3 Days in Singapore Itinerary – The City-State Beyond a Stopover Holiday

More than a stopover holiday, spending 3 days in Singapore will soon show there’s more to this city-state than you first thought. Plan your Singapore itinerary from this pick of the best sights and activities, showing how you can fill your days in this multicultural and modern city built upon centuries of history. 

You’ll likely pass through the sovereign island city-state of Singapore on a long-haul flight from the US to Asia or between Europe and Australasia, and that’s just it. Many people view Singapore as a layover country where they can stop at Changi Airport on the way to a more prominent destination and rarely get to dig deeper.

The founding of modern-day, independent Singapore puts it at a mere 55 years old – one of the world’s only legitimate city-states, one of the wealthiest countries in Asia and one of the greenest countries in the world.

Yet having spent most of its existence before its independence under the occupation of other countries such as Britain and Japan before it finally gained independence from Malaysia in 1965, it’s far more historically and culturally woven than you think. Found in its co-existence of faiths and cultures and historical monuments that stand side-by-side with the glossy modernity and immaculate urban cleanliness for which Singapore is known.

I visited Singapore after travelling in neighbouring Malaysia, with there being excellent infrastructure between them both, whether via bus, private car or a short 1-hour and 15-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur. It allowed me time for a relaxing visit and not rush through it on the way to somewhere else.

Are you interested in digging deeper? There’s a lot to Singapore, which makes pulling together a multi-day itinerary a form of mix and match according to the main interest points that span this island nation city-state.

So let’s look at some of the things to do and how you could spend 3 days in Singapore uncovering it all.

Viewpoints and Nature in Singapore

For a small island, Singapore packs a lot of nature that covers around one-third of its landmass, expressed through the pride in grand gardens of magnificent proportion and elevated viewpoints that encourage you to get outside and see the island from all heights and angles.

Gardens by the Bay

One of Singapore’s most popular tourist attractions, Gardens by the Bay is a 250-acre nature park overlooking the Singapore Strait. It contains a plethora of plant life in a themed park formation, with floral and art sculptures in a palette of brilliant colour and design.

The main draw is the misty Cloud Forest conservatory indoor forest featuring a huge waterfall and a 138-foot mountain covered in plant life. Ride an elevator to the top and watch how the vegetation changes as you take the spiral walkway down.

Other highlights include the famed outdoor Supertree Grove observatory with an elevated 22-meter high Skyway and the Flower Dome – the world’s largest glass greenhouse of “perpetual spring”.

• Gardens By The Bay and OCBC Skyway Combo Tickets

The Singapore Flyer

What is a city without a giant observation wheel? Standing at 541 feet, the Singapore Flyer is the tallest Ferris wheel in Asia and one of the best ways to view Marina Bay, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, and many other Singapore attractions. It contains 28 air-conditioned capsules, and the entire ride takes about 30 minutes.

Not one for the skies? You can also take a segway tour along Marina Bay with a chance to see 10 of Singapore’s attractions on a two-hour active trip, or for deeper local insights there’s a Secrets of Marina Bay Singapore walking tour. This three-hour tour discusses the growth of the island nation and its approach to city planning. 

Singapore Cable Car and Fort Siloso Skywalk

If you have extra time beyond riding the Singapore Cable car to Sentosa Island for the view, consider wandering The Fort Siloso Skywalk. It is an 11-story high, 181 metre-long trek through a treetop canopy with a panoramic view that takes in the best of Sentosa Island and out to the fringes of the city’s southern coastline. You can also take a guided tour to learn more about the island’s history.

• Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass Ticket

Singapore Botanic Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Singapore Botanic Gardens are a core historic site, founded in 1859. The 161-year-old spectacular garden contains over 10,000 different species of flora spread over 82 hectares site is also the only tropical garden to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• National Orchard Garden Entry Ticket

Understand Singapore Culture in Historical Neighborhoods

A symbol of Singapore’s multicultural society, you’ll find a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple and Mosque within a short distance from one another, crisscrossing different areas but close enough to be in unison.

Taking time to visit Singapore’s neighbourhoods is one of the best ways of understanding its history of immigration and how it grew to be the modern city it is today, interlaced with its old architecture and narrow alleyways of the past.

Chinatown

Narrow streets and iconic architecture, street food and sites of worship, visiting Singapore’s Chinatown is an immersion into Chinese culture and the enclave built by Chinese immigrants to the island.

Chinatown is a heady mix of historical sites and buzzing hangouts and is a place that especially comes alive at night. You can visit the four-story Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Chinese shophouses from the 1920s on Craig and Blair Roads, while in-between sampling traditional Chinese food on Chinatown Food Street or checking out the many watering holes and cocktail bars.

This area comes alive at night, so consider joining a Singapore Chinatown Night Tour for further neighbourhood immersion. 

Kampong Gelam

Kampong Gelam (often referenced as Kampong Glam) is the place to go to experience Muslim and Malay culture. One of the main sites here is the 200-year-old landmark of the Sultan Mosque (Masjid Jamae), one of the first mosques in Singapore built for Chinatown’s Tamil Muslim population.

The oldest urban area in Singapore, this area started life as a boat-making port town and later became the seat of Malay royalty in Singapore. Today, Kampong Gelam is a trendy neighbourhood for shopping on Arab Street and hanging out in quirky and colourful Haji Lane with its unique stores and live music bars.

Little India

Little India is a historical enclave known for its traditional Indian shops and restaurants that showcase the island’s Indian community.

You can try some fresh Indian food at the Tekka Centre or visit the colourful House of Tan Teng Niah. It’s also known for its massive Hindu temples such as Sri Mariamman Temple and Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple.

Civic District

Singapore’s Civic District is home to many of its cultural museums and historical attractions and is known as the area where modern Singapore began in 1822. Modern construction lines the Singapore River, commercial life thrives in the Quays, and it is here you’ll find the half-fish half-lion Merlion statue at the Merlion Waterfront.

The founding of modern Singapore is associated with Sir Stamford Raffles – a divisive historical figure as a British colonialist, to which history writes the country’s growth from a Malay fishing village and port town to a thriving commercial trading post because of him.

A white marble statue of him stands not far from the landmark world-famous luxury Raffles Hotel. However, during the 2019 bicentennial ‘commemoration’ of Raffles’ arrival, the figure disappeared in an optical illusion as a marker to rethink Singapore’s history, decolonise it and recognise the centuries of pre-colonial development and settlement.

You can also admire the City Hall building with its long flight of stairs and Corinthian columns, Fort Canning Park, the National Gallery and Esplanade Park. Or embark on a Singapore River Cruise for a scenic introduction to the area. 

What to Do in Singapore at Night

Despite being a thriving commercial core, the city doesn’t slow at sundown. Singapore’s nightlife and entertainment spots are found bundled and bustling in its central neighbourhoods, from live gig venues to swanky rooftop bars. Plus, with the proximity of locales, you’ll be able to sample a lot in a single evening.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

You don’t have to stay at the enormous boat in the sky-designed Marina Bay Sands Hotel to enjoy a night there. This hotel has everything from nightclubs, celebrity chef restaurants, a theatre, an art museum, and the largest atrium casino in the world. I did what most visitors to the city do – head to the KU DÉ TA bar and enjoy the view from the rooftop infinity pool.

• Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck E-Ticket

• Marina Bay Sands Skip-the-Ticket-Line E-Ticket

Light Shows

Singapore puts on mesmerising light shows if you were not already maxed out by the sites during the day. One of these is the Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay in which the trees light up in a spectacular display of light and sound. You can also witness the lights, symphonies, and dancing fountains of Spectra over by Marina Bay.

Raffles Hotel

It’s a rite of traveller passage to visit the Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling cocktail – a gin-based cocktail famous worldwide. The Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel is the place to try it.

Clarke Quay

You’ll find Clarke Quay next to the Singapore River, and while it is a fun place to visit in the daytime, it’s primarily a nightlife epicentre. It contains some of Singapore’s most famous nightclubs, including Zouk, Attica, and the F. Club. These are all great spots to dance and party until the early morning hours, with other nightlife hotspots in Singapore, including Club Street in Chinatown and Orchard Row.

• Singapore Tiger Beer Brewery Experience Tour with Beer Tasting

Singapore Day Trips

Sentosa Island

The former site of a British military fortress, Sentosa Island, grew into a place for adventure and tranquillity, so catch the monorail or scenic cable car to the island and escape the city bustle and modern highrise and feel like you are far away.

Spend a day at one of the three idyllic coastlines of the renowned Siloso Beach, family-friendly Palawan Beach and the more secluded Tanjong Beach or fly at the zipline park or the indoor skydiving centre.

• Enjoy a Sentosa Island 2-Hour Guided Bus Tour

Universal Studios

Also, Sentosa Island houses the only Universal Studios in Southeast Asia. With 28 different rides and attractions, this is worth a day trip, and I factored in a day here when a friend came to visit. Some attractions you can expect are Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey, Transformers the Ride, and the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure.

• Universal Studios Singapore Entry Ticket

Singapore Museums and Heritage Centres

With two or three days in Singapore, you can add some of the city’s extensive cultural museums to your list if you want to dig deeper into the multicultural makeup of the town and the history of the early settlers who arrived over the centuries and made their enclaves on the island. 

National Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore is the oldest and largest museum in Singapore. Visiting this museum is a great way to learn about the country’s history, and the building itself is also a work of art in its neoclassical architecture.

Malay Heritage Centre

The Malay Heritage Centre in Kampong Gelam is in dedication to the culture of the Malay Singaporeans, an indigenous group of Singapore. Learning more about this neighbourhood’s cultural significance is a must-do.

Indian Heritage Centre

While in Little India, you can check out the Indian Heritage Centre. This four-story museum details the history of contact between India and Singapore. There are five permanent galleries, and the building is a unique blend of modern and traditional Indian architecture.

Sample 3-Days in Singapore Itinerary

Now that you’ve seen what Singapore offers, let’s take a look at a sample itinerary and how you can mix and match the various things to do in this compact yet elaborate country.

Day One:

• Start the day by taking a guided tour of the Fort Siloso Skywalk.
• In the afternoon, spend some time exploring Kampong Gelam.
• In the evening, catch the light shows at Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Day Two:

• The next morning, enjoy a nature walk at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
• After that, you can tackle Chinatown and Little India in the afternoon.
• End the day with a famed Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel.

Day Three: 

• You can spend your last day in Singapore on the beach by taking a trip to Sentosa Island.
• Finally, finish your trip to Singapore with a night on the town in Clarke Quay.

Getting to Singapore

Flying to Singapore

The award-winning Changi Airport is a tourist destination that lives up to its “more than just an airport” tagline. Not only is it a transit hub for 100 airlines connecting Singapore to 135 destinations worldwide, but Changi Airport is packed full of activities and sights, including an extension of Singapore’s nature highlights, as well as dining and entertainment venues.

Visitors to Singapore factor in more hours before a departure flight to enjoy this unique place. 

Singapore by Land

I travelled to Singapore from Malaysia overland (which you can access via private car or bus), which required a simple border crossing check. Singapore has two land checkpoints:

• Tuas in the west (601 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, Singapore 018956)
• Woodlands in the north (21 Woodlands Crossing, Singapore 018956)

Both checkpoints operate 24 hours a day since they also serve those working in Singapore but living in Malaysia. 

Combining a trip to Singapore with Kuala Lumpur? 

READ MORE: What to Do in Kuala Lumpur in One Day – Malaysia’s Capital in 24 Hours

Getting Around Singapore 

Singapore is connected by its extensive, city-wide Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system and a vast bus network and taxi services.

Singapore Train and Metro Network 

If you are staying in Singapore for a few days, you can purchase a Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) that gives you unlimited travel for:

• One day (Singapore Dollar $10)
• Two days (Singapore Dollar $16)
• Three days (Singapore Dollar $20)

Singapore Bus Service

A cheaper way to travel, you can use Singapore’s bus network to get around, which you can quickly pay for via visa or credit card via the contactless system.

Singapore Taxi Service

Singapore has metered taxis, but ensure the meter is on before you get in, and check no extra surcharge will be added (unless it’s part of a particular journey).

Look out for official taxi stands outside the malls and hotels if you cannot flag one down on the street (which isn’t usually a problem). 

Singapore Transport Timetables

The following transport operator websites list information and timetables:

• SBS Transit
• SMRT
• Go-Ahead Singapore
• Tower Transit Singapore