Itinerary · Singapore
2 days in Singapore
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Singapore, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
2 days covers the main sights, though 4 lets you slow down. Day 1: Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Day 2: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Little India. Base yourself in Marina Bay.
Key facts
- Days
- 2
- Sights covered
- 10
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Marina Bay
- Book ahead
- Gardens by the Bay and Night Safari
Day by day
Day 1: Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade and Singapore Botanic Gardens, then Night Safari in the evening.
Morning
Gardens by the Bay
The outdoor gardens are free; two glass conservatories charge entry — the Flower Dome, with Mediterranean and desert plants, and the Cloud Forest, with a 35-metre indoor mountain and waterfall. In the evening, the Garden Rhapsody light-and-music show plays under the Supertrees.
Late morning
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
The observation deck, open to non-guests with a ticket, looks over the bay, the financial district and the Supertrees; the famous infinity pool is reserved for hotel guests. Below, The Shoppes mall has a canal with sampan rides and the ArtScience Museum sits on the waterfront.
Lunch
Lunch: Hainanese chicken rice
Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown is the classic stop; most hawker centres have a chicken-rice stall.
Afternoon
Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade
From here a promenade loops past the Esplanade's spiky 'durian' domes and over the Helix Bridge, about 3.5 km in all. In the evenings the free Spectra light-and-water show is staged on the bay in front of Marina Bay Sands.
Late afternoon
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Entry is free except for the National Orchid Garden, which shows hundreds of orchid species and hybrids. The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden at the northern end has water play and treehouses.
Evening
Night Safari
Take an early entry slot so children are not exhausted, and walk the trails after the tram for quieter viewing.
Day 2: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Little India
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Little India, Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque and National Gallery Singapore, then Singapore River bumboat cruise in the evening.
Morning
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Its rooftop orchid garden has a prayer wheel, and the lower floors hold a museum of Buddhist art. It faces Maxwell Food Centre across the road.
Late morning
Little India
Visit the colourful Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, eat banana-leaf curry or dosa, and browse Tekka Centre's wet market and hawker floor. The pastel Tan Teng Niah house on Kerbau Road is a favourite photo stop.
Lunch
Lunch: Laksa
East Coast Road in Katong is the home of Katong laksa; hawker versions are everywhere.
Afternoon
Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque
Nearby Haji Lane is a narrow strip of murals, independent boutiques and small bars, and the Malay Heritage Centre occupies the former sultan's palace.
Late afternoon
National Gallery Singapore
The rooftop garden looks across the Padang to Marina Bay Sands.
Evening
Singapore River bumboat cruise
Take a sailing after dark to see the skyline lit up and, with good timing, the Spectra show from the water.
Before you go
- Gardens by the Bay: Buy conservatory tickets online on weekends and school holidays to skip the counter queue.
- Night Safari: Timed entry slots sell out on weekends and holidays; book online.
Singapore Tourist Pass
A card giving unlimited rides on standard buses and MRT for one, two or three days; worthwhile only if you ride a lot.
If it rains
- Swap in Asian Civilisations Museum (Civic District): Combine it with a walk along the river to Boat Quay for lunch or a drink.
- Swap in National Museum of Singapore (Civic District): Climb Fort Canning Park behind the museum afterwards for its spice garden and colonial-era gates.
- Swap in Jewel Changi Airport (Changi): Leave luggage at the airport's storage counters and come for the evening light show on the waterfall before a late flight.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, couples and families
Marina Bay
Skyline hotels, the Marina Bay Sands complex and waterfront promenades
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–25 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 12 hours in December to 12.2 hours in May.
Getting between stops: Metro. The MRT runs from about 5:30am to around midnight, with frequent, air-conditioned trains.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Singapore?
2 days covers the main sights, though 4 lets you slow down. How many days Singapore needs.
+What should I book before visiting Singapore?
Gardens by the Bay and Night Safari.