A 24 hours is a brief time to spend in SG. Therefore, I have segmented each attraction into the time of day. Of course, you can deviate from this depending on what time you arrive. If you arrive in Singapore in the evening, be sure to catch that free light show at the airport. More details on that below.
This 1 Day Itinerary in Singapore allows you to the most iconic sights around Singapore such as the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay, Little India, Singapore Chinatown, the Marina Bay Sands, and more! We highly recommend waking up early to maximize your day in this iconic city.
Here is a brief overview which allow you to see a variety of Singapore’s City Centre:
- Local Breakfast
- Kampong Glam
- Fort Canning Park
- Merlion Park
- Gardens by the Bay
- The Marina Bay Sands & More
- Lunch in Little India
- Singapore Museum
- Singapore Chinatown
- Light Shows
- Airport Adventures
Click here for more info on the Singapore MRT, travel tips, and how to get from place to place!
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AM Itinerary of the 1 day itinerary in Singapore
1. Breakfast – start your morning off right by getting a local Singapore classic, Kopi and Kaya Toast at Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop (10 N Bridge Rd, #01-5109), a local spot that opens as early as 5 am, so if you’re jet lagged, don’t you worry. If Kaya isn’t you jam, you can eat at the local hawker centre (North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre).
2. Just a stroll down North Bridge Road will lead you into an iconic neighborhood of Singapore – Kampong Glam. Going here at night is the norm, but for getting the best photos, I recommend going in the AM to beat the crowds. You can take iconic photos of the Middle Eastern archways and the Sultan Mosque that will make you forget that you are in Singapore. There are also lots of murals to admire and quaint streets to stroll through.
* If you wish to enter Sultan Mosque, please be aware of dress code requirements and limited entry on Fridays
3. You will be amazed by the next stop, Fort Canning Park. There are so many places and things to see here, to include two free museums, however, we will focus on the most famous site, the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel, an iconic spot for photos through a winding stairwell that is overlooked by a large tree. Other idillic places for photography around the park include Sang Nila Utama Garden and the forbidden spring Pancur Larangan.
4. Before we wrap up the rest of the morning, be sure to stop at Merlion Park for some iconic photos. This is a must when checking off the 1 day itinerary in Singapore!
Late Morning and Midday
5. Gardens by the Bay has lots of paid and free attractions that make for amazing photos and views! For 1 day itinerary in Singapore, you can enjoy the outdoor attraction such as the SuperTree Grove which includes the OCBC Skyway, a suspended bridge at 22 metres/72 ft above the ground. You can also checkout the nearby SuperTree Observatory which stands at 50 metres/164 ft (these both require paid entry). Both are amazing viewpoint during the Garden Rhapsody Light Show, more on that later.
There are other amazing spots around Gardens by the Bay that are free of charge, to include the Heritage Gardens, World of Plants, and the Water Lily Pond. You may also consider paying to visit to Cloud Forest, one of the largest indoor waterfalls, or more flower forward attraction such as Floral Fantasy.
While you’re on this side of town, you can also take photos at the Marina Barrage for amazing views of the Marina Bay Sands and the Central Business District (as well as the Singapore Strait!).
6. Finally, you can head across the street to cool down at the mall, the Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands, as well as continue your photo shoot of these unique architectural works such as the ArtScience Museum and the Helix Bridge. If you have the extra time, this would be another opportunity for breathtaking views at the Singapore Flyer and/or at the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Both require reservations although walk-ins are usually excepted during non-peak hours (lunchtime).
If you wish to stay on this side of town for lunch, consider a fine meal inside the Flower Dome by making a reservation at Hortus or Marguerite (Gardens by the Bay).
This wraps up your morning of the 1 day itinerary in Singapore!
Afternoon
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7. Head to lunch at Singapore’s Tekka Centre inside Singapore’s Little India for some Dosa, Idli, Biryani, Curry, Dhal, or Paratha. Be sure to stop at Bazaar (Campbell Lane) for one of a kind crafts, clothing, and goods, or maybe even a henna tattoo.
8. Cool down from the outdoors by taking refuge in one of many Singapore museums such as the ArtScience Museum, the Red Dot Design Museum, or the Sustainable Singapore Gallery at the Marina Barrage. Just note that the fan favorite Future World Exhibit at the ArtScience Museum requires date+time reservations that are not usually given same day.
For history-centric Museums, head across the bay to either the Asian Civilizations Museum, the National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore the Peranakan Museum, or the Fort Canning Heritage Gallery and Spice Exhibit, which are free to visit. Little India is also home to the Indian Heritage Center!
Evening
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9. Once you have rested up, head to Chinatown to sightsee amazing temples, breathtaking architecture, as well as to souvenir shop and try local fruit such as durian! Singapore Chinatown is home to the Sri Mariamman Temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, both of which are free to visit, just be mindful of the dress code. Thian Hock Keng Temple and the Yu Huang Gong are also particularly stunning.
You can also wonder through Pagoda Street and surrounding roads for some beautiful murals, or to check out other attractions such as the Singapore City Gallery, the Chinatown Heritage Centre, and the Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery.
If you have worked up an appetite by now, be sure to stop by a local hawker center for grub, such as Chinatown Complex, although popular choices are Maxwell Food Centre and Lau Pa Sat.
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10. It isn’t a trip to Singapore unless you attend a free light show. Your options are plenty:
- Spectra Light Show at the MBS Promenade nightly at 8pm and 9pm, with additional shows at 10pm on Fridays & Saturdays.
- Garden Rhapsody at the SuperTree Grove inside Gardens by the Bay, with best views from the OCBC SkyBridge or the SuperTree Observatory; held nightly at 7:40pm, 8:45pm, and 9:35pm.
- Light & Music Showcase at the Rain Vortex inside the Jewel at Jewel Changi Int’l Airport, nightly at 8pm and 9pm, with additional showings at 10 pm on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays as well as Eves of Public Holidays. Some of the best views are from the Mastercard Canopy Bridge on the 5th floor (which closes at 9pm).
This is your reminder to stop by Merlion Park if you haven’t already. At night, the Merlion is illuminated and quite breathtaking along the waterfront of the lively Marina Bay. Are you ready for what’s left on this 1 Day Itinerary in Singapore?
The Next Morning
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11. Head to the airport early to enjoy the many attractions that Jewel Changi International Airport has to offer. Voted the best airport in the world year after year, the Jewel allows you to enjoy unique shopping experiences, endless dining options, an indoor rainforest, gardens, art work, and of course, the giant vortex.
There are also small gardens, a pool, a bike path, a large indoor slide, indoor playgrounds, and so much more sprinkled throughout the four terminals of Jewel Changi International Airport. You can check out all the amazing things that Jewel Changi Airport has to offer!
As for food, wrap up your 1 Day Itinerary in Singapore by trying something you didn’t get to try yet, will that be Chicken Rice, Fish Head Curry, Singaporean McDonald’s, Hot Pot, Mee Siam, or perhaps Chinese Roast Meats. Or maybe even Nasi Lemak, Chili Crab, Laksa, Dosa, or Oyster Omelette?
Transportation
Taking the MRT over the bus may be more adventagous in terms of saving time, taking into account rush hour foot traffic. Consider getting a Singapore Tourist Pass while you’re in town, or just use tap to pay or your card to tap in/out of trains and buses. More info about the Singapore MRT is provided in the article below.
- Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop get off at Lavender MRT (EW11) or bus lines 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197, 961, 961M, or 980
- Walk from the coffeeshop or take bus lines 7, 12e, 32, 48, 51, 61, 63, 80, 100, 107, 107M, 145, 961, 961M, 980 to Kampong Glam, nearest MRT station is Jalan Besar (DT22)
- Fort Canning Park can be reached via the Downtown line at station DT12 as well as Dhoby Ghaut (CC1/NE6/NS24). The following bus lines will also take you there: 32, 54, 64, 123, 139, 143, 145, 147, 166, 174, 190, 195, 851; for Dhoby Ghaut Station: 7, 14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 124, 167, 174, 175, 190, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 951E, and 972.
- Merlion Park is best reached via the North South Line by alighting at Dhoby Ghaut and getting off at Raffles Place (NS26/EW14) or taking bus lines s 10, 57, 70, 100, 107, 130, 131, 167, 196, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 868E, or 951E to Fullerton Square.
- Gardens by the Bay can be entered from various access points, but to get closest to the SuperTree Grove, take bus line 400. Alternatively, you can continue on the North-South Line to Marina Bay (NE2/NS27/TE20), which will be a short walk. Other ways to each Gardens by the Bay can be found here.
- Pop over to the Marina Bay Sands on foot, then be sure to get on the Bayfront MRT (CE1/DT16) to catch a ride over to Little India (DT12/NE7) via the Downtown Line.
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- For Chinatown, hop back on the Downtown Line to get off at Telok Ayer (DT18).
- If you want to catch a light show over at the MBS or Gardens by the Bay, hop back on the Downtown Line to Bayfront (DT18) or take bus lines 97, 97e, 106, 133, 666, 671 from Robinson Road.
- If you want to go to Jewel Changi International Airport, take bus lines 24, 27, 34, 36, 53(A), 110, and 858(B) – some lines do not stop at Terminal 4. For the MRT; Head west on the East West Line towards Pasir Ris then transfer at the Tanah Merah stop (EW4) if you are on the green EW line, then cross the platform to catch the Changi line to the airport at CG2. You can also take the Downtown Line towards Expo then transfer at Expo to CG2. You can also transfer very early on in your journey to the EW from DT in the city centre at Bugis (EW12/DT14).
Booking Tips
Purchase your tickets ahead of time online, especially for popular exhibits such as the paid attractions at Gardens by the Bay, and even more so for the Singapore attractions that do require date/time reservations such as the FutureWorld exhibit at the ArtScience Museum or the MBS SkyPark. You can also find some good deals on Klook or Pelago.
Cash is king at many local hawker centres and food stalls, otherwise card will get you around great. Some foreign cards to do not work at MRT top up machines – you may have to see a teller or pay with cash.
New to the Singapore public transit network? Learn all about the bus system and the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) here.
Below are a list of additional blog post regarding popular Singapore attractions:
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading through my 1 Day Itinerary in Singapore! Below is another blog post about things I wish I knew when coming to Singapore.
You many have noticed that I excluded some other popular points of interest and Singapore attractions such as Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore beaches, the Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Reserve), the Southern Ridges and Mount Faber, MacRitchie Reservoir (MacRitchie Treetop Walk), and the Botanic Gardens of Singapore. While these sights are truly breathtaking, they are not located in the city centre, and therefor, are not ideal for visiting for such a short time as much of your time will be spent on the MRT.
I hope you have the most amazing time on your trip to my favorite city!
