AsiaGuideItinerarySingapore

The Perfect Singapore Itinerary: 4 Days 3 Nights

Thinking about visiting SG anytime soon? Singapore is simply a must-visit Asian destination, from its splendid architecture and multicultural Asian roots to fine dining experiences. If you want to explore the best of Singapore, Asia’s thriving city state, allot more than a couple of days for the likes of Universal Studios and Resorts World Sentosa.

Read and enjoy this quintessential 4-day Singapore itinerary, which covers the best places and things to do, insider tips, how to get there and more!

Bookmark Your 4-Day Singapore Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Changi Airport and Check in

Begin your journey from the airport

Changi Airport (image via Shutterstock)
Changi Airport (image via Shutterstock)

Changi Airport is Singapore’s only airport – it’s also known as the world’s best airport! Before you leave, make sure to pick up a SIM card and E-Z Link Card.

For heavy luggages, or big families with kids book this private airport transfer to your chosen accommodation

  • Cost: S$40

Where to stay

Sentosa Island: Singapore
Sentosa Island: Singapore (image via Marco Verch, Flickr)

We suggest staying over at Sentosa to surround yourself with endless entertainment possibilities. From adrenaline junkies and theme park fans to lazy resort loungers, there’s something for everyone in your group! Capella Hotel is a highly recommended 5-star luxury hotel but you can easily find Airbnbs and budget hotels in the area.

For more info and other areas to spend the nights in Singapore, check out this list of recommended accommodations from HotelsCombined.

If you’ve arrived early and still have tons of energy, check in and drop by one of the attractions below. Your activities will depend on your arrival time:

Optional Activities for leisure time:

Resorts World Sentosa: Singapore (image via Shutterstock)
Resorts World Sentosa: Singapore (image via Shutterstock)

9:00am – 5:00pm: All day fun at Resorts World Sentosa

SEA Aquarium (Image via Visualhunt)
SEA Aquarium

Sentosa Island has a lot to offer! The picturesque island is home to multiple attractions at Resorts World Sentosa, Imbiah Lookout, and the Sentosa Beachfront. Not to mention world-famous movie theme park, Universal Studios (let’s save that for Day 3)!

It’s easy to travel around the whole island by Sentosa Express Train. Take your pick from family-friendly activities, including go-karting, cable car rides, and bungee-assisted trampoline bouncing. Traveling with kids? Make sure to spend an hour or two at SEA Aquarium, Adventure Water Cove Park, and Kidzania!

  • How To Get There: Take an 18-minute from Capella Hotel to Resorts World Sentosa. Or get your Sentosa Express Ticket here. Walk to Imbiah Station, and ride the train to Waterfront Station
Wings of Time Night Show (image via KKday)
Wings of Time Night Show (image via KKday)

7:40pm: Watch an Outdoor Night Show: Wings of Time

Embark on a magical journey through the Silk Road era, Mayan Pyramids, and the British Industrialization Revolution. Witness a water show complete with lights, fireworks, and music and let the mysteries of the pre-historic era unfold in the most spectacular fashion.

Singapore cityscape (image via Fotolia)
Singapore cityscape (image via Fotolia)

9:00pm onwards: Drink in the skyline at 1-Altitude

Enjoy Singapore’s highest observation deck! You may opt to get drinks at the bar and unwind with sweeping views of the city.

  • How To Get There: Take a 1-minute walk from Resorts World to Waterfront Station. Take the Sentosa Express to Sentosa Station. Take a 3 -minute walk to Harbour Front Station, ride the train  to Clark Quay and walk for 11 minutes
  • Hours: 6:00pm – 4:00am
  • Address: 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616
  • Cost: S$20 for viewing gallery, S$35 for entrance and 2 drinks

For cool alternatives, check out 13 Best Rooftop Bars with a View in Singapore!

Day 2: Discover the multicultural appeal of the city

8:00am: Breakfast at Slappy Cakes, Sentosa

Why not start off your day with at the famous breakfast spot, Slappy Cakes. Choose a basic pancake type (like buttermilk or peanut butter), flip it, and create your own twist by adding fruits or mushrooms! 

  • Address: Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, #01-29 Singapore 098269
  • Cost: S$8.50 for the basic pancake, $2 for toppings
Gardens By The Bay (image via Unsplash)
Gardens By The Bay

10am: Gardens By The Bay

Visit Gardens By The Bay, the world’s largest glass greenhouse. Admire grand pavilions, pretty lakes, and amazing views of Marina Bay’s skyline! Stand in awe at the breathtaking SuperTree, a futuristic tree unlike anything on this planet. Explore vertical gardens up to 16 stories high.

  • How To Get There: Take the downtown line via Sentosa Express to Sentosa Station. Walk to the Harbourfront and take the NorthEast line to Chinatown MRT Station. Take the downtown line from Chinatown MRT to Bayfront and walk for 13 minutes
  • Address: Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

12:00pm: Discover art and architecture at Orchard Road

Orchard Road (image via Glen Bowman, Flickr)
Orchard Road (image via Glen Bowman, Flickr)

Orchard Road is a tree-lined boulevard with plenty to offer art lovers, aside from being known as a shopping haven (which we’ll cover later!).

  • How To Get There: Take an 8-minute walk back to Bayfront MRT Station. Alight at Orchard stop, which is just 2 stations away.
  • Address: Orchard Road, Singapore
  • Best Bet for Art: Singapore Art Museum

 

Take the time to browse Singapore’s Art Museum and learn about the fascinating history of the city state. View Venetian glass works, vintage photographs and portraits dating back to a century – don’t forget to see artifacts showcasing the multicultural aspects of Singapore’s food and fashion!

View of Emerald Hill towards Orchard Road (image via Lars Plougmann, Flickr)
View of Emerald Hill towards Orchard Road (image via Lars Plougmann, Flickr)
  • Best Bet for Architecture: Emerald Hill Road

Admire the art deco style and Chinese baroque architecture dating all the way back from the 1920s. Feel as if you’ve stepped back in time in this old-fashioned setting. Observe the clash between modern and traditional structures around Orchard Road!

2:00pm: Discover the delights of Chinatown

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (image via Shutterstock)
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (image via Shutterstock)

Wander around the gold and red-toned neighborhood and visit Chinese, Buddhist, and Hindu temples! Immerse yourself in Peranakan Chinese culture as you stroll through low-rise buildings and old shophouses selling trinkets and snacks.

  • How To Get There: Take a 10-minute walk from Orchard Road to Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. Take the North East Line to Chinatown MRT Station and disembark.
  • Address: Crot | Trengganu, Singapore 048942, Singapore
  • Best Bet for Temples: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

This four-story temple’s main highlight is the gold two-meter stupa, which houses the sacred relic. Encounter over 300 Buddhist artifacts collected around Asia, a massive prayer wheel, and ornate architecture reflecting the Tang Dynasty.

  • Best Bet for Lunch: Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle

Experience the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal! Yes, this hawker-style stall’s name is a mouthful. But their Cantonese-style soya sauce soya sauce chicken rice (only S$2) is also mouthful – of simple, heavenly goodness! This iconic Chinese-style meal boasts tender chicken, noodles or rice, and premium dark soy sauce with a side of chili.

  • Address: 78 Smith Street, Singapore 058972

4:00pm: Uncover the charms of Little India

Sri Veeramakaliamman (image via Shutterstock)
Sri Veeramakaliamman (image via Shutterstock)

Expect a rainbow of colors, dazzling Hindu temples, and unique items! Browse Asian-inspired jewelry and Indian food at the Mustafa Centre and revel in the lively atmosphere.

  • How To Get There: Take the subway from Chinatown MRT Station to Little India MRT Station via North East Line
  • Best Bet for Temples: Sri Veeramakaliamman

Marvel at the prettiest Hindu temple in the area, covered in thousands of colorful (and tiny) statues! Admire the South Indian architecture, one of the first places for worship to be built in the Indian community since the 19th century.

6:00pm onwards: Dinner for two at Singapore Cable Car and Sky Dinner

Be captivated by Singapore's stunning skyline (image via Shutterstock)
Be captivated by Singapore’s stunning skyline (image via Shutterstock)

Are you with your special someone? Elevate your romance with a dinner onboard the Singapore Cable Car Sky Network. Glide above the HarbourFront Centre and across the island resort of Sentosa. Indulge in  a luxury Western or Singaporean-style dinner and be mesmerized by the sight of Singapore glittering skyline – while gazing at each other of course.

  • How To Get There: Take a 4-minute walk to Little India MRT Station, and take the North East Line to Harbour Front. From there, Walk to Singapore Cable Car, Tower 2
  • Address: Singapore Cable Car, Tower 2, 1 Harbourfront Ave, Keppel Bay Tower, Singapore 098632
  • Cost: S$152.33 for Dining on Cloud 9 and S$68.72 for Sky Dining

Not with your special someone or looking for alternatives? Select your favorite from 13 Best Rooftop Bars in Singapore

Day 3: Spend the whole day inside Universal Studios

Universal Studios (image via Visualhunt)
Universal Studios

Book a day tour to Universal Studios Singapore, also known as USS. world-famous theme park is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia! Enter the movie-themed world, located inside Resorts World Sentosa, and experience thrilling rides, immersive special effects and sets, and spectacular performances.

Get wet and wild with the cast from the animated hit, Madagascar. Or step back in time and witness Jurassic Park dinosaurs wreak havoc on your surroundings!

Day 4: Last-minute souvenirs and shopping before leaving Singapore

Shop souvenirs at Chinatown (image via Khalzuri Yazid, Flickr)
Shop souvenirs at Chinatown (image via Khalzuri Yazid, Flickr)

Just like we promised, here are a few suggestions for the areas you’ve visited above. Plan a quick stop before your flight – if your flight is in the morning, you can even buy some of these essential souvenirs from Changi Airport.

ION Orchard, Orchard Road

Head to Isetan in Orchard Road and grab a bottle or two of delicate perfume made from Singapore’s national flower: the orchid! Roam around stalls and haggle down prices for almost anything in various stalls, from cosmetics, clothing and sweets to merlion keychains and accessories.

For those looking for high-end items, head to ION Orchard, an eight-storey complex above the MRT. Shop at Level 1, 2, and 3 for renowned brands like Dior and Prada. Mid-range shopper options include Guess and Calvin Klein, while budget shoppers can find $2 Daiso stores and cost-effective fashion brands like H&M.

Chinatown

Head to Chinatown for oriental-style cups, fridge magnets, scarves, tea, herbal medicine, and more! Try your best to bargain by not buying your coveted item as soon as you see it.

Tips and Tricks:

  • Get a SIM card: Never lose track of your group as you navigate through crowded places
  • Purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass: if you plan to explore a lot of Singapore, mostly by bus and train
  • DO NOT LITTER Don’t just throw your chewing gum or any trash anywhere. If you do, prepare to be fined. Singapore is very strict about maintaining utmost cleanliness!
  • Dress appropriately for temple visits Generally, you need to wear shirts with sleeves, long skirts and pants that cover your knees. Rule of thumb: make sure you can sit cross-legged comfortably. Remember to remove your shoes outside Hindu temples.

Now, you know the best things to do in Singapore. Uncover the city state’s rich Asian heritage, stunning skyscrapers, surreal botanical gardens, and action-packed amusement parks with our 4-day Singapore itinerary! Keep this pinned and stay tuned for more Singapore travel itineraries with KKday.

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