Singapore is a tropical island city where gardens, glass towers and old shophouse streets sit within an hour of each other. Ride the MRT from the waterfront of Marina Bay to the temples of Chinatown and the food centres that locals eat at every day.
Maps and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Three days in Singapore cover the city's neighbourhoods and gardens and a day on Sentosa. You spend the first two days between Gardens by the Bay, the Botanic Gardens and the shophouse lanes of Kampong Glam, then cross to the island for Universal Studios Singapore and a walk to an old coastal fort. It suits families and first-time visitors who like variety.
Long weekend · 3 days · 2 adults ·
1
2
3
4
5
6
7MRT Downtown Line · about 14–18 min
10:48 Clarke Quay · Morning · 45–90 min8–10 min walk
11:41 Boat Quay · Morning · 30–75 min13–17 min walk
12:24 Chinatown · Midday · 90–180 minMRT Downtown Line + Bus 130 · about 14–18 min
14:12 Marina Bay waterfront promenade · Afternoon · 1–2 h12–16 min walk
15:24 Supertree Grove · Afternoon · 30–60 min3–4 min walk
15:57 Gardens by the Bay · Afternoon · 2–4 h5–7 min walk
11:05 National Orchid Garden · Morning · 1–2 hBus 77 · about 16–18 min
12:23 Orchard Road · Midday · 2–4 hBus 36 + MRT Circle Line (Dhoby Ghaut Branch) + MRT Downtown Line · about 18–21 min
14:44 Haji Lane · Afternoon · 30–60 min2–3 min walk
15:16 Arab Street · Afternoon · 30–60 min2–3 min walk
15:48 Kampong Glam · Afternoon · 90–150 min22–29 min walk
12:22 Universal Studios Singapore · Midday · 5–10 h24–31 min walk
15:46 Fort Siloso · Afternoon · 90–150 minFlights, car rental and airport transfers for your trip: 3 days · 1 adult.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freeFly from anywhere, to anywhere.
Pick an area, then a place that fits your budget and style.
First time? We suggest for the sights.
Marina Bay is Singapore's skyline postcard, with Gardens by the Bay, the waterfront promenade and the museums of the Civic District close together. It suits visitors who want the big sights on the doorstep and several MRT lines within a few minutes' walk.
Tours and tickets matched to your plan and interests. Tap the heart to save one for Build your own.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freeViator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Tours, day trips and more on Viator
Browse all toursWhat to sort before your 3-day trip, plus a few useful words.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freePlug type G
230 V, 50 Hz
Mobile data for your trip. Set it up before you fly.
per plan, one phone
See plans(opens in a new tab)Leave your bags for a few hours or a day.
per bag a day
Find storage(opens in a new tab)Tap to hear.
Places to eat near your plan and your stay. Tap the heart to save one.
Chosen from places featured in respected travel and food guides, or on a halal certifier's list, as of October 2026. We don't take payment to include a place.
Please confirm with the restaurant if you have any allergies.
11 min from Arab StreetMutton murtabak · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$
Halal options
Sources
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Price level: Source: Singapore Zam Zam Restaurant, checked Oct 2026
21 min from Kampong GlamBeef rendang · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$$
Halal-certifiedVegetarian options
Sources
Halal-certified: Listed as halal-certified by MUIS halal-certified establishments list. Please confirm locally.
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Bumbu Restaurant, checked Oct 2026
32 min from Kampong GlamChicken shish kebab · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Alaturka delivery menu, checked Oct 2026
42 min from Arab StreetBeef rendang · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$$
Halal-certified
Sources
Halal-certified: Listed as halal-certified by MUIS halal-certified establishments list. Please confirm locally.
Price level: Source: Hjh Maimunah delivery menu, checked Oct 2026
53 min from Haji LaneFried spiced chicken nasi lemak · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: The Coconut Club, checked Oct 2026
63 min from Kampong GlamDry beef brisket noodles · Kampong Glam & Bugis
Price level$$
Halal-certified
Sources
Halal-certified: Listed as halal-certified by MUIS halal-certified establishments list. Please confirm locally.
Price level: Source: The Dim Sum Place, checked Oct 2026
No places near your plan with this option
24Beef rendang · East Coast, Katong & Changi
Price level$$
Halal-certified
Sources
Halal-certified: Listed as halal-certified by MUIS halal-certified establishments list. Please confirm locally.
Price level: Source: Old Bibik's Peranakan Kitchen, checked Oct 2026
25Beef rendang · Orchard Road & Botanic Gardens
Price level$$$
Vegan options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Violet Oon Singapore at Dempsey Hill, checked Oct 2026
26Spicy crab rigatoni · Mandai, Bukit Timah & Jurong
Price level$$
Vegetarian options
Sources
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Lola's Cafe, checked Oct 2026
27PS. crab and prawn laksa · East Coast, Katong & Changi
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Chopsuey Cafe Dempsey Hill, checked Oct 2026
28BBQ stingray · Mandai, Bukit Timah & Jurong
Price level$$
Halal-certified
Sources
Halal-certified: Listed as halal-certified by MUIS halal-certified establishments list. Please confirm locally.
Price level: Source: Rasa Istimewa Restaurant @ SAFRA Jurong, checked Oct 2026
29Lemongrass grilled beef banh mi · East Coast, Katong & Changi
Price level$
Vegetarian options
Sources
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Eatbook - 26 Katong and Joo Chiat food places, checked Oct 2026
Green escapes and the sea, a short trip from the centre. Planning information only.
Free entry
Free entry
Free entry
Open public space
Free entry
One card for most rides on public transport. Airport routes are in Flights.
Tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express or NETS card, or a phone or watch wallet, at the fare gate and on the bus reader. No card to buy and no top-up: the fare for each journey is charged to your bank card. Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted, with a small daily admin fee, and your own bank may add its own charges.
Per person, paid locally · as of October 2026
Your 3-day plan usesTram and metroBuses
Taxis run on a meter, and fares differ slightly between taxi companies. Extra charges usually apply for airport pick-ups, busy periods, late night, and some city-centre trips, and road charges are added on top. Most taxis accept card payment, which may carry a small admin fee, and booking through an app is common.
Typical costs, and how to pay.
Excluding your stay.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | SGD 8 | SGD 7 | SGD 33 |
| Lunch | SGD 14 | SGD 6 | SGD 23 |
| Dinner | SGD 6 | SGD 23 | SGD 40 |
| Drinks | SGD 10 | SGD 11 | SGD 17 |
| Getting around | SGD 17 | SGD 17 | SGD 22 |
| Sights (entry tickets) | SGD 35 | SGD 35 | SGD 35 |
| Total a day | SGD 90 | SGD 99 | SGD 170 |
Sights are counted at the standard entry ticket. Guided tours cost more. Includes sales tax and a typical tip.
Typical prices, as of October 2026
Cards, contactless payments and phone wallets are widely accepted in malls, hotels and larger restaurants, and buses and MRT gates take contactless bank cards. A little cash is still useful at hawker stalls and small shops.
ATMs run by banks are usually cheaper than stand-alone machines, though many banks also charge foreign cards a fee. If asked, choose to be charged in Singapore Dollar. Your own bank may also charge a foreign-use fee. Check with your bank before you go.
Tipping is not expected in Singapore. Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge, typically 10 percent, with GST on top, while hawker centres and food courts add nothing extra and a simple thank-you is enough.
Marina Bay & Civic District
Seasons, weather, and the events and holidays that change opening hours, crowds and prices.
Quick answers to common questions.
Plan on three or four days for the main sights. Allow about 120 to 240 minutes for Gardens by the Bay, 180 to 300 minutes for the Singapore Zoo and 90 to 180 minutes for Chinatown, plus time for hawker meals and the waterfront. Sentosa and the Mandai wildlife parks each deserve a separate half day or more. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Singapore is warm and humid all year, so the choice is mostly about rain and crowds. Hotel stays are usually highest in July and August and lowest around May, June and December, and the wetter spells tend to come in the months from November to January. Check the dates of any festival you want to see before you book your rooms. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The MRT station at the airport is the simplest link, and most central areas take about 41 to 46 minutes by train from the Marina Bay area. Taxis and ride-hailing cars also run from every terminal, and trips starting at the airport add a surcharge of SGD 6. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The MRT, LRT and buses charge a distance-based fare of about SGD 1.28 to SGD 2.57 per ride with a card, phone or watch, and the fare is taken when you tap out. You can tap a contactless bank card straight at the gate or the bus reader, or use a stored-value card. A one-day Singapore Tourist Pass costs SGD 17. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Tipping is not expected. Many restaurants add a service charge and GST to the bill, so check the menu or receipt before adding anything. Hawker stalls and taxis do not expect a tip. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Cards, phones and contactless payments are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, taxis and on public transport. Cash is still useful at hawker stalls and small shops. For cash machines, those attached to bank branches are a simple choice, and if a machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose Singapore dollars. As of 20 Oct 2026.
None of the sources we read names a separate city or tourist tax on hotel stays. Hotels usually add a service charge to their room rates and then charge goods and services tax of 9 percent on the total, so rates are often shown with a "plus plus" sign. Check whether the price you see already includes both. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The Mandai wildlife parks and the Gardens by the Bay conservatories sell tickets online, and the Night Safari asks every guest to choose a time slot. Weekends and school holidays are busier at Universal Studios Singapore and on the cable car, so buy early for those dates. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Singapore uses 230 V at 50 Hz, with the three-pin type G socket. Many phone and laptop chargers accept this voltage, but visitors from countries with different sockets will need a plug adapter. Check the label on each charger: if it lists a voltage range that includes this one, only the plug shape needs changing. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Yes. English is the language of business, schooling and signs, alongside Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. In its 2,024 edition, the last to list Singapore, the EF English Proficiency Index ranked it number 3 of 116 countries and regions, where a lower number means stronger English. A few words of Malay or Mandarin are always welcome. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Singapore costs more than most Asian cities, but several of the main sights cost nothing, and hawker centres serve filling meals at modest prices. For an adult, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest ticket costs SGD 46, the Singapore Zoo SGD 49 and the National Gallery SGD 20. A single MRT ride costs from SGD 1.28. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The MRT and buses reach almost every sight, and a single ride costs from SGD 1.28. Many central sights, such as the waterfront at Marina Bay and the streets of Chinatown, are within walking distance of each other. Taxis run on the meter, and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek also work in the city. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Walking is the main free pleasure: the outdoor gardens at Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Merlion Park waterfront and the streets of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India cost nothing. Some museums have free visiting hours, so check each page before you go. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Singapore is a small island, so most trips beyond the centre stay on it. The plans give Sentosa a day of its own, where visitors usually spend at least 240 minutes, and a day at the Mandai wildlife parks in the north, where the Singapore Zoo alone takes about 180 minutes, next to River Wonders and Bird Paradise. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Yes. The Singapore Tourist Pass gives unlimited rides on the MRT, LRT and most buses for a set number of days, and it is sold from SGD 17 for one day. It does not cover every premium service, so check the seller's page. If you only ride a few times, tapping a contactless bank card can work out cheaper. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Yes. Many restaurants and hawker stalls, especially in Kampong Glam, Little India and Geylang Serai, are on the halal-certification list of MUIS, and the certificate is usually displayed at the entrance. Mixed food centres have both halal and non-halal stalls, so look for the certificate at each stall. Please confirm locally. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The Night Safari opens in the early evening and takes about 120 to 180 minutes, and the walking trails and tram start after dusk. Arriving soon after opening usually means shorter queues, and the park asks every guest to choose a time slot. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Taxi fares follow a published tariff, and a short ride of about two kilometres typically costs SGD 5.41 on the meter at off-peak times. Trips from the airport add a surcharge of SGD 6, and peak hours and late nights cost more. Card payment is usually possible. As of 20 Oct 2026.
For a first visit, usually: the plan reaches Little India, Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Kampong Glam and a day on Sentosa. A fourth day adds Mount Faber, Fort Canning Park and the museums of the civic district, and the Mandai wildlife parks need a day of their own. As of 24 Oct 2026.
Three days cover the heritage quarters and Marina Bay, from Little India and Chinatown to Gardens by the Bay; then the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Orchard Road and the lanes of Kampong Glam; and a day on Sentosa with Universal Studios Singapore and Fort Siloso. As of 24 Oct 2026.
It depends on your hotel and meals, but the plan has few tickets. For an adult, Universal Studios Singapore costs from SGD 76, the National Orchid Garden SGD 15, the walkway at the Supertree Grove SGD 14 and the Sentosa Express to the island SGD 4. A three-day Tourist Pass costs SGD 29, or single rides from SGD 1.28. The Plan at a glance box above the plan shows the entry total per adult. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Average highAverage lowRainy days
Typical, based on past years. Not a forecast.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 25° | 20 days |
| January is the wetter, breezier end of the northeast monsoon, so long spells of steady rain are more likely early in the month, with drier days arriving later. Singapore's ART SG fair fills the Marina Bay Sands expo halls from 22 to 24 January 2027, and gallery visitors add to the weekend crowds around then. | |||
| February | 28° | 25° | 15 days |
| February is usually the driest month of the year, with a steady breeze and more sunshine, which suits long walks and outdoor sights. Chinese New Year falls on 6 and 7 February 2027, so expect lanterns and lights in Chinatown, a ten-day river festival around then, and busy hotels. | |||
| March | 28° | 26° | 22 days |
| March stays on the drier, windier side at first, then warm afternoons with thunderstorms begin to return towards the end of the month. Hari Raya Puasa on 10 March 2027 closes the fasting month, when the festive market and lights in Geylang Serai are at their liveliest, and Good Friday on 26 March makes a long weekend. | |||
| April | 29° | 26° | 27 days |
| April brings hot afternoons that often end in a thunderstorm, so mornings are the comfortable time for outdoor sights. There is no public holiday in April 2027, which makes it a calmer month on the calendar. | |||
| May | 29° | 27° | 28 days |
| May is the warmest month on average, with light winds and strong afternoon storms. Labour Day (Saturday 1 May), Hari Raya Haji (Monday 17 May) and Vesak Day (Thursday 20 May) all fall in May 2027, with Hari Raya Haji making a long weekend, though hotel stays are among the quieter ones of the year. | |||
| June | 29° | 27° | 24 days |
| June opens the southwest monsoon, with fewer long wet spells but occasional early-morning squalls and short showers in the afternoon. There is no public holiday in June 2027, and hotel stays are among the quietest of the year before the July peak. | |||
| July | 28° | 27° | 24 days |
| July typically brings warm days with short afternoon showers rather than all-day rain. It is one of the two busiest months for hotels, so book rooms early and expect queues at the main sights. | |||
| August | 28° | 26° | 25 days |
| August is still in the southwest monsoon, with short showers and the odd early-morning squall. National Day falls on Monday 9 August 2027 for a long weekend, the Singapore Night Festival opened on 21 August in 2026, and hotels are at their busiest. | |||
| September | 28° | 26° | 22 days |
| September ends the southwest monsoon, and skies can turn hazy when winds are light. Lantern displays for the Mid-Autumn Festival opened on 19 September in 2026, and hotel stays ease after the August peak. | |||
| October | 28° | 26° | 25 days |
| October brings the return of strong afternoon thunderstorms as the inter-monsoon period begins, and it is typically wetter than the same period in spring. Little India's Deepavali lights are on through the month, and Deepavali itself falls on Thursday 28 October 2027. | |||
| November | 28° | 26° | 28 days |
| November is wet and warm, with thunderstorms most afternoons before the northeast monsoon takes over. Orchard Road's Christmas lights switched on on 8 November in 2025, and hotel stays are among the busiest of the autumn months. | |||
| December | 27° | 26° | 26 days |
| December is the start of the northeast monsoon, when surges of wind can bring wide, steady rain for days at a time. Christmas lights stayed on in Orchard Road until 1 January in the 2025 edition, and Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 December 2027. | |||
Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
Winds blow from the north and east, and the season opens with its wettest spell, when steady rain can last for hours. From late January the air turns breezier and drier, with plenty of sunshine for walks and outdoor sights. It is also the season of Christmas lights, Chinese New Year lanterns and the year's biggest festive crowds.
Apr · May · Oct · Nov
Winds are light and shifting, and mornings are often calm and hot. Afternoon and early-evening thunderstorms are typical, and they can be heavy but usually pass within a few hours. Plan outdoor sights for the morning and keep a rain plan for later in the day.
Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Winds turn to the south, and many days bring short afternoon showers rather than long wet spells. Early-morning squalls from the west are an occasional feature, and hazy skies come and go. It is the busiest time for hotels, with school holidays and National Day celebrations.
Coming up in the next 12 months. to see what falls during your trip.
Come after dark to see the lights along Serangoon Road, and expect crowds on weekends. Stalls and free music are part of the evening programme.
Little India is lively around the festival, but some family-run shops shut for the day. Check each place's own page for holiday hours.
Shopping centres are usually open and the Orchard Road lights are a draw, so expect crowds in the evening. Check each venue's own page for holiday hours.