Tick off the bucket list – here are the biggest and best things to do in Singapore across one, two and three days.
Singapore is a city that rewards momentum. It moves fast, eats well, and knows how to put on a show without asking you to work too hard for it. Over 72 hours, you can tick off the icons, lose time in neighbourhood streets, and still find time for destination dinners. Follow this itinerary, and you’ll get the full spectrum of old-school kopitiam comfort, temple calm, Sentosa adrenaline and rooftop views.
o, whether you’ve got 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours, this is how to make every second count. Here’s our curated Singapore itinerary featuring food, arts, culture and tourist attractions.
Day one: 24 hours in Singapore
Travel back in time and explore the city’s greener, older side at Fort Canning and the creative pulse of Kampong Glam. Spend the afternoon temple-hopping and hawker-crawling in Chinatown.
8am
Breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast
Start your morning with Singaporean kaya toast. At Ya Kun, the bread arrives crisp at the edges, butter melting into a pandan-sweet kaya that tastes like breakfast nostalgia. Order the classic set with soft-boiled eggs and kopi, then eat it the local way by seasoning the eggs with soy sauce and pepper and dipping as you go. It is quick, comforting and brilliantly unfussy, which is exactly what you want before a full day of exploring.
9:30am
Visit Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Park is a hilltop pocket of green with centuries of stories baked into the paths. Walk under old trees, take the stairs slowly, and let the city’s tempo soften for a moment. The spice garden is a highlight, and the park’s heritage features make it feel more like a living museum than a simple stroll. Fort Canning Park’s most Instagrammable moment is the Tree Tunnel, a circular stairwell wrapped in cascading greenery that frames you as if you’ve stepped into a living postcard. Go early if you can, when the air is cooler, and the views back toward the city centre feel fresh.
11am
Explore Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is where Singapore’s heritage and hype sit comfortably side by side. Start on Arab Street for textiles, perfumeries, and that unmistakable neighbourhood energy, then drift toward Haji Lane when you are ready for colour and character. The shophouses are small but loud, with murals, indie labels, and cafés that double as pit stops. Marvel at Masjid Sultan, first built in 1824 and later rebuilt into the striking Indo-Saracenic structure completed in 1932, with its golden domes rising above Muscat Street like a landmark you can navigate by.
1pm
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Cloudstreet
Lunch at Cloudstreet is a deliberate pivot from street level to star level. Set inside a restored shophouse on Amoy Street, it serves an innovative tasting menu at a chef’s counter, where each course threads Sri Lankan warmth through modern technique. At the helm is chef-owner Rishi Naleendra, Sri Lanka-born and shaped by years in Australia, whose cooking balances precision with personality. The experience leans into expressive food, progressive wines, and immaculate hospitality. Highlights include aged duck with roasted beetroot and cashew nut butter, Japanese hamachi with rhubarb and Kaluga Queen Caviar, and Sri Lankan curry of Normandy blue lobster with aromatic coconut broth.
3:30pm
Get lost in Chinatown
Chinatown is not a single street, but a maze to meander around. Wander through shophouse-lined lanes, snack as you go, and watch how old and new Singapore share the same pavement. You will pass herbal shops, souvenir stalls, bakeries and tea shops, all stitched together by the steady movement of locals and tourists. The best approach is to arrive with loose plans and a little appetite, because Chinatown has a habit of distracting you in the best possible way, usually via smell.
4:30pm
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Step into the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the atmosphere changes instantly. Outside, Chinatown buzzes; inside, the Tang-style architecture and richly detailed interiors encourage a slower pace. Give yourself time to look up, linger, and absorb the calm, whether you are there for culture, curiosity or quiet reflection. Entry is free, but the experience feels generous, with museum-style displays that add context beyond the obvious photo moment. Dress respectfully and let it be a pause between street food stops.
5:30pm
Eat your way around Chinatown Complex
For hawker credibility, head straight to Chinatown Complex and join the queue at Liao Fan, the stall known for its soya sauce chicken rice and noodles. The chicken is glossy, savoury and comforting, the kind of dish that proves why Singapore’s hawker culture is world famous. Go at off-peak hours if you can, order simply, and eat standing nearby if seats are scarce. The real joy is the setting.
6pm
Dine on street food at Maxwell Food Centre
Maxwell Food Centre is another essential street food stop, and Tian Tian is the headline act for many first-timers. The queue moves at a pace, and the payoff is that clean, fragrant chicken rice that is simple and satisfying. Aim for earlier in the evening or outside the lunch crush, order the standard plate, and add chilli and dark soy to taste. Maxwell is as much about people-watching as it is about food, offering a snapshot of Singaporean eating in real time.
8pm
Have dinner at Odette
Odette, inside National Gallery Singapore, is chef-owner Julien Royer’s modern French temple with three Michelin stars. Royer, a French chef shaped by a farming upbringing, builds seasonal dégustations around pristine produce and immaculate technique. Menu highlights often include the signature Kampot pepper-crusted pigeon and the cult French toast topped with bafun uni. Expect seafood that leans Scottish, truffles when in season, and desserts that feel quietly artful rather than heavy. Service is serene, precise, and unhurried, turning dinner into an occasion. After days of hawker energy and skyline chasing, Odette is the perfect, quiet crescendo.
Day two
Experience adventure with a cable ride, traversing the landscape from the ocean waves to mountain peaks, or feel the thrill at Universal Studios Singapore. End the day with a sunset to remember.
9am
Ride the Singapore Cable Car
Start day two by taking the scenic route to Sentosa Island on the Singapore Cable Car. It is sightseeing without effort, a slow glide over harbour views that frames the city in miniature before you hit the ground running. Choose an early morning ride for crisp skyline photos and a cinematic mood. Keep your camera ready, because the angles keep changing.
10am
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore is built for maximum fun with minimal planning, but arriving early makes everything better. Prioritise the rides you actually care about, then use the park's quieter pockets for snack breaks and people-watching. The energy is unapologetically blockbuster, with themed attractions such as the HUMAN vs. CYLON duelling coasters and the pitch-black twists of Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor ride packed with fire, drops and surprises. For blockbuster adrenaline without the bruises, TRANSFORMERS The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle throws you into a high-speed, screen-and-motion war zone, while Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure adds white-knuckle splashes and a final plunge that hits hardest in the heat.
5pm
Shop until you drop on Orchard Road
Orchard Road is Singapore’s polished playground, a long strip of malls, fashion flagships and glossy façades that turns shopping into a full activity. Even if you are not here to max out your credit card or suitcase, it is worth walking a section simply to understand how the city revels in retail. It is also an easy place to recharge between Sentosa and dinner, with cafés everywhere and people watching a given.
7pm
Experience Satay Street
Lau Pa Sat is a classic hawker landmark, but the real move is to time your visit for Satay Street. From 7pm onwards, Boon Tat Street transforms into an open-air grill line, with smoke, chatter and the unmistakable smell of skewers hitting hot coals. Go straight for satay, order a mixed platter, and add icy drinks to keep pace. Stalls are numbered, and regulars often point newcomers toward stalls 7 and 8, but the best strategy is to follow the busiest smoke and commit.
8pm
Dine at the three MICHELIN-starred Zén
Dinner at Zén is a statement night, the sort of experience you plan your trip around rather than squeeze in. Björn Frantzén’s three Michelin-starred Singapore outpost is staged across a restored shophouse on Bukit Pasoh Road, with the meal unfolding floor by floor. The neo-Nordic tasting menu with Japanese accents starts with aperitifs and amuse-bouches before a seafood-leaning procession of precise plates. Look out for the signature onion course that plays with temperature and texture, and a showpiece of grilled A5 wagyu when it appears. Pairings are equally serious, including inventive non alcoholic options. This is the city at its most elevated, literally and figuratively, with service that never misses.
Day three
After visiting the main attractions, venture further afield to explore culture at National Gallery Singapore, then go sky-high on the Singapore Flyer, before finishing with the full Marina Bay after-dark trilogy.
9am
Take in the art at the National Gallery Singapore
Begin day three with culture at the National Gallery Singapore, one of the city’s most rewarding indoor escapes. The building itself is part of the draw, housed within two national monuments that lend grandeur before you even reach the art. Inside, the focus on Southeast Asian works gives real context to the region, balancing big names with discoveries that make you slow down. Do not try to do it all. Pick a few galleries, take breaks, and let the architecture guide you between rooms.
11am
Visit Singapore’s Merlion
Singapore’s Merlion is the city’s most iconic selfie spot, a half-lion, half-fish guardian that nods to legend and seafaring roots. The main 8.6 metre statue at Merlion Park by Marina Bay continually spouts water, beautifully framing skyline views of the Esplanade and Marina Bay Sands. Come at sunrise for softer light, or after dark when the promenade sparkles.
11:30am
Ride the Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer delivers the kind of slow, cinematic view that photographs rarely capture. One rotation is long enough to spot key Singapore landmarks, as the city unfolds at 165 metres above the ground. Go in the morning for the full skyline spectacle. It is calm, air-conditioned, and surprisingly romantic even when you are riding with a crowd.
12:30pm
Immerse yourself at teamLab Singapore
If the heat is peaking, head to teamLab Future World at ArtScience Museum for an hour that feels like stepping into a living screen saver. The works are interactive, meaning your movement shapes what you see, and the experience plays nicely across ages and attention spans. It is immersive without being exhausting, but keep your phone charged, because you will want photos.
2pm
Have a leisurely lunch at CÉ LA VI
Perched on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI turns a midday meal into a skyline event, with the city and the Singapore Strait stretching out as your backdrop. The menu leans modern Asian, designed for sharing and lingering, so book a table with a view and treat it like a long lunch, ordering the signature Sushi Rice Risotto and a selection of handcrafted cocktails. Dress codes are enforced, so keep it smart.
4pm
Explore Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is where Singapore goes full sci-fi botanist. Give yourself a proper window to wander, because it is not just a quick photo stop. Start outdoors with the Supertrees, then dive into the cooled conservatories when you need a break from humidity. Cloud Forest is the drama queen, all mist and vertical greenery, while Flower Dome is lighter and slower, built for strolling and seasonal displays. Plan for at least two hours, wear comfortable shoes, and let the city’s futuristic garden take control.
6pm
Marvel at Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is less a hotel and more a landmark you can enter. Even if you are not staying here, the complex is worth a visit for the architecture, the shopping, and the sense of scale that defines this part of the city. If you are checking in, the SkyPark Infinity Pool is the headline, perched 57 storeys up and designed for that iconic edge-of-the-world photo. If you are not, aim for the observation deck, the gondola rides, or the floating Apple Store.
7.45pm
Watch Garden Rhapsody
Garden Rhapsody is the moment Gardens by the Bay becomes a full performance. Arrive early, claim a spot beneath the Supertrees, lie back and look up. The show runs nightly at 7.45pm and 8.45pm, and it is free, which is part of the magic. Lights ripple through the towering structures in sync with music, turning the grove into a glowing amphitheatre.
8pm
Experience Spectra
From Supertree Grove, make your way to the waterfront for Spectra, Marina Bay Sands’ nightly light and water show. It plays like a short film projected onto the bay, with fountains, lasers and a cinematic soundtrack. Shows run at 8pm and 9pm, with a third performance at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can time it around dinner or treat it as the final act of your evening walk.
8:30pm
Dinner at Labyrinth
Labyrinth is Singaporean food seen through a fine-dining lens, playful but precise. The restaurant is chef-owner LG Han Li Guang’s one Michelin-starred love letter to Singapore, served as an inventive tasting menu in a moody, theatre-like room. He starts with flavours remembered from childhood and rebuilds them with modern technique and premium local produce, so every course feels familiar, then surprising. Signature highlights include Ang Moh Chicken Rice and a nostalgic Chilli Crab Pie style homage. Book ahead, dress up a little, and lean into the storytelling.
Where to stay
Four Seasons Singapore
Four Seasons Singapore is the dependable luxury choice when you want calm in the middle of everything. Set along Orchard Boulevard, it places you close to shopping, dining and easy connections across the city, while keeping the atmosphere resolutely serene once you step inside. Rooms are spacious and polished, service is discreet, and the location is ideal for travellers who like a soft landing after long days on foot.
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is for travellers who want Marina Bay at their doorstep without sacrificing tranquillity. Overlooking the bay, the hotel feels like a sanctuary with a front-row seat, especially useful when your days end with light shows and waterfront walks. Interiors skew contemporary with subtle Oriental touches, and the sense of service is polished in that signature Mandarin Oriental way. Choose it if you want convenience that still feels quietly luxurious.
Marina Bay Sands
Staying at Marina Bay Sands is the full icon experience, changing how you see the city. The main draw is the SkyPark Infinity Pool, reserved for hotel guests and perched 57 storeys above the bay, which means sunrise swims and late-night skyline moments become part of your routine. Beyond the headline, you have direct access to shopping, dining, and the ArtScience Museum, plus a location that makes evening shows effortless. It is not subtle, but it is undeniably Singapore, and for a first visit, it is hard to beat.
METT Singapore
METT Singapore is a smart choice if you like your city breaks with a side of greenery and heritage character. Set within Fort Canning Park, it blends colonial charm with a modern lifestyle energy, offering a quieter atmosphere than the downtown giants while still keeping you minutes from Orchard Road. With a smaller scale, it feels more personal, and the park setting is a gift for morning walks before the heat builds. Choose METT if you want destination dining, including the Dubai exports L’amo Bistro del Mare and the soon-to-open HANU.
Raffles Singapore
Raffles Singapore is the grand old name, and checking in feels like stepping into a story Singapore has been telling for generations. The building carries a sense of history without becoming a museum piece, with suites that keep the mood elegant and service that still trades on old-world ceremony. The Long Bar at Raffles is part cocktail pilgrimage, part time capsule, where the ceiling fans turn lazily above a two-storey room. This is where the Singapore Sling was first mixed in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, and it still arrives in that unmistakable rosy hue, sweet, tropical, and deceptively punchy.
The Singapore EDITION
The Singapore EDITION is for travellers who like their luxury with a sharper edge. Located near the upper stretch of Orchard Boulevard, it brings a newer, design-forward energy to the city’s hotel scene, pairing sleek public spaces with a sense of nightlife built into the brand’s DNA. Expect a rooftop pool, contemporary dining concepts and the kind of minimalism that photographs well without trying too hard.
When to visit
Singapore works year-round, but your comfort depends on how you plan the day. Expect humidity, quick tropical downpours, and strong air conditioning, so pack light layers and an umbrella that fits in your bag. The simplest rule is to front-load your walking: mornings are kinder, and the city comes alive again after 5pm when the heat starts to ease. If you are chasing outdoor sights like Fort Canning or Gardens by the Bay, keep mid-afternoon for museums, malls or a long lunch. Singapore rewards smart pacing more than any single season.
Getting there and away
Changi Airport makes GCC arrivals on Emirates and Singapore Airlines feel painless, with straightforward connections into the city by public bus and other transport options. It’s also the only place outside of the UAE to stock Fix Dessert Chocolatier, the official Dubai Chocolate. If you are travelling on a budget, buses depart from the terminals and cover multiple routes, while taxis and ride-hailing are the easiest choice after a long flight. Once you are in town, the MRT is clean, fast and intuitive, and contactless cards and travel passes keep things simple when you are hopping between neighbourhoods.
