- 7 days? Then take your time. Mix in the big sights with a few quieter spots.
See what fits your style. Treat it like a rough plan, not a checklist.
Best Time to Plan Your Singapore Itinerary
There isn’t a bad time to come. Our weather doesn’t really change much… it’s warm, a bit humid, and sometimes it rains out of nowhere.
If you prefer cooler and drier days, February to April is usually more comfortable.
June to August gets busy with the Great Singapore Sale, and September is when the Formula 1 race takes over the city.
November to January tends to see more rain. On the bright side, that’s also when Orchard Road goes all out with Christmas lights and there are countdown events everywhere.
Around late January or February, Chinese New Year comes in. For a couple of days some shops and eateries close, and the popular spots can feel packed. If you enjoy the festive buzz, it’s quite fun to be here, just sort out your hotel early.
So, just plan around what you like: quieter weekdays, big events, or the shopping season. Either way, the city’s always easy to explore.
3-Day Singapore Itinerary – Quick Highlights for a First Visit
Only here for three days? This is how I’d do it if a friend came to visit… big sights on the first day, a bit of culture on the second, and Sentosa on the third.
Day 1 – Marina Bay and the City Skyline
Start right in the middle of town. Walk a loop around the bay. Snap a photo with the Merlion because, why not.
When it gets too hot, just pop inside Marina Bay Sands as there’s an art museum and a giant mall there to cool off.
By late afternoon, cross the bridge to Gardens by the Bay.
That place with the glass domes. Go slow. Stay till it gets dark – the trees there light up at night and the music makes it feel like another world.
Day 2 – Culture and Food
This one’s for neighbourhood hopping.
- Chinatown first. Temples, narrow streets, and my go-to food stop is Maxwell Food Centre.
- Next, Little India. Loud colours, spices in the air, shops everywhere. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is right along the main road – hard to miss.
- End off at Kampong Glam. There’s a huge golden dome (Sultan Mosque) and if you turn into Haji Lane, the walls are covered with murals and tiny cafés.
At night, if you still feel like walking, Clarke Quay has plenty of places by the water to sit down for dinner or a drink.
Day 3 – Sentosa Island
This day is all about fun. Take the monorail or cable car over.
If you love rides, Universal Studios can fill the whole day. If not, you can mix it up – check out the aquarium in the morning, chill by the beach after, and hang around for SkyHelix or the Wings of Time show before heading back.
5-Day Singapore Itinerary – Eat More, Walk More, See a Bit More
Five days is just nice. Enough time to breathe a bit, eat more, and see a few corners of Singapore that one weekend can’t cover.
Day 1 – Katong and Joo Chiat
Skip town for a bit and head east. This area is full of old Peranakan shophouses – pastel walls, patterned tiles, those narrow walkways that always smell faintly of bread and curry.
I usually just stroll without a plan. If you see a long queue at a bakery, join it. The curry puffs here are worth the calories. Stop at a kopitiam (local coffee shop) for kopi or teh, and when lunch rolls around, try the Katong laksa.
People here will argue about which stall is the “real” one. Just pick the one with the most aunties and uncles eating inside.
Day 2 – Marina Bay and the City
This is your “tourist day” but it’s worth it. Walk the bay, snap a photo with the Merlion (everyone does it). If it’s blazing hot, hide inside the mall under Marina Bay Sands for a bit – good air-con, clean toilets, and there’s a food court if you’re hungry.
By late afternoon, head across to Gardens by the Bay. The glass domes are a nice cool break. My tip? Don’t rush. Wait for night to fall because when the Supertrees light up and the music starts, it’s one of those goosebump moments.
Day 3 – Chinatown
Don’t just breeze through Chinatown. Go slow. Peek into the temples, pick up a cold sugarcane juice from a stall, and walk into the side lanes – lots of random little shops selling everything from paper fans to herbs.
When you’re hungry, Maxwell Food Centre is nearby. Get chicken rice if you haven’t had it yet. Add carrot cake (it’s savoury, not dessert) and a cup of lime juice. If you see a long queue at Tian Tian Chicken Rice, that’s the famous one.
Recommended Hotels In Singapore
NO.1
Day 4 – Botanic Gardens and Orchard Road
Morning at the Botanic Gardens is one of those rare quiet city moments. You’ll see joggers, families with kids, sometimes even an otter if you’re lucky.
After that, take the MRT to Orchard. You can shop, sure, but I like to dip into the malls for air-con and snacks. Look for basement food courts – the Japanese ones always have good mochi and soft serve ice cream.
Day 5 – Sentosa and Clarke Quay
Half a day at Sentosa is enough unless you’re a big theme park person. Personally, I like taking the cable car just for the view. Once you’re there, you can do the aquarium or just sit on Palawan Beach with a cold drink.
Head back into the city around late afternoon. Clarke Quay is nice in the evening – breezy, a bit loud, but good energy.
Pick a table by the river, order satay or chilli crab if you want a splurge, and end your trip watching the boats drift past.
7-Day Singapore Itinerary – Slow and Steady
Seven days here? Shiok. No need to chiong.
You can do the big attractions first, then slowly wander – grab kopi, eat whenever you see something good, and still have time to just sit somewhere and people-watch.
Day 1 – Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay
Morning to afternoon: Start with the city centre. Drop your bags and head straight to Marina Bay. Walk the loop around the water – the skyline hits you from every angle. Snap the classic Merlion photo.
If the sun gets too much, hide inside Marina Bay Sands for a while. Air-con, food court, clean toilets, even the ArtScience Museum if you feel like seeing something indoors.
Late afternoon to evening: Walk across the bridge into Gardens by the Bay. Go into the Cloud Forest dome first; that indoor waterfall hits you with a cool mist. Then the Flower Dome.
Once the sky turns dark, stay for the Supertree light and sound show. Just lie back on the grass and watch – it’s short but really something.
Day 2 – Sentosa
Morning: Take the MRT to HarbourFront, then either the monorail or the cable car (I like the cable car for the view).
If you like aquariums, start with the S.E.A. Aquarium. If rides are more your style, don’t bother with anything else – head straight to Universal Studios and spend your morning there.
Afternoon: After lunch, slow it down. The island is easy to get around – lots of shade, and plenty of places to just sit with a drink when the heat kicks in. Some people hop between attractions, others just find a spot and let the day drift by.
Evening: Stay for Wings of Time, an outdoor light show by the sea. If you’d rather not, head back early and have dinner at VivoCity – plenty of food options before you return to the city.
Day 3 – Little India and Kampong Glam
Morning: My mornings in Little India usually begin at Tekka Centre – nothing fancy, just prata with curry or a plate of biryani if I’m feeling greedy. From there, I like to walk out to Serangoon Road. It’s lively all the time; the air smells like spice and incense, and the colours hit you before anything else. Along the way, there’s a temple with a tower covered in hundreds of carvings – you can’t miss it.
Afternoon: When you’re ready to move on, Kampong Glam is just nearby. The golden dome of Sultan Mosque peeks out above the shophouses – that’s how you know you’re close. I usually sit on the steps outside for a while, then wander into Haji Lane. That area is full of murals, tiny boutiques and cafes.
Evening: Bugis Junction is just nearby – grab dinner there if you want something indoors and air-conditioned after a full day of walking.
Buy Cheap Singapore eSIM
Day 4 – Pulau Ubin Day Trip
Morning: Head to Changi Point Ferry Terminal (best to take a cab). Take the bumboat across to Pulau Ubin – it’s just ten minutes. Bring cash. Rent a bike when you land.
Afternoon: Once you’ve rented a bike, don’t rush. The paths here are rough, with wooden houses and old fruit trees on both sides. Ride out to Chek Jawa if the weather’s good.
There’s a simple boardwalk where mudskippers flop around, crabs hide under roots, and once in a while a wild boar wanders past like it owns the place.
Evening: By late afternoon, head back to the jetty. Boats run till evening but five o’clock is a good time. Just beside the ferry point is Changi Village hawker centre – go straight for nasi lemak. Crispy chicken, coconut rice, sambal that bites a little.
Day 5 – Chinatown and a Hawker Crawl
Morning: Start at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The main hall is worth a slow look. Walk along the market streets after – small shops, lots of souvenirs, and good photo spots.
Lunch: Go to Maxwell Food Centre. Queue for Tian Tian Chicken Rice if you want the famous one, but honestly, most stalls there are solid.
Afternoon: Explore Telok Ayer Street nearby. It has old temples next to modern cafes. If you need a break, find a coffee place. Ann Siang Hill has a park with shady steps where you can just sit down.
Evening: Around 7pm, head to Lau Pa Sat. At night they close off the side street and fill it with satay stalls. Smoke everywhere, smells amazing. Order a few sticks and an ice-cold drink.
Day 6 – Tiong Bahru and East Coast Park
Morning: Tiong Bahru has an old soul. Low-rise blocks, a mix of hip cafés and old shops that haven’t changed in decades. I usually grab a coffee and something from Tiong Bahru Bakery, then just stroll – no plan, just looking around.
Afternoon: After lunch, a quick cab takes you to East Coast Park. The whole stretch runs along the sea. Rent a bike if you feel like it, or just walk. You’ll pass big shady trees, families barbecuing, kids wobbling on their first bicycles. It’s breezy most of the time.
Evening: Finish at East Coast Lagoon Food Village. Dinner here is messy and good – sambal stingray, BBQ chicken wings, sugarcane juice. If you feel like it, order chilli crab and dig in.
Day 7 – Orchard, Museums and Marina Barrage Sunset
Morning: Orchard Road for your last day. If you like shopping, this is the place. If not, find a cafe and sit. Malls here open early – people-watch and enjoy the air-con.
Afternoon: Later on, head over to the Civic District. The National Gallery and the Asian Civilisations Museum are both close by. Choose one, wander slowly, enjoy the cool indoors.
Evening: End your trip at Marina Barrage. Marina Barrage is where people go to catch the breeze. Families bring kites, couples bring snacks.
If you come before sunset, you’ll still see the sky turn orange, and by the time the city lights up, you’ve already got the best seat in the house – just sitting on the grass watching it all change.
Top Things To do In Singapore
This Singapore Itinerary Is Just a Starting Point
That’s one way to spend a week in Singapore. Of course, you don’t need to follow it to the letter – half the fun here is just wandering off when you see something interesting.
Some days you’ll end up eating more than planned. Some nights you’ll find yourself sitting by the water longer than you thought. That’s part of what makes this place nice – everything is close, so you can go with the flow.
So take your time, bring an empty stomach, and enjoy the mix of city and nature, old and new. By the time you leave, you’ll probably realise that a tiny island can keep you busy for quite a while.