One Full Day in Singapore
Experience the highlights that the luxurious county of Singapore has to offer in one exciting day. In this guide to Singapore, I’ll cover everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip based on my experience.
Let’s get started!
Singapore is a city-state in Southern Asia that exudes luxury. A few key things to know before visiting are:
A visa is not required for visitors from most countries, including the United States, to enter Singapore. However, a SG Arrival Card is required for all visitors. You can apply for free online up to 3 days in advance https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/.
Singapore is very modern, so don’t worry about exchanging currency for Singapore Dollars, instead plan on using a credit card everywhere.
Singapore is serious about keeping its city clean. Do not litter or even chew gum! You can face some pricey fines for even giving someone else a piece of gum.
Singapore is a pretty safe country, so you can walk around to different locations, take the subway, or get a taxi.
Singapore uses Type G electrical plugs, also known as British plugs. While some places will use US outlets, come prepared with a universal travel adapter that converts to type G.
Rain Vortex in The Jewel
I know what you’re thinking, I’m crazy, who likes hanging out in airports? When I arrive at an airport, I try to exit the airport as quickly as possible to explore the destination I’ve arrived at. But Singapore’s airport is more than just an airport, it’s an experience. There are things to do in the terminal itself, and things you can do without needing an airplane ticket.
In Terminal 1 there are several gardens to visit. There is an indoor arrival garden, a rooftop cactus garden, a discovery garden, and a water lily garden.
There is less on offer in Terminal 2, but there is an indoor enchanted garden or a rooftop sunflower garden you can visit.
Terminal 3 has my favorite garden we visited which is the butterfly garden where you can see over 1,000 butterflies flying around you and if you’re lucky, one might even land on you. There are also some art displays you can visit such as The Memory of Lived Space installation and the Birds in Flight sculpture. Another unique option is if you’re transiting through the Singapore airport and have time to kill you can catch a movie inside the theater free of charge. On the public side of Terminal 3 you can take a ride down the tallest slide in an airport, but just note this costs money unless you have a flight.
Terminal 4 has more artwork to see including the Les Oiseaux bird sculpture and the Immersive Wall. One of the art installations, the Chandelier, is actually a giant playground-type structure you can explore.
The Jewel is the crown jewel (pun intended) of the Singapore airport. This is the only part of the airport that is completely open to the public and does not require a ticket for a flight to visit. There is so much to do here you can easily spend a few hours exploring. You can take a walk along the canopy, jump on a suspended trampoline, go through a hedge maze or a mirror maze, or walk through the petal gardens. However, the one thing you shouldn’t miss is the rain vortex. This is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and falls down the middle of the Jewel.
Overall, if you’re arriving in Singapore, I’d recommend you check out The Jewel for about an hour before heading into downtown Singapore. Then hit the rest of the highlights inside the terminal on your departure flight out.
Trekker Tip: You must clear customs to access The Jewel, so if you’re just transiting through Singapore and don’t plan on entering the country you won’t be able to access the attractions at The Jewel.
Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool
After exploring the airport, grab a taxi into downtown Singapore and drop off your bags at your hotel. The Marina Bay Sands can be quite expensive, but it has some perks that make it worth it. The Marina Bay Sands has a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks Singapore and onto Malaysia out in the distance and only those who are staying at the hotel can access this pool. This was my main reason for staying at the hotel, and it made a great way to relax and escape the heat of Singapore. In addition to the infinity pool, there are a few hot tubs also on the rooftop.
Another thing the Marina Bay Sands has to offer is the SkyPark observation deck. This is an overlook 56 stories high that offers views of the Marina Bay area, Gardens By the Bay, and more. Access to the SkyPark is free for guests staying at the hotel, or for S$32 per person for adults or S$28 for those younger than 12 or older than 65 years.
View from the SkyPark
Helix Bridge
Merlion Statue
Take a walk around the Marina Bay area and see the architectural masterpieces. Along the way you see the boat shaped design of the Marina Bay Sands from a distance. You can also stop at the Merlion statue and fountain which is a combination of a mermaid and a lion. Also take a stroll across the helix bridge which is the world’s first double helix bridge that was inspired by the structure of DNA.
Attached to the Marina Bay Sands is The Shoppes mall. Here you will find luxury brands that exude exuberance. While we didn’t do any shopping, it was nice to walk around and see the displays and take an air condition break away from the outside heat. There is a waterfall that falls into the canal that flows through the mall that you can view from where the water comes in and also where it falls down. You can also take a sampan ride on the canal, but we decided against it. There are many food options inside the mall so this can be a nice spot to grab lunch or dinner.
Supertree Grove and OCBC Skyway
One of my favorite things in Singapore is the Gardens by the Bay. It is free to walk through the grounds of the gardens and see the outdoor sites. However, for the best experience plan to visit one or two of the indoor domes.
The Cloud Forest dome is home to a large variety of plants that would be found in the world’s cloud forests. At the time of publishing, it also features an immersive Avatar experience.
The Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse and offers a variety of flowers and plants from around the world for you to view. It is sectioned into different areas across the globe such as the California Garden, Mediterranean Garden, South African Garden, and more.
The Floral Fantasy dome takes floral displays over the top with suspended bouquets and a variety of floral arrangements. You can also add on a 4D ride with the Flight of the Dragonfly.
You should also plan to walk around the Supertree Grove and see the tree art structures that tower up to 50 meters high. If you have 15 extra minutes, go up the OCBC Skyway and walk between two of the Supertrees to view the Supertree Grove from a 22 meter height. You could also visit the Supertree Observatory and go to the very top of the tallest Supertree, but I would choose the Skyway over the Observatory.
Trekker Tip: Roughly once a month the exhibits close for maintenance, so plan ahead to not visit on a day when one of the attractions is closed. The maintenance schedule is posted on the website months in advance.
Flower Dome
Garden Rhapsody at Gardens By the Bay
To finish your day, plan to see a free light show around the Marina Bay area. There are 2 main light shows, one at the Marina Bay Sands and another at the Gardens by the Bay.
Spectra at Marina Bay Sands:
This is a 15-minute light show that combines waterworks, lighting, and music. It can get crowded since it’s an amazing display, so plan to arrive a little early to grab a good spot. The best location to view the show is on the deck that’s in front of the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. You can view the light show daily at 8 PM and 9 PM, with an additional show at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay:
This is also a 15-minute light show where the Supertree Grove lights up to the soundtrack of iconic movies. This show can also get crowded, so similar to Spectra, plan to arrive a little early to find a good spot. The best location to view the show is in the middle of the Supertree Grove. You can view the light show daily at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM.
Because both of these shows are 15 minutes, if you’re planning on seeing both, don’t try to catch the 7:45 PM show at the gardens and then the 8 PM Spectra show as you won’t be able to get there in time to see the entire show. However, it should be easy enough to see the 7:45 PM show and then the 9 PM show, or the 8 PM show and then the 8:45 PM show. If you’re staying multiple nights, another way to see the shows is from the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands at the SkyPark.
View of the Lightshow from the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
If you have more than one day to explore Singapore, there are many more options for things you can do:
Kampong Glam: This is Singapore’s Muslim quarter that dates back to the 1800s. Builds are painted bright colors and you can explore the history, do some shopping, or taste the cuisine.
National Gallery Singapore: Here you can visit a collection of modern art from all over Southeast Asia.
St. Andrews’s Cathedral: Located in Singapore’s Civic District this is Singapore’s largest cathedral.
Singapore Flyer: You can take a ride on the large Ferris wheel and look out over Singapore.
Thian Hock Keng: This is Singapore’s largest Buddhist temple that’s architecture is based in the traditional southern Chinese style.
Sentosa: This island resort is home to Universal Studios Singapore and the S.E.A Aquarium as well as beaches to relax on.
The Southern Ridges: This is a 6.2 mile recreation trail that connects 5 parks in Singapore.
Chinatown: You can spend time here walking the streets, shopping for souvenirs, or grabbing a bite to eat.
Little India: This a dense area filled with flowers, spices, fabrics, and lots of shops and boutiques.
Orchard Road: This is Singapore’s commercial district filled with neon lights and tons of shopping.
Street Food: Street food and Hawker centers are extremely popular in Singapore, and you should plan to visit at least one and try the local food. Some even have a Michelin Star!
During our visit in 2022, we stayed at the Marina Bay Sands. It can be quite expensive but has a great location in the heart of the Marina Bay area. One of the highlights is the rooftop infinity pool that you can only access if you are staying at the hotel. Hotel guests also get free access to the rooftop SkyPark that offers great views overlooking Singapore.
I will say the hotel rooms themselves are underwhelming with uncomfortable beds. Also, breakfast is not included so that’s another fee you should plan for. Restaurants in the hotel are very expensive so you might consider leaving the hotel for meals.
Bring your credit card since all places will accept major credit cards.
Pack a universal power adapter so all your electronics remain charged.
Sunscreen is a must as you’ll spend a lot of time outside.
Always bring a water bottle so you stay hydrated.
Take a camera so you can capture every moment!