DAY 1 – EXPLORING THE PAST & FUTURE OF SINGAPORE

COLONIAL DISTRICT, THE QUAYS & MARINA BAY

MORNING WALKING TOUR DAY 1
See our recommended Morning Singapore Walking Tour – Day 1 in the map below:

Singapore
Walking Tour – Day 1 Morning – Click the map for a larger view

1. OLD-SCHOOL SINGAPORE BREAKFAST

If you don´t have breakfast included at your hotel, start your sightseeing walk of the Colonial
District with breakfast at one of the cozy cafes in Killiney Road (A on the map above). 

Start your first day in Singapore like a real old-school Singaporean and visit the Killiney
Kopitiam (cafe). For breakfast, order kopi (coffee) or tea, Kaya toast (toast with coconut jam),
and a soft-boiled egg. The right way to eat it is to crack open the egg, add some soy sauce and
pepper, and dip your toast with Kaya in the egg, and eat it with your fingers. Delicious! 🙂

Traditional Singapore breakfast at Killiney consisting

of kopi (coffee) or tea, Kaya toast (toast with coconut jam), and soft-boiled eggs
Killiney Kopitiam is one of the most authentic places that still serve this kind of old-style-
Singapore breakfast.

You will find Killiney cafes in many places in Singapore, but the original one is this one at 67
Killiney Road. I must admit that the atmosphere here is still the best even though newer and
posher branches of this cafe keep popping up all over Singapore and at the airport as well.
The popular Killiney Kopitiam (cafe) in Killiney Road has been serving delicious Malaysian food since
1919
2. FORT CANNING PARK & COLONIAL DISTRICT
After this filling traditional Singapore breakfast, it is time to explore the heart of Singapore;
the Colonial District.

The Colonial District area is packed with stunning grand colonial buildings, a relaxing park,
and several awesome museums. It is the perfect area to explore on foot as everything is
within a rather small geographical area.

From Killiney Road (A on the map above), walk east to Fort Canning Park (B) for a morning
stroll in the shade of the gigantic green trees.
Walk east and out of the park and into the Colonial District of Singapore. See the beautiful
colonial-style buildings:

 National Museum (C on the map above)

 Peranakan Museum (D)

  St Andrew´s Cathedral (E), which was built in 1862

 National Gallery (F)

 Asian Civilisations Museum (G)

 Raffles Hotel (H)

 End your morning walk with lunch in Purvis Street (I)

♦ Estimated time for this morning walk: 2-3 hours

3. VISIT A MUSEUM AND THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Visit the National Gallery and one of the many brilliant museums of Singapore, which are all
within walking distance of each other (my favorite is the National Museum so I would pick
that one if I were you):

 National Museum of Singapore (C on the map above)

Shows six centuries of Singapore history, also the recent history of the city. We
loved the digital 3D artwork presented in the Glass Rotunda, Story of the Forest. 

 Peranakan Museum (D)
Tells the story of the rich heritage of the Peranakans which are the Chinese
descendants in Singapore, their culture, arts and crafts, spirituality, and food.

 National Gallery Singapore (F)

This is the most stunning national gallery we have ever visited. The building in itself
is impressive (the old City Hall and Old Supreme Court buildings), housing more
than 8000 pieces of 19th-century and modern Southeast Asian art pieces. Make
sure to head up to the rooftop bar/ restaurant for a fantastic Singapore skyline
view.

 Asian Civilisations Museum (G)

Located in a beautiful yellow and white colonial building, its galleries give you a
great insight into Singapore´s heritage as a port city of trade between Southeast
Asia, China, India, and Europe. One of the highlights is the Tang shipwreck that
sunk more than 1000 years ago, where lots of the ceramics (the ship had over 60
0000 ceramics) are on display. We joined a free guided tour of the museum which
was awesome! Highly recommended!

The museums have opening hours: 10:00 – 19:00, although some of them close later on
Fridays and Saturdays (21:00 or 22:00, check their web pages).

♦ Estimated time visiting museums: 2-3 hours

4. LUNCH IN PURVIS STREET

Purvis Street (I on the map above), next to the Raffles Hotel, is filled with excellent restaurants
and cafes.

Here you will find something for every taste and budget, like Garibaldi serving Italian food (a
bit expensive), Jai Thai that has mouth-watering and cheap Thai food, Killiney Kopitiam where
you can get old Malaysian inspired food, Mexican food (we had some delicious tacos here),
and French food at Saveur. Plenty to choose from and I promise that you will not leave Purvis
Street hungry! 🙂

♦ Estimated time for lunch: 1 hour

AFTERNOON WALKING TOUR DAY 1
After lunch, it is time to head towards the waterfront for another walking tour through the
Marina Bay district and the Quays district.

This part of Singapore is filled with modern architectural masterpieces, some spectacular
light-and-music shows, and lively restaurants and bars by the river.

See our recommended Afternoon Singapore Walking Tour – Day 1 below:

Singapore Walking Tour  – Day 1 Afternoon – Click the map for a larger view

5. MERLION
From Purvis Street where you had lunch (A on the map above), walk south to the river
and the Quays district.

Cross the Esplanade Bridge to the Merlion Park where you find the famous Merlion statue
(B) – the official mascot of Singapore.

Merlion is a statue of a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It was
created as a PR-stunt by the tourism board back in the 1980s, and it soon became the icon of
Singapore.

Enjoy the view of Marina Bay with the iconic Marya Bay Sands and the glittering The
Esplanade Theatres on The Bay.
You can also jump on a boat cruise to get a full guided tour of Marina Bay and the
Singapore River.

♦ Estimated time for this afternoon walk: 1-2 hours

6. GARDENS BY THE BAY
Head north along the Esplanade Bridge towards Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, and
continue to walk east along Marina Promenade to the Helix Bridge (C).

Take in the stunning view of the Singapore skyline while you cross the Helix Bridge. Have an
ice cream at the ice-cream vendor (an old man) standing at the end of Helix Bridge.

When you get to the Marina Bay Sands side, take a left and walk over to Gardens by the Bay
(D).

The spectacular Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay doing their light-and-music

show every night at 19:45 and 20:45
Spend at least a couple of hours wandering around the Gardens by the Bay, and don´t miss
the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest Dome, and Supertree Grove with its OCBC Skyway (a 22 m
high walkway between the Skytrees) as they are awesome!

If you want to avoid the long ticket queue and save money, buy your discounted e-tickets
here in advance. The tickets are flexible, so you can book them now and use them any time
within the next 180 days.

And last but not least, see the daily light-and-music show Garden Rhapsody at 19:45 and
20:45 when the Supertrees come alive in a spectacular colorful light show. It is a real must!

⇒ Read more about Gardens by the Bay and what you should not miss here

 Opening hours: The Gardens is open every day 05:00 – 02:00, the Domes and
OCBC Skyway is open 09:00 – 21:00 (last ticket sale is 20:00)
 The Gardens by the Bay show: 19:45 and 20:45 every day
 Ticket price Gardens by the Bay: Free
 Ticket price Flower Dome + Cloud Forest Dome: S$28 (adult) = US$20, and S$15
(child 3-12 years old) = US$11
 Ticket price OCBC Skyway: S$8 for an adult = US$, S$5 for a child (8-12 years old) =
US$4
♦ Estimated time at Gardens by the Bay: 3-4 hours

7. MARINA BAY
From Gardens by the Bay, walk over to the nearby Marina Bay Sands (E) along the bay
promenade.

Marina Bay Sands looks like a gigantic stranded ship, but it´s an architectural masterpiece by
an Israeli-born architect housing a hotel, casino, theatre, exhibition, museum, and a huge
shopping mall. The price for building this glittering architectural star was S$5,7 billion!

The “ship” on top of the three 55-story towers is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel´s infinity pool.
Yep, the view from the rooftop swimming pool is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Sadly, only guests staying at
the hotel are allowed to use the infinity pool, but you can head up for a drink in the Cé La Vi
Skybar and enjoy the same view just not with the same Instagram-wow-factor. 🙂

You can pay the S$30 entrance fee to the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, or just go to the
bar and order something to drink and enjoy the same kind of view but with a drink in hand.
Supersmart if you ask me 😉 You enter the bar via the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
The gigantic Marina Bay Sands – a hotel, casino, museum, and shopping mall
But the real reason why should head over to Marina Bay Sands is to catch another impressive
light-and-music show, called Spectra.

The show is shown at the outside and on the actual Marina Bay Sands building every night
at 20:00 and 21:00 + 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The fantastic light-and-music show Spectra in front of Marina Bay Sands every night
at 20:00, 21:00 + 22:00 every Friday and Saturday
Grab a seat at the benches in front of the shopping mall Marina Bay Sands and take in the
lights, water fountain, and music that will appear in front of you. The show lasts about 15
minutes and is free. You can also watch it from the other side, the city side, but I think it is
more spectacular from the Marina Bay Sands side of the bay.

♦ Estimated time at Marina Bay Sands: 1-2 hours

8. DINNER AT MAKANSUTRA GLUTTONS BAY

End your great sightseeing day with some delicious food at the Makansutra Gluttons Bay
hawker stall market (F) on the other side of the bay (outside the Esplanade Mall).

If you want to have dinner at the Marina Bay Sands shopping mall, head to the excellent
hawker-style food court in the basement serving local Singapore food.

Delicious and cheap street food at Makansutra Gluttons Bay

food market
 Opening hours Marina Bay Sands food court: 07:00 – 22:00

 Opening hours Makansutra Gluttons Bay street food market: 17:00 – 02:00
Monday – Thursday, until 03:00 Friday and Saturday, and 16:00 – 01:00 on Sundays
9. CLARKE QUAY NIGHTLIFE
If you have more energy left, head over to Clarke Quay (G) to wind down at one of the many
bars and pubs and enjoy the Singapore nightlife.

The Quays is the area by the riverfront and consists of three quays connected by the
Singapore River: Boat Quay, Robertson Quay, and Clarke Quay. Clarke Quay is the most
popular and lively part of the Quays, lined with restaurants, bars, and clubs. Have some
drinks and dance the night away.

Or you can end your night a more sophisticated way by heading up in the sky to the
previously mentioned “Cé La Vi Skybar” at Marina Bay Sands or the rooftop bar “Smoke and
Mirrors” on the top of National Gallery. Both have an excellent view of the Singapore skyline.

The popular and lively Clarke Quay, lined with restaurants, bars, and clubs

DAY 2 – SHOPPING & WILD LIFE

ORCHARD ROAD, LITTLE INDIA, KAMPONG GLAM & NIGHT SAFARI

1.SHOPPING BONANZA IN ORCHARD STREET

Take the MRT to Orchard Station or Somerset Station and start your day in the famous
shopping mecca Orchard Road. Here you can shop till you drop or till your credit cards are
empty.
Singapore´s Orchard Road is the best place to go shopping, probably in the world!
Orchard Roads is packed with huge shopping malls. Here is the best shopping in Singapore,
in my opinion:

 ION Orchard Mall

Singapore´s poshest and biggest megamall with the observation deck ION Sky on
level 56. This shopping mall is located directly above Orchard MRT Station. The
basement floors have brands like Zara, Esprit, Uniqlo while the upper floors have
more posh and expensive brands like Singapore´s famous fashion label In Good
Company.

 Paragon
A see and be seen kind of shopping mall with very posh and expensive upper-class
brands like Burberry, Prada, Gucci, Armani, and Jimmy Choo.

 Ngee Ann City

An old mall that looks a bit old fashion on the outside, but it´s great on the inside
 with seven floors of shopping bonanza and a cinema. It has the best bookshop in
Asia, the Kinokuniya, and also houses the best food court in Orchard Road, the
Takashimaya Food Village.

 Orchardgateway
A shopping mall that spans on both sides of Orchard Road and is connected by an
underground walkway as well as an above-ground bridge. It has a dedicated floor
for men’s clothes and stuff. It has big brands like Zara and H&M and lots of nice
restaurants and cafes.
There is a hotel, the Jen Orchardgateway Hotel on the upper floors (reception is
on the 10th floor of Orchardgateway mall). We stayed at this hotel and loved it,
especially their rooftop swimming pool which is gigantic with a fantastic view of
the Singapore skyline.

 Tanglin Shopping Centre

A retro mall that has Asian art and antiques like carvings, jewelry, paintings,
furniture and so on.

♦ Estimated time for shopping in Orchard Road: 3 hours (can, of course, be much, much longer….)

2. WIND DOWN IN EMERALD HILL ROAD

Have a well-earned break and something cold to drink at one of the bars in the renovated
shophouses in the cozy and atmospheric Emerald Hill Road.

Go for a stroll along the cozy Emerald Hill Road, a side street from
Orchard Road
Go for a short stroll along this road and admire Singapore´ s most beautiful terrace houses,
some of them dating back to early 1900. Although this road is just a stone throw from the
busy Orchard Road, it feels like a completely different area.

♦ Estimated time for cafe/ pub and walking around in Emerald Hill Road: 1 hour

3. LITTLE INDIA
The Little India district of Singapore is excellent to explore on foot. Here is our recommended
walking tour of Little India Singapore:
 Little India
Walking Tour – Click the map for a larger view
Take the MRT to Little India Station (A on the map above), where you start your walking
tour of Little India.

Once you step out of the station, it is like you have teleported yourself to India! It is just
completely different from the rest of the posh, clean, and glossy Singapore.

Walk around in the small lanes between Serangoon Road and Jln Besar and take in the smells,
sounds, and the bustling and vibrant atmosphere. The area gets very crowded on Sundays.

Although Little India has some beautiful temples, we come to this part of Singapore for the
delicious and authentic Indian food. So make sure to grab some Indian food along the way.

Our favorite Indian restaurant is the Shish Mahal Restaurant next to Village Hotel Albert
Court just on the outskirts of Little India (close to Little India MRT Station). Try their butter
chicken with naan bread; it is heavenly good.

If you are a coffee addict and like hip and cool cafes, visit the cool Chye Seng Huat
Hardware cafe (in Jalan Besar, close to Lavender MRT Station).

Housed in an old shophouse, this was originally one of many hardware stores in the Jalan
Besar area (a part of Little India). It has now been restored into a cozy hipster cafe selling
delicious coffee, tea, cakes, and other small dishes. You can also take home a bag of coffee
beans roasted in the cafe.

They also arrange coffee workshops and a one-hour coffee tour where you can learn about
the process of roasting coffee beans.
After coffee and cakes at the atmospheric Chye Seng Huat Hardware Cafe, it is time to go for
a walk and burn off some calories. This walking tour takes you to the best things to do in
Little India Singapore:
 Tekka Centre (B on the map above)
A bustling shopping center with lots of spices, saris, Indian textiles, shoes, and so
on. It also has a street hawker section that serves some excellent and cheap Indian
street food like Murtabak (stuffed pancake), Roti (dough-flour pancake), Biryani,
Dosa (very thin lentil-flour pancake), and Teh Tarik (pulled tea, my favorite). The
perfect place to grab something to eat!

 Indian Heritage Center (C)

A relatively new (opened in 2015) museum and cultural center, costing S$12
 million to build. It shows the heritage of Singapore`s Indian community and
people and has artifacts, maps, and photos on display, as well as multimedia and a
lovely rooftop garden. The building in itself is pretty cool where the facade
becomes transparent at night where you can see a colorful mural.

 Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (D)

The most impressive and colorful Hindu temple in Singapore, dedicated to the
Hindu goddess Kali, and constructed in 1881.

 Mustafa Centre (E)

A 24/7 shopping mall that has absolutely everything! So if you can´t sleep at night
due to for instance jetlag, head of to Mustafa Centre and go shopping. 🙂

 Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple (F)

A Buddhist Temple with a huge 15 m tall Buddha weighing 300 tonnes. You will
also find Hindu gods Brahma and Ganesh, which is a bit odd for a Buddhist
Temple. The entrance is flanked by two big yellow tigers and a huge mother-of-
pearl footprint of Buddha (to your left when entering the temple) which is a replica
of the footprint on the top of Adam´s Peak in Sri Lanka.

End your walking tour of Little India at Farrer Park Station (G). From here, take the MRT to
Bugis Station to explore the next district of Singapore – Kampong Glam & Bugis.

♦ Estimated time for this walking tour of Little India: 2-3 hours
4. KAMPONG GLAM & BUGIS
Kampong Glam district, also called Arab Street, is located right beside Little India. You can
either walk here from Little India or take the MRT to Bugis Station.
Our recommended walking tour of Kampong Glam & Bugis:

Kampong
Glam & Bugis – Click the map for a larger view
Start your walking tour of Kampong Glam and Bugis at Bugis MRT Station (A on the map
above).

Kampong Glam area has a great mix of hipster cafe, trendy restaurants, cool shops, and
Islamic culture and mosques.

The most famous and fashionable street in Kampong Glam is the Haji Lane (B on the map
above).

Haji Lane is a walking street full of street art murals, packed with relaxed cafes and trendy
boutiques selling everything from hipster clothes, design stuff, shoes, backpacks, and third-
wave jewelry. I love walking around in this area, popping into the small boutiques and cafes.

Haji Lane is packed with cool shops and cafes

There are lots of cool shops in Haji Lane selling everything from clothes, shoes, hipster
backpacks, jewelry, and souvenirs. Also, check out these nice shops:

 Supermama
Local designers, excellent for souvenirs and gifts to bring back home

 Scene Shang (next to Supermama)

Cool furniture, stone wear, and art

 The textile and silk shops along Arab Street

  Kapok, located in the National Design Centre
Sells cool designer clothes and sandals
The beautiful Sultan Mosque in the heart of Kampong Glam
Make sure to visit the Sultan Mosque (C on the map above) with its beautiful golden topped
dome sparkling in the sun. The mosque is the signature building of Kampong Glam.

If you are hungry, Kampong Glam is the perfect area to eat or grab some snacks, coffee, or a
cup of tea. You will find Malay, Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern food. We had
delicious woodfired Italian pizza at cozy Cicheti.
Make sure to grab some pastries at the Konditori, a Swedish bakery and cafe. They have the
best pastries in Singapore in my opinion! I loved it!

If you have the time and love movies like us, then a visit to the independent and
supercool cinema Projector (D on the map above) is a must. We saw a very cute animated
film here. They also have a cool cafe in the lobby of the cinema.

Bugis is a small part of Kampong Glam where you among other shopping centers will
find Bras Basah Complex (E on the map above) with some cool shops like the Basheer
Graphic Books (fourth floor). They sell lots of film books, art books, photography books, as
well as books on design, typography, interior and architecture. The bookshop also has
Singapore´s best selection of international niche magazines. Love this bookstore!

♦ Estimated time for this walking tour of Kampong Glam & Bugis: 1-2 hours (more if you want to
eat here or see a movie at the cinema Projector)
5. NIGHT SAFARI
After all this city sightseeing, it is finally time to leave the urban jungle and head into the
wilderness in the north of Singapore.

Jump in a taxi or use the Grab app, and head north to join the famous Night Safari, which is
located next to Singapore Zoo. The drive takes about 30 minutes.
The entrance to the Night Safari part of Singapore Zoo opens at 19:15 and the park closes at midnight. Jump
on the tram to get a guided tour of the park
The Night Safari part of Singapore Zoo opens at 19:15, and the park closes around midnight.
If you want to see the animals in daylight, you should instead visit the Singapore Zoo (opening
hours: 08:30 – 18:00), or you can, of course, visit both the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

If you want to skip the ticket line and save money, I recommend that you buy e-tickets for
the Night Safari in advance here.

The tickets are flexible, so you can buy them now and use them any time within the next five
months. Very easy and convenient!

♦ Estimated time at Singapore Night Safari: 3 hours

DAY 3 – BEACH, ENTERTAINMENT & DINING

SENTOSA ISLAND & CHINATOWN
After all that city sightseeing, museums, temples, and shopping, it is time to head to the
“tropical beach” and have some fun on Sentosa Island.

Sentosa Island with stunning beaches and plenty of things to do

like Universal Studios and SEA Aquarium
There are several ways to get to Sentosa Island from Singapore city: Cable car (take the MRT
to HarbourFront Station where the cable car runs from between 08:45 to 21:30), The
monorail Sentosa Express (goes from VivoCity beside HarbourFront Station), taxi, or just walk
across the Sentosa Boardwalk from VivoCity (the walk takes about 15 minutes).

1. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS & SEA AQUARIUM

There are plenty of fun activities to join on Sentosa Island. Head there early in the morning
to beat the crowd.

Here are the best things to do in Sentosa Island:

 Universal Studios
A gigantic theme park packed with activities, rides, and shows. Great fun, especially
for the kids!

 SEA Aquarium (SoutEast Asia Aquarium)

The world´s biggest aquarium with sharks, mantas, octopus, jellyfish, seahorses,
and lots of colorful fish.
  Wave House
An artificial wave where you can try out your surfing skills.

 MegaZip Line
Tempting to go in 60 km/h on a zip line 75 m above the ground through the jungle
and down to the beach? Then this is it!

You can easily spend a couple of days exploring everything on Sentosa, but since this is your
last day in Singapore, you should try to wrap up your time in Universal Studios and SEA
Aquarium during the afternoon.
The Beaches At Sentosa Island
Wind down and relax at one of the three beaches on Sentosa:

 Palawan Beach
A relaxed part of Sentosa popular among families with kids as you will find a
children’s playground here

 Siloso Beach
Singapore’s hippest beach with bars and discos and parties in the evening

 Tanjong Beach
Relaxed and quiet, a nice place to chill. It has beach hammocks, Tanjong Beach
Club and FOC Sentosa. This beach is very romantic in the evening with candlelit
tables where you can have dinner, also infinity pools with comfortable daybeds.

And best of all, visiting the beaches is free! Yay! 🙂

♦ Estimated time at Sentosa Island:  A full day. It depends on what you want to do, but after 8
hours you will be pretty exhausted.
2. CHINATOWN
In the evening, head back to Singapore city and take the MRT to Chinatown Station (A on
the map below).

Walk around Chinatown where the best things to do in Chinatown Singapore are (in our
opinion):

Chinatown
Walking Tour – Click the map for a larger view
 Chinatown Heritage Centre (B on the map above)
This museum tells the story of Chinatown’s colorful and chaotic history. There is an
excellent audio tour included in the ticket.

 Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (C)

A beautiful and huge five-story temple that has the left canine tooth of the
Buddha. The tooth is kept inside a 420 kg heavy gold stupa on the 4th floor.
The temple is packed with Buddha figures and has a nice rooftop garden. (opening
hours: 07:00 – 19:00, free entrance)

 The mural by Yip Yew Chong on Thian Hock Keng Temple (D)

A 44-meter long mural painted on the rear wall of Thian Hock Keng Temple. It is
painted by the famous Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong. The mural is beautiful
and tells the story of Immigrants to Singapore, from leaving China to arriving at
their new home in Singapore. Start from the right end to “read” the mural.
 The stunning 44 m long mural by the artist Yip Yew Chong on

Thian Hock Keng Temple in Chinatown The huge and iconic

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown
After a stroll around Chinatown, you must be hungry and thirsty. Grab some street food at
the hawker center Maxwell Food Centre (E on the map above) or Chinatown Complex (F).
If you want some more up-class dining, head to Amoy Street (G) or Telok Ayer Street (H).

Time to finish off your time in Singapore with a drink or two in one of the many cool rooftop
bars in Club Street (I) or Ann Siang Rd (J) which becomes a walking street after 19:00 on
Fridays and Saturdays.

♦ Estimated time walking tour of Chinatown: 2-4 hours (depending on how many drinks you want
to drink…. 🙂 )

DAY 4 – WILD LIFE, GREENERY & FLOWERS

SINGAPORE ZOO & BOTANIC GARDEN

1. BOTANIC GARDEN

A beautiful orchid at Botanic Garden Singapore

Start your day with breakfast at the lovely PS Cafe before heading over to Botanic Garden for
a morning walk.

Or stack up on delicious hawker dishes at the Holland Village Market & Food Center (address:
1 Lor Mambong) like chicken rice and prawn noodles, or buy food at one of the many
gourmet delis at the streets Holland Village and Dempsey Hill, and head to the Botanic
Gardens for a picnic.

There is also a nice collection of hawker food stalls outside the Botanic Garden´s Healing
Garden called Food Canopy (next to the Raffles Building). There you find everything from the
old traditional Singapore breakfast kaya toast (toast with coconut jam) and kopi (coffee), to
Indian roti (bread), noodles, and roasted duck.

After all this food for breakfast, go for a walk around the stunning Botanic Garden. For me,
the highlight is the National Orchid Garden (opening hours: 08:30-19:00), the largest display
of orchids in the world. Orchid is my favorite flower, so I love walking around in this part of
the Botanic Garden.

The Ginger Garden part of Botanic Garden is also beautiful and houses the atmospheric Halia
restaurant with several ginger-based dishes on the menu. The Learning Forest with its
elevated walkways and boardwalks is the newest part of the Botanic Garden. It has a cool
canopy web where you can lay down and listen to the sounds of the forest. If you have kids,
head to the Jacob Ballas Children´s garden.

⇒ Read more about our visit to the Botanic Garden HERE

♦ Estimated time at Singapore Botanic Garden: 3-4 hours

2. SINGAPORE ZOO
If you only have done the Night Safari part of Singapore Zoo, and you have more days in
Singapore, you should visit the Singapore Zoo part. Make sure to take a break and an ice
cream at Ben&Jerry´s (our favorite ice cream).

 How to get to Singapore Zoo: It is easiest to take a taxi or Uber (a 30 min ride)

 Opening hours Singapore Zoo: 08:30 – 18:00

 Ticket price Singapore Zoo: S$33 for an adult, and S$22 for a child under 13 years
old. I recommend that you buy your discounted e-tickets here in advance,
which will save you a lot of money and time. The tickets are flexible so you can buy
them now and use them any time within the next five months.

♦ Estimated time at Singapore Zoo: 5-6 hours

DAY 5 – CAFES & MARKET IN A COOL HIPSTER NEIGHBORHOOD

THIONG BAHRU
Take the MRT to Thiong Bahru Station, and you will find yourself in the hippest residential
neighborhood of Singapore with hip boutiques, cool bars, and cozy cafes. You will not see any
high skyscrapers here, mostly low-rise buildings as this was Singapore´s first public-housing
area. The apartments now have an art deco vibe and are very popular among young hipster
Singaporeans and expats.
Thiong Bahru is said to be where rich Chinese businessmen housed their mistresses. Now
you find a refreshing mix of chic cafes and old Chinese restaurants and shops.

Go for a walk in the neighborhood and visit:

 To Market or Thiong Bahru Market & Food Centre

Dating back to 1955. Here you will find a wet market on the ground floor selling
vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish, and meat. They sell some delicious Thai mangoes!
Upstairs, however, is a hawker stall center with all kinds of Asian dishes and drinks.
(opening hours: 08:00 until late)

 BooksActually
A cool independent bookstore. There is a small museum in the back. (opening
hours: 10:00 – 20:00 Tue-Sat, until 18:00 Mon & Sun)

 Tiong Bahru Bakery

Love this cozy bakery that sells delicious and cute French pastries and coffee of
high quality. It has a nice sitting area both inside and outside. (opening hours:
08:00 – 20:00 Sun-Thur, until 22:00 Fri-Sat)

 Merci Marcel Cafe

Another cool hipster-like cafe (French) selling quality coffee and pastries. Located
next to Thiong Bahru Bakery. They have a lovely back garden area with tables.

 Plain Vanilla Bakery

We first fell in love with this bakery at the ION Orchard Mall, but they have a bigger
cafe and bakery in Thiong Bahru. They sell Singapore´s best and cutest cupcakes,
along with other delicious temptations. (opening hours: 08:00 – 19:00 Mon-Sat,
09:00 – 18:00 Sundays)

 Nana & Bird

A cool little boutique next to Plain Vanilla Bakery that sells independent fashion
clothes, shoes, and accessories.

 Creamier
On the other side of the street from Nana&Bird, they make delicious handmade
ice cream and coffee.

 Forty Hands
Close to the ice cream place Creamier, a small cafe serving excellent brunch and
coffee.

Day 1 in Singapore for budget travelers – A day of culture and

eating
For your first day in Singapore, we recommend you take the day to visit the different cultural
centers of Singapore. And if you like food as much as we do, today’s going to be delicious.

Walk through the colorful streets of Little India

Little India – Start in Singapore’s vibrant neighborhood

Start your first day in Singapore with Little India. Discover all the scents and sounds that
make this place unique. The colorful houses, the street art, the delicious food, and
the Mustafa Center.

This place has everything and anything you could possibly want: clothes, shoes, beauty
products, appliances, and electronics. If you need anything during your trip and want to stick
to a budget, this is the place for you! It’s one of the cheapest places to shop in Singapore.

Also, be sure to have a meal in Little India. You’ll have quite a few places to pick from. Our
fave was the Masala Dosa at Murugan Idli shop. It’s South Indian deliciousness! Expect great
food, but terrible service. Just laugh off the looks and attitude, and enjoy your meal. The great
thing is that the prices are quite low for budget travelers.

Getting here: Take the MRT and get off at the Little India MRT Station on the NorthEast or
Downtown lines.

Visit Singapore’s iconic area – Chinatown

Next, head over to Chinatown. The streets are filled with stalls selling a ton of souvenirs, in
case that’s your thing. We enjoy looking through the stalls but we never buy anything (we
can’t lug these things around for a year). Plus, it’s not very eco-friendly!

It’s still fun to see all the cool and crazy things they have available. There’s also plenty of
street food, so treat yo’ self and try a few different things!

Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown

Be sure to visit the Tooth Relic Temple with the 10,000 buddhas lining its walls: it’s truly a
beautiful temple. You can admire Buddha’s tooth on the second floor and be sure to make
your way up to the roof for the beautiful orchid garden. Not many people head up there, so
you’ll have some peace and quiet. 

The temple is free to visit, though you can make donations if you choose. Again, another
outing that’s perfect for budget travelers. It’s also important you wear appropriate clothing
when you go: cover your knees and shoulders. If not, you’ll be given a sarong and a shall to
cover up.

If time permits, you can also walk around Chinatown and find the cool Instagram-able
buildings that will make people wonder how you had time to squeeze a trip to Hong Kong.

Getting here: Take the MRT from Little India MRT Station towards Harbour Front on the
NorthEast line for 3 stops and exit at the Chinatown MRT Station.
End your day in Singapore’s colorful Kampong Glam
Finally, it’s time to make your way over to Kampong Glam. Although there are only a few
streets making up this area, it’s still quite a sight. Clothing shops and restaurants line the
streets, while people bustle around, looking for good deals.

In the center is Sultan Mosque. Make sure you check opening times – we got there as it was
closing, so we didn’t have a chance to go inside. However, the mosque is quite beautiful from
the outside! As always with religious places, make sure you dress appropriately.

Take a stroll down Haji Lane and the surrounding streets to admire all the street art created
by local artists. They really give the area a cool vibe and an awesome character.

At night, this quarter comes to life! The streets are alive with the sound of music pouring out
from all the pubs and restos. So sit down, order a delicious meal and enjoy the show. Beware
of the tourist traps, however! They will try and charge you an arm and a leg for mediocre
food.

A good tip to save your budget is to look out for anywhere that is packed with locals: there,
you’ll be able to find a feast fit for a king or queen at a reasonable price. If you’re a budget
traveler, walk around. You’ll find a ton of great options without breaking the bank.

Getting here: Take the MRT from Chinatown MRT Station towards Bukit Panjang for 5 stops
on the Downtown line and exit at the Bugis MRT Station.

Day 2 in Singapore – Flowers at the Botanic Gardens & fun on

Sentosa Island
Head out early and grab the typical Singaporean breakfast. Half boiled eggs, toast with Kaya
(coconut jam and butter) and the famous Kopi C coffee. This should cost you anywhere from
$2 to $5, depending on where you are. There are a plethora of options: just close your eyes,
spin, and point. And for budget travelers like us, at this price, you can have 2 meals!

Check out the free Botanic Gardens in Singapore

Now, it’s time to discover the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the only tropical garden in the
UNESCO World Heritage List. It boasts an astounding 82-hectares of gardens, lakes, rainforest
and sheer beauty you’ll want to explore, so wear comfy shoes and a hat, bring water and get
started.

Getting here: Take the MRT and exit at the Botanic Gardens MRT Station on the Circle or
Downtown lines.

Chill out on Singapore’s beaches on Sentosa

When you’re done admiring the beauty of the Gardens, head out for a fun afternoon at
Sentosa island, the State of Fun. This is the entertainment island where you can find
Adventure Cove Aqua Park, an 11-story tall skywalk, the S.E.A. Aquarium, Universal Studios
Singapore, beaches, a 37-foot Merlion, and so much more.

A quick tip for our budget travelers: skip taking the Sentosa Express monorail from the main
station. Instead walk to the second station (S2 Waterfront), just a quick 10-minute stroll away,
and you can grab it for free.

It’s a beautiful walk on the boardwalk, and there are lots to see around. And depending on
where you want to go, you can skip the monorail completely by simply walking around the
island. We spent our afternoon at Siloso Beach but you could easily spend a whole day here if
you wanted to.

Getting here: Take the MRT from Botanic Gardens MRT Station towards Harbour Front for 10
stops on the Circle line and exit at the Harbour Front MRT Station (end of the line).  Either
walk across the Sentosa Boardwalk (free) or jump on the Sentosa Express ($4 SGD).

End the night at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands

Finally, when you’re almost ready to call it a night, make your way over to the Marina Bay
Sands to enjoy Spectra, the light show. There’s one at 9 pm and another at 10 pm. And best of
all, it’s free!

Spectra light show at Marina Bay Sands

Getting here: Get back on the Sentosa Express (the ride back is free) and exit at the Harbour
Front MRT Station (end of the line). Get on the Circle line for 26 stops and exit at the Marina
Bay MRT Station (end of the line).

For a quicker route on the MRT, take the North-East line towards Punggol for 2 stops and exit
at the Chinatown MRT Station. Transfer to the Downtown line towards Bukit Panjang for 2
stops and exit at the Downtown MRT Station. Transfer to the North-South line towards
Marine Bay for 1 stop and exit at the Marina Bay MRT Station. Though you will need to
transfer twice, this route is a much faster alternative.

If you want to keep the night going, stroll through the Gardens by the Bay, admiring the
SuperTree Grove, the multiple works of art, and all the flora.

If you like ice cream (who doesn’t?!), you can walk across the Helix Bridge and find a local ice
cream sandwich vendor offering his sweets in a multitude of flavors, for about $2. That’s the
perfect way to end another amazing day, at a budget-friendly price!
 Helix Bridge by the Marina Bay Sands

Or, if you’re tired of walking, you can always grab a drink at Clark Quay. Both are great
options.

Day 3 in Singapore – Admire the beauty of the modern world in the

Marina Bay Sands area
You may want to keep this itinerary for a scorching hot day because parts of it will be spent
inside. Although to be honest, this is not necessarily a budget-friendly activity to do in
Singapore. 

Escape Singapore’s heat at the Gardens by the Bay

Start off at the Gardens by the Bay, walking around to explore the different areas, art
sculptures, and the ever-famous SuperTree Grove. You can also opt to hop on the self-driving
shuttle: it’s a pretty cool experience!

Flower Dome and Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay

When the sun gets too hot, head to the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest. We wish we had
seen these but they were closed for maintenance. It’s all good though, it gives us an excuse to
go back to Singapore!

The entrance for the two conservatories is $28, though they do offer free guided
tours through some of the sections if you want to get more bang-for-your-buck.

For a quick bite to eat, check out the restaurants at the Marina Shoppes. It’ll also give you a
reason to do some window shopping or grab some souvenirs for people back home. As you
can imagine, however, this is not necessarily a good place for budget travelers who actually
want to stick to a budget!

Getting here: Take the MRT and exit at the Marina Bay MRT Station on the Circle or North
South lines.
Grab a bite at the budget traveler friendly hawker stalls
Now, depending on what time it is, you have a few options. You can head to our favorite
hawker center for a bite to eat. Lau Pa Sat is a short walk or MRT ride away and has food from
all corners of the world. For budget travelers, this is exactly what you want to find in
Singapore! Cheap and delicious, just like we love it.

Lau Pa Sat eatery in Singapore

If it’s not quite supper time, you can always catch the SuperTree Grove show at 7:45 pm or
8:45 pm. They light up the trees and have a whole music show going.

SuperTree Grove light show at Gardens by the Bay

So find a good seat under the trees or just lay on the floor and enjoy it. You’ll want to show up
15 to 20 minutes early for the show if you expect to get a good spot to view the lighting of the
SuperTrees. The best thing about the show is that it’s free. Another fun thing to do in
Singapore for budget travelers!