A Perfect 3-Day Singapore Travel Itinerary for First-Timers

Need a Singapore travel itinerary? Here’s a plan that worked great for me!

Singapore’s got this great mix of old things and new things that makes it super interesting.

I put together this 3-day plan that’ll take you to all the good spots – from the famous places everyone knows to some neat cultural areas too.

I’ve figured out how to get around without wasting time so you can see lots of different parts of the city.

Ready to jump into your Singapore adventure? Let’s go!

Day 1 of Singapore Travel Itinerary

Morning: Gardens by the Bay

First stop: Gardens by the Bay – this huge park that’s about 101 hectares. People love it because they do amazing things with plants and care about the environment.

Check out the Flower Dome first – it’s this massive greenhouse with plants from all over.

Then go see the Supertrees – there’s 18 of these tall garden tower things, some going up like 165 feet.

Finish up at the Cloud Forest, where they’ve got this 115-feet fake mountain with a waterfall and tons of plants.

Pro Tips:

Buy tickets online before you go to skip waiting in lines.
Hit the Cloud Forest around lunchtime when they turn on the misting machines.
Walk the OCBC Skyway between those giant tree things but go early – lines get crazy.
Come back after dark for the Garden Rhapsody light show at 7:45 or 8:45 – totally free.

Opening Hours: 9 AM – 9 PM daily
Ticket Prices: Conservatories (Flower Dome & Cloud Forest) – SGD 32 for adults, SGD 18 for children

Afternoon: Marina Bay Sands

Head over to Marina Bay Sands next – you know, that big building that looks like a boat on top of three towers.

Go up to the SkyPark viewing area on floor 57 where you can see forever. Take a look around The Shoppes mall underneath – lots of luxury stores there.

Pop into the ArtScience Museum before you leave – they’ve got exhibits that mix art with science.

Pro Tips:

Want Marina Bay views without the SkyPark price? Grab a drink at Ce La Vi rooftop bar instead.
Catch the Spectra water and light show at the Event Plaza – 8 and 9 on weeknights, extra 10pm show weekends.
Inside the mall you can take sampan boat rides on their indoor canal.

Opening Hours: Varies by attraction
Ticket Prices: SkyPark Observation Deck – SGD 32-36 for adults

Evening: Night Safari

For the evening, hit up the Night Safari – it’s a zoo that’s open at night when the animals are actually doing things.

Ride the tram first through different areas to see animals when they’re active. Walk some of the trails to get closer to the nighttime animals.

Watch the Creatures of the Night Show where they bring out different animals to show what they can do.

Pro Tips:

Start with the tram ride for an overview, then explore on foot.
Bring mosquito repellent.
Don’t miss the Fishing Cat Trail and Leopard Trail.

Opening Hours: 7:15 PM – 12 AM daily
Ticket Prices: SGD 56 for adults, SGD 39 for children

Day 2 of Singapore Travel Itinerary

Morning: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Start your second day at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown – it’s built like the old Chinese buildings.

Go see the Buddha Tooth Relic first – they keep it in this special room upstairs.
Look around the Buddhist Culture Museum to learn about their traditions and history.

Head up to the garden on the roof with all the orchids – you can see the city from up there too.

Pro Tips:

Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting (they’re strict about this).
Check out the free tea house upstairs – nice place to rest.
If you time it right, watch the morning drum ceremony.

Opening Hours: 7 AM – 5 PM daily (9:00 AM – 5 PM for the Buddhas of the World Museum)
Admission: Free

Late Morning: Chinatown

Wander around Chinatown while you’re in the area. Browse through the street market where people sell all kinds of items from souvenirs to clothes.

Stop by the Chinatown Heritage Centre to see how people used to live there.

Visit Thian Hock Keng Temple – it’s the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore, built for the sea goddess.

Pro Tips:

Try the egg tarts and sweet meat jerky (bakkwa) from street vendors.
For real local food, skip the touristy places and head to Chinatown Complex Food Centre.
Look for the cool street art on Temple and Pagoda Streets.

Afternoon: Little India

Grab a taxi to Little India next – totally different vibe here.

Start at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple with all its colorful carvings of gods and goddesses. Check out Tekka Centre where locals shop for food, clothes, and spices.

Swing by Mustafa Centre – this huge store that’s open 24/7 and sells practically everything.

Pro Tips:

Get Indian sweets at Moghul Sweet Shop – the jalebi is amazing.
The Indian Heritage Centre is worth a quick visit if you’re interested in history.
Wander down Serangoon Road for spices, fabrics and jewelry shopping.

Evening: Singapore Botanic Gardens

End your day at the Singapore Botanic Gardens that’s been around since like 1859.

The Orchid Garden is worth the small entrance fee – they’ve got thousands of different orchids.

Chill out by Swan Lake for a bit where you can see turtles sunning themselves.

Walk through the rainforest section before you leave – this part’s got trees older than the garden itself.

Pro Tips:

Pack some snacks and chill on the grass – locals do picnics here all the time.
Check if there’s any free concerts happening at the Symphony Stage.
The Evolution Garden shows how plants changed over millions of years.

Opening Hours: 5 AM – 12 AM daily (National Orchid Garden 8:30 AM – 7 PM)
Admission: Free (National Orchid Garden: SGD 15 for adults, free for children below 12 years of age)

Late Evening: Hawker Centre Dinner

Finish the day eating your way through Singapore’s food scene.

Hit Lau Pa Sat first – it’s this old-timey building full of food stalls. Try the satay in the evening when they close the street.

Go to Maxwell Food Centre for chicken rice and those flat noodles (char kway teow) that everyone loves.

Make your last stop at Old Airport Road food centre for chili crab – it’s messy but worth it.

Pro Tips:

Follow the crowds – if a food stall has a long line, it’s probably worth waiting.
See packets of tissues on a table? That means it’s taken (locals call it “chope“).
Be ready to share tables with strangers during busy lunch hours.
Bring actual money – lots of food places don’t take cards.

Day 3 of Singapore Travel Itinerary

Morning: Universal Studios Singapore

Start your last day having fun on Sentosa Island, starting with Universal Studios.

The Transformers ride is pretty exciting – feels like you’re actually in the movie.

Try both Battlestar Galactica roller coasters if you’re brave – they twist around each other.
The dinosaur area makes you feel like you’re in Jurassic Park with all the details.
If you’ve got kids, the Sesame Street ride is fun – even adults enjoy it.

Pro Tips:

Get there when they open and run to the popular rides first
Use the single rider lines if you don’t mind splitting from your group.
Download their app to see wait times for different rides.
Sunday evenings they do the Star Power Parade with all the characters.

Opening Hours: 10 AM – 8 PM (varies by season)
Ticket Prices: SGD 87 for adults, SGD 65 for children

Afternoon: Sentosa Island

Spend your afternoon next door at the S.E.A. Aquarium to see fish and other sea creatures from around the world.

Cool off at the Adventure Cove Waterpark nearby – good break from Singapore’s heat. Try the Skyline Luge – it’s like a sled you control going downhill – super fun.

Take it easy on Siloso Beach for a bit – grab a drink at one of the beach bars.

Pro Tips:

Take the cable car from Mount Faber for awesome views coming in.
Check out Fort Siloso to see where Singapore fought during WWII.
End the night at the Wings of Time light show – kinda cheesy but pretty cool.

Opening Hours and Prices: Vary by attraction

Evening: Orchard Road

Spend your last evening shopping on Orchard Road – it’s been Singapore’s main shopping street forever.

Check out ION Orchard first – looks like something from the future outside and has fancy shops inside. Wander through Takashimaya Shopping Centre too – they’ve got stuff for every budget.

Stop by Design Orchard to find things made by local designers – good for unique souvenirs.

Finish your trip with drinks on Emerald Hill – these old houses are now cool bars and restaurants.

Pro Tips:

Head to the basement levels of malls for the best local food courts.
Lucky Plaza is where Filipino workers shop – great for bargains.
Try a Singapore Sling at Alley Bar on Emerald Hill – way better than the touristy Raffles version.

Shopping Hours: Generally 10 AM – 10 PM daily

Before You Go

Weather: Singapore stays warm and sticky year-round. Bring loose, light clothes and comfy shoes that won’t rub when you sweat.

Money: They use Singapore Dollars (SGD) here. Most places take cards, but keep some cash handy for street food stalls and small shops where cards aren’t accepted.
Internet: Grab a local SIM card when you arrive or rent one of those portable WiFi things so you can check maps and post pics without hunting for free WiFi spots.

Getting Around

The subway (they call it MRT) runs everywhere tourists usually go and doesn’t get stuck in traffic. Buses go to more places but can crawl along during rush hour.
Get yourself an EZ–Link card from any station when you arrive – it works on trains and buses and saves you from buying separate tickets every time.
Download the Grab app for taxis – it’s like Uber but for Southeast Asia.
Regular taxis use meters and won’t rip you off, but good luck finding one when it rains or during evening rush!

What to Know

Don’t bring chewing gum – it’s actually against the law here
No smoking in most public places – look for designated smoking areas if you need one
Don’t drop trash anywhere – they’re super strict about this and fines are huge
Always line up properly for everything – Singaporeans hate queue-jumpers and will call you out

Ways to Save Money

Hop on trains and buses instead of taking cabs everywhere.
Fill up at hawker centers where locals eat – way cheaper than sit-down restaurants and often better food.
Check out tourist passes that bundle attractions if you’re hitting multiple big sites.
Don’t forget the free stuff – the Southern Ridges walking trail and MacRitchie Reservoir are gorgeous and won’t cost you a cent.

Must-Try Local Experiences

Start your day like a local at a kopitiam (old-school coffee shop) with kaya toast, runny eggs and strong kopi.
Wander through a wet market early morning when grannies are haggling over the freshest veggies and fish.
Join the old folks doing tai chi in the parks before the heat kicks in.
Brave enough to try durian? Locals call it the king of fruits but tourists often call it something else once they smell it!

Hidden Gems Worth Checking Out

Haw Par Villa: This weird theme park shows Chinese hell and mythology with super creepy statues – nothing like Disneyland!
Pulau Ubin: Take a bumboat to this little island where Singapore looks like it did in the 1960s – rent a bike and spot wild boars.
Joo Chiat/Katong area: Colorful shophouses and the best Peranakan food in town – the architecture alone is worth the trip.
Sungei Buloh wetlands: Spot monitor lizards bigger than your dog and maybe even crocodiles if you’re lucky – bring bug spray!

3-Day Singapore Travel Itinerary: Wrapping It Up

That’s a wrap! You now have a complete guide on what to see in Singapore in just 3 days.

This covers the must–sees but you can always tweak it. Singapore’s small enough to get around easily but has so much variety that even three days gives you a good taste of what makes it special.

Check out my Kuala Lumpur Itinerary too!

Did you find this Singapore travel itinerary helpful for planning your trip? Share it if you did! Been to Singapore already? Tell me which places you liked best!

A Perfect 3-Day Singapore Travel Itinerary for First-Timers