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Singapore may be the smallest country in Southeast Asia, nevertheless, it’s a destination unlike anywhere else in the world. That’s why I created this Singapore travel guide which includes the best 3-day Singapore itinerary.
Singapore has a colorful blend of cultures, a great vibe, and there are lots of incredible places to visit. From wandering around the Gardens by the Bay, exploring the street art in colorful Haji Lane, to spending a night in the iconic Marina Bay Sands. And while many people are visiting Singapore during a short stopover on their way to another destination in Asia or Australia, I highly recommend staying a couple of days.
READ ALSO: The best 5-day Tokyo itinerary – Tokyo guide
Before you go to Singapore
Visa requirements for Singapore
Most people don’t need to apply for a visa to enter Singapore and then can stay from 30 to 90 days, depending on the country of origin. You can use the iVisa checker below to see if you need a visa or not, and if needed, it will show you all the options.
Please note: visa requirements keep changing for every country. Please make sure you check all visa and passport requirements in your own country before booking your tickets.
Electricity in Singapore
In Singapore, the power plugs and sockets are of type G with a standard voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 50 Hz. During my stay in Singapore, I used the Skross World Adapter which was perfect to charge all my gear.
Useful apps to download
- Booking.com – my most favorite app to find accommodations worldwide
- Maps.me – the best offline mapping app on the planet. Download the map, choose your route, save favorite places, and explore the country without using the internet. (money saver!)
- Currency XE – calculates currencies on the go. With the app, you can access live exchange rates and calculate prices on your smartphone super easily.
- HappyCow – my favorite app to find the best vegan & vegetarian food around you.
- ChangiRecommends – the Singapore tourist app for finding the best information about attractions, deals, sightseeing, and more.
- Popcorn – an amazing app to find the best movies and cinema theatres in case of rainy days.
- Not really an app, but the ebooks of Lonely Planet need to be highlighted too. The ebooks are an easy, quick, and cheap way to carry almost every Lonely Planet guidebook in your pocket. From destination tips, beautiful images to road trip routes, you’ll find everything to get the most out of your trip.
How to get to Singapore
Flights to Singapore
Changi Airport is the main airport in Singapore and has been awarded the best airport globally. It’s also one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia, which means you can take frequent flights to and from Singapore worldwide.
I personally love to book my flights with Qatar Airways or I use a search platform like Kiwi and Skyscanner because it’s easy to search and compare tickets from all different airlines in the world.
Bus to Singapore
Instead of flying, you can also consider taking a comfortable bus from Malaysia to Singapore. There are daily and direct buses from Kuala Lumpur or either Melaka to Singapore and the price for the bus tickets is between 17 SGD ($12/€10) and 25 SGD($18/€15) per person.
I went to Kuala Lumpur after my trip to Singapore and the journey took me around 6,5 hours. Super comfortable, huge (they call it VIP) seats, and with air-conditioning on board.
From Singapore airport to the city center
Once you arrive at Changi airport, there are different ways of transport to go to the city center. You can either taxi a taxi (around 25 SGD or $18/€15 and it takes 25-30 minutes), the public bus (around 2.50 SGD or $1.80/€1.5 and it takes about 1,5 hours) or the MRT train where I opted for. (around 2 SGD or $1.50/€1.25 and it takes about 30 minutes) To take the MRT train, you just need to follow the signs “train to the city” at the arrival hall to reach the station.
Every 2-5 minutes there is a new train departing. You buy your tickets at one of the ticketing machines and you need to change one time the train. Super easy and quick!
Best time to visit Singapore
Short and powerful answer: any time of the year! Singapore has a warm, tropical climate all year round with day temperatures averaging around 31°C and it can rain anytime. There are no real dry and wet seasons, although there are two different monsoons.
The Northeast monsoon: December – March
During these months you can expect more rainfall than other months in the year, with December as the wettest month. (if you’re not a fan of rain, better to avoid this month) January is the coolest month with an average temperature between 24-29°C. (pleasant to visit)
The Southwest monsoon: June – September
During these months rain usually falls in the morning and lasts about 30 minutes. (I visited Singapore in August and had no rain at all)
In a nutshell: no matter when you visit Singapore, bringing an umbrella is recommended and overall the best time to visit Singapore is between February and April.
Where to stay in Singapore
Staying in Singapore can be very expensive but depending on when you start planning your trip, it still can be possible to enjoy this amazing city on a budget.
I stayed at Tiong Bahru, a more residential neighborhood close to Chinatown, where I booked a shared dorm room in Thad’s Boutique Hostel. I paid $27 or €22 per person/night incl breakfast and I can highly recommend this place if you’re looking for an affordable and still trendy place to stay. You’ve got your own bed, power socket, locker, and a privacy curtain, it’s super clean and located in a charming area.
SINGAPORE ITINERARY: DAY 1
Depending on when you arrive, I consider day 1 as your first full day in Singapore. For me, it’s always the day when I love to visit some of the biggest highlights and wander around the different neighborhoods to get a good impression of the city. And that’s exactly what the planning below looks like.
TIP: get the Singapore City Pass which gives you unlimited hop-on hop-off transportation and 2 attraction tickets so you can see as much as possible in a short time.
Visit Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
If there’s one place you can’t miss when visiting Singapore then it’s Garden by the Bay. An amazing and futuristic world of lush greenery is located by the Marina Bay Waterfront. Go first and early to Cloud Forest which opens at 9 am, so you will have the world’s largest indoor waterfall to yourself.
Head afterward to Flower Dome to learn more about the exotic plants from five different continents and have a pleasant stroll in the climate-controlled indoor garden. And make sure to watch the super inspiring +5 Degrees movie in the Cloud Forest theatre near the exit gates. Eye-opening!
Prices: Entrance is free for the Supertree Grove and the surrounding gardens, but you must pay for the two conservatories: 28 SGD per person ($21/€17) for Cloud Forest & Flower Dome. If you like to walk the OCBC Skyway at Supertree Grove there is an additional 8 SGD per person ($6/€5)
LOCATION: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
BOOK: Your tickets in advance and save money on the entrance fees. Way cheaper than paying on the spot, only 32 SGD per person ($24/€20) including Cloud Forest, Flower Dome + OCBC Skyway.
TIP: Don’t miss the misting time in Cloud Forest at 10 am! (every 2 hours) + ask for a re-entry stamp when you exit Cloud Forest, so you can go back later on the day if you want to.
Visit the ArtScience Museum
The ArtScience Museum is a very iconic building in Singapore and with its location close to Gardens by the Bay, ideal to combine afterward. It’s a great place that brings art, science, culture, and technology together in a way that’s engaging and fun for visitors of all ages.
There are 4 exhibitions in the ArtScience Museum to choose from, but my all-time favorite was Future World where you find stunning artwork giving you the illusion of stars moving in space.
Prices: $19/€16 per person for a single exhibition ticket, $32/€27 per person for a double exhibition ticket
LOCATION: ArtScience Museum, Singapore
BOOK: Your exhibition tickets in advance and save up to 20% discount
Walk into The Shoppes, Singapore’s most luxury mall
The Shoppes is Singapore’s most iconic luxury shopping mall. It’s located in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel with high-end boutique stores and international designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, and Chanel. With its futuristic design and architecture, it’s a charming place to walk around and do some window shopping.
Next to the beautiful stores, there is also a big food court, a casino, theatre, and people can take a Venetian gondola boat through the mall. So funny!
LOCATION: The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands
TIP: Take the escalator up to the top floor for a rooftop view of the gardens by the bay and the city skyline
Explore the colorful area around Haji Lane, Arab Street, and Muscat Street
Take the Downtown Line from Bayfront MRT to Bugis MRT Station and explore the colorful area around Haji Lane, Arab Street, and Muscat Street. You’ll find plenty of cute boutique shops, hipster cafes, beautiful street art, and charming mosques like the Sultan Mosque. Besides if you’re hungry, this area is great to grab a delicious lunch or enjoy a coffee.
PRICES: Between $1-3/€0.8-2.50 per person for a single-way MRT ticket (4-minute ride)
LOCATION:
Haji Lane
Arab Street
Muscat Street
PLACE TO GO: Limaa a small, pleasant spot located in Haji Lane, vegetarian/vegan-friendly food, healthy juices, and delicious smoothie bowls
TIP: be sure to avoid the area on Sundays as most places are closed
Visit Little India
After Haji Lane, you walk 15 minutes to Little India, which is a vibrant neighborhood filled with colorful houses, traditional eateries, and small jewelry shops. Be sure to visit the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, located right in the heart of Little India.
LOCATION: Little India
BOOK: Little India is perfect to explore on your own but a guided street food tour around Singapore brings more value to the background of all the places you will visit.
Wander around Clarke Quay with the sunset
Take the North-East Line from Little India MRT to Clarke Quay MRT Station and wander around Clarke Quay, a lively neighborhood along the River and the perfect place to end your first day in Singapore. From here you have marvelous sunset views and countless restaurants, bars, and clubs to stick around for dinner.
PRICES: Between $ 1-3 per person for a single-way MRT ticket (4-minute ride)
SINGAPORE ITINERARY: DAY 2
Day 2 is all about exploring Chinatown, going shopping, and watching the beautiful light show at Gardens by the Bay.
TIP: get the Singapore City Pass which gives you unlimited hop-on and hop-off transportation and 2 attraction tickets so you can see as much as possible in a short time.
Visit Chinatown in Singapore
A trip to Singapore isn’t complete without visiting Chinatown. Spend some time wandering around the markets, visiting the Buddha’s Tooth Relic Temple, or catching some super cheap souvenirs. You could easily stay here for a couple of hours with a nice atmosphere and lots of history.
BOOK: A guided tour in Chinatown and explore Chinatown with an experienced local guide
Go in the late afternoon to Merlion Park, the Esplanade, and cross Helix Bridge
After a couple of hours, I explored the area around Merlion Park and the Esplanade where you have splendid views of the waterfront and the iconic Marina Bay Sands. Stick around until sunset, have a nice dinner, and cross the Helix Bridge to end your day with a charming light show at the Gardens of the Bay.
LOCATION:
Merlion Statue
The Esplanade
Helix Bridge
OPTIONAL: Head over to Marina Bay Sands and get a ticket for the Skypark Observation Deck for the most incredible sunset views over Singapore.
Watch the light show at Supertree Grove in Gardens By The Bay
The Gardens by the Bay are not only beautiful during the day, every night the large canopies come alive and you’re able to see an incredible light show, enjoy the setting and have remarkable views of Marina Bay Sands.
The light show at Supertree Grove is free (no tickets are required) and there are 2 timeslots, one at 7.45 pm and the second one at 8.45 pm. A real must-see when you’re in Singapore!
Shopping in Singapore
Singapore has a reputation to be one of the best shopping destinations in the world. There are so many great shopping malls with the most luxurious shops to small vintage boutiques and colorful markets.
My favorite malls were located at Orchard Street where you can wander around the connected shopping malls for hours without even going outside. The malls are all connected to each other with every store you can imagine.
Go to the Cold Storage Supermarket for normal groceries and make sure you visit the biggest Apple Store in the whole of Southeast Asia.
LOCATION: Orchard Street
FAVORITE SHOPS:
ION Orchard (H&M, Zara,…)
Mandarin Gallery (Victoria’s Secret)
313@Somerset (best SONY store ever)
Ngee Ann City Mall (best Cold Storage Supermarket)
SINGAPORE ITINERARY: DAY 3
Depending on whether day 3 is the day you’re leaving for the next destination or it’s your last full day, I have listed some great optional things to do. This way you can create your own day planning and choose the things you absolutely want to see.
Explore Singapore with the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour
A Hop-on Hop-off bus tour is a great way to explore all the different neighborhoods in Singapore in a short amount of time and skip the stress of finding your way. Hop-on, hop-off means literally you can jump on and off the bus as many times as you want, and on each bus, there are English-speaking guides available and audio headsets with commentary in multiple languages.
The Hop-on Hop-off bus tours of Big Bus (which are my favorites) have 4 different tours to choose from. You can hop off and explore from over 40 stops.
BOOK: tickets for the Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus tours in advance. (available for 1 day or 2 days)
Hang out in Singapore’s food heaven: Keong Saik Road
Once a red-light district with brothels in 1960, now one of the most trendy places to go to for a charming night out between the locals. Keong Saik Road is located near Chinatown and the perfect place to hang out in the evening time in one of the coolest bars and restaurants. From super pleasant Italian restaurants to trendy rooftop bars and local eateries. If you still have a night left, be sure to visit this place.
FAVORITE PLACES:
Potato Head: nice rooftop garden, great cocktails, and charming signature burgers
Afterglow by Anglow: vegan/vegetarian-friendly spot with a small but delicious menu
Pasta Bar: beautiful open kitchen concept with vegan pasta options
Take a trip to Sentosa Island and visit Universal Studios
Sentosa Island, also known as Singapore’s playground, is a beautiful island connected by a bridge to Singapore city and home to a lot of beaches and theme parks like Universal Studios. Especially when you’re with kids or you just want to have fun, this is the place to go to.
BOOK: Your Universal Studios 1-day pass in advance so you don’t need to queue to get the ticket (also cheaper compared to booking directly on the official website)
Stay a night at the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel
If you are looking for pictures of Singapore, you will definitely have come across the beautiful 5-star Marina Bay Sands hotel. If your budget allows or you want to pamper yourself to something unique, be sure to stay a night and relax all day at the world’s largest infinity pool.
A real bucket list thing! Marina Bay Sands is not only a splendid architectural icon in Singapore offering the best skyline views, but it’s also one of the most famous hotels in Asia, if not in the world.
BOOK: a luxury stay in Marina Bay Sands and enjoy access to the infinity pool (deluxe, premium, family rooms or suites available)
TIP: book as early as possible! There are cheaper rooms but are most of the time sold out months in advance. If you book via booking.com, you can often cancel your reservation without any cost a few days before your check-in.
Save money and get the Singapore Pass
The Singapore Pass is a great deal for everyone that wants to make the most out of their trip and visit several popular attractions. There are more than 38 classic and premium experiences to choose from even including entrance tickets to Universal Studios or a unique dining experience on the GOURMETbus. Whatever you choose, the Singapore Pass can save you up to a 57% discount on admission fees. Moneysaver!
And how does it works? You get the Singapore Pass that’s right for you, you receive a confirmation email and voucher instantly after booking. And the moment you’re in Singapore, you choose the attraction you want to visit, show either a printed or a mobile voucher and your pass will be activated. (valid for 5 days after activation)
PRICES: there are 4 options to choose from passes with 3 top picks to passes with 5 top picks + 1 premium experience and starts from $78.49 per person (valid for 5 days)
BOOK: Check here all the different options and Sightseeing Passes
Watch a movie in one of the big cinemas
In case of a rainy day, go to one of the big impressive cinemas and watch a good movie. Download the app Popcorn Singapore to check the different locations, the movie times and buy your ticket straight from your phone.
TIP: the cinemas in Singapore are very cold, so be sure to bring a sweater to keep you warm
Watch the Tallest indoor waterfall at the Jewel
Before you depart, plan a few hours to walk around the Jewel, the latest opening in Changi Airport based in Terminal 1. This beauty includes amazing gardens and attractions like the largest indoor waterfall (40m), Forest Valley, different canopy bridges, and plenty of shops and dining facilities. It’s a real Instagrammer dream and the perfect place for some cool pictures.
LOCATION: Jewel Changi Airport, Terminal 1 (located in the public area of the airport which makes it easily accessible to all terminals, open 24 hours)
BOOK: The Jewel itself is free to the public but there are some attractions like walking the Canopy Bridge, Hedge Maze & the Manulife Sky Nets where you can buy tickets here
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Plan your 3-day Singapore itinerary with my favorite apps
To plan my adventures, I use these websites as they provide the best information, the best deals and they are user-friendly.
- Trip – Flight deals
- Booking.com – Hotels and accommodation
- TourRadar – Group trips
- TripAdvisor – Reviews and activities
- HostelWorld – Hostels
- GetYourGuide – Activities and excursions
- RentalCars – Car rental
- Omio – Transport
- iVisa – Travel documents
- Wise – Money transfer
- VisitorCoverage – Travel Insurance
Pictures and editing
All the pictures on this page are made and owned by me. If you are interested in some pictures, just send me an email and we’ll figure it out.
Do you like the edits? My Presets will be online soon so you can edit your pictures in just one click!
The camera gear I used for this trip
I never go out without my camera and many people ask me which gear I use. So to make it quite easy, I listed all the gear I used for this trip below.
Most of the time, I travel with the Sony A7III and the Sony 24-105mm/f4 as my primary lens but depending on the location, I change to another setup. However, I love the Tamron 17-28 to shoot in the big cities.
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