If you’re planning a Singapore 3 day itinerary, this is exactly what we did, 2.5 days, real costs, actual routes, and the things we’d do differently. No fluff, just what you actually need to know.
Singapore is one of those places that sounds overwhelming to plan but really isn’t once you’re there. This Singapore travel blog breaks it down into a simple, realistic itinerary that actually works.
Arrival: River Walk & Fort Canning Park
We landed early and were at our hotel by 08:30 courtesy of an Uber from the airport (approx $25SGD / £15). It was way too early to check in so we dropped our bags, headed straight out. There’s no point sitting in a lobby when Singapore is right outside the door.
We walked towards the river at Clarke Quay, turned the wrong way (classic us), and ended up wandering away from Clarke Quay and were a lot further up river before deciding to stop for coffee and then turn back. On the way back, we stumbled across one of the best unexpected stops of the whole trip.
Fort Canning Park & the Tree Tunnel
Fort Canning Park is a really peaceful green space right in the middle of the city, a proper breather from the heat and the buzz. We’d go back.
Fort Canning Tree Tunnel: Is it worth it?
The famous spiral staircase (the one everyone searches as the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel) is genuinely worth seeing, but go in with realistic expectations:
- There will be a queue
- Some people take an age getting their photos
- You can grab a quick shot and move on
The park itself is the real highlight. Shaded paths, historical spots, and a bit of calm before a full day of exploring.
Battlebox WWII Bunker $20 SGD (around £12) needs pre-booking or you’ll be waiting around. Worth it if history is your thing. We hadn’t researched this so didn’t know it was here and as Ben loves a bit of WWII history it was a shame we missed it. We were too tired to wait the hour to go on the next tour.
Easy wins on the walk back: We passed the Old Hill Street Police Station and the Central Fire Station Singapore, both quick stops and genuinely interesting additions to any things to do in Singapore list. No entry needed, just stop, look, snap a pic and move on.
Where We Stayed: ibis Singapore Clarke Quay
We stayed at ibis Singapore Clarke Quay and for the price, it was a great shout.
The location is spot on, Clarke Quay is right on your doorstep, the MRT and Chinatown are walkable, and you’re well placed for everything in the city centre. We arrived at 08:30 so couldn’t check in yet, but dropped our bags and headed straight out, which worked perfectly fine.
The rooms are compact, no getting around that, but for a couple of nights it’s absolutely perfect. Everything you need, nothing you don’t. Clean, comfortable, does exactly what it says on the tin.
The rooftop pool was a lovely bonus, especially after a full day on your feet in the Singapore heat. Not huge, but a great spot to wind down in the evening with a cold drink.
Breakfast is a basic buffet but genuinely filling, cereal, eggs, hash browns, fruit, the usual, more than enough to set you up before a big day without needing to think about it.
Would we stay again? Yes, without hesitation.
Where to Eat in Singapore: Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre
If you’re looking for an authentic Singapore hawker food experience, Lau Pa Sat is one of the easiest and most atmospheric places to start and we ended up coming back more than once.
What makes it special:
- Beautiful Victorian structure – it genuinely looks stunning, especially at night
- Huge variety of food stalls, so everyone can find something
- Satay Street outside in the evening – that’s the real event
What we ordered: Mixed satay (chicken, beef, prawns) and Tiger beers. Classic. We also had curry, kebab and some noodle dishes. All tastes are catered for here.
💰 Typical prices:
- Satay: $20–30 SGD / £12-18 for a plate for 2, the one with prawns is $40SGD / £24
- Beer: $8–12 SGD/ £4.50 – £7 for a can/ bottle/ pint and around $24 SGD / £14 for a jug of beer
Easily one of the best food spots in Singapore, and it won’t break the bank.
Day 2: Chinatown, Little India & Raffles
Chinatown Singapore
Exploring Chinatown Singapore is a must, wander and enjoy rather than rush it.
Lanterns overhead, incense in the air, and murals tucked down side streets… this is Chinatown.
Duck off the main road and you’ll find walls telling stories. Old trades, local life, moments from the past brought back through street art. It’s not just pretty, it actually means something.
The streets are brilliant for a slow mooch.
Then step into Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and everything slows right down. Ornate, peaceful, and a total contrast to the buzz outside. Free entry, easy to visit, genuinely impressive even if you just pop your head in while you’re passing.
Back out again, it’s hawker stalls, heritage shophouses, markets and Chinatown Complex or Maxwell Food Centre are both excellent food courts to stop for a snack, lunch or dinner.
Getting Around Singapore
We used the Singapore MRT throughout and it made everything so easy. Clean, efficient, air-conditioned (very important), and roughly $1.50–$3 SGD / £0.90 – £1.80 per journey. The MRT is the best way to get around Singapore, don’t overthink it, just tap in and go. There is free WIFI in all the MRT stations which we found out after we needed it – see the story later in the blog.
Little India Singapore
We took the MRT from Chinatown to Little India, very easy, very clean, very cool, so nice after wandering in the heat of Chiinatown.
Colour, chaos, and the smell of spices in the air… welcome to Little India.
Little India is a completely different feel to the rest of the city; bright, colourful streets, temples, local shops, proper local energy. A good half day if you let yourself slow down and take it in rather than rushing through.
This is where Singapore turns up the volume. Think vibrant murals, flower garlands, gold jewellery shops, and streets that feel a world away from the skyline.
Step into Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and it’s full colour, full energy, and seriously impressive detail. Then straight back out to plates of dosa, curries, and some of the best budget eats in the city at the Tekka Centre food court
Tang Ten Niah House. Bright, bold, and impossible to miss. This is the last surviving Chinese villa in Little India, and it’s painted in every colour you can think of. Quick stop, big visual payoff. Perfect for photos, and a cool little nod to Singapore’s layered history tucked right in the middle of the buzz.
Raffles Hotel Singapore Sling
No Singapore travel blog is complete without this and honestly, we’re not sorry (well maybe a little -its £££££).
At the famous Long Bar in Raffles Hotel Singapore, a Singapore Sling will set you back $35–45 SGD excluding taxes (around £25–£30 including tax). Expensive? Yes. Worth doing once? Also yes. The bar is a proper experience, peanut shells on the floor, ceiling fans, the whole thing. Go once, enjoy it, then find somewhere cheaper for the rest of the evening.
Gardens by the Bay & Marina Bay
Gardens by the Bay is one of the top things to do in Singapore, and the good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy it.
Free:
- Supertree Grove, genuinely impressive, especially at night
- Garden Rhapsody light show, worth timing your visit around this. 7.45pm & 8.45pm, 15 minute performance, arrive early for a good place. The music / theme changes throughout the year.
Paid:
- Cloud Forest / Flower Dome – worth it if you have the time
We combined this with a walk to Marina Bay Sands, which looks every bit as dramatic in person as it does in photos.
This was where things went slightly awry, I (Jen) jumped on the MRT but Ben didn’t make it. He pointed, indicating he would stay there, but I decided it would make more sense for me to wait for him to get to me. I waited 2 trains before deciding to go back and look for him. So I travelled back but went to the wrong platform. I couldn’t see him. At this point we weren’t aware of the free WIFI in stations so couldn’t contact each other. I then went on to our original destination and found him there.
Lesson – always have a back-up plan in a foreign country for if you get separated.
Day 3: Singapore Flyer, F1 Circuit & Merlion
Singapore F1 Circuit
You can walk parts of the Singapore Grand Prix route around Marina Bay, which is a bit of a buzz if you’re an F1 fan. Free, easy, good photo ops. We found the pit lane but unfortunately there was an event going on so we couldn’t get in.
Singapore Flyer
One of the best viewpoints in the city, full stop.
Cost: $40 SGD (around £24)
From up there you get a proper bird’s eye view of the skyline, the F1 track laid out below, and the whole Marina Bay layout. Worth every dollar on a clear day.
Merlion Park
Quick stop, classic photo, tick it off the list. It’s right near The Fullerton Hotel Singapore if you fancy a slightly fancier drink to round off the trip.
Clarke Quay & Boat Quay
Perfect for a relaxed evening, drinks by the river, good vibes, no rush. We ended several evenings here.
Changi Airport (If You Have Time)
If your flights allow for any extra time at Singapore Changi Airport, actually use it. The Jewel Rain Vortex, the indoor gardens, the food, it’s genuinely one of the best airports in the world and it’s worth treating it like an attraction rather than just a departure lounge. There is so much more than Jewel / Rain Vortex.
What We’d Do Differently
If we were planning this Singapore 3 day itinerary again:
- Explore more hawker centres beyond Lau Pa Sat – we only scratched the surface.
- Add Bugis Street, Kampong Glam, Haji Lane, and Arab Street – we ran out of time and regret it.
- Allow more time at Changi Airport .
- Have a backup meeting point sorted if you get separated.
FAQ
Is 2.5 days enough for Singapore? You can absolutely cover the highlights, but 3–4 days is a much more relaxed pace. If you can stretch it, do.
Is Singapore expensive? Hotels and drinks can add up, but hawker food is seriously affordable. Budget smart and you’ll be fine.
What is the best way to get around Singapore? The MRT, every time. Easy, cheap, air-conditioned. Use it for everything.
Final Thoughts
Singapore is one of the easiest cities to explore and one of the most rewarding, it just flows. This itinerary worked really well because it mixed walking, food, neighbourhoods, iconic sights, and a frankly unreasonable amount of satay 😄
Whether it’s your first stop on a longer SE Asia trip or a standalone city break, you won’t be disappointed.