Singapore is a city-state whose story arcs from a 14th‑century trading port to a 21st‑century powerhouse of design, cuisine, and green urban planning. You’ll feel that blend everywhere: Malay kampung roots beside gleaming supertrees, Peranakan shophouses shadowed by futuristic skylines, and temples a stroll away from Michelin‑starred hawkers.

Across seven days, this itinerary traces Singapore’s greatest hits and its under‑the‑radar corners: Marina Bay’s light shows, heritage lanes of Chinatown and Little India, the golden domes of Sultan Mosque, and the leaf‑wrapped calm of the Southern Ridges. Expect efficient public transit, immaculate streets, and a food scene that ranges from $4 noodles to destination dining.

Practical notes: tap water is safe to drink; humidity is high year‑round, so carry water and light layers. Pay with contactless cards (Visa/Mastercard work on the MRT via SimplyGo) or an EZ‑Link card. Chewing gum is restricted, littering fines are real, and jaywalking is frowned upon—part of why the city runs so well.

Singapore

Singapore dazzles with contrasts: Supertrees sprout beside colonial cupolas; Malay satay smokes near skyscrapers; incense curls through streets that host world‑ranked cocktail bars. It’s compact, safe, and obsessively tasty—perfect for a week of deep wandering.

• Top sights: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, National Gallery Singapore, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO), Sentosa’s beaches, Fort Siloso Skywalk.
• Signature experiences: hawker center meals, river cruise at sunset, Night Safari, skyline cocktails, Peranakan heritage, Southern Ridges walk.
• Fun fact: Singapore is one of the world’s greenest cities by design—over 50% of its land is green, and many buildings are required to replace ground greenery vertically.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• Marina Bay Sands — Iconic rooftop infinity pool and bay views; stay here if you want “wow” moments and immediate access to the Spectra show and The Shoppes.
• Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore — Resort‑style oasis near Orchard Road; lush gardens, excellent for families and spa‑seekers.
• Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa — On Sentosa’s beachfront; great if you want pool‑and‑sand downtime between city excursions.
• Hotel Boss — Reliable mid‑range base near Kampong Glam with MRT access and plenty of halal bites.
• Hotel 81 Chinatown — Budget‑friendly, steps from hawker centers and heritage lanes.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Singapore | Apartment‑style: VRBO: Singapore

How to get here and around:

• Flights: Search fares to Changi (SIN) on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: Bangkok ~2h, Hong Kong ~4h, Tokyo ~7h, Sydney ~8h, Dubai ~7.5h, London ~13h. Regional fares can be $70–$250 roundtrip; long‑haul varies widely by season.
• Transit: The MRT is fast and intuitive; tap in/out with a contactless card. Ride‑hailing via Grab or Gojek fills gaps. From Changi to Marina Bay: ~25–35 minutes by MRT; to Orchard: ~30 minutes.

Day 1 — Marina Bay Arrival, Civic District Stroll, Light‑Show Cruise

Morning: In transit to Singapore. If you land early, refresh with specialty coffee at Common Man Coffee Roasters (roasted in‑house, hearty brunch) or Tiong Bahru Bakery (kouign‑amann legend).

Afternoon: Check in, then orient yourself around the Civic District: the Padang, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and National Gallery Singapore (world’s largest public collection of modern Southeast Asian art). Photos at Merlion Park frame the skyline and the lotus‑shaped ArtScience Museum.

Evening: Cap the night with a small‑group river cruise and both signature light shows—ideal for first‑timers. Book: Singapore River Cruise with Spectra & Garden Rhapsody Light Show.

Dine pre‑ or post‑cruise at Lau Pa Sat: try satay at Boon Tat St. Satay Street, spicy Hokkien mee, or roti prata. For a nightcap with views, Smoke & Mirrors (atop National Gallery) mixes artful cocktails with bay panoramas.

Day 2 — Heritage on Two Wheels, Chinatown Classics, Cocktail Greats

Morning: Pedal through history on the Lion City Bike Tour—safe sidewalks, licensed guides, and stops from the Esplanade to hidden bridges; you’ll get a smart primer on Singapore’s past and present.

Fuel up nearby with kopi and kaya toast at Nanyang Old Coffee or a flaky curry puff at Old Chang Kee.

Afternoon: Dive into Chinatown. Visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, admire the southern Chinese architecture of Thian Hock Keng, and browse shophouses on Telok Ayer Street. Lunch at Maxwell Food Centre: queue for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, grab popiah at Rojak, Popiah & Cockle, or fish soup at Jin Hua.

Evening: Dim sum till late at Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant (open past midnight; order mee suah kueh and salted egg yolk custard buns). Then choose a world‑class bar: Atlas (gin cathedral in an Art Deco icon), Native (regionally foraged ingredients), or Jigger & Pony (classic cocktails, comfortable buzz).

Day 3 — Gardens by the Bay, ArtScience, Chili Crab Night

Morning: Arrive at Gardens by the Bay when doors open to beat crowds in the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Walk the Supertree Grove and the OCBC Skyway for canopy views. Brunch at Satay by the Bay—grab laksa, nasi lemak, or cooling sugarcane juice.

Afternoon: Cross to Marina Bay Sands: browse The Shoppes (canals and couture) or explore the ArtScience Museum’s rotating tech‑and‑art exhibitions. If you’re staying at Marina Bay Sands, schedule pool time; otherwise, head to the waterfront promenades for skyline photos.

Evening: Make it a seafood feast: chili crab at Jumbo Seafood (East Coast or Riverside), black pepper crab at Long Beach, and sambal kangkong on the side. For a final view, ride the Singapore Flyer or sip at CÉ LA VI or LeVeL33 (sky‑high craft brewery with harbor views).

Day 4 — Sentosa Beaches and an After‑Dark Safari

Morning: Glide to Sentosa on the Mount Faber cable car for cinematic harbor views. Beach time at Palawan or Tanjong (lounge chairs, mellow surf) or take the Fort Siloso Skywalk for WWII history and treetop vistas. Coffee and pastries at Le Faubourg or beach‑club vibes at Tanjong Beach Club.

Afternoon: Choose your adventure: thrill rides at Universal Studios Singapore, calm aquariums and butterfly gardens, or a breezy loop on SkyHelix Sentosa. Late lunch at Malaysian Food Street (Hokkien mee and Penang char kway teow), or head back to town for hawker favorites at Vivocity’s Food Republic.

Evening: Meet the nocturnal world on the Night Safari Tour with Transfer—the original night wildlife park, with tram routes past different biomes and ranger‑led trails.

Eat beforehand at Adam Road Food Centre (nasi lemak stalls like Selera Rasa, plus satay and mee rebus) so you can focus on the animals.

Day 5 — Little India, Kampong Glam, and a Michelin Hawker Feast

Morning: Start at Little India’s Tekka Centre for prata with fish curry, thosai, and masala tea. Visit Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple’s jewel‑bright shrine, then wander flower‑garland stalls on Campbell Lane. Sweet stop: kulfi or gulab jamun at Moghul Sweet Shop.

Afternoon: Stroll Kampong Glam: shop textiles and perfumes on Arab Street, admire the onion‑gold dome of Sultan Mosque, and duck into indie boutiques along Haji Lane’s murals. Lunch options: Zam Zam (paper‑thin murtabak with spiced beef or sardine), Warong Nasi Pariaman (old‑school Minangkabau nasi padang), or Habibi‑san (playful Middle‑Eastern‑Japanese plates).

Evening: Join a delicious deep dive with this guided tasting: Small Group: Michelin and Local Hawker Food Tour—think stallholders from the Michelin Guide and beloved classics in Chinatown.

After, sip a local craft beer at Smith Street Taps or a tea‑forward cocktail at Nutmeg & Clove.

Day 6 — Nature Walks, Botanic Gardens, and the Quays

Morning: Walk the Southern Ridges (plan 2–3 hours): Henderson Waves’ undulating timber bridge, Canopy Walk at Telok Blangah, and leafy connectors to Labrador Nature Reserve. Alternatively, head to the UNESCO‑listed Singapore Botanic Gardens and the National Orchid Garden.

Afternoon: Late lunch in Tiong Bahru: Tiong Bahru Market’s hawker stalls (chwee kueh, lor mee), then indie browsing—Nana & Bird for fashion, Plain Vanilla for cupcakes. Espresso at Chye Seng Huat Hardware (industrial‑chic roastery) or Nylon Coffee Roasters (micro‑roast precision).

Evening: Dine along Boat Quay or Robertson Quay: try charcoal‑grilled skewers at BAM! (sherry‑driven tapas), modern izakaya at Izakaya Niningashi, or Peranakan flavors at Candlenut (Michelin‑starred; book ahead). Finish at 28 HongKong Street for updated classics behind a discreet door.

Day 7 — Museums, Orchard Bites, and Departure

Morning: Choose one: National Museum of Singapore for a sweeping, interactive history; Peranakan Museum for ornate household art and stories; or Asian Civilisations Museum for region‑wide treasures along the river. Brunch near Bras Basah at The Glasshouse (sourdough toasts, bright salads).

Afternoon: Last sips and shops: Orchard Road detour (ION’s food hall for wanton mee and bubble tea) or a quick return to Chinatown for souvenirs like pandan kaya and bak kwa. Airport transfers: MRT to Changi T2/T3/T4 in ~25–35 minutes; rideshare in ~20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Depart in the afternoon—Changi’s Jewel waterfall and food courts make early arrivals enjoyable.

Evening: If your flight is later, squeeze in a final sparkle with this curated night outing (hotel pickup, river cruise, and light shows), perfect for departures after 10 p.m.: Singapore River Cruise with Spectra & Garden Rhapsody Light Show.

Or keep things flexible with a private driver who can tailor last‑minute stops and airport drop (ask your hotel concierge to arrange).

Optional add‑ons if you have extra energy (swap into any afternoon): Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (Michelin‑star bak chor mee on Crawford Lane), Singapore City Gallery (urban planning models), or a hop‑on/hop‑off overview for easy cross‑city sightseeing for families.

At‑a‑glance dining short list to bookmark: Tian Tian (chicken rice), Selera Rasa (nasi lemak), Swee Choon (dim sum), Candlenut (Peranakan), JUMBO or Long Beach (crab), Zam Zam (murtabak), Maxwell Food Centre, Tekka Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre, Satay by the Bay.

Flights to/from Singapore: compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Hotels: browse Hotels.com (Singapore) or apartment stays via VRBO.

Bookable highlights mentioned in this itinerary:

• Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore

  

• Night Safari Tour with Transfer

  

• Small Group: Michelin and Local Hawker Food Tour

  

• Singapore River Cruise with Spectra & Garden Rhapsody Light Show

  

Seven days in Singapore reveals a city that’s efficient without losing its soul—where you can hike jungle ridges in the morning and dine under neon supertrees at night. With this itinerary, you’ll taste hawker legends, meet nocturnal wildlife, swim in sea breezes, and carry home a skyline that lingers.