Singapore

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3 Day Singapore Itinerary For Budget Travellers

Ranking 9th in GQ’s most expensive countries in the world, it’s no surprise that budget backpackers often deem Singapore too pricey to visit. However, not everyone needs to stay in a deluxe suite at Marina Bay Sands to experience the true Singapore. Our budget itinerary aims to enable visitors to experience the wonders of Singapore without missing out because of budget.

Budget backpackers often use Singapore as a stopover before continuing on to explore other parts of Asia. Planning a stopover trip whilst on the go can be overwhelming, especially with so much to see in little time. So we’ve made it easy for you! 

In October 2019 we spent several weeks working and exploring Singapore. We’ve collated our favourite sights and experiences along with top tips to create this budget Singapore itinerary.

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How many days should I spend in Singapore?

Three days is the ideal amount of time to spend in Singapore, as a fairly small country it’s enough time to see key sights and immerse yourself in local culture. However, if you DO want to spend longer, we recommend 5 days, which will allow you to see all the key sights and more. So dependant on budget and time, 3-5 days is adequate. It goes without saying that the longer you spend somewhere, the more you will be able to see and do. However accommodation in Singapore can be expensive so make each day count!

Where should I stay in Singapore?

From robot butlers to space pod capsules, Singapore has a wide variety of futuristic hotels and hostels to suit a range of budgets! There’s the dirt cheap £9/night hostel ranging all the way up to the glamorous (and extortionate) £644/night Marina Bay Sands. However, this is a budget guide so we’ll stick to the lower end of the scale!

Every penny counts!

Below we’ve listed several budget friendly hostels/hotels located in Central Singapore. For those budget travellers who don’t want to scrimp on accommodation we’ve also included some more upmarket options. (All prices from June 2020.)

All of the hostels/hotels listed below can be booked through Hotels.com. We always book through Hotels.com because of their rewards program and actually earned a free night whilst in Singapore!

Central 65 Hostel and Cafe – 1-Star Hotel

The reviews for this hostel rave about its location, it’s close to the MRT station and has good bus links. However, you get what you pay for, if you aren’t too bothered about cleanliness and quality this could be for you. 

Cost: £13 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Free Breakfast, Rooftop Terrace, Lockers, Library and Laundry Facilities.
Cons: No lift
Bonus: There’s a Jacuzzi on the roof!

 

Wink Capsule Hostel @ Downtown – 2-Star Hotel

A sleek budget friendly hostel that regularly features in the Top 10 Capsule Hotels in Singapore. It’s fairly new and is housed in a converted old building in the heart of the financial district, perfect for those planning on walking everywhere.

Cost: £22 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Free Breakfast, Lockers.
Cons: No Lift
Bonus: Great Central Location, right next to Raffles Place!

BEAT. Capsule Hostel @ Boat Quay – 2-Star Hotel

BEAT is named as one of the top Singapore capsule hotels in several articles. It’s central location makes this a great option for those planning on walking everywhere. Being surrounded by bars and restaurants also makes this a very social location and perfect for those who like a drink!

Cost: £37 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Free Breakfast, Lockers, Laundry and Kitchen Facilities
Cons: Bathroom reviews are poor
Bonus: Great Central Location, within walking distance of several top sights.

Met A Space Pod @ Boat Quay – 2-Star Hotel

Not far from the above BEAT Capsule Hostel is this futuristic Space Pod Hotel. We booked this for our first few nights in Singapore, however we didn’t end up staying the night. After a knackering journey, the flimsy plastic pods and the lack of air conditioning in the bathroom got to us and we transferred over to the Scarlet Singapore for the next two nights.

Cost: £30 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning in rooms, Free Breakfast, Lockers.
Cons: No lift, No Air conditioning or ventilation in bathrooms.
Bonus: Great Central Location, within walking distance of several top sights.

CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Chinatown – 2-Star Hotel

Also named as one of the top capsule hotels in Singapore. These modern and stylish pods have an air of luxury, complete with soundproofing and 250 thread count sheets! It also has consistently good reviews on several sites as a great budget hotel option.

Cost: £39 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air conditioning, Free Breakfast.
Cons: No lift
Bonus: Great Chinatown location and Individual bathrooms rather than shared.

The Scarlet Singapore – 4-Star Hotel

This is where we ended up for a few nights after trialing Met a Space Pod. We really enjoyed our stay here, the staff were really lovely and welcoming, even though we booked very last minute and arrived at 11PM (Oops!)

Cost: £108 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Jacuzzi, Gym, Rooftop Bar, Stunning Historical Interior.
Cons: Some rooms don’t have a window.
Bonus: Close to central and Chinatown and several top hawker centres

M Social – 4-Star Hotel

We very nearly booked this, one of our friends stayed here and loved it! It has fab reviews and even has robots!

Cost: £114 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Outdoor Pool, Gym
Cons: Compact Rooms
Bonus: It has robots!

Yotel – 4-Star Hotel

Another techy hotel with rave reviews! It was another that we considered.

Cost: £123 per night
Pros: Free Wifi, Air Conditioning, Outdoor Pool, Gym.
Cons: Cabins are smaller than they look.
Bonus: It’s right near Orchard Road and has robots in reception!

For more top Capsule Hostels check out this article from thesmartlocal.com

Getting around Singapore on a budget

Getting around Singapore isn’t difficult or extortionate as public transport is cheap and easy to navigate. If you’re fit and able walking is a good option as it’s FREE and a great way to see the city. However, if you plan on venturing further afield then there are several public transport options to choose from!

Walking

Cost: S$0

Where possible walk, Singapore is fairly flat and there’s often a lot of shade when walking between the high rise buildings in the centre. If you’re fit and unphased by the heat, walking is a good and FREE option.

Top Tip: Stay central, either near Chinatown or Downtown if you plan to walk most places. 

MRT

Cost: Typically between S$0.83 – S$1.95 per journey

The MRT is a network of underground railway lines linking key stops on Singapore’s main island. Basically a mini and much cleaner London Underground! With over 130 stops it enables visitors to access most of the main island easily. Although the MRT isn’t expensive, when you’re on a budget every penny counts. To pay you can either use contactless (but there’s a foreign admin fee per journey) or an ez-link card which can be found at the customer service desk at most MRT stations or 7-Eleven stores. We used the ez-link card for ease as they can also be used on local buses. Plus the ez-link cards come with adorable cartoons printed on them!

The fare you pay will depend on the distance you travel but you won’t be charged for any transfers you make within 45 minutes. You can find more information on how the journey fees are calculated here and this fare calculator makes it easy to plan how much to put on your card.

Bus

Cost: Typically between S$0.73 – S$1.95 per journey

Singapore has a great bus system, it’s easy to find your nearest bus stop and stops are well signposted for when you alight. We’d highly recommend using the bus system if you need to go further afield. It’s generally cheaper than the MRT and you get to see the city along the way!

The bus system uses the same payment methods as the MRT, however if you pay cash, it’s per journey so usually ends up more expensive. This fare calculator makes it easy to plan how much to top up your card with in advance.

Boat/Ferry

Cost: Around S$15- S$20 for return journeys to nearby islands

Catching a ferry to a nearby island is a great way to see the city’s futuristic skyline and explore the less travelled parts of Singapore. So this only really applies if you are planning on exploring the surrounding islands, such as the one featured in our Singapore itinerary below.

Unless you’re wanting to do a River Bumboat Cruise, which is a whole different type of ticket. For more information on that check out our 14 Unmissable Things to See and Do in Singapore.

Singapore Tourist Pass

Cost: S$10 – S$38 (dependant on chosen pass)

Dependant on how long you’re planning to visit and how often you’ll use public transport it might be worth considering the Singapore Tourist Pass. We only recommend this if you plan on using public transport A LOT otherwise it’s just not worth it.

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3 Day Singapore Itinerary

Three days in Singapore is just enough to see the top sights and experience local culture whilst not breaking the bank. Our budget friendly Singapore Itinerary below includes FREE top tourist attractions along with those that are less travelled for a fuller cultural experience. If you decide to add an extra day or you have a bit more money to spend, check out our itinerary alteration suggestions.

(All sights in the 3 Day Singapore Itinerary are expanded on in our 14 Unmissable Things to See and Do in Singapore.)

Top Tip: Where possible eat like the locals at Hawker Centres, they offer incredible freshly cooked dishes at extremely low costs! (Approx. S$4-7 including a drink). Restaurants charge around S$20-30 per meal and are in no way as memorable.

Day 1

AM

Explore Chinatown 

Lunch – Maxwell Food Centre

Walk to Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay (not the domes)

PM

Explore Marina Bay

Dinner – Lau Pa Sat Food Court

Garden Rhapsody Light Show 7:45PM

Spectra – A Light and Water Show 9PM

Transport

S$0.00

Food & Drink

S$14.20

Extras

S$0.00

Bonus: If you’re staying central, no public transport is required for Day 1 of this Singapore itinerary.

The first day in a new country should always be spent exploring the city, sampling the local cuisine and immersing yourself in their culture.

Chinatown

The day begins wandering through the maze of narrow streets that make up Singapore’s Chinatown. As Singapore’s largest historic district it’s packed with local culture and traditions. Stop by the famous Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and admire the grand architecture from the Tang Dynasty.

Maxwell Food Centre

Having gotten your fix of culture from exploring temples in Chinatown, stop by Maxwell Food Centre and try Singapore’s national dish. Hainanese Chicken Rice (S$4) is a dish every visitor has to taste and can be found at nearly every hawker centre in Singapore! Compliment it with some refreshing Lime Juice (S$1.20) before beginning the 30 minute walk towards Gardens by the Bay.

Gardens By The Bay

Having leisurely sauntered through Singapore’s central district you’ll arrive at the magnificent Gardens by the Bay. With so many stunning and futuristic gardens to explore, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy Singapore peacefully before the busy evening ahead. Those with some extra cash might want to visit the popular Cloud Forest and Flower dome, this costs S$28 (book through klook to get them cheaper). There’s also plenty of FREE areas to explore in this tranquil landscape, it’s hard to believe it’s only minutes from the hectic financial district. Some of the free gardens are: Supertree Grove, Serene Garden and the Sun Pavillion. A list of all the free attractions in Gardens by the Bay can be found here (under ‘outdoor gardens’). It’s worth spending 1-2 hours strolling through the gardens (add 2 hours if you want to explore the domes).

Download a map of Gardens by the Bay here to plan your route!

Marina Bay

Once you’ve got your fix of flowers and tranquility, make your way over to the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Entering the lobby is FREE so if you want a nosey inside pop your head in. You can also explore ‘The Shoppes’ at Marina Bay Sands and watch tourists enjoy gondola rides along the artificial river in the mall. Take some time to wander around the bay itself and take in the atmosphere before heading over to Lau Pa Sat hawker centre for dinner.

Lau Pa Sat Food Court

Lau Pa Sat Food Court is only a few minutes walk from Marina Bay and is famous for its Chicken Satay Street. A portion of Chicken Satay and a beer only costs S$9 and will set you up for the magical evening of music and lights ahead!

Top Tip: Stalls 7 and 8, the Satay Club, are the most popular with visitors and are well known for their delicious Chicken Satay!

Garden Rhapsody Light Show

A trip to Singapore isn’t complete without experiencing the mind blowing light and sound show at Supertree Grove. Make the 30 minutes walk back over to Gardens by the Bay to enjoy the mesmerizing 15 minute, futuristic performance. It’s completely FREE and takes place twice a night (7:45PM & 8:45PM). For the purpose of this Singapore itinerary you’ll be attending the 7:45PM show in order to make the 9PM light show at Marina bay.

Once you arrive take a seat underneath the 50 meter high Supertrees, the best view comes from lying or sitting on the floor directly below the trees.

Top Tip: It can get pretty crowded therefore it’s worth getting there at least 15 minutes beforehand.

Spectra – A Light and Water Show

Having already gotten goosebumps from the first light show, make your way over to Marina Bay to watch Spectra – A Light and Water Show for 9PM. The outdoor spectacle will transport you through history, exploring Singapore’s journey to becoming a cosmopolitan city. Projections, lasers, water and glass are carefully choreographed to an orchestral soundtrack to create an emotional experience for all who attend. It’s also FREE!

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Day 2

AM

Lazarus Island

 

PM

Tiong Bahru Food Centre

Merlion Park

Raffles Long Bar

Transport

S$19.22

Food & Drink

S$4.50

Extras

S$16.00

Lazarus Island

Clear blue waters, golden sand and tranquility await the few that visit on this tropical paradise. The secluded Island is one of Singapore’s best kept secrets and is only a short ferry journey from the crowded downtown city streets. With only two ferry journeys a day, it’s even likely you’ll have the beach to yourself. Lazarus Island is connected to St John’s Island by a short footbridge.  It costs S$18 for a return ferry ticket to St John’s Island, which can be purchased at Marina Bay Pier and is well worth it for a private beach and refreshing ferry journey! Prepare and pack a picnic, there’s no facilities (toilets, shops or bins) on Lazarus Island, the nearest toilets are on St John’s Island.

Top Tip: Take some tupperware with you and make some sandwiches to sneak out at breakfast from your hostel/hotel,  be discreet and don’t go overboard!

Check the ferry schedule here, and be sure not to miss the last ferry back which is usually mid afternoon between 2-3pm.

Top Tip: The ferry booth only takes cash or NETS so be sure to bring enough!

Tiong Bahru Food Centre

You’ll be eating like a local at this hawker centre, being slightly out of town not only is it cheaper but it’s also full of locals. Try the roast duck with rice for S$3 along with some refreshing lime juice for S$1.50. If you’re a real foodie, check out City Nomads’ stall guide for Tiong Bahru!

To get there, having caught the ferry back to Marina Bay Pier walk to Marina Bay Pier MRT Station. Catch the train to Raffles Place and change onto the East West Line to get off at Tiong Bahru Station. It’s then only a short walk to the Food Centre. (Alternatively you can walk but it will take just over an hour.)

The fare calculator estimates this journey at S$1.22 and cuts the travel time in half, so we’d recommend it. Plus as of yet you may not have experienced the spotless MRT! (For more information on how to purchase tickets read our travel guide above).

Merlion Park

Having tucked into another delicious hawker centre dinner, head over to the iconic Merlion Park. The statue symbolises Singapore’s history as a fishing village combined with its original name, ‘Singapura’,  which translates to Lion City. Nearby is the Merlion Cub statue, much smaller in scale but still worth checking out. If you time it right you may also catch Spectra again but this time with the backdrop of Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

To get there from Tiong Bahru, either make the FREE 40 minute walk or take the 30 minute journey. For this you would catch Bus no.75 from Bef Outram Flyover and alight at Esplanade Bridge. If you choose the later it will only add S$1.12 on to your daily budget, however for this itinerary we would recommend walking so you can see more of the city and save some money!

Fun Fact: There are actually 7 Merlion Statues in Singapore, the tallest of which is 37 metres high! However, the Merlion and Cub at Merlion Park are the most well known and photographed.

Raffles Long Bar

If your budget allows, finish the evening off with a drink at the famous Raffles Long Bar, birthplace of the Singapore Sling. Eat your bodyweight in FREE unlimited monkey nuts, you’re also encouraged to throw the shells on the floor! If you’re a true budget backpacker you may even be able to even skip dinner and fill up with these. An Original Sling will set you back S$30 (£17), but if you can do without the alcohol a Teetotallers Sling looks identical and costs half the price S$16 (£9). Eve really enjoyed the Teetollers Sling!

If you haven’t visited Singapore before, everyone has a Sling at Raffles when they visit, the 1920s decor and unusual fans create a relaxing atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to wind down after a busy day! There’s also no official dress code, which means even scruffy backpackers are welcome!

Day 3

AM

Macritchie Treetop Walk

Old Airport Road Food Centre

PM

Little India

Tekka Centre

Transport

S$3.94

Food & Drink

S$12.50

Extras

S$0.00

Macritchie Treetop Walk

There’s more to Singapore than it’s futuristic cityscape and it’s easy to forget about the extensive range of exotic wildlife living there. That’s why the third and final day of this Singapore itinerary begins by exploring the outskirts of the city and the tropical jungle surrounding it. On this walk you have the opportunity to spot creatures such as Tree Snakes, Pangolins, Monitor Lizards, Macaques and Giant Ants in their natural habitats! The trail is a one way loop and takes just over 2 hours to complete, although some say to allow for up to 4 hours. Check the trail opening times before you visit, it’s closed on Mondays and last entry is 4:45pm.

Set off early for this hike as it can take a while to get to the trailhead from the city. From central, take the bus (52, 132, 163, 166, 167, 855, or 980) and get off at the ESSO station. From there walk to Macritchie Treetop Car Park, which is a 5 minute walk, the trailhead is well signposted from there. This journey, according to the fare calculator, will cost S$1.44 if you catch the 166 from SMU and alight at Opp Flame Tree Pk.

Top Tip: The humidity hits you when you enter the forest, so be sure to take plenty of water and insect repellent, you’ll sweat it off in no time! 

Old Airport Road Food Centre

Having gotten your fix of nature for the day it’s time to grab lunch. Make your way to Marymount MRT station and alight at Dakota Station. This journey should only cost S$1.48. From here it’s a short walk to one of the oldest and largest hawker centres in Singapore. This hawker centre is famous for it soy bean curd, a delicious dessert (S$1.50)! For mains why not try the pork rib noodles for S$5.

Fun Fact: Old Airport Road Food Centre has the highest number of famous stalls than any other hawker centre in Singapore!

Little India

After filling up with some delicious local food the next stop in our Singapore itinerary is Little India! The lively, colourful neighbourhood is packed with history and culture and is home to the 19th Century Abdul Gafoor Mosque and the instagrammable Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple! Depending how tired you are, from lunch you can walk for 50 minutes to the Indian Heritage Centre or take the bus. The bus only costs S$1.02 and will save time and energy (plus there’s aircon!) Take bus 33 from Blk 22 to Bugis Station Exit B, from here it’s a 10 minute walk to the Heritage Centre, which is a great place to start and is filled with information and activities for visitors. 

Top Tip: If you’re visiting between October and November, you might be lucky enough to see some Deepavali celebrations.

Tekka Centre

Often referred to as one of Singapore’s best hawker centres, Tekka Centre is located at the gateway to Little India. Visitors flock from all over to try the famous Biryani (S$6) with rice, sauce and poppadoms. The generously sized portions are served with ALL the sides, so make sure you’ve worked up an appetite before sitting down at this hawker centre! If you want to dine like a true local forget the cutlery and eat with your right hand. This is the last stop on our Singapore itinerary afterall so finish it in style!

More Time or More Money?

For some visitors, a three day Singapore itinerary just isn’t long enough, but don’t worry we’ve got you covered! Below are EVEN MORE budget friendly options along with some we think were worth the extra cash.

MORE Free Things To Do…

  • Singapore Botanical Gardens
  • Singapore ArtScience Museum
  • Visit Sentosa Island
  • Jewel Changi Airport – Largest Indoor Waterfall

MORE Money…

  • Night Safari
  • Singapore Bumboat River Cruise
  • Haji Lane – Selfie Coffee
  • Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
  • Universal Studios Singapore

Check out our post of TOP things to do in Singapore for more inspiration.

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Visiting Singapore: Do's and Don'ts

Singapore is known for being disciplined and its strict regulations are often unknown to tourists from outside of Asia. As a guest in their country it’s important to remember to respect local culture, traditions and laws. Below we’ve listed the Do’s and Don’ts of visiting Singapore:

DO

  • Smoke only in the designated outdoors areas, these are clearly marked with signs and yellow paint. They’re also often shrouded in plants away from the public eye as smoking is prohibited in much of Singapore.
  • Join the lines when waiting to board a train or at a hawker centre. Singaporeans are much like the British in that they also love their queues!
  • Bring Cash if you’re planning to eat at hawker centres, they generally only accept cash.

DON’T

  • Litter! Singapore is spotless and first time offenders are fined £250. After three fines you’re then sent before a judge.
  • Eat or drink on public transport, you can sip a bottle of water if needed but anything else and you risk getting fined!
  • Smoke E-Cigarettes, these are also banned. Singapore’s Health Authority believes it’s a gateway for non-smokers to become addicted to tobacco.
  • Smoke Shisha. This is banned for the same reason as E-Cigarettes.
  • Tip, it’s not custom to tip in Singapore for any services, usually there’s an added service charge on receipts. If you really want to tip 10% is more than adequate.
  • Try and buy alcohol after 10:30PM, we came unstuck with this one when we popped into a 7 Eleven to buy a late night drink. It’s illegal to serve alcohol between 10:30PM-7AM, some restaurants have relevant permits which exclude them from this rule.
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FAQ's

Hopefully our Singapore itinerary above has inspired you to visit this wonderful country! But you might still have a few unanswered questions and that’s ok! We’ve got you covered, listed below are some of the most common FAQ’s:

Is Singapore expensive?

Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world to go on holiday BUT if you plan it right it’s still cheaper than a lot of western cities. As long as you aren’t planning on staying in Marina Bay Sands and buying lots of designer clothes, it’s easy to visit on a budget. Make sure you eat at Hawker Centres as much as possible and don’t pay over the odds for attractions, shop around for tickets or buy them through klook.

Top Tip: Alcohol is very expensive in Singapore. So it can be cheaper to buy a bottle of something at duty free. Or try going teetotal like Eve! 

How much money should I take to Singapore?

How much spending money you need to bring to Singapore will depend on your lifestyle and needs. Our above budget Singapore itinerary came to a total of S$70.36pp for three days spending money. This excludes; accommodation, breakfast and any extra drinks and snacks throughout the day. However, if you are a big drinker you’ll want to double this. Take into account how often you might want to eat, attractions you’ll visit and if you plan on buying any souvenirs whilst you’re there.

Somewhere between S$30-60 a day should be sufficient for food, drink and public transport, it may also cover attraction costs if you plan ahead and eat cheap. If you want to buy souvenirs or gifts add this onto your daily budget.

Top Tip: Bring a reusable water bottle, it’s safe to drink the tap water in Singapore and will save you some money and reduce plastic waste!

Is Singapore safe?

Singapore is often deemed the safest country in Asia, this doesn’t mean you can let your guard down though. We felt safe and comfortable walking around at night and would say it’s also safe for a solo woman too. A local told us a story about accidentally leaving their phone on a table in the park and finding it there the next morning! Remember you shouldn’t get complacent in any city, no matter how safe, don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home.

You can find government foreign travel advice here.

If this Singapore itinerary has you eager to delve into local culture, let us know in the comments below. We love to hear feedback and if you’re planning a trip to Singapore let us know what you’re up to whilst you’re there! Thanks for reading, for the latest updates follow us on Instagram and drop us a message to say hi!

Eve and Nick