The one-week itinerary to Singapore

Start your day bright and early at Gardens by the Bay and visit the famed Flower Dome and Cloud Forest cooled conservatories for a diverse species of vegetation and floral gems. Continue exploring this 101-hectare nature park which comprises three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central – all offering picturesque views of the skyline, to see more attractions like the Supertree Grove and OCBC Skyway, art sculptures, and the nearby Marina Barrage.

Saunter down to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel to get close-up shots of this iconic building before you cross over to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Be treated to dining options ranging from restaurants owned by world-renowned chefs like Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and CUT by Wolfgang Puck, to casual ones like Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, and Din Tai Fung. After feasting, shop around at retail stores like Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Sephora, and Limited Edt Underground, or go on a relaxing sampan ride along the mall’s canal. There’s also the ArtScience Museum for museum lovers and a casino for the high-rollers.

Have a meal at one of Singapore's best restaurants. The city is a hotspot for innovative chefs who are pushing the restaurant scene forward by leaps and bounds. There's Nouri, a new entry to this year's 50 Best Restaurants list, which offers boundary-blurring cuisine that celebrates the culinary diversity of the world. Or if you're up for Japanese, Lo and Behold's latest venture Esora will leave you in peaceful contentment. And for those among you who want to splash some cash, there's Zén, an offshoot of three-Michelin-starred Frantzen in Sweden, which serves Nordic meets Japanese cuisine.

Clarke Quay is the place to be if you’re looking to do something after the sun goes down, specifically, party. Whether you’re a chill drinker or an avid raver, let loose and be wild at popular nightclubs like Zouk and F. Club, chug shots at dedicated shooters bar Chupitos, mini-golf at golf-themed bar Holey Moley or play at games at arcade bar Level Up.

Sample a local breakfast at Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre. Located on the second floor, this hawker is packed with stalls selling popular local dishes, like chwee kueh, chicken rice, and fried kway teow, at reasonable prices. For a classic Singapore-style breakfast, give either of these a shot: chwee kueh – oily rice cakes accompanied with fried chye poh (Chinese dried radish) or a breakfast set which typically includes a cup of coffee, kaya (coconut jam) toasts, and soft-boiled eggs.

Venture off to your first ethnic neighbourhood, Chinatown. Learn more about the Chinese’s history, food, culture and religion at attractions like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Chinatown Heritage Centre, Chinatown Food Street and Chinatown Complex. Visit the rooftop carpark at People’s Park Complex for instagrammable shots of you and the streets of Chinatown.

Take the train down to Little India for your next cultural stop and get a taste of Singapore’s Indian culture and history at the Indian Heritage Centre. Some of the popular Indian dishes are here, like at Komalas Vilas, Kailash Parbat Restaurant and Blue Jasmine. Get your retail therapy on at 24-hour Mustafa Centre, where you can find anything and everything for cheap, from clothing and accessories to souvenirs and electronics. For Insta pictures of and with murals, head to Clive Street, Upper Dickson Road, Kerbau Road, Hindoo Road, and Dunlop Street.

Lastly, experience the Malay culture at Kampong Glam (nearest MRT Station – Bugis). Start from the landmark Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre, then head out to the side streets where you’ll find lots of cafes and restaurants like I Am… and The Hangar, and art and murals, especially along Haji Lane.

No trip to Singapore is complete without trying the durian. This fruit is known for its spiky appearance, strong odour and acquired taste. So, you’ll either indulge with pleasure or back away in disgust. We encourage you to be daring and sample our country’s unofficial fruit (you might like it, who knows?) at Geylang where stalls selling durian are plenty. For the uninitiated, there are different types of durians. Go for the Mao Shan Wang for a bittersweet taste, Black Thorn for sweet, and D24 for bitter.

Head along to theme park Haw Par Villa. But don’t expect roller coasters, bumper cars and carousels when you come here. This outdoor park features quirky and colourful statues depicting Chinese folklore, legends and history. It’s also rumoured to be haunted at night. Don’t miss the main attraction – the gruesome yet intriguing Ten Courts of Hell.

To learn more about the Little Red Dot’s history, make your way to the country’s oldest museum, the National Museum of Singapore. The exhibitions here focus on the nation’s history, like the Singapore History Gallery where it narrates the development of the country over the years and Modern Colony where it explores Singapore’s cosmopolitan nature as a British Crown colony from the late 1920s to 1930s. 

A couple of kilometres away is the country’s largest art museum, the National Gallery Singapore. It oversees over 8,000 artworks, making it the biggest public collection of modern art in Singapore and Southeast Asia. This art museum is also housed in two national monuments – the former Supreme Court building and City Hall. If you’re keen, the exteriors of these two buildings are great for pictures for the ‘gram as well.

Walk over to St Andrew’s Cathedral to admire its neo-Gothic architecture and know more about its history, like how it was named after the patron saint of Scotland in homage to the Scottish community who donated to the building fund. Besides being the country’s largest and oldest Anglican cathedral, the St Andrew’s is also a national monument and the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore.

Grab dinner and drinks at the nearby Chijmes, a former Catholic convent school turned lifestyle spot. There are loads of restaurants, bars and cafe here, like Harry’s, Privé, The Berlin Bar & Restaurant, Giardino Pizza Bar & Grill, and Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar. Chill on the bean bags or hammocks at the mini lawn area and gaze in awe at the view of the Gothic-style chapel once you’re done with your meal.

Looking forward to an adrenaline-filled day at Singapore’s state of fun, Sentosa? Instead of taking the train to Harbourfront and then the monorail into the island, opt for a cable car ride from Faber Peak at Mount Faber. The ride will treat you to beautiful aerial views of Sentosa itself, the harbour, and some of the heartlands.

With so many things to do at Sentosa, expect to spend an entire day on this island. You can pop into Universal Studios Singapore to go on adrenaline pumping rides like the Battlestar Galactica, and Revenge of the Mummy or head to Adventure Cove Waterpark to go on thrilling slides. There’s also AJ Hackett where you can bungy jump off a 50-metre tower, and Mega Adventure Park where you zip-line over Siloso Beach. If you prefer not to tempt fate, head to the S.E.A Aquarium or Madame Tussauds Singapore, admire the tallest Merlion in the country or go on the Skyline Luge & Skyride.

There’s an array of dining options at Sentosa you could go to for dinner, like Chili’s American Grill & Bar, Din Tai Fung, Hard Rock Cafe, and Fratelli Trattoria. But if you prefer heading elsewhere, try Maxwell Food Centre. This hawker has a reputation for its cheap delicious food, like the Hainanese chicken rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, and congee from Zhen Zhen Porridge.

Be at one with nature at Singapore Botanic Gardens. This 160-year-old tropical garden features more than 10,000 species of floral and was honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Stroll through this 82-hectare park to take in the best of horticulture set in a lush landscape.

It’s time you head to our country’s major shopping district, Orchard Road. Shop until you drop at malls like ION Orchard, Paragon, Ngee Ann City, 313@Somerset, Orchard Central and Plaza Singapura. Items on sale range from apparel and cosmetics to tech and furniture and brands include both luxury and casual, and international and local. Once you’re done, make your wallet feel better at Bugis Street. This shopping area out of Orchard is known for its cheap bargains, with items going as low as $5 and under. You can also journey to the east (Jurong) to shop at outlet mall IMM where brands like Kate Spade and Coach sell products at a discounted price.

Cab down to Dempsey Hill to explore the array of dining and nightlife offerings. You’ll have the option to tuck into local delights at various restaurants like Jumbo Seafood, Long Beach Seafood, and Samy’s Curry, or check out RedDot Brewhouse for a hearty menu of burgers, charcoal grill, and beers.

End your final day with a trip to the country’s three zoos – Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari – all of which are unique in terms of its animals and exhibits. Beginning at the Singapore Zoo, a visit here will treat you to over 300 species of animals, of which 34 percent are considered to be threatened. Animals here include the Bornean orangutan, cotton-top tamarin, chimpanzee, African lion, and brown lemur. It also has animals shows like the Splash Safari Show where you get to witness the antics of the California sea lion.

The River Safari is the newest addition among the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. It’s also Asia’s first and only river-themed wildlife park. At this 12-hectare zoo, you can find over 400 types of plants and 240 species of aquatic and terrestrial animals, including threatened animals like the giant panda, manatee and Mekong giant catfish. Other highlights include the Amazon River Quest boat ride where you come face-to-face with some 30 wildlife species from the Amazon River, and a 15-minute Reservoir Cruise that travels along the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

The Night Safari – as its name suggests – only operates at night. Explore its seven geographical zones on foot via its four walking trails – Leopard Trail, Fishing Cat Trail, East Lodge Trail, Wallaby Trail – or by tram. While at it, observe close to 100 species of animals in their natural habits here, like the spotted hyena, white African lion, sloth bear and clouded leopard.