4 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
   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 14 min walk1.2 km
2. 2
   AfternoonPick your galleries

   National Gallery Singapore

   A large art museum of Singapore and Southeast Asia, set in two grand old buildings that once held the city hall and the court. Cool, quiet rooms for a hot or wet afternoon.

   Go when Afternoon, in the heat of the day.

   Local tip Choose one wing and stay there rather than walking the whole building. Check ahead for exhibitions and for what needs a ticket.

   

   About 20 min walk1.6 km
3. 3
   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
4. 4
   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.

   

   About 10 min walk0.8 km
5. 5
   EveningWorth a short stop

   Merlion Park

   The statue of the Merlion, half lion and half fish, spouting water into the bay, with the towers of the business district across the water. A short stop for the view and the photograph.

   Go when Evening, as the towers light up.

   Local tip It is a small park and busy at sunset, so come for a quick look and then walk on along the bay.

   

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 2 min walk0.2 km
2. 2
   MorningWorth a short visit

   Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

   A large temple in the Tang style, in the middle of Chinatown, said to hold a relic tooth of the Buddha. Its halls are cool and calm, and a good pause from the heat of the street. Dress modestly.

   Go when Morning, before the street fills.

   Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees. The temple is close to Sri Mariamman Temple, so the two pair well on foot.

   

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 2 min walk0.1 km
4. 3
   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.

   

   About 10 min by car or transit2.9 km
5. 4
   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 2 min walk0.1 km
6. 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.

   

7. 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.

   

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 Veeramakaliamman Temple

   A Hindu temple to the goddess Kali, with a tall gateway of bright carved figures facing the busy street. Step inside for the quiet and the scent of flowers and incense. Dress modestly and take your shoes off at the door.

   Go when Morning, once the first heat arrives, as a cool pause.

   Local tip Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off at the door. The street outside is busy, so the quiet inside feels larger.

   

   About 12 min by car or transit3.8 km
2. 2
   MorningCheck ahead

   Baba House

   A restored Peranakan townhouse on Neil Road, furnished as a home from the early twentieth century. Visits are by guided tour, so check ahead and book.

   Go when Morning, on a day you have booked.

   Local tip It is a small house and a guided tour, so choose it only if you like seeing how people lived.

   

   About 9 min by car or transit2.2 km
3. 3
   MorningWorth the time

   Fort Canning Hill

   A hill park in the middle of the city, with old gates, shaded paths and a spice garden. A cool, green walk before the day warms up.

   Go when Morning, before the heat builds.

   Local tip Wear shoes with a grip, since the paths and steps can be slippery after rain.

   

   About 3 min walk0.2 km
4. 4
   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 7 min walk0.6 km
5. 5
   EveningA place to sit

   Clarke Quay

   Restored riverside warehouses along the old trading river, now lined with restaurants, bars and a walkway at the water. A lively place for a drink or a late supper.

   Go when Evening, around sunset (about 7:16 PM), when the lights come on at the water.

   Local tip Walk the whole quay first and choose a table by the river rather than the first one you see.

   

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 11 min by car or transit3.1 km
2. 2
   MorningWorth the time

   Tiong Bahru

   One of the oldest housing estates in the city, with curved white blocks from the 1930s, a wet market, a hawker centre and a few bakeries and bookshops. It is a calm neighborhood to walk and eat in, away from the main sights.

   Go when Morning, with breakfast at the market.

   Local tip Walk the curved blocks to see the 1930s design, then look for the bakeries and the wet market. Be gentle with the residents, because people live in these flats.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit3.3 km
3. 3
   MiddayWorth the time

   Dempsey Hill

   A cluster of old military barracks among tall trees, now home to restaurants, cafes and galleries. A good place for a long lunch in the shade, with room to sit as long as you like.

   Go when Midday, for a long lunch in the shade.

   Local tip The old barracks are spread through the trees, so walk to a corner that looks calm. Book ahead for a table at a weekend lunch.

   

   About 17 min walk1.4 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 10 min by car or transit2.6 km
5. 5
   EveningWorth the time

   Newton Food Centre

   A lively open-air hawker centre known for grilled seafood, satay and sweet cold desserts, busy from early evening. A fitting last supper: share a few dishes and stay until the plates are clean.

   Go when Evening, as the tables fill after dark.

   Local tip Stalls grill seafood by weight, so ask what you are being charged for before they cook. Tell the stall holder about any shellfish or peanut allergy before ordering.

   

6. Dinner

   Chili crab and grilled seafood

   The famous crab in a thick, sweet and spicy tomato and chili sauce, with fried buns for mopping it up. Add grilled stingray with a sambal paste and share it all. It is messy, and that is part of the pleasure.

   Local tip Crab is shellfish, and the sauce contains egg. Tell the stall holder about any allergy before you order, and do not take a reassurance as a promise.