Recently updated on November 24th, 2023 at 04:48 pm
Situated in Southeast Asia, beside Malaysia is the world’s most visited city and tropical island country; Singapore. Known for being a melting pot of cultures, what makes Singapore unique is that it is a city, island and country all in one! As a nation, it is very small – it only takes one hour to drive from one end to another! However, don’t let the size fool you, Singapore sure knows how to pack a punch when it comes to cultural sites and experiences – you won’t be short on things to do in Singapore!
Whether you’re visiting Singapore as a standalone holiday destination, or as a stopover extension, the below itinerary covers all you need to know in order to make the most of your 72 hours (or 3 days) in Singapore!
How to travel around Singapore
Being a small country, it’s very easy to travel around Singapore thanks to its connected network of public transportation. While the city is very much so a walkable city, the intense tropical heat can make for a very sweaty midday forage.
Save your energy and jump on the clean, efficient and inexpensive MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) metro. The MRT is a really simple and affordable way for getting around the island; tickets can be purchased as you go, or you can buy an ez link card for S$12 which comes with S$7 credit already loaded onto it.
Another option for if you’re trying to see as much as possible in a short time is the Singapore Tourist Pass, which costs S$30 for unlimited public transport use for three days.
Or, alternatively, if you prefer to travel via Uber, be sure to download the Singaporean equivalent ‘Grab’ app before you go. Grab works exactly the same as Uber and is a great alternative to the MRT.
Day 1: Colonial District and Marina Bay Area
COLONIAL DISTRICT
Packed with stunning colonial buildings, a relaxing green-filled park and several museums, the Colonial District is the perfect area to start your 3-day adventure in Singapore. It’s a great way to get a robust introduction to the city, it’s history and multicultural roots.
Some not-to-miss favourites in this area include:
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE
Housed in an elegant Neo-Palladian building that dates back to 1887 is the National Museum of Singapore. Displaying six centuries of Singapore history, as well as recent history, you’ll leave this museum with a good understanding of the city’s history.
PERANAKAN MUSEUM
The first of its kind in the world, the Peranakan Museum specialises in all things Peranakan culture, telling the story of the rich heritage of the Peranakans (the Chinese descendants in Singapore), their culture, arts, spirituality and food.
NATIONAL GALLERY
With a collection of more than 9000 items, the National Gallery of Singapore houses the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art. While you’re here, be sure to head up to the rooftop bar and restaurant to witness the beautiful view of the Singapore skyline.
RAFFLES HOTEL
The most famous hotel in Singapore, Raffles Hotel is a colonial-style luxury hotel that epitomises the colonial history of Singapore. Opened in 1887, the hotel was built by the Sarkies Brothers and named after Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles.
You can explore the elegant Raffles Hotel on a city tour of Singapore with Trafalgar on the ‘Highlights of Singapore and Malaysia’ tour, where you’ll get to walk in the footsteps of Sir Stamford Raffles himself.
MARINA BAY AREA
After a morning filled with history and culture, there’s no better way to spend the afternoon than to venture on the flip side of the coin to Singapore’s uber modern, Marina Bay area. This part of Singapore is filled with modern architectural masterpieces and lively restaurants by the river. Here’s what you need to see:
GARDENS BY THE BAY
Be sure to have a couple of hours up your sleeve in order to explore the beauty that is Gardens by the Bay. Home to more than 16,000 plant species and flowers, you’ll be absolutely mesmerised by the Supertree Grove, Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, which is home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
MARINA BAY SANDS
Singapore’s most iconic building; while it may look as if it resembles a giant, stranded ship, this architectural masterpiece was designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie and houses a hotel, casino, theatre, museum, shopping mall and of course, the famous rooftop infinity pool. You don’t need to be staying at the hotel in order to enjoy the spectacular views of the city below. You can get tickets to the SkyPark Observation Deck which is on the 57th floor and offers unreal panoramic views of the cityscape.
SINGAPORE FLYER
While it is super touristy, there’s no better way to experience your first Singaporean sunset than onboard the iconic Singapore Flyer. You’ll ride on one of the world’s largest giant observation wheels for 30-minutes – the perfect thing to do in Singapore!
CLARKE QUAY NIGHTLIFE
To end your first evening in Singapore, be sure to spend time at the buzzing riverside neighbourhood of Clarke Quay; a favourite amongst both locals and tourists alike. With plenty of restaurants and bars, you’ll have loads of options to choose from when it comes to dinner and a few evening aperitifs!
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DAY 2: MULTICULTURAL AREAS
No doubt after all of day one’s activities, you’ll be waking up with an appetite on your second day. Head to where the locals go, and enjoy a traditional Singaporean breakfast at the Tiong Bahru Market. Open from 6am, the local market is where you can go to find all sorts of fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables. Or, if you’ve grown quite the appetite, be sure you head straight to the hawker centre, where you can eat your way through the market; the perfect fuel for your second day of your 72 hours in Singapore adventure!
LITTLE INDIA
Stepping foot in the enclave of Little India will feel as if you’ve been transported to India itself! This area is home to Singapore’s Indian community, and is bustling with life with its smells of incense and sounds of Bollywood music.
While here, be sure to visit the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali; shop til you drop at the open 24/7 Mustafa Centre and pose for a photo out the front of the rainbow coloured Tan Teng Niah’s former home, the only surviving Chinese villa in the area.
You can delve into the rich traditions and savour the exotic smells, sights and sounds that emanate from all corners of the bustling streets and shopfronts of Little India on the Singapore Explorer tour with Trafalgar.
KAMPONG GLAM
Located right next to Little India is Singapore’s Muslim and Arab neighbourhood, Kampong Glam. The city’s oldest urban quarter, it was allocated by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822 to the Malay and Arab communities.
While exploring this enclave, be sure to visit the Sultan Mosque with its beautiful golden dome; and sip on a much deserved iced coffee in one of the many cafes along Haji Lane.
CHINATOWN
Once home to Singapore’s Chinese immigrant community, today, the city’s Chinatown is a mix of cultures with historic temples and trendy cafes. It’s also the only Chinatown in the world that is home to a Buddhist temple, mosque and Hindu temple all on one street.
Day 3: Day Trip to Sentosa Island
After spending two full days exploring all of the cityscapes, museums, temples and shopping, you could be wondering what to do in Singapore that hasn’t already been covered! Well, thankfully, there is still more – by way of relaxation, it’s time to head to the ‘tropical beach’ for some fun in the sun on Sentosa Island.
The island resort of Sentosa is home to beautiful beaches, spas, outdoor activities and Universal Studios theme park, so there’s definitely something for everyone! There are several ways that you can get to Sentosa from Singapore city; cable car from the HarbourFront station, the Sentosa Express monorail, taxi or a simple walk across the Sentosa Boardwalk from VivoCity.
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Have you explored and discovered the city country of Singapore? Or, are you hoping to explore the best of Singapore soon in the future? Let us know in the comments! Or, visit our website to learn more about how you can travel Singapore with Trafalgar.