Singapore
Futuristic gardens, hawker food and a melting pot of cultures.
Suggested length
4 days
Best for
Food · Family · Architecture
Best time to visit
February–April (drier months)
Singapore is compact and easy to navigate. Use the MRT, eat at hawker centres, and stay out of the midday heat by visiting museums and malls. The Gardens by the Bay light show is free every evening.
Plan your trip with practical tips on where to stay, what to do and how to get around.
Singapore is a small island city-state where futuristic architecture, lush gardens, heritage shophouses and some of the world's best street food sit side by side. This Singapore travel guide will help you plan the best time to visit, where to stay, how to eat cheaply and what to pack for the tropical climate.
February to April is the driest period and the best time to visit Singapore. The rest of the year is hot and humid with short tropical showers. December and January are wettest but also festive. The city is air-conditioned everywhere, so rain rarely ruins a trip.
Marina Bay is the iconic first-timer base, close to the skyline and Gardens by the Bay. Chinatown and Kampong Glam offer heritage charm and great food. Orchard Road is convenient for shopping and families. Sentosa is resort-focused, while Robertson Quay suits a quieter riverside stay.
Watch the Gardens by the Bay light show, visit Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum, eat at a hawker centre and explore the ethnic quarters of Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. Sentosa offers beaches and Universal Studios, while the Southern Ridges walk gives a green escape from the city.
Hawker centres are the heart of Singapore food. Try Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab, laksa, satay and roti prata. Chinatown Complex, Maxwell Food Centre and Old Airport Road are great starting points. For a treat, book one modern restaurant in a heritage shophouse.
The MRT is clean, fast, air-conditioned and covers almost every tourist area. Buses are efficient and also accept the same EZ-Link or contactless card. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap by international standards. Walking is easy but hot — plan indoor stops during midday.
Day 1: Marina Bay, Merlion Park and Gardens by the Bay light show. Day 2: Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. Day 3: Sentosa beaches, Universal Studios or the S.E.A. Aquarium. Day 4: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Orchard Road and a hawker-centre feast to finish.
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Plan before you book
Get a day-by-day itinerary for Singapore — where to stay, how to get around and what to book ahead.
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