Singapore is a small island country on the southern point of Malaysia. This country may be small, but it still has an endless amount of things to do when you spend two days in Singapore. Visiting Singapore should be part of any Southeast Asia trip, or you can include it as a stopover with a trip to the Maldives.
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Singapore here.
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Table of Contents
History of Singapore
Singapore was originally founded as a trading post of the British East India Company. It later became a British colony before gaining independence.
During World War II, the Japanese invaded the area and Singapore was also a major battleground. After the war, the area was surrendered to the Allies and it fell into a period of violence and disorder.
For a period, it was taken over by China and Malaysia but eventually became an independent nation in 1965. Present-day, Singapore has a Prime Minister that oversees the country.
English is the national language, but the country actually has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil (an Indian language).
Currency in Singapore
Singapore uses the Singapore Dollar currency. You can withdraw money easily from any ATM. Most places in Singapore use credit cards, so you will not need too much cash.
1 Singapore Dollar is about $0.75 US Dollars.
When to Spend Two Days in Singapore
Singapore is typically hot and humid all of the time, so be prepared for warm weather no matter when you visit. Singapore also has lots of small rainstorms, so be prepared for small showers. The best time to visit is March to August because there will be less rain and it will be less humid.
How to Get to Singapore
Singapore has its one main infamous airport, Singapore Changi Airport. It is known for being one of the best airports in the world and is one of the busiest airports in Asia. There are many direct flights here from all over the world, but be prepared for a long flight!
From Los Angeles, we flew direct on a 17-hour flight on Singapore Airlines. Round-trip flights typically run about $900+. If looking for a better deal, you can usually fly into China or Thailand for a bit cheaper and take a budget flight to Singapore. You can also use your travel credit card to book a flight using points like we did.
Transportation in Singapore
Singapore has an extensive metro and bus system to get around the city. It is very easy to use as everything is in English. You can opt to pay per ride, but I recommend getting a Singapore Tourist Pass that gives you unlimited rides on transportation. At some places, you will need cash to buy your Singapore Card.
You can also take taxis, but it is usually easier to walk or take public transportation.
Where to Stay in Singapore
I recommend staying in the Clarke Quay area of Singapore. This area is in the center of everything in Singapore. It is easy to walk to many of the main attractions and there are many metro and bus stops nearby. If you are more interested in the resort area, Sentosa Island is a laid back area to stay in.
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Singapore hotels here!
During our first visit to Singapore as part of our honeymoon, we stayed at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel. During this last trip on the way back from the Maldives, we stayed at the Ibis Budget Clarke Quay. The next time we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay, which was a good budget option. Other options include the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach, and the Andaz Singapore.
You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
Other popular hotels include
- Marina Bay Sands
- Intercontinental Singapore
- Conrad Centennial Singapore
- The Westin Singapore
- W Sentosa Cove
- Shangri-la Sentosa Resort
- Oasia Resort Sentosa
What to do During Two Days in Singapore
There are an endless amount of things to do during two days in Singapore. You can spend two days eating at all the delicious restaurants alone or exploring Singapore’s various neighborhoods. This itinerary gives you a mix of things to do.
GoCity Pass
GoCity offers a ton of different sightseeing passes for cities around the world. These passes allow you to visit the best of each city for one low price, rather than paying individually for each attraction. I have used it in several cities around the world and would recommend getting a GoCity pass! Check out the options for the Singapore GoCity pass here.
Day 1
Gardens by the Bay
Cost: Free and Up
Hours: Varies by exhibit
Gardens by the Bay is one of the best stops during two days in Singapore. You can opt to visit during the day and the night for the full experience. This nature park spreads across 250 acres of land next to the waterfront. Do not miss visiting the various gardens. The outdoor gardens are free to visit. Meanwhile, the indoor gardens and skywalk costs extra to visit. In the evenings, the Gardens by the Bay has a free light show.
Marina Bay Sands
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
After you spend your time wandering through Gardens by the Bay, take a stroll past Marina Bay Sands. This iconic hotel boasts the world’s largest swimming pool. It also contains an observation deck, shops, and restaurants. If you are lucky, you can score a reservation to the infinity bar at the top of the building.
Raffles Hotel
Cost: $$
Hours: 12pm-10:30pm
Next, head to the Raffles Hotel, home to the original Singapore Sling and named after the founder of modern Singapore. The Raffles Hotel opened in 1887 and has hosted many famous people. The hotel has various bars and shops the public can visit, but the Long Bar is the most popular place to stop for a drink.
The original Singapore Sling was created here as a way for women to be able to drink in public. It was previously considered unacceptable for women to drink in public, especially in the same spaces as men. Although it is a bit pricey to grab a Singapore Sling, here it is well worth it as it is one of the best Singapore Slings I have had.
Arab Quarter
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Next, head to the Arab Quarter to grab some lunch. There are a ton of amazing restaurants to stop at. One of my favorites is Derwich, which serves traditional Turkish food. Another good option is Nur Fayidha Restaurant. This restaurant serves Halal Indian food. It was inexpensive and served big portions. Make sure to try the biryani, a mixed rice dish.
The Arab Quarter is full of fabric stores and carpet outlets. After eating, stop by and visit the Sultan Mosque, a national monument and prominent religious building in the area.
Chinatown
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
In Chinatown, visitors will find an array of shops. It is also a great place to grab some food, or visit a tea house. Kwan IM Thong Hood Cho Temple
Little India
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Temples, restaurants, and vibrant colors make up the Little India of Singapore. Spend some time wandering through some of the various shops that line the streets.
Level 33
Cost: $
Hours: 12pm-12am
End your first day in Singapore with a stop at Level 33 If you want great views of Singapore, but don’t want to pay a premium, check out LeVel 33. They brew their own craft beer and have a nice balcony to sip and enjoy a view overlooking the city.
Day 2
Henderson Waves
Cost: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Start out your second of two days in Singapore with a hike along the Henderson Waves. This bridge is located in the Southern Ridges. It is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore and offers gorgeous views of Singapore.
From the Henderson Waves, you can walk to Mount Faber Peak where you can catch the Singapore Cable Car to Sentosa Island. You can also opt to do the breakfast private tour of the area.
Universal Singapore
Cost: $45
Hours: 11am-6pm
Next, head to Sentosa Island to visit Universal Singapore, located on Sentosa Island. This park features 28 different rides in 7 themed zones. It is not a huge park, so you can easily get everything done in half a day. My favorites include the Mummy ride and the Battlestar Galactica roller coaster.
Save money by buying your tickets here ahead of time! It is also very easy to take public transportation to Sentosa Island to get to Universal Studios.
Sentosa Island
Cost: Free and up
Hours: Varies by place
If Universal Studios is not your thing, plan on spending some time exploring Sentosa Island. Sentosa Island is a special island dedicated to resorts and adventure. You can find many activities from water sports to indoor skydiving. Visitors can walk across the bridge, take a bus, a monorail or catch the cable car to get there.
Hawker Chan
Cost: $
Hours: 10:30am-7:30pm
After getting your fill of rides at Universal Studios, head to Hawker Chan for dinner. At Hawker Chan, you can get the world’s cheapest Michelin-Starred meal. It started as a food stall and now is also a quick-service restaurant. They have the most amazing chicken and noodles and it only costs about $6.
Tonight, plan on hitting up some of the best bars in Singapore! Hit up as few or as many as you would like, but some of my favorites include the following.
Junior the Pocket Bar
Cost: $
Hours: Tues-Sat: 6pm-12am
Junior the Pocket Bar is a fun and unique experience. The theme of the bar changes periodically and all of the drinks are created around that theme. When we visited during our two days in Singapore, it was cartoon themed. It is a small bar, but if you get there early, you will have no problem getting a spot for a quick drink.
Jigger & Pony
Cost: $
Hours: Tues-Sun: 6pm-12am
Jigger & Pony is one of the nicer bars in Singapore. You will definitely need a reservation here and also may want to dress a little bit nicer. They have a list of fine cocktails and also have some food you can order.
Bitters & Love
Cost: $
Hours: Wed-Sat: 6pm-1am, Sun: 12pm-4pm
Bitters & Love might be my favorite bar to visit during two days in Singapore. They have an extensive menu with a lot of very unique cocktails. Their bitters are made in-house and there are some food choices you can order as well. I loved the Lavender Haze cocktail. Bitters & Love also takes reservations.
28 HongKong Street
Cost: $
Hours: Sun-Wed: 6pm-1am, Thurs-Sat: 6pm-2am
28 HongKong Street may not look like a bar from the outside, but inside is a popular cozy venue with delicious craft cocktails. They also serve some light bites to eat. I recommend making a reservation, especially if you visit on the weekend. This was my second favorite bar to visit during two days in Singapore.
Mikkeller Singapore Smith Street *Temporarily Closed*
This fun brewery has locations all over the world! I left it on the list seeing as it is *supposed* to open again at some point. Even if not, make sure to check out one of the other worldwide locations in Seoul, San Francisco, San Diego, and many other places.
Total Costs Spending Two Days in Singapore
Airfare: $900/person
Hotel: $260 total or $130/person
Transportation: $12/person
Total: $1042/person
Final Thoughts on Singapore
Singapore is one of my favorite countries in Asia and it is the perfect place for a stopover or a weekend. With two days in Singapore, you can see many of the main sites and eat a lot of good food. If you have more time, plan to make Singapore part of a Southeast Asia trip and visit other places such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, or Hong Kong.
