4 days in Singapore

Day by day

1. Day 1: Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands SkyPark

   Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade, then Night Safari in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gardens by the Bay

      Allow 3–4 hours (mid-priced). Visit the cool conservatories in the afternoon heat, then lie on the ground under the Supertree Grove for the free evening show.

   2. 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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hainanese chicken rice

      Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown is the classic stop; most hawker centres have a chicken-rice stall.

   4. Afternoon

      Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Walk the loop at dusk when it is cooler, timing your arrival at the Event Plaza for a Spectra show.

   5. Evening

      Night Safari

      Take an early entry slot so children are not exhausted, and walk the trails after the tram for quieter viewing.

2. Day 2: Singapore Botanic Gardens and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

   Singapore Botanic Gardens, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Little India, then Singapore River bumboat cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

      Allow 1 hour (free). Cover shoulders and knees (shawls are provided), then cross to Maxwell Food Centre for lunch.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Laksa

      East Coast Road in Katong is the home of Katong laksa; hawker versions are everywhere.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. 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.

3. Day 3: Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque and National Gallery Singapore

   Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque, National Gallery Singapore and Asian Civilisations Museum, then Clarke Quay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kampong Glam and Sultan Mosque

      Allow 2–3 hours (free). Visitors can enter the mosque outside prayer times; robes are lent at the door.

   2. Late morning

      National Gallery Singapore

      The rooftop garden looks across the Padang to Marina Bay Sands.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chilli crab

      Seafood restaurants at East Coast Seafood Centre and along the river at Clarke Quay; it is priced by weight.

   4. Afternoon

      Asian Civilisations Museum

      Allow 2 hours (mid-priced). Combine it with a walk along the river to Boat Quay for lunch or a drink.

   5. Evening

      Clarke Quay

      Neon riverside bars and clubs in restored warehouses, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Johor Bahru

   About 1–2 hours including the border each way. Getting there: Causeway bus from Queen Street, or shuttle train from Woodlands.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Johor Bahru

      About 1–2 hours including the border (Causeway bus from Queen Street, or shuttle train from Woodlands); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Johor Bahru

      Malaysia's southern city lies just across the Causeway, with the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, an old town of shophouses and Legoland Malaysia in Iskandar Puteri. Border queues can be very long at weekends and on Friday evenings, so go on a weekday morning and check entry requirements on official sites.

   3. Evening

      Back in Singapore

      Dinner: try Char kway teow.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Gardens by the Bay and Night Safari before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Marina Bay keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Chinatown ($$) suits first-timers, food lovers, budget, culture and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–27 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 12 hours in December to 12.2 hours in May.

More or fewer days

• One day in Singapore
• 2 days in Singapore
• 3 days in Singapore
• 5 days in Singapore
• 7 days in Singapore

Questions travellers ask