Four days in Singapore is enough time to do a bit of everything: beaches, culture, food, museums and nightlife. But be warned, this will be a jam-packed four-day itinerary for Singapore! This itinerary is best completed with an early morning flight arriving in Singapore on Day 1 and a late evening flight departing Singapore on Day 4. Do you have less than four days in Singapore? Check out my 48-hours in Singapore itinerary here. Do you have more than four days in Singapore? Read my seven-day Singapore itinerary here.
Day 1 – Arrival Day
On Day 1, arrive any time, as you have the first day of this Singapore itinerary 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. Depending on how early you arrive, you may also want to head to the Botanic Gardens (for a dose of nature) or Sentosa Island for beaches, adventure or history (the island has it all).
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- National Museum, Fort Canning Park and Gardens By The Bay
After breakfast, 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).
Then, 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. 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 to get one last taste of Singapore before you depart! Looking for the best foodie recommendations for your last meal? Check out my Singapore cuisine guide here.
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