Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start with an easy waterfront leg-stretch at Merlion Park; it’s open around the clock, and 30–45 minutes is plenty for the classic skyline view. From there, walk about 15–20 minutes along the bay to ArtScience Museum. Allow 1½–2 hours inside; it generally opens daily from 10am to 7pm, with last entry usually around 6pm. Exhibitions and ticket prices vary, so check what’s on and book ahead if a particular show matters to you.
Continue on foot to Gardens by the Bay—roughly 20–25 minutes along the waterfront—or take a short taxi if the heat is wearing you down. Give yourself 2–3 hours for Supertree Grove and, if you still have energy, the cooled conservatories. The outdoor grove is free; conservatory entry is ticketed separately, so check current prices and allow extra time for queues. Finish at Satay by the Bay, where you can settle in for satay and other hawker favourites; budget about S$15–30 per person and check stall hours, as individual vendors may close at different times.
Take the Downtown Line from Downtown to Chinatown—about 5–10 minutes on the train—then walk to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Give yourself around 1–1½ hours for the ornate interiors and museum galleries. Entry is free; check the museum’s current hours before setting out, and dress modestly for the temple.
It’s a short walk to Maxwell Food Centre, a good place to graze rather than commit to one dish. Allow about an hour and budget S$5–15 per person; popular stalls can have queues, and individual stall hours vary, so there’s plenty to choose from even if one is closed.
Walk east towards Telok Ayer for Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Hokkien temples. Set aside about 45 minutes; entry is free, and opening hours can vary, so check ahead if you’re arriving late in the afternoon. Later, head to Kok Sen Restaurant in Keong Saik for Cantonese zi char: budget around S$25–45 per person and order a few dishes to share. Peak-time queues are common, so an early dinner is a smart move; confirm the restaurant’s hours before you go.
Allow about 45 minutes at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, a vivid landmark on Serangoon Road. Visit during its morning opening, generally from around 5:30 a.m. to noon; hours can vary, so check before heading over. Dress modestly, follow any requests about footwear, and ask before taking photos inside. It’s a short walk from here to House of Tan Teng Niah on Kerbau Road. Spend 20–30 minutes admiring the brightly painted former villa and its details; it’s a photo stop rather than a house museum, so plan to view it from outside.
Walk roughly 10 minutes to Indian Heritage Centre on Campbell Lane. Set aside 1–1½ hours for its exhibits on the history and traditions of Indian communities in Singapore. It generally opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and admission arrangements and fees depend on visitor type—check current details before you go, especially if visiting on a Monday. For lunch, head to Komala Vilas Restaurant on Serangoon Road, a longtime favorite for South Indian vegetarian food. Budget about S$10–20 per person and an hour for a relaxed meal; it can get busy at lunchtime.
Finish at Tekka Centre, a few minutes’ walk away. Give yourself 45–60 minutes to browse the wet market and food-centre stalls, or pick up a fresh juice or small snack if you still have room. Market and stall hours vary, and the centre is liveliest earlier in the day, so don’t leave this stop too late.
From Little India, the Downtown Line to Bugis takes about 7 minutes; allow 15–20 minutes including the walk into Kampong Glam. Contactless bank cards and EZ-Link work on the MRT, with a typical fare around S$1.20–2.00. Start at Sultan Mosque (about 45 minutes): admire its golden dome and learn about its importance to Singapore’s Muslim community. Visitor access may be limited around prayer times, so check the current visiting hours and dress requirements; modest clothing is expected.
Continue to the Malay Heritage Centre for 1–1½ hours in the former palace grounds. Its opening status and access can change, so check before you go rather than assuming the galleries are open. Then browse Arab Street, where textile and carpet shops make for a good 45-minute wander; some smaller stores may keep shorter or variable hours.
Walk on to Haji Lane for murals, independent boutiques and a café stop—allow 45–60 minutes, with time to duck into side streets if something catches your eye. Finish at Singapore Zam Zam, opposite the mosque, for murtabak and other Indian-Muslim favorites. Budget about S$10–20 per person and roughly an hour; it’s popular, so expect a possible wait at busy meal times.
Allow 35–50 minutes to reach Sentosa from Kampong Glam, then head to the Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa. Plan on 2–3 hours for the marine habitats and exhibits; check the day’s opening hours and ticket availability before you go, and leave a little extra time for entry. Afterward, it’s a short walk within the resort area to Universal Studios Singapore.
Make Universal Studios Singapore your main event, allowing 4–6 hours for rides and themed zones. Buy tickets in advance if you can, but expect queues to vary; check the park’s current operating hours and ride notices before setting out. Once you’re ready for a slower pace, take the Sentosa Express to Beach Station and walk to Palawan Beach. Give yourself 1–1½ hours to unwind and cross the footbridge to the small offshore islet; the beach is free to visit.
Walk along the southern shore toward Coastes on Siloso Beach—allow roughly 20–30 minutes, or use the island’s shuttle if you’d rather save your legs. Settle in for a beachfront meal; budget about S$25–45 per person, and check the restaurant’s current hours before you go. The sea breeze makes a relaxed finish after a full day, but keep an eye on the last shuttle or Sentosa Express service if you’re heading back by transit.
Start at ION Orchard, right above Orchard MRT. Give yourself 1½–2 hours to browse its international labels and Singaporean brands; the mall generally opens from 10 a.m., so arriving around opening keeps the first stretch calmer. If you fancy a view, the free ION Sky observation deck is on level 56, though access and hours can vary—check before making a special trip upstairs.
Walk along Orchard Road to Design Orchard (about 5–10 minutes), where local designers’ fashion, homeware and gifts make for a more distinctly Singaporean browse. Allow 45–60 minutes, then duck behind the shopping strip to Emerald Hill for a 30–45-minute wander among its colourful conserved Peranakan shophouses. It’s a residential street, so keep voices low and admire from the public pavement.
Head back to PS.Cafe Palais Renaissance for a relaxed café break or meal; budget around S$25–45 per person and allow 1–1½ hours. It’s a good place to pause after the busy malls—check current opening hours and book ahead if you have your heart set on a particular mealtime, especially at weekends. From there, Orchard MRT and the surrounding shops are close by if you want to keep browsing, but leaving the rest of the afternoon open makes this a comfortable, unhurried day.
From Orchard, take the Thomson-East Coast Line to Stevens, then change to the Downtown Line for Botanic Gardens; allow about 15–20 minutes, plus time to reach the gardens from the station. Start with a relaxed 1½–2-hour wander through Singapore Botanic Gardens—entry to the gardens is free, and the shady paths and lakes make an easy start to the day. Then visit the National Orchid Garden, inside the gardens; allow 1–1½ hours, and budget roughly S$15 for an adult non-resident ticket. Check current admission and opening hours before you go, as they can change.
Head to Tiong Bahru Market for a casual hawker lunch; allow about an hour and around S$5–15 per person, depending on what you order. Many stalls wind down in the afternoon, so aim for lunchtime and bring cash as a backup. After eating, spend about 45 minutes strolling the Tiong Bahru Art Deco Estate—look around the residential blocks and shop-house-lined streets at an unhurried pace.
Round things off at Tiong Bahru Bakery on Eng Hoon Street for coffee and pastries; set aside about 45 minutes and budget S$10–20 per person. It’s a pleasant place to pause after the walk, and you can keep the rest of the afternoon flexible rather than squeezing in another stop.
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