The island of Singapore may be small, but it packs a lot in. From verdant parks, world-class shopping malls and luxurious hotels to historical structures and deliciously cheap eats, the country is best explored over the course of a week or more. Who hasn’t seen the iconic sights of the Marina Bay Sands hotel at night, Formula One cars whizzing through the streets of Singapore and merlion statues spewing out water from their mouths and wondered what it would be like to be there in person? The island is also a global transit hub, with nearly 58.9 million passengers passing through Singapore Changi Airport in 2023. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the airport registered 68.3 million passenger movements.
If you are unable to spend more than a day in Singapore, then here’s how to make the most of your 24 hours.
Kampong Gelam is a historic neighbourhood in Singapore that is home to the Malay-Muslim community. Prior to colonisation by the British in 1819, the area was the residence of the Malay aristocracy. The district remains a centre for Muslim activities, and the Sultan Mosque, with its distinctive golden domes, is a major landmark and congregation point for Singaporean Muslims. The Hajjah Fatimah Mosque is a blend of cross-cultural architectural influences; Indo-Islamic and European features can be seen in its traditional onion-shaped dome, while the flooring is fitted with Chinese glazed porcelain tiles. Don’t miss Haji Lane, which is home to a diverse array of boutique fashion stores, indie businesses, charming cafés, photography studios, murals and graffiti made by local and international artists, and hole-in-the-wall bars.
Before you dig in to Chinatown’s culinary concoctions, take some time to explore the district. Originally used by the Japanese military police during the Japanese Occupation, the site was home to “death houses” and brothels until the 1960s, when the land was cleared. The street architecture of Chinatown's buildings, especially its shophouses, combines different elements of baroque architecture and Victorian architecture. Check out the majestic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum; the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu shrine; the oldest Chinese temple on the island (Thian Hock Keng); and the murals of local artist Yip Yew Chong, which depict daily life in Singapore through colourful renditions.
For food, look no further than Hawker Chan, whose soy sauce chicken rice and noodles have lots of takers every day; the Maxwell Food Centre, a beloved stomping ground of Singaporean foodies; the Kok Sen Restaurant, a Michelin Bib Gourmand honoured that serves Cantonese cuisine; and the Chinatown Complex, the largest hawker centre in Singapore where you can find stalls serving up all kinds of Chinese specialities, from dim sum to roast meats.
Clarke Quay is located in the city’s traditional centre on the banks of the Singapore River. It is a gorgeous place during the day, sprinkled with beautiful colonial-era architecture, but it undergoes a boisterous transformation at night when its famous nightclubs come alive. Check out the nearby Fort Canning Park, also known as Government Hill or Bukit Larangan (“Forbidden Hill” in the Malay language). More than just a hilltop park in the city, the site holds historical significance as it was once the palatial home to five Malay kings who ruled during the 14th century. Fast forward to 500 years later, when the British Empire set up a trading post in Singapore, they began using the verdant space for civil and military purposes. The British colonial founder of Singapore, Stamford Raffles, built his residence here, too. See the Underground Far East Command Centre, which was used during World War II as an underground bunker, and the Sally Port, a small hidden door that leads into and out of a fortification, among dozens of other attractions that nod to the park's history.
The bustling boulevard of Singapore's iconic shopping belt is home to international fashion brands, world-class cuisine and a myriad of innovative attractions. With shopping malls, luxury fashion houses and renowned international brands to choose from, Orchard Road has it all. Check out the colourful Peranakan shophouses of Emerald Hill, previously the site of a former nutmeg orchard and subsequently developed into a fashionable abode for wealthy Chinese and Straits-Chinese merchants. You can shop for homegrown brands and apparel at Design Orchard; the ION Orchard mall; the Paragon Mall; Tangs, Singapore’s first department store; the Ngee Ann City Mall, which has the largest bookstore on the island; and 313@Somerset for street fashion brands, among many other options.
Located in Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay is an amazing place to visit in Singapore. Spanning 105 hectares, the park consists of three waterfront gardens: the Bay South Garden, the Bay East Garden and the Bay Central Garden. The largest is the Bay South Garden, and its centrepiece is the magnificent Flower Dome. It broke the Guinness World Record as the “World’s Largest Glass Greenhouse” in 2015 and is home to plants and flowers from five continents. One of the most beautiful sights you can see in the park is its “supertrees.” These structures are home to vertical gardens, soar up to 50 metres above the ground, and come to life in a glorious spectacle of light and sound after dusk. They also collect rainwater, generate solar power and act as venting ducts for the park’s conservatories. Don’t miss out on the “Garden Rhapsody,” a dazzling light and sound show that happens daily at 7:45PM and 8:45PM.
You can’t leave Singapore without seeing the glory of Marina Bay at night. With the glittering lights of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, the iconic merlion statues at Merlion Park, the Singapore Flyer (Asia’s largest observation wheel), the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum and the performing arts centre of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the area is a hotspot of art, culture, architecture and luxury. After a full day of exploring Singapore, make this your final stop for a delicious meal. Enjoy a mug of artisanal beer at LeVel 33, the world’s highest urban microbrewery; eat omakase-style meals at Waku Ghin; slurp noodles at Koh Kee Wonton Noodles; sip cocktails at MO Bar; and feast on French cuisine at Marguerite.
There are direct flights to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) from 14 Indian cities.