Singapore, often referred to as the Lion City, is a destination that perfectly blends lush greenery, iconic landmarks, and a vibrant mix of cultures. Whether you’re here for the breathtaking skyline, mouthwatering food, or serene nature, this 6-day itinerary will help you uncover the best of Singapore. We’ve also included handy travel tips, budget-friendly advice, and suggestions to indulge in the city’s incredible culinary scene—making your trip unforgettable and stress-free.
After months of traveling and saving for the Singapore trip, we could make this trip come true by booking flights in advance and getting a hotel confirmed via MakeMyTrip.com. By finalizing the itinerary and still making changes after reaching it, we could make this trip a success.
Do note, that if you are looking for an international trip to a developed country with very good public transport, safety measures, skyline, good food, and where you are ready to spend money. In that case, Singapore is the right choice for you.
We will cover some quick tips to make this trip a success. Plus some tips to ensure you are not overwhelmed with the routes, currency and plan your itinerary accordingly.
- Quick Tips for a Hassle-Free Trip
- Day 1: Arrival and Explore Clarke Quay
- Day 2: Gardens, Skylines, and Culture
- Day 3: Wildlife Adventures at Mandai
- Day 4: Explore Sentosa and Little India
- Day 5: Thrills, Beaches, and Chinatown
- Day 6: Departure via Changi Airport
- Singapore’s Food Scene: A Culinary Adventure
- Navigating Singapore: MRT, Cable Cars, and More
- Why Singapore Should Be on Your Bucket List
Quick Tips for a Hassle-Free Trip
Before diving into the details of your adventure, here are some essential tips to keep your trip smooth:
- Accommodation: Book your stay 4-5 months in advance for the best deals. Mid-range hotels near MRT stations like Lavender or Bugis cost approximately ₹7,000-₹8,000 per night.
- Visa: Use the Atlys app or website for a hassle-free application process. Don’t forget to complete the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) online before your trip.
- Currency: Plan a budget of SGD 100-150/day per person. Carry 80% of this on a forex card and 20% as cash.
- Getting Around:
- Purchase an EZ-Link Card for SGD 10 (with SGD 5 usable credit) and recharge it with SGD 20 for 2-3 days of travel.
- Alternatively, use your international Visa or MasterCard for contactless payments on public transport. (My preferred method – Peace of mind, I will explain later).
Day 1: Arrival and Explore Clarke Quay
Evening: Touch Down and Soak in the Nightlife
Arrive at the world-class Changi Airport, right away you will have to take an MRT to Tanah Merah and change the line to EW for EW11 Lavender. Check into your hotel near Lavender MRT, and freshen up for the evening. Start your Singapore adventure by heading to Clarke Quay, the city’s buzzing nightlife hub.
Getting There: From Lavender MRT, take the East-West Line to City Hall MRT, switch to the North-East Line, and alight at Clarke Quay MRT (about 20 minutes).
What to Do:
- Take a leisure stroll along the Singapore River.
- Enjoy dinner at one of the many riverside restaurants.
- Hop on a river cruise to admire the city lights reflected on the water.
Day 2: Gardens, Skylines, and Culture
Morning: Explore Gardens by the Bay
Start your day at the breathtaking Gardens by the Bay, home to the iconic Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Marvel at the stunning flora and futuristic architecture.
Make sure, you start your day after a good breakfast at the hotel or nearby as you will walking a lot on the very first day. You can reach Gardens By the Bay via MET as shared below. You will be required to explore the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest separately taking about 4 to 5 hours of your time. Ensure you take good pictures at the Cloud Forest and enjoy the flowers.
Breakfast around Singapore Cafes is cheap for up to $5++ per person.
P.S. You must be lucky to see the flowers blooming as that’s not the case throughout the month or year.
Getting There: From Lavender MRT, take the Downtown Line to Bayfront MRT (25 minutes). The gardens are right outside the station.
Afternoon: Iconic Landmarks
Head to Merlion Park to see Singapore’s iconic Merlion statue. Walk over to Marina Bay Sands and cross the stunning Helix Bridge for panoramic views of the city.
For Lunch, you will find some cafes and restaurants near the Gardens By the Bay.
After Lunch, we headed over to Merlion Park on foot. On the way, we explored the Helix Bridge, and Esplanade where itis worth staying during the evening for open-air concerts.
Optional: Visit the ArtScience Museum if you enjoy interactive exhibits. We didn’t have much time to explore the museum which has a section for Studio Ghibli.
After exploring Merlion and taking some interesting pictures head back to Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay for the light show. The light show begins at around 7:30 PM and ends at 7:45 PM.
Evening: Supertree Grove Light Show
Return to Gardens by the Bay for the Supertree Grove Light Show, a mesmerizing display of lights and music that’s an absolute must-see.
Day 3: Wildlife Adventures at Mandai
Morning to Evening: A Day with Nature
Spend your day at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which houses some of Singapore’s best wildlife parks.
Mandai hosts a lot of manatees and other aquatic creatures. But, it wasn’t exciting at all for adults, plan this if you only have kids with you. The major attraction here was the Panda where you can spend some good time watching finish branch after branch of bamboos. And I heard it is a delight if you catch a feeder giving him food.
Getting There: Take the MRT from Lavender to Khatib MRT (via the North-South Line, 35 minutes). From Khatib, board the Mandai Shuttle Bus (SGD 2.50 for a round trip).
Refer to their website for the latest rates and routes if newly introduced. Link here.
The Night Safari is fabulous as you can see nocturnal animals up and close enjoying food. You will find most of the animals from India like elephants, lions, porcupines, Wild Dogs, and others. Here’s what you can expect – Link here.
What to Do:
- Visit River Wonders to see manatees, pandas, and other aquatic creatures.
- Explore the Singapore Zoo, known for its open-concept enclosures.
- End your day with the Night Safari, a magical experience where you can observe nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.
Day 4: Explore Sentosa and Little India
Morning: Adventures on Sentosa Island
Kick off your day with a visit to Sentosa, home to attractions like Madame Tussauds and the SEA Aquarium.
You won’t require a lot of time at Madame Tussauds, you can click some pictures with life-like replicas of Bollywood, Hollywood, and Tollywood. Also, many sportspersons can be seen like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ronaldo, etc. There’s a section in between which displays the Singapore freedom struggle and a boat ride.
There’s a 4DX show of Transformers, it was a good experience but you can leave it for the next day at Universal Studios.
Getting There: From Lavender MRT, take the East-West Line to Outram Park MRT, then the North-East Line to HarbourFront MRT (30 minutes). From there, ride the Sentosa Express monorail (SGD 5 round trip) or opt for a scenic Cable Car Ride (SGD 35 round trip).
Evening: Vibrant Little India
End your day exploring the colorful streets of Little India.
Getting There: From HarbourFront, take the North East Line to Little India MRT.
What to Do:
- Visit the Laxmi Narayan Temple and Shree Veeramakaliamman Temple.
- Relish an authentic Indian dinner.
- Stroll over to Haji Lane for its eclectic shops and lively nightlife.
Day 5: Thrills, Beaches, and Chinatown
Morning: Universal Studios Singapore
Return to Sentosa for a fun-filled day at Universal Studios Singapore, where rides and attractions await thrill-seekers of all ages.
Arrive early at Sentosa around 9:30 AM to ensure you get less crowds on the rides. Most of the shows here are rides and the locations are clean, you can find a lot of eateries and live shows happening. You must ensure to download the Universal Studios application for the timings and map of the Universal Studios.
You must explore the following places at Universal Studios:
- Transformers: The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle
- Egypt – The revenge of the mummy. [Thrilling roller coaster ride].
- Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure
- Lights, Camera, Action! [Must Watch]
- Catch some live shows along the way from one location to another.
- Look for timings on the Universal App.
Afternoon: Siloso Beach
Unwind at Siloso Beach, after a tiring day, where free trams make it easy to explore the shoreline.
Evening: Chinatown
Head to Chinatown MRT (via the North East Line) for your evening.
What to Do:
- Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. [Closes at 5 PM]
- Shop for affordable souvenirs (4-5 trinkets for SGD 10).
- Explore the vibrant streets filled with local delights.
Day 6: Departure via Changi Airport
Morning: A Memorable Send-Off
Make the most of your last day by exploring Changi Airport’s incredible attractions.
Getting There: From Lavender MRT, take the East-West Line to Changi Airport MRT (40 minutes).
What to Do:
After check-in of your baggage, if you are flying with Singapore Airlines, Indigo allows baggage to drop only 3 hours before the usual time.
- Marvel at the Rain Vortex, Canopy, and other attractions on the top floor. Other attractions are paid activities. You buy a combined pass, there’s also a Water park in the Terminal, need to check out if you have lots of time in hand.
For the Rain Vortex, you can take a Skytrain from T2 to T3 and the vortex is near the Terminal. Make sure you check this before you clear your immigration, or you will miss it.
After Immigration head over to the Skytrain from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 for Butterfly Garden. Next, head over to Terminal 2 for the Sunflower Garden which is located right close to the Ambassador Lounge.
Wrap up with duty-free shopping before heading to your gate.
That’s it, board your flight and time to head back home with sweet memories of the beautiful country and vibrant people.
Singapore’s Food Scene: A Culinary Adventure
One of Singapore’s greatest treasures is its food, reflecting a mix of Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Western influences. Here’s how to dive into its culinary wonders:
Must-Try Dishes
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Fragrant rice paired with tender chicken and chili sauce.
- Char Kway Teow: Stir-fried noodles with prawns, egg, and Chinese sausage.
- Chilli Crab: A must-try at seafood restaurants like Jumbo or No Signboard.
Popular Hawker Centers
- Maxwell Food Centre
- Lau Pa Sat
- Old Airport Road Food Centre
Vegetarian Options
Explore Little India for dosas, biryanis, and more at spots like Komala Vilas and Banana Leaf Apolo.
Luxury Dining
Splurge on a meal at Marina Bay Sands rooftop restaurants or enjoy afternoon tea at Raffles Hotel.
Snacks and Desserts
- Kaya Toast: Toast with coconut jam, served with soft-boiled eggs.
- Durian: For the adventurous foodie, this “King of Fruits” is a must-try.
Navigating Singapore: MRT, Cable Cars, and More
- MRT: Singapore’s MRT system is efficient, affordable, and well-connected. Download apps like SG MRT Map for real-time navigation.
- Sentosa Transport: Use the Sentosa Express Monorail (SGD 5 round trip) or Cable Car Ride (SGD 35 round trip) for scenic views.
- Grab: For areas not well-served by MRT, use Grab for reliable rides.
Why Singapore Should Be on Your Bucket List
Singapore isn’t just a city; it’s an experience. From the futuristic Gardens by the Bay to cultural havens like Chinatown and Little India, every corner of the Lion City offers a story to tell. Its seamless transport, diverse cuisine, and welcoming locals make it a destination that’s perfect for every traveler. So pack your bags and prepare to fall in love with Singapore—one unforgettable moment at a time.
