Singapore Travel Guide: The Ultimate Guide for 5 Fun Days

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I’ve always been REALLY bad at geography, so please don’t judge me when I say I learned about Singapore maybe…5 years ago when my friend posted a picture of some really gorgeous futuristic looking trees on her FB album after she had been traveling the world and slowly making her way across SE Asia. This was before the reign of Instagram, so I couldn’t just click on a hashtag to take me to a Singapore travel guide.

NOPE, all I had was the name of a country and a lack of motivation that prevented me from googling more information myself.

Yanno, typical me.

So when I finally visited this small city/country in November 2018, I was thrown in the deep end with only slightly more information than what I started with. BUT YANNO – LEARN BY EXPERIENCE I GUESS.

Lucky for you though, you have stumbled upon this wonderful Singapore travel guide! I spent a total of 5 (and a half) days in Singapore, and I’m going to share my top tips and suggestions so you can concentrate on enjoying yourself and not wandering down alleys looking for cafes with free WiFi so you can google “unique things to do in Singapore” but being disappointed when the top results just say Gardens By the Bay over and over and over again.

Let’s DIVE IN!!

Super Mini History Lesson

Okay, I lied. Before we jump into this Singapore travel guide. First, a SUPERR short mini history lesson. I feel like it’s always important to know just a TINY bit about a new destination so you are able to appreciate the sights more and you avoid making a complete ignorant fool out of yourself.

So, Singapore, officially named the Republic of Singapore. It is located at the tip of the Malaysian Penisula and is made up of one main island and 62-ish surrounding islets. In 1819, Singapore was colonized by Sir Stamford Raffles to serve as a trading post for the British East India Company, and then handed over to the British as a colony. During World War 2 (1942 to be exact), Singapore was occupied by Japanese forces. And thenn in 1963, Singapore gained independence from Britain by joining with Malaysia, and thennn separating from Malaysia to become a sovereign state in 1965.

It was definitely a RIDE.

So with all of that in mind, here are the takeaways.

Singaporean quick facts!

• The Singaporean government recognizes 4 official languages: Malay, English (it WAS a British colony for almost 150 years!), Tamil, and Mandarin. Most Singaporeans are bilingual, as Malay is the national language and English is the administration and bridge language.
• Singapore is very modern with tech. After gaining sovereignty, Singapore shot up from a “developing” country to a “developed” country in the span of a single generation under the leadership of its founding Prime Minister. (aka, a slightly less rude way of saying it went from a 3rd world and 1st world country)
• Basically everywhere takes credit card. I don’t even know what the currency looks like because I never used it. Which I prefer.
• There are 5.6 million people living in Singapore, about 39% are foreign nationals and expats.
• Singapore is very close to the equator, so it has a tropical and humid climate. Temperatures are usually 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F) year round, though monsoons are more likely November-February.

When to Visit

On that note, when is the best time to visit Singapore? Well, it’s probably going to be hot and humid no matter what month you pick. There’s no way around that. But if you are particular about crowds or monsoons or shopping sales – here are some notes.

Singapore is the busiest in December, January, and June. Also there are some key holidays like Chinese New Year (either in January or February), Hari Raja in June, and Singapore National Day in August.

July and August (aside from National Day) are the least busy months for tourism, so you can usually find the best flight and lodging deals. That said, if you’re a fan of shopping, it is also the months of the Great Singapore Sale, a time where retailers from small boutiques to high end luxury brands slash prices! Kind of like America’s Black Friday sales – but for 2 months.

Where to Stay: Singapore Travel Guide

Real talk – Singapore is small and the public transport is fast. Basically as long as you’re not somewhere out towards the border, you aren’t TOO far away from the action of Singapore (unless that’s what you want).

In my opinion, if you are only in Singapore for a short amount of time, 5 days or less, I’d recommend staying as close to downtown as your budget allows. It is a small city, but there’s a lot to do, and most of it is downtown.

Hotels

Hands down, the BEST hotel you can stay at, in my opinion, is the Marina Bay Sands. It is expensive, but guhhh it is AMAZING. It has the world’s largest and highest infinity pool IN THE WORLD, and is also home to the most expensive restaurant in Singapore!

I stayed in the Marina Bay Sands for part of my trip (because I ain’t ballin LIKE THAT yet), and it was easily the highlight. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to splurge for just one night, I will…eventually write up a review post.

If the Marina Bay Sands is out of your budget, here are some alternatives that my friends have loved during their trips. Mind you, none of them are cheap-cheap – it’s Singapore.

• The Pod Boutique Capsule Hotel
• Andaz Hotel Singapore (review) by a friend!
• Thad’s Boutique Hostel
• Hotel G Singapore
• Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong

Airbnbs?

Don’t want to stay in a hostel, but also don’t want to shell out the equivalent of $100 USD a night? There are plenty of Airbnbs in Singapore. The rest of my time in Singapore, I stayed in a private apartment. The bed was amazing, the AC was glorious, and they had a fantastic foot massager that came in handy after a long day of exploring.

It was about a 30-minute metro ride from downtown, so I wish I would have chosen a place closer to downtown.

If you have never signed up for Airbnb, use my link to get $40 USD off your first home booking and $15 off your first Airbnb experience!

Transportation

What’s the best way to get around in Singapore? I mean, this IS a Singapore TRAVEL guide after all, so how do you get from place to place? I mostly used the MRT system. It runs from the airport to basically all the major neighborhoods and hot spots in Singapore. It’s super convenient, fast-enough, and decently priced! Plus, it offers directions and locations in multiple languages, including English, so it’s very easy to use! Plus, there are multi-day passes! And the passes also work for bus lines as well.

Just be sure to follow the MRT rules (no eating/drinking, no smoking, no durians, etc) because the fines ARE STEEEP!

If you want to take a taxi, they’re pretty easy to flag down. Buuut, not all of them take credit card. Most do (with a surcharge, and for some reason not Visas??), so make sure to ask before you get in if that’s how you intend on paying.

Rideshare wise, Uber DOES NOT operate in Singapore. I learned that the hard way after a long night partying with some wild Australians. Grab is the equivalent app used and recommended by my new Australian friends, and it works exactly the same.

What to Do: Singapore Travel Guide

No Singapore travel guide is complete without the meat of the guide: what to do! As I mentioned before, there’s A LOT. I’m not going to outright build a day-by-day itinerary for you, one, because I don’t know what you like to do. I’ll try to categorize them to make it easier for you to prioritize what YOU want to do on your vacation. With 5 days in the city, you should be able to do most things in this Singapore travel guide!

Iconic Singapore

Alright, the following activities are the Singapore heavy-hitters. The must-dos on everyone’s Singapore travel guide. The shots popping up all over social media.

• Gardens by the Bay: The most iconic thing to do in Singapore, hands down. It is the attraction that tops every list EVERYWHERE, and is the picture across every tourism flyer. And yes – it deserves to be there. Along with the giant trees, there are also two domes to explore and walkways to stroll through. Doing everything, I spent a good 3 hours here. I arrived about two hours before sunset, walked under the trees as they began to light up, then headed back to my hotel room at the Marina Bay Sands to watch the light show.
• Merlion Statue: Singapore is called the Lion City, but what do you call a lion with a fish tail? Well, obviously, a merlion. There are a couple scattered throughout the city (7 to be exact), but the iconic one is in Merlion Park. The park also holds a smaller statue, a merlion cub if you will.
• House of Tan Teng Niah: You basically just go for the picture, but it’s an iconic site nonetheless. It is in Little India, and is actually the last surviving Chinese villa in the neighborhood. When I went, there were ‘no entry’ signs by the doors, so not sure if it used to be possible to go inside. But you can’t now! If you do a walking tour around Little India, this will definitely be on the list and they can give you the whole scoop!
• Clarke Quay/Boat Quay: They both basically blend into one another, so there’s no huge distinction. They are both teaming with nightlife, restaurants, and a good place to bar hop. If you HAD to pick just one area, Boat Quay seemed a bit more laid back to me, while Clarke Quay was a tiny bit more upscale (and busier!). There is also Robertson Quay, which is the lesser-visited but artsy area. There wasn’t any pumped-up live music, so if you’re looking to sit and chat with a drink instead of getting wild, it’s a good alternative.

Other -slightly less- Iconic Attractions

• ION Sky: If you’re like me and you love a good observatory, you gotta check out ION Sky! It actually used to be free, but now I think there is a $20 charge. BUT, I don’t know first hand because it was actually closed for renovations when I went *cry emoji*
• ArtScience Museum: Okay, tbh, this was my least favorite of the “iconic things to do in Singapore,” mostly because there were TOO MANY KIDS EVERYWHERE and I was anxious and stressed the entire time. Plus, it’s expensive. But if you’re really into museums, it’s a good one, with pretty lights and walls and whatnot. Also, a great place for kids, as I learned.

• Singapore Zoo and Night Safari: OKAAY I actually left this out in the first edit because I completely forgot about it. Even though I didn’t do this, I’ve been told from MULTIPLE people that it’s one of the top 3 zoos in the WORLD.
• Sri Mariamman Temple: Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, and located in Chinatown! There many Hindu temples in Singapore, all of them wonderfully photogenic as well, but this one was my favorite! If you only have time to visit one, this is my pick.
• Universal Studios: While I didn’t personally do this, I heard it’s great! It’s on Sentosa Island, but just know this will take at least a half-day to a whole day!
• Singapore Flyer: I love a good ol’ spin on a ferris wheel. Not much to say on this one, good views, smooth ride, the usual.

Temples, Mosques, and Cathedrals – oh my!

There are like, a lot of religious buildings in Singapore. Like. A LOT. And even if you do not practice those specific religions, they are all absolutely beautiful to look at. If you are a photographer, or someone really interested in religious buildings, feel free to visit all the following ones! BUT – if you’re a regular degular traveler, I’ve put an asterisk next to all of my favorite ones (objectively) or you can just visit whichever happens to be closest to other attractions you’re headed towards!

Just a note, please be mindful of your dress while visiting. Make sure your shoulders, midriff, and knees are covered. Some will have loaner shawls for you to borrow. For Hindu temples, you will need to remove your shoes outside before entering. The insides of Mosques are closed to the public (just wanting to take pictures or look around) on Friday for Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer). BUT ABOVE ALL – BE RESPECTFUL.

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• Temple of 1,000 Lights/Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple *
• Abdul Gafoor Mosque *
• Leong San See Temple
• Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
• Masjid Sultan / Sultan Mosque *
• St. Andrew’s Cathedral
• Masjid Jamae (Chulia)
• Yueh Hai Ching Temple
• Thian Hock Keng Temple
• Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple *

For the ‘Gram

Whether you are an Instagram influencer, or just someone whose parent demands pictures so they can live vicariously through you *cough*, Singapore has some crazy colorful streets and buildings to wander down! I visiting during a downpour, so I only had one full day of sunshine. Thankfully, that was the day I decided to explore the Gardens by the Bay. The rest of the 4 days had sporadic (but heavy) showers, that lasted a few hours at a time, usually in the early morning (before I was up and about anyway).

So I didn’t take pictures of all of them, but they’re all poppin’ on social media! I’ll dedicate an entirely separate blog post on all the spots you can pop in for JUST a picture, but for now, I’ve narrowed it down to my favorites so you can make the most of your options on a short time frame!

• Joo Chiat Road: everybody and their dog’s groomer takes a photo in front of these pastel-colored Peranakan houses. Also, a good place to find Peranakan food!
• Koon Seng Road: Same as Joo Chiat Road, colorful Peranakan houses. But, a little less “sketch” at night (there are love motels on Joo Chiat). But tbh, none of Singapore was all really that sketch to me.

• People’s Park Complex: The building is a mix of residential and commercial space, and it looks SO COOL! It was raining when I visited, so no pictures for me 🙁 It’s kind of like the residential complexes in Hong Kong, but a lot less crowded. Go to the rooftop carpark (level six) to get a picture with the all-yellow building as the background.
• Helix Bridge: It’s a pedestrian bridge downtown! My suggestion would be taking some night shots because the bridge really comes to life when it’s all lit up!
• Waterloo Street: It’s my favorite street in Chinatown, with tons of shops and the big Chinatown market. The Singapore Art Museum is at one end, and the other side ends at Bugis Street.
• Ministry of Communications & Information (MCI): This is the building for a ministry of the Government of Singapore. It’s the white building with rainbow-colored windows and door frames! However, once again it was raining when I visited (and I was also in a terrible mood), so I didn’t take any pictures with it.
• Tan Teng Niah: AND OF COURSE, the shot you all know and love! But if you don’t, you will soon! This house is in Little India, and is actually the LAST surviving Chinese villa in Little India. There are also a few nearby buildings that are also colorful too!

Where’s the GREEN??

By that I mean nature. For a city that lost 95% of its forests due to urbanization, I’d say Singapore has quite a bit of green space. And while there are TONS of options for getting into nature in Singapore (which I will also write a separate blog post about), I will just list my favorites here.

• Fort Canning Park: This is more of a historical landmark, but it’s completely embedded in the forest. It’s small, but there are some tours you can take to explore the barracks used by the British Army. Being me, however, I showed up to late and missed the last tour. There are gravestones, cannons, the Raffles House, and some cool looking gates.
• MacRitchie Reservoir: Probably my favorite park here, this is your classic green space area. It’s huge, with tons of large shaded areas for picnics, a path along the reservoir for walking, and even boats and kayaks for a day on the water. It’s real cute, and there’s sometimes some kind of event happening here.
• Henderson Waves: BRUHHH – TALK ABOUT A VIEWW!! Okay, so this is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, and offers incredible views. It also branches off to other parks and trails, but it’s beautiful enough on its own. It’s especially beautiful at night when the entire bridge is illuminated, but it’s a great place to run! (I didn’t run, but like, I saw other people doing it).
• Singapore Botanic Gardens/National Orchid Garden: Two words. It’s free. But on top of that, it’s really beautiful! I’m a fan of botanical gardens, so this was a treat! However, if you want to visit the Orchid Garden, there IS a $5 admission fee. Totally worth it though. In 2018, a lot of the orchid garden exhibits were closed, but a LOT of them opened up in 2019, so I imagine it’s even better now!
• Jurong Lake Gardens/Chinese Garden/Japanese Garden: These are all under the same area, which is the Jurong Lake Gardens. And I lied earlier, this is actually my favorite part. BUT as of May 2019, the Chinese and Japanese gardens are closed for renovations (until 2021!!), so it’s slightly less exciting now. However, there’s still tons to do here, all while being surrounded by green stuff. There are water sports, an indoor gym, tidal waves, flowere and butterfly fields, and even a swamp forest!
• Little Guilin: it’s like SUPER out of the way, but it’s so cuuuute!! About an hour by public transport, the park was created from an old granite quarry and resemble the rock formations in Guilin, China! Hence, the name, though it is also known as Bukit Batok Town Park.

Singapore’s a Beach

Did you know Singapore had beaches??? I mean, granted, most of them are handmade, but they’re still beaches! And the sand was imported from the Philippines so you KNOW it’s soft! There are a couple to choose from, but they’re mainly distinguished by the main island ones, like Castle Beach, and the ones on Sentosa Island.

I preferred the ones on Sentosa Island personally, but they are a bit further away. You can go to Siloso Beach, the furthest cable car drop off, or Palawan Beach , which I thiiiink is the second to last drop off. At Palawan, you can reach the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, so that’s cool. There’s also Tanjong Beach on Sentosa Island, but I didn’t go to that one.

Learn a Little

If you’re a museum people, there are a few that go a little deeper into Singapore’s history and culture. Lemme sprinkle this Singapore travel guide with some culture real quick.

• Marsiling Tunnels: Near the causeway connecting Singapore and Malaysia, you can take a tour to explore some pre-WWII tunnels and learn their purpose.
• National Gallery Singapore: This gallery holds the largest collection of Singaporean and SE Asian art. It also has a large focus on Singapore’s relationship with other Asian cultures and the world.
• Changi Museum: This museum explains Singapore’s history during Japanese occupation. It is also across from the Civilian War Memorial, dedicated to the thousands of Singaporean civilians killed during occupation.

• NEWater Visitor Centre: err – kind of a quirky one, but if you’re into water purification in Singapore, they offer tours!
• Asian Civilisations Museum: This museum specializes in pan-Asian cultures and civilizations. It focuses on the intertwined history of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia, from which the diverse ethnic groups of Singapore trace their ancestry.
• Peranakan Museum: This one is actually my favorite, and if you can only pick one museum, make sure it’s this one! It is literally the first museum of its kind, and explores Peranakan cultures in Singapore and other former Straits Settlements and communities in SE Asia.
• Fort Siloso: Less of a museum and more of a quick stop on Sentosa Island. If you’re in the area, it’s a nice break from the beach.
• Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall: If you really want to dive deep into Singapore’s culture, I’d recommend checking this place out. Want to know how Singapore played a pivotal role in the 1911 revolution across SE Asia? Visit.
• Red Dot Design Museum Singapore: It’s a super cool design museum. It’s pretty with cool gadgets, what’s not to love?
• Baba House: It is a heritage house which exhibits the Straits Chinese material culture in a domestic context. So yanno, if you want to see the inside of one of those Peranakan houses you keep taking pictures of.

Out of the Box Things to do

What makes this different from all the other Singapore travel guides out there? UMM YOU MEAN BESIDES ALL THE WORK I PUT INTO IT??? Well, to answer that slightly insulting question, I can also share some…more out-of-the-box things to do in Singapore.

• Padang: a shipping port. ALSO a stop on my Crazy Rich Asians walking tour (which I wrote about at this link!)
• Haw Par Villa: a nightmare “theme park.” You’ll understand what I mean when you visit.
• Lorong Buangkok: it is the last surviving kampong, or traditional village, on Singapore Island.
• Geylang: the red light district. Yah, there are literally drugs just being sold on the street. But like, not meth. I think it was more like Viagra and other various sex drugs? And tons of sex toy shops! There are also brothels (usually on the even-numbered roads – specifically you should go to the ones on 6, 8, 16, and 18 because they are registered and the sex workers are screened regularly).
• Sungai Mamam Abandoned Village: This one is on Pulau Ubin island, and there are many more around the island. I didn’t get to visit Pulau Ubin, but if you’re into abandoned buildings, I mean…
• Skyline Luge: Luge racing on Sentosa Island
• Sentosa Crane Dance: Is Sentosa Island just full of strange things? Yes. But this one is pretty cute, and just a lesser-known light show. But instead of illuminating giant trees like at Gardens by the Bay, it’s…giant cranes. Every day at 8pm, head to the Sentosa Waterfront. Thank me later.
• Kid-Friendly Activities: I personallyyy don’t have any suggestions from experience, but my friends from Travel Melodies have a whole Singapore travel guide on the best places to visit in Singapore with kids.

Shopping

Ah yes FINALLY. My favorite thing to do in Singapore. Well, that’s a lie, my favorite thing was actually eating grapes out of my giant soaking tub in my Marine Bay Sands hotel room. But yanno, my favorite clothed activity. You can escape both the Singaporean rain AND the heat! A win-win!

• Bugis Street: Tons of cute little boutiques! They kind of all sell close to the same thing, so you don’t HAVE to go into all of them. What I loved the most about shopping here was that the store people didn’t follow me around hassling me to buy anything. But if I needed help, they were super friendly and even offered suggestions they thought would look flattering on me.
• Haji Lane: Similar to Bugis Street, but slightly fewer shops and more cafes and karaoke bars! If you go right before dinner (they start closing up around 8pm), you can shop and then get drinks after!
• Kinokuniya Book Stores Singapore: I just love book stores. And on that note, BooksActually is another good book store!
• VivoCity: It’s the largest shopping mall in Singapore! There’s tons of shops, some familiar to us Westerners, but many were totally new! It’s a great escape from the weather too! If you want something a bit smaller but still good quality stores, head to Paragon Shopping Centre!
• ION Orchard Mall: You’ll probably end up here anyway. It has all the usual high-end brands, BUT there’s also a Magnum Chocolate Bar inside!
• Scape Underground: And on the opposite end of the spectrum is Scape. It’s very YOUTH feeling, with prices to match. If the cheap shopping isn’t enough to convince you, the outlets are actually part of SCAPE, which is a youth empowerment center with the vision to support youth, talent and leadership development. RAD.
• Mustafa Centre: First off, it’s open 24/7. Second, it’s a bargain. Third, it’s in Little India so you gonna be there. It’s a great spot to sober up after the bars and browse the aisles! Especially if you are looking for anything Indian!

What to Eat: Singapore Travel Guide

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But even with all of those great things to do, honestly, the best thing is to just EAT. And eat A LOT.

Singapore is an expensive place, EXCEPT for the food. It can be gosh darn affordable mates – so take advantage of that! In fact, I could write a whole freaking blog post about where to eat in Singapore (oh wait, I did! You can read it here!). But this ginormous post is long enough. I’ll stick to the basics.

Eat at a Hawker Center: There’s tons. The popular one for tourists (and the one used in Crazy Rich Asians!) is the Newton Hawker Center. But I would recommend heading to either Adam Road Hawker or Tiong Bahru Market & Hawker Centre! To find out where the locals eat, check out my post debunking myths and misconceptions about Singapore!

There’s even a number of Michelin Star restaurants to choose from! In fact, Singapore has 47 Michelin Star restaurants – ranking it 8th globally! YES. TINY SINGAPORE HAS THE 8th MOST MICHELIN RESTAURANTS. My favorite was Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. I waited an hour in line, and it was absolutely worth it.

Aside from that, you should try Kaya toast and lemon tea. Or maybe it was honey tea. Either way, they are staples at any cafe for breakfast and will change your life.

Where to drink

Omg is this post DONE YET?? Alright y’all, one last section, and it’s the shortest one! If you want to drink alcohol in Singapore, a quick heads up. It’s expensive. But it can also be pretty chic too!

• Atlas Bar at Parkview Square: The interior is absolutely stunning! Think Great Gatsby meets…well, actually, that sums it up pretty well.
• The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel: Where the iconic Singapore Sling was created! It’s a $30 drink, but it’s also part of history. Can you REALLY put a price tag on that?
• 1-Altitude: It’s a cute rooftop club
• CÉ LA VI: It’s the bar on top of the Marina Bay Sands. So if you aren’t staying at the hotel, it’s the only way to get that iconic infinity pool view. Drinks, as you can guess, are expensive. Go during happy hour!
• Lantern: the best place spot to watch the Marina Bay Sands light show!
• Smoke & Mirrors: amazing views over the Padang, Esplanade and Marina Bay. 
• Loof: Singapore’s FIRST original rooftop bar.
• The Library: It has a fun speakeasy vibe where you need a password to get in. (psst – check their FB page!)
• Bitters & Love: This spot takes classic Singaporean sips and puts a unique spin on them.

Conclusion on my Singapore Travel Guide

Welp, there ya have it folks! My Singapore travel guide, and all of my suggestions for a trip to Singapore! I personally stayed for 5 days, and I felt like it was a great amount of time. With more time, I would have ventured out to some of the other islands for more nature, but with 5 days, I covered a lot of the main Singapore Island and Sentosa Island. Some Indonesians islands are easily accessible by ferry too! You can easily visit them on a tour or over a weekend! But I would only recommend it for stays of a week or more.

If you stay 2-3 days, you can easily do all of the iconic attractions, as well as a park or two, a museum, and whichever instagram spots are nearby. But, if you’re only in the city for one day, or on a long layover you’ll most likely just get to the main attractions in this Singapore travel guide. In that case, I’d recommend just getting a taxi everywhere to save time!

If you are only able to visit for a quick stop, Singapore is actually one of the best cities to navigate in a short amount of time. Aside from having one of the world’s best airports, you can really make the most of a long layover in Singapore with their airport shuttle tours that only last a few hours but still allow you to see a lot!

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When are you heading to Singapore?

Have any of you already been? Did my Singapore travel guide leave out any of your favorite spots? What should I do on my next trip? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks everyone for reading!

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