🇸🇬 Best of Singapore in 3 days
About Singapore
What makes Singapore unique is that it is a city, an island and a country all at once. If you’re coming from other parts of Southeast Asia, you’ll notice that Singapore is very easy to travel. It's relatively developed, with an efficient public transport system, quality hotels and restaurants, and great infrastructure. At the same time, it’s a lot more expensive than other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand or Indonesia.
Singapore is also a very safe city: that’s partly due to the notoriously strict laws that govern the country (it’s illegal to spit and you’ll be fined for littering). English is one of its four languages and is widely spoken. Plus, Singapore’s reputation for orderliness and cleanliness is not a myth.
Three days in Singapore is a good amount of time to get an overview of the city and see the highlights, but you could easily spend a week here.
Visa
Citizens of 164 different countries can enter Singapore as tourists for a period of 30 or 90 days without a visa. Passport holders from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and the United States get 90 days visa-free.
All travelers are required to submit an SG Arrival Card online, which asks for basic personal information, trip details and a health declaration. Obtain an SG Arrival Card on the MyICA phone app or the official ICA website.
ATM
You can use the ATM Fee Saver app or website - it will give you a list of ATMs with no fees or lower fees than others along with withdrawal limits there.
These are the ATMs that Singaporeans use most often:
UOB (No ATM fee)
OCBC (No ATM fee)
DBS
PSB
Sim card & internet
The cost of SIM cards and data bundles are significantly higher in Singapore than the average for the region. The cheapest place in the city to find SIM cards is within the Little India district, where many of the small shops offer discounts and deals you won’t be able to find elsewhere. Be prepared to show your passport to buy and register the SIM. Any shop selling SIMs should also be able to register them. There are only 3 major mobile operators in Singapore, namely Singtel, M1 and StarHub.
Best offers
-For up to 14 days of stay: Singtel $12 hi!Tourist SIM Card (100GB for 14 days)
- For up to 30 days of stay: M1 $14 Prepaid Tourist SIM (100GB for 30 days)
- Best eSIM: M1 $12 Prepaid Tourist SIM (100GB for 15 days)
- For people who also need EZ-Link card: Singtel hi!Tourist 2-in-1 EZ-Link SIM Card (100GB 4G for 28 day, EZ-Link is valid for 5 years)
Public wi-fi
Singapore has a ton of free Wi-Fi hotspots in public places. Just connect to the Wireless@SG network. You’ll need to login to Wireless@SG with your mobile number, via any web browser. A one-time PIN will be sent to your phone. Changi Airport, MRT stations, and most shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes also offer free Wi-Fi.
How to get around & where to stay
Subway & bus system
Singapore’s subway system or the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the most convenient way for travelers to get around cheaply and easily. Currently, there are six MRT lines each marked with a distinct color, while stations are assigned numbers for easy identification (announcements are in English as well).
Bus stops have a unique ID number to help you identify where to stop, and most bus stops will have some route information at the bus stop itself. Google Maps is fairly accurate when planning a bus route, another app you can use is Citymapper.
How to use the public transport
To use the public buses or MRT in Singapore, you will need to purchase a stored value card (EZ-Link Card) available at all MRT stations and bus interchanges. Alternatively, the SimplyGo initiative allows you to use your contactless debit or credit card to pay for public transport without registration required – just tap your phone, smartwatch or physical card.
Prices
The fares for traveling via bus or MRT in Singapore are calculated based on distance so make sure to tap in and tap out to ensure you are charged the correct fare. There are no single-trip tickets for the MRT, but you can use cash to pay on the bus – you will need exact change to pay for your fare. For tourists, you can consider the Singapore Tourist Pass which allows for unlimited rides on the public bus and MRT for 1–3 days.
Where to stay
Popular neighbourhoods for accommodation:
1. Orchard Road Area
Singapore’s main shopping area. The whole street is lined with huge modern shopping malls. The most central area to stay in, you can walk to most of the main attractions. Several of the big international hotel chains are located here.
2.Colonial/ Historic District
Beautiful old colonial buildings, museums, and art galleries. Here, you will find some of Singapore’s most iconic and luxurious hotels, like the Raffles.
3. Marina Bay Area
The iconic Marina Bay Sands shopping mall and hotel are designed like a ship. Staying at the futuristic luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so if you can afford it – go for it!
4. Chinatown
A unique historical area with a mix of Chinese architecture, temples, shops, cafes, and modern highrises in the nearby CBD. A wide range of upscale and mid-range hotels.
5. Bugis & Kampong Glam
Singapore’s hippest area has plenty of cool coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. Budget-friendly hotels and hostels are also available.
6. The Quays Area
Singapore’s canal and river area is nightlife central, packed with restaurants, cafes, and bars. It is a fun area to stay in, with some fantastic hotels and nightlife.
7. Little India
A vibrant area with lots of delicious Indian food. Budget-friendly hotels and hostels.
Budget hostel recommendations
7 Wonders Hostel (different locations in Boat Quay, Little India and Upper Dickinson)
Dream Lodge Hostel
Day 1
Take the metro to Bayfront station and visit the ArtScience Museum
Walk across the Helix bridge to Makansutra Gluttons Bay for food
Then continue to Merlion Park
Have a drink at the Boat Quay shophouses
Explore Chinatown
Open-air market on Pagoda Street, where you’ll find colorful cheongsams (traditional dress), lion dance puppets and Singaporean souvenirs
Don’t miss the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple for a more spiritual experience
Eat at Maxwell food center
Spectra Light show in the evening at Marina bay at 8 PM and 9 PM
Day 2
Explore Little India
The best temple to visit in the area is Sri Veeramakakaliamman Temple, dedicated to goddess Kali.
Tekka Market
The market is a senses-assaulting place with spice stalls and shops selling saris and jewelry.
Also be sure to stop by for an Instagram shot at the rainbow-colored Tan Teng Niah’s former house, the only surviving Chinese villa in the area.
Street art highlights include:
*Traditional Trades of Little India* by Psyfool along Belilios Road
Didier Mathieu’s *Kathaka* at the junction of Serangoon Road and Upper Dickson Street
*Alive @ Clive* by TraseOne
*Working Class Hero* by Zero near the car park at Hindoo Road
Gardens by the bay
Walking around the park won’t cost you a cent but there is a fee if you want to step inside the conservatories. The iconic Supertree Grove is the first stop for most people. You can also pay to walk on the OCDC Skywalk, a network of walkway that hangs over the gardens. The Flower Dome is one of the two world’s largest columnless greenhouses, while the Cloud Forest houses the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Lunch at Lau Pai Sat
Skypark Observation Deck
Best time to visit is at 5/6 PM (book tickets in advance)
Watch the Rhapsody Light and Sound Show at Gardens by the bay at 7.45pm and 8.45pm (Drop by earlier)
Day 3
Check Haji Lane and Arab street & Kampong Glam
Visit Capita Spring viewpoint, a free observation deck (pre-reservation needed)
Get a snack at Amoy street food center
Watch the Marina Bay Sands Light Show known as Spectra, a free nightly event that you can catch from the boardwalk. The 15-minute show takes place every night at 8pm and 9pm (and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
Best places to eat & traditional food
Hawker centers
A visit to one of the world’s most expensive cities doesn’t mean you’ll spend a fortune dining out. Singapore’s lively hawker centers are where the best food is found, and you can enjoy a full meal for less than $5 (it was actually added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020). Keep in mind that most of these places are cash-based and have a self-service ordering system (some stall owners now accept card/digital payments like Apple Pay and AliPay).
1. Maxwell Food Center
2. Amoy Street Food Centre
3. Telok Ayer Market (Lau Pa Sat)
4. Chinatown Complex Food Centre
5. Tekka Centre
Traditional food to try
Kaya toast
The most traditional Singaporean breakfast dish is kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs, served with coffee or tea. You will find it in almost every hawker centre and food court (usually at the drinks stall). It is lightly toasted white bread lathered with kaya, a a sweet creamy spread made from coconut milk
Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a popular Singaporean chain with branches all over the island.
Singapore Laksa
Katong laksa has a spicy soup stock the color of a flaming sunset, flavored with coconut milk and dried shrimp, and topped with cockles, prawns and fishcake.
Sungei Road Laksa is a pioneer in Singapore’s hawker scene. It is one of the most famous hawker stalls in Singapore.
Roti Prata
Roti prata is a South Indian flat bread made by frying stretched dough flavored with ghee (Indian clarified butter). It is usually served with fish or mutton curry.
Hokkien Mee
It is basically a mixture of rice noodles and yellow egg noodles, fried in a wok with egg, seafood and slices of pork belly.
Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee serves up the best hokkien mee in Singapore
Oyster omelette
An acquired taste, oyster omelettes, or orh luak, have browned, crisp edges with hot, fleshy oysters.
Bonus: The Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling, widely regarded as the national drink, was first created in 1915 by the Raffles Hotel, where you can still try the original cocktail. Primarily a gin-based drink, the Singapore Sling also contains pineapple juice, lime juice, curaçao and Bénédictine.
Other things to do
Explore the Jewel Changi Airport
Almost all of Jewel is free to enjoy, except for the Canopy Park on the top level. With an admission ticket, you’ll gain access to all 4 different areas: Play around on the Discovery Slides and mess about in the mist of the Foggy Bowls; Appreciate the artistic skill on the Topiary Walk and enjoy flowers from the world over in the Petal Garden. Don't miss The hourly light and sound show at the HSBC Rain Vortex, the mall’s 40m-tall indoor waterfall, from 7.30pm to midnight.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
A beautiful 165-year-old tropical garden that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Madia Wildlife Reserve
Home of the world-famous Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise. With four establishments in this cluster, you can view over 10,000 animals from over 1,000 species.
The home for unique & authentic travel
