This Singapore 4-day itinerary will show you the best things to see and do in Singapore. We’ll share the highlights of our visit to Singapore, provide top travel tips and the best places to visit.
Singapore is clean, modern city in South-East Asia. It’s a city-state island off southern Malaysia. Singapore is a great stopover for onward travel, but also makes a great holiday destination in its own right. Read our 4-day Singapore itinerary to find out what we got up to and the top attractions in Singapore.
We had heard great things about Singapore, so stopped there for 3 days on our way to our 2-week Borneo adventure. Day 4 of our itinerary is what we did on the return stopover.
4 days in Singapore is long enough to enjoy the highlights of the city. Here is the perfect travel guide to make sure you get the best out of your visit.
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Day 1: Clarke Quay and Riverside Walk
Our 4-day itinerary in Singapore starts in the evening, as we didn’t arrive until late. We checked into our hotel after a long flight from the UK and wanted a feel for our surroundings. Our hotel was in the centre of Clarke Quay, a vibrant area by the river.
Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is a bustling area on the Singapore River. It has a wide range of lively riverside restaurants, bars and clubs.
Clarke Quay’s picturesque location is perfect for the many al-fresco eateries. We chose a Thai restaurant called Renn Thai , which served an amazing Pad Thai.
If you want budget food options, head away from this more commercial area of Singapore. You’ll find some fantastic hawker markets, serving cheap, tasty food.
Riverside Walk
After dinner, we crossed the Read Bridge (Malacca Bridge) at Quay Clarke and followed the riverside path alongside the River Singapore. There is lots to look at on the way – statues, lobsters and a mix of Colonial and modern buildings.
Just before the Fullerton Hotel, we crossed on the Anderson Bridge and returned the other side. It’s a good idea to take a small detour to Merlion Park, where you can see the iconic Merlion statue. This is a magnificent mythical creature (half lion half fish) spouting water from its mouth and is Singapore’s official mascot.
The return walk takes you past the Asian Civilisations Museum, Victoria Theatre and the Arts House. It eventually ends back up at Clarke Quay.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, you could stop here for the G-Max Reverse Bungy, Singapore’s first ever bungy. This will launch you skywards at 200 km per hour to 60 metres and bounce for approximately 5 minutes. We were quite happy just to watch.
An alternative to the riverside walk is to see the River Singapore from one of the many boat cruises that were on offer.
For more information on your trip to South East Asia, check our posts on
Day 2: Botanical Gardens, National Orchid Garden, Little India, China Town & Hawkers’ Market
The Singapore Botanical Gardens
One of the most popular attractions in Singapore is the The Singapore Botanical Gardens. We went early to avoid the heat. We took a Grab, but you could take the train.
Singapore Botanic Gardens was inscribed a UNESCO Site in 2015 and is the only tropical botanic garden on the list.
Admission to the Singapore Botanic Gardens is free and the attraction is open until midnight. There are lots of different gardens to wander around and enjoy the different botanical plants. The children enjoyed spotting different plants, such as banana trees and wandering through the Rain Forest. As well as plants, we spotted chipmunks and lizards.
National Orchid Garden
The National Orchid Garden is a small section of the botanic gardens, devoted to Singapore’s national flower, the orchid. The garden has over 1000 exotic species of orchid, which provide a stunning display.
There is a small admission of $5 for this area, but children under 12 are free.
Orchard Road
If you like shopping, you could visit Orchard Road on your way to Little India, as it’s in this direction. Orchard Road is Singapore’s retail heart, with boutiques, designer stores and department shops. A shopper’s paradise.
Little India
We left the splendour of the Botanic Gardens and headed over to Little India. Our first stop was Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Hindu temples.
Little India will give you a great taste of Singapore’s Indian community. As well as Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, there are many authentic street food vendors and restaurants and plenty of shops.
We ate at the Great India Food Festival, which was being held that week, moving between various stalls and selecting various tempting bites to try.
China Town
In the evening, we headed to China Town. Our first stop was the Hawkers’ Market, where we had some budget, authentic street food.
We then took time to head through the brightly-lit streets and stopped to look at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum , which tells the stories of thousands of years of culture.
Day 3: Sentosa, Gardens by the Bay & Marina Bay Sands
On day 3 of our 4-day Singapore itinerary, we spent the day at Sentosa.
Sentosa is an island resort off the south coast of Singapore. It is easy to get to by road or cable car and there’s a free monorail on the island.
Known as the “State of Fun”, Sentosa Island is one of the best places to visit with children in Singapore. I guess it’s Singapore’s version of Florida.
Entrance to Sentosa is free. However, you have to pay for most of the attractions, including Adventure Cove Waterpark, Universal Studios, and Dolphin World.
If you are looking for free things to do in Sentosa, head to the beach. We spent the day at Palawan Beach, a small, but sandy cove. The beach doesn’t have much shade, so we settled at the nearest beach bar (Bikini Bar). From here, we could order drinks, watch the kids on the beach, and eat lunch.
Gardens by the Bay
We spent the evening of day 3 at Gardens by the Bay. when the entrance is free. This was probably the highlight of our 4 days in Singapore. We left it to the 3rd day, as we knew that the Heritage Day practice fireworks were that evening. Gardens by the Bay is a must-see visit in Singapore and is a great attraction for any age group.
We started at Satay by the Bay, which is an outdoor food court by the Marina reservoir, within walking distance from the gardens.
It comes alive at night when its famous futuristic trees, Supertree Grove turn into a spectacle of light. With the firework display, this was even more spectacular. However, try to avoid the weekends, as it was very busy.
Marina Bay Sands
You can’t really miss the $8 billion dollar Marina Bay Sands resort, which resembles a ship balancing on 3 towers
Inside Marina Bay Sands complex is a casino, upmarket shopping mall and plenty of dining options or you could head up to the observation deck for magnificent views of the city skyline.
Day 4: Wild Wild Wet Waterpark & Jewel at Shangi Airport
Wild Wild Wet Waterpark
The last day of our 4-day Singapore itinerary came after our return from our visit to Borneo. Day four was a fun day at Wild Wild Wet Waterpark, in Downtown East. Wild Wild Wet offers a good mix of adrenaline-filled slides, as well as plenty of gentle flumes and pools.
We were given our waterpark tickets for free, as part of our accommodation package at the D’Resort @ Downtown East. D’Resort is ideal for an overnight stop if you are flying out the next day. Just 6 miles from Changi Airport, it has great functional rooms and is close to a shopping arcade and the waterpark.
The Jewel
We allowed time in the evening to spend time at The Jewel, which has earned Changi Airport the accolade of “world’s best airport” seven times.
The Jewel is Singapore’s $1.7 billion nature-themed entertainment complex and is a destination in its own right. As well as the the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the 40-metre high Rain Vortex, Changi Airport is home to an indoor rainforest and entertainment complex.
A visit to the Changi Jewel is a unique experience and worth allowing some time for.
Planning a visit to Singapore
Key facts about Singapore:
Singapore is a very developed, global city and is expensive in comparison to other South-East Asian countries. It is well-known as a very clean city and for its famous laws that you can’t spit or buy gum!
Best time of year to go to Singapore
Singapore is a year-round destination as there is very little seasonal variation. It is only 85 miles from the equator and has a hot and humid climate all year round.
It is best to avoid the monsoon time from November to January, when most rain falls. However, due to its geographical location, it’s likely to rain in Singapore at any time of year.
Visa
You don’t need a visa for travel to Singapore.
Language in Singapore
There are 4 official languages in Singapore and most Singaporeans are bilingual. Although Malay is the national language, English is widely spoken everywhere.
Getting around Singapore
It is small and an easy place to visit as there are lots of attractions for people of all ages. It is easy and safe to walk around. Alternatively, there is also a great system of public transportation. Singapore has a great underground system, MRT, that is very reliable.
However, we generally walked or used a Grab taxi (Asian equivalent of uber). This is ideal as you have the price upfront and know what you are expecting to pay. You will need to get a sim card at the airport so that you can use this app.
Accommodation in Singapore
On arrival in Singapore we stayed near Clarke Square, which is a fantastic location for visiting Sigapore’s best tourist attractions. Try the Paradox Merchant Court or Holiday Inn, both of which have great locations and outdoor pools.
If money is no object, stay at the beautiful Marina Bay Sands. Not only is this stylish hotel designed like a ship, it has a prime location overlooking the bay. Marina Bay Sands is also host to the world’s largest infinity pool. Alternatively, book in at the iconic Raffles Singapore, for a taste of colonial past.
If you are on a tight budget, Singapore has plenty of budget hotels. Try the Spacepod in the Lavender District or the River City Inn.
Best travel guides for Singapore
If you’re looking for more information on the best things to see and do in Singapore, we found the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides very useful. As the name suggests, the Top 10 Singapore travel guide provides top ten lists to everything, from museums and monuments to restaurants and bars.
Another good option for helping you get the most out of your visit is the Lonely Planet Singapore Travel Guide. This gives information by neighbourhood and comes with a useful map.
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