3-Day Itinerary in Singapore Done Right: Cheap, Local, Walkable

Total Cost Estimate (excluding lodging): $150 ($50 USD per day)

Total Duration: ~8-10 hours per day of activities

Introduction

Singapore is one of my favorite cities on Earth. While it has a reputation for being sterile and boring (which it can be sometimes) – there is a ton of stuff to do in both the downtown area and further out towards the edges of this city-state.

This post gives an itinerary of 3 packed days in Singapore where you get a taste of:

(Day 1) The futuristic downtown area / central business district

(Day 2) Singapore’s culture and history

(Day 3) Nature & beach (there is beach access within a subway ride of downtown)

If you are only in the city for one day or are passing through for a layover, see my one-day travel guide here to maximize your time.

While Singapore also has a reputation of being very expensive (which it can be if you want to live it up), it can also be done for pretty cheap without sacrificing your experience. This is what makes Singapore unique as a Tier 1 city – you can get some of the best food of your life at a Hawker center for less than $10 USD – the same could not be said of visiting NYC / London / Paris. On top of this, you can see the most of what Singapore has to offer for cheap or free.

Singapore is one of the safest, if not the safest major city on the planet. You’ll feel safer riding the MRT (subway / metro) here at 2am than riding public transit in any US city at 2pm. To be fair, Singapore makes this happen through what is functionally benevolent authoritarianism. Walking around Singapore, you might be surprised to find that authoritarianism is actually very nice when leaders are extremely competent and focused on financial prosperity and social cohesion. Although this model of government only tends to work effectively in small, highly-educated countries such as Singapore. Needless to say – this country is probably the easiest and safest place in Asia for any English speaker to get around – just grab a 3-day subway pass ($29 SGD, roughly $23 USD at current FX rates) and you’re good to go.

Here’s what you’ll find in this post:

Day 1: Downtown / Marina Bay – Futuristic Singapore

The first day is geared towards all things new & shiny Singapore, which is mostly focused on the downtown area in the center of the city. All you need are some comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a bottle of water.

Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat sits directly in center of the financial district of Singapore. This area is interesting in the morning because you’ll see a mix of finance / tech workers alongside tourists and everyday people. The area is touristy, but this is the nicest Hawker Center in Singapore. It’s also the most expensive, but you can still expect to get a full meal for around $10USD.

Lau Pa Sat is technically open 24/7 (you can walk through whenever), but each vendor will have its own hours. Also note that “Satay Street” opens up right next to Lau Pa Sat on weekdays from 7pm to 3am / weekends from 3pm to 3am where there are a ton of Satay carts to grab a plate of satay and have a beer (and stay out late, for Singapore standards).

If you’re looking for breakfast, there’s a central stand called “Kopi Kiosk” that offers a meal deal. It’s right in the middle and hard to miss. You can get hot / iced Kopi (Coffee), Kaya toast (toast with butter and jelly) and Eggs for around $4USD. If you don’t like eggs you can double up on toast.

Marina Bay Loop

Marina Bay is a super-futuristic development that has a beautiful man-made harbor, great views of the Singapore skyline, and of course Marina Bay Sands, which is the ultra-high-end mall and casino developed in partnership with Las Vegas Sands. I’d recommend doing a full loop of the harbor (make sure to grab a water though for the walk – it gets very hot during daytime).

Marina Bay Sands “The Shoppes” (Lunch + A/C break)

After a lap around the harbor you’ll probably need some air conditioning and some lunch. Within Marina Bay Sands mall (“The Shoppes”), there are a ton of designer shops which are fun for walking around and people watching. No spending required. While there are some high end restaurants here, at the bottom floor there’s a massive food court with tons of really good and affordable food options. I’d recommend getting lunch here and to cool off for a bit in the mall AC.

Also it just smells strangely good in here. You’ll know what I mean when you’re inside the building. They actually formulated a custom scent for this place (it’s called “Limitless”) – you can buy some to take it home with you. A bit over the top, but that’s Singapore.

Gardens By the Bay (Late Afternoon)

Gardens by the Bay is a beautiful garden / public park that is right behind Marina Bay Sands. You can go up to the artificial treetops for ~$18USD, but walking around the park itself is free. If you come at night, you can catch one of the light shows they put on where the tree lights are synchronized to music.

Note there’s also a fairly nice food court right within Gardens by the Bay where you can get a really great meal for just around $10USD.

Marina Barrage (Sunset)

Marina Barrage is right behind Gardens by the Bay, facing the Singapore strait. This is a multipurpose dam that prevents flooding, provides water storage, and offers beautiful views of the Singapore skyline. This was actually my favorite place to view the Singapore skyline since you’re a little bit more removed vs. being right downtown.

Walking around the pathway to Marina Barrage you can walk right back to Marina Bay Sands with better access to the metro. Or just hangout and enjoy the views.

Casino (Optional – Nighttime Fun)

This is completely unnecessary, but if you’re in the mood I highly recommend swinging by the Casino at Marina Bay Sands at night. Gambling is highly regulated in Singapore so make sure to bring your passport if you want to visit. This casino is unique because it’s the single highest-revenue gaming property on Earth. Singapore only has two casinos: Resorts World on Sentosa Island (more casual) and the Casino at MBS (high-rollers). Minimums for all table games are insane, but bring $20 SGD if you want to play the minimums on low-stakes slot machines or electronic roulette.

Singapore actually levies a tax just to enter this property for its own citizens, but it’s free for all other passports. I.e – they’ll take your money, but they want their own citizens to stay out of gambling. This place attracts a ton of high net worth gamblers passing through Asia, since Singapore is so safe and regulated. It’s a fun place to hangout and people watch, but just make sure to only bring in the amount you’re willing to lose if you’re going to play any games. I was in and out within 30 minutes because I quickly lost all the money I brought playing roulette (lol). Still worth it for the experience and seeing the casino. Of course, no pictures are allowed inside so you’ll have to see it for yourself.

Day 2: Heritage Core + River Night

Day 2 is more focused on old Singapore and cultural heritage instead of the new-money glitz.

Maxwell Food Centre

Yes, this is the Hawker center featured in Crazy Rich Asians. Compared to Lau Pa Sat, this one is much more local and also cheaper. Maxwell is right next to Chinatown.

Chinatown

Next stop, head over to Chinatown right nearby for some shopping or even more food if you’re not stuffed from Maxwell.

Little India

Little India in Singapore goes back to the 19th century under British Colonialism. Since then, it’s maintained its strong cultural heritage as a hub for South Asian commerce and community. This is a great area to flaneur, people watch, and of course get great food (or snacks if you’re already stuffed).

Clarke Quay / Singapore River

Clarke Quay is one of Singapore’s most popular nightlife and dining districts. It’s a great place to people watch and grab dinner after a long day of exploring.

Tiong Bahru (Alternative – Art Deco / Hipster Neighborhood)

Alternatively or if you have additional time, I’d recommend heading west to check out Tiong Bahru. This neighborhood was the first planned public housing in Singapore by the 1930s British Colonial government. The vibe is art deco and it feels like something out of retro America or Europe rather than Asia. It started out as housing for working class Singaporeans. In the 1970s/80s, most old estates like Tiong Bahru were demolished, but Tiong Bahru was preserved. Today, it’s a quiet and affluent “cool” neighborhood with lots of cafes and bookstores. Brooklyn of Singapore?

Day 3: Nature Day (Beach + Gardens)

After 2 days of walking around central Singapore and cultural sites, Day 3 is catered towards a little more relaxation and time in nature. Note you’ll definitely still want comfortable shoes, water, and sunscreen to be comfortable throughout the day.

Singapore Botanical Gardens

Singapore Botanical Gardens entry is free! The gardens are massive and you’ll see a mix of locals hanging out alongside tourists exploring. There are several cafes nearby as well where you can grab an iced coffee or snack for breakfast.

Henderson Waves

Next stop – Henderson Waves. This is a really cool new development / aerial bridge with views of Southwest Singapore. This place is a little tricky to get to, but taking the bus is your best bet (Bus 153 from the Botanical Gardens – or just follow google maps, it won’t let you down). It’s basically right in the middle of the jungle so be prepared for humidity and to sweat your *ss off, even at night.

Koon Seng Road (Joo Chiat / Katong)

After the Henderson waves, take the bus / subway all the way East to Koon Seng Road. This area was developed in the early 20th century for Peranakan families. The street is most famous for its colorful houses and preserved Peranakan culture. Katong is the name of the broader neighborhood of this area, located Eastward back towards Changi airport and away from the downtown area.

East Coast Park

East Coast park is a quiet gem on – you guessed it – the east coast of Singapore. It’s a massive park with an open access beachfront. You can come here to walk, bike, or just hangout on the beach. It’s around a ~15 minute walk from the Peranakan houses near Joo Chiat road. There are also some cafes / fast food places along the path if you want to grab a bite. I just opted for an emergency iced coffee at Starbucks and to cool down in the A/C for a bit.

Haji Lane

And for the last stop back towards central Singapore – Haji Lane. Haji Lane is a narrow street in the Kampong Glam area as part of a historical Malay-Arab trading quarter. Nowadays, it’s more so independent boutiques, street art, and cafes.

Changi Airport

You’ve made it through 3 packed days and it’s time to head to the airport. But Singapore is unique in that the airport is a destination to explore in and of itself.

Changi is hands-down the nicest airport on earth. This airport is 100% worth coming to at least an hour early, if not more. I’m not one to usually be impressed by man-made things, but seeing the indoor waterfall inside the airport was legitimately incredible. And inspiring. Singapore is such a special place to me because it achieved such extreme financial abundance and peace despite its lack of any natural resources. Through Lee Kuan Yew’s leadership and legacy, the small island of Singapore is now one of the most important trade hubs and most prosperous cities on the planet.

Conclusion

While 3 days is a bit tight to see all of what Singapore has to offer in its entirety, you can explore both modern and old Singapore on a relatively low budget, without sacrificing much in terms of your experience. While the city it can feel a bit sterile at times, that’s one of the core features of Singapore. It’s meant to be the central trading and finance hub of Southeast Asia where there’s a unique combination of highly effective government, strong property rights, low taxes, and a highly diverse international workforce. It’s definitely the most westerner-friendly Asian city, and I highly recommend staying here for at least a few days to see what the city has to offer.