24 hours in Singapore

Kickstart your day with a hearty breakfast at Changi Village Hawker Centre – not far from where you land in Changi Airport. This hawker centre is filled with affordable and delicious dishes including famous local delights like carrot cake, nasi lemak and Ipoh hor fun for a taste of something beyond our borders.

Hop on down to one of Singapore’s quirkiest streets – Haji Lane. Nestled in the heart of Kampong Glam, this narrow lane is a vibrant street is filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, fashion boutiques and tattoo parlours. There's plenty of street art and murals if you're looking to take an #OOTD and it's also surrounded by many other eclectic lanes such as Bali Lane, Arab Street, and Beach Road. Once you’ve made your way up and down these lanes, rest your feet and munch on some burgers at Bergs, or chill out at The Hangar. There are plenty of Halal-friendly options around this area too.

Take a stroll through Gardens by the Bay to relax, breathe in some fresh air, and maybe even meditate at the new Serene Garden, inspired by the minimalist Japanese zen gardens. Step into the Flower Dome or Cloud Forest and be transported into a mystifying land of diverse vegetation and floral gems. Feeling peckish? Have dim sum at Majestic Bay or an English afternoon tea at Pollen.

For dinner, stop by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. It offer a wide range of high-end retail brands for you to shop till you drop, as well as some of Singapore’s fanciest dining restaurants owned by world-renowned chefs like Gordon Ramsay and David Thompson. Go French at Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro and Oyster Bar, or indulge in a Japanese-European 10-course meal at Waku Ghin. For something more casual, there's Thai street food at Long Chim or good ol' American burgers at Black Tap. Don't forget to leave some time for a sampan ride down the mall's winding streams too.

If The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands are little too pricey for you, worry not. Hop on a train to Singapore’s shopping haven – Orchard Road. You can find literally anything from apparel and cosmetics to homeware and the latest tech gadgets – it's also where you'll find Singapore's only Apple Store – all at a reasonably affordable price. This shopping paradise is filled with plenty of malls such as ION Orchard, Lucky Plaza, 313 Somerset and Plaza Singapura. If you’d rather just kick back and relax, then sit down for a movie at Shaw Theatres Lido or the many talented buskers and performances along the street of the city.

There's always something to do after dark at Clarke Quay. Whether you're a wild partier or a tame drinker, you can dance your feet off and rave to the most exhilarating EDM spinners at Singapore's best nightclubs like Zouk, or chill to some live tunes with a beer in hand at Crazy Elephant or McGettigan’s Irish Pub. If you’re not the type to drink, then just enjoy an ethereal stroll down the Singapore River, as it reflects the colourful lights of the nightclubs and bars.

What better way to sober up from a night of drinking than by tucking into some of Singapore’s most delicious dishes. Before you head back to Changi Airport, stop by this locally loved hawker centre you won't find on the usual tourist guides. A couple of must-tries include the bak chor mee (pork noodles soup), Hokkien mee (wok-fried seafood noodles), sambal stingray, oyster omelette, and barbecue chicken. If you still have space for more, then finish it off with something sweet like tang yuan from Ah Balling Peanut Soup.

Being back at where you started doesn’t mean that the enjoyment has to end. At Singapore’s four airport terminals, there is an endless array of things to do before your flight departs. Check out the different artworks like the Kinetic Rain in T1 and A Million Times at T2. Then, spend your leftover cash at Changi’s 350-plus shops that carry everything from luxury goods and souvenirs to daily necessities.