Things to do in Singapore
Old Airport Road hawkers, Restaurant Fiz, and Nutmeg & Clove
Singapore at a pace that lets you linger: a hawker breakfast, a serious mid-range dinner, a cocktail bar where the bartender knows the history of every bottle. These days suit someone who wants real variety without tipping into excess.
Day 1: Chinatown, Outram and the ridge
Start slow in the shophouses, lunch at Enishi before the crowd, then walk off the afternoon at Mount Faber before oysters and cocktails in Bukit Merah.
- 9:30 AM
Tong Ah Eating House
Old kopitiam on Keong Saik Road: crisp kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and a kopi to start in Chinatown.
Map - 10:15 AM
Chinatown
Start the day wandering Chinatown's shophouses and morning market stalls, grab a kopi from a local kopitiam inside.
Map - 11:00 AM
- 2:30 PM
Mount Faber Park
Walk off lunch with a ridge-top stroll at Mount Faber Park, cable-car views of Sentosa and the harbour.
Map - 7:30 PM
Angie's Oyster Bar & Grill
Oysters by the half dozen and grilled seafood in Bukit Merah; ask which oysters came in this week.
Map - 9:30 PM
Canning Bar & Lounge
Leafy hotel bar on Fort Canning hill; easy spritzes and cocktails named for the hill's past.
Map
Day 2: Geylang, Kallang and the hawker trail
A day of heritage streets, a legendary hawker centre at Old Airport Road, and an evening in Geylang for clay-pot frog porridge and a late wine bar in Kallang.
- 9:30 AM
Vernacular Coffee
Critic-endorsed local coffee spot, good start before hitting the hawker trail.
Map - 10:30 AM
Balestier Art Deco shophouses
Stroll the Art Deco shophouse strip, one of Singapore's most photogenic heritage streetscapes.
Map - 12:30 PM
Old Airport Road Food Centre
Old Airport Road Food Centre is the classic Geylang hawker hall, graze a few stalls for a proper local lunch.
Map - 2:30 PM
House of Tan Teng Niah
Little India's candy-striped 1900 villa, built by a Chinese sweet-maker; offices now, so admire it from the street.
Map - 7:30 PM
Eminent Frog Porridge & Seafood (Lor 19)
Eminent Frog Porridge is a great-value Geylang legend; the clay-pot frog with ginger and spring onion is the one to get.
Map - 9:15 PM
Fiasco by JUICE
Fiasco by JUICE, top-rated wine bar in Kallang for a proper late cocktail; close enough to wrap by 22:30.
Map
Day 3: River, the hill and downtown
Fort Canning in the cool of the morning, small plates at The Masses for lunch, the ArtScience Museum in the afternoon, then great-value Thai and craft cocktails to close.
- 9:30 AM
Ice Lab (Bugis)
Critic-picked artisan ice cream café, good for a cold brew or specialty coffee to kick off the morning.
Map - 10:30 AM
Fort Canning Park
Shady hill above the old town: the spice garden, the fort gate and the tree tunnel; go before the heat.
Map - 12:30 PM
The Masses Singapore
Top-rated Asian fusion at $$, locals love it for its creative but casual small plates, great weekday lunch value.
Map - 2:30 PM
ArtScience Museum
City-guide pick right on the Bay, the permanent exhibits on science and art are genuinely engaging for a couple.
Map - 7:30 PM
Un-Yang-Kor-Dai Singapore
Isan Thai from a Bangkok favourite: grilled chicken, som tam and larb, best shared.
Map - 9:30 PM
Nutmeg & Clove
Cocktails built on Singapore flavours like pandan, kaya and local spices; ask for the heritage list.
Map
Where to stay
Naumi Hotel Singapore
Mid-range, well-located for the river and downtown days, and close enough to Chinatown to walk day one.
Andaz Singapore
Sharp design at a price that leaves money for dinner: sits right between Bugis and the river, which covers all three days.
Make Singapore your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Gardens by the Bay: a few days ahead
- Night Safari: a few days ahead
- Sentosa Golf Club: weeks ahead
- Laguna National Golf Resort Club: weeks ahead
- Orchid Country Club: a few days ahead
- Pulau Ubin: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Newton Food Centre seafood touting without clear per-weight pricing.
- Always confirm crab species, weight and price per 100g before it is cooked.
- Clarke Quay tourist bars, Sim Lim lower-floor electronics touting and Orchard malls as an attraction.
The full Singapore travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around