Singapore tempts you to spend just one day here. Head from the airport to Marina Bay, take a photo of the Merlion, stroll amongst the Supertrees, and then carry on your journey through Asia.

I, too, had always thought of Singapore primarily as a city for a quick stopover.

But Singapore is far from being just a glossy bay with expensive hotels.

I enjoyed it most when, in the space of a few hours, I went from skyscrapers to a plastic table in a noisy hawker centre and ended the evening beneath the illuminated trees at Gardens by the Bay.

In my opinion, three full days are ideal for getting to know the city quickly.You don’t have to rush about, and you’ll get to see three completely different sides of the city. I’ve put this itinerary together so that you don’t have to backtrack unnecessarily and can spend the hottest part of the day indoors wherever possible.

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Singapore in 3 days: a brief overview

This is roughly how I’d plan a 3-day trip to Singapore if I were visiting for the first time.

Day 1 – Singapore as seen on postcards

Merlion Park -> Marina Bay -> Marina Bay Sands -> Gardens by the Bay -> Spectra -> Garden Rhapsody

• on foot: approx. 8 km
• Paid attractions: Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
• Booking: tickets for Gardens by the Bay

Day 2 – food, Chinatown and the old town

Chinatown -> Maxwell Food Centre -> viewing point -> Singapore River -> Boat Quay -> Lau Pa Sat

• On foot: approx. 7–9 km
• Paid attractions: only if you choose to visit them
• Bookings: CapitaSpring or a food tour

Day 3 – Gardens and Sentosa

Singapore Botanic Gardens -> National Orchid Garden -> Sentosa

• On foot: as per the programme on Sentosa
• Paid attractions: Orchid Garden and a selected attraction on Sentosa
• bookings: Universal Studios, Singapore Oceanarium or other attractions

If theme parks and beaches don’t appeal to you, I’ve also outlined a more relaxed option for the third day below, without visiting Sentosa.

Where to stay for 3 days

For such a short stay, I’d only choose from three areas. To view hotels in a particular area, simply click on the name of the neighbourhood:

• Marina Bay – the best location, the most attractive surroundings and the most expensive hotels
• Clarke Quay and Riverside – the best combination of price and location
• Chinatown – cheaper hotels, great food and several MRT lines

I compare specific areas and tried-and-tested hotels in my guide ‘Where to Stay in Singapore’.

We changed hotels once during our three-night stay. We spent the first night at the Swissôtel The Stamford, with a view of Marina Bay Sands, and the next two nights at Marina Bay Sands itself.

On such a short trip, I wouldn’t normally recommend moving between hotels. In this case, however, the hotels were part of the itinerary. First, we looked out at Marina Bay Sands from across the bay, and then we stayed right inside it.

And, most importantly, we gained access to the rooftop infinity pool, which is off-limits to anyone other than hotel guests.

• Read my detailed review of Marina Bay Sands
• Check prices for Marina Bay Sands

You don’t have to copy our itinerary. But if you’d like to try Marina Bay Sands, feel free to book just one or two nights here and spend the rest of your stay somewhere more affordable.

What to book before your trip

You can explore most of Singapore without any planning at all. I’d only sort out the following things in advance:

• a hotel, especially if you want to stay at Marina Bay Sands
• tickets for the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
• a free time slot for the CapitaSpring Sky Garden
• attractions on Sentosa, if you want to visit Universal Studios or the Singapore Oceanarium

The MRT, standard sightseeing attractions and the evening light shows do not require booking.

Day 1 – Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay

The first day is devoted to the places that most people come to Singapore to see.

I’ve deliberately grouped them together. You can cover the whole route on foot and, in the evening, seamlessly link the two free light shows.

8.30–10.00 – Merlion Park and a first glimpse of the city

Start at Merlion Park.

There’ll be slightly fewer people here in the morning, and the sun won’t be quite so intense yet. In my opinion, this is the best spot from which to view the entire Marina Bay Sands hotel.

The Merlion statue itself will keep you entertained for a few minutes. A much better option is a leisurely stroll along the promenade towards the Esplanade and the Helix Bridge.

I describe the whole area in detail in the Marina Bay guide.

10:00–12:00 – Marina Bay Sands

Cross the Helix Bridge and take a closer look at Marina Bay Sands.

If you’re not staying at the hotel itself, you can visit the SkyPark Observation Deck. I wouldn’t consider it a must-see, though. After all, you won’t actually be able to see Singapore’s most famous building from the observation deck.

The best free view of Marina Bay Sands is from the opposite side of the bay.

I’d only spend money on a paid viewing platform if you really enjoy city views.

If the weather’s bad, you can visit the ArtScience Museum instead of the viewing point, or take shelter in The Shoppes shopping centre.

12:00–15:30 – Cloud Forest and Flower Dome

After lunch, head over to Gardens by the Bay.

Make the most of the hottest part of the day by visiting the air-conditioned conservatories:

• Cloud Forest – an artificial mountain, mist, tropical plants and a tall indoor waterfall
• Flower Dome – floral displays and plants from the drier regions of the world

If you only want to visit one paid attraction in the whole of Singapore, I’d choose the Cloud Forest.

However, tickets for international visitors are usually sold as a combined package with the Flower Dome for 46 sgd.

Allow about 2 to 2.5 hours for both conservatories.

Buy tickets for Gardens by the Bay

15:30–18:00 – Supertrees and Marina Barrage

After visiting the conservatories, walk through the free section of the gardens and Supertree Grove.

We tried both the viewing platform on the tallest Supertree and the OCBC Skyway footbridge. In my opinion, there’s no point in paying for both.

• If you want photos and a view of Marina Bay Sands – choose the Supertree Observatory
• If you mainly want to walk amongst the trees – choose the OCBC Skyway
• If you want to save money – stay downstairs; you won’t miss out on the main evening experience

If you’ve still got energy to spare, carry on to Marina Barrage. The grassy roof offers a more peaceful view of the city, and far fewer tourists head here compared to the main part of the gardens.

Allow about an extra hour for this detour.

18:00–20:15 – dinner and Spectra

Head back to the Marina Bay Sands shopping centre and have some dinner. You don’t need to go to an expensive restaurant. There’s a large food court on the ground floor of the shopping centre.

At 8.00 pm, the free Spectra show begins in front of the Event Plaza.

The show combines water jets, projections, music and lasers. It lasts 15 minutes and takes place every evening:

• Sunday to Thursday at 8.00 pm and 9.00 pm
• Friday and Saturday at 8.00 pm, 9.00 pm and 10.00 pm

Admission is free. Please check the times on the official Spectra website before your visit.

To be honest, I was expecting a more spectacular experience. Spectra is lovely, but the Garden Rhapsody that followed made a much stronger impression on me.

20:15–21:00 – Garden Rhapsody

Once Spectra has finished, head briskly on foot across Marina Bay Sands to the Supertrees. The walk takes about 15–20 minutes.

The second performance of Garden Rhapsody begins at 8.45 pm.

Find a spot directly beneath the trees, sit or lie down on the ground and look up. It is this angle that completely transforms the whole experience.

Garden Rhapsody takes place daily:

• at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm
• Duration: 15 minutes
• free admission

You can find the current music programme on the Gardens by the Bay website.

If you don’t want to rush between shows, visit Garden Rhapsody at 7.45 pm and Spectra at 9.00 pm. Personally, though, I prefer the reverse order, as it makes for a better end to the evening.

If you’re staying at Marina Bay Sands

Plan to visit the rooftop pool in the morning between 7.00 am and 9.00 am. There tend to be fewer people there, and you won’t miss out on the best part of the day in the city.

Another great time is in the evening after the light shows, when the whole city centre lights up beneath you.

The pool isn’t open to the public. Only hotel guests can access it, which I discuss in detail in my review of Marina Bay Sands.

Day 2 – Chinatown, hawker centres and the Singapore River

The first day showcases Singapore as seen in travel brochures.

The second day is much more ordinary – and that’s precisely why I found it more interesting.

Chinatown itself is smaller and more polished than the Chinatowns in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Singapore only began to feel more authentic to me when we sat down amongst the locals in a bustling hawker centre.

9.00–10.45 – Chinatown

Start at Chinatown MRT station and walk through the neighbourhood towards the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

In just under two hours, you’ll see:

• Pagoda Street with its stalls and souvenirs
• the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple
• the Jamae Mosque
• the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• the contrast between the low, colourful houses and the surrounding skyscrapers

Entry to the shrines is free. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is open daily, and its museum opens at 9.00 am. You can find detailed information in our guide to Chinatown.

11.00–12.00 – lunch at the hawker centre

There are two great options in Chinatown. Choose just one.

Maxwell Food Centre is easier to navigate, and it was here that we felt the most authentic atmosphere of all the hawker centres we visited.

You can try Hainanese chicken rice, for example. Main courses cost around 4–8 sgd.

Chinatown Complex Food Centre is larger, noisier and a bit confusing at first. However, it offers hundreds of stalls and even lower prices, at around 3–6 sgd per meal.

Instead of joining the longest queue, we opted for the smaller Ann Chin stall. The popiah and spring rolls were excellent.

Some of the stalls only accept cash, so make sure you have a few tens of SGD to hand.

When is a culinary tour worth it?

Hawker centres are easy to visit without a guide. However, if you want to sample a wider variety of dishes whilst understanding the differences between Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan cuisines, a food tour is one of the few organised activities here that I think is worthwhile.

It usually lasts 3–4 hours and food is usually included in the price.

• 👉 Compare food tours in Singapore

If you book a food tour, skip visiting Maxwell on your own and having dinner at Lau Pa Sat. Otherwise, you’ll spend half the day just eating.

12:15–13:15 – a scenic spot or a break

You don’t need to visit all of Singapore’s viewing points in three days. Choose just one.

The Pinnacle@Duxton residential complex is the closest to Chinatown.

A lift will take you up to the long walkway on the 50th floor. Admission costs 6 sgd and during our visit I was completely alone up there.

You won’t be able to see Marina Bay Sands from here, but you’ll get a much more interesting view of the ordinary residential neighbourhoods, the harbour and the low-rise buildings of Chinatown.

If you’ve booked CapitaSpring for the afternoon, give the Pinnacle a miss and take a break instead. Two viewing platforms in one day are unnecessary.

14:30–16:30 – The Singapore River and the Old City Centre

Take the MRT or walk to Clarke Quay.

From there, continue along the river past:

• the colourful Old Hill Street Police Station
• the colonial Civic District
• Boat Quay

The Civic District isn’t the sort of place I’d spend half a day in. We walked through it in about 20 minutes. It mainly serves as a pleasant link between the river and Marina Bay.

An alternative to walking is a roughly 40-minute cruise on a traditional bumboat along the Singapore River. The usual price is around 28 sgd.

The boat trip isn’t essential, but on a hot afternoon it gives you the chance to sit back for a while and see the city centre from a different perspective.

16:30–17:30 – CapitaSpring Sky Garden

CapitaSpring Sky Garden is a rooftop garden in a skyscraper right in the financial district.

Entry is free, but you must book a specific time slot in advance. We underestimated the need to book, and the next three days were completely sold out.

For a standard free visit, choose a time before 6.00 pm. In the evening, part of the area is reserved for diners at the local restaurants. Check times and availability via the official CapitaSpring website.

If you can’t get a booking, it’s no big deal. Visit Pinnacle@Duxton after lunch and give CapitaSpring a miss.

7.30 pm–8.30 pm – dinner at Lau Pa Sat

Round off the second day at Lau Pa Sat.

The hawker centre is housed in a beautiful cast-iron building surrounded by skyscrapers. In the evening, the adjacent Boon Tat Street closes to traffic and transforms into Satay Street, lined with barbecues and plastic tables.

The outdoor stalls really get going between 7.30 pm and 8.00 pm.

Expect prices of:

• main course 5–10 sgd
• satay set 10–20 sgd
• drink 2–4 sgd

Lau Pa Sat is more touristy and more expensive than Maxwell. In the evening, however, it has a completely different atmosphere, and the combination of the historic market, the smoke from the barbecues and the surrounding skyscrapers works a treat.

Day 3 – the Botanic Gardens and Sentosa

After two days in the city centre, it’s time for some greenery and a more leisurely pace.

There are several sensible options for the third day. Don’t try to fit them all in. Choose depending on whether you’re fancied amusement parks, marine life, beaches or a quieter day.

8.30–11.00 – Singapore Botanic Gardens

Start the morning at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This is a genuine tropical botanical garden, not a futuristic attraction like Gardens by the Bay. Here you’ll find lakes, avenues of palm trees, small sections of rainforest and a much more peaceful atmosphere.

• The main grounds are free
• The gardens open at 5.00 am
• The National Orchid Garden opens at 8.30 am
• Entry to the Orchid Garden costs for adult international visitors 15 sgd

Allow 2 to 2.5 hours for the main gardens and the orchid garden. Come in the morning, before the heat of the day sets in.

11.00–12.00 – take the direct metro to Sentosa

From Botanic Gardens station, take the yellow Circle Line directly to HarbourFront station. The journey takes about 30 minutes and there’s no need to change trains.

You can have lunch at the VivoCity shopping centre and then continue on to Sentosa.

Transport options to the island:

• on foot via the Sentosa Boardwalk – free of charge
• the Sentosa Express from the VivoCity shopping centre – approximately 4 sgd
• cable car – Sentosa Line from 17 sgd, full circuit from the Mount Faber area from 35 sgd

The cable car is the most expensive option, but it also serves as a sightseeing attraction in its own right.

Option A – Singapore Oceanarium

The new Singapore Oceanarium, formerly known as the S.E.A. Aquarium, is the best place to visit after the Botanic Gardens.

Allow a few hours for your visit. Book your tickets in advance and check the opening hours on the Singapore Oceanarium’s official website.

This option is also suitable in the rain or when travelling with children.

Option B – beaches and the cable car

If you don’t want to visit another paid attraction, take a ride on the cable car and head on to the beaches.

The best-known ones are:

• Siloso Beach – the liveliest
• Palawan Beach – the most photogenic
• Tanjong Beach – the quietest

To be honest: I wouldn’t go to Singapore just for the beaches. The sand is man-made, but you can see lots of cargo ships on the horizon and the water doesn’t look like a tropical paradise.

However, Sentosa works well as a relaxing afternoon break after two days in the city.

• 👉 View hotels on Sentosa

Option C – Universal Studios Singapore

If Universal Studios is your main destination, skip the morning visit to the Botanic Gardens and arrive at the park before it opens.

Universal Studios is a full-day outing. Trying to fit in a visit to the Botanic Gardens as well would mean paying a hefty admission fee only to end up rushing through the park.

Book your tickets in advance, especially at weekends and during school holidays.

• 👉Compare tickets and attractions in Singapore

Option without Sentosa

Feel free to skip Sentosa if you’re not keen on theme parks, the aquarium or man-made beaches.

After visiting the botanical gardens, you can:

• stroll down Orchard Road
• visit the ArtScience Museum
• head back to your favourite hawker centre
• spend the afternoon by the pool, if you’re staying at Marina Bay Sands
• allow more time for Chinatown and the Singapore River

Three days doesn’t necessarily mean three days of rushing about from morning till night. Singapore is more physically demanding than it looks on the map. The heat and high humidity slow you down.

If I were staying at Marina Bay Sands, I’d spend my last afternoon by the pool without a second thought. That’s precisely why I booked the hotel.

When to visit Jewel Changi Airport

Don’t squeeze a visit toJewel Changi Airport into any of your three days in the city centre. Have a look round it after you arrive or before you leave.

Jewel is located in the public area of the airport before passport control. It is directly adjacent to Terminal 1, and there are pedestrian walkways leading to it from Terminals 2 and 3.

The main attraction is the Rain Vortex, a huge waterfall cascading from the roof of the shopping centre.

• The waterfall operates daily from 10.00 to 22.00
• Light shows take place at 8.00 pm and 9.00 pm
• and, from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays, additionally at 10.00 pm

If you wish to visit Jewel before your flight, please arrive at the airport at least 1½ to 2 hours earlier than your usual check-in allowance.

How to get around during your trip

You should definitely not hire a car in Singapore.

For all the routes described, you’ll simply need:

• the MRT
• on foot
• occasionally a bus
• Grab or a taxi if you’re tired

On the metro and buses, you can pay your fare using your own contactless card or mobile phone. Tap the same card when boarding and alighting.

A single journey in the city centre usually costs 1.20–1,50 sgd. You won’t usually get full use of the tourist pass within three days.

You can find more details in the article ‘The Metro in Singapore’.

I use Google Maps to look up transport routes. I wouldn’t set out into the city without mobile data.

• 👉 Get an eSIM for Singapore

How much does a 3-day stay in Singapore cost?

Excluding hotel accommodation, you should expect the following costs per person for the itinerary described:

• MTR and buses: around 20 sgd
• food at hawker centres: approx. 75 sgd
• Cloud Forest and Flower Dome: 46 sgd
• National Orchid Garden: 15 sgd
• Pinnacle@Duxton: 6 sgd
• Singapore River Cruise: around 28 sgd, if you choose it
• Sentosa: from a few SGD to well into the tens of SGD, depending on the attraction

Without Sentosa and the cruise, you’ll spend around 150 sgd plus accommodation.

Singapore doesn’t have to be expensive when it comes to food or transport. The biggest chunk of your budget will be taken up by the hotel and paid attractions.

What to do when it rains

Rain is no reason to scrap your whole plan. Showers tend to be heavy and being outdoors during them can be unpleasant, but most major attractions have a covered alternative nearby.

• Marina Bay – The Shoppes and the ArtScience Museum
• Gardens by the Bay – Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
• Chinatown – hawker centres and temples
• Day 3 – Singapore Oceanarium
• Airport – Jewel Changi

For outdoor walks, simply adjust your schedule by an hour or two. For a more detailed overview of conditions throughout the year, see the article ‘Weather in Singapore’.

Is three days in Singapore enough?

Yes, for a first visit, generally speaking, yes.

In three full days, you’ll see Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, the hawker centres, the Botanic Gardens and, depending on your interests, Sentosa too.

You don’t need to rush through the main attractions, so you’ll have time for a leisurely lunch or a rest during the hottest part of the day.

How many nights do you need?

Three nights are ideal.

Two nights are only sufficient if you arrive early in the morning and depart late in the evening. In that case, I’d skip Sentosa.

Book a hotel in Singapore

Is the tourist transport pass worth it?

Not usually, with this itinerary. Standard fares are cheap and you’ll be getting about on foot in one area for most of the day.

Which evening show should you choose?

If you only have time for one, I’d go for Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay.

Spectra at Marina Bay Sands is nice, but I found the show amongst the Supertrees more original and far more immersive.

Is this itinerary suitable for children?

Yes, but I’d make the second day shorter.

Skip the Civic District and one of the viewing points. Spend the third day at Universal Studios, the Singapore Oceanarium or Adventure Cove Waterpark.

What can you fit in in less than 3 days?

If you’ve got two days, combine Marina Bay with Gardens by the Bay, and on the second day visit Chinatown, a hawker centre and the Botanic Gardens.

If you only have a few hours in Singapore between flights, follow our shorter ‘Singapore during a layover’ itinerary.

What were our most memorable experiences?

What I remember most from the first day is the moment when we were lying right beneath the illuminated Supertrees.

On the second day, the noisy Maxwell Food Centre, which was a far cry from the perfectly polished image of Singapore.

And from the trip as a whole, the evening view of the whole city from the rooftop pool at Marina Bay Sands.

That’s precisely why I wouldn’t cram Singapore into a single day. In three days, you won’t just see its most famous landmarks, but you’ll also have time to get to know the city around them.