Is Singapore expensive?
Hotels run high, but hawker food and public transit are excellent value for a developed city.
🇸🇬 Singapore travel guide
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Singapore Travel Guide
Things to do in Singapore — Garden city skylines, hawker halls and Peranakan heritage
Photo: Matthias Bethke · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why visit Singapore
Singapore packs hawker-centre food, Gardens by the Bay, diverse neighbourhoods and strict urban order into a compact island city-state ideal for stopovers and family trips.
Singapore is a stop in Singapore, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, Sentosa Island (Universal Studios / beaches) instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 100–180 SGD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: February–April for slightly drier weather; year-round is workable. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
February–April for slightly drier weather; year-round is workable
Weather
Equatorial — hot and humid daily; brief tropical showers common
Airport
Changi (SIN) — consistently ranked world's best; Jewel for layovers
Getting around
MRT and buses with EZ-Link or SimplyGo; Grab for late nights; Sentosa Express for the island
Experiences
Things to do in Singapore
1
Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay
2
Merlion Park
3
Sentosa Island (Universal Studios / beaches)
4
Chinatown and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
5
Orchard Road
6
Singapore Zoo / Night Safari
7
Clarke Quay and Singapore River
8
National Gallery Singapore
Budget travel
Free things to do in Singapore
Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay
Merlion Park
Sentosa Island (Universal Studios / beaches)
Chinatown and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Southern Ridges canopy walk
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Singapore itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Marina Bay icons
- Marina Bay Sands SkyPark observation deck
- Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest and Flower Dome
- Supertree Grove light show
- 2
Day 2
Culture and food
- Chinatown Heritage Centre and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat hawker lunch
- Little India and Sri Mariamman Temple
- 3
Day 3
Sentosa and nature
- Sentosa beaches and cable car
- S.E.A. Aquarium
- Night Safari at Singapore Zoo (evening)
Prefer a full 4-day trip with costs and FAQs? Read the Singapore itinerary guide.
Budget
Singapore trip cost
Budget
SGD 60–90
per person / day
Mid-range
SGD 100–180
per person / day
Luxury
SGD 250+
per person / day
Alcohol and hotel rates push costs up — hawker meals keep daily food spend low. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Singapore
Estimated total (USD)
$3,090
≈ $1,545 per person · $441 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $180/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Singapore mid-range ground costs (budget 60–90 · mid 100–180 · luxury 250+ SGD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Neighbourhoods
Where to stay in Singapore
Marina Bay
Best for: Icon sights
Walkable to Gardens by the Bay and the riverfront
Orchard Road
Best for: Shopping
MRT hub with malls and mid-range hotels
Chinatown
Best for: Food and budget
Heritage shophouses and hawker centres nearby
Where to eat
Local favourites
- $
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Chicken rice · Maxwell Food Centre legend
- $
Lau Pa Sat / Satay Street
Satay · Open-air satay after 7pm — locals' hangout
- $
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh
Bak kut teh · Herbal pork-rib soup institution
- $$
Jumbo Seafood
Chili crab · The city's classic chili crab
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
- $$$$
Raffles Singapore
Beach Road · Iconic colonial hotel since 1887
- $$$$
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay · The skyline hotel with infinity pool
- $$$$
Capella Singapore
Sentosa · Colonial resort, top-rated luxury
- $$$
The Fullerton Hotel
CBD · Landmark neoclassical hotel
Shopping
- Orchard Road
- VivoCity
- Haji Lane boutiques
- Mustafa Centre
Nightlife
- Clarke Quay
- Marina Bay rooftop bars
- Ann Siang Hill
- Sentosa beach clubs
Museums & culture
- National Gallery Singapore
- ArtScience Museum
- Asian Civilisations Museum
Local foods to try
- Hainanese chicken rice
- Chilli crab
- Laksa
- Kaya toast
Hidden gems
- Haw Par Villa
- Southern Ridges canopy walk
- Pulau Ubin island day trip
Travel tips
- No chewing gum sales — fines for littering and eating/drinking on MRT
- Book Marina Bay Sands SkyPark slots ahead on weekends
- Carry an umbrella — brief tropical showers are common
In pictures
Singapore gallery
Good to know
Singapore travel FAQs
Can I see Singapore in two days?
Yes for Marina Bay and one cultural district — add a day for Sentosa or the zoo.
What are the best things to do in Singapore?
Top picks in Singapore include Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, Sentosa Island (Universal Studios / beaches), Chinatown and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. See the full list and itinerary on this Singapore travel guide.
When is the best time to visit Singapore?
February–April for slightly drier weather; year-round is workable.
How many days do I need in Singapore?
Plan at least 3 days in Singapore for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Singapore?
Base yourself in Marina Bay (Icon sights), Orchard Road (Shopping), Chinatown (Food and budget). Pick the area that matches your trip style, then book within walking distance of transit or main sights.
Keep exploring
