Singapore 7-day itinerary

Start at Chinatown MRT and walk Pagoda Street to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple — a stunning five-storey temple with free entry and a peaceful rooftop garden. Then cross to Maxwell Food Centre for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (S$6). Wander the colourful shophouses of Keong Saik Road and Ann Siang Hill, now packed with specialty coffee joints and cocktail bars.

MRT to Little India. The sensory overload of Serangoon Road is immediate — garland shops, spice merchants, and the vibrant Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Walk through Tekka Centre for Indian food (thali from S$5). Then walk to Kampong Glam — the Malay-Arab quarter with Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane street art, and Muscat Street perfume shops.

Dinner at Lau Pa Sat — a heritage hawker centre in a gorgeous Victorian cast-iron building. After 7pm, Boon Tat Street closes to traffic and becomes an open-air satay market. Ten sticks of chicken satay: S$8. Then walk to Merlion Park for the classic skyline photo and watch the Spectra light show at the waterfront — free at 8pm and 9pm.

MRT to Bayfront. The outdoor Supertree Grove is free to explore. For the full experience, the two conservatories (S$32 combined) are unmissable — the Cloud Forest has a 35-metre indoor waterfall and the Flower Dome is the world's largest glass greenhouse. Allow two hours minimum. Grab coffee at the Supertree food hall before moving on.

Walk across the Helix Bridge for skyline photos. The National Gallery Singapore (S$20) houses the world's largest collection of Southeast Asian modern art in two beautifully restored heritage buildings — the former City Hall and Supreme Court. For lunch, Makansutra Gluttons Bay hawker stalls sit right on the waterfront with views of the skyline.

Return to Gardens by the Bay for the 7:45pm Garden Rhapsody light show — free and best lying on the grass beneath the Supertrees. Then head to Clarke Quay for riverside drinks. Level Up is a retro arcade bar with craft beers from S$12. For something more refined, 28 HongKong Street is a hidden speakeasy ranked among Asia's best bars.

Explore Tiong Bahru — Singapore's hippest heritage neighbourhood with art-deco flats from the 1930s now housing specialty cafes, bookshops, and bakeries. Start with kaya toast at Tiong Bahru Bakery (S$4). Visit the wet market upstairs for traditional breakfast fare — chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes, S$2) is a local favourite. Then browse independent shops along Yong Siak Street.

Bus to Dempsey Hill — a former British military barracks now converted into a leafy enclave of restaurants, galleries, and antique shops. Lunch at PS Cafe (mains S$22–35, gorgeous garden setting). Then walk to the Singapore Botanic Gardens (free, UNESCO World Heritage Site) — the National Orchid Garden (S$5) has over 1,000 species and is genuinely spectacular.

Walk or bus to Holland Village for a more local, expat vibe. Browse the boutiques on Lorong Mambong, then settle in for dinner — Holland Drive Market & Food Centre has excellent zi char (Chinese stir-fry dishes) from S$6. For craft beer, Red Dot Brewhouse serves Singapore-brewed beers in a relaxed garden setting. The Monster Pale Ale is their signature.

Take the Sentosa Express monorail from VivoCity (S$4 entry fee to the island includes the ride). Head to Palawan Beach — the southernmost point of continental Asia. The beaches are clean, free, and far less crowded on weekdays. Rent a beach mat and swim in the calm waters. Tanjong Beach at the far end is the quietest and most scenic of the three.

If you want thrills, the Skyline Luge (S$25 for two rides) is a gravity-powered go-kart down a hillside track followed by a chairlift back up with panoramic views. Skip Universal Studios unless you are a theme park fanatic — S$81 and a full day. For a free alternative, explore Fort Siloso, a WWII coastal defence fort with tunnels and gun emplacements.

Tanjong Beach Club is the sunset spot — loungers, pool access, cocktails from S$18 with a minimum spend policy. For budget drinks, bring your own to Siloso Beach and watch the sunset from the sand. Head back to VivoCity for dinner at the food court (meals from S$6) or hit the waterfront restaurants at Harbourfront for a seafood dinner with harbour views.

Take the bus to MacRitchie Reservoir Park for the TreeTop Walk — a 250-metre freestanding suspension bridge 25 metres above the rainforest canopy. The full loop trail is 10km (3–4 hours) through genuine primary rainforest with monkeys, monitor lizards, and tropical birds. Start early to beat the heat. The bridge is open 9am–5pm and closes when full.

After lunch at a nearby hawker centre, head to the Southern Ridges — a 10km elevated walkway through rainforest connecting Mount Faber to Kent Ridge. The Henderson Waves bridge, 36 metres above the road, is an architectural marvel. The trail is shaded, free, and uncrowded. You can start from HarbourFront MRT and pick any section you fancy.

Bus to East Coast Park — Singapore's beloved beachfront strip where locals jog, cycle, and barbecue. Rent a bike (S$8/hour) and ride the 15km coastal path as the sun sets. End at East Coast Lagoon Food Village for a seafood feast — chilli crab, black pepper crab, or sambal stingray. A full spread with Tiger beers comes to S$30–40 per person.

Take MRT to Tampines then bus 29 to Changi Point Ferry Terminal. A bumboat to Pulau Ubin costs S$4 (departs when 12 passengers gather). This car-free island is a time capsule — kampong (village) houses, wild boar, and the Chek Jawa Wetlands boardwalk through mangroves and coral reefs. Rent a bike on the island (S$8–15/day) and explore the jungle trails.

Back on the mainland, have lunch at Changi Village Hawker Centre — famous for its nasi lemak (coconut rice with sambal, S$3–5) and laksa. Then visit the Changi Chapel and Museum (free) — a sobering but important exhibition about WWII prisoners of war in Singapore. The replica chapel and personal stories are deeply moving.

Even if you are not flying, Jewel Changi Airport is worth visiting. The HSBC Rain Vortex is the world's tallest indoor waterfall (40 metres), surrounded by a terraced forest garden (free to enter). The Canopy Park on the top floor (S$5) has bouncing nets and a mirror maze. Dinner at A Noodle Story in the basement — Michelin-recommended ramen-meets-wonton-mee for S$8.

MRT to Orchard for Singapore's famous shopping belt. Even on a budget, the ION Orchard observation deck (free on level 56) offers 360-degree city views. Browse the basement food courts of Takashimaya and ION — Japanese-quality food at hawker prices (meals S$6–12). For vintage finds, head to Far East Plaza's upper floors for indie shops and tailoring.

Final hawker pilgrimage at Old Airport Road Food Centre — massive, local, and packed with Michelin Bib Gourmand stalls. Try the char kway teow (wok-fried noodles, S$5) and rojak (fruit salad with prawn paste, S$4). For souvenirs, head to Bugis Street Market for affordable gifts or the Mustafa Centre in Little India — a 24-hour department store selling everything imaginable.

For a final splurge, the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is where the Singapore Sling was invented in 1915. One cocktail costs S$39 — expensive, but it is a bucket-list moment in a beautifully restored colonial bar. For budget farewells, head to Ann Siang Hill in Chinatown for rooftop bars with skyline views and cocktails from S$16. One last mee goreng from a corner hawker stall.