Singapore Itinerary to Maximise Your 2 day Stopover

Singapore is one of the top three cities in the world to visit (as voted for by the 2024 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award). It's one of the safest and cleanest cities, with an impressive public transport system.

For families, or small groups travelling together, there is so much to do in Singapore and two days isn’t nearly long enough, so we've compiled a Singapore itinerary so you can maximise your stop-over.

Start exploring early to miss the crowds and beat the humidity with a visit to Gardens by the Bay.

There’s always something blooming in the amazing network of modern greenhouses, like the Flower Dome which recreates dry and hot landscapes from South Africa, California, and parts of Spain and Italy. The Flower Dome houses a diverse collection of global desert plants, brilliantly showing how plants adapt to arid conditions. 

The Flower Field changes its themed colours and blooms regularly, showcasing blooms from different seasons and festivals. The Supertree Grove, where you will find twelve of the eighteen fifty-metre high solar powered giant trees that light up at night.

The Cloud Forest is a botanical wonder where ferns and orchids are abundant and a waterfall tumbles down a 35 metre rock face. It’s easy to envision an eco-friendly and sustainable future when taking in the innovative landscaping of the Gardens by the Bay.

A visit to Chinatown in the bustling Outram District is a great opportunity for you to explore the rich history and culinary delights of Singapore. In Chinatown you will find old-school charm mixed with hipster eateries, and busy hawkers centres.

At the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Singapore’s biggest hawker centre, you will find over 200 food stalls to choose from. While you are there, be sure to sample a steaming bowl of Chicken Rice at 169 for a flavour packed, wholesome lunch. Or head to Pang’s for a punchy pork satay or Hong Kong Mong Kok Tim for authentic dim sum.

Tip: Get there before 11am as they sell out quickly. 

 After lunch, walk to  Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road. This is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple situated in the heart of Chinatown. The temple’s ornate exterior is decorated with numerous carvings of Hindu deities, and the grand tower entrance features five tiers of sculptures of deities and mythological figures.

Next door you will find the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Take in the religious artifacts across the temple’s six floors - the tooth relic itself is located on the fourth floor and there is also a lovely roof top garden. Remember to cover your shoulders and wear skirts or pants as a sign of respect when visiting both these temples.

Clarke Quay is a hub for riverfront dining and entertainment. Stroll along the Quay where you can choose from a mix of restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s a lively, family-friendly area with a host of activities to choose from.

Take in a river cruise for views of Singapore’s city skyline or enjoy a thrilling slingshot ride.  Explore the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery which is a fun experience for children as they can sit in a fire truck and wear a helmet whilst learning about firefighting.

Enjoy Chilli Crab, a national staple dish in Singapore, made with mud crabs cooked in a spicy tomato-based sauce at Jumbo Seafood which is purportedly the best in the world.  Chilli Crab is most often served with mantou, a Chinese steamed bun, which soaks up the delicious sauce.

Pop past the nearby Robertson and Boat Quays on the stroll back to your hotel where you’ll pass the Alkaff Bridge painted in bright colours on Robertson Quay. Boat Quay is a great place to get an ice-cream, either from Dopa Dopa or Crème & Cone.

Spend a relaxed day in nature by heading to Sentosa Island off the southern coast. The quickest way to get to Sentosa from Singapore is by taking the Sentosa Express monorail which departs from Vivo City shopping mall, located above Harbour Front MRT station.

Or take the Singapore Cable Car as the views are stunning from Mount Faber all the way to Sentosa. You’ll cross Keppel Harbour and see as far as Indonesia if the weather is good. Spend time on Palawan Beach which is lined with food stalls for your enjoyment. A short walk away is the quieter, palm-lined, Tanjong Beach.

Or, instead of beach time, take in Sentosa’s highlights like Universal Studios where a 5 hour ticket gives you a guided tour of the very best experiences.

You can venture through the themed zones of New York, Sci-Fi City and The Lost World and ride the roller coaster of Battlestar Galactica and watch the water stunts show at Water World. It’s a good idea to pre-book tickets online and also get fast passes which allow you to enter an hour before the official opening time. 

You’re spoilt for choice as you could also spend the morning at the S.E.A. Aquarium or the Adventure Cove Waterpark in Sentosa’s Marine Life Park. The S.E.A. Aquarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums and is an underwater wonderland showing marine life from all corners of the globe.

There are about forty habitats with eight different zones housing tropical fish and also rare and endangered species like the Bow Mouth Guitarfish. The aquarium also hosts close encounters with many sea creatures so you can take part in feeding sessions. It will take you several hours to explore the aquarium. 

The Adventure Cove Waterpark offers adrenalin-seekers fast, thrilling rides as well as a gentle float down to the river. It also has one of the best wave pools in Singapore, known as Bluewater Bay, with thrilling two-metre-high waves. You can also see a variety of underwater life and go snorkelling amidst thousands of reef fish.

Take the return Sentosa Express back to Harbour Front MRT station, then transfer to the North East Line heading to Little India. Serangoon Road, which was one of the earliest roads in Singapore, is at the heart of Singapore's Little India, a vibrant and eclectic area with a mix of temples, mosques, street art and brightly painted shophouses. 

Along this road, restaurants sit side by side with humble canteens, colourful silk stores and flower sellers selling marigold garlands. If you’re in town in mid-October you’ll get to experience the Hindu festival of lights; Diwali when Little India is at its liveliest. Enjoy lunch at the Black Pepper Restaurant,  which offers a number of vegetarian dishes as well as a more cross-cultural foodie experience.

Take in the Sri Veeramakalimman Temple which signifies the development of Little India in the city and was built to cater to the thousands of Indians who have come to work in Singapore. Visit the last-standing Chinese villa in Little India which was once the home of a prominent Chinese businessman in the 1900’s. Tan Teng Niah house on Kerbau Road is famous for its rainbow-coloured exterior.  Explore the colourful architectural blend of Southern Chinese and European styles. 

Look out for the Little India Arcade on Campbell Road, this brightly coloured building, built in the 1920’s houses many stores selling wooden elephants, peacock feathers as well as Indian sweets.

Check out Moghul Sweet Shop where you will find traditional Indian desserts. Getting a Henna tattoo is also a fun activity where you can pick from traditional designs, to modern day cartoon characters.

If you'd rather participate in a little retail therapy, then Orchard Road, colloquially known as Orchard, offers a 2km stretch of retail shopping. Here you can buy anything from a Rolls Royce to a cup of coffee.

Bookworms, head over to Kinokuniya which is right in the middle of Orchard Road. Books of all categories are available and even if you have no plans to shop, this is the best of bookshop design worldwide, trust us when we say you’ll get a thrill just being there.

There’s also a fun manicure boutique available at Vedure Face, Body & Nail MediSpa on Orchard. This is a fun place for kids to have a manicure with colour altering nail polish that changes in the sunlight. The salon also has a play park for little ones to let off steam. 

Shop for local snacks and sweets to take home like kaya, a sweet spread made from coconut cream and pandan leaves, and bakkwa –spicy dried beef sticks. Other keepsakes include Merlion figurines, orchid-themed products, and local artisanal crafts which you can shop for at The Lucky Plaza.

Marina Bay Sands hosts the spectacular Light and Water Show every evening and the whole family will be dazzled by the symphony of music, water and lights.  Get there early to enjoy vantage points like the Clifford Pier, the Landing Point, and the Lantern Rooftop Bar.

An alternative activity is the Mandai Wildlife Reserve on Mandai Lake Road, where you can visit the jungle after dark from the safety of a tram or go on a walking night safari. Here you will see nocturnal animals from the Himalayan foothills, the Southeast Asian rainforest, and the Indian subcontinent. 

Or, music lovers may prefer to take in a concert by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The city has a diverse music culture that ranges from pop and rock to folk and classical music with the orchestra performing at either the Esplanade Concert Hall or the Victoria Concert Hall.

There are several ways to get around Singapore, including:

• The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway. The MRT has lines that cover the entire island
• There are many bus routes and this is also a convenient way to get around
• Ride- hailing services like Grab offer on-demand transportation
• Cycling – there is a network of cycling paths making it a great way to explore the city

• ComfortDelGro Taxi has an app for hailing a cab
• MyTransport.SG provides information on all aspects of public transportation, including operating times, station exits and journey fares

• If you’re taking a taxi or self-driving we recommend avoiding rush hour traffic in Singapore which is between 8 and 9 am and 5 and 7 pm
• The best time to visit is from December to June, especially February to April when the country experiences the least rain and humidity

Depending on your itinerary, you can make your base the Novotel Singapore on Kitchener which received the ‘Best for Families’ category at the 2024 TripZilla Excellence Awards.

Perfectly placed to explore Little India, you’ll experience a Singapore that’s filled to the brim with vibrancy from the street art to the aromas, to the heritage neighbourhood highlights. 

If you want to be closer to Orchard Road, you can enjoy a relaxed and comfortable stay at Novotel Singapore on Stevens which is situated nearby the world renowned UNESCO Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This modern hotel is perfect for holiday makers as it's within walking distance of the shopping paradise that is Orchard Road.

After experiencing the city’s many highlights enjoy the hotel’s outdoor infinity pool or challenge your family to a fun tennis match.