2 Days in Singapore Itinerary

By Adam Fraiel
Published: July 18, 2024
View of Sentosa in Singapore

Visiting Singapore for a weekend and want to sample everything this stunning island city has to offer? It’s simple to get around so you can easily have an excellent experience in just a weekend. To help you plan, we’ve compiled a 2-day itinerary to help you squeeze the most out of your time here.

  • Palawan Beach
  • Universal Studios Singapore
  • Wings of Time
  • Tea Chapter
  • Gardens by the Bay
  • Marina Bay Evening Cycle Tour
  • Chinatown for Nighttime Shopping

Day 1

We’ll be spending the whole of day 1 on Sentosa Island, famous for its beautiful beaches, theme parks, and rich history. Formerly a British military base, it’s grown into a luxury playground.

We recommend taking the cable car to the island (it’s included in your pass) as the views are spectacular. If you’re afraid of heights and want other budget-friendly options, traveling by foot or taking the Sentosa Express train are both free.

Hit the beach

Get your vacation off to the best start by taking a gentle stroll down Palawan beach, with stunning views of the South China Sea and the Singapore skyline. Cross the rope bridge for an iconic photo opportunity, before climbing the lookout towers to enjoy standing at the southernmost tip of continental Asia.

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Visit Universal Studios Singapore

Time to pick up the pace and get the adrenaline pumping. Universal Studios Singapore offers a fun day out for the whole family with rollercoasters, rides, shows, and meet and greets.

Whatever your tolerance for adventure - ride the world’s tallest dueling coasters, navigate white water rapids, or help Puss In Boots on the giant beanstalk, there’s something for everyone.

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Experience the Wings of Time

Hopefully you saved a little energy to enjoy the Wings of Time - a stunning, state-of-the-art time-traveling performance featuring fireworks, water jets, and lasers choreographed to music.

Time it just right and you’ll witness a dreamy sunset over the open sea before the award-winning outdoor night show kicks in.

The perfect end to the perfect day is relaxing at one of the many beach bars in Sentosa, with Tanjong Beach Bar being the most popular. It’s been a long day, so treat yourself to a frosty beverage.

Day 2

I hope you’re well rested, as you’ll need all your energy for a culture-packed second day. We’ll be moving around the city, from Chinatown to Marina Bay, and much more. You’ll be happy to know that public transport is top-notch. It’s affordable and reliable, by bus, MRT Subway, or taxi.

You can buy a pass that gives unlimited travel for 1 or 2 days, perfect for weekend explorers

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Enjoy an authentic tea appreciation experience at Tea Chapter

Enter the largest and oldest teahouse in Singapore at Tea Chapter. Kick off your shoes and take in the gentle yet intoxicating aromas of brewing tea. The Chinese art of tea drinking is as much about calm, relaxation, and mindfulness as it is about drinking tea.

You’ll be led through an immersive tea tasting experience where you’ll learn about the history of tea and its cultural significance in Asia and the West.

What a zen way to start the day.

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Visit Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s iconic tourist attraction. Spanning over 101 hectares, the awes-inspiring gardens are divided into multiple areas and conservatories, themed around various aspects of nature.

A walk through the Cloud Forest conservatory will take you up into the clouds with its striking mountain views. You’ll also see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, which stands at 30 meters high, which you can enjoy from the treetop walk.

Escape the heat of the day, reconnect with nature, and take some stunning photos along the way.

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Enjoy a Marina Bay Night Bicycle Tour

One of the most memorable ways to see Singapore’s Marina Bay is by bicycle at night.

The two-hour guided tour covers all the major attractions in the bay area, including the Supertree Grove and Gardens by the Bay. However, at night, everything’s illuminated, making the view spectacular.

If you’re looking for a unique perspective of Singapore, while creating lasting memories and taking breathtaking photos, a nighttime cycle is a great addition to your itinerary.

After the tour, you’re perfectly placed to enjoy the magical Singapore nightlife. You’ll have certainly worked up an appetite, so feast on delicious food like black pepper crab or Hokkien Mee (a traditional noodle dish with various toppings), and wash it down with a classic Singapore Sling cocktail.

If you’re still eager for more cultural experiences, head across to Chinatown. Night shopping is a classic Singaporean pastime, with markets operating from 10PM until 2AM. Chinatown street market is a top spot to pick up a bargain, or just grab some Dim Sum and watch the world go by as you plan your next epic adventure.

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Young couple taking a selfie on a date in Singapore
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Date Night Activities in Singapore

The sheer variety of activities in Singapore makes it an ideal choice for romantics in search of the perfect date night. This diminutive diamond-shaped island is full of heart – and that’s not all. Stunning gardens, world-class spas, hipper-than-thou indie cinemas, swoonsome sunsets and stunning street food are just some of our ideas for date night activities in Singapore (though admittedly you may want to avoid leaning in for a cheeky smooch too soon after that plateful of chili crab). Swipe right for our pick of the most romantic nights out in town, including: A Singapore sightseeing river cruise Cocktails at the iconic Raffles Hotel Couples’ massage at the Banyan Tree Spa Traditional tea for two The best steamboats and hotpots in town Sunsets to make you swoon! Go on a Singapore River Cruise Nothing says romance quite like bobbing gently along the river on a cute Singapore bumboat – stop sniggering at the back please! Take to the water with your boo on a sightseeing cruise that ticks off a number of the city’s bucket-list attractions, including Marina Bay Sands, the Old Parliament House and the legendary Raffles hotel. Cruises run well into the evening, so hopeless romantics can catch the golden hour as the sky turns flamingo pink and burnt orange at sunset and lights twinkle on across town. Sip a Singapore Sling at Raffles A Singapore institution of some 135 years standing, the colonial-style Raffles Hotel has hosted a who’s who of glamorous household names down the years: Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, Christian Louboutin, Rudyard Kipling and even Queen Elizabeth II, to name-drop a few. In other words, you’re in pretty good company. The hotel’s signature Singapore Sling, that punchy tropical cocktail of cherry brandy, gin, grenadine, pineapple lime and bitters, was invented right here in 1915. Toast your date with one (or two) on a romantic date in the hotel’s legendary Long Bar. Soothe your Soul at the Banyan Tree Spa Singapore date night activities don’t come much better than this: a pampering experience par excellence at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Resort. Here, 55 stories up in the Banyan Tree Spa, couples can surrender themselves to complete serenity thanks to an extensive menu of Balinese, Thai and Oriental massage complemented by fresh fruit, soothing pots of jasmine tea and sky-high views of the bay and Singapore skyline. Get Hot and Steamy over Dinner If you’ve been to Singapore and haven’t tried hotpot, have you really been to Singapore? Also known as steamboat, these boiling broths are served with a variety of thinly sliced meats, fish and vegetables for dipping and sharing at your table. You’ll find all sorts of broths out there, from spicy Sichuan to – for the bold gourmand only – stinky tofu. Dip ingredients including marinated wagyu beef, freshly caught shrimp, pickled cabbage and smoky shiitake mushrooms for the win. A steamy evening is guaranteed. Tea for Two That Queen Elizabeth sure got around, didn’t she? Not content with drinking the bar dry at Raffles, here she is again at Tea Chapter, a celebrated Singapore tea house she visited for a spot of Imperial Golden Cassia with hubby Phil back in 1989. Treat your queen (or king) to a date to remember in this lovingly converted three-storey pre-war shophouse, a zen haven of ornate Chinese architecture where you too can indulge in a tea appreciation ceremony. Rest assured that the blends you’ll sample will also be made using tea leaves that are – quite literally – fit for a queen. Date Night at the Movies Singapore isn’t short of great movie theaters, with options for catching all the latest Hollywood blockbusters or – if Scarlet Johansson and The Rock don’t float your boat – cool arthouse cinemas for the in-the-know in-crowd. The huge GVMax screen (once the biggest in Asia, fact fans) at the Golden Village VivoCity multiplex is a good bet for the hottest new releases. Head to Projector X: Riverside for under-the-radar indie flicks paired with cool cocktails or to the futuristic ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands where a curated selection of arthouse films, documentaries and Hollywood classics is screened in its state-of-the-art cinema. Now, pass the popcorn. Go Wild on a Night Safari You may find yourself playing third wheel when your boo falls for the Night Safari’s Sunda pangolin, a super-cute crepuscular critter that seems engineered to steal the heart of anyone who lays eyes on it. Operated by the same group that runs the wildly popular Singapore Zoo, this fun nighttime experience is the first of its kind to be 100% devoted to nocturnal animals. Step inside the 86-acre reserve and wander its zones (or hop on the complimentary tram) to spot Malaysian tapirs, Asian elephants, white African lions and more as they go about their nightly business. Make a Dinner Date with a Difference If dinner with a view doesn’t quite set your date’s heart aflutter, these sky-high dining experiences just might. Soaring to a dizzying 541 feet, the Singapore Flyer is one of the planet’s tallest observation wheels with showstopping views of the bright lights of Singapore and Sentosa. Two rotations of the wheel is just enough time for a private dinner in your pod with a glass of champagne and, who knows, maybe even a proposal of marriage. Equally fun is dinner and drinks on board a private cable car across the bay as you and your partner fall in love all over again on the ride from Singapore to Sentosa. Again, two rotations ensure there’s no need to rush dessert. Watch the Sunset Together Trying to identify the best sunset spot in Singapore is like attempting to find the best chili crab in town, i.e. near impossible – there are just so many great places to choose from! Our pick? Head for Marina Barrage next to the Gardens by the Bay. Here, not only can you watch the extraordinary free nightly light show in Supertree Grove thanks to those panoramic 360-degree views, you can also catch some of the most spectacular technicolor sunset views in town. Take a picnic blanket, a bottle of bubbly and some fresh passion fruit with you and that perfect Singapore date night is all but guaranteed. Save on date night activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
festivals in singapore
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Festivals in Singapore

Singapore is a melting pot of so many beautiful cultures, so it's no surprise you'll find dozens of festivals there throughout the year. If you're visiting this beautiful country and want to join in the festivities, you'll need to know when they are, what they're about, and what you can expect to do and see during them. So, let's talk about festivals in Singapore. We've run our fine-tooth combs through the wealth of offerings to find the very best ones you won't want to miss. So, without further ado, this is our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! And by the by, this list is in chronological order. So you'll find your early-year ones at the top and your later-year ones at the bottom! Enjoy! Including: Pongal Chinese New Year Thaipusam Lantern Festival Hari Raya Puasa and more! Pongal When: January 15 - January 18, 2023 This four-day festival is widely celebrated by the Indian population of Singapore, as it originated there. Dedicated to the Hindu god of the sun, Surya, Pongal is honored to bring wealth and a rich harvest to the people. Head to Singapore's Little India, and you'll find it ablaze with lights, celebrations, and events. It's customary to exchange gifts and wear new clothes during Pongal, so bear those in mind if you want to get in on the festivities. Chinese New Year When: January 22, 2023 Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world, and in Singapore, it's no different. In 2023, the big day falls on January 22, so expect Chinatown to be full of fun and fancy! This year is the Year of the Rabbit, and people born in these years are said to be witty, ingenious, and vigilant. You can be all of those things, too, believe it or not. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Expect to find plenty of red and gold decorations, dancing in the streets, and lively processions to boot. And, like with many of these festivals in Singapore, gifts are often exchanged. Because gift-giving is fun, and fun is all we have in this cruel, cruel world. Thaipusam When: February 5, 2023 'Thai' is a month in the Tamil calendar. 'Pusam' is the name of a star in the night sky. What do you get if you combine the two together? Thaipusam, of course! And you can bet your stars that Singapore's burgeoning Tamil population will celebrate it with abandon! Over the festival, you'll see those taking part walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, carrying all sorts of symbols of divinity, but the celebration itself actually takes place over two days. Lantern Festival When: February 5, 2023 Taking place on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is unsurprisingly celebrated by lighting paper lanterns and letting them drift up into the sky. It's one of the most popular festivals in Singapore, so if you're visiting at the beginning of February, you're sure to see some of these bright tributes floating in the air. Head to Chinatown to get the best views of the festivities. If you've never seen countless lanterns lighting up the sky, you're in for a treat. Hari Raya Puasa When: April 21 - April 22, 2023 Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. So it's no surprise that the following day is called the 'day of celebration'! Following a month of fasting, you can understandably expect plenty of delicious food making the rounds. On the holy side of things, many Muslims also flock to local mosques, visit the graves of their forebears, and wear new clothes to signify the purity and renewal that comes in the wake of Ramadan. If you're a Muslim and visiting Singapore at the back end of Ramadan, you'll be pleased to know you can share Hari Raya Puasa with others! Vesak Day When: May 5, 2023 Don't worry, Buddhists, we see you. And thankfully, you're catered to too here, thanks to Vesak Day. For those that don't know, Vesak Day marks the enlightenment and death of Buddha. And, given its melting pot of cultures, you'll find many Buddhists celebrating Vesak Day in Singapore. Meditation and charity are the name of the game here, which gives believers a chance to look inward and take part in some nice self-reflection. Duanwu Festival When: June 22, 2023 More commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival around the world, Duanwu Festival is another celebration of Chinese origin. Falling on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, it's been celebrated for thousands of years. As you may expect from the Dragon Boat Festival, it primarily consists of dragon boats racing one another. Pretty cool! Even onlookers can enjoy the day, thanks to the food and rice wines often consumed from the sidelines. Hari Raya Haji June 28 - July 2, 2023 Another Muslim festival, Hari Raya Haji is dedicated to the character of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his first-born son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah. Sacrifice plays a huge role over Hari Raya Haji, with volunteers from mosques sacrificing goats, sheep, and cows on the holy day. A third of the meat from these animals is given to people that need it most. The rest is given to the families of those who sacrificed their animals. Singapore National Day When: August 9, 2023 No matter your religion or cultural background, August 9 is a special day for Singaporeans. It's the country's National Day, and it draws massive crowds from all over the world every year. Expect massive parades, choreographed dance, and plenty of other festivities to enjoy! Diwali When: November 12, 2023 And finally, we end our guide to festivals in Singapore with Diwali, the biggest celebration in the Hindu calendar. Marking the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, it represents the triumph of good over evil. But what does it mean for you, oh traveler? Well, plenty! Plenty of fireworks, bright clothes, and dancing. Little India will be buzzing all day, so make sure you go down there and check it out! And that rounds out our guide to the best festivals in Singapore! Looking for more fun things to do on your vacation? Go City's got you covered. With our Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive Pass, you can experience the best of Singapore for one low price, and fit them around your festival itinerary!
Dom Bewley
Wings of Time Firework Show
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Got Wings of Time tickets? Here’s what to add for a magical Sentosa day from start to finish.

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