Singapore is a city-state that rose from a British trading post in 1819 to a high-tech hub where Buddhist temples sit beside glass-skinned towers. A multicultural tapestry—Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and more—shapes its festivals, flavors, and neighborhoods. Hawker culture is so beloved it’s inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Travelers come for the skyline drama of Marina Bay Sands, the futuristic Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, and the sandy interlude of Sentosa. But it’s the details that linger: the fragrance of pandan and kaya at breakfast, the clang of woks at packed food centres, the gold-and-red hush of a temple at dusk. With a clean, safe, and efficient MRT system, you can cross the island in minutes.

Expect tropical heat and afternoon showers—light, breathable clothing is your friend. Respect local norms: dress modestly for places of worship and avoid eating or drinking on public transit. Bring an appetite and a sense of curiosity; Singapore rewards both.

Singapore

Compact and cosmopolitan, Singapore is easy to love and easier to navigate. Marina Bay’s waterfront promenade frames headline acts like the Merlion, ArtScience Museum, and the Spectra light-and-water show. Historic districts—Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam—offer temples, markets, and the island’s most satisfying eats.

Getting there: Fly into Changi Airport (one of the world’s best), then taxi (~20–30 minutes, ~$18–35) or MRT (~35–50 minutes) to the city. Search flight deals on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Within Singapore, the MRT is fast, air-conditioned, and intuitive; taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps. For point-to-point trains in Asia, see Trip.com Trains.

Where to stay: Choose Marina Bay for skyline views, the Civic District for museums, Chinatown/Tiong Bahru for heritage and cafés, or Sentosa for beachy resort vibes.

• Marina Bay Sands — iconic rooftop infinity pool and unbeatable bay panoramas.
• Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore — garden sanctuary near Orchard Road, superb for families.
• Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa — beachfront resort on Sentosa for a laid-back base.
• Hotel Boss — value close to Kampong Glam and the river.
• Hotel 81 Chinatown — budget-friendly in the thick of Chinatown’s eats.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Singapore or apartment-style options on VRBO Singapore.

Day 1: Arrival, Marina Bay Walk, and a Sunset from the Sky

Afternoon: Land at Changi, transfer to your hotel, and refresh. Ease into the city with a gentle loop around Marina Bay: Merlion Park for the classic photo, then the waterfront promenade to admire the durian-shaped Esplanade theaters and the lotus-like ArtScience Museum.

Evening: Time your ascent for golden hour with the Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck E-Ticket—sunset melts into a glittering skyline and the twinkle of ships in the Singapore Strait.

Dinner: Walk to Lau Pa Sat—a cast-iron Victorian market turned hawker hall—then out to Boon Tat Street after dark when it becomes “Satay Street.” Order sticks of smoky satay with peanut sauce from stalls 7 & 8, add grilled stingray sambal, and chase it with sugarcane juice. If you prefer garden views, try Satay by the Bay at Gardens by the Bay for a breezy outdoor feast.

Day 2: Cycle the Civic District, Galleries, and Riverfront Nightlife

Morning: Get your bearings on two wheels with the Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore—a licensed historical ride past the Padang, Fullerton, Merlion, and hidden sculptures you’d miss on foot.

Lunch: Head to Amoy Street Food Centre. Queue for A Noodle Story (a Singapore-style ramen with soy-glazed char siu and onsen egg), or try Han Kee Fish Soup for peppery, clean flavors. Grab kopi from Coffee Break for an old-school brew with modern twists (sea salt caramel kopi, anyone?).

Afternoon: Dive into Southeast Asian art at the National Gallery Singapore (housed in the former Supreme Court and City Hall). If you prefer culture through artifacts, the Asian Civilisations Museum traces maritime trade routes and faiths that shaped the region.

Evening: Dinner at Candlenut (Michelin-starred Peranakan; book early) in Dempsey, or the more casual Violet Oon Singapore at Clarke Quay for beef rendang and ayam buah keluak. For cocktails, visit Atlas (art deco gin temple) or Jigger & Pony (classic vibes, ranked among Asia’s best bars).

Day 3: Three Cultures in a Day—Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam

Morning: Start with kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs at Ya Kun Kaya Toast or heritage favorite Chin Mee Chin Confectionery (house-baked buns, 1950s charm). Wander Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Thian Hock Keng in Chinatown; then coffee at Nylon Coffee Roasters (tiny roastery, big flavors) or Tiong Bahru Bakery (legendary kouign-amann).

Afternoon: In Little India, browse Tekka Centre and smell jasmine garlands near Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Move to Kampong Glam for the golden-domed Sultan Mosque, indie boutiques on Haji Lane, and batik fabrics along Arab Street. Snack on ondeh-ondeh at Rich & Good Cake Shop (try the kaya Swiss roll).

Evening: Feast Malay-style at Hjh Maimunah (ikan bakar, beef rendang) or go hyper-local with murtabak at Singapore Zam Zam opposite the mosque. Cap the night with the Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra—a guide-led evening that stitches history to spectacle by boat and light shows.

Day 4: Sentosa—Aquarium Thrills, Luge Runs, and Lazy Beach Hours

Morning: Ride the Sentosa Express from VivoCity or stroll the Sentosa Boardwalk. Choose your adventure: S.E.A. Aquarium (one of the world’s largest, kids adore the manta rays) or Universal Studios Singapore for coasters and movie-world sets. Breakfast en route at VivoCity’s Bakery Cuisine or Joe & Dough.

Afternoon: Zip down the Skyline Luge, then cool off at Palawan or Siloso Beach. For lunch, Malaysian Food Street inside Resorts World dishes Penang char kway teow and KL-style Hokkien mee under nostalgic street-sign décor; or sit down at Ola Beach Club for poke bowls and Hawaiian plates with toes-in-sand views.

Evening: Sunset drinks at Tanjong Beach Club (balearic soundtrack, breezy cabanas). Stay for Wings of Time, a water-and-light show at the shoreline, or head back to town for crab supper at Jumbo Seafood (East Coast) or Palm Beach Seafood by One Fullerton—order chili crab with mantou and black pepper crab for contrast.

Day 5: Green Day—Botanic Gardens, Southern Ridges, and Supertrees

Morning: Stroll the UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens. Start in the National Orchid Garden (coolhouse respite) and breakfast at Bee’s Knees (The Garage) or The Halia (ginger garden, tropical plates). Bring insect repellent and water.

Afternoon: Traverse the Southern Ridges: HortPark to the wavy timber Henderson Waves bridge and forest canopy walks. It’s a photogenic, breezy trek with city-and-sea panoramas; aim for late afternoon shadows for softer light.

Evening: Enter Gardens by the Bay. Use the OCBC Skyway/Flower Dome/Cloud Forest ticket for aerial Supertree views and cooled conservatories (don’t miss the Cloud Forest’s indoor waterfall). Dine under the palms at Satay by the Bay, then watch the free Garden Rhapsody music-and-light show from the Supertree Grove lawn.

Day 6: Heritage East to Orchard Chic—Joo Chiat, Katong, and Shopping

Morning: Explore the pastel Peranakan shophouses of Joo Chiat/Katong. Breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery (butter-kaya buns and sugee cake) or 328 Katong Laksa for a spice-forward, spoon-only laksa. Pick up traditional kueh at Glory Catering or Kim Choo Kueh Chang (also famed for Nyonya rice dumplings).

Afternoon: Shift gears to Orchard Road. Browse ION Orchard’s futuristic mallscape, TANGS for local designers, and Design Orchard for made-in-Singapore goods. Refuel at PS.Cafe Palais (truffle shoestring fries, airy conservatory) or Merci Marcel Orchard (sunny French plates).

Evening: Back in the city, book Labyrinth (modern Singaporean tasting menu paying homage to hawker flavors) or go casual at Maxwell Food Centre: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon, and Ye Lai Xiang Tasty Barbecue. Cocktails at Native (foraged local ingredients, petal-and-spice aromas) round out the night.

Day 7: Tiong Bahru Stroll and Departure

Morning: Slow-start in art-deco Tiong Bahru. Coffee at Common Man Coffee Roasters (serious espresso program) or Tiong Bahru Bakery (laminated perfection). Wander Yong Siak Street’s indie shops and the Tiong Bahru Market’s wet stalls for a slice of daily life; if peckish, try Jian Bo Shui Kueh for chwee kueh with crunchy chai po.

Afternoon (Departure): If you have time before your flight, head early to Jewel Changi to see the Rain Vortex and last-minute gift shopping (pineapple tarts, kaya, bak kwa for checked luggage). For airport rides, taxi is ~20–30 minutes from most downtown hotels; use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to check any last-minute flight changes.

Optional Add-Ons (time permitting): National Museum of Singapore for a crisp narrative of the island; Mandai Night Safari for nocturnal wildlife; or a river sunset walk from Boat Quay to Robertson Quay for alfresco dining.

Handy Dining Shortlist (Bookmark-Worthy)

• Hawker icons: Tian Tian (Hainanese chicken rice), Hill Street Tai Hwa (bak chor mee), 328 Katong Laksa, Maxwell Food Centre, Amoy Street Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat’s Satay Street.
• Peranakan: Candlenut (refined), Violet Oon Singapore (classics).
• Seafood for chili crab: Jumbo Seafood (East Coast), Palm Beach Seafood (One Fullerton), Long Beach UDMC (black pepper crab).
• Cafés and coffee: Common Man Coffee Roasters, Nylon Coffee Roasters, Tiong Bahru Bakery, PS.Cafe.
• Bars: Atlas (art deco gin), Jigger & Pony (classics), Native (regional botanicals), 28 HongKong Street (speakeasy style).

Tickets and Tours You’ll Actually Use

• Lion City Bike Tour of Singapore

  

• Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck E-Ticket

  

• OCBC Skyway/Flower Dome/Cloud Forest (Gardens by the Bay)

  

• Singapore Starry Night: Cruise, Garden Rhapsody & Spectra

  

Across a week, this Singapore itinerary balances big-ticket sights with neighborhood wanderings and edible discoveries. From Supertree sunsets to satay smoke, you’ll leave with a palate of colors, flavors, and stories that beg a return visit.