24 Hours in Singapore
A forest of 50-metre steel trees that light up after dark, a hotel with a boat balanced on top of three towers, and a food culture so good the government put a Michelin star on a hawker stall, one proper day in the Lion City.
Singapore packs an unusual amount into a single day, a futuristic garden unlike anywhere else on earth, one of the most photographed skylines in Asia, and a hawker food scene that rivals fine dining. Here’s how I’d spend 24 hours here.
Gardens by the Bay
Start at Gardens by the Bay, a 101-hectare park built on reclaimed land, home to the Supertree Grove’s towering vertical gardens and two climate-controlled domes, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Book tickets for the domes ahead, they’re genuinely worth the extra cost and popular time slots fill up.
Marina Bay Sands and the SkyPark
Walk to Marina Bay Sands, the iconic hotel with a boat-shaped structure balanced across its three towers. Head up to the SkyPark’s observation deck for a sweeping view over the city and the gardens below, and wander the Art Path’s sculptures on the way.
Chinatown
Head to Chinatown, a genuinely atmospheric district of shophouses, temples and markets, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple both worth a stop. Browse the street stalls along Pagoda Street before the evening’s main event.
Getting there A short MRT ride from Marina Bay
Hawker food and Garden Rhapsody
End the day at a proper hawker centre, Singapore’s food courts are widely some of the best value, best quality food in Asia, chicken rice, laksa and char kway teow all worth trying. Finish at Gardens by the Bay for the evening’s Garden Rhapsody light show before heading back.
Getting around
Singapore’s MRT is genuinely efficient, clean and easy to navigate, the fastest way to move between Marina Bay, Chinatown and most major sights. Walking works well within each district once you’ve arrived.
If you only have time for one thing
Make it Gardens by the Bay. It’s the single most distinctive sight in the city, and the Supertree Grove is a proper introduction to Singapore’s ambition before you’ve even left the park.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
