Financial district skyscrapers at the mouth of the Singapore River at dusk
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Singapore in 1 day

  • 1 day
  • 6.2 km on foot
  • 17 stops
  • Audio guide

One day is enough to touch all three Singapores: the colonial one, the immigrant neighbourhoods and the skyscrapers. This plan suits a layover or a tight schedule, with three walking routes back to back and a few metro hops in between. No museums or gardens: just streets, temples, hawker food and the bay at dusk.

One day in SingaporeThree Singapores in one day

Start early, before the heat builds, with “From Colonial River to Futuristic Bay: the Best of Singapore”: from Raffles Hotel to the Padang, Raffles' Landing Site and the Merlion, ending at Marina Bay Sands. Have Hainanese chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre, then take the metro to Kampong Glam: in the afternoon, “Sultans, Merchants and Gods” takes you from Sultan Mosque to the temples of Little India. At sunset, go back to Chinatown for “Opium, Fire and Sea Goddesses” and eat satay at Lau Pa Sat.

  1. Morning

    From Colonial River to Futuristic Bay: the Best of Singapore

    Mixed · 3.1 km · 2 h 10 min

    1. Raffles HotelAsia's most famous colonial hotel, birthplace of the Singapore Sling and scene of the tiger story.
    2. The Padang and National GalleryA green field and two columned palaces where the war ended and self-government began.
    3. Raffles' Landing SiteThe white statue that marks where, according to tradition, British Singapore began.
    4. Cavenagh Bridge and the Fullerton BuildingSingapore's oldest bridge, made in Glasgow, still bans cattle and horses from crossing.
    5. The MerlionHalf lion, half fish: a symbol invented in 1964 for a 14th-century legend.
    6. Marina Bay Sands and the BayA 340-metre ship perched on three towers, on land that was sea fifty years ago.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Hainanese chicken rice at Maxwell Food Centre (Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice). 1 Kadayanallur Street

  3. Afternoon

    Sultans, Merchants and Gods: from Kampong Glam to Little India

    History · 2 km · 1 h 50 min

    1. Hajjah Fatimah MosqueThe mosque a businesswoman built on the spot where robbers had burned down her house.
    2. Istana Kampong GelamThe palace of the sultan who signed the deal with Raffles that gave birth to modern Singapore.
    3. Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan)Golden domes whose bases are said to be ringed with bottle ends donated by the poorest worshippers.
    4. Abdul Gafoor MosqueA sunburst of twenty-five rays bearing the names of the prophets crowns the door of this Little India mosque.
    5. Sri Veeramakaliamman TempleThe temple of Kali, the goddess with the necklace of skulls, which sheltered local people during the air raids.
    6. House of Tan Teng NiahLittle India's last Chinese villa, painted in every colour of the rainbow.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Early evening

    Opium, Fire and Sea Goddesses: the Secrets of Chinatown

    Mysteries & legends · 1.1 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. Pagoda StreetBehind the souvenir stalls there were once opium dens and a market in labourers.
    2. Sri Mariamman TempleSingapore's oldest Hindu temple, where every year devotees walk across burning coals.
    3. Buddha Tooth Relic TempleA new temple, a sacred tooth in doubt and a lane the Chinese called "the street of the dead".
    4. Ann Siang HillTelok Ayer's last hill: nutmeg plantations, letters home to China and a millionaires' club.
    5. Thian Hock Keng TempleWhere Chinese sailors thanked Mazu, goddess of the sea, as soon as they set foot on dry land.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Satay at Lau Pa Sat (Satay Street). 18 Raffles Quay y Boon Tat Street

The map

Singapore in 1 day, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends

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Before you go

Tips for Singapore in 1 day

  • Wear comfortable shoes and carry water and a small umbrella: it is hot and humid all year, and mid-afternoon downpours are common.
  • To enter mosques and temples, cover your shoulders and knees and be ready to take off your shoes; some mosques limit visits during prayer times.
  • Use the metro between neighbourhoods: it is clean, air-conditioned, and eating or drinking on board is not allowed. It spares you the sunniest stretches.

Questions

Singapore in 1 day: your questions

Can you see Singapore in one day?

You can see the core of the centre: colonial Singapore, Kampong Glam, Little India, Chinatown and the bay. You will have to choose and skip museums and gardens, but with the three routes and dinner at a hawker centre you get a very complete picture of the city.

How far do you walk on this plan?

The three routes add up to about 6.2 km, plus the walks to your meals. With stops and rests it is a long day, so use the metro to move between neighbourhoods and do not rush to see everything.

Is it better to start in the morning or the afternoon?

In the morning: the heat is easier to bear, the centre is quiet and the bay looks great. Save Chinatown for the end of the day, when the sun drops and the lights of the district and its temples come on.

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