Before You Start
Three days in Singapore is enough time to see the iconic sights, eat well, and get a genuine feel for the city, as long as you don't try to do everything. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want a balanced mix of culture, food, nature, and modern spectacle. It uses public transport throughout and assumes you start fresh each morning.
Day 1: Marina Bay & the Waterfront
Singapore's most iconic neighbourhood. The glittering skyline, the Marina Bay Sands hotel-casino, Gardens by the Bay, and a waterfront dinner. Start the trip on a high note.
8:00am: Breakfast at a Kopitiam
Start with a classic Singapore breakfast at any kopitiam (traditional coffee shop). Order: kaya toast (toasted bread with coconut jam and butter), soft-boiled eggs with soy sauce, and kopi (local coffee). Cost: S$4–7 per person. Every major hotel area has a kopitiam nearby.
9:00am: The Esplanade & Merlion
Walk to the Merlion Park (free), the half-lion, half-fish statue is touristy but genuinely photogenic against the skyline. Do it early before the crowds and heat build. Then walk to the Esplanade Theatres (nicknamed "the durian" for its spiky exterior), free to enter the outdoor terraces with great views.
Transport: MRT to Esplanade station (Circle/Downtown line). Walk 5 min.
10:30am: Marina Bay Sands ArtScience Museum or Shoppes
The ArtScience Museum has rotating exhibitions on art, science, and technology (S$18–25 depending on exhibition). If you're skipping the museum, walk through the The Shoppes at MBS, Singapore's most glamorous mall with an indoor canal where you can take bumboat rides (S$15).
12:00pm: Lunch at Lau Pa Sat
Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market) is a Victorian cast-iron market (1894) now housing a hawker centre. Order satay (S$10–14 for a skewer set) at the outdoor satay stalls (best after 5pm) or noodles and rice inside. A 10-minute walk from MBS, or take a short Grab. Cost: S$8–15.
1:30pm: Gardens by the Bay
The Supertree Grove is free to walk through, do this first. The famous glowing tree structures are especially dramatic at dusk/evening during the OCBC Garden Rhapsody light show (7:45pm and 8:45pm nightly, free). During the day, the outdoor garden is free and well worth an hour.
Then enter the Cloud Forest (S$28 adult), a 35-metre artificial mountain covered in over 60,000 plants, with a stunning indoor waterfall. On a hot day, this air-conditioned space is blissful. The Flower Dome (S$28, or S$53 combo with Cloud Forest) is a recreation of a Mediterranean climate with seasonal flowers.
4:00pm: Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck
Take the lift to the 57th floor of MBS for the famous rooftop view of Singapore (S$32 adult, book online). This is the same deck as the infinity pool, which is only for hotel guests, but non-guests get full panoramic views of the skyline, the gardens, and the harbour. Best late afternoon when the light is golden. Book the last slot of the day for lower crowds.
6:30pm: Dinner on the Marina Waterfront
Walk along the waterfront promenade to Fullerton Bay Hotel area or Boat Quay. For budget-friendly: grab dinner at the nearby Maxwell Food Centre (famous for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, expect a queue). For a splurge: Jumbo Seafood at Dempsey or Quayside, with chilli crab from S$60–80 per person.
8:00pm: Supertree Light Show & Waterfront Walk
Return to Gardens by the Bay for the Garden Rhapsody light and music show at the Supertrees (free, 7:45pm and 8:45pm). Then walk the 3km waterfront loop from Gardens to MBS to Merlion Park, stunning at night, free, and one of the best urban walks in the world.
Optional Late Night: Lantern Bar or 1-Altitude
Lantern Rooftop Bar at Fullerton Bay Hotel has the best view of the Marina Bay Sands from across the water. One cocktail S$22–28. Or head to Ce La Vi SkyBar on top of MBS for a drink (consumption minimum applies) with the infinity pool view.
Day 2: Heritage Neighbourhoods: Chinatown, Little India & Kampong Glam
Singapore's multicultural soul. Three distinct ethnic neighbourhoods within a few MRT stops of each other, all walkable and packed with food, colour, temples, and culture.
8:00am: Breakfast at Chinatown Complex
Take the MRT to Chinatown station. The Chinatown Complex Food Centre (Level 2) is one of Singapore's largest hawker centres, with over 250 stalls. Arrive early when it's cooler and the best stalls are freshest. Must-try: Dim Sum (S$1–3/piece), congee (S$3–5), or roast pork rice (S$5–7). Stall 02-001, Hill Street Tai Hwa's cousin stalls here are excellent for bak chor mee (pork noodles).
9:00am: Chinatown Heritage Centre & Temples
The Chinatown Heritage Centre (S$15 adult) tells the story of early Chinese immigrants through recreated living quarters and artefacts, genuinely moving exhibits. Then walk to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (free, modest dress required, sarongs provided at entrance), a magnificent 4-storey red temple with a Buddhist museum and rooftop garden. Next door, the Sri Mariamman Temple (free) is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, ornate colourful gopuram tower.
11:00am: Chinatown Street Market & Pagoda Street
Browse the permanent street market on Pagoda Street and Smith Street for souvenirs, dried goods, silk items, and traditional crafts. Price-bargaining is expected at the stalls (not in air-conditioned shops). Good buys: fridge magnets (S$2–5), lacquerware, silk scarves, local snacks like pineapple tarts (S$8–15 per tin).
12:30pm: Lunch: Hawker fare or Maxwell Food Centre
A 5-minute walk away, Maxwell Food Centre is world-famous. Look for the blue "Tian Tian" stall, President Obama ate the chicken rice here (Anthony Bourdain did too). Queue is 20–40 minutes. Worth it at S$5–7. Alternatively, Food Republic at Chinatown Point mall for air-con comfort.
2:00pm: Little India
MRT two stops to Little India (NE line). Serangoon Road is the main artery, lined with textile shops, gold jewellers, garland sellers, and street food stalls. Highlights: Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (free, one of Singapore's most beautiful temples with colourful statues) and Mustafa Centre (open 24hrs, huge department store selling everything at low prices, ideal for budget souvenir shopping).
3:30pm: Kampong Glam & Arab Street
10-minute walk (or MRT one stop to Bugis) brings you to Singapore's Malay-Muslim quarter. The centrepiece is Sultan Mosque (free, dress modestly, coverings provided) with its golden dome. Haji Lane is a narrow street packed with indie boutiques, street art, and Instagram-worthy cafes. Arab Street has carpet shops, rattan goods, and fabric stores.
6:00pm: Dinner at Tekka Centre (Little India) or Zam Zam
Tekka Centre (Little India) has excellent Indian and Malay hawker food, biryani (S$5–7), prata (S$1–3/piece), fish curry. Or head back to Arab Street for Zam Zam Restaurant (est. 1908) for murtabak (stuffed pancake, S$8–14), a Singapore institution.
8:00pm: Clarke Quay Night Life
Clarke Quay, a 10-minute Grab or 15-minute walk from Chinatown, is Singapore's main nightlife riverside strip. Bars, clubs, and restaurants line the Singapore River. Most bars have happy hours until 9pm (buy-one-get-one or S$10 beers). Q-Bar, Attica, Zouk (Singapore's most famous club, now in Marina Bay), and riverside restaurants are all in this area. Bumboat rides along the river from S$5.
Day 3: Sentosa & the Southern Beaches
Singapore's resort island, Universal Studios, beaches, infinity pools, cable cars, and the best sunset on the island. A full-day affair.
7:30am: Early Start: Breakfast and transport
Grab breakfast near your hotel and head early to Sentosa, Universal Studios opens at 10am but the island gets crowded by 11am. Take MRT to HarbourFront Station, then the Sentosa Express (S$4) to Beach Station or Waterfront. Journey from most city hotels: 25–35 min total.
9:00am: Universal Studios Singapore (USS)
Universal Studios Singapore (S$88 adult, S$68 child, book online) is the highlight for most visitors. Key areas: Jurassic World (don't miss the ride, bring a change of clothes or a poncho, you WILL get wet), Transformers The Ride, Battlestar Galactica roller coasters (one of Asia's most intense), Despicable Me, and Hollywood Boulevard. Arrive 15 minutes before opening to sprint to the most popular rides, queues build fast. Express Pass (S$50+) skips most queues but is expensive.
2:00pm: Lunch at Sentosa / Resorts World
Food courts inside Resorts World Sentosa have hawker-priced food, noodles, rice, dim sum from S$6–12. The food inside USS itself is expensive (S$15–25/meal) and mediocre, so consider leaving the park for lunch and re-entering with your stamp.
3:30pm: Siloso Beach or Palawan Beach
After USS, head to the beach. Siloso Beach is the most lively with beach bars, water sports (kayak hire from S$15/hour, banana boat, zorbing). Palawan Beach has a suspension bridge to a small islet, the southernmost point of continental Asia. Tanjong Beach is quietest and prettiest, with the famous Tanjong Beach Club (day beds, pool, bar, entry S$35 includes drink credit on weekends).
6:00pm: Sunset at Siloso Point or Sentosa Boardwalk
Sentosa faces south and west, making it ideal for sunsets. Siloso Point (tip of the island) has great views toward Batam island in Indonesia. The Sentosa Boardwalk at sunset, with the cable cars overhead, is one of Singapore's most photogenic moments.
7:30pm: Wings of Time (Optional)
Wings of Time is a water and fire fountain night show on the beach at Siloso. Runs at 7:40pm and 8:40pm nightly. Adult S$18. Book online. A good finale to three days in Singapore.
9:00pm: Farewell Dinner: Dempsey Hill or Return to Clarke Quay
Dempsey Hill (take Grab from Sentosa, ~S$15) is Singapore's upscale dining enclave in a converted colonial barracks. Restaurants like Long Beach Seafood, Riders Café, and PS.Café. Perfect for a farewell dinner. Mid-range: S$50–80/person with drinks.
Budget option: Head back to Chinatown or Little India for one last hawker meal. Some of the best meals of the trip for S$8–12.
More Time in Singapore?
If you have extra days, here's what to add:
Day 4 Addition
Botanic Gardens (UNESCO heritage, free), Orchard Road shopping, Singapore Zoo morning feeding sessions (S$49), or the Southern Ridges hiking trail.
Day 5 Addition
Night Safari (S$55, world's first nocturnal zoo), Haw Par Villa (surreal free attraction), East Coast Park cycling, or a day trip to JB Malaysia.
Longer Stays
See our 7-day itinerary for deeper neighbourhood exploration, island-hopping to Pulau Ubin, and a Malaysia day trip.
3-Day Budget Summary
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | S$40–70 | S$150–250 | S$350–600 |
| Food (3 meals/day) | S$20–35 | S$50–90 | S$120–200 |
| Transport (daily) | S$10–15 | S$20–35 | S$50–80 |
| Attractions (total 3 days) | S$40–60 | S$120–200 | S$300+ |
| Total per person (3 days) | S$350–500 | S$900–1,500 | S$2,000+ |
FAQ
Yes, 3 days is the sweet spot for a first visit. You'll see the main highlights, eat well, and not feel rushed. Many people do Singapore in 2 days as part of a larger Southeast Asia trip, which works too if you prioritise ruthlessly. If you have 4–5 days, you can slow down, explore deeper, and do a Malaysia day trip. Singapore rewards longer visits, there's always more to discover in the neighbourhoods, hawker centres, and green spaces.
Singapore is near the equator, so it's hot and humid year-round (28–34°C). Rain can happen any month. The driest months are generally February–April and July–August. December and January are wettest (monsoon season) but rain is usually brief thunderstorms, not all-day drizzle. The Chinese New Year period (Jan/Feb) is spectacular for atmosphere but some venues are closed. F1 Grand Prix in September brings crowds and price spikes.
You can do Singapore on a budget of about S$100–130/day per person, which includes a dorm or budget hotel room (S$40–60), hawker centre meals three times a day (S$8–15 each), and public transport. The main costs to watch: attractions like USS, MBS, and Gardens by the Bay. Skip or choose one or two, and your costs stay very manageable. See our full Budget Guide for detailed breakdowns.
Only if you're visiting on a weekend or during school holidays when queues for Battlestar Galactica and Jurassic World can reach 90 minutes. Express Pass (from S$50–80 on top of the base ticket) lets you skip the main queue once per attraction. On a quiet weekday, you don't need it, most rides are 20–30 min wait. Check the USS app before buying. Alternatively, arrive right at opening time (9:30am before the official 10am opening), early birds get 4–5 rides done before the crowds arrive.