Singapore itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Singapore

1. 01

   Day 1: Marina Bay and Little India

   Start at the Merlion and the Marina Bay waterfront in the morning, then take the MRT to Little India for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant such as Komala Vilas and a visit to Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Rest in the afternoon, then go to Gardens by the Bay in the late afternoon, and stay for the Supertree light show after dark.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Little India	2 to 4 hours	Moderate	Morning or evening; Deepavali season for lights
   Komala Vilas	45 to 90 minutes	Easy	Lunch, or a quiet mid-afternoon
   Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple	30 to 60 minutes	Easy	Morning or evening puja times; avoid the midday closure
   Gardens by the Bay	3 to 4 hours	Moderate	Late afternoon into the evening, any month; the conservatories are cool on a hot day

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Little India: The district is flat but the pavements are narrow and crowded, particularly on Sunday evenings. Many places have steps, and there is little shade, so combine walking with stops in restaurants.

   With parents at Gardens by the Bay: Paths are paved and mostly level, and the conservatories are air-conditioned with lifts and ramps. The outdoor areas have little shade at midday, so older visitors should come late in the day and rest in the cool domes. Check the site for lift access to the Supertree walkway.

Plan 02

2 days in Singapore

1. 01

   Day 1: Gardens and the bay

   Visit the Botanic Gardens early, while it is cool, with the National Orchid Garden if you like flowers. Have lunch and rest, then walk the Marina Bay waterfront and spend the evening at Gardens by the Bay.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Gardens by the Bay	3 to 4 hours	Moderate	Late afternoon into the evening, any month; the conservatories are cool on a hot day

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Gardens by the Bay: Paths are paved and mostly level, and the conservatories are air-conditioned with lifts and ramps. The outdoor areas have little shade at midday, so older visitors should come late in the day and rest in the cool domes. Check the site for lift access to the Supertree walkway.

2. 02

   Day 2: Chinatown and Little India

   In the morning, visit Sri Mariamman Temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, then eat at the Lau Pa Sat hawker centre or a nearby vegetarian option. In the afternoon go to Little India for Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Mustafa Centre.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Little India	2 to 4 hours	Moderate	Morning or evening; Deepavali season for lights
   Sri Mariamman Temple	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, outside festival days
   Lau Pa Sat	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Lunch, or evening for the satay street
   Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple	30 to 60 minutes	Easy	Morning or evening puja times; avoid the midday closure
   Mustafa Centre	1.5 to 3 hours	Moderate	Weekday morning or afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Little India: The district is flat but the pavements are narrow and crowded, particularly on Sunday evenings. Many places have steps, and there is little shade, so combine walking with stops in restaurants.

   With parents at Mustafa Centre: The store is air-conditioned, but it is large, crowded and spread over many floors; lifts and escalators help. Aisles are narrow at weekends and festivals, so older visitors should shop on a weekday.

Plan 03

3 days in Singapore

1. 01

   Day 1: Marina Bay

   Merlion Park in the morning, a rest at your hotel through the heat, then Gardens by the Bay from late afternoon through the light show.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Gardens by the Bay	3 to 4 hours	Moderate	Late afternoon into the evening, any month; the conservatories are cool on a hot day

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Gardens by the Bay: Paths are paved and mostly level, and the conservatories are air-conditioned with lifts and ramps. The outdoor areas have little shade at midday, so older visitors should come late in the day and rest in the cool domes. Check the site for lift access to the Supertree walkway.

2. 02

   Day 2: Temples and heritage

   Sri Mariamman Temple and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, a hawker lunch, then Kampong Glam and the Sultan Mosque in the afternoon, followed by dinner in Little India.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Sri Mariamman Temple	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, outside festival days
   Little India	2 to 4 hours	Moderate	Morning or evening; Deepavali season for lights

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Little India: The district is flat but the pavements are narrow and crowded, particularly on Sunday evenings. Many places have steps, and there is little shade, so combine walking with stops in restaurants.

3. 03

   Day 3: Wildlife or the airport garden

   Spend a morning at Singapore Zoo at Mandai if you travel with children. If you fly out in the evening, finish at Jewel Changi Airport, where you can see the Rain Vortex and eat before check-in.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Singapore Zoo	Half a day (about 4 hours)	Moderate	Opening time, to avoid the heat
   Jewel Changi Airport	1.5 to 3 hours	Easy	Any time; it is indoors, so it also works on a wet afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Singapore Zoo: The paths are paved but the zoo is large and humid, with some slopes and limited shade in places. Older visitors should pace themselves, rest often and check with the zoo about wheelchair hire and any transport inside the grounds.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Singapore trip for parents and children

• Plan sights for the morning or early evening and rest in air-conditioned places through the hottest hours. Humidity is high in every month.
• Choose a hotel within a short walk of an MRT station with a lift; most stations have lifts, but check which exit has one before you go.
• Singapore has excellent hospitals, including public and private ones; travel insurance with medical cover is essential, because treatment is expensive for foreigners.
• Carry a light rain jacket or umbrella, since showers can start suddenly at any time of year.
• Use taxis or ride-hailing for short hops between sights if a long walk would tire you; fares are metered and drivers are generally reliable.
• Dress modestly for temples and mosques, wear slip-on shoes, and expect to walk barefoot on stone at Hindu temples.

Singapore with elderly parents: the full guide →