Singapore is the world’s only city-state. Perhaps its most striking feature is its size—this little red dot is rather small! However, we hope that doesn’t deter you! With its fascinating history, intermixed culture and delicious food, there’s truly a wealth of things for you to uncover on your trip here. Give us 4 days, we promise it won’t take you long to fall in love with this charming little city.
Day 1
Start your first day with a local breakfast of eggs and kaya toast at Heap Seng Leong, a coffee shop steeped in old-school charm. While this quintessential Singaporean breakfast is easily available anywhere, not many places do it quite as well as here. Kaya, a sweet jam made from pandan and coconut, is slathered generously over charcoal-grilled slices of bread. Have a taste of kopi gu you (literally, coffee butter), a once-popular style of coffee in Singapore. The sight of butter melting into an oily swirl atop the black coffee may certainly not be the most pleasant sight, don’t let that deter you! When mixed in, it makes the coffee almost toffee-like and quite delightful to drink.
After breakfast, take a stroll down to Haji Lane. This backstreet alley has found popularity with the younger crowd for its vivid, eye-catching murals peppered on its walls—it makes the perfect photo opportunity! As one of Singapore’s trendiest areas, you’ll find the street filled with hip bars and cafes, as well as a number of cosy hole-in-the-wall eateries that sell a delectable range of refreshments, providing some respite from the heat!
Explore the Kampong Glam area, Singapore’s designated Muslim Quarter. The Sultan Mosque, with its eye-catching golden dome, is impossible to miss—it was gazetted as a National Monument in 1975. This area is steeped in history—drop by the Malay Heritage Centre for deeper insight into the rich past of the Malay community and the Kampong Glam area. On the neighbouring Arab Street and Bussorah Street, find a wide variety of shops hawking a colourful assortment of items, from traditional clothes, carpets to perfumes and fragrances.
Food is definitely not an issue in this area—you’ll find all sorts of restaurants and cafes, from modern to traditional, to grab a meal at. We’ve rounded up two options for you: have some decadent nasi padang at Michelin-bib gourmand approved Hjh Maimunah, where you’ll be able to get a taste of Malay cuisine at its finest. This family-run establishment is always packed during meal times, and with its wide variety of dishes, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
For those who can’t quite handle the heat, head to Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles for a bowl of bak chor mee. While many dishes in Singapore are the result of an amalgamation of the different cultures, this is a truly Singaporean dish—you won’t find it anywhere else! Featuring noodles mixed in with vinegar, lard and chilli concoction, the dish creates a harmony of flavours and textures in your mouth. It wasn’t awarded a one Michelin star for nothing!
To avoid the afternoon sun, we head to Gardens by the Bay after lunch. This massive topiary is a stunning example of Singapore’s seamless integration of nature and technology into one entity, and features inspiring, futuristic architecture throughout its premises. Be amazed by the wide variety of flowers and plants from across different countries and climates thriving inside the Flower Dome, a feat considering most of these are not native to Singapore! In Cloud Forest, you’ll find a fascinating artificial waterfall amid lush tropical vegetation. End your afternoon by ascending the OCBC Skyway, a 128m-long aerial walkway which offers a bird’s eye view of the gardens and the surrounding Marina Bay area.
After spending your afternoon exploring the massive premises of Gardens by the Bay, and as the sun dies down, it would be a great time to take a look at the Marina Bay area. In the evenings, the area is much quieter as the CBD crowd heads home, and you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful views of the bay and its surrounding structures. Merlion Park, located not too far from Gardens by the Bay, is home to Singapore’s icon and mascot, the Merlion, a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish. Truly, no visit to Singapore would be complete without a visit to the Merlion!
For dinner, head to the nearby for dinner at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh. This restaurant is famous for their Bak Kut Teh, a broth made by simmering garlic, pork bones and a whole lot of Chinese spices. The result? A comforting, peppery broth with tender pork ribs that makes for a fulfilling dinner at the end of a busy day. If you’re not quite ready to call it a night, the surrounding area makes a fantastic spot for some drinks with the view of Singapore River.
Day 2
The morning of day 2 will be spent exploring the old neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru. One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Singapore, Tiong Bahru has been recently revitalised as a slew of youthful cafes and restaurants have settled in, drawing in the younger crowd. Have breakfast at Tiong Bahru Food Centre (get the chwee kueh from Jian Bo Shui Kueh, or have a go at another Singaporean breakfast favourite of prawn noodles from Min Nan Pork Ribs and Prawn Noodles). If you’re feeling for a hearty, American-style breakfast, the many cafes in Tiong Bahru are more than able to provide.
Admire the SIT buildings of Tiong Bahru. You’d probably be familiar with Singapore’s ubiquitous HDB flats which are scattered at every corner of the city (if you’re not, it’s basically a form of cost-effective, government housing that most Singaporeans live in), but do you know about the SIT flats? The predecessor to HDB, SIT flats were one of the earliest forms of government-aided housing provided to Singaporeans. Unlike HDB flats, they feature a very different design and architectural style, having large windows and high ceilings to combat the tropical heat, and taking on elements of Art Deco and Bauhaus—all the rage back when they were initially built.
Stop by Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry along the way to pick up some handmade nyonya kueh. A traditional Peranakan dessert, these colourful morsels are made primarily from glutinous rice, coconut and palm sugar, and are every bit as decadent and delicious as you can imagine—a definite must-try in Singapore! If you’re not sure what to pick, ask the friendly owners for some recommendations—they’d be more than happy to help!
Hungry yet? We know we are! Lucky for us, Maxwell Food Centre is just a short bus ride away (or a 20-min walk, if you’re game). A popular spot for lunch—no surprises there, considering the smorgasbord of delicious options available. With local favourites like ngoh hiang (fried meat rolls) and carrot cake, you can be sure that you’ll leave this place stuffed, to say the least! However, if there’s one thing you must definitely eat here, it has to be the chicken rice. Serving up some of the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore is Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, with queues to match its legendary status—head there early if you can! With tender, succulent chicken and a deliciously moist, fatty rice, it’ll satisfy even the pickiest palate.
Go for a heritage walking tour in Chinatown—one of Singapore’s most historic areas. This maze of an area is best navigated with an experienced guide! If you prefer to do the walk yourself, do keep a look out for Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a relatively modern temple with a striking red edifice, and one of the iconic sights of Chinatown. Explore the Chinatown Street Markets—you may even end up finding some quirky little souvenirs for those back home. Just down South Bridge road lies Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, its facade adorned with a variety of colourful figures from Hindu legends. For those who love art, do keep an eye out for street art by local artist Yip Yew Chong. Scattered throughout the area, it tells the history of Chinatown in murals (and also makes great Instagram photos!).
End off your day with dinner at one of the surrounding hawker centres—Chinatown is a treasure trove of mouth-wateringly good food just waiting to be uncovered. Head to Hong Lim Food Complex for some hearty char kway teow, a dish of stir-fried noodles with a sweet, smoky char (find it at Outram Park Char Kway Teow). Another popular option, located in Chinatown Complex Food Centre, is 168 CMY Satay—their specialty is satay, charcoal-smoked pieces of marinated meat on sticks that is paired with a satisfying peanut sauce. If you like spicy food, try the increasingly popular Chong Qing dish of ma la xiang guo at Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo at People’s Park Food Centre.
Day 3
Spend the third day at Singapore Zoo. Home to over 2,800 animals from across 300 species, this rainforest zoo is one of the most popular attractions even amongst locals—with good reason! The animals are housed in open environment enclosures that mimic their natural habitats, ensuring that their behaviour is as natural as possible. A variety of exciting animal shows await you, and with numerous opportunities for up-close encounters, animal feedings and even an entire area dedicated to little ones, it’s no wonder that this place has won accolades and awards. The only downside is that it is a little out of the way, so for a fuss-free journey, we’d suggest getting a cab there.
Day 4
Spend the morning of your last day at the National Gallery. Featuring the largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art, the National Gallery is an excellent place to go for those who want to learn more about Singapore and the region. Housed in the restored Supreme Court and City Hall buildings which were built in the early 1900s, the building is also a stunning example of architecture, both on the inside and outside.
With an outlet in the vicinity, if you’re in a bigger group, we highly recommend going to JUMBO Seafood for lunch, to have a taste of Singapore’s famous chilli crab. Cooked in a lip-smackingly addictive chilli sauce, this is definitely one dish that most of us Singaporeans don’t mind abandoning our table manners for! However, if you’re not quite up to getting your hands dirty, don’t fret! You’ll easily find a number of other delicious options in the area available at different price points to suit your budget.
If you have some extra time, appreciate the bay views with a river cruise! Board one of the colourful bumboats for a tour of the Clarke Quay area and other iconic landmarks, away from the crowds.
End of your trip with a bang by doing some shopping along Orchard Road. Singapore’s most popular shopping precinct has everything from high-street fashion to luxury labels—this place is every shopper’s dream come true. Meals will be settled in a heartbeat; there’s food from every corner of the continent to be found here. Don’t forget to grab a Singaporean-style ice cream sandwich from one of the friendly ice cream uncles (as they are affectionately referred to by locals) along the stretch of Orchard Road. They are as cheap as they are delicious! For some drinks in a charming setting, head to the restored shophouses along Emerald Hill, which are home to a variety of themed bars.
With this 4-day itinerary, we hope you’re ready to head back home—but between us, we know that you really don’t want to!
