Singapore itinerary for first-timers
The classic neighborhoods in an order that works, with a 4K street walk for every stop. Watch your trip before you take it.
Day 1: Chinatown, Marina Bay & the Supertrees
Temples and hawker centres in Chinatown, an afternoon walk around Marina Bay, and the Supertrees lit up at Gardens by the Bay.
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Morning
Chinatown
Start where the old town is at its busiest. Pagoda Street leads past restored shophouses and the Chinatown Heritage Centre to the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, and a few streets away stand the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and, on Telok Ayer Street, the Thian Hock Keng Temple. Between them are hawker centres where locals eat breakfast and lunch at long shared tables.
- Pagoda Street
- Sri Mariamman Temple
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Maxwell Food Centre
- Thian Hock Keng Temple
Temples ask for covered shoulders and knees, and you take your shoes off at the Sri Mariamman Temple.
Walk through the financial district to Merlion Park, about 20 min, or take the MRT from Chinatown to Downtown, about 10 min.
- 2
Afternoon & sunset
Marina Bay
Walk around the bay that became Singapore's postcard: the Merlion spouting water in front of the financial district, the three towers of Marina Bay Sands with their ship-shaped roof, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum and the Helix Bridge, whose steel curves are lit up at night. The promenade loops right around the water, so the skyline is always in view.
- Merlion Park
- Marina Bay Sands
- ArtScience Museum
- Helix Bridge
- Bay promenade
Stay by the water after dark: a free light and water show plays on the promenade in front of Marina Bay Sands in the evening.
Singapore Evening Tour of Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay
Video by HP Walking Tours on YouTube
Jump toWalk from Marina Bay Sands through the underpass and over the Dragonfly Bridge to the Supertree Grove, about 15 min.
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Night
Gardens by the Bay
Behind Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay fills reclaimed land with tropical gardens, two giant glass conservatories and the Supertree Grove, tall vertical gardens shaped like trees. At night the Supertrees light up, and a free light and sound show runs in the grove in the evening.
- Supertree Grove
- OCBC Skyway
- Flower Dome
- Cloud Forest
- Evening light show
The gardens themselves are free; the conservatories and the OCBC Skyway walkway between the Supertrees need tickets.
Gardens by the Bay Night Tour: Supertree Grove Light Show 4K
Video by Singapore Walking Tours TV on YouTube
Day 2: Little India, Kampong Glam & the river
Tekka Centre and the temples of Little India, the Sultan Mosque and Haji Lane in Kampong Glam, and an evening by the river at Clarke Quay.
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Morning
Little India
Along Serangoon Road, Little India is a neighbourhood of flower-garland stalls, spice shops, gold jewellers and brightly painted shophouses. Start at Tekka Centre, the market and food centre, then walk up to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and the side streets around Campbell Lane and Dunlop Street, ending at the Mustafa Centre, a department store open around the clock.
- Tekka Centre
- Serangoon Road
- Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
- Indian Heritage Centre
- Mustafa Centre
Weekends are the liveliest, and around Deepavali in October or November the streets are lit up for the festival.
Walk south-east along the side streets to the Sultan Mosque, about 20 min, or take the MRT two stops to Bugis.
- 2
Afternoon
Kampong Glam
The historic Malay and Arab quarter is centred on the golden dome of the Sultan Mosque. Around it, Bussorah Street is lined with palms and shophouse cafés, Arab Street sells textiles and carpets, and narrow Haji Lane is covered in murals and small independent shops.
- Sultan Mosque
- Bussorah Street
- Arab Street
- Haji Lane
Visitors can enter the Sultan Mosque outside prayer times; robes are lent at the door if you need to cover up.
Kampong Glam 4K Walking Tour: Sultan Mosque, Haji Lane & Arab Street
Video by Beyond My Steps on YouTube
Take the MRT or a taxi to Clarke Quay, about 15 min.
- 3
Night
Clarke Quay & Boat Quay
The old warehouses and shophouses along the Singapore River, where cargo was once unloaded from small boats, are now the city's riverside night out. Clarke Quay is full of colour and music, while Boat Quay has a long row of terraces looking across the water at the towers of the financial district.
- Clarke Quay
- Boat Quay
- Singapore River
- Cavenagh Bridge
- Riverside promenade
A river cruise on one of the small bumboats runs between Clarke Quay and Marina Bay, an easy way to see the river at night.
Clarke Quay night walk by the Singapore River
Video by The Walking Lens on YouTube
Day 3: Tiong Bahru & Sentosa
A morning in the Art Deco streets of Tiong Bahru, then the beaches of Sentosa island until sunset.
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Morning
Tiong Bahru
Singapore's oldest public housing estate was built in the 1930s in a streamlined Art Deco style, with curved corners, spiral back staircases and low white blocks. Today its quiet streets are known for independent bookshops, bakeries and cafés, and for Tiong Bahru Market, a wet market with a busy hawker centre upstairs.
- Pre-war apartment blocks
- Tiong Bahru Market
- Seng Poh Road
- Yong Siak Street
- Back alleys
Come early: the market is busiest in the morning, and the streets are at their calmest before the heat.
[4K] Exploring Tiong Bahru, One of Singapore's Best Neighborhoods
Video by Walk-Along Singapore on YouTube
Jump toTake the MRT to HarbourFront, about 15 min, then cross to Sentosa on the Sentosa Express monorail or walk over the boardwalk, about 15 min.
- 2
Afternoon & sunset
Sentosa
Just off the south coast, Sentosa is Singapore's island of beaches and resorts. Resorts World holds Universal Studios and the Singapore Oceanarium, while the western shore has a string of sandy beaches, from Siloso, with its beach bars, to Palawan, where a small suspension bridge leads to an islet with a lookout tower.
- Siloso Beach
- Palawan Beach
- Resorts World Sentosa
- Universal Studios Singapore
- Singapore Oceanarium
Stay on the beach for sunset, then head back over the bridge to the mainland.
Singapore: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay and Sentosa Beach Walk
Video by HP Walking Tours on YouTube
Jump to
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Send them this 3-day Singapore plan, videos included.
Planning your first trip to Singapore
How many days?
Three days is a good first visit: Chinatown and Marina Bay, then Little India, Kampong Glam and the river, then Tiong Bahru and Sentosa. Five days adds the heritage streets of Joo Chiat and the east coast, and Orchard Road, Dempsey and Holland Village. One day covers Chinatown, Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay.
Where to stay
Around Marina Bay and the Civic District you can walk to the bay and the river; Chinatown and Clarke Quay put you among shophouses and evening life; Bugis and Kampong Glam are central and well connected; Orchard Road suits shoppers. The MRT reaches everywhere quickly, so a hotel near a station matters more than the exact district.
Getting around
The MRT is fast, clean and air-conditioned, and buses fill the gaps; you can tap in with a contactless bank card. The centre is walkable, with many covered walkways and underground links, but the heat and humidity make short MRT hops welcome. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find.
Singapore is a city and a country at once, an island where a skyline of towers on Marina Bay sits a short walk from streets of old shophouses. The historic quarters grew up around the Singapore River: Chinatown to the south, Kampong Glam with its golden-domed mosque to the north-east, and Little India along Serangoon Road. Further out are Tiong Bahru, the oldest public housing estate, the Peranakan houses of Joo Chiat, the long seaside park of the east coast and the beaches and resorts of Sentosa island.
Every stop comes with a walking video filmed on those streets, so you can see the city before you arrive. Use the buttons under each video to jump to a landmark, or press Preview to watch a whole day in a row.
Singapore itinerary: common questions
How many days do you need in Singapore?
Three days is a good first visit: one for Chinatown, Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay, one for Little India, Kampong Glam and the river, and one for Tiong Bahru and Sentosa. With five days you can add Joo Chiat and the east coast, and Orchard Road, Dempsey and Holland Village. Many travellers also stop for a day or two between flights; then Chinatown and Marina Bay are the best choice.
Is Singapore walkable?
Yes, the centre is compact, and Marina Bay, the river, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India are all within walking distance of each other. Many streets have covered walkways, but it is hot and humid all year, so walk in the morning and evening and use the MRT for longer hops.
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
Any time of year: it is warm every day and short, heavy showers are common. The wettest months are usually around November to January, while February to April is often a little drier. Festivals such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Hari Raya fill the old quarters with lights and markets.
How do you get to Sentosa?
Take the MRT to HarbourFront, then ride the Sentosa Express monorail from the VivoCity mall, or walk across the Sentosa Boardwalk over the water in about 15 minutes. A cable car also crosses from Mount Faber.
Where do you eat in Singapore on a first trip?
In the hawker centres, open-air food courts of small stalls that are part of daily life and are recognised by UNESCO as cultural heritage. Maxwell Food Centre and the Chinatown Complex, Tekka Centre in Little India, Tiong Bahru Market and the food village at East Coast Park are all on this plan. Try chicken rice, laksa, satay and chilli crab.
Travel times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Keep exploring Singapore
More 4K walking videos, top sights, food markets and dishes to try.
Singapore neighborhood guides →