The only itinerary for 3 days in Singapore you’ll need

Rooftop bars, satay stalls, and even jungle treks all included.

Whether it’s just a stopover en route to your final destination or you’re popping over to this tiny country for a long weekend, there’s more than enough to do in Singapore to fill a few days. We’ve visited this city a half-dozen times, sometimes for just 24 hours and often for a few days. If we have just three, this is what we’d put into our Singapore itinerary.

Things to do for 3 days in Singapore

Singapore itinerary for day 1: Chinatown, Hawker Centres and Marina Bay Sands

Stepping off the MRT, Singapore’s subway system, at Chinatown station will deliver you straight into one of the country’s most bustling, colourful and flavourful neighbourhoods. (The latter being our favourite reason to return time and time again for 2 or 3 days in Singapore.)

The Pagoda Street exit is surrounded by stalls selling cheesy-but-cute souvenirs that you’ll probably end up buying. Chopstick sets and ceramic tea sets sit right next to Merlion magnets and ill-fitting t-shirts and the former make some affordable, practical gifts. The surrounding streets here are much the same, some with a few eateries, but we’d save the dining for the hawker centres.

The architecture here is also something not to miss. While most people just think of iconic buildings like the Marina Bay Sands, to us its the quaint shophouses painted in just about every tone that adds a certain charm to the city’s neighbourhoods. You’ll find them all over the city, including Chinatown and Little India (which we’ll get to in a couple of days).

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

After walking a few streets south of Pagoda, through more souvenir stalls and iconically Singaporean buildings, you’ll come a plaza with older men playing chess and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

The building itself is actually not that old. It opened in 2007, but was constructed in a traditional Chinese design. Visitors are more than welcome inside, as long as no photos are taken, you’re quiet and you’re covered up. (Scarves and sarongs were available if you don’t have your own.) Inside, there’s brilliant gold statues and a museum upstairs.

But, the best part of the temple is actually on its roof.

Don’t miss the secret orchid garden up here that most people don’t make it to. The tranquil space has hundreds of brightly hued blooms and a prayer wheel in the centre of the rooftop.

Cost: Free.
Location: 288 South Bridge Rd, Singapore.
Recommended? Yes.

Chinatown Hawker Centres

Maxwell Food Centre

Home to one of the city’s most famous the famous chicken rice stall, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (which is Bib Gourmand-listed by Michelin), Maxwell Food Centre is a must for any Singapore itinerary. It’s not too large, but is packed with stalls selling some of the best local cuisine.

In fact, this centre is so good it’s attracted famous chefs and foodies to its chicken rice stalls including Gordon Ramsey and the late Anthony Bourdain.

It’s also the perfect place to grab a refreshing drink to help cool down from the relentless Singapore heat. There’s plenty of stalls selling freshly blended fruit drinks, deliciously sweet sugarcane juice and cold teas.

Cost: Free to enter, food prices average to SG$4-8.
Location: 46 Smith St, Singapore 058956.
Recommended? Yes

Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre

More than just a food court, this complex has shops and fresh foods on the lower level and dozens of hawker stalls on the upper. But upstairs is where the magic is.

Dozens and dozens of food stalls create a maze of eats so sprawling there’s a colour-coded map so you can figure out which zone you’re in. While we’ve certainly tried to eat our way through as many stalls in here as possible, there’s just too many for our stomachs alone (and we’re big eaters!). Stand-out dishes here include carrot cakes, char kway teow and, like most hawker centres, chicken rice. And here, there’s yet another famous spot for the iconic Singaporean dish.

Hawker Chan, which is now a chain in the city, can be found here. It’s the world’s first Michelin-starred hawker stall. We sampled its famous dish (pictured above) and it was well-worth the 15-minute wait.

This place is a must on every Singapore itinerary, and we’ve managed to eat at least one meal here each time we’ve visited.

Cost: Free to enter, food prices average to SG$4-8.
Location: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore
Recommended? Yes

Amoy Street Food Centre

While not quite in Chinatown, it is just a few minutes’ walk. If you stroll into the nearby streets around Telok Ayer and are feeling a bit peckish, it’s the perfect spot to grab a bite.

There’s plenty of good eats here too, but if you only have time (or the appetite) for one or two hawker centres, we’d recommend sticking to Chinatown Complex or Maxwell.

Cost: Free to enter, food prices average to SG$3-7.
Location: 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore
Recommended? If you have time and are hungry.

Join a two-hour walking tour of Chinatown for less than $12

Marina Bay Sands & Gardens by the Bay

The perfect way to walk off all the delicious Singaporean cuisine, the iconic Marina Bay Sands complex is about a 25-minute stroll away from Chinatown.

The sprawling complex consists of a large shopping centre, three hotel towers and the famous boat-shaped platform connecting the tops of them complete with one of the world’s most famous infinity pools. Oh, and two hawker centres of course! (If you’re still hungry, you’ll find the first one on the basement level of the shopping centre, and the other toward the back of the lush Gardens by the Bay.)

For any architecture buff, this really is a sight to behold. It’s easily one of the most unique hotel complexes in the world and has forever changed the skyline of Singapore. There’s even a river running through it complete with boat rides. But, our favourite part of this complex is actually what’s behind it — Gardens by the Bay.

Clocking in at a huge 250 acres, and large enough to have its own MRT station, Gardens by the Bay is possibly the most futuristic-looking garden in the world. The soaring “Super trees” look like something straight out of Avatar and soar up to 50m into the sky. Some are connected by the elevated OCBC Skywalk ($12 for non-residents) for an aerial view of the park. If you’re looking to get out of the equatorial sun for a bit, there are two indoor gardens here too: the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome (SG$53 for both for non-residents).

While we’ve not entered any of the paid areas, the free areas of the gardens themselves are well worth a visit.

Cost: Free to enter including Gardens by the Bay with paid areas inside.
Location: 7 Maxwell Rd, Singapore
Recommended? Yes.

Day 2: Central Catchment Nature Reserve, rooftop bars and satay from Lau Pa Sat

TreeTop Walk in Central Catchment Nature Reserve

While most people think of Singapore, they probably think of the skyscrapers, shophouses and hawker centres filling up much of the city. But, right in the centre of this small, equatorial country, there’s actually a 2,000 hectare nature reserve that’s packed with tropical flora and fauna.

Central Catchment Nature Reserve is home to 20-kilometre of walking trails that can certainly have you breaking a sweat — and not just from the heat. Along a popular 7-kilometre loop walk, there’s the pinnacle 250-metre suspension bridge that gives you sweeping views of the surrounding jungle from up to 25 metres above the ground.

The walk itself isn’t too challenging, but because of the heat and humidity, you’ll definitely want to take your time and bring plenty of water. Around the half-way mark, there were toilets and a water fountain if needeed.

All along the walk, you’ll see plenty of leafy, green tropical plants and plenty of adorable monkeys. While we don’t recommend getting too close to them, they’re certainly not shy. Along a 200-metre-or-so stretch of boardwalk toward the end of the loop, there were easily 100 or more lined up along the railings.

Cost: Free
Location: Trailhead starts at the Venus Drive Carpark, Singapore 574411
Recommended? Yes

Take in the views from some of the many rooftop bars

Rooftop Bar #1: Lantern

Sitting atop the posh Fullerton Bay Hotel is the poolside Lantern. It has got stellar views of the Marina Bay Sands from across the water and, if you stick around until the nightly lights show, you’ll get incredible views of it.

Like most places in Singapore, drinks here aren’t cheap, but they are delicious. We tried a few of their takes on the Singapore Sling and weren’t disappointed But, with prices around SG$30 per drink, we were only sticking around for one.

The only downside was that our seat didn’t have a great view. There were plenty of tables around that did, but we were told they were reserved. Unfortunately no one came to fill those seats by the time we left just over an hour later.

Cost: Cocktails from SG$26.
Location: Rooftop of the Fullerton Bay Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326
Recommended? If you have time. But if you’re only choosing one rooftop bar, we preferred Mr Stork.

Rooftop Bar #2: Mr Stork

Above yet another hotel, Mr Stork may not have those iconic views of the Marina Bay Sands towers, but we found the overall experience to trump that of Lantern.

We timed our arrival for just before sunset and were treated to a brilliant orange sky over Singapore before taking in the views of the city lit up at night.

The staff was friendlier and less hesitant about giving us a seat with a view if we weren’t guests or didn’t have a reservation. Prices here were also a bit better, with all cocktails available for SG$27 rather than starting from there and going over SG$30 for some.

Cost: Cocktails from SG$27
Location: Rooftop of the Andaz Singapore,
Recommended? Yes

Satay at Lau Pa Sat

If you’re a fan of satay then listen up. Singapore has an entire street dedicated to it. Every night at 7pm, Boon Tat Street is closed off and “Satay Street”‘s grills light up and everything on sticks is served.

Most vendors start at less than SG$1 per stick, but have a minimum number that you need to order. Combo plates are available, so you can get a combination of chicken, mutton, prawn and other meats. Expect to spend SG$15-$20 on an order here.

Although it’s one of the more expensive hawker-style meals you’ll have in Singapore (aside from chilli crab), getting satay on the street at Lau Pa Sat is an experience you shouldn’t miss. And it’s definitely a delicious one.

Cost: SG$15-$20
Location: Boon Tat Street, Singapore
Recommended? Yes

Day 3: Little India, Kampong Glam and shopping on Orchard Road

Little India

One of our favourite things to do in Singapore (between meals, that is) is just wander. And colourful neighbourhoods like Little India and Kampong Glam are perfect for just that.

Since our accommodation was in Little India, the morning’s wander started there. Fueled up with a classic Singaporean breakfast of some kaya toast, runny eggs and a warm teh tarik, we set off.

While there aren’t necessarily tourist attractions in the area, it’s a great place to take in local life and culture. The streets are lined with brightly coloured buildings, delicious aromas waft from restaurant after restaurant and there’s also a few temples to check out, if you’re interested.

If you’re feeling pekish, there’s a large hawker centre in Little India, too. Unfortunately, the Tekka Centre was under renovation during our most recent visit, but we’ve made the effort to visit on all previous trips to Singapore.

Cost: Free.
Location: Accessible from Little India, Rochor, Farrer Park or Jalan Besar MRT stations.
Recommended: Yes.

Kampong Glam

A smaller area than Little India, Kampong Glam packs a lot into just a few streets. Beautiful street art lines its alleyways, corner restaurants serve quick meals and refreshing teas on tables set up on the footpath and there’s plenty of both traditional and funky shops to check out.

If you’re short on time, make sure to add the eclectic Haji Lane and Bussorah Street, where you’ll get an incredible view of the beautiful Masjid Sultan, to your itinerary here.

Cost: Free
Location: Accessible via a short walk from Bugis or Jalan Besar MRT stations, and not far from Little India.
Recommended: Yes.

Orchard Road

If you’ve got money to spend, Orchard Road is the place to do it in Singapore. Lined with shopping malls with everything from H&M to Hermes, there’s somewhere for everyone to shop here. It’s also a great place to cool down in the midday heat as just about everywhere has air conditioning.

But, if the air con isn’t quite doing it for you, there’s also an iconic treat that’s a must-have on Orchard Road; Ice cream sandwiches, but not as you know it.

From small carts all along the sidewalks, you’ll see vendors slicing up cardboard boxes of ice cream and serving the slabs between wafers or, our favourite, colourful bread. There’s usually some fun flavours to choose from, like mango or durian, along with the usual suspects like chocolate and vanilla.

Cost: Free to browse the shopping centres, SG$1.50 for an ice cream sandwich.
Location: Orchard Road, Singapore, accessible from Orchard or Somerset MRT stations.
Recommended: If you have time or love to shop.

How to get to Singapore from Australia

Direct fights to Singapore are available from most major airports in Australia — even Darwin and Cairns, but unfortunately not the Gold Coast anymore.

Budget airlines do fly between the two countries, including Jetstar and Scoot, which makes flying to Singapore incredible affordable at times. Of course, if you’re someone who prefers a full-service airline or wants to use frequent flyer points, you can also fly with Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

Once you’ve landed at Changi Airport, getting into the city is simple. You can either take a Grab (similar to Uber) for about SG$20-$30 depending on where you’re staying, or hop on the MRT for about SG$2. The MRT does only run until about 11:30pm, so if you’re arriving on a late flight, you may need to take a private car.

Where to stay for 3 days in Singapore

Singapore is a pretty well-connected place, so almost anywhere you stay that’s along the MRT line will allow you to get around easily. Other than going to and from the airport, we travelled around only by foot or MRT.

Of course, the more central you stay, the shorter your trips around will be. That’s why we recommend staying in Chinatown or Little India for affordable and central accommodation. If price isn’t so much of a factor, anywhere between the two areas, too, will have you centrally located.

Chinatown

Our preferred location! We love staying in Chinatown as it’s bustling, busy and very central. There’s plenty of delicious cheap eats around at hawker centres and it’s an easy walk into the CBD area where you’ll find Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. There’s also a few nearby MRT stations so getting to further-afield areas is super easy.

Places we’ve stayed in Chinatown, Singapore: Hotel Calmo Chinatown, Eighteen by Three Cabins, Beary Nice Hostel (Permanently closed)

Little India

If there’s nothing in Chinatown for our budget, we next look at Little India. It’s a great little area that’s full of colour, surrounded by delicious restaurants and within walking distance to Kampong Glam. It’s also got a few different MRT lines passing through it making getting around very easy.

Places we’ve stayed here: Penta Hotel

Where to go next…

Bali is just a short flight away from Singapore and we’d recommend tacking on a few days on the island to this itinerary for 3 days in Singapore to make a perfect week-long trip.