If you’ve got seven days to explore Singapore, you’ll have time to do a bit of everything: sightseeing, beaches, museums, nightlife, and eating all of the great food. And the best part is that seven days allows you to do this all at a leisurely pace! This Singapore itinerary is based on a late afternoon arrival and a late afternoon departure on day seven. Still, it can be easily modified depending on your flight arrival and departure times. Do you have less than seven days in Singapore? Check out my 4-day and 48-hour Singapore itineraries.
Day 1 – Arrival Day
On Day 1, arrive any time, as you have the day at your leisure. After you’ve settled into your hostel, spend your afternoon getting a feel for the city. Wander around the local area where your hostel is and soak in the sights and sounds. You may want to head to the river to take in famous attractions such as the Merlion and Clarke Quay and see the Marina Bay Sands Casino.
For dinner, make a beeline for a hawker centre (a classic institution in Singapore, which is actually UNESCO-listed for its cultural significance). Lau Pa Sat is your go-to for a first taste of Singapore’s legendary street food scene. After dinner, head back to your hostel for an early night before tomorrow’s adventures.
Day 2- Little India and the City Centre
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. Next, dive into Little India’s vibrant colours and sounds with a morning walking tour. I highly recommend the tour through Monster Tours, but plenty of other well-rated walking tour companies exist. If walking tours aren’t your vibe and you’d rather explore 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.
For lunch, hit either Tekka Centre (another famous Hawker) or Bismillah Biryani, which was made famous by Anthony Bourdain. Then, explore the Indian Heritage Centre Museum to deepen your understanding of the culture. Spend your late afternoon 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.
Come dinner, Lau Pa Sat calls again—this time for its famed satay. After 7 pm every night, the street beside Lau Pa Sat closes to traffic and becomes Satay Street. End your night watching the Marina Bay Sands light show, an unforgettable spectacle of lights and waterworks. The show takes place just outside Marina Bay Sands Hotel at 8 pm and 9 pm. Try to get there at least 20 minutes early to get a prime spot! Afterwards, walk back along the river and head to Clarke Quay for drinks if you fancy.
Day 3- Botanic Gardens and Gardens By The Bay
Grab a quick breakfast at your hostel, from 7/11 or Ya Kun, before getting the MRT to the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO heritage site. Spend the morning walking around the gardens, checking out the Swan Lake and Orchard Garden and getting lost in the hedge maze.
After you’ve wandered around the Botanic Gardens, get to the MRT to go to another famous garden: 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. This happens nightly at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm, but you should be here at least 20 minutes early to nab a good spot.
After the show, head to CHIJMES for dinner. It’s a bit more on the pricier side, but the experience of having dinner and drinks on bean bags around an old historical convent is unbeatable. Then cap off the night with a signature Singapore Sling at Raffles (but be warned, you will have to queue).
Day 4- Kampong Gelam 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 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. Round off your day with drinks at one of Chinatown’s lively bars, a perfect way to mingle and unwind.
Day 5- Orchard Road, National Museum and Fort Canning Park
After breakfast, head to one of the most iconic streets in Singapore: Orchard Road. Morning on Orchard Road is like nowhere else—luxury brands, bustling cafes, and the buzz of the city. Take it all in with a leisurely walk down this iconic street. Clarke Quay offers scenic river views and a wide array of lunch options. Street yourself to a restaurant meal along the river (a break from the usual hawker centre east).
After refuelling, 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).
For dinner, make your way to Kampong Gelam to visit the Golden Mile Food Centre. Afterwards, wrap up your day with drinks at Haji Lane, where the vibe is as eclectic as its boutiques and bars.
Day 6 – Sentosa
Wake up early for a big day of exploring (or chilling) on the island of Sentosa. This day is very much a choose-your-own-adventure day, depending on whether you want adventure, relaxation, or history. Once you arrive at Harbourtown MRT, you have three options for getting to Sentosa: cable car, tram, or walking across the bridge. The option you choose will depend on your budget and interests.
Once in Sentosa, the day is at your leisure! If you’re into history, you could easily spend a few hours exploring Fort Siloso to learn about the Japanese occupation of Singapore during WW2. If you’re looking for a chill day, grab a lounger at a beach club and spend the day relaxing (I highly recommend Ola Beach Club). Alternatively, if you’re on a bit more of a budget, you can always beach hop and lay on a towel in the sand. The best beaches are Pawalan Beach (where the famous suspension bridge to the southernmost point of continental Asia is), Siloso Beach and Tanjong Beach.
If you’re up for more excitement, Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Waterpark, and other thrilling activities like bungee jumping await. For lunch and dinner, you can either head to one of the beach clubs or grab more affordable (but still good quality) food from the hawker centre in Sentosa. Make sure you stay on the beach for sunset before heading back into the city for an early night.
Day 7 – Explore Changi Airport
You might think it odd to dedicate a day to an airport, but Changi is no ordinary place. Exploring Changi is ideal if you’ve got a late afternoon flight but need to check out of your accommodation in the morning. There are plenty of options for luggage storage at the airport before your flight, and some airlines even offer early check-in options.
Once you’ve sorted your luggage, start with the Jewel, where the HSBC Rain Vortex—the world’s tallest indoor waterfall—will leave you seriously impressed. Wander through themed gardens, catch a movie, or even slide down a giant slide. Changi’s endless shops and eateries mean you can explore to your heart’s content. The Hawker Centre serves great food, including traditional Singaporean dishes and international foods.
You could easily spend 2-6 hours just exploring the airport, depending on your interests and when your flight to Singapore is scheduled!
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