3-Days Singapore Itinerary: The Best Things To See and Do

In this post we are going to show you the most complete 3-days Singapore itinerary.

In fact, we are going to take you through the most stunning locations of Singapore while saving you time.

How? We have created a complete 3-day Singapore itinerary so that you can cover the best things to visit in Singapore with our best tips about how to move around, where to stay, maps for everyday route and photography included.

Sounds good?! Great! Let’s dive in now.

Singapore is an island city state located at the south tip of Malasya. It is one of the most expensive and prosperous countries in the world and an example of organized and modern multicultural city.

It is also worldwide famous for its cleanliness (you might have heard about a country that has banned spitting and eating chewing gum, that is Singapore), safety and for featuring attractions unlike anything else in the world (Gardens by the bay for example)

Singapore is one of the most visited countries in Asia as it is a hub for international flights. Is quite often used as a stopover before a connection flight.

Whether you’re using Singapore as a stopover or not, stay tuned to find out the top 3- day Singapore itinerary.

Every trip needs a little bit of planning, especially a short trip to Singapore where there is so much going on that you don’t want to miss out any important places to visit.

In order to help you make the most of your time there, we have created a 3-day Singapore itinerary with the highlights of the city, so you have a bit of everything.

We’ll also cover topics like knowing how to move around, best areas to stay in Singapore, day trips and more.

Luckily, getting to Singapore is quite easy as Singapore Changi Airport is one of the busiest and best connected airports in the world.It is located only 24km from the city center There are different options to get to the city center.

• Bus. It is the slowest option, as it takes 1.5h. You need to take the bus line 36/36A which runs from the airport to the central MRT stations in the CBD – Marine Parade Rd, Somerset or Orchard Rd and other stops. You should get off at the most convenient stop for you. A single ticket costs 2.5 SGD make sure you have the exact amount as drivers don’t have change.
• Train. Take the train from Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2) to Tanah Merah MRT Station (EW4), then transfer to the East-West Line towards Tuas Link MRT Station (EW33).  Single-ride tickets(2.20SGD) and EZ-link cards can be purchased at all train stations.
• Taxi. A taxi ride to the city center which is 30 km from the airport, costs between 20$ and 40$. All fares are metered.

If you need more detailed information about how to get to the city center from the airport, you can check Changi Airport official website .

Choosing the right place where to stay in Singapore is really important as a complement of a heavenly stay.  Here we recommend these  four magnific options.

• Andaz Singapore Hotel . This is one of the top notch hotels in Singapore if you are willing to splurge a bit. It is located between the neighborhoods of Kamplon and Bugis, within walking distance from some top attractions.

• Kesa house. This modern and comfortable hotel is perfectly located, in the heart of Chinatown very close to the MRT station.
• YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road . Located in the heart of the vibrant Orchard Road. It has modern amenities and the rooms are very comfortable.
• Capsule Pot Aljunied. This hostel is located within walking distance from the MRT station of Aljunied. It is a one-star hostel with capsule beds for around 48$ per night. One of the most affordable places to stay in Singapore.

Alternatively, you can check some offers and availability here in booking.com

When it comes to general information and what’s going on in Singapore, there are mainly 2 sites that you can check.

Visit Singapore,  the official website which has a lot of information about anything you might want to know about in the city. They also write about things to do, food, events coming, etc.

The second one is TimeOut Singapore. Keeping you always up to date to the latest events, art expositions, attractions, festivals, etc.

If you need to book activities or tours in advance, you should check your options in GetYourGuide below.

Because things can go wrong even in such an amazing destination like Singapore, we always recommend buying travel insurance.

A missed fly connection, lost baggage, stolen travel gear, any accident you may have in destination, etc. These are some examples of some things that could easily happen to anyone.

So is always worth to have good travel insurance for peace of mind and also to be covered in case you have any issue.

The one we always use and can recommend you for their price, coverage, but overall service, is World Nomads. Any time we have had any issue while traveling they have been very responsive and make things easy.

You can get a quick quote here to have an idea on how much it will cost you.

Let’s get your itinerary started!

This a 3-day Singapore itinerary that is meant to cover the main highlights and attractions in the city. It has been created especially for the first time visitors that want to get a bit of everything from this amazing destination.

With the itineraries proposed, you can make little changes if you feel like you want to visit one thing instead, or if you prefer to do day one, on day two, or day three that is also possible.

Bear in mind that the idea behind the itineraries that we have created, is to minimise your traveling time using transport and instead, following walking routes. That is because we think the best way to explore a city is by walking around, but if you’re tired of walking you can always jump on the public transport or get a taxi. No problems!

The first day of our Singapore itinerary starts from Chinatown after having a traditional breakfast in one of the Singaporean kopitiam (cafes)

The traditional breakfast consists on a kaya toast (kaya is a custard jam made from egg, coconut, and the vanilla pandan) with soft-cooked eggs.

This route is gonna be devided in two, morning and afternoon. 

Chinatown is one of the vibrant districts in Singapore that proudly display their heritage, with low rise building, old shophouses, temples and Chinese restaurants where you can endulge some of their traditional dishes.

Take the time to walk around the narrow streets, that display the distinctive red and gold decorations, look for bargains in the shophouses and visit some unique temples, such as the Buddha Relic Temple or The Thian Hock Keng Temple (one of the oldest Chinese temples in Singapore)

Head to the Chinese market, where the bustling streets are packed with hundreds of stalls offering anything from clothing to Chinese cats, remember to haggle to get the best price.

Visit the Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. The temple is covered with sculptures of deities and mythological figures, something that catches the attention to anyone passing by.

From Chinatown to the first point to visit in the Civic district, National Gallery is only 15 minutes walk (1.2 km)

The civic district is the heart of Singapore’s history, culture and architecture heritage. It is an easy walkable area with lots of give- shading trees to protect yourself from the intense sunlight as well as open lawns to rest.

It is home of historic buildings in the city that used to be the administrative hub but now it has been repurposed, becoming an art destination the last weekend of every month.

Start visiting the National Gallery and then take a look at some the historical buildings:

• The Asian Civilisations Museum
• The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
• The old Parliament House
• Queen Elizabeth Walk
• The Supreme Court and City Hall
• The Padang.

Finally, you cannot miss one of the most important landmarks in Singapore, the Merlion.

From the Merlion, take a 18 minutes walk to Gardens by the Bay, crossing the Esplanade Bridge, a scenic walk towards the gardens.

Gardens by the bay is one of the most important attractions in Singapore for presenting an innovative and futuristic design that combines nature and modern technology. It was borned as a proyect to create a City in a Garden, and the result of that is a horticultural wonderland that brings millions of visitors every year.

Gardens by the Bay is divided into three main parts, Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden.

The first thing you will see as you walk in is the Super Trees, which resemble Singapore’s national flower, the orchid Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim. Don’t miss the chance to go up the walkway between the Super Trees and enjoy the jaw-dropping views of the garden from the heights.

Cloud Forest, a 35 meters-tall enclosed compound that has the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. It is home of a wide diversity of lush vegetation from tropical areas up to 2000 feet above the sea level. Apart from the mesmerizing environment of the Cloud Forest, you can also learn interesting facts about rare plant species and how they are dissapearing.

Flower Dome. Another top attraction in Gardens by the Bay. It is one of the largest greenhouses in the world with a variety of rare plants that replicates the Mediterranean climate.

To check opening times, events, and what’s new, check the official Gardens by the Bay website here.

If after this visit you feel hungry, you have got some dining options inside the enclosure, from fine dinning, cafes, fast food or if you would like something cheaper, you have a McDonalds to grab a quick bite before the next part.

Every day, Gardens by the Bay makes the public stand in awe with its Garden Rhapsody light and sound show. This show features spectacular dazzling lights and music giving live to the Super Trees in the Gardens by the Bay. It is an unmissible attraction in Singapore.

There are two passes daily, at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm.

If you think you have time for more, you can also check this interesting landmarks nearby the Civic district to add them to your Singapore itinerary.

• Botanic Gardens
• Fort Canning Park
• St Andrews cathedral
• National Gallery

The itinerary for this second day is ideally started from Little India and then moving towards Kamplon Glam district to finish at the end of the day in Marina Bay.

The lively and colorful Little India, is the heart of the indian community in Singapore, where most important celebrations take part and where you will find some of the most important temples.

Get your camera ready for some unexpected sights and make sure you try some of the divine traditional Indian food served here.

Amidst the most important things to visit in little India apart from taking the time to venture down the narrow lanes of the area, is to visit some of the most important temples:

• Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, dedicated to the goddess Kali, a forceful consort of Shiva, believed to protect its devotees from ignorance and maintaining the world order. This temple has a unique beauty that everyone should visit.
• Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple is found along Serangoon Road. It was built in the late 1800s and dedicated to Vishnu. It is also famous for the display of vishnu and other hindu deities figures in the tower of the entrance.

Kamplon Glam is a vibrant area of Singapore and the oldest urban quater. This area is famous for its richness in culture and history, its trendy cafes, quirky shops, local restaurants and great atmosphere. It is called the hipster neighbourhood of Singapore and the most important streets are, Arabic Street, Haji Lane and

First thing to do is to head to Masij Sultan, the emblematic mosque in Singapore built in 1924. It is such a beautiful mosque, famous for its golden domes and for being the reference for the muslim community. You can visit it from 9:00 to 1:00pm and from 2:00pm to 4:00 pm(Fridays from 2.30pm to 4.00pm).

Walk two minutes towards Haji Lane. One of the most lively and colorfull street, with lots of small boutiques, and eateries where you can spend hours shopping amazing products and endulging some delicious dishes.

To get to the next destination, walk 27 minutes to the Art Science Museum.

The Art Science Museum is one of the most iconic buildings that configurate the skyline in Singapore.With its lotus shape of 6,000 meter square with 21 galleries. Its original desing and its exhibits catches the attention of thousand of visitors every year.

It is a fantastic plan to have fun and learn, while you cool down in the middle of the day. Don’t miss the long term exhibit FUTURE WORLD: Where Art Meets Science, suitable for families with children too!

To find out what’s on, check the official Art and Science Museum website. The opening hours are from 10:00am-7:00pm, daily and the last admission at  6:00pm.

Marina Bay Sand is an architectural masterpiece building that looks like a stranded ship. Inside you can find a hotel, a casino, theater, exhibition, museum and a huge shopping mall.

The “ship” at the top of the 55 story building is an infinitive with stunning panoramic views of Singapore. Unfortunately, only guests are allowed to use the infinitive pool but don’t worry! You can head up to the Ce la Vie Restaurant and enjoy the bird’s-eye scenic views of the city, paying only for a drink.

The other option is, heading up to the Sands SkyPark where you can also enjoy the same kind of scenic panoramic views of the city, spotting famous landmarks such as Gardens by the Bay, or the Singapore Flyer. Tickets for this attraction cost S$23.

If you don’t mind splurging on a first-class dinning experience plus out of the world views, you can make a reservation on some of the luxury restaurants in Marina Bay Sands.

Enjoy the free entry to this 15 minutes magical nightly show over the water at the Event Plaza. Be on time to get a seat in front of Marina Bay Sands mall and delight yourself with such the four part story featuring gazzling lights, fountains, laser… and much more, together with an orchestral soundtrack.

The showtimes are from Sunday to Thursday: 8pm and 9pm
Friday and Saturday: 8pm, 9pm & 10pm

Dinner suggestion:

Head to Makansutra Gluttons Bay hawker stall market to enjoy some delicious food. It is situated on the other side of the bay outside the explanade. To get there, walk towards the Helix Bridge and enjoy a scenic walk.

If you think you have time for more, you can complete your Singapore itineray by checking this interesting landmarks nearby the proposed attractions.

• Singapore Flyer
• Esplanade- Theaters on the Bay
• Marina Barrage

The Singapore itinerary for the last day is going to be a bit different from the rest. It’s time to head to Sentosa Island!

Sentosa Island is a beautiful island, home to attractions, lush jungles, universal studios, waterparks, spas, luxury hotels, fantastic beaches and more. Most of the attractions in Sentosa Island are not free, but don’t worry! You can still find things to do without spending money.

Sentosa is situated only 10 to 20 minutes away from the heart of Singapore which gives you many possibilities to get there, from taking a stroll, to take the cable car, using the public transport or taking a taxi.

You can check more details about how to get there in the official website here. 

Things to do in Sentosa

• Head to the clean and gorgeous beaches. There are 3 beautiful beaches in Sentosa to spend the day relaxing, swimming, playing volleyball or building sandcastles: Tanjong Beach, Siloso Beach Resort and Palawan Beach
• Spend the day having fun at the Adventure Cove Water Park and enjoy the high speed rides, lazy rivers, specially fun for famillies with kids.
• Visit the S.E.A Aquarium. If you are a sea life lover, don’t miss one of the largest aquariums in the world. The SEA Aquarium features more than 800 marine species in different habitats.
• Take a close look at the beautiful butterflies in the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom and learn interesting facts about other insects in a rainforest setting.
• Stroll around the small Fort Siloso, a fort that in the past served as a defense. There is an onsite museum that keeps memorabilia from WWII.
• Go on a super special sunset sail or dinner cruise onboard the Super Royal Yatch Albatros.
• Indulge yourself with a spa treatment in one of Sentosa’s finest Spas.
• Watch the Crane Dance at night.

To finish the Singapore itinerary, make your way back to the heart of the city from Sentosa Island and enjoy the nightlife in Clarke Quay.

Clarke Quay is a famous historic riverside quay lined with restaurants, pubs, cafes and nightclubs. After spending the day in Sentosa Island you can get there to have dinner in one of the numerous eateries and finish off the day with some drinks in some of the lively pubs.

There is so much to see and do as you can see in Singapore and you probably didn’t have enough time to explore everything. In case you have more than three days, we suggest you some other important places to visit:

• Orchad Road. A heaven for shopaholics.
• National Gallery.A must destination for art lovers. 
• Singapor Flyer. If you’re not afraid of heights, get the chance to take a panoramic view of the city.
• Night Safari.  If you are an animal lover and feel curious about what wild animals do at night, head to the Night Safari.
• Universal Studios. If you’re traveling with children, you might want to visit this theme park full of rides and shows.

There are endless options in Singapore and you will probably repeat your visit after your first one!

If you have more time, I suggest you also check the best rooftop bars in Singapore.

It might not be the cheapest destination, but you can definitively make Singapore on a budget!

If you have any questions about the itinerary or visiting Singapore just leave a comment below.