This is your Singapore 2 Day itinerary, packed with iconic sights, amazing food, visiting picturesque neighborhoods, and exploring the many spots that Singapore has to offer. As always, feel free to switch things as they deem fit to your arrival and departure times.
Bellow is the table of contents; both days also include indoor alternatives, in case it gets rainy. So pack your umbrella, your walking shoes, and your sunglasses, and let’s get exploring.
- Lau Pa Sat
- Merlion Park
- Sentosa Island
- Fort Canning Park & Armenian Street
- Little India
- Kampong Glam
- Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop
- Botanic Garden
- Chinatown
- Gardens by the Bay
- The Marina Bay Sands
- Light Shows
- Airport Adventures
Public Transport Schedule (Both Days)
Explore Day (Day 1)
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Breakfast at Lau Pa Sat
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18 Raffles Quay
One of Singapore’s most iconic hawker centres, Lau Pa Sat was once a former fish market that dates back to the 1820s. Considered a National Monument of Singapore, this hawker centre features dozens of stalls and translates to “old market” or “old bazaar.
A popular local breakfast includes Singaporean-style coffee, called Kopi, served alongside soft boiled eggs and Kaya Toast (coconut jam). Though this seems more of a fusion food, please click here for other Singaporean and regional foods to try.
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Although Lau Pa Sat is mostly known for its night time Satay Street, there are a handful of 24 hour stalls and breakfast stalls that open between 8-9am. If your jet lagged self is up at even earlier hours, consider going to nearby Amoy Street Food Centre or Maxwell Food Centre. Nothing like starting off your Singapore 2 day itinerary off right with some good local grub.
Merlion Park
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1 Fullerton Road
The best time to get your unique shots is in the morning hours, so if you are feeling jet lagged, time is on your side. However, you may be lucky if you visit Merlion Park at dusk as it often boasts beautiful light projections, with stunning views of the Marina Bay and glimpses of the Spectra Light Show, more on that later.
For those wondering, this Singapore attraction is completely free as it is an open area that anyone can access! The Merlion does spout water 24/7, rain or shine. Great photos can be taken from Jubilee Bridge or right at the waterfront. You can also catch an up close frontal view by taking a boat taxi. You can’t miss the Merlion as part of the Singapore 2 day itinerary, it’s a must.
Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island in Southern Singapore
For the most fun and unique activities include Fort Siloso, the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia and to the ScensoryScape, MegaAdventure (ziplining across the beach), SkyLuge (real life MarioKart), Universal Studios Singapore, and Dolphin Cove (swimming with the dolphins).
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You can also get involved with water sports at HydroDash and Ola Beach Club. SkyHelix Sentosa is a rotating elevated open air lookout point at 79 m/260 ft above sea level that gives amazing views of the island. You can also take the Sentosa Cable Car or get some amazing free views on the Fort Siloso Skywalk.
Long story short, pick one or two activities to take in a few hours on Sentosa Island Singapore as part of your Singapore 2 day itinerary. Otherwise, you can easily spend two entire days here to explore and experience what Sentosa Island has to offer.
In case of a rainy day, the following attractions are indoor alternatives: Singapore Oceanarium (Singapore S.E.A. Aquarium), Trickeye Museum, parts of Fort Siloso, Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, Scentopia, Madame Tussauds, Resorts World Casino, iFly Singapore, HyperDrive, DinoVenture, AxeFactor, and parts of Universal Studios Singapore.
*Please Note – If you are even considering going into the casino at RW or at the MBS, ensure you have your passport and ICA Singapore Arrival Card with you.
As for lunch, you can enjoy cheap eats at Abrora Cafe at Sentosa Cable Car Station or head back to Harborfront/Vivo City for Food Republic or Seah Im Food Centre.
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Fort Canning Park and Armenian Street
Best known for it’s iconic Tree Tunnel, Fort Canning Park is a free Singapore attraction that features an array of smaller gardens, green spaces, look out points, and playgrounds. Fort Canning Park is great for nature lovers, families, cafe goers, Instagram girls, exercise, sightseers, history buffs, and even hikers. It is located on a hill so believe me, you will get your steps in.
As you may know, the Fort Canning Tree Tunnel is a must-see, along with Sang Nila Utama Garden (Bali-style Gardens) and the forbidden spring Pancur Larangan. Raffles Terrace and the Fort Wall are likewise impressive.
If it’s rainy, enjoy a cool stroll through the two free museums at Fort Canning Park: The Fort Canning Heritage Gallery and the Fort Canning Spice Gallery. On Wednesdays-Sundays until 5pm, you can reserve a spot at the Fort Canning Battle Box.
As for Armenian Street, this part of the Singapore City Centre is full of museums, to include the Children’s Museum Singapore, the Armenian Heritage Gallery, and the Peranakan Museum. The National Gallery Singapore, the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, the Asian Civilizations Museum, and the National Museum of Singapore are all nearby.
Did you know that Armenian Street is actually an extension to Fort Canning Park, as it is an art and nature forward alley that is home to local plants and history?
For more details on how to make Fort Canning Park part of your Singapore 2 day itinerary, please click on my blog post below.
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Little India
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Little India is filled with hidden gems, amazing cuisine, and honestly, one of the most overlooked and underrated parts of the Singapore City Centre. Tekka Centre is one of the biggest hawker centres in the neighborhood, full of South Indian specialties, as well as a place to try local fruit.
Just behind Tekka Centre, you will find one of Singapore’s more colorful houses knows as the Former House of Tan Teng Niah. Built in 1900, this is the last surviving Chinese villa in Little India.
Around the corner from Tan Teng Niah is the Indian Heritage Centre, a vibrant historic and cultural hub for the Indian diaspora in Singapore. Parades, performances, and other specialty activities often take place at the Singapore Indian Heritage Centre.
Other iconic sightseeing spots include the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Masjid Abdul Gafoor, and Mural India on Dunlop Street.
If you are in town during Deepavali (Diwali), Ramadan, Thaipusam, or Puthandu, you have to take a stroll down Serangoon Road for their amazing street lights! Especially during Ramadan, you will find nighttime street markets here.
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For rainy day activities beyond the Indian Heritage Center, consider paying a visit to the Gem Museum (prior reservation required) or get lost at Mustafa Centre. You have not done it justice if you don’t incorporate Little India as part of your Singapore 2 day itinerary.
Dining options around Little India are beyond abundant, though Tekka Centre or MTR Singapore will give you plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers for what’s to come next.
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Kampong Glam
From the Sultan Mosque to Arab Street/Haji Lane murals, Kampong Glam is a tiny Muslim-Malay quarter in the heart of Singapore. It is also home to the Malay Heritage Center and Hajjah Fatima Mosque.
Kampong Glam is a huge art district (can you tell?), where you can visit a number of art galleries and artsy workshops, to include Pei Lin’s Crafts, perfume shops, cat and pug cafes, durian tasting, bakeries, and Turkish lamp shops.
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Despite its Islamic architecture and heritage, Kampong Glam is known for a bustling nightlife, as this is one of THE places to do patio-style dining with International cuisines, especially broadly Mediterranean and Middle Eastern.
Other sight seeing options nearby include the iconic Atlas Bar and Parkview Square and Andaz “Mr. Stork” at the Duo. For more, please see the link below!
Dinner options are abundant here. Piedra Negra serves American-Latin fusion. Other top rated places include Cappadicia Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant, Hummus & Tandoor, Beirut Grill, Byblos, ZamZam, and Ayasofya Turkish Restaurant Singapore. Positano Risto, Ciao@, Symmetry, Tipo Pasta Bar, and Sushi Airways also made the list to try on the Singapore 2 day itinerary.
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Garden Day (Day 2)
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Enjoy a Singaporean Breakfast
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North Bridge Road, across the river from Lavender MRT (EW11)
One of the most iconic Kopitiams in Singapore is Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop, serving up Kopi, Kaya Toast, and eggs since forever. If you want a true local’s experience, go here. If you want something more hearty, consider going the next door North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre.
If you don’t have an appetite, don’t worry, the Botanic Gardens has plenty of food options, to include the nearby Adam Food Centre. Definitely consider trying as many local dishes as you can while enjoying your Singapore 2 day itinerary. For more information of local dishes, click here.
Botanic Garden
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1 Cluny Road (Central Singapore)
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are Asia’s first and only tropical botanic gardens and UNESCO World Heritage Site! The best part is, that it’s totally free to visit. This includes its many indoor exhibits, galleries, and museums as well as playgrounds! The only paid attraction are the National Orchid Gardens, which are so worth it.
You can easily spend all day here, so I would recommend going through my list of gardens below, doing your exploring, and heading back into the City Centre. The Singapore Botanic Gardens are especially worthwhile if you enjoy photography, plants, insects, and birds, and a beautiful part of the Singapore 2 day itinerary.
For a rainy day, you can still explore some of the FREE indoor galleries which include the Centre of Ethnobotany, the Seed Bank, Forest Discovery Centre, Botanical Art Gallery, SBG Heritage Museum, and CDL Green Gallery. The Singapore Museum of Ice Cream, as well as Orchard Road are also nearby.
The Botanic Gardens has a number of dining options in and around the gardens to include the afformentioned Adam Food Centre, as well as more at Cluny Court and Crown Centre shopping malls. You can also take the Downtown Line to Newton Hawker Centre, the hawker centre featured in Crazy Rich Asians. There are also dining options available inside the gardens.
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Alternate Outdoor Activities:
If you want to go to a more local garden, consider heading west on the East West Line for Jurong Lake Gardens. This NPark is home to the famous Japanese and Chinese Gardens that feature pagodas, bridges, and stunning gardens surrounded by lakes, all free of charge.
If you are itching to go to the Singapore Zoo, it is worth a trip. However, just know that going to the Zoo may be an all-day activity, especially since getting to the zoo takes about an hour one way. Think of it this way, the Mandai complex features five, soon to be six separate parks with its own unique activities. For a quick trip to Mandai, consider going to Bird Paradise or River Wonders, as they are smaller than the other parks. The free Mandai Boardwalk is another way to spot some wildlife inside the zoo and out in the wild.
For more info on the Singapore Zoo, click here.
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Singapore Chinatown
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It’s not a trip to Singapore unless you stop at Chinatown! You can visit the iconic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Thian Hock Keng Temple for free (be mindful of dress code). Some of the most unique murals can be found along Amoy Street, Temple Street, and Smith Street.
For more photo opps, consider heading to Far East Square, People’s Park Complex, and Pagoda Street!
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For more indoor activities, you can visit the Chinatown Heritage Center, the Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery, Fuk Tak Chi Museum, and the Singapore City Gallery.
There are lots of options here, but I would go for Pagoda Street, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. and Far East Square.
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Lunch options in Chinatown are endless! Some of the major hawker centres in Singapore Chinatown include Maxwell Food Centre, Amoy Street Food Centre, and Chinatown Complex Hawker Centre.
More unique dining options are in the blog post linked below, to make the best of your Singapore 2 day itinerary.
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Gardens by the Bay
18 Marina Gardens Drive
There is A LOT of attractions at Gardens by the Bay…far too many to cover in only a Singapore 2 day itinerary. The most famous include the SuperTree Grove and Cloud Forest.
The Cloud Forest is home to one of the world’s largest indoor waterfalls, while the SuperTree Grove consists of a handful of man-made vertical gardens, which also include a rooftop and cafe (SuperTree Observatory) as well as a suspended bridge (OCBC SkyWay). These are amongst the most popular attractions at Singapore Gardens by the Bay.
You can also get your floral fix by visiting the Flower Dome and/or Floral Fantasy, which is pictured above. Floral Fantasy is much smaller than the other two domes, and can be enjoyed in under an hour. In my opinion, Floral Fantasy has the best gift shop.
All paid and free attractions at Gardens by the Bay can be found in the blog post linked below!
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The Marina Bay Sands & More
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10 Bayfront Avenue
If you still have time in your day, you can head across the Dragonfly Bridge to the mighty Marina Bay Sands. If you have time in your Singapore 2 day itinerary, you can reserve a time slot for the SkyPark, but if you wish to save some money, you can head up to Ce La Vi at Tower 3, where there is a free lookout spot.
Alternatively, you can catch some more epic views at the Singapore Flyer just across the way from the Helix Bridge. You can even time your ride to catch a glimpse of the light show detailed below. For more info on timing your ride, click here.
If you prefer to escape the heat, you can either take a scroll through the Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands (to be honest, there is little seating here), or you can relax inside the atrium of the ArtScience Museum (open until 9pm on Friday/Saturday and until 7pm), which is free to enter. If you wish to enter an exhibit, especially FutureWorld, you will need a date/time reservation, where same-day and walk-ins are rare.
To make sure I am not confusing anyone, each exhibit at the ArtScience Museum is paid for and reserved separately unless you purchase a bundle. When you purchase your ticket(s) online you will have to make day/time reservations as well. If you do not have tickets, you are free to enter the premises, to include the atrium and the gift shop(s).
Light Shows around the Bay
There are two FREE light shows in this part of town to end the Singapore 2 day itinerary.
At the SuperTree Grove inside Gardens by the Bay, you can enjoy the bi-nightly 15 minute music and light show Garden Rhapsody at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, located at the main SuperTree Grove (where you will also find the OCBC SkyWay and the SuperTree Observatory).
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On the MBS Promenade, you can also watch the Spectra Light Show; available nightly Sunday-Thursday at 8pm & 9pm and Friday/Saturday at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm! This lasts about 15 minutes.
Both shows are quite popular, so be sure to arrive early to get your best spot.
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If this is the time where you want to stop for dinner, you have a lot of options. Gardens by the Bay alone has their own hawker centre, Satay by the Bay, as well as Jurrasic Nest Food Hall (there is a McDonald’s and Starbucks here too). There are also a number of restaurants at Floral Fantasy, inside the Flower Dome, and Shake Shack.
Inside the Marina Bay Sands, there are lots of options inside as well as on the rooftop, while the Shoppes at MBS have a massive food court and various restaurants and cafes.
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Airport Adventures
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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 below!
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You will have to decide what you have time for in your concise Singapore 2 day itinerary. The must-see at the Jewel Changi International Airport is obviously, the Jewel itself, more specifically the HSBC Rain Vortex. It runs daily; weekdays from 11am-10pm, and weekends/public holidays (to include Fridays) it is open 10am-10pm. You can get a great view of the Vortex from the Mastercard Canopy Bridge and Level 5.
Catch the free nightly Sound & Light Shows at the Vortex: Monday-Thursday 8pm & 9pm/Friday-Sunday/PHs/Eve of PHs 8pm, 9pm & 10pm.
*Please note that annual cleaning and maintenance of the Vortex takes place for two weeks in early-mid January.
Transportation
Transportation Day One – Explore Day
- Breakfast at Lau Pa Sat via Downtown or Thompson East Coast Line to DT17 , DT18, or TE19 or via bus lines 10, 10e, 57, 70, 97, 97e, 100, 106, 107, 130, 131, 131A, 133, 167, 186, 196, 196e, 400, 502, 513, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 660, 660M, 661, 663, 665, 666, 667, 668, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 850E, 951E, 970, 982E.
- Bus Stop 03071 is the closest, at 80 Robinson Road.
- Reach Merlion Park directly on foot or take the following bus lines from “80 Robinson Road (03071)” Bus Stop; 10, 57, 70, 100, 107, 130, 131, 167, 196, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 868E, or 951E to Fullerton Square. It is about a 15 minute walk on foot from Lau Pa Sat.
- Take North South or East West Line to Raffles Place (NS26/EW14) if you’d like to skip Lau Pa Sat.
- To get to Sentosa Island, first to Vivo City, get onto Raffles Place MRT (EW14/NS26) and take EW Line two stops over to Outram Park (EW16/NE3/TE17); take the NE Line to NE1 (Harborfront).
- Getting to Sentosa Island from Harborfront can be done several ways (public bus line 123, Sentosa Shuttle A, B, or C, Sentosa Express, Sentosa Boardwalk, Taxi or Grab, or via the Mount Faber Cable Car). Please note that the Sentosa Express is not part of the MRT system.
- The Sentosa Express is only free once on the island (to include return to Vivo City); you only have to pay when going from Vivo City to Sentosa.
- Go Back to Harborfront Station at Vivo City (NE1/CC29) via the Sentosa Express, take the NE Line to NE6 Dhouby Ghaut to reach Fort Canning Park and Armenia Street.
- To get to Little India, you can get back onto the Northeast Line Dhouby Ghaut (CC1/NE6/NS24) to NE7 Little India, or get on the Downtown Line on the other end of the park (DT20) to DT22 Jalan Besar
- For Kampong Glam, take bus line 170 from Tekka Centre (Bus Stop 40019) to Queen Street Terminal (Bus Stop 01109) near Arab Street, then walking the rest of the way. Walking the entire way without taking the bus will take 20-30 minutes.
Transportation Day Two – Garden Day
- For Heap Seng Leong Coffeeshop or North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre, take the East West Line to Lavender (EW11) or bus lines 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197, 961, 961M, or 980 to Block 8 (Bus Stop 01329) on North Bridge Road.
- Head to the Botanic Gardens via yesterday’s Kampong Glam bus stop, Queen Street Bus Terminal (Bus Stop 01109) by walking down North Bridge Road, hop on line 170, getting off at the Botanic Gardens (Bus Stop 41021). If you don’t feel like walking down Northbridge Road, you can take the above listed bus lines to bus stop Bef Sultan Mque (01229).
- You can also take the MRT via EW11 to Bugis (EW12/DT14) and take the Downtown Line to CC19/DT19 to Botanic Gardens MRT (CC19/DT9).
- For Jurong Lake Gardens, hop on the East West Line at Lavender (EW11) to Chinese Garden Station (EW25).
- For the Singapore Zoo, take the East West Line to City Hall (EW13/NS25), then take the North South Line to Khatib Station (NS14), then take the Mandai Shuttle.
- For Singapore Chinatown, jump back on the East West Line to Outram Park (EW16/NE3/TE17), hop onto the Northeast Line one stop over to Chinatown MRT (NE04/DT19).
- If leaving from Jurung Lake Gardens, directions are the same from the EW stations near the Gardens; EW24, EW25, or EW26
- If leaving from the Zoo, take the North South Line from Khatib (NS14) to Dhouby Ghaut (CC1/NE6/NS24), then transition to the Northeast Line to Chinatown MRT (NE04/DT19).
- For Gardens by the Bay, head to the Marina Bay Sands via the Downtown Line via either Chinatown MRT (NE04/DT19) or Telok Ayer (DT18) to Bayfront (DT16/CE01) or take the Thompson East Coast Line at Maxwell (TE18) to Gardens by the Bay (TE22).
- You can transition between the MBS and Gardens by the Bay via the Marina Bay Sands Overpass and the Dragonfly Bridge.
- For Jewel Changi International Airport, take the Downtown Line from Bayfront (DT16/CE01) to Expo (CG01/DT35) walk across the platform to the airport extension of the green East-West Line to head to CG02, which will take you to the basement of Terminal 3.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
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Dear Reader, thank you for taking the time to click through my Strictly Singapore travel blog all about the Singapore 2 day itinerary according to my opinion. I hope this draws some inspiration in you, to go out an explore Singapore.
Of course, both days are jam packed, so feel free to skip or omit as you would like. For more travel tips, don’t hesitate to read up on my Singapore Packing List or my Tips for Tourists!
