Singapore packs centuries of migration, trade, and reinvention into a compact city-state. From kampong roots to cutting-edge design, it’s a place where a Malay palace neighbors Arab perfumers, Indian spice halls, and a skyline threaded with skywalks and gardens.

Expect a serious love affair with food: UNESCO-listed hawker culture, Peranakan heritage dishes, and modern Singaporean cuisine that riffs on tradition. Between meals, you’ll roam tropical gardens, world-class museums, and neighborhoods with stories etched into shophouse tiles and temple facades.

Practical notes: English is widely spoken, tap water is potable, and public transit (MRT/bus) is fast and affordable. Weather is warm year-round; carry water and a compact umbrella. Bring a light layer for overachieving air-con.

Singapore

Clean, hyper-efficient, and endlessly inventive, Singapore balances rainforest humidity with cool, airy architecture. It shines at night—light shows sweeping over Marina Bay—yet its soul hums in hawker centers, kopi stalls, and wet markets that fuel the city’s rhythm.

• Top sights: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO), National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Jewel Changi’s Rain Vortex, Sentosa Island.
• Neighborhoods to know: Chinatown (temples and zi char kitchens), Little India (saree shops and curry houses), Kampong Glam (street art and Arab perfumers), Tiong Bahru (art deco blocks and bakeries).
• Don’t miss: Chili crab, Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, kaya toast, and kopi pulled with theater.

Getting there and around: For flights, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Changi Airport to downtown takes ~20–25 minutes by taxi or ~35–45 minutes by MRT. The MRT and buses are your best bet once in town.

Where to stay (bookable via Hotels.com/VRBO):

• Iconic splurge: Marina Bay Sands (infinity pool, direct mall/Gardens access).
• City resort: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa (beachfront, great for families).
• Classic luxury: Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (lush grounds near Orchard).
• Mid-range: Hotel Boss (Lavender/Kampong Glam area, easy MRT).
• Budget, central: Hotel 81 Chinatown (steps from hawker centers and temples).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Singapore | VRBO: Singapore

Day 1: Arrival, Marina Bay, and Light-Show Magic

Afternoon: Arrive at Changi, check in, freshen up. Take a gentle stroll along the Helix Bridge and the ArtScience Museum’s lotus-shaped petals. Grab a quick bite at Satay by the Bay for smoky satay skewers and icy sugarcane juice.

Evening: Kick off with a guided night experience that strings together the city’s greatest hits: river cruise plus two light shows.

Featured activity: Singapore Guided Night Tour with 2 Light Shows & River Cruise

You’ll float past Boat Quay and the colonial core, then watch the Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove and Spectra at Marina Bay Sands. Dinner choices nearby: Makansutra Gluttons Bay (open-air local classics), or Chili Crab at Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point) if you’re ready for a feast.

Day 2: Bike the Colonial Core, Museums, and Cocktails

Morning: Fuel up with kopi and kaya toast at Tong Ah Eating House (Keong Saik) or Ya Kun. Then hop on a city bike tour to cover history-rich districts at a relaxed pace.

Featured activity: Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore

Afternoon: Explore the National Gallery Singapore (former Supreme Court/City Hall buildings with Southeast Asian masterpieces) and the Asian Civilisations Museum for river-trade heritage. Coffee stop: The Providore (Raffles Place) or PPP Coffee (CBD) for specialty pours.

Evening: Dinner ideas: Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (peppery pork rib soup, Clarke Quay), or Labyrinth at Esplanade for inventive “New Singaporean” tasting menus. Nightcaps: Atlas (Grand Art Deco gin temple) or Jigger & Pony (award-winning classic cocktails).

Day 3: Tiong Bahru Mornings and Chinatown Heritage

Morning: Breakfast in Tiong Bahru—try Tiong Bahru Bakery for kouign-amann or Plain Vanilla for cupcakes—then wander art-deco blocks, indie boutiques, and the neighborhood market. Pop into Qi Tian Gong (Monkey God Temple) for a slice of old Singapore.

Afternoon: Head to Chinatown: visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (ornate rooftop garden), Sri Mariamman Temple (the island’s oldest Hindu temple), and the Chinatown Heritage streets. Lunch at Maxwell Food Centre—Tian Tian’s famed chicken rice, Zhen Zhen porridge, or Fuzhou oyster cake.

Evening: Keong Saik dinner picks: Kok Sen (wok-kissed zi char, try big prawn hor fun) or Thevar (progressive South Asian flavors, reservations recommended). For a nightcap with local botanicals, Native on Amoy Street shakes up cocktails with Southeast Asian ingredients.

Day 4: Marina Bay Icons and Gardens by the Bay

Morning: Walk the Marina Bay waterfront loop for postcard skyline views. Visit the ArtScience Museum if an exhibition catches your eye, and cross the Helix Bridge to soak in the design details.

Afternoon: Make your way to Gardens by the Bay—Singapore’s green marvel blending engineering and rainforest imagination.

Featured activity: Gardens by the Bay Entry Ticket

Wander the Cloud Forest’s misty walkways and the Flower Dome’s seasonal displays; consider the OCBC Skyway for panoramic treetop views. Snack at Satay by the Bay or Marguerite (fine dining in the Flower Dome) if you’re celebrating.

Evening: Time the Garden Rhapsody light show among the Supertrees, then walk back for dinner at Marina Bay Sands—options range from the lively Black Tap (craft burgers/shakes) to CUT by Wolfgang Puck (steakhouse). If you missed Spectra on Day 1, catch it tonight along the promenade.

Day 5: Sentosa Island—Beaches, Aquarium, and Sunset

Morning: Ride the Sentosa Express from VivoCity or take the cable car for views over Keppel Harbour. Visit S.E.A. Aquarium for manta rays and coral gardens, or Adventure Cove Waterpark if you’re traveling with kids.

Afternoon: Beach time: Tanjong Beach for a chill vibe or Siloso for activities and the Skyline Luge. Casual seaside lunch at Tanjong Beach Club (Mediterranean plates) or FOC Sentosa (Spanish coastal fare); gelato pick-me-up at Gelatissimo on the beachfront.

Evening: Watch Wings of Time over the water, then dine at Quayside Isle (Sentosa Cove) with marina views—try Greenwood Fish Market for seafood or Tapas 24 for Catalan plates. If staying in town, head back for rooftop drinks at Smoke & Mirrors (National Gallery) overlooking the Padang.

Day 6: Botanic Gardens, Orchard, and the Night Safari

Morning: Explore the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with swan-filled lakes and the National Orchid Garden. Brunch at Bee’s Knees at The Garage (garden setting) or Nassim Hill Bakery (hearty bakes and coffee).

Afternoon: Shop along Orchard Road or detour east to Joo Chiat/Katong for pastel Peranakan shophouses. Snack trail: 328 Katong Laksa (coconut-chili broth), Kim Choo Kueh Chang (sticky rice dumplings), and Chin Mee Chin (old-school kaya buns).

Evening: Meet nocturnal residents at the world’s first night wildlife park.

Featured activity: Night Safari Tour with Transfer

Glide by tram through rainforest zones and walk quietly along the Leopard or Fishing Cat trails. Pre- or post-visit supper: Newton Food Centre (stingray sambal, satay, oyster omelette) or Adam Road Food Centre (nasi lemak).

Day 7: Kampong Glam Vibes and Departure

Morning: Start in Kampong Glam: admire the golden dome of Sultan Mosque, browse Arab Street’s textiles and perfumers, and weave down Haji Lane’s murals and indie shops. Breakfast at Symmetry (brunch classics with Aussie flair) or Konditori (Scandi-style bakes with Middle Eastern twists).

Afternoon: Early lunch near the mosque at Zam Zam (murtabak) or try Tekka Centre in Little India for biryani and thosai if time allows. Depart for Changi; if you have extra time, see the Rain Vortex waterfall at Jewel and stroll the Canopy Park before your flight.

Optional Private Overview (Any Day)

If you prefer a customizable, door-to-door introduction that saves time between neighborhoods, hire a driver-guide.

Featured activity: Private Singapore Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% Personalised

Tailor the pace to your interests—heritage alleys, coffee crawls, or photo stops at lesser-known viewpoints—so you can make the most of a short stay.

Coffee, snacks, and hawker favorites to bookmark (sprinkle these through the week):

• Breakfast/coffee: Tiong Bahru Bakery; Nylon Coffee Roasters (Everton Park); Common Man Coffee Roasters (Robertson Quay); Tong Ah Eating House for kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs.
• Hawker classics: Maxwell Food Centre; Amoy Street Food Centre (noodle heaven at lunchtime); Old Airport Road Food Centre (Nam Sing Hokkien Mee); Tekka Centre (biryani, prata).
• Sit-down icons: Jumbo Seafood (chili crab); Violet Oon (Peranakan); Candlenut (heritage cuisine refined); Burnt Ends (modern grill, Dempsey).

Practical tips:

• Grab an MRT stored-value card at any station; rides are inexpensive and frequent. Taxis/ride-hailing are great late at night.
• Dress light, carry water, and duck into malls for AC cooldowns between walks.
• Peak events like Chinese New Year (Jan–Feb) and the F1 Singapore Grand Prix (Sept) spike hotel demand—book early.

In a week, you’ll taste Singapore’s soul—from sizzling hawker stalls to serene orchid gardens—while its skyline puts on a nightly show. Between heritage quarters and futuristic parks, the city reveals layers that make you want to stay longer and, inevitably, return.