How to Spend 2 Days in Singapore Itinerary
Planning a short trip to Singapore? Singapore is one of the most popular cities to take a layover before heading to your next destination. Because Singapore is relatively small and attractions are so close together, there is a ton you can see with just 2 days in your Singapore itinerary! Below, I have included the best things to add to your Singapore itinerary, travel tips, where to stay, budget attractions, and more!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- How to Spend 2 Days in Singapore Itinerary
- How Many Days Should You Spend in Singapore
- Day 1 of 2 Days in Singapore Itinerary: Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, ArtScience Museum
- Singapore at Night Itinerary
- Day 2 in Singapore Itinerary
- Where to Eat in Singapore
- Where to Stay in Singapore
- Getting Around Singapore
- The Changi Airport
- Singapore in 2 Days Itinerary Wrap-up
How Many Days Should You Spend in Singapore
You may be wondering if two days in Singapore is enough time. The short answer is yes. You can see a lot of Singapore in just 2 days. However, if you would like to travel at a slower pace, 3 or 4 days may be desired. This Singapore itinerary will be jam-packed with additional options that can be stretched for more days if need be!
Day 1 of 2 Days in Singapore Itinerary: Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, ArtScience Museum
From our hotel, we walked down the river to Gardens by the Bay. Walking down the river makes for a great opportunity to see lots of Singapore.
While walking we passed many statues, beautiful gardens, passed the Merlion Fountain, and crossed over the famous Helix bridge (which looks like DNA) all on the way! The walk is about 30 minutes until you make it to the Giant Supertree Groves.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is one of the best attractions to see in Singapore. If you ever watched the movie “Crazy Rich Asians”, this is where the wedding party was hosted at the end. This nature park is 101 hectares and is full of lush gardens, the Supertree Grove, the Flower Dome, and the Cloud Forest.
Because the park is so large, they have it broken up into 3 sections. There is Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden. The area is so popular, so it is best to explore this area early in the morning!
Cloud Forest
Within the Gardens by the Bay is the super cool Cloud Forest Greenhouse. Filled with hundreds of stunning lush plants, the world’s 2nd largest indoor waterfall, and 2 acres of space, there are tons to explore. The design replicates an actual cloud forest with mist. The mist hours happen at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM.
Hours: Daily from 9 AM – 9 PM
Admission: $20 SGD for Adults & $12 SGD for children – If you plan to also see the Flower Dome, there is a discounted price.
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Flower Dome
After exploring the Cloud Forest, consider visiting the Flower Dome next. This is the largest glass greenhouse in the world at 3 acres! When visiting this greenhouse, you will find Mediterranean, South African, and arid desert plants making it totally unique from the Cloud Forest. They are also always doing special flower exhibit displays that are just stunning!
If you can’t see both, I still highly recommend seeing at least one greenhouse during your 2 days in Singapore. You are mainly choosing between desert plants or more of a rainforest vibe.
Fun Fact: The Flower Dome holds the same volume as 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Hours: Daily 9 AM – 9 PM
Admission: $20 SGD for Adults and $12 SGD for children. Tickets for both the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are $28 SGD for Adults and $15 SGD for children 3-12.
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Supertree Grove
You have already the Supertree grove walking to the greenhouses, but now it is time to appreciate them!The Supertrees are artificial vertical tree structures with various plants growing on them. The best part about them is that they are completely free to visit!
There are 18 supertrees and they generate solar power, collect rain, and act as air ducts! Moreover, the Supertrees are probably one of the most Instagrammable places in Singapore.
On the weekends you will find free events going on around them and every night they have a spectacular light show and it is FREE! The lightshow is known as the Garden Rhapsody.
There are 2 shows, one at 7:45 PM and the second at 8:45 PM. Therefore, you will be making your way back over here on one of your nights in Singapore! Make sure to get there early to get a good seat!
On top of that, there is also a elevated walkway if you are looking for another cool perspective of Singapore!
ArtScience Museum
Another awesome attraction to add to your 2 days in Singapore itinerary is the ArtScience Museum. The ArtScience museum offers 21 different galleries, all very unique! You have likely seen photos from this museums Instragrammable lights gallery.
They also have contributed galleries by the American Museum of Natural History (NYC), Australian Centre for Moving Image, Biblioteca Ambrosiana (Italy), and the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo).
The building itself is also an architectural gem. Shaped like a lotus, you will also find beautiful purple lotus flowers along the edge of the building. Admission is based on what exhibits you would like to see. You can find more info on the ArtScience tickets here.
Hours: Daily 10 AM -7 PM
Address: 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974
Arab Quarter
If you still have daylight left, add the Arab Quarter to you Singapore itinerary. Located in the neighborhood of Kampong Glam. Singapore is known as a melting pot which diverse areas throughout the city. Make sure to walk down Arab Street and Haji Lane. You will find dozens of shops and food, but one of the most popular places to visit is Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan).
The original Mosque was built in 1824 for Sultan Hussein Shah, the first sultan of Singapore with a $3,000 donation by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. In 1932, the mosque was rebuilt into the stunning mosque we see today with its gaint golden domes! The mosque plays an important role for Singapore’s Muslim community. If time allows, you can also check out the Malay Heritage Centre
Address: 3 Muscat St, Singapore 198833
Singapore at Night Itinerary
To end your first night in Singapore, I’d consider going back to the Supertree Grove for the lightshow. You can also enjoy additional nightlife in Clarke Quay and if it is the weekend, they may have some free shows happening at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. Even just walking around Singapore at night is really nice because the whole city is lit up in all different colors from the Helix Bridge to the Merlion Fountain at night.
Additionally, if you are really looking to splurge, consider seeing Singapore all lit up from the top of the Singapore Flyer. It has airconditioned capsules that offer an array of different experiences from cocktails to dinner! Lastly, you can relax on a river cruise and take in the sights!
Day 2 in Singapore Itinerary
Our day 2 in Singapore can be as relaxing or as busy as you like. I am going to give you some options on how you can spend your day. From the beaches of Sentos Island or Universal to more cultural experiences, if you travel fast you may be able to do almost all of them within your itinerary.
Sentosa Island
Your first option is relaxing at Sentosa Island where you can relax and enjoy the beaches. It is easy to get here using Grab (like Uber). This is also where Universal Studios is located, but that was most definitely not in our budget!
One of the most popular beaches is Palawan Beach. Here is where you can find a fun suspended bridge over the water and a nice little cove to swim. Did you know Palawan Beach is the southernmost point of Continental Asia?!
We grabbed food at a local spot on the beach, but it wasn’t the best. I would recommend eating back on the mainland!
Next, we went back to attend a show called Artbox for the rest of the day. Artbox was like a smorgasbord full of food, music, and art. On the walk, we also found Singapore is usually holding free events at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. We passed the theater both nights and found live bands and a talent show!
Chinatown
After enjoying some beach time at Sentosa, head over to Chinatown. Known for its vibrant markets, Maxwell Hawker Center and famous temples, it is a must on your Singapore Itinerary. Some of the most popular places to visit in Chinatown include Buddah Tooth Relic Temple, the Sri Mariamman Temple, and Thian Hock Keng Temple.
The Buddah Tooth Relic Temple and museum is where you can see what is said to be tooth relic. Address: 288 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058840
The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapores oldest Hindu Temple dating back to 1827. This beautiful temple is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman who is known for the power to cure illnesses and diseases. Address: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
The Thian Hock Keng Temple is dedicated to Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, and the oldest Chinese Temple in Singapore. Address: 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613
Go Shopping in Singapore
Singapore is known for having great shopping. One of the most prominent places to go shopping is down Orchard Road. This 1.6 mile road will have you shopping until you drop with top of the line luxury retailers.
If you are on more of a budget, consider checking out Clarke Quay. We actually stayed in this area during our time in Singapore and really loved the area. Besides shopping, they are also known for having a vibrant nightlife, so consider visiting after the sun goes down as well. Additionally, it is popular to do river cruises from Clarke Quay as well.
Little India
If you love instagrammable places, Little India in Singapore has become just that with colorful buildings. The home you have seen all over “the gram” is the Tan Teng Niah house which was built in 1900. The neighborhood is a great addition to your Singapore itinerary if you still have daylight left!
Marina Sands Lightshow
To end the night, check out the free Marina Sands fountain and light show at 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm. We watched from across the river and could see laser beams shooting out of the famous Marina Sands hotel with the water dancing and music playing. The best seat is likely by the ArtScience Museum.
Where to Eat in Singapore
Now that you know the best things to do on your 2 days in Singapore itinerary, you are probably wondering where to eat! Singapore is known for their Hawker Markets which are outdoor food stalls, but with excellent food. This is not your average street food!
Some of the most popular Hawker Markets are the Maxwell Food Centre, The Newton Food Centre, and the Old Airport Road Food Centre. It is also very easy to find vegan food in Singapore!
If you are a really big foodie, consider doing a food tour with a local to discover all the best stalls!
Where to Stay in Singapore
It was really hard for us to find a place to stay that was in our budget and centralized. After tons of research, I finally found ibis budget Singapore Clarke Quay. The room was small and we didn’t have a window, but we were super-centralized in Clarke Quay Central, and within walking distance to everything! Other popular places to stay in Singapore include:
Marina Bay Sands (known for the highest infinty pool) | Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay | Raffles Singapore
Getting Around Singapore
The easiest way to get around is through Grab (like Uber). Their metro system, the MRT works well too, but we prefer walking and walking around Singapore is really nice and easy. We only used Grab to and from the airport and to Sentosa.
To use Grab, you will need internet on your cell phone. I would recommend getting a sim card from the airport. We got the Hitourist which gives you 100GBs and cost $15 SGD. The wifi worked great everywhere for us and we were able to use the mobile hotspot for our computers. You can check out the plans here.
The Changi Airport
After enjoying your 2 days in Singapore, I would recommend getting to the airport early. Generally speaking, airports are not a place you want to spend much time in. However, the Changi Airport has been voted the number 1 airport in the world and for good reason.
Inside the Changi Airport you will find some pretty cool experiences. In terminal 3 they have a butterfly garden with over 1,000 butterflies. One of the most popular attractions is the Shiseido Forest Valley that is a giant indoor garden with more than 900 trees and over 60,000 shrubs. But the show stopper is the Jewel, the largest indoor waterfall in the world! If I am being honest, you could probably spend a whole day just exploring the airport attractions!
Singapore in 2 Days Itinerary Wrap-up
As you can see, with 2 days in your Singapore Itinerary there is a ton to see and do! I hope you have the best time exploring Singapore!
Other guides you may enjoy: Ultimate Ubud Bali Guide | Things to do in Kuala Lumpur Malyasia | Krabi Thailand 5 Day Itinerary
Have any questions about this Singapore itinerary or feel like I should add something? Let me know in the comments below.
Such a great guide! I’m saving it for my next trip to Singapore! 🙂
Your photos are stunning! I love how you’re helping make Singapore more accessible to people, thanks for putting it on my radar!
Love budget travelling so thank you for the tips!
Love all the spots in Singapore and love your photos, so dreamy! Love that so many things are free like the garden!!!
This is super helpful!! Thank you so much for sharing the budget for everything. This will come in handy when we plan our trip when it’s safe to travel again!
Great post! Singapore is definitely on my bucket list and your post makes me want to go even more! Great way to spend a couple of days there. Loved the photos and details and thanks for sharing!
Such a useful itinerary! I completely missed out Sentosa Island on my trip to Singapore and this has made me so excited to go back!
Singapore looks so amazing! I was supposed to be there this week but unfortunately my flights were cancelled. I’ll be saving this for when I’m able to go again! 😁
Singapore is one of my favorite cities and I especially love Arab Street and Little India. I regret not going earlier to see the Flower Dome in daylight though.
I totally agree! It always gives us a reason to go back!
Great post! It seems like there is plenty to do in Singapore, even on a budget. We did visit the city yeeears ago, but I totally missed Sentosa Island. It looks like such a gorgeous place to explore and relax!
It is a nice little piece of paradise away from the city! Now you have a reason to go back!
Wow, you really made the best out of those two days, your pictures look awesome! Singapore looks so beautiful both during day and night, and it’s good to know that a lot of things are free. The walk around the river is a great tip, I will keep it in mind for when I finally make it to that side of the world 🙂
I am glad you found it so informative! I hope you will make it around that way!