2 days in Singapore

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth a short visit

   Sri Mariamman Temple

   The oldest Hindu temple in the city, with a tall gateway covered in colorful carved figures. It stands in the middle of Chinatown, so the temple, the incense and the market lanes sit side by side. Dress modestly and take your shoes off at the door.

   Go when Morning, when Chinatown is quiet and the air is cooler.

   Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off at the door. Look up at the gateway, where every level is crowded with carved figures.

   

   About 3 min walk0.3 km
2. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Maxwell Food Centre

   A big, roofed hawker centre at the edge of Chinatown, with rows of small stalls that each cook a few dishes and little else. It is a good first lesson in how Singapore eats: pick a table, wander the stalls and carry back whatever looks best.

   Go when Late morning, a little before the lunch rush fills the tables.

   Local tip Find a seat first, then order. If you avoid an ingredient, tell the stall holder before you pay. Stalls are busy, so ask again if you are not sure.

   

3. Lunch

   Hainanese chicken rice

   Poached chicken with rice cooked in the broth, with chili sauce, ginger paste and a bowl of soup. Plain on the surface and deeply satisfying, it is the dish most people call the national plate.

   Local tip Sauces are part of the dish. Ask what is in them if you avoid peanuts or shellfish, and share a second plate so you can compare stalls.

   

   About 4 min walk0.3 km
4. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short visit

   Thian Hock Keng

   A Hokkien temple to the sea goddess Mazu, built when the waves reached the foot of this street, before the shore was moved by land reclamation. Carved beams, painted doors and a quiet courtyard make it a calm stop on a hot afternoon.

   Go when Afternoon, as a quiet pause between a long lunch and the evening.

   Local tip Walk slowly through the courtyards and look at the roofs and the painted doors. The street outside, Telok Ayer, has other old temples and shophouses to wander past.

   

   About 25 min walk2.0 km
5. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Gardens by the Bay

   A park of lawns, lakes and giant tree-shaped structures covered in plants, beside the bay. Walk it after dark, when the heat drops and the trees are lit. The big glass conservatories are cool and a good wet-weather choice, and some need a ticket, so check ahead.

   Go when Evening, after sunset (about 7:16 PM), when the heat drops and the trees are lit.

   Local tip Take the walkway between the tall trees at a slow pace. Check ahead for any evening show and for which glass conservatories are open.

   

   About 21 min walk1.7 km
6. 5
   EveningWorth the time

   Lau Pa Sat

   A graceful Victorian market hall of cast iron and an eight-sided roof, now a food centre in the middle of the business district. In the evening, satay stalls set up outdoors beside it and the smoke carries down the street.

   Go when Evening, around sunset (about 7:16 PM), when the satay stalls light their fires.

   Local tip Order satay by the skewer in a mix of chicken, beef and mutton, and eat it with the sweet peanut sauce. Ask about peanuts if you avoid them, and check ahead on how the outdoor stalls run.

   

7. Dinner

   Satay by the skewer

   Small skewers of marinated meat grilled over charcoal, served with a sweet peanut sauce, slices of cucumber and cakes of pressed rice. Order a few dozen between you and keep going until you are done.

   Local tip Satay is ordered by the skewer, in tens. Peanut sauce comes with it by default, so tell the stall holder if you avoid peanuts.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Tekka Centre

   A busy building in Little India with a market below and a hawker centre above. Indian and Malay stalls cook breads, curries and rice dishes, and the market hall smells of fresh spice. Go early and eat while the stalls are fresh.

   Go when Morning, for a first breakfast of breads and curry.

   Local tip Eat at the hawker centre upstairs and walk through the market below afterward to see the spices and the fresh produce.

   About 17 min walk1.3 km
2. 2
   MiddayPick your galleries

   Peranakan Museum

   A small, rich museum of the Peranakans, descendants of early Chinese settlers who blended Chinese, Malay and other ways of life into their own cooking, clothes and craft. The food and the beadwork are the best part, and it is a cool room in the heat of the day. Check ahead before you go.

   Go when Midday, in the shade of the hottest hours.

   Local tip Look for the beadwork slippers and the embroidered wedding rooms, then go and taste the food the museum describes. Check ahead for any closure.

   

   About 17 min walk1.4 km
3. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short visit

   Sultan Mosque

   The golden-domed mosque at the heart of Kampong Glam, the old Malay quarter. The building and its street are the draw, and visitors are welcome outside the times of prayer. Dress modestly, and check ahead for the visiting rules.

   Go when Afternoon, once the heat of the day has eased.

   Local tip Walk the street of Arab shops and cafes beside it. Visitors are asked to dress modestly, so cover your shoulders and knees.

   

   About 14 min by car or transit5.0 km
4. 4
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Singapore Botanic Gardens

   A very large garden of lawns, lakes and old trees, with a patch of real rainforest inside it. It is a World Heritage Site and a place to walk slowly, find a bench and sit. Go in the afternoon, when the shade is long.

   Go when Afternoon, near sunset (about 7:16 PM), when the light is gold and the paths are cooler.

   Local tip Take the rainforest path for a cool walk under tall trees, then end at a lake with a bench. Bring water, and expect a short shower at any time of year.

   

   About 14 min by car or transit5.0 km
5. 5
   EveningA place to wander

   Haji Lane

   A narrow lane of small boutiques, cafes and painted walls beside the mosque. A good place to wander slowly as the lights come on and the air cools.

   Go when Evening, around sunset (about 7:16 PM), when the lane fills and the lamps come on.

   Local tip The lane is short, so wander it twice, once for the shops and once for the painted walls. Cafes along it make a good place to sit and watch.

   

6. Dinner

   Nasi padang or Malay rice dishes

   A plate of rice with your choice of curries, grilled fish, braised beef and vegetables from a counter of dishes that you point at. Kampong Glam has many places that serve it, and a plate of spicy, rich dishes makes a long supper.

   Local tip Point at what you want and the server fills the plate. Many dishes are made with coconut, chili and nuts, so ask about the ones you avoid.