How to Spend 3 Days in Singapore

With three days in Singapore, you have enough time to check off the must-see sights, soak up the city-state’s unique culture, get out into nature, and even try out a few fun-filled activities. From daredevil thrills at theme parks to wildlife-viewing experiences, here’s how to make the most out of your 3-day Singapore sojourn. 

Day 1: Essential Singapore Sights

Today is the day to see Singapore’s most famous sights. A hop-on hop-off bus tour or an amphibious water-and-land tour provides a good introduction to Singapore and views of key city attractions, from the Singapore Flyer wheel and the half-lion half-fish Merlion statue to the 3-towered Marina Bay Sands.

Come afternoon, it’s time to explore Singapore’s ethnic enclaves. Take a guided tour of Chinatown, Little India, or the Islamic-influenced Kampong Glam. Then continue your sightseeing with some bargain-hunting at the bustling Bugis Market or by catching the Garden Rhapsody light show at Gardens by the Bay. For dinner, head for Albert Centre at the back of Bugis Market, where street food vendors sell Asian and Indian cuisine, or for Satay by the Bay at Gardens by the Bay, which has about 30 stalls offering everything from biryani to barbecued seafood.

Day 2: Thrills and Spills

Singapore offers thrills aplenty with several theme parks within easy day-tripping distance of the city. Families hoping for a day of fun may want to make the journey to Legoland in neighboring Malaysia, where more than 70 rides and attractions, a waterpark, and Miniland—which features Lego-built miniatures of well-known landmarks—await. 

For a no-passports-needed day trip, head to Sentosa Island. Here, Universal Studios offers a fix of movie-themed magic, while Adventure Cove Waterpark is packed with slides, rides, and watery attractions. 

That evening, chat with a local family over a home-cooked dinner made by your host. Dine on chili crab, rice, vegetables, and soup in their home in a residential area of northeast Singapore, and hear first-hand about life in the island-city-country.

Day 3: Wildlife and High-in-the-Sky Views

Swap the urban bustle for a quiet morning in one of Singapore’s nature-filled spaces. Just a 15-minute boat ride from the mainland, the neighboring island of Pulau Ubin is unspoiled and undeveloped. Join a kayaking trip and paddle around the mangroves, scanning the waters for otters and pods of pink dolphins. For guaranteed wildlife sightings, visit the excellent Singapore Zoo, the River Safari wildlife park, or Jurong Bird Park.

For your final night, finish on a high note with a special sky-high experience. Enjoy dinner with a view of Singapore’s sparkling skyline on the Singapore Cable Car on Mt. Faber, or feast on street food at a down-to-earth hawker center. Then head for the rooftop observation deck at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, which affords 360-degree views of the Gardens by the Bay and the dazzling Singapore skyline.