48 hours is a small amount of time in Singapore, but you can still experience some of the best Singapore has to offer with the help of this two-day itinerary. You won’t be able to see everything in Singapore, nor would you want to in that time frame, as you would burn yourself out. However, in 48 hours, you can easily tick off some bucket list experiences such as Gardens By The Bay, trying Hawker Food, exploring the different cultural neighbourhoods of Singapore and watching the famous light shows. This itinerary is best attempted with an early morning arrival in Singapore on Day 1 and a late evening departure on Day 2. Do you have more than two days to spend in Singapore and are looking for a longer itinerary? Check out my 4-day or 7-day itineraries for more recommendations!
Day 1 – City Centre, Little India and Gardens By The Bay
Ideally, arrive early in the morning to make the most of this two-day Singapore itinerary. Kickstart your morning with kaya toast at Ya Kun—a local breakfast staple. Ya Kun is a chain, so you should be able to easily find a cafe near where you’re staying. Spend your morning wandering through Singapore’s city centre, marvelling at its modernity. You can either do this on your own or with another walking tour. I personally went with Monster Walking Tours and had a great experience. If you’re exploring solo (without a tour), make sure you visit the following sights: Merlion Park, Fullerton Hotel, Cavenagh Bridge, Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Arts House.
For lunch, head to Little India to try either Tekka Centre (a famous Hawker) or Bismillah Biryani, which was made famous by Anthony Bourdain. Afterwards, spend the afternoon exploring Little India at your own pace. I recommend visiting Clive Street, Upper Dickson Road, Kerboo Road, Hindoo Road and Dunlop Street for street art. You should also check out the 24-hour Mustafa Centre for shopping. If you have time, you may want to explore the Indian Heritage Centre Museum to deepen your understanding of the culture.
At around 4 pm, get to the MRT to go to a very famous Singapore landmark: Gardens by the Bay. Grab a late lunch at the hawker centre inside the gardens known as Satay by the Bay. Spend the afternoon walking through the famous domes of Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Afterwards, spend some time walking through the gardens and supertrees. As the sun starts to set, make your way to the Supertree grove to watch the famous light show at 7:45 pm, but you should be here at least 20 minutes early to nab a good spot.
Continue the night with another show: the Marina Bay Sands light show, an unforgettable spectacle of lights and waterworks. The show takes place just outside Marina Bay Sands Hotel at 9 pm. Try to get there at least 20 minutes early to get a prime spot! Round off your day with drinks at one of Chinatown’s lively bars, a perfect way to mingle and unwind.
Day 2- Kampong Gelam, National Museum, Fort Canning Park and Chinatown
Another early morning and quick to-go breakfast before the morning activity of exploring Kampong Gelam’s rich history and vibrant street art with a morning walking tour. If you don’t fancy a guided walking tour, you can easily explore this suburb on your own. I recommend heading to the Sultan Mosque, Malay Cultural Centre, Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, Arab Street and Haji Lane for street art. For lunch, venture to Chinatown Complex, a famous hawker centre where you’ll have an array of different cuisines to choose from. I highly recommend trying Haianese chicken rice or clay pot rice here.
In the early afternoon, it’s time to dive into some culture at the National Museum of Singapore to learn more about the history of Singapore. Depending on how much you enjoy museums and history, you may want to allow between 1-3 hours here. After, head to the nearby Fort Canning Park for a dose of history and greenery. Take a stroll around Fort Canning to catch some green amidst the cityscape. You can also opt to pay extra to enter the historic (but maybe a little claustrophobic war bunkers).
In the mid-afternoon, continue your day with an afternoon walking tour of Chinatown, delving deeper into its heritage. Again, if a walking tour isn’t your thing, you can easily explore Chinatown yourself. If you are exploring it independently, I recommend checking out the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown Heritage Centre, Thian Hock Keng Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple. You can also check out street art on Pagoda Street, Temple Street, Smith Street, Bukit Pasoh Road and Telok Ayer Street.
For dinner, Maxwell Food Centre is your spot for local dishes such as Chicken Rice, Popiah or Rojak to get one last taste of Singapore before you depart! If you have a later flight and want to experience a bit more of Singapore’s nightlife, consider heading to Clarke Quay for drinks or Haji Lane in Kampong Gelam.
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