Singapore may be small, but its story spans empires and trade winds. Once a British trading post (1819), the city-state is now a gleaming hub where Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan traditions meet. You’ll feel this mix in its temples and mosques, colonial civic district, and futuristic Supertrees that glow after dusk.

Food is the city’s north star. Michelin-star hawker stalls sit beside heritage kopi shops, and you’ll find chili crab, Hainanese chicken rice, and South Indian banana-leaf feasts all within a few MRT stops. Museums are top-notch, from the National Gallery’s Southeast Asian art to the Asian Civilisations Museum’s deep dive into regional histories.

On the practical side: Singapore is safe, clean, and easy to navigate via MRT. It’s humid year-round—dress light, carry water, and plan indoor museum breaks midday. Taxis and ride-hails are reliable; cashless payments are widely accepted at hawker centers; and evenings are perfect for river breezes and skyline views.

Singapore

Why go now: Spend six days weaving through vibrant neighborhoods—Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam—before swapping skyscrapers for sandy Sentosa beaches. Cap nights with light shows and a river breeze, then explore nature from mangrove forests to the world-famous Night Safari.

• Top sights: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane, S.E.A. Aquarium, Fort Siloso, Mandai Wildlife West and Night Safari.
• Eating well: Start with kaya toast and kopi, graze hawker centers (Maxwell, Lau Pa Sat, Amoy, Tiong Bahru Market), and plan one seafood night for chili crab or black pepper crab.
• Fun facts: Hawker culture is UNESCO-listed; the city’s nickname “Garden City” comes alive with over 300 parks and the futuristic Supertree Grove.

Where to stay (mid-range budget focus with a splurge option):

• Hotel Boss (Kampong Glam fringe; great transit access): Check Hotel Boss
• Hotel 81 Chinatown (budget-friendly, steps to food and temples): Check Hotel 81 Chinatown
• Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (resort-style calm near Orchard): Check Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
• Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa (beachfront on Sentosa): Check Rasa Sentosa Resort
• Marina Bay Sands (iconic infinity pool; splurge): Check Marina Bay Sands
• Browse more stays: VRBO Singapore | Hotels.com Singapore

Getting there: Fly into Changi (SIN). From regional hubs (Bangkok/KL/Ho Chi Minh), nonstops are ~2–3 hours, often ~$80–$220 round-trip; from Australia, ~7–8 hours (~$300–$700); from the US West Coast, ~16–18 hours nonstop or one-stop (~$800–$1,400). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. MRT to downtown takes ~30–40 minutes; taxis are ~20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrive, Marina Bay Skyline, and Light-Show Night

Afternoon: Land at Changi and ride the MRT or taxi to your hotel. If you have time before check-in, grab a quick kopi (local coffee) and pandan chiffon cake from a bakery near your stay to reset after the flight.

Evening: Stroll the Marina Bay promenade: Merlion Park to the Helix Bridge is prime golden-hour viewing. Dinner at Lau Pa Sat (satay street opens after dusk; try skewers with peanut sauce and nasi goreng) or Satay by the Bay (smoky skewers plus stingray sambal in a garden setting).

Evening highlight: Book this guided combo for skyline photos, a breezy river cruise, and two iconic light shows (Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove and the Spectra show on the bay): Private Tour: Singapore River Cruise & 2 Top-visit Light shows.

Tip: Light-show times can vary—arrive early for a good spot and check day-of schedules.

Day 2: Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam

Morning: Classic breakfast: kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and kopi at Tong Ah Eating House or Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Wander Chinatown’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, shophouses along Keong Saik, and street art. Snack ideas: curry puffs or pandan tarts from a neighborhood bakery.

Afternoon: Join an immersive neighborhood walk that threads through Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street for context, stories, and tastings: 4-hour Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street Walking Tour.

Prefer DIY? Lunch at Maxwell Food Centre—queue at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice for silky chicken over fragrant rice, then grab sugarcane juice. MRT to Little India for the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, snack on banana-leaf thali or murtabak around Tekka Centre, then continue to Kampong Glam: Sultan Mosque’s golden dome and indie boutiques along Haji Lane.

Evening: Dinner around Kampong Glam: try Singapore Zam Zam (murtabak and biryani), Beirut Grill (charcoal kebabs), or Alaturka (Turkish meze). Nightcap at the art deco Atlas (spectacular space; go for a nonalcoholic aperitif or G&T) or riverside at Boat Quay.

Day 3: Museums by Day, Gardens by the Bay by Dusk

Morning: Coffee and kouign-amann at Tiong Bahru Bakery. Choose one museum: National Gallery Singapore (two historic buildings with the world’s largest public collection of Southeast Asian art) or the Asian Civilisations Museum (trade, faith, and cross-cultural treasures along the river).

Afternoon: Lunch at Amoy Street Food Centre (fish soup, soy sauce chicken, thunder tea rice). Post-lunch, walk the civic district (St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Padang), then head to Gardens by the Bay: explore the Cloud Forest waterfall and the Flower Dome’s seasonal displays. Time a stroll through Supertree Grove for sunset.

Evening: Dinner options: seafood night at JUMBO Seafood (Riverside Point) for chili crab and fried mantou, or a budget-friendly Chinese zi char spot near Clarke Quay. If you skipped last night’s show, catch Garden Rhapsody here—music and lights among the Supertrees are a postcard moment.

Day 4: Mangrove Kayaking on Pulau Ubin (Nature Adventure)

Set aside today for a unique look at wild Singapore: Mangrove Kayaking Adventure in Singapore. Friendly for beginners, the guided paddle winds through Pulau Ubin’s mangroves—spot kingfishers, monitor lizards, and (if you’re lucky) hornbills. Equipment is provided; bring sun protection, a change of clothes, and water. Expect several hours door to door (including transfers to Changi Point Ferry Terminal). After returning, reward yourself with a casual dinner at East Coast Lagoon Food Village—order satay, BBQ stingray, and lime juice under the palms.

Day 5: Sentosa Beach Time, Then Night Safari

Morning: MRT to HarbourFront (VivoCity), then Sentosa via the boardwalk or monorail. Ride the cable car for skyline views if you want a scenic arrival. Stake out sand on Siloso (livelier), Palawan (family-friendly), or Tanjong (quiet) Beach. Try stand-up paddleboard rentals or the Skyline Luge for a fun downhill ride.

Afternoon: Lunch seaside at Coastes (burgers, pastas, toes-in-sand) or Ola Beach Club (Hawaiian plates, poke bowls). If you prefer AC, visit the S.E.A. Aquarium or walk the Fort Siloso Skywalk for history and coastal views. Head back to the mainland by late afternoon.

Evening: Swap flip-flops for wildlife: head north to Mandai for a day-into-night combo with transfers and tickets handled for you: Singapore Zoo & Night Safari Day (Tickets & Transfer). Visit the lush open habitats of the Zoo and continue after dark with the Night Safari tram and trails—nocturnal creatures are most active now. Eat at Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant between attractions (local dishes and satay). Allow ~45–60 minutes each way by MRT + Mandai shuttle or ~25–40 minutes by taxi.

Day 6: Tiong Bahru, Last Bites, and Jewel Changi

Morning: Explore Tiong Bahru, a 1930s Art Deco estate turned café enclave. Breakfast at Forty Hands (flat whites, eggs on toast) or Flock Cafe (scrambles, pancakes). Pop into the Tiong Bahru Market hawker center for a “second breakfast”: chwee kueh (steamed rice cakes with preserved radish) and lor mee (braised noodle soup).

Afternoon (departure): Swing by Orchard Road or Arab Street for last-minute souvenirs (textiles, tea, kaya jam). Aim to be at the airport early to see Jewel Changi’s Rain Vortex—a spectacular indoor waterfall—before your flight. For flights, compare fares or check-in reminders on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening (if you have a late flight): Early dinner near your hotel: try Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (peppery pork rib soup with youtiao), Din Tai Fung (xiao long bao), or a last hawker stop at Amoy Street Food Centre. Pick up pineapple tarts or pandan cookies for sweet souvenirs.

Optional Night Experience (if Day 1 or 3 was free):

Prefer a guided night out with river cruise and coordinated transfers? Another well-paced option: Singapore River Cruise, Night Garden Rhapsody, Spectra Light Tour. It’s a stress-free way to catch the marquee shows and bayside skyline. (Use this if you didn’t book the Day 1 light-show combo.)

Money & transit tips: Load an EZ-Link or contactless card for the MRT and buses; rides are inexpensive and frequent. Hawker meals are typically $4–$8 USD; mid-range restaurant mains $12–$22 USD; taxis cross-town often $10–$20 USD outside peak hours.

Trip pacing for a mid-range budget (50/100): Prioritize hawker lunches, choose 1–2 guided tours (above) for context and convenience, and select one “splurge” meal (seafood night) or hotel upgrade night (e.g., Marina Bay Sands).

Quick dining cheat sheet (favorites you’ll pass):

• Maxwell Food Centre: Tian Tian Chicken Rice; Zhen Zhen Porridge.
• Lau Pa Sat: Satay Street after dusk; try beef and prawn skewers plus sugarcane juice.
• Tiong Bahru Market: Chwee kueh at Jiansheng; prawn noodles; roast meats.
• Amoy Street Food Centre: A Noodle Story (modern Singapore ramen), thunder tea rice stalls, soy sauce chicken rice.
• Seafood picks: JUMBO Seafood (Riverside Point), Long Beach UDMC (East Coast) for chili or black pepper crab; pair with fried mantou.

What to pack: Light clothing, a compact umbrella, reef-safe sunscreen for Sentosa, a refillable water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes. For temples, carry a light scarf or cover-up.

Safety & etiquette: Singapore is famously safe; still, hydrate and take AC breaks midday. Dispose of litter properly and follow signs in nature areas. In hawker centers, “chope” a seat by placing a tissue packet—then order.

Viator activities featured in this itinerary (4): Day 1 River Cruise & Two Light Shows; Day 2 Multicultural Walking Tour; Day 4 Mangrove Kayaking on Pulau Ubin; Day 5 Zoo & Night Safari with transfers.

In six days, you’ll taste Singapore’s hawker heritage, wander vivid historic quarters, laze on Sentosa’s soft sands, and watch the skyline bloom with night lights. It’s a compact city where culture, nature, and cuisine sit a few MRT stops apart—easy to navigate, hard to forget.