If you’re lucky enough to need a 7 day Singapore itinerary, you have enough time to truly get to know this vibrant city.
A week allows time to see iconic attractions, explore colourful neighbourhoods, take nature walks, relax on beaches, and even venture to nearby islands.
You won’t need to rush from sight to sight – instead, you can balance busy sightseeing days with slower-paced cultural and nature experiences.
I’ve visited twice now for a week or more (and multiple shorter visits too) and I’ve come up with this itinerary to give the first-time visitor to Singapore a bit of everything.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through a day-by-day plan that covers the best of Singapore: from Marina Bay’s distinctive skyline to Sentosa’s fun attractions, from hawker centre feasts to quiet island escapes.
If you have less time, check out my 3 Day Singapore Itinerary or 5 Day Singapore Itinerary.
Contents
- At a Glance: 7 Days in Singapore
- Day 1 – Marina Bay Icons & Evening Lights
- Day 2 – Cultural Neighbourhoods
- Day 3 – Sentosa Island
- Day 4 – Mandai Wildlife Reserve
- Day 5 – Haw Par Villa & Botanic Gardens + Clarke Quay
- Day 6 – Pulau Ubin & Changi Museum
- Day 7 – Museum Day & Afternoon Tea at the Fullerton Hotel
- Practical Tips for a Week in Singapore
- Is 7 Days in Singapore Too Long?
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At a Glance: 7 Days in Singapore
This 7 day Singapore itinerary balances iconic landmarks, cultural neighbourhoods, wildlife encounters, island escapes, and a touch of luxury.
- Day 1: Marina Bay icons – Merlion Park, Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, The Shoppes, ArtScience Museum, and evening shows with skyline views.
- Day 2: Singapore’s cultural heart with Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, and an evening food tour in Joo Chiat.
- Day 3: Sentosa Island fun, with options like Universal Studios, the Singapore Oceanarium, Skyline Luge, Fort Siloso, or simply relaxing on the beaches.
- Day 4: full wildlife experience at Mandai, from Singapore Zoo and River Wonders to Bird Paradise and the famous Night Safari.
- Day 5: mix heritage and greenery with Haw Par Villa, the Botanic Gardens, a Singapore Sling at Raffles, and nightlife at Clarke Quay.
- Day 6: go to Pulau Ubin for a rustic island escape and then to Changi Chapel and Museum, finishing with local eats at East Coast Lagoon Food Village.
- Day 7: Museum-hopping – from the National Gallery to the Museum of Ice Cream – before capping off the trip with afternoon tea at the Fullerton Hotel and a scenic evening along the river.
Download this outline as a pdf here
Day 1 – Marina Bay Icons & Evening Lights
Morning: Merlion Park, Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay (Flower Dome & Cloud Forest optional).
Lunch: Satay by the Bay or Marina Bay Sands food court.
Afternoon: The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, ArtScience Museum.
Evening: Spectra Light & Water Show + Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.
Start your 7 day Singapore itinerary with a full day in the Marina Bay area.
Take in the views across the water from Merlion Park and get your Merlion selfie, then walk past the Esplanade to the lush Gardens by the Bay.
Enjoy the Supertree Grove and, if you are interested, visit the Flower Dome or Cloud Forest, or even both.
After lunch at Satay by the Bay or Marina Bay Sands food court, browse The Shoppes and explore the ArtScience Museum.
End your evening with the Garden Rhapsody and/or the Spectra Light & Water Show and panoramic views from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.
Tip: While it’s easy to see both light shows, if you can only choose one, Garden Rhapsody is the better of the two.
Day 2 – Cultural Neighbourhoods
Breakfast: Kaya toast at Tong Ah Eating House.
Morning: Chinatown (temples, heritage streets, Maxwell Food Centre lunch).
Afternoon: Little India & Kampong Glam
Evening: Joo Chiat (especially if you can find a food tour)
Dive into Singapore’s cultural mix.
Begin with kaya toast and kopi at Tong Ah Eating House, then explore Chinatown’s temples, street markets, and heritage shophouses.
Have lunch at Maxwell Food Centre before heading to Little India to see Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and shop at Tekka Centre and Mustafa Centre.
Later, explore Kampong Glam’s colourful murals and Arab Street boutiques.
Finish with an evening in Joo Chiat for Peranakan flavours and local street eats.
Day 3 – Sentosa Island
Full day options: Universal Studios, Singapore Oceanarium, beach clubs, Skyline Luge, Fort Siloso.
Relaxation: Palawan or Siloso Beach.
Evening: Wings of Time
Dedicate the day to Sentosa Island’s fun and relaxation, spending the day as you wish.
Thrill-seekers can visit Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove Waterpark, the Singapore Oceanarium, take a ride on the Skyline Luge or any of the many other activities available.
For a slower pace, choose a beach club or relax at Palawan or Siloso Beach. Learn about the history at Fort Siloso and admire the view from the Siloso Skywalk.
Finish off the evening with the Wings of Time water and light show.
Sentosa has mostly family-friendly attractions and plenty of dining spots to fill the day. Look out for the free buses on the island to help you get around.
Day 4 – Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Breakfast in the Wild at Singapore Zoo.
Day at Mandai Wildlife Reserve: choose Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Bird Paradise.
Evening: Night Safari.
Spend the day with Singapore’s wildlife.
Start early with something special by having Breakfast in the Wild at Singapore Zoo, then choose between River Wonders, Bird Paradise, or both if you have the energy.
As night falls, embark on the Night Safari – a unique chance to see nocturnal animals in natural-style habitats.
I recently visited all five of the Mandai Wildlife Parks to discover that 15 years after my first visit, I still like the Singapore Zoo the best. So if you can only choose one park, that would be my pick.
Day 5 – Haw Par Villa & Botanic Gardens + Clarke Quay
Morning: Haw Par Villa (Hell’s Museum optional).
Lunch: Nearby hawker centre.
Afternoon: Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO site).
Evening: Singapore Sling at Raffles, dinner & nightlife at Clarke Quay.
Begin with a visit to Haw Par Villa, known for its colourful and quirky statues depicting Chinese folklore.
Jump back on the MRT and head a few stops to the Botanic Gardens MRT station.
Cross the road to the Adam Road Food Centre for lunch, or if you prefer, choose another of the nearby options. There are restaurants and fast food (McDonalds, Guzman Y Gomez) options right here.
After lunch head to the Singapore Botanic Gardens for a relaxing afternoon stroll. Don’t miss the National Orchid Garden for the flowers of Singapore.
Look out for otters, monkeys, birds and other wildlife.
In the evening, enjoy a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel before dinner and riverside nightlife at Clarke Quay.
Day 6 – Pulau Ubin & Changi Museum
Morning ferry to Pulau Ubin: explore by bike or on foot.
Lunch: Local seafood restaurant near Changi Village.
Afternoon: Visit Changi Chapel and Museum.
Evening: Relaxed dinner back in the city or at East Coast Lagoon Food Village.
Take a morning ferry to Pulau Ubin for a glimpse of rural Singapore.
Explore by bike or on foot, spotting wildlife and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere.
Catch the ferry back and have a seafood lunch in Changi Village before visiting the Changi Chapel and Museum to learn about Singapore’s wartime history.
Return to the city for a relaxed dinner or head to East Coast Lagoon Food Village for satay by the beach.
Day 7 – Museum Day & Afternoon Tea at the Fullerton Hotel
Morning: Choose 2–3 museums (options: National Gallery Singapore, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, ArtScience Museum, Singapore Art Museum, Museum of Ice Cream for fun photos).
Lunch: Nearby café or museum restaurant.
Afternoon: Traditional or themed afternoon tea at the Fullerton Hotel.
Evening: Sunset views from a rooftop bar or Singapore River bumboat cruise.
Spend your final day exploring some of Singapore’s best museums. Choose a mix that suits your interests – from the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Gallery Singapore, the Peranakan Museum and Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum to the playful Museum of Ice Cream.
Tip: If you are visiting a few museums in Singapore it might be worth checking out the Museum Pass.
Break for lunch at a nearby café before treating yourself to a luxurious afternoon tea at the Fullerton Hotel.
End your trip with sunset views from a rooftop bar or a scenic Singapore River bumboat cruise.
Practical Tips for a Week in Singapore
Where to stay: Marina Bay for luxury, Chinatown for culture, Bugis for budget-friendly.
Transport: Use the MRT for most journeys; Grab is handy for late-night or door-to-door trips.
Passes: Consider an attraction bundle to save money.
Weather: Be prepared for heat and humidity – carry water and wear light clothing.
Is 7 Days in Singapore Too Long?
Seven days in Singapore isn’t too long if you enjoy a mix of sightseeing, relaxation, and exploring at a slower pace.
In fact, I would recommend a week as the perfect amount of time for a first time visitor who may not come back again, as it gives a more in depth look at the country.
This itinerary takes you beyond the big-name attractions to show you quieter corners, island escapes, and local culture.
If you’d like a shorter visit, see my 5 Day Singapore Itinerary for a condensed version, or my 3 Day Singapore Itinerary for a quick but satisfying trip.
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
