Singapore is one of those destinations that looks compact on a map, but can feel surprisingly overwhelming once you start planning.
There are a huge number of attractions packed into what seems like a relatively small area, which makes it tempting to try and see everything in a day or two. But what many travellers discover on arrival is that Singapore is so much more than just a convenient layover between flights. It’s a melting pot of cultures, a foodie’s delight with a broad mix of Asian flavours, and a city so futuristic that you never quite know what kind of striking architecture you’ll see around the next corner.
I’ve now visited Singapore twice; once back in 2010 — when popular landmarks like Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay were still under construction — and again in 2026. While I was unfortunately sick for much of my latest trip and didn’t manage to tick off everything I had planned, I did get to experience many of Singapore’s most iconic sights firsthand.
This guide reflects how I’d recommend planning a first visit to Singapore today: focusing on standout attractions, allowing time to enjoy them properly, and not trying to cram too much into each day. Where relevant, I’ve included personal notes from what I experienced myself, along with suggestions for how you might adapt the itinerary depending on your time, energy levels, or interests.
Quick summary:
This 5-day Singapore itinerary is based on firsthand experience and focuses on skyline views, cultural neighbourhoods, and green spaces. Designed for first-time visitors, it offers a well-paced, realistic introduction to the city without rushing.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🌿 Gardens by the Bay – Skip the lines for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest.
🎡 Singapore Flyer – Slow 30-minute ride with views over Marina Bay and the skyline.
🚠 Sentosa Cable Car – Scenic cable car ride with harbour and skyline views.
🚤 Singapore River Cruise – Relaxed 40-minute bumboat cruise past Singapore’s landmarks.
✈️ Jewel Changi Airport – Indoor waterfall, gardens, and Canopy Park before departure.
Getting around Singapore as a first-time visitor
Getting around Singapore is straightforward and well suited to first-time visitors. Most attractions are easy to reach using the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), which is clean, air-conditioned, and simple to navigate, even if you’re new to the city. If you plan to use public transport frequently over a few days, the Singapore Tourist Pass can also be a convenient option, as you’ll get unlimited travel for a set period.
Taxis and Grab (a rideshare app) are widely available and reasonably priced, so they’re a good choice for evenings, shorter trips, or when you’d prefer to minimise walking.
For a more guided way to get oriented, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is another easy option. The routes cover many of the city’s major sights, and you can hop on and off as you explore. I will be publishing a more detailed guide to getting around Singapore as a tourist, but for this itinerary, combining public transport with the occasional taxi or sightseeing bus keeps things simple and flexible.
Things to do in Singapore: Itinerary for first-time visitors
This is a five-day itinerary. It focuses on iconic landmarks, cultural neighbourhoods, gardens and galleries, skyline views, and Singapore’s impressive night-time experiences. It can easily be adapted if you’re staying for fewer days or prefer to move at a slightly different pace.
For some of the most popular Singapore attractions, I’d suggest booking tickets in advance to save time and help lock in your preferred dates, particularly for observation decks and evening shows.
Day 1: Gardens by the Bay
Spend your first full day at Gardens by the Bay, one of Singapore’s most impressive and instantly recognisable attractions. Gardens by the Bay was definitely one of the highlights of my recent trip.
The Cloud Forest in particular was incredible, with its towering indoor waterfall, misty walkways, and dramatic planting. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are both air-conditioned and offer a welcome break from Singapore’s heat and humidity.
🌿 You can book a Gardens by the Bay entry ticket in advance to skip queues and secure your preferred entry time.
I also loved spending time around the Supertree Grove, which feels just as impressive up close as it does in photos. As evening approaches, you can see Garden Rhapsody at this spot, which is a free light and music show set beneath the towering Supertrees. It’s one of Singapore’s most atmospheric night-time experiences and an easy, low-effort way to end your first day in the city.
Day 2: Ethnic Quarters (Kampong Glam, Little India and Chinatown)
Day two is dedicated to Singapore’s cultural diversity, explored through three of its most character-filled neighbourhoods. Begin in Kampong Glam, where you’ll find the Sultan Mosque, colourful shophouses, and cafés lining Arab Street and Haji Lane. This area is compact and easy to explore, making it a great place to start the day.
From there, head to Little India. Even a short visit here feels completely different to the rest of the city, with vibrant colours, temples, and busy streets.
In the afternoon, continue on to Chinatown, where you can wander the historic streets and stop for lunch at Maxwell Food Centre. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was especially memorable for me. The exterior is beautiful, but it’s worth stepping inside too — the interior spaces are just as detailed and atmospheric, and it felt like one of the most culturally rich stops of the trip.
👉 Read more: Best things to do in Chinatown, Singapore: A cultural walking guide
This day works best when taken flexibly. Singapore’s cultural districts are filled with cafés, shaded walkways, and indoor stops, so it’s easy to slow down whenever you feel like it.
Day 3: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Orchid Garden and Sentosa Island
Start the day at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most pleasant places in the city to spend a morning. I visited this attraction on my visit to Singapore in 2010, and found the gardens to be spacious and easy to explore, with wide, shaded paths, pretty lakes, and plenty of places to sit and rest.
Within the Botanic Gardens, the National Orchid Garden is a highlight for first-time visitors. It’s compact, beautifully maintained, and showcases thousands of orchid varieties.
In the afternoon, make your way to Sentosa Island. There are a ton of things to do on Sentosa, so rather than trying to see everything on the island, I’d suggest focusing on a couple of standout experiences that appeal to you. When I visited in 2010, I did the Skyline Luge and took the Mega Adventure Zip — a 450 metre zipline from the top of Imbiah Hill down to Siloso Beach. It was a thrill!
🚠 On this recent trip, I travelled to Sentosa Island via the Sentosa Cable Car, which turned out to be a fun and scenic way to get there. The ride offers great views back toward the city and harbour, and it made the journey itself feel like part of the experience rather than just transport.
Day 4: National Gallery Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer
Day four centres on Marina Bay and the Civic District, combining architecture, culture, and some of Singapore’s best views. Start the morning at the National Gallery Singapore, which is housed in the beautifully restored former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings. The galleries offer a calm, air-conditioned introduction to Singapore and Southeast Asian art and history. Even if museums aren’t usually a priority, the building itself is worth the visit.
After lunch, make your way to Marina Bay Sands for the ArtScience Museum. Its immersive, rotating exhibitions work particularly well in the afternoon, when you might appreciate a more visually engaging, indoor experience.
🎡 Later in the day, take a ride on the Singapore Flyer. The slow, enclosed capsules take 30 minutes to do a full rotation of the wheel, and on the ride you’ll get panoramic views across Marina Bay and the city skyline.
Finish off the day at the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, where open-air views stretch across the bay, the central business district, and beyond. Seeing the skyline from SkyPark works particularly well as daylight fades into evening.
If you’re still in the Marina Bay area after sunset, stay to watch Spectra, the free light and water show held on the waterfront outside Marina Bay Sands. The combination of fountains, projections, and music set against the skyline is a picturesque end to the evening.
Day 5: Merlion Park and Clarke Quay
Merlion Park ended up being one of my favourite stops in Singapore. One morning, I walked there from my hotel before sunrise and watched as the Merlion turned on its fountain at 7am. Seeing the statue and Marina Bay in the soft morning light, without crowds, was a surprisingly peaceful and memorable experience — and a great reminder that early mornings in Singapore can really pay off.
Continue on to Clarke Quay, one of Singapore’s most historic and scenic precincts. While it’s best known for its bars and nightlife, Clarke Quay is actually worth visiting during the day, when the riverside is calmer and easier to appreciate. The colourful restored warehouses, curved bridges, and views along the Singapore River offer a glimpse into the city’s trading past, and the flat riverside paths make it ideal for a relaxed walk. It’s a pleasant place to slow down with a coffee by the water.
🚤 While you’re in Clarke Quay, a Singapore River Cruise departing from the Clarke Quay jetty is a relaxed way to see the city from the water. The traditional bumboat cruise takes around 40 minutes and travels along the Singapore River.
Visiting Jewel Changi Airport before you leave Singapore
If you’re flying out of Singapore, especially on an afternoon or evening flight, it’s well worth arriving at the airport a few hours early to visit Jewel Changi Airport. Jewel is essentially a shopping complex located at the airport, but it has some amazing and unexpected highlights.
I was especially impressed by the Rain Vortex inside the Forest Valley atrium — the indoor waterfall and forest (with over 900 trees!) are genuinely spectacular in person. I also spent time exploring the Canopy Park, where attractions like the mirror maze and glass-bottom bridge were a fun way to end the trip.
✈️ If you want to experience the best of Jewel, you can book your Jewel Changi Airport Canopy Park tickets in advance, which includes exclusive access to the top floor attractions.
Is five days enough for a first visit to Singapore?
Many first-time visitors stay three or four days, often as part of a larger Southeast Asia trip. Five days allows you to spread things out and experience Singapore’s neighbourhoods, gardens, galleries, and evenings without feeling constantly on the move.
If you’re short on time, this itinerary can be adjusted by focusing on Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay, choosing either Sentosa or the Botanic Gardens, and keeping at least one evening free for Singapore’s night-time highlights.
While I didn’t manage to do everything I wanted to do in the city due to illness, the experiences I did have confirmed just how well this pacing works for a first visit to Singapore. This itinerary provides a strong, well-balanced starting point for anyone planning their first trip.
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