3 days in Singapore: a simple plan for first-timers

Three days is enough to see the best of Singapore without rushing. This plan keeps the walking for the cooler morning and evening, puts the free light shows in the evening, and leaves room for food. Swap the days around as you like.

Day 1: Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay

• Morning: walk along the bay from the Merlion to the Esplanade and the Helix Bridge, with the Marina Bay Sands towers in front of you.
• Afternoon: Gardens by the Bay. The outdoor gardens and the Supertree Grove are free; the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, two cool glass domes, need a ticket and make a good escape from the heat.
• Evening: stay for Garden Rhapsody, the free light and music show at the Supertrees at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm. Then walk to the Event Plaza in front of Marina Bay Sands for Spectra, the free water and light show at 8 pm and 9 pm (also 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
• Dinner: satay at Lau Pa Sat, where the street outside fills with satay stalls in the evening.

• Gardens by the Bay & Marina Bay Day Walk: Supertrees, garden trails, the Helix Bridge and the best skyline views — Singapore’s “city in a garden” by day. (3 hours, from S$61 per adult, S$41 per child)
• Marina Bay & Gardens Night Tour: City lights, the Merlion and the evening light show in the Gardens. (3 h 30 min, from S$65 per adult, S$45 per child)
• Gardens by the Bay: Flower Dome & Cloud Forest Ticket: Entry to both domes at Gardens by the Bay: the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. E-ticket by email. (entry ticket, from S$46 per adult, S$32 per child)

Day 2: Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam

• Morning: Chinatown. See the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple (the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore) and the old shophouse streets.
• Lunch: Maxwell Food Centre, home of some of the most famous chicken rice in Singapore.
• Afternoon: Little India, with its spice shops, flower garland stalls and the colourful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, then Kampong Glam for the golden-domed Sultan Mosque and the small shops of Haji Lane.
• Evening: the Night Safari, the world-famous zoo for night animals, best reached by car or taxi.

Tip: Temples and mosques ask you to cover your shoulders and knees. Carry a light scarf or wear long trousers or a long skirt.

• Chinatown & Little India Heritage Walk: Temples, shophouses and hawker bites across two of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods. (4 hours, from S$85 per adult, S$60 per child)
• Kampong Glam & Arab Street Discovery: Golden domes, textile shops and street art in Singapore’s Malay-Muslim quarter. (2 h 30 min, from S$65 per adult, S$45 per child)
• Hawker Food Trail: Maxwell to Lau Pa Sat: Eat your way through Singapore’s UNESCO-listed hawker culture with a local foodie. (3 hours, from S$103 per adult, S$72 per child)
• Night Safari by Private Car: Hotel Return Transfer: Skip the taxi queue at midnight: a licensed driver-guide drives you to the Night Safari, waits while you explore, and brings you back to your hotel. (5 hours, S$188 per group of up to 4 guests, private car included)

Day 3: choose your day

• Families: Sentosa, with Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Oceanarium and the beaches.
• Nature: the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the National Orchid Garden, then lunch and shopping on Orchard Road.
• Food and culture: Katong and Joo Chiat, for pastel Peranakan houses, laksa and kueh.
• See it all: a full-day tour round the island by private car, with a licensed driver-guide and hotel pickup.

• Full-Day Round-Island Tour by Car: One day, the whole island: city icons, the Peranakan houses of Katong, East Coast, Changi Village and Gardens by the Bay — by private car. (8 hours, S$528 per group of up to 4 guests, private car included)
• Universal Studios Singapore One-Day Ticket: One-day entry to Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa, on the date you choose. E-ticket by email. (entry ticket, from S$86 per adult, S$64 per child)
• Singapore Botanic Gardens & Orchid Garden Walk: Walk through Singapore’s UNESCO World Heritage garden, its old rainforest and the world’s largest display of tropical orchids. (2 h 30 min, from S$51 per adult, S$30 per child)
• Katong & Joo Chiat Peranakan Food & Heritage Walk: Pastel Peranakan houses, Nyonya kueh and a bowl of Katong laksa in Singapore’s charming east. (3 hours, from S$93 per adult, S$61 per child)

Arriving and leaving

Give yourself time at Jewel, the shopping and garden dome at Terminal 1, before your flight home: its Rain Vortex is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, with a free light show in the evening. For getting to and from the airport, see our Changi Airport to the city guide.

Tips for a good trip

• It is hot and humid all year, about 25 to 33 °C. Plan walks for the morning and evening, and keep the middle of the day for indoor places.
• Short, heavy showers are common in the afternoon. Carry a small umbrella.
• Getting around is easy: tap a contactless bank card on the MRT and buses. Taxis and ride apps are cheap for short trips.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Before you fly, fill in the free SG Arrival Card on the official ICA website or app, within 3 days before you arrive.

Tip: Want a plan made for you? Tell us what you like and a licensed guide plans a custom tour with a price.

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough for Singapore?

Yes. Three days is enough for Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay, the old quarters of Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, plenty of hawker food, and one day for Sentosa, the zoo or nature.

What are the free things to do in Singapore?

The Supertree Grove and the Garden Rhapsody light show, the Spectra show at Marina Bay Sands, the Merlion, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the temples of Chinatown and Little India, and Jewel at Changi Airport.

Do I need a guide?

Not for getting around, but a licensed guide tells you the stories behind the places, takes you to the right food stalls and saves time. A private car tour is the easiest way to see a lot in one day.