Planning 10 days in Singapore gives you the rare chance to slow down and see more than just the highlights.
With extra time, you can enjoy the iconic landmarks, the city’s cultural districts, explore wildlife reserves, spend a day on Sentosa, and even take side trips to Pulau Ubin or nearby islands.
After multiple visits to Singapore of varying lengths, I’ve pulled together the best way to spend each day to see it all.
This 10 day Singapore itinerary blends food, culture, nature, and fun so you’ll experience this amazing destination from every angle – not just the glossy skyline.
Contents
- 10 Day Singapore Itinerary – At a Glance
- 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
- Day 8 – Johor Bahru Day Trip (Malaysia)
- Day 9 – Nature & Outer Singapore
- Day 10 – Your Choice: Beaches, Wildlife, or More City Exploring
- Practical Tips for 10 Days in Singapore
- Make the Most of Your 10 Days in Singapore
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10 Day Singapore Itinerary – At a Glance
Day 1 – Marina Bay: Merlion Park, Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, The Shoppes, ArtScience Museum, Spectra show, SkyPark.
Day 2 – Culture & Food: Kaya toast, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Joo Chiat.
Day 3 – Sentosa: Universal Studios, Oceanarium, Skyline Luge, Palawan/Siloso Beach.
Day 4 – Mandai Wildlife: Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, River Wonders, Night Safari.
Day 5 – Gardens & Clarke Quay: Haw Par Villa, Botanic Gardens, Raffles, Clarke Quay.
Day 6 – Pulau Ubin & Changi: Pulau Ubin cycling, Changi Village lunch, Changi Museum.
Day 7 – Museums & Tea: National Gallery, Natural History, ArtScience, Fullerton afternoon tea, rooftop/bar cruise.
Day 8 – Johor Bahru (Malaysia): JB Old Town, banana cake, Sultan Mosque, shopping malls.
Day 9 – Nature & Outer SG: Southern Ridges or MacRitchie, Kranji farms or Sungei Buloh.
Day 10 – Flexible Finale: Extra Sentosa, more Mandai, or city exploring (Tiong Bahru, Orchard Road).
Download an outline of this itinerary here
Day 1 – Marina Bay Icons & Evening Lights
Start your Singapore trip with the classics today. Begin with an early visit to Merlion Park to get your selfie before the crowds descend.
Walk past the Esplanade by the Bay “durian” buildings, and cross the Helix Bridge (another photo stop) on your way to Gardens by the Bay.
Spend a couple of hours here, wandering through the SuperTrees (including the OCBC Skyway if you like) and through the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.
Have lunch at either the Satay by the Bay hawker centre or make your way across to the Marina Bay Sands food court.
Spend your afternoon here browsing The Shoppes or visiting the ArtScience Museum. You may even like to duck into the casino if that’s your thing.
In the evening head back over to Gardens by the Bay to watch the fabulous Garden Rhapsody light show.
You can time it so you can come back to Marina Bay to watch the Spectra light show here, or head up to MBS SkyPark for the skyline and night time views.
Day 2 – Cultural Neighbourhoods
Start day two with one of Singapore’s most beloved breakfasts, kaya toast, at Tong Ah Eating House, Ya Kun Kaya Toast or one of the other breakfast chains found all over Singapore.
Spend the rest of the morning Exploring Chinatown. You can either go it alone and explore by yourself, or join in with a walking tour for a local’s perspective.
Have lunch at Maxwell Food Centre, one of the best-known Singapore hawker centres and home of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice – although chicken rice from any of the stands tastes good to me.
Continue to Little India and explore the colourful House of Tan Teng Niah, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, and the markets before shopping for bargains (and food!) at Tekka Centre.
Later in the afternoon head over to Kampong Glam for street art, cafes and boutiques, then on to Joo Chiat/Katong for Peranakan flavours, where you can have a local dinner.
Day 3 – Sentosa Island
Today you are going to spend the whole day on Sentosa Island, Singapore’s resort and theme park playground.
There are dozens of attractions and activities here for you, from Universal Studios and Adventure Cove Water Park to the Skyline Luge, Skypark Sentosa bungy jump or iFly skydiving.
If you want something with a little less adrenaline, try the Singapore Oceanarium, Madame Tussauds or the Trick-eye Museum.
You can also visit Fort Siloso to learn a little about the history of the island and enjoy views from the Siloso Skywalk.
Alternatively you can hit the beach, at either Palawan Beach or Siloso Beach. Just take a swim, or settle in for the day at a beach club (Coastes was my choice last time I was there).
And the end of the day, watch the Wings of Time light show before calling it a day.
Day 4 – Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Today is all about the parks of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Spend the day here at some of the top wildlife parks in the world.
There are five parks here so plenty to see, but if you haven’t been before and wondering which of the parks to choose, these are my recommendations.
Book Breakfast in the Wild at Singapore Zoo, then visit River Wonders in the afternoon. After dark, the Night Safari is a highlight.
I choose these because all three parks are located in the Mandai East precinct with all the entrances close together.
I would suggest a seperate visit to the Mandai West parks – Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Asia – another time.Mandai Rainforest Resort
Of course, you can mix-and-match but you will have to bus between them.
If you’re going to visit multiple parks, the Mandai Pass might make sense for you to save a few dollars.
Day 5 – Haw Par Villa & Botanic Gardens + Clarke Quay
Spend this morning at Haw Par Villa, the eccentric home of the creators of Tiger Balm.
They created a garden full of sculptures and dioramas to teach kids right and wrong – all back in the 1930s, so it’s quite quirky, and even a little macabre.
Don’t miss Hell’s Museum, where you’ll learn all about death, rituals and burial, and see the gruesome 10 Courts of Hell.
Jump on the MRT and head to the Botanic Gardens station. Eat lunch across the road at the Adam Road Food Centre or in one of the nearby eateries.
Stroll the Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO), and visit the Orchid garden to admire Singapore’s national flower.
You’ll now be in need of a late afternoon tipple, so make your way to Raffles for their iconic Singapore Sling in the Long Bar.
Finish off the evening with dinner, and if you’re up to it, riverside nightlife at Clarke Quay.
Day 6 – Pulau Ubin & Changi Museum
This morning you will be exploring a whole different side of Singapore.
Make your way out to Changi Village where you will get the ferry to Pulau Ubin for a glimpse of kampong life. Hire a bike or walk the trails as you look around.
Around lunch time, catch the ferry back across before having lunch in Changi Village. I recommend the Changi Village Hawker Centre of one of the other nearby places to eat.
Jump on bus number 2 or 29 (or get a Grab) to the Changi Chapel & Museum (closed Monday) for a glimpse of Singapore’s wartime history.
Dinner back in the city or try East Coast Lagoon Food Village, best known for it’s seafood and satays.
Day 7 – Museum Day & Afternoon Tea at the Fullerton
Spend today until mid-afternoon visiting some of the museums in Singapore. There are dozens of museums, and I suggest choosing 2–3 to suit your interests.
Some ideas are the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Gallery Singapore, the Peranakan Museum and Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum or for a lighter option the Museum of Ice Cream.
After all those museums, relax with a decadent afternoon tea at the Fullerton Hotel. I tried a kaya toast-themed afternoon tea created in collaboration with Ya Kun Kaya Toast, but the themes change throughout the year.
Enjoy sunset from a rooftop bar or take a Singapore River bumboat cruise to finish the day.
Day 8 – Johor Bahru Day Trip (Malaysia)
Today you’re going on a day trip, just across the water to Malaysia where you will find the city of Johor Bahru (JB).
You have two options here. If you have kids or you’re young at heart you might enjoy a day at Legoland.
The other option is to explore JB Old Town, sample local treats (banana cake at Hiap Joo), and visit Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque.
Spend the afternoon shopping at City Square or KSL City Mall – things ted to be cheaper in Malaysia.
Head back over the border to Singapore for dinner.
Border tips: bring your passport, allow buffer time for the Causeway, and consider a pre‑booked transfer or guided day tour if you want it stress‑free.
You can book buses to Legoland here and Johor Bahru here.
Day 9 – Nature & Outer Singapore
It’s easy to think Singapore is all shiny buildings and colourful neighbourhoods, but there are lots of green areas too, and today it’s time to explore some of them.
You can choose today which of these you might like to do.
Spend the morning walking along the Southern Ridges (Mount Faber to HortPark) or try the MacRitchie TreeTop Walk.
Get lunch at a nearby hawker centre (yes, I love hawker centres, they always have good food for a great price! They are a great way to save up for the splurges at other restaurants.)
In the afternoon you could try even less-known options, such as the Kranji Countryside (Bollywood Veggies, Jurong Frog Farm) or Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for birdwatching.
Head back into the city and have dinner somewhere you’ve spotted and drooled over.
Day 10 – Your Choice: Beaches, Wildlife, or More City Exploring
It’s your last day in Singapore and by now you will have a good idea of what else you might like to do. You’ve probably seen of heard about something you really want to do today.
Another option is to double down on what you loved:
- Sentosa, round two: beach time, spa, or the attractions you missed.
- Mandai, part two: Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Asia.
- Visit museums you missed
- Explore another neighbourhood like Tiong Bahru or Holland Village
- Go shopping on Orchard Road.
Wrap with a special dinner or one last rooftop view.
Practical Tips for 10 Days in Singapore
Where to stay: Split stays work when you are in Singapore for longer – a few nights in Marina Bay or City Hall for convenience, then a couple on Sentosa for resort vibes and on to Chinatown/Bugis for value.
Transport: The MRT handles most journeys and buses work just fine in the gaps. Grab is the local rideshare app and handy late at night or when changing areas with luggage.
Bookings: Pre‑book Night Safari, SkyPark, Universal Studios, and popular museums to skip queues.
Passes: Consider attraction bundles if you’re doing multiple paid sights. The Klook Pass, Mandai Pass and Museum Pass are especially good value if used right.
Connectivity: eSIMs are simple – I use Airalo in Singapore.
Money savers: Mix paid icons with free walks, light shows, parks, and hawker meals.
Make the Most of Your 10 Days in Singapore
Ten days lets you see the showstoppers and still slow down for street art, quiet gardens, island time, and neighbourhood eats. Use this plan as your base, then swap in experiences that fit your interests.
If your plans change, here are some other options:
- 7 Day Singapore Itinerary – full week, nicely paced
- 5 Day Singapore Itinerary – a compact but complete trip
- 3 Day Singapore Itinerary – the essentials, done well
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.
