A Three Day Singapore Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Visiting Singapore for the first time and have no idea where to even begin? Save this 3-day itinerary!

Singapore is rather small, and you’d probably think that you can pretty much experience everything in two to three days. Guess what? I’ve visited the Little Red Dot twice already yet there’s still so much more to discover! However, if you’re really pressed for time and would still like to strike a balance between popular and unconventional experiences, SAVE this 3-day itinerary.

Day 1: Culture & Modernity

In the morning

After breakfast, lace up and prepare for an exciting immersion in the historical neighbourhoods of Singapore.

First stop is Kampong Glam, a former seat of Malay royalty and now preserved as one of Singapore’s major heritage districts. The shimmering Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque) will hardly go unnoticed, so make this monumental structure your centre point while walking around the area.

From the mosque, proceed to the newly revamped Malay Heritage Centre, which reopened in April 2026 inside the former Istana Kampong Gelam. Its permanent galleries are open from Tuesday to Sunday, with admission priced at S$10 for foreign adults and S$8 for eligible seniors, students and persons with disabilities. Singaporeans and permanent residents enter for free. The surrounding compound can also be explored during its opening hours.

From the Malay Heritage Centre, Aliwal Street is just a few minutes’ walk away.

Also read: 5 Rustic Places in Singapore to Relive the Kampong Days

Continue to walk down Haji Lane to enjoy the colourful murals and artsy shophouses. You might just find something quirky here for your loved ones back home.

Tip: Don’t leave Kampong Glam without tasting the famous murtabak or martabak, a fried dough stuffed with minced meat, eggs and onions. You can have it at either Victory Restaurant or Zam Zam, located opposite Sultan Mosque. Both restaurants serve other cheap local food as well, so you might want to have your lunch here before proceeding to the next destination.

How to get to Kampong Glam: Take the East West (Green) Line or Downtown (Blue) Line and alight at Bugis Station. Follow the signs towards North Bridge Road and walk for approximately 10 to 12 minutes to Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre.

In the afternoon

I’m sure you’ve already replenished your energy after lunch. From Kampong Glam, Little India is about 15–20 minutes’ walk away. I suggest you download Google Maps beforehand and follow the directions. If all else fails, you can always ask the locals or hail a taxi.

What to do in Little India? I must admit I did not do many things here as I was already a bit exhausted after the morning walk, but feel free to explore on your own. This district is bustling with all things Indian from the food down to the shops and establishments. Be sure to drop by the massive 24-hour Mustafa Centre, too!

Spend the rest of the afternoon in Tiong Bahru, a laid-back neighbourhood full of quaint cafes and heritage gems. You may opt to follow the heritage trail or just chill out at any cafe you like. Well, I chose the latter. The Tiong Bahru Heritage Walk is an activity I’d reserve for next time.

How to get to Tiong Bahru: Take the East West (Green) Line and alight at Tiong Bahru Station, Exit B. From the station, the cafes, establishments and heritage spots are just walking distance.

At night

Time for the modern side of Singapore! There is a walking route you can follow which is great for evenings. From Raffles Place, walk to Singapore River, pass by The Fullerton Hotel, cross the bridge to Esplanade, and walk on to Helix Bridge. After that, you’ll be at Marina Bay.

Catch Spectra, the free light and water show at Marina Bay Sands’ Event Plaza, at 8pm or 9pm nightly. An additional 10pm performance is generally held on Fridays and Saturdays. Each show lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Then, proceed to Gardens by the Bay to see the Supertrees during Garden Rhapsody, the free light-and-sound show held daily at 7.45pm and 8.45pm. Watching Spectra at 8pm before walking to the 8.45pm Garden Rhapsody performance is possible, but leave promptly and expect a brisk walk between the two venues.

Tip: For an affordable, yummy dinner, go to Satay by the Bay. It’s just a short walk from Gardens by the Bay.

Our dinner at Satay by the Bay

Day 2: Nature & Wildlife

In the morning

Wacky jump shot with my TripZilla colleagues! Thanks to Dina for organising this outing.

On the second day, escape to nature by doing the Southern Ridges Walk. It’s an approximately 10km network of trails that connects Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark and Kent Ridge Park.

You may start the walk at Kent Ridge Park, cross the famous Henderson Waves Bridge, continue to Mount Faber Park and end in HarbourFront.

Do check the latest NParks notices before setting out. As of June 2026, the eastern section of Forest Walk, the Earth Trail and the northern loop of Telok Blangah Green are closed for slope-repair works, with an alternative route in place. The current notice lists an expected completion date of 31 July 2026.

The full route can take three to five hours depending on your pace and stops. Completing the entire trail, spending the afternoon in Sentosa and travelling to Night Safari on the same day will be exhausting. Consider walking only the Mount Faber and Henderson Waves section if you want more time for the later activities.

From HarbourFront, cross the Sentosa Boardwalk to enter Sentosa Island. Entry to Sentosa remains free for visitors walking across the boardwalk.

How to get to Kent Ridge Park: Take the MRT Circle (Orange) Line to Kent Ridge. Alight at Kent Ridge MRT Station and take a taxi or ride-hailing vehicle to the car park at the end of Vigilante Drive in Kent Ridge Park.

Also read: Singapore Outing Ideas: 24 Fun Things You Never Thought You Could Do

Tip: As food in Sentosa is a bit pricey, you might want to take your lunch at VivoCity or at the Seah Im Food Centre just outside HarbourFront MRT.

My lunch at Seah Im Food Centre

In the afternoon

Unless you go crazy with the rides in Universal Studios Singapore, the whole afternoon would be enough to enjoy Sentosa’s underrated attractions. I recommend that you ride the Luge. It’s super fun, I promise!

Skyline Luge Singapore remains active between Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Beach. Operating and last-entry times vary according to the date, school holidays and special events, so reserve a session and check the schedule before travelling.

At night

Image credit: Allie_Caulfield

If you still have the energy, I suggest that you cap off Day 2 with a visit to Night Safari. This is the first nocturnal zoo in the world, so it’s definitely worth visiting! I can’t seem to describe my whole Night Safari experience — you just have to be there yourself!

• Night Safari opening hours: Daily from 6pm to midnight, with last entry at 11.15pm

• The Safari Adventure Tram begins operating from 7pm and is included with admission

• Admission uses timed entry and prices vary according to the visitor category and selected date, so book through the official website in advance

How to get to Night Safari from Sentosa: From HarbourFront, take the North East Line to Dhoby Ghaut and transfer to the North South Line towards Khatib. From Khatib MRT Station, take the M2 Mandai Khatib Bus, which runs until midnight and takes approximately 20 minutes. Bus 138 from Ang Mo Kio or Springleaf remains another option.

Allow at least 90 minutes to travel from Sentosa to Mandai, especially during the evening peak period.

Also read: 20 Fun Outing Ideas in Singapore Under SGD 20

Day 3: Shopping, Food & More!

I don’t know about you, but I always save the last day for shopping. My family and friends would expect pasalubong (souvenirs) so I allot a day hunting down items to bring back home. Depending on your budget, the best places in Singapore to go shopping are Orchard Road for signature bags and apparel, Bugis and for cheap souvenirs and unique items.

In the morning

Image credit: Khalzuri Yazid

Other than shopping, you can actually do a number of interesting things in Chinatown. After all, it’s where you can find a Hindu temple, a mosque and a Buddhist temple all in one place. You may follow a heritage trail or go crazy shopping for souvenirs already.

Head to Pagoda Street, Sago Street and Trengganu Street for cheap souvenir items. Hungry? Try authentic local food at Amoy Street Food Centre, Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre. The former Chinatown Food Street should no longer be treated as the neighbourhood’s main hawker destination.

Left to right above: Chilli Crab | Image credit: megawatts86; Chicken Rice; Left to right below: Ice Kachang | Image credit: Andrew Bogott; Chendol

Tip: Never miss the all-time favourite Hainanese Chicken Rice and Chilli Crab, and wash it down with a refreshingly cold Ice Kachang or Chendol.

Also read: 16 Local Foods You Must Try in Singapore

For an off-the-beaten-track experience, go to Pinnacle@Duxton and enjoy breathtaking rooftop views like the one pictured below.

The 50th-storey skybridge is open to members of the public from 9am to 9pm daily, with last admission at 9pm. Entry costs S$6 per person and is subject to a daily visitor quota, so check availability before making the walk from Chinatown. Remember that this is a residential development and behave considerately towards residents.

Image credit: Wenjie, Zhang | A Certain Slant of Light

How to get to Chinatown: Take the MRT North East (Purple) Line or Downtown (Blue) Line to Chinatown. Alight at Chinatown MRT Station and from there, everything is just within walking distance.

In the afternoon

Image credit: William Cho

I’m not a fan of branded things, but if you’re into upscale shopping, Singapore’s Orchard Road is your haven. Chain stores, department stores and shopping malls dot the area. Some of the shopping spots worth checking out are ION Orchard, Plaza Singapura, 313@Somerset, *SCAPE and Lucky Plaza.

Tip: Look out for the uniquely Singaporean ice cream sandwiches sold from traditional pushcarts along Orchard Road, although the vendors’ locations and operating times are not fixed.

After shopping, detour to Emerald Hill, a colourful street lined with Peranakan-style houses and shops.

The Istana is not ordinarily open for casual visits. Members of the public may enter its grounds only during selected Istana Open Houses held several times a year. Its Main Building is also closed for restoration until further notice, so check the official calendar before including it in your itinerary.

Left: | Image credit: Icemoon; Right: Emerald Hill | Image credit: Nicolas Lannuzel

How to get to Orchard Road: Take the MRT North South (Red) Line and alight at Orchard Station. Depending on where you plan to shop, Somerset or Dhoby Ghaut station may be more convenient.

At night

Save the best for last! Well, I would say that Bugis Street is the total opposite to Orchard Road’s high-end shopping. If you’re up for all things trendy and cheap, this is the place to go.

Tip: The National Library of Singapore is just nearby. Entrance is free so you could spend the rest of the night reading books or exploring the Central Public Library and Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. The building is open from 10am to 9pm daily but closes on public holidays and at 5pm on the eves of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.

Entrance to the National Library

How to get to Bugis: Take the MRT East West (Green) Line or Downtown (Blue) Line and alight at Bugis Station.

Getting around Singapore

Image credit: Simon_sees

Singapore is fairly easy to navigate, even for first-time visitors. Signs are everywhere, and if ever you’ll get lost, you could always ask the locals for directions. English is widely used, although Singapore’s multilingual character means you will also hear Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and many other languages. However, it pays to do a little research to save you time and effort in asking for directions.

Familiarise yourself with these common modes of transportation in Singapore:

By train

Taking the train is the fastest and easiest way to get around Singapore. The MRT system is not as complex as some larger urban rail networks, so you shouldn’t have a hard time decoding it. From the MRT stations, attractions are mostly within walking distance.

Single-use Standard Tickets are no longer the main way to pay for MRT journeys. Most visitors can tap a supported contactless American Express, Mastercard, NETS or Visa bank card, or a compatible mobile wallet, directly at the fare gate. Use the same card or device when entering and leaving.

Alternatively, purchase a SimplyGo EZ-Link card or Singapore Tourist Pass. These are not the same product: an EZ-Link card stores travel value, while the Singapore Tourist Pass provides unlimited rides on basic bus services and MRT and LRT trains for a fixed period. Passes are currently available for one to five days.

Compare the pass price with the number of journeys you expect to take. Paying for individual rides with a contactless card may cost less if your hotel is centrally located and you are not travelling frequently.

Tip: Be sure to download an updated MRT map or use a journey-planning app beforehand.

By bus

The bus system in Singapore is quite extensive. Some places not reached by train can most likely be reached by bus.

Use Google Maps, Citymapper, the MyTransport.SG app or another current journey planner to locate nearby stops and view estimated arrival times.

You can pay the bus fare by tapping your contactless bank card, mobile wallet, SimplyGo EZ-Link card or Singapore Tourist Pass on the card reader near the driver. Tap the same payment method again when you alight so that the correct distance-based fare can be calculated.

Cash is accepted on basic services, but you must pay the exact fare and will not receive change.

By taxi or Grab / Uber

Although pricier than taking the train or bus, riding the taxi is the most convenient way to get you from point A to B. You may hail a taxi where roadside pickups are permitted or join the queue at taxi stands outside malls, hotels and main attractions.

Uber no longer operates in Singapore. Current ride-hailing and taxi-booking options include Grab, Gojek, CDG Zig, TADA and Ryde. Fares may increase during peak periods, bad weather and high demand, so compare the available services before confirming your ride.

Best places to stay

There are several accommodations that we recommend for each district, but if you want to follow my itinerary, I would recommend that you stay in The Daulat by Hotel Calmo, previously known simply as The Daulat Hotel.

The following comments describe my experience during the original trip. The hotel has since changed management, and its present facilities, room condition and inclusions may differ considerably. Check current photographs, policies and recent guest reviews before booking.

1. Convenient location

Located at 16 Madras Street, The Daulat by Hotel Calmo is just near the cultural districts and local food scene in Singapore — just a short walk away from Little India, Kampong Glam and Bugis. Plus, Rochor and Little India MRT Stations are so close, you can practically reach all the other attractions in Singapore by public transport.

2. Cosy rooms, nice amenities at a reasonable price

I stayed in a lovely loft-style room equipped with flat-screen TV, DVD player, flat iron, and an espresso machine. Free coffee in the room!? Just WOW! Imagine the delight of a coffeeholic like me! The loft also has a mini-study area where you can jot down notes and do some research.

These were the facilities available during my stay. Current listings still include loft-style rooms, but older amenities such as DVD players, espresso machines and unlimited bottled water should not be assumed to remain available.

3. Free breakfast

The original stay included complimentary breakfast, but this is no longer a standard inclusion. Current booking information indicates that breakfast may not be provided, depending on the platform and room package. Confirm this before booking rather than relying on the original review.

4. Friendly staff, excellent customer service

I stayed in the hotel for two nights and I must say that their front desk personnel were commendable. They would really talk to you and help you with all the information you need. Just don’t hesitate to ask; they are more than willing to assist you.

As this experience took place several years ago and the property has changed management, consult recent verified reviews for a more current assessment of its service and upkeep.

That’s basically it! Feel free to adjust the itinerary according to your budget and interest. A three-day visit will not cover everything Singapore has to offer, but this route provides a mix of heritage districts, city landmarks, nature, wildlife, shopping and food for first-time visitors.