The Ultimate Guide on how to Spend 7 days in Singapore

Singapore is without a doubt the coolest city I have ever been to. Located just off the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore offers a different kind of experience in comparison to other major Asian cities.

The ‘Lion City’ will never leave you bored as it has endless unique activities to keep you occupied, as well as, an array of some of the best restaurants out there. As Singapore is a relatively new country, its infrastructure is one of a kind. The city has a modern feel, that is beautifully combined with greenery that you can see among the many skyscrapers.

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In total, I spent a week in Singapore during my time travelling around South East Asia. As I have family that lives there, we got a more in-depth view of the city, showing us the best that Singapore has to offer.

In this guide, I will be sharing with you the ultimate guide for spending a week in Singapore. It will include the best activities to do, where to find the most delicious food, where are the best areas to stay, and how to get around. As well as this, my next blog post will discuss some things you should know before visiting the ‘Lion City’.

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THINGS TO DO IN SINGAPORE:

1. Gardens By The Bay

Located right outside the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Gardens by the Bay is a must see when you are in Singapore. I would recommend taking two trips here, one during the day to visit the domes and walk the skybridge, and the second to see the light show, which is shown at 7.45pm and 8.45pm every night for free.

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Combining the futuristic feel of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay displays the most beautiful experience for all ages. The light show truly is a once in a lifetime experience, and the fact that it is free makes it even more enjoyable. Things tend to be expensive in Singapore, so the fact that this was free, was a huge bonus.

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I would recommend heading to the light show early as hundreds of people gather every night for it, so just to be sure you get a good spot arrive about 30 minutes prior to the show starting.

2. Little India

Walking around the streets of Little India is definitely worth taking some time out of your trip to go do. Little India is like no where else in Singapore, its narrow streets are made up of colourful buildings, street art, and some of the best cuisine in Singapore.

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I would recommend heading over here during the day, so that you can experience the hustle and bustle of the area. As well as this, Little India has some of the most beautiful street art in Singapore, so it is definitely worth going during the daytime.

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It is a little more hectic than other parts of the city but that is the beauty of it, creating a space in Singapore that definitely resembles parts of India.

3. Clarke Quay

If you are looking for the perfect evening down by the water then heading to Clarke Quay is a must. Built up with some of the best restaurants and shops in the city, Clarke Quay is like a little town from a movie.

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I would recommend heading here for dinner, walking around the area and browse the shops, and finish the evening with a boat cruise on the river (you can purchase tickets down at the doc area of Clarke Quay). Sounds like a perfect evening to me.

4. Chinatown

One of my favourite areas of Singapore has to be Chinatown. It is made up of some of the most beautiful buildings in Singapore, and is home to one of Singapore’s many markets. 

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I absolutely loved exploring the streets here and taking pictures of some of the most beautiful architecture. Chinatown, similarly to Little India, has a more authentic feel than other parts of the city.

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Chinatown has some of the best restaurants and shops, so while you’re in Singapore, take a few hours to discover this incredible area.

5. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Located in the heart of Chinatown, this temple is one of the most beautiful temples I have been to in South East Asia. I stumbled across this by accident when exploring the city and I was so glad I did because the whole experience was breath taking. The exterior and the interior of this temple is one of a kind and I am so glad I did find this gem to explore.

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Similarly to most temples in South East Asia, the Buddha Tooth Relic was free entry but there is an option to leave a donation while in the temple.

As it is very hot in Singapore, there is a very good chance your arms and legs may be on show, but this isn’t a worry, as upon entry they provide you with cover ups before entering the temple. Unlike some temples, these cover ups were free, and you had to just return them when leaving.

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6. Marina Bay Sands Observation Skydeck

This one is up for debate. I am glad did it and got to see the most incredible views of the city, but was it worth €19.50? Probably not. If you are budgeting I would skip the Skydeck and instead I would pay into the domes at Gardens by the Bay. 

However, of course it was very cool to see and you can stay up there for food and drinks but it is quite small, so it becomes boring after a few minutes.

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If you are open to splurging, you can go to the Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool and spend the day having cocktails and sunbathing but unfortunately, you do have to be a guest at the hotel.

7. Spectra – Light and Water Show

A nightly show of fountains, lasers and light projections set to music in front of the most incredible skyline. This lightshow is free and takes place twice a day, once at 8pm, and again at 9pm.

This whole experience was amazing, from the music, to the lights, to the fountain, and the most insane skyline being used as a backdrop, I cannot recommend this enough.

8. Sentosa Island 

This man-made island is the perfect place to head to if you are up for a fun filled day. The island is home to Universal Studios, a waterpark, a bungee jump, a golf course and Siloso Beach.

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There is also so many beautiful shops and restaurants on the island, so you can spend the full day out here exploring what the area has to offer.

Since Sentosa is off the main land, it can be a little more expensive than the city of Singapore but it is so worth spending a day here.

9. Harbourfront Cable Cars

The best way to get to Sentosa Island is to take the cable cars from the Harbourfront. It costs €24.40 per person for a return ticket, but it is the easiest way to get to and from the island, and it offers the most amazing views of the city.

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10. Botanical Gardens

Singapore is known for having the most beautiful greenery across the city, and these Botanical Gardens are the perfect display of how amazing the greenery actually is. Even if you aren’t into nature, I would not skip out on seeing these insanely cool gardens.

Admission to the botanical gardens is free and they are open 7 days a week.

11. Orchard road

If you are into shopping then this street will be a dream come true for you. I have never seen so many shopping malls in such close proximity to each other in my whole life. 

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And of course, this is Singapore, so you know that these shopping malls are going to be state of the art. Even if you are on a budget, I would definitely recommend walking down Orchard Road.

WHERE TO EAT

1. Lau Pa Sat 

This market was probably the best market we went to while in South East Asia, it just has everything and anything you could ever want all in the one place.

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If you are on a budget I would definitely recommend eating here, meals average at around €7-€8 and are super delicious. Make sure to get the fresh juices here, they are insane.

2. Eggslut 

Finding affordable breakfast places in Singapore wasn’t easy, but this place was reasonably priced and so yummy. If you like eggs for breakfast then this place will be ideal for you. Prices ranged at about €10-12 per person.

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3. Open Farm Community

If you are open to treating yourself, this lunch/dinner place has the most incredible food and vibes. It is the cutest little spot! It is a little more on the pricier side but if you have some flexibility in that budget, then definitely head here.

4. Alchemist

Looking for a super alternative coffee shop? Then head up to Alchemist for some delicious coffee. This place is located on Orchard Road and is one of the coolest coffee shops in the city.

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5. Newton Food Centre 

Have you ever seen the movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians?’ Then maybe you’ll recognise this spot. The Newton Food Centre is one of the oldest markets in Singapore, making it one of the best.

The food here is super affordable and insanely yummy.

6. Merci Marcel

Another brunch spot that is a little more on the expensive side but the food is delicious! This is also located on Orchard Road and is the perfect place for a boujee brunch after a long morning of shopping. 

The flatbreads here are out of this world, and definitely order a coffee to see some of the coolest coffee art you will have ever seen. Mine had a unicorn on it!

7. Hapicafe

Are you a fan of good coffee and delicious pastries? This aesthetically pleasing cafe is located among the many skyscrapers that Singapore is built up of. It is the perfect place for a pit-stop while you’re seeing the sites of the city.

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8. Royce’

If you are a chocolate lover you have to swing by the Royce’ shop to grab some chocolate. This is probably the best chocolate I have ever had in my whole life. Although it is quite expensive, it is so worth it.

9. Coocaca

The acai bowls here are next level! They are slightly more pricey than your average acai bowl but they are huge, so would definitely fill you up before a day of exploring the city.

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10. Tea Pulse

I didn’t think I liked Bubble Tea until I tasted it from here. I got the milk tea flavour and I honestly loved it so much. The queue for this place was super long, but I now understand why.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed with family and they live on Orchard Road so we were super lucky to have such a central location but accommodation in this area can be a little pricey.

For budget travellers I would recommend staying in:

• Chinatown

Has some of the best budget hostels but still super central so that you have everything at your doorstep.

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For middle of the park travellers I would recommend staying in:

• The Quays Area
• Orchard Road Area

These areas have some really nice 3-4 star hotels that are still pricey but could be what you are looking for.

For a more luxury stay I would recommend staying in:

• The Marina Bay Area

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Most notably there is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, but there is also many more luxury hotels in this general area.

HOW TO GET AROUND SINGAPORE

1. Download the Grab app which is pretty affordable in comparison to other taxi services in Singapore and also it is super reliable.
2. You can take the metro everywhere! The metro in Singapore is so easy to navigate and it also is super cheap. If you are staying in Singapore for a short period, the easiest and most affordable way to use the metro is by tapping on and off with your bank card.

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That is my complete guide on how to spend a week in Singapore. In my next blog I will be discussing some top tips that you should know before visiting this beautiful city.

Chat soon,

Aoife x