One Day in Singapore
The Perfect Itinerary for 24 hours in Singapore
Singapore is the archetypal ‘one day in’ city. It’s a major airline hub, so many people use it for a layover. There are many reasons for this, it’s full of spectacular things to see, it’s compact, and it’s got a stellar transport system. So, welcome to the Lion City and my curated itinerary, perfect for one day in Singapore.
Hotel
If you have the budget, then Raffles, one of the world’s most iconic hotels, is the obvious choice. Alternatively, you could pick the modern 5 star, 56 storey Marina Bay hotel, but we’ll visit both as part of the journey. For a more modest cost, in what is an expensive city, I chose QT, Singapore, as it’s located close to many of Singapore’s chief attractions.
Breakfast
We want to maximise our time in Singapore, so breakfast is at Prive, in Singapore’s wonderful Botanic Gardens.
Morning
After fuelling up on Chilli Crab Shakshuka, Eggs Royale or going all in on the Ultimate Big Breakfast at Prive, we’ll start the serious business of one day in Singapore. The first stop in these spectacular gardens is the National Orchid Garden. This displays over 1000 species of these beautiful plants, one of which, the Vanda Miss Joaquim hybrid, is the national flower of Singapore.
Other highlights include:
- The Ginger Garden, featuring over 250 types of ginger;
- The Seed Bank, dedicated to preserving rare species from all over southeast Asia, and;
- The SPH Walk of Giants which takes visitors from ground level up into the canopy at a height of 8 metres.
The Botanic Gardens Singapore is so large and interesting, it’s easy to plan a whole day here, but the city offers much more, so we need to move on.
Little India
Little India, our next stop, is a mere 15 minutes away on Singapore’s wonderful MRT metro system. This atmospheric area epitomises the cultural diversity of Singapore. The term ‘melting pot’ can often be overused, but when describing Singapore, it is totally justified.
Little India transports you to the subcontinent. The sights, sounds and smells are pure Calcutta, Delhi or Agra. The vibrantly coloured Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu Temple is a must see, as is the spectacular Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Little India is also a bustling commercial area. Take some time to stroll around the area, taking in the saree, gold and sweet shops.
Colonial Singapore
Britain’s control of Singapore lasted around 150 years, from 1819 until independence in 1963. Sir Stanley Raffles ‘ arrival to establish a trading post for the East India Company has left an indelible architectural mark on Singapore.
With lunch beckoning, we’ll get back on the MRT for the quick hop between the Little India and Dhoby Ghaut stops. The short walk to our lunch spot at Boat Quay will take us past a plethora of colonial landmarks and points of interest, including the spectacular war memorial, St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore’s national gallery and the Padang sports fields.
Lunch
Lunch at Boat Quay
Boat Quay was one of Singapore’s major trading hubs. Barges would sail up the Singapore river to offload their cargoes. Today, it’s a great place to have lunch overlooking the river, with the tourist boats offering river trips and the imposing Fullerton building. Built in 1929 as a government building, it hosted Singapore’s general post office and various other administrative departments. It also saw heavy action during the battle for Singapore during World War II. Today, it is a luxury hotel.
Try Charlie’s Bar and Grill for tapas and stone grilled meats, or Jumbo Seafood’s famous Chilli crab.
Gardens by the Bay
In 1967, Singapore’s president, Lee Kuan Yew, announced his vision of making Singapore a city of gardens and one of the resulting projects was the spectacular Gardens by the Bay. Since their inauguration in 2011, the Gardens by the Bay have become synonymous with Singapore and were recently voted the 8th most popular visitor attraction in the world.
It is easy to spend an entire day here, but with only one day in Singapore, we have to cherry pick. Our first stop in the Gardens by the Bay is the Supertree Observatory. It is virtually impossible not to have seen a photograph of these man-made, self-powering structures, the tallest of which is 16 stories high. We’re be here during the day, but an after dark visit is worthwhile if you have the chance to catch the wonderful sound and light show which happens twice nightly.
Cloud Forest
Our other stop, time permitting, is the Cloud Forest, a recreation of one of the world’s rarest habitats inside a massive glasshouse. Visitors can explore the Cloud Forest and its thousands of exotic plants. They come from all over the world and are planted in themed areas, ascending several storeys along the spiralling walkway which circles one of the tallest indoor waterfalls to be found anywhere.
Book your ticket for the Gardens by the Bay
Sundowner at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck, Singapore
After a long day in Singapore’s sometimes oppressive humidity, it’s time for a refreshing drink. We’ll take the escalator 56 stories to the rooftop bar of one of the world’s top hotels. The Marina Bay Sands is huge. It has a casino, 2 theatres, a museum and a shopping mall, over 60 restaurants and 2500 rooms. The 4 bedroom chairman suite, complete with massage room, 146 inch TV and butler service, will set you back around £9,000 a night.
The Marina Bay Sands defines the Singapore skyline. New techniques had to be developed to make the vision of architect Moshe Safdie a reality. This was especially true of the observation deck where we’ll watch the sunset. 200m high, it spans the three towers which make up the hotel and features a 150m wide infinity pool.
The view from the observation deck is spectacular. The Gardens by the Bay lie below you, the Singapore Flyer, Singapore’s answer to the London Eye, nestles near the Grand Prix circuit, and hundreds of freighters navigating the Malay Strait form a spectacular backdrop. Don’t forget to arrive early, night comes quickly near the Equator, and you’ll want the best seat to sip your sundowner.
Book your ticket for the Marina Bay Observation Deck
Dinner
Singapore’s position at the crossroads of South Asia means it has absorbed the cuisine of many cultures and it’s possible to feast on virtually every food type known to man. For dinner tonight, try Chijmes. The beauty of the surroundings matches the quality of the food.
Originally a convent, this heritage building is stunningly beautiful and a perfect location to eat. With 16 restaurants, as well as pubs and cafes, you’re spoilt for choice. If you’re feeling peckish, try the all you can eat option at Japanese grill Gyu-Kaku, or how about Spanish tapas at The Winery or a meatfest at Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria.
Nightcap
With our appetite sated, there’s only one way to complete one day in Singapore. An OG Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles hotel.
The place where Singapore’s national drink was first served remains a standout in class and elegance, but don’t forget to sweep your free peanut shells onto the floor. Make the most of it, they really frown on littering in Singapore!
Conclusion
So that’s it, we’ve maximised our time and crammed a huge amount into one day in Singapore. History, culture, food, gardens, we’ve done it all in just one day.
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