A SHORT Weekend Away in Singapore
If you are wondering how to squeeze Singapore city into a short weekend this is the post for you. In this “The Ultimate Singapore Travel Checklist for a Short Weekend Break”, you can make the most of your short weekend away in Singapore with our comprehensive travel checklist. From things to do in singapore to local cuisine, we’ve got everything you need to know. Picking the best route for you to cram it all in one weekend.
Singapore itinerary: Highlights and must see spots for a short stay
For places to visit in Singapore, I have purposefully mapped out and picked tourist locations next to each other for convenience. So the ultimate Singapore travel checklist for a short weekend break, allows you to fit as much in your day as possible.
While Singapore isn’t huge if you do not have a great deal of time I have suggested an itinerary below for you to tick off some tourist hotspots in the limited time you have. If you are just visiting for a weekend, like myself, this is an easy way to get to the instagrammable places all in two days. LoveCrazy Rich Asian’s like me? Then read on for some well known spots to also visit in your short stay in Singapore.
1. Singapore botanical gardens
I Started my Saturday morning here and it was beautiful. Many people venture here for a family walk/run/picnic. As I didn’t have much time I asked the staff where the best place was to visit. They mentioned to visit the National Orchid Garden. Most of the gardens/grounds are free to visit but this one had a cost of $15 SGD dollars. I paid to explore these gardens and took a long walk around, visiting Burkill Hall which was located in this same area you needed to pay for.
2. Merlion Park
This was a short drive to Merlion Park, while the statue is the reason for many tourists flocking to this spot. I walked toward Clifford Pier (the opposite direction) at first, to get a picture in front of the well Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Walk 5-10 minutes to the symbol of Singapore statue from here.
3. The Super Tree Grove
A 5 minute taxi ride from Merlion Park. Travel to the super tree grove for some incredible artificial trees. Here is a good stop off point for a coffee. With Starbucks and McDonalds right at this point.
4. Gardens by the Bay
The Singapore gardens by the bay is beautiful.To get there you walki up some steps and taking the lift (use your google maps), it isn’t far to then find another of Singapore’s main attraction’s. Some more towering artificial super trees in a 250 acre futuristic park, these trees even light up at night. From here you can pay (I believe this was around $17 SGD) to ascend the lift and climb across walk across the bridge, with incredible views of the city and the trees. I did this and it very much felt like an experience from somewhere like Go Ape. There is also two domed conservatories with a tropical forest and waterfall.
5. Visit Universal studios
If you are a universal studios lover like myself definitely head here. You do not necessarily need a whole day here. Located fairly central and within a mall and casino complex, it is far easier to get to than in Orlando, Florida for example. While I found the rides not as exhilarating, we did find even on a Saturday we mainly walked onto rides. Wait times were not realistic! The longest we waited for a ride was probably 20 mins. Tip- take the single rider lane to really quicken up the waiting time on peak perdios, unless you are desperate to sit next to friends/family.
Cultural locations Singapore
6. SINGAPORE China Town: Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Right next to Ann Siang Hill is one of Sinagpore’s famous temples.
Another location on the ultimate Singapore travel checklist for a short break. I’ll elaborate on later in China town is Hawker Centre. A food spot definitely worth visiting.
7. SINGAPORE Little India
We stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn here. The rooms were quite small, similar to airport hotels. However we noticed Singapore is expensive and this is expected if you are staying centrally. This was located in the hustle and bustle of Little India. Quite literally in the name, for some Indian culture pop by Little India next to China town.
Credits: https://pin.it/VN42lrF
BEST SPOTS FOR FOOD AND DRINK IN SINGAPORE
singapore travel guide: Best BRUNCH SPOTS
Café de Nicole’s Telok Kurau Road
Café de Nicole’s Telok Kurau Road- if you are after an instagrammable brunch. With incredible fluffy/spongey pancakes this is the spot for you. Located a little over 20 minutes from Little India. But this florist has attached a cafe, aesthetically stunning and some delicious food. Sadly, I didn’t realise the hype of the pancakes until after I ordered my food. I then noticed this is what most people ordered when coming to the cafe.
The Great Mischief National Gallery
A perfect spot to spend some of Sunday. Head then to this spot for lunch. I mainly was obsessed with the interior design. I love beiges and creams!
Credits: Hercafestory
SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE: BEST LUNCH SPOTS
Singapore hawker centre
A raved about lunch spot, not too pricey but every tourist is told to come here to delicious food.
Credits: https://pin.it/KuhG388
Satay by the Bay
Recommended for lunch, similar to the Hawker Center, this is located in the Gardens by the bay. You wouldn’t believe a recommended dish is the, satay.
SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE: BEST DINNER AND ROOFTOP SPOTS
Mr Stork
Another on the the ultimate Singapore travel checklist for a short weekend break. This is a great spot for a drink as well as dinner. Mr Stork has incredible rooftop views of the city and also has teepees to book for drinks or food. You can dine here and watch the sunset. Tip if you book a day slot be careful as it gets incredibly hot in these teepees!
Limoncello
This is a famous Italian in Singapore. We had this dinner reservation or Mr Stork’s. We opted for Mr Stork instead purely for the views but I am slightly gutted I didn’t try this place out
SINGAPORE TRAVEL GUIDE: BEST DRINK SPOTS
Sky Park Marina Bay Sands
We decided to have drinks near the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands Skypark. Again, mainly because this is a well known scene in Crazy Rich Asians and the views from this level are incredible.
Credits: https://pin.it/1nHmnza
Ce La Vi Marina Bay Sands
Another one of the best views of the city is from a rooftop bar. More of a bar experience with incredible views as the SkyPark has beautiful views but the outside area is mainly taken up by the infinity pool.
Credits: https://pin.it/4m3gT6e
Raffles - For the Singapore Sling
Clearly you haven’t been to Singapore if you haven’t tried the famous Singapore Sling apparently. Reservations aren’t possible here, but instead have to queue up and hopefully get lucky. Raffles is where the Singapore was first created. It costs around $30 SGD (so around £25) for the cocktail. It isn’t cheap but it is particular good. You’ll notice as you walk in peanut shells on the floor, as a tradition from a while back they wanted to continue. If you fancy a peanut, feel free to throw the shell on the floor- everyone else does.
Where to go in Singapore for a night out
Clarke Quay
Clarke quay is where to head to for a night out, this and Boat Quay are open until very late. I popped by the next day to see it in the day light. In the day you can swing by and grab a drink overlooking the river and views of some very colourful buildings.
Avenue
We went here for a night out for a friend’s birthday. The only difference you’ll find in this club to your average is there is a bowling alley inside you can use on a night out. This was fun. Interestingly most locals book tables here and do not just walk into clubs. So you a lot of the time will need a booking and bottle service. So look at around $100 SGD for a table each.
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Marquee
This club was also mentioned several times to me as a club to head to in Singapore. Marquee nightclub is in Marina by the Sands (MBS) Level 99 and has slides and a Ferris wheel in it!
Credits: https://pin.it/3dc7Me8
For more breakdowns like these instagrammable spots in Santorini look here!
Activities to do in Singapore for a short weekend
Book a perfume class
Near to Jaji Lane you can book a perfume making class at Sifr Aromatics. Make your own scent here. While this is pricey, you test different smells to make the perfect scent. My friend claims he can never try any other perfume he now has his own scent.
Book a boat trop on the South China Sea
From just looking out on the pier the views were breathtaking. The weather is warm in Singapore, if I had more time, a boat tour with the weather in Singapore would have been exquisite.
Important things to note for your Singapore Itinerary
Book in advance in Singapore. Locals were telling us how it is so uncommon to just rock up. With many locals booking for expeiences/bars/clubs well in advance.
Singapore was lovely, I’d. visit again. It is incredibly multicultural and the weather was great in March. I’d be careful though, as I remember visiting when I was younger and it can be uncomfortably humid. My taxi driver noted how despite it raining in Singapore a lot, it mainly rains for 10 minute spouts and can then stop for the rest of the day. I found Singapore like Kuala Lumpur, very westernised and open to different cultures and religions.
Hopefully this was useful. Personally, I am amazed at how much I managed to cram into two days. Landing late on Friday, I still managed to complete most of the activities listed above. I definitely would love to come back and visit even more spots on Crazy Rich Asians and try out more of the restaurants.
For more like this “The Ultimate Singapore Travel Checklist for a Short Weekend Break” read here.
Thanks for reading this Singapore checklist for a short weekend break. Feel free to leave comments below 🙂
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