The Perfect Itinerary for Spending 1 Day in Singapore

Singapore is one of my favorite cities in the whole world. This vibrant city is one of the biggest hubs in Southeast Asia so if you are planning a trip to this region I highly recommend visiting Singapore as well.

You don’t need so much time to explore the main sights in Singapore – in fact, you can do it in one single day! Read along if you want to know how to spend 1 day in Singapore and still see all the best places in the city.

*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

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Useful Info for Visiting Singapore

Where to stay in Singapore

Since you will have only 1 day in Singapore, I suggest booking a hotel close to the city center to save time on transportation. Unfortunately, Singapore is a really expensive city so unless you want to stay in a hostel or a capsule hotel it’s going to cost you a lot of money. Especially in the city center.

If you want to read more about the different neighborhoods in the city and what each one has to offer, make sure to read my in-depth guide about where to stay in Singapore.

If you’re in a hurry, below you can check out my top recommendations for staying in Singapore for every budget.

How to get around in Singapore

Luckily Singapore is a totally walkable city and all the main sights are relatively close to each other. The whole route I put together for your 1 day in Singapore is 13.7 km (8.5 miles) in total but since you’ll be wandering a lot more around it will be like 20-25 km (12.5-15.5 miles) in reality.

If you don’t fancy walking or you want to save some time between each location you can use public transportation or get in a taxi as well. The MRT is the best and fastest way to travel around the city.

You can buy a Tourist Pass for 10 Singapore dollars (7.5 USD) for 1 day but if you only plan to use the MRT occasionally it’s cheaper to buy single tickets.

How to Spend 1 Day in Singapore

Having at least 3 or 4 days in Singapore would be the optimal amount of time for visiting. However, many people only have a short layover in Singapore and often have just 24 hours to discover the city.

Do you also have just 1 day to spend in Singapore? Don’t worry, if you maximize your time you will be able to cover all the must-see spots! However, it means you will have a really long day with lots of walking so put on your most comfortable shoes, have a coffee in your hand and let’s go exploring!

1. Marina Bay Circuit

Since the weather is still pleasant early in the morning, it’s perfect for taking a walk. If you also decide to stay at the Destination Singapore Beach Road, I recommend taking a walk in the direction of the Singapore Flyer.

You will pass by the Marina Bay Street Circuit on your way. Seems familiar? If you are a Formula 1 fan, it should be – it’s the venue for the Singapore Grand Prix!

Even if you’re not a fan, it’s still worth stopping for a few minutes and taking some amazing pictures.

2. Singapore Flyer

After the Marina Bay Circuit, continue your walk until you reach the Singapore Flyer – a giant Ferris wheel overlooking the Marina Bay skyline. With its 165 meters height, the Singapore Flyer is one of the world’s largest observation wheels and one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions.

If you want to go for a ride, you have to purchase a ticket at the ticket counter. Although riding the Ferris wheel might be tempting, be prepared for the ticket prices: an adult ticket costs 40 Singapore dollars ($30 US).

For this price, you get one rotation on the wheel, which is a 30-minute long ride. The ticket counter is open between 2 pm and 10 pm, and the last admission is at 9.30 pm.

3. Helix Bridge & Marina Bay Skyline

In order to reach the Gardens by the Bay from the Singapore Flyer, you have to cross the Helix Bridge. This is a pedestrian bridge that links together Marina Centre with Marina South, and it was inspired by the form of a curved DNA structure. It looks really cool!

The bridge has four viewing platforms from where you can have an amazing view over the Marina Bay skyline.

The bridge takes you right to the foot of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel (the one that looks like a giant ship).

This hotel is the most popular one in Singapore as it features the world’s biggest rooftop infinity pool with breathtaking views over the Singapore skyline. If you’re looking for stunning hotels with rooftop pools in Singapore, make sure to check it out!

Unfortunately, the pool has been closed to the public, so you can only try it if you are a guest of the hotel. However, you have to pay big bucks for that as the rooms typically start from 700 Singapore dollars ($530 US) per night.

4. Cloud Forest & Flower Dome

Even if you have only 1 day in Singapore, visiting the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome is a real must. The tickets are a bit pricy as the admission for the two conservatories costs 53 Singapore dollars ($40 US) per person, but it’s really worth every penny!

As you enter the Cloud Forest Dome, you’ll have a first glance at the 35-meter tall mountain that is home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall. No pictures do justice to how beautiful it is in real life!

If you want to have a picture in front of the waterfall without the crowds, try to arrive around opening time (9 am) otherwise it will be impossible to have a decent photo.

The temperature inside the Cloud Forest Dome is between 23-25 degrees Celsius with 80-90% humidity which is the perfect setting for tropical plants. Compared to the heat outside, you will probably feel really cold, so make sure to have a light jacket or sweater with you!

If you are a flower lover like me, you will feel yourself in heaven! You will find many gorgeous orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and carnivorous pitcher plants around the conservatory. It really feels as if you were walking around in a steamy and humid tropical jungle!

The Flower Dome is the largest greenhouse in the world, featuring exotic plants from five continents. You will find nine different gardens with an always-changing floral display. If you are into flower photography, you will love this place!

5. Supertree Grove & OCBC Skywalk

The Supertree Grove is the most iconic spot in Singapore, and you definitely have to include it in your 1 day in Singapore itinerary. These Supertrees are actually not trees – they are made of concrete and steel.

They work like vertical gardens, and they are home to more than 158,000 plants. Walking among them feels like you are in another world!

There are 18 Supertrees around the Gardens by the Bay in total – 12 of them are located at the Supertree Grove, 3 in the Golden Gardens, and another 3 in the Silver Gardens. 11 of them are embedded with environmentally sustainable functions like photovoltaic cells to harvest solar energy.

So they are not just fascinating to look at, they are actually an important part of the self-sustainable system that runs through the whole Gardens by the Bay.

Although the city is quite expensive, luckily, there are many free things to do in Singapore, and walking around the Gardens by the Bay is one of them! However, if you want to get an up-close look at the futuristic Supertrees, you have to purchase a ticket to the OCBC Skywalk.

The ticket costs 10 Singapore dollars ($7.5 US) per person, and in exchange, you can take a stroll on the 128-meter-long aerial walkway among the trees.

There are many outdoor gardens around the Supertree Grove, like the Chinese Garden, the Indian Garden, and the World of Palms. They are mostly located on an upper level where you can find many photo opportunities with the Supertrees and the Marina Bay Sands in the background.

It’s also a great place to watch the evening light show, but we’re going to come back to that later!

6. Chinatown

I know that you can’t spend enough time in the Gardens, but it’s time to continue your journey toward Chinatown! I suggest hopping on the blue MRT line for 2 stops (from Bayfront to Telok Ayer) to save some time.

Chinatown is really different from the rest of the city with its red and gold tones and low-rise buildings. The whole neighborhood is very vivid, with lots of street markets, museums, and temples.

There are actually not just ornate Chinese temples, you can find many Buddhist and Hindu temples as well.

Chinatown is also a great place to grab some lunch if you could survive without food until this point, and since the food is quite affordable, it’s the perfect place to eat if you’re visiting Singapore on a budget.

7. Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is another great neighborhood in Singapore. It is famous for its little colorful houses, stunning riverside restaurants, and endless collection of bars and clubs.

Also, a good place to have some lunch, or if you had that already in Chinatown, then you can relax a bit with a cup of coffee. If you want to hit the night later, it’s totally your spot!

8. Old Hill Street Police Station

Okay, this got to be the most colorful police station you’ll ever see! Actually, this is not a police station anymore, but the name has not changed.

Now it’s the home to the Ministry of Communication and Information and the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth. Make sure to take some Instagram-worthy pictures in front of the building!

9. Merlion Park

The Merlion is the national icon of Singapore. The fish body symbolizes the beginning of Singapore as a fishing village, while the lion head represents the city’s original name, Singapura (lion city).

You can also get a gorgeous view of the Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum from the park.

10. Gardens by the Bay in the night

As the sun begins to set, it’s time to head back to the Gardens by the Bay to see the evening light shows. I know you’ve already been there during the day, but believe me, seeing it during the night will be a completely different experience!

If you still have some time before the evening light show, I recommend strolling around the gardens to explore them at night as well. The view of the city lights is absolutely breathtaking! One of my favorite spots was at the Waterlily Pond – the reflection was gorgeous on the water!

There are two different light shows in the Gardens by the bay: the Garden Rhapsody, performed by the Supertrees, and the Spectra, performed by the fountains in front of the Marina Bay Sands.

Both programs are completely free and are an absolute must-have on every Singapore itinerary!

Garden Rhapsody

The Supertrees look really awesome in the daylight as well, but the real magic comes when the night falls. The trees are performing magnificent music and light show, and I have only one word to describe it: WOW!

Seeing this light show was hands down one of the most magical experiences in my life and the absolute highlight of visiting Singapore. I can’t even describe my feelings properly, but I was so touched that I almost ended up crying. It’s really that amazing!

The trees are performing twice every day: at 7.45 pm and 8.45 pm. The show runs for 15 minutes, and it is completely free.

You can choose to watch it from the ground and from the OCBC Skywalk as well but be prepared for the crowds!

If you want to have a quieter place with fewer people, head over to the upper gardens! The view is fantastic, and usually, there are not many people around.

Spectra

If you go over to the other side of the Marina Bay Sands, you will find another great show: the Spectra! The Spectra is a light and water show performed by many dancing fountains and colorful visual projections.

The show is also free, and it starts at 8 pm and 9 pm on a daily basis. I thought after the Supertree light show I will not be amazed by this show – how wrong I was! It is also absolutely spectacular, so don’t miss it!

11. Arab Quarter

After the light shows, it’s time to grab some dinner and probably a drink or two. And there is no better place to do it than in the Arab Quarter! This vibrant and lively neighborhood is packed with cool boutiques, instagrammable cafes and bars, and amazing restaurants.

The must-see spots are the Haji Lane, Bali Lane, and the Sultan Mosque.

Since we had an extra hour the next morning, we decided to come back to get some shots of the cool buildings – hence the daytime photos. One of the places I desperately wanted to visit is the Selfie Coffee, where they actually print your selfie on your coffee! How cool is that?!

Unfortunately, it was closed early in the morning, so I couldn’t get in, but if you have a chance, don’t miss it!

Map for Your 1 Day in Singapore Itinerary

I made a custom map for you that contains all the spots from the 1 day in Singapore itinerary that I described above. You can easily open it up on your phone if you click on the bracket in the upper right corner!

This way you can always check it during the day to ensure you’re not missing out on anything. Super convenient, right?

Final Thoughts

Singapore is a really amazing city. Although it’s not on the budget side (especially compared to other Southeast-Asian countries), it’s definitely worth visiting. As you can see, you can pack a lot into just 24 hours, so there are no excuses!

Since Bali was the main attraction on our first Asia trip, we only had one day to spend in Singapore, so we wanted to maximize our time as much as we can. I know this is a lot to take in just one short day, but if you have more time, you can divide this Singapore itinerary into two days as well.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I always love helping you out! Have you ever been to Singapore, or is it still on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Kriszti

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• Camera body: Sony Alpha 7 IV
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