A Full Day Budget Itinerary in Singapore
Have a full day in Singapore and don’t know how to plan or what to do? Well, here’s an activity-packed, budget-friendly one-day itinerary featuring the main attractions in the city centre that has been tried and tested by me.
Be warned though, you may clock in 10,000 steps before dinner! 🤪
I brought my friend around Singapore in August 2023. This post contains affiliate links and may be updated periodically.
A Brief Background (My Rambles)
A good friend of mine was here, and this was his first time in Singapore. But he isn’t in the island city for long – a short weekend before our 14-day trip in Vietnam, followed by another short weekend before he flew off to New Zealand. Singapore is just a transit for me to show him around.
With only one full Saturday to spare, what can we really do to maximise his time here? Well, I thought long and hard about it and put the theoretical plan into practice.
Some key attractions in Singapore include the following (some may be ticketed!):
- Jewel at Changi. A photo of the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. There are some paid attractions like mazes, a bridge and a giant slide, which could take half a day.
- Marina Bay Sands. For the Merlion, window shopping in MBS, fountain night show, and maybe the observation deck. Some people do river cruises, and many do hybrid land-sea DUCK tours.
- Gardens By The Bay. Cloud Dome, Flower Dome, Supertrees. TripAdvisor ranked it the 8th Best Tourist Attraction in the world recently!
- Little India. Shopping in Mustafa. Visit an Indian temple. Dine Indian cuisine.
- Chinatown. Walk around People’s Park. Visit a Chinese temple.
- Arab Street. Visit a mosque. Enjoy the street art.
- Geylang Serai. Malay village.
- Geylang. Red Light district.
- Orchard Road. Shopping Belt.
- Siglap/ Joo Chiat/ Katong area. Peranakan houses.
- Zoo/ Bird Park/ Safari.
- Aquarium in Sentosa.
- Botanic Gardens.
- Dine in Hawker Centre/ coffee shop
There are many more sights, activities and attractions not mentioned above. But since he is into food, culture and iconic landmarks of Singapore, those 14 points are the very best. If you’re not into any of those – food, culture, landmarks – then move on, as this itinerary might not work for you.
I tried posing the same question to my 19 yo intern and 25 yo colleague and their unanimous responses were Universal Studios and cafe hopping at Tanjong Pagar. I guess that’s what younger locals like to do on a weekend. If you’re into shopping, branded goods or nightlife in Singapore – inspired by the Crazy Rich Asians? – then I’m afraid I’m not the best person to ask.
The most mind-boggling activity I did in Singapore was to walk around the island. It took me 5 days to cover 160 km. Read more about it here!
Arriving in Singapore
There are plenty of flights into Singapore, and the country is visa-free for many others.
SG Arrival Card
Apply for an e-arrival card within 3 days of your arrival in Singapore.
Everyone, including citizens, has to submit the card. Failure to do so meant applying on the spot. This meant spending more time waiting to clear immigration – something I’ve experienced once and never ever again. Can’t wait to scramble back home after a long flight!
Immigration Counters
The efficiency of passing the immigration counters is one aspect of Singapore I highly appreciate after travelling to 40+ countries. No more waiting in long queues to have the passport checked and stamped! I could clear the counters in under a minute through the automated lanes!
Check if you hold one of the passports eligible for Singapore’s Automated Clearance Initiative, and experience the speed yourself.
Singapore is one of the countries that do not issue arrival/ departure stamps to streamline their procedure. Too bad for those passport-stamp collectors!
Airport Attractions
World-class Changi Airport (#2 as of 2024) with its 4 glitzy terminals and the 5th waiting to be constructed, has enough shops and activities to occupy any transit travellers. Marvel at the indoor waterfall at Jewel, connected to Terminal 1. Splurge a little to explore the bouncing net, maze and canopy park at the top of Jewel.
The newest attraction in the airport is the Jurassic Mile. Explore the dioramas of over 20 dinosaurs scattered around the 1 km stretch located a short walk from Terminal 4. Entrance is free. It might be tacky to some, like me, but could be a delightful and educational walk for those with young children.
There is also a butterfly garden, a sunflower garden, a virtual thunderous waterfall called The Wonderfall, and quirky artworks and sculptures scattered across the four terminals.
Taking Public Transport in Singapore
Before we delve into my itinerary, you have to understand and know how to get around Singapore.
Bus and MRT
Locals use EZ-Link cards/ bank cards/ smartphones/ wearable devices/ EZ-Link charms to tap in and out of public transport. Contactless bank cards work as well.
There used to be one-way tickets, but they have since been phased out.
As a budget traveller, using contactless bank cards seems like a no-brainer to cut costs. But hold on a moment – what makes you think your bank or SG’s Transport would let you take such an advantage? Each transaction works up to an additional administrative fee of S$0.50, plus other fees imposed by your banks.
If you’re a tourist, buying a refundable Singapore Tourist Pass for unlimited public rides may seem cheaper (prices range from S$22 – S$34, including a refundable S$10). However, after this one-day itinerary that I’ve tried and tested, buying an S$10 EZ-Link card with an inherent non-refundable S$5 deposit, works out to be much more cost-effective.
Single trips average S$1.5 if you’re staying in the city centre. For instance, a ride from Little India to Bayfront – the MRT station below Marina Bay Sands – costs S$1. If you were to travel from Changi Airport to Bugis, the ride cost S$2. This online fare calculator for MRT and buses is useful for planning.
You must have at least S$3 in the card for travel, which is the amount to cover the longest journey. Topping up is easy at the electronic kiosks under/ at all MRT stations. The minimum amount to top up is S$2 for cash or S$10 for card.
What to do with the leftover money in the EZ-Link card towards the end of your trip? 1) Retail purchases in some shops and vending machines accept EZ-Link payments. But if you do not see yourself using up the cash stored in your card, there’s another option. 2) Ask for a refund of stored value (not the inherent S$5) from the ticket office at just about any MRT station. Changi Airport MRT station has a ticket office by the gantry, which you can claim back your stored money after tapping out. You’ll still get to keep the card for the next 5 years until it expires or give it to someone visiting Singapore.
Taxis and Ride Hailing
If you’re looking for a private ride, you could hail a taxi from taxi stands, or call for a Grab/ Gojek through their respective app. For travellers who have been to South East Asia, you may be familiar with Grab. Gojek is more widely used in Indonesia. Uber is non-existent in Singapore, even though its Asia Pacific HQ is in the country.
My Trip as Planned
Breakfast
My friend heard me raving about soft-boiled eggs and kaya on toast while I was in New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa. So for his first breakfast in Singapore, we had the traditional breakfast sets from Ya Kun.
Ya Kun is a franchise, and you can find its outlets scattered across Singapore. However, they are not the only business serving kaya toast. You can venture and try out similar sets from coffee shops underneath Singapore’s HDB flats, in hawker centres, or food courts. Other franchise competitors include Heavenly Wang and Toast Box.
Bus to Little India
With breakfast done, our next agenda is Little India. To get there, we took a direct bus that cuts through Geylang. We could have taken the MRT, but I always thought travelling by bus, especially double-deckers, is a lot more fun when you can see what’s outside. I could also take the time to point out some landmarks. Plus that ride goes through the city with a brief view of Marina Bay Sands from afar, and other old but restored historical buildings.
Some older buses in Singapore do not show their next destination. Your best bet is to rely on Google Maps.
Since we are on buses and sightseeing, if you’re overwhelmed by planning your bus trips around Singapore, consider purchasing a one-day ticket on the hop-on, hop-off bus that covers most main attractions.
Sri Veeramakaliamman
Our first stop is Sri Veeramakaliamman, a beautiful 19th-century Hindu temple that is free to visit.
You must dress sensibly with knees and shoulders covered, and have your shoes removed outside its gate. Within the premises are dozens of sacred statues and worshippers. It was full of tourists and worshippers on the Saturday we visited.
Mustafa
How can you miss Mustafa when you’re in Little India?
Mustafa is a fun place to spend an hour or two even if you’re not buying anything. The 24-hour mall is a shopping haven and maze crowded with shoppers by noon, and can only be busier as the day rolls. You could get gadgets, chocolates, supplements, groceries, whatever. Anything can be found in Mustafa, from melons to stereo sets to even incense sticks for praying.
Lunch
Lunch was supposed to be some cheap and delicious Indian fare at Tekka Market and Food Centre, but I forgot the place was closed for renovations until the end of September 2023.
In the end, we landed at The Banana Leaf Apolo because I was too hungry to wait for a seat at Komala Vilas Restaurant. Both restaurants serve delicious Indian cuisine, with Apolo being famous for their Fish Head Curry, and Komala for the vegetarian fare and dosai.
Walk to Masjid Sultan Mosque
Singapore is so small that the attractions within the city centre are within walking distance. There’s no need for a bus or MRT, which may sometimes take even longer to get to the destination unless the weather is really hot or wet.
We spent 20 mins walking from our lunch spot to Masjid Sultan Mosque, exploring the small roads and street houses along the way.
Sultan Mosque has its origin traced back to the beginnings of Singapore as a fishing village. The mosque was one-of-its-kind built in 1824 for the first Sultan of Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles, the colonial founder of the city-state, contributed a sum to its construction. The mosque was rebuilt in 1932 after years of neglect and despair.
Visiting hours are from 10 AM – 4 PM with a 2-hour lunch break between 12 – 2 PM every day except on Friday for prayers. As with all places of worship, dress conservatively. The mosque loans long skirts to those with exposed knees. Shoes have to be left by the gates.
Arab Street
Arab Street or Kampong Glam is a place for exotic decor, art, and fusion fare. This eclectic part of Singapore used to be the designated quarter for the Malay-Muslim community in the 1800s. Urbanisation took hold, and the area has since been more of a hippie place. The colourful shophouses remain, but what’s within are escape rooms, Instagram-worthy cafes and niche museum/ shops selling collector’s items.
You can still get Turkish ice cream, Persian rugs, or Mediterranean food along Haji Lane.
If you’re looking for a more in-depth historical tour around Kampong Glam, check out this tour!
Walk to Suntec for snacks
Living in New Zealand meant a scarcity of certain foods like boba tea and mango shaved ice. Being in Asia means being in a place full of cheap and tasty food. Suntec is another mega mall in Singapore. The main point is, it is air-conditioned. A nice air-con break plus boba tea and shaved ice before we head out to explore Chinatown.
MRT to Chinatown
We could walk to Chinatown from Suntec, but that would have taken us 30 minutes of walking under the hot afternoon sun!! 15 mins is still doable but not 30. That would have ended badly. Instead, we took the MRT from the Promenade to Chinatown via the Blue Downtown Line, which took just 15 mins.
As you reach the end of the escalator of Exit A from the belly of Chinatown MRT station, what awaits you are rows of outdoor eateries and shophouses. You could spend half a day touring the small streets and shophouses, or buy a drink and people-watch. We saw a Thai Youtuber filming her travel vlog in one of the shops selling fans.
But we have a quest, and that is to reach the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple before closing time (5 PM).
The main road of Chinatown (Eu Tong Sen Street) would be decked in colourful lights during the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival. Time your visit if it’s the lights you’d like to see. Chinatown isn’t the only place with fancy celebratory lights. Other major roads in areas like Little India, Kampong Glam and Orchard would be decked in lights during other festivals too.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
By the time we reached the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, one of the most beautiful instagrammable spots in Singapore, it was 4.45 PM! The complex is grand with golden interiors, several Bodhisattvas and a huge hall for prayers. Unlike the previous two places of worship, this temple is air-conditioned. You could catch a live stream of the offerings on their website during operating hours.
The temple is open every day from 7 AM – 5 PM. As we had all but 15 minutes, it was a short walk-through for us. There is more to the temple, including museums on its upper levels, which are highly worth a longer visit, an hour at least. As with all religious places, dress sensibly!
Chinatown Complex
I planned to have dinner in the Chinatown Complex Food Centre but found most stalls closed by then. If you want a meal in the complex, be there for lunch.
Apart from food at level 2, the complex also sells clothes, household items, and souvenirs at the ground level.
Dinner at Maxwell Food Centre
Dinner for us was the famous chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre. You’ll know which stall is the most popular one by the length of the queue. Have cash ready!
Apart from Tian Tian Chicken Rice, we had fried carrot cake and iced lemon tea.
Singapore has a table choping culture where patrons leave a pack of tissues or non-valuables to reserve a table in a communal eating space. Good or bad, up to you to decide. But know that a table with something on it probably meant it has been reserved.
Maxwell is a popular eating place for city area folks during lunchtime on weekdays. Plan your trip wisely.
Walk to Merlion
Late afternoon/ evening is a good time for walks when the weather isn’t that hot. We walked through Ann Siang Hill – bypassing its temple and informational boards – through the street houses now converted to cafes, boutique shops or Korean BBQs, before finally finding ourselves strolling by the Singapore River.
Tourists assemble in mass by the Marina Bay area, and that’s where the ice cream uncles ply their trade. We had a durian ice cream sandwich – a childhood titbit to look forward to for any Singaporean kid born in the 1990s. Prices are much more inflated and commercialised now, but anyway.
I’ve frequented the Marina Bay Area in the past on my bike. Early mornings are always the best time to visit Merlion Park as you get no crowds! It was very packed by 6.30 PM. But my friend still managed to get a shot – and be a spectacle for the children there – with his dino costume.
Marina Bay Sands
Post Merlion, the next destination is naturally the Marina Bay Sands – a now iconic landmark of Singapore after the timeless Merlion. MBS is situated directly opposite the Merlion in the Marina Bay area. There’s nothing much to do in the shopping mall unless you’re into branded goods. You could also buy a ticket and visit the observation deck of MBS.
Make sure you catch the 15-minute hourly fountain show Spectra at the event plaza starting at 8 PM. Be there 10 minutes earlier to get the best spots! Some reviewed that the fountain light show is on par with similar shows in other parts of the world like Dubai – which I concur with, having been there years ago. Burj Khalifa was ablaze with colourful light during the show.
Supertrees
It was close to 9 PM by the time we reached the supertrees. Supertrees are best visited at night when they are lit. They look like monstrous fungi in the morning.
As with the light shows at MBS, there are free hourly light shows by the Supertrees starting at 7:45 PM.
MRT back home
We’re finally going home after more than 12 hours of walking around the city centre! The number of steps I took that day (38.2 K steps) is equivalent to the number of steps I took to cross Mackenzie Pass in New Zealand twice (37.6 K steps).
The nearest MRT to Supertrees is Bayfront on the Circle Line. Many underground entrances lead to this station.
Other Mentions
Apart from the places mentioned above, we’ve also visited other areas with whatever pockets of time he had between the transits.
Tour Jewel
Please at least visit the world’s largest indoor waterfall by the airport before you catch your flight! Jewel is a big mall shaped like a donut with a waterfall at its centre. Depending on your interest level, you could spend half a day exploring the paid attractions at the upper levels of Jewel.
Tour Geylang
Geylang is known as the official red-light district of Singapore with an above-average number of KTVs, seedy massage shops and clubs. If you’ve been around Singapore long enough, you’ll notice more sex shops along the main road. Also, illegal peddlers selling Tongkat Ali and other sex booster medicines.
There are 44 Lorong or streets in Geylang, and the most eye-opening neighbourhoods are at the upper sections of Geylang Road from Lorong 10 to 20. Consider joining a walking tour conducted by Uncle Chris in the evenings at Geylang, where the streets come alive after dark.
As a resident living in Geylang, there’s nothing dangerous about this area, though there have been times when I see a drunk lying on the street in the wee hours of the day. Geylang is home to fruit stalls selling durian and other exotic tropical fruits, delicious food like frog porridge, seafood, dim sum and beef noodles, and quirky cafes. This tour brings you to the eateries around Geylang to solve your dinner problem.
One Weekend Plan
If you have a weekend to spare, you could break up my one-day itinerary into two days and explore the area at a more leisurely pace. My one-day itinerary focuses on the main sights and misses out on other smaller attractions like museums within the areas. With another day to spare, you’d get to sample more food!
But if you insist on making the most out of your weekend, most travellers or first-time visitors of Singapore I’ve spoken to, choose to spend Day 2 at the Zoo, River Safari, Bird Paradise, or Aquarium. These places are world-class attractions, especially ideal for those with children, elderly parents, or people who generally want to relax and enjoy the enclosure. You may be able to do two attractions within a day, but that’ll be a very long and tiring day. Book your ticket combos online to enjoy savings.
More Days
And if you have exhausted the main attractions on the island, here are some other less-popular activities to do:
- Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie. You have to pay for a treetop walk in Penang and elsewhere. It’s free in Singapore!
- Countryside farms. Frog farm, dairy farm, and vegetable farm in Choa Chu Kang area. Travelling there and around is a hassle. Getting a tour solves the inconvenience.
- Floating fish farms. Also known as kelong.
- Pulau Ubin. Take a boat from the Changi Ferry Terminal and spend a day cycling and exploring this other island North East of Singapore.
- St John, Kusu and Lazarus islands. Hop onto a ferry and explore the southern islands.
Accommodations
If you have a night or two and need to find a place to stay in Singapore, here’s my recommendation, depending on your budget.
Budget Backpacker. Sorry, but there isn’t really a budget option in Singapore where rentals for housing, cafes and shops are sky-high. You can’t get a bed with good ratings under S$30. Try couchsurfing instead. Otherwise, as a solo backpacker, look into capsule hostels like CUBE Boutique in Arab Street, Galaxy Pods in Chinatown, or KINN Capsule at Boat Quay. I prefer capsules for their privacy, and most of the hostels I’ve stayed at, be it in Queenstown, New Zealand or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, have at least a blind or curtain.
Mid-Range 2 – 3 stars Hotel. For those looking for more privacy and a private toilet, check out the Ibis Budget range, examples include locations at Bugis or Lavender, which are close to the attractions I’ve mentioned above. Or YMCA at One Orchard, which is close to the shopping belt. The Sultan at Arab Street, with its stylish boutique rooms, is another hotel to consider.
5-star hotel. A night in Marina Bay Sands is probably what most travellers look forward to, that is if you’re okay with splurging at least S$800 for a room. S$800 gives you zero good views, but you’ll get free access to the infinity pool and world-class facilities. Moving on, do you know the most expensive hotel room in Singapore is in Sentosa, with a view of 40,000 fish including Manta Rays and sharks? A night in the grand room costs at least S$2,000. But you get what you’ve paid for – an underwater view, something very different indeed. Moving away from the extremes, a 5-star hotel in Singapore averages around S$350. Examples include international brands like Carlton, Pan Pacific and Marriott.
Notes
- EZ Link card. Get your EZ Link card from the ticketing counter, Changi Recommends stores, or the Passenger Service Counter if you’re taking the MRT straight from the airport. Take note of their opening hours!
- All MRT stations and some bus stations have free wifi. It’s called Wireless@SGx. Most malls have free wifi too.
- Visit Little India early. Or be prepared to be inundated by the afternoon Indian and tourist crowds.
- Visit Marina Bay around sunset for different views. And also to catch the fountain show.
- Tap water is drinkable. But they’re not tasty.
- Free water but bring your own bottle. Nursing rooms in malls have water dispensers. Libraries and some malls may have dispensers located near the toilets.
- Have your portable shopping bags ready. Some shops request a small fee for bags. All supermarkets charge for disposable carrier bags.
- Eating in restaurants. You’ll be charged a 9% Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a 10% service charge on top of your bill. Tipping is not common in Singapore. Make sure you check the prices of the dish, especially seafood, or you’ll end up like this group of Japanese tourists.
- Be vigilant when paying for taxi fares from touristy places. There’s been a recent spade of unprofessional taxi touts overcharging gullible tourists. Be cautious, or book a private hire and save yourself from this nonsense.
- Choping culture. A tissue packet or umbrella on the table of a hawker centre and food court meant the table had been choped. Some people leave behind the craziest items like a staff card, their bags, or a laptop.
- CCTV cameras everywhere. Don’t try to be funny and commit petty crimes because you’ll definitely be caught.
- Drones. You can’t just fly a drone anywhere in Singapore, as this tourist learnt. Check the zones for flying an unmanned aircraft, or be ready for a hefty fine.
Conclusion/ Rambles
And that’s my version of a hectic one-day (budget) itinerary that covers all the essential landmarks of Singapore. I hope this post will be useful in your planning or as a seed for more inspiration. If this is your first time in Singapore, welcome!!
Tell me how your trip went by commenting below! ✨
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