Singapore, a multinational, multilingual and rightfully the city (and country) of the world is like no other place! Located just off the southern tip of Malaysia, this modern city is a beautiful blend of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian and English cultures.
The city is touted to be one of the most expensive in the world. Despite all that it is loved by solo and group travelers alike. In this blog, I will share the perfect itinerary for a 5 day trip to Singapore along with some tips that can make your trip better!
Things to know before you travel to Singapore
Language: Most local people in Singapore are bilingual and can speak English and either Malay, Tamil or Chinese.
Climate: The weather in Singapore is consistent throughout the year. Temperatures usually range between 28 degrees to 35 degrees. Certain days can experience heavy rains but they don’t last for long at a time. The country is ideal to travel all around the year.
Currency: The Singapore dollar (SGD) is the currency of choice here. SGD 1 converts to INR 61.44 (USD 0.75) [as on May 2023]
Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in the world so make sure you have budgeted for the same.
Cash and cards: Both cash and cards work here. Most places accepts cards except for certain markets where they prefer cash.
It will be a good idea to keep a mix of both cash and card.
How to get around Singapore
I was particularly impressed by the public transport in Singapore.
Getting around from one place to another is super easy thanks to MRT also known as Mass Rapid Transit. The MRT is super cheap and works across buses and metros. If you are planning to explore as much of the city as possible, the Singapore Tourist Pass can be a great deal. It gives you unlimited travel for a set period.
If metro isn’t your style of travel, then you can also book cabs pretty easily using the Grab App. Uber doesn’t really work here and getting a cab is quite easy.
Where to stay?
While everyone dreams to stay at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, the hotel isn’t the most affordable option. However, if you wish to splurge a little and indulge in some luxury you should definitely consider booking this one.
The more affordable options to stay in Singapore are located in Little India, Kampong Glam and Chinatown. Generally hotels can be found in the range of INR 8k to INR 12k (Checkout the hotel we booked – Village Hotel Bugis).
If you are on a budget then Singapore offers a bunch of Hostel options too starting at 3K. You can check them out at Hostelworld.
Day 1 in Singapore
MERLION PARK
On Day 1 start at the Merlion park. Visit the iconic Merlion and soak in the view of MBS, Art and Science Museum and the floating apple store from across. This place gets crowded early so I would recommend coming here early to get that iconic shot.
LUNCH AT A HAWKER CENTER
Singapore despite being an expensive city has places such as the hawker centers where you can eat for as low as SGD 3. There are various hawker centers in Singapore where you can enjoy some great meals.
GARDENS BY THE BAY
The combination of the cloud dome, flower dome, floral fantasy and the supergrove trees makes up the Gardens by the Bay area. In my opinion, this is the best place in Singapore (particularly Supergrove trees). I would highly recommend heading to this place post 4 pm to enjoy the entire place. You will easily spend 3-4 hours here exploring all the attractions. Don’t miss out on the lightshow at the Gardens which happen every day at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm.
Day 2 in Singapore
SINGAPORE ZOO AND RIVER WONDERS
Begin Day 2 by visiting the iconic Singapore Zoo and River wonders early in the morning. The tickets are at the pricier side but the experience is totally worth it. You will end up spending 5-6 hours exploring the zoo. Its wide and has number of enclosures with beautiful animals to check out.
The Singapore Zoo is located approximately 30 mins from the city center. Best way to reach is cab which can cost anything between SGD 25 to SGD 30.
SINGAPORE FLYER
After all that exploring, time to head to the Singapore Flyer. This 30 minute experience is totally out of the world. I would recommend going around sunset time to witness a 360 degree view of the entire city. It is truly magical 🙂
CLARK QUAY
Next head to Clark Quay, one of the most happening places in Singapore. Here you will find a string of restaurants and shopping avenues along the Singapore River. This place is best to walk around and observe the city life. You will find a lot of locals chilling and enjoying some great meals!
Day 3 in Singapore
Day 3 is dedicated to check out all the cultural hubs in Singapore. If you don’t already know, in Singapore you will find people from different cultures (Malay, Indians, Chinese etc.) co-existing in harmony!
KAMPONG GLAM
The Kampong Glam area houses the Arab Street, Haji Lane and Sultan Mosque. Start your day at Sultan Mosque to avoid the crowds and get that iconic shot with the mosque. Haji Lane is home to some beautiful street art along with cute cafes and stores. Be mindful that the stores are slightly on the pricier side.
BUGIS STREET MARKET
The Bugis Area of Singapore is really popular among locals and foreigners alike as one can indulge in some affordable shopping for some trendy clothes. Its a kind of underground market but stuff here is really cheap.
LITTLE INDIA
After exploring Bugis and Kampong Glam area, next head to Little India. Here you can relish some lip smacking food and visit the temples. This is a colorful little neighborhood where you can spend a lot of time enjoying the architecture. Whilst you are here, don’t forget to checkout the Mustafa center, a multi storied store for all things possible – Food, electronics, shoes, apparels and what not!
VISIT THE MARINA BAY SANDS OBSERVATORY DECK AND THE MALL
Time to head back to MBS once again and climb on its observatory deck. You can easily buy its tickets online and reserve the slot (prefer post sunset). You can get a spectacular view of the city and slowly see it light up. Post that you can enjoy and indulge in some shopping at the Shoppes (Do check out the Charles & Keith store for affordable bags and shoes). Enjoy the MBS light show which happens everynight around 8 pm and 9 pm for 15-20 mins. It is spectacular and gives a tough competition to the Dubai one.
Day 4 in Singapore
Day 4 is all about exploring Singapore beyond buildings and its attractions! Lets head to the Sentosa island 
SENTOSA ISLAND
Sentosa Resorts World Island is home to Universal studios, some stunning beaches and of course beautiful resorts. If you wish to explore the islands fully then I would recommend parking two days from your itinerary. But, if you only have a day to spare then make sure you checkout all the beautiful beaches namely – Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong!
Reaching here is super easy as a monorail runs which connects the mainland to the island. The monorail is absolutely free to use!
CHINATOWN
After enjoying a fun filled day at the beach, time to head to Chinatown for a relaxing evening! Head to the Buddha Relic Temple and soak in the architecture and peaceful vibes! If you are planning to buy souvenirs for home or family then the street market here is the best as you can score some really good deals.
Day 5 in Singapore
This is the last day in Singapore, but there is so much to see and explore – So let’s get started! After checking out from the hotel, head to
ART AND SCIENCE MUSEUM/ICE CREAM MUSEUM
Pick how you wanna start your last day in Singapore – Indulge in an immersive experience or eat unlimited ice creams. Both the experience have a different charm and are super interesting.
ORCHARD ROAD
If you are a shopaholic you should definitely head to Orchard Road. The entire road is filled with high street brands and affordable malls where you can spend hours exploring.
CHANGI AIRPORT
You must be wondering, why an airport is on the list. Well, this airport is voted number ONE in the world. The Jewel Changi is the highest indoor waterfall in the world. Apart from that the airport has a butterfly garden, 24 hour movie hall, indoor slide and what not!
Where to book tickets for various attractions?
Tickets to various attractions in Singapore can be very expensive. Though you can book directly from the respective websites. One tip to save money is to book them through third party apps such Klook.com or Headout!
Tickets to the Amazon River Quest can be booked directly at River wonders only.
The above itinerary is perfect for a 5 day trip! But if you have more time on your hands or manage to cover more in a day then check out this blog ➡️
I hope you enjoyed the blog and it helps you in planning a perfect trip to Singapore.
If you have any other queries, then drop them in the comments section below. Until then, see you next time!
Love,
Rituparna
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Thank you so much for the kind words Saritha! Glad you found my page useful 🙂
Dear friend superb guide you covered almost everything a traveler should look into. I’ve been thinking lately that I would love to visit
I am glad to read your blog about your travel experience very interesting thanks.
Your personal experiences and vivid descriptions truly bring the city to life, making me feel like I’m right there with you on this incredible journey. Your blog is a wonderful source of inspiration for fellow adventurers looking to explore the magic of.
Keep sharing your stories and insights – they’re a delight to read!
Sreenandhana from Kerala tourism.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed reading this one 😃
Very informative
Thank you ☺️
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