Context for new readers: Nathan was around 11 weeks into recovery from hip surgery during this trip, which shaped a few of the calls we made, you’ll see it referenced here and there below.
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Quick Facts: Singapore for First-Timers
| Best for | First-time visitors, couples, families, accessible travel, theme park fans, foodies |
| Time needed | 4 days ideal; 2 days gives you a proper taste; even 24 hours is worth it |
| Accessibility rating | 5/5 |
| Budget rating | 2/5 (expensive, but worth it) |
| Getting around | MRT (tap your contactless bank card — no tickets or apps) and Grab |
| Best time to visit | Evenings for light shows; mornings for temples and breakfast spots before the heat |
The Quick Answer: Is Singapore Worth Visiting?
Yes, and not just as a stopover. When we booked Singapore as the first stop on our trip, we’d heard it was expensive, efficient, and a bit clinical. A city you pass through rather than experience. We were wrong on every count.
In four days, Singapore gave us a world-class theme park, some of the best food we ate on the entire backpacking trip, one of the most accessible cities we’ve visited, and a rooftop sunset that genuinely stopped us in our tracks. If you only have a couple of days, you’ll still leave buzzing. Our personal highlights were the Night Safari, sunset at Ce La Vi, and breakfast at Tekka Centre in Little India, if you do nothing else on this list, do those three.
Here’s everything we did, what we loved, what we’d skip, and a few honest opinions along the way.
1. Gardens by the Bay
Cost: Free (outdoor areas) / Paid (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome)
Time needed: 2–3 hours minimum
Best time to visit: Early morning or evening for the light show
Energy rating: 2/5 — mostly flat paths, easy pacing
Worth the walk? Yes — flat, paved, and shaded in places
This was our very first proper Singapore experience, and what a way to start. We headed here on day one after a quick nap at the hotel, and even jet-lagged we were completely blown away.
The Supertree Grove is one of the most extraordinary things we’ve ever seen, towering structures covered in plants and flowers, with birdsong all around despite being in the middle of one of Asia’s biggest cities.
The free light show runs at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM at the Supertree Grove. Don’t miss it, short, free, and magical.
The domes (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) were closed for maintenance during our visit, which stung but probably saved our budget. By all accounts they’re worth the entry fee, so factor them in if you can. Book Gardens by the Bay dome tickets here.
For food: Head to Satay by the Bay on site for lunch or dinner (opens at 11am — don’t try for breakfast). It’s one of the best hawker experiences in Singapore, and the satay and BBQ stingray are both excellent. One honest note: some stingray species are considered vulnerable or endangered due to overfishing and bycatch, so if you do order it, it’s worth choosing a vendor that can speak to where their seafood comes from.
2. Universal Studios Singapore
Cost: Around £50–60 per person (book in advance for the best price)
Time needed: Half a day to a full day, depending on crowds
Best time to visit: Weekdays if possible
Getting there: Sentosa Express from HarbourFront MRT station
Energy rating: 3/5 — lots of standing in queues, but plenty of seated shows and shaded rest areas
Worth the walk? Yes — fully accessible pathways throughout the park
If you’re any kind of theme park fan, Universal Studios Singapore is non-negotiable, with a couple of honest caveats.
Manage your expectations: it’s not Universal Florida. It’s smaller, has fewer rides, and when we visited in September there was noticeable maintenance, Battlestar Galactica was closed all day, which was disappointing since it was one of the rides we’d most looked forward to. Given Nathan’s hip recovery timeline, not riding it probably worked out for the best anyway.
That said, we had a brilliant day, and depending on crowd levels you could realistically do the whole park in half a day.
The theming is world-class. Minion Land is practically brand new, and while the Minions ride itself is shared with Universal Florida, the Illumination theming around it is completely unique. Far Far Away is stunning too, and the 4D Shrek experience here is a totally different ride from its Florida counterpart, a real highlight for us.
Meeting the Minions characters was a treat, the Sesame Street ride was wonderfully bonkers, and the Canopy Flyer was another standout.
The park was so quiet on our visit that even with an access pass, we barely needed it, the longest queue we saw all day was 15 minutes.
Accessibility: Possibly the best accessible theme park experience Nathan has ever had. The Disability Access Card (bring your blue badge or equivalent) was easy to arrange at guest services with no pre-registration needed. Staff were incredibly supportive throughout, and rest facilities were unmatched. A few rides have steps, but most have accessible alternatives.
Book Universal Studios tickets here
Don’t forget: Sentosa Island has plenty more to explore if you want to make a full day of it rather than heading straight back.
3. Little India, Chinatown and Kampong Glam
Cost: Free to wander / food from £3–£5 per dish
Time needed: Full day
Best time to visit: Morning for breakfast at Tekka Centre, afternoon for wandering
Energy rating: 4/5 — lots of walking between neighbourhoods, but plenty of stop-and-rest points
Worth the walk? Yes, each area is a complete change of scenery and atmosphere
One of Singapore’s greatest gifts is how three completely different cultures sit within a few MRT stops of each other. We gave this a full day and it became one of the best days of the whole trip.
Little India
Start at Tekka Centre for breakfast. We went armed with recommendations to make sure we tried something properly local:
- Strawberry lassi — somewhere between a milkshake and something that feels vaguely healthy. Brilliant.
- Cheese prata — crispy flatbread served with curry, perfect for breakfast.
- Chicken murtabak — a fluffier, thicker flatbread stuffed with chicken; more of a lunch dish, but excellent either way.
The curry alone was worth the flight, we could eat it every day for the rest of our lives.
After breakfast, wander through streets lined with sari shops, spice vendors, and flower garlands. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is a must, dress respectfully (most temples provide modesty shawls if needed) and note that you’ll need to remove your shoes to enter. At 11 weeks post-surgery, that took a bit of manoeuvring and a nearby seat for Nathan, but it was completely doable.
Kampong Glam
The Sultan Mosque is stunning, and Haji Lane is probably the most photogenic street in Singapore, colourful shophouses, street art, boutiques, and independent cafes. We spent far longer here than planned and have zero regrets.
The Starbucks Reserve is also in this area. Yes, really, but it’s worth visiting for the experience rather than the coffee. The building is beautifully painted, the interior is striking, and they stock Singapore-exclusive merch and drinks you won’t find anywhere else.
Chinatown
Round off the day in Chinatown. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is beautiful and well worth a look, and the Maxwell Food Centre right nearby is one of the best hawker centres in Singapore for lunch, the Hainanese chicken rice here is exceptional.
Wander the shophouse-lined streets, browse the souvenir shops (our luggage allowance kept us in check), and soak up the atmosphere. A completely different vibe to Kampong Glam and Little India, but equally brilliant.
4. Raffles Hotel and the Singapore Sling
Cost: £25+ per cocktail (ouch, but worth it)
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: Afternoon or evening
You can’t visit Singapore without a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel. It’s touristy, it’s overcrowded, and the drinks are eye-wateringly expensive. Go anyway.
We were lucky enough to have a gift card covering ours, but even at full price, the experience is iconic. The backstory adds a lovely layer too: the Singapore Sling was created so women could drink alcohol in public while it looked like they were drinking juice, and the hotel shares the story when you visit.
The peanut shells on the floor aren’t an accident, you’re actively encouraged to throw them.
Wander the stunning colonial building and boutique shops before or after your drink. It genuinely feels like stepping back in time.
5. Ce La Vi Rooftop Bar
Cost: Around £22 entry, including one welcome drink
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Sunset onwards
Dress code: Smart casual — leave the flip-flops at the hotel
This was our one proper splurge of the trip, and every penny was justified.
Ce La Vi sits on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands, and the skyline views are some of the best either of us has ever seen, anywhere. We caught the Marina Bay Sands light show from up there with a thunderstorm building in the background. One of those “I can’t believe we’re here” moments.
Entry is around £22 and includes a welcome drink, which makes it far more reasonable than it sounds. The booths come with a minimum spend, but staff took pity on Nathan and his walking stick and seated us anyway, occasionally, post-surgery has its perks.
Book ahead if you want a guaranteed balcony spot, especially at sunset, and factor the minimum spend into your budget before you arrive. Book Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck here.
6. Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Cost: Combo ticket recommended for both
Time needed: Full day (zoo in the afternoon, Night Safari in the evening)
Best time: As early as you can manage, to avoid the worst of the midday heat
Energy rating: 3/5 — lots of walking, but trams and shaded rest areas throughout
Worth the walk? Absolutely — this is the highlight of the whole trip
Hands down our favourite experience of the entire Singapore leg.
We arrived around midday after a lie-in. With hindsight, getting there earlier is the better call; Singapore at midday is seriously humid, and more time in the cooler morning hours would have made a real difference.
Singapore Zoo by day is genuinely impressive: ethical enclosures, content-looking animals, and huge diversity. We spent a long time at the orangutan area, and the elephants were another highlight.
The Night Safari, though, is something else entirely. Watching nocturnal animals in their natural element after dark — a mix of walking trails, shows, and a tram ride through the darkness — feels nothing like a traditional zoo. Eerie in the best way, and genuinely thrilling.
Practical notes:
- Book in advance — it gets busy.
- The combo ticket for zoo + Night Safari is good value
- Bring a light layer for the Night Safari — it gets surprisingly cool after dark
- Arrive as early as possible to make the most of cooler temperatures
7. Merlion Park
Cost: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes
Best time: Early morning, for fewer crowds
Energy rating: 1/5 — flat, paved, very short walk
Worth the walk? Yes — quick, free, and iconic
It’s a giant concrete fish-lion spouting water. You have to see it.
We squeezed this in on our final morning before the airport, which turned out to be perfect timing. Quick, free, iconic, and the views of Marina Bay Sands from the park are spectacular.
The name comes from Singapore’s history as a fishing town: when it was known as Singapura, that translated roughly to “lion city”, hence the half-lion, half-fish design.
Getting the perfect “catching the water” shot is harder than it looks, since several hundred other tourists want the exact same photo at the exact same time. Go early. Be patient. It’s worth it.
Nearby: Walk through The Fullerton Hotel on your way, originally Singapore’s main post office, it now houses a walkway through the city’s history. Singapore marked its 60th year of independence on 9 August 2025, with SG60 celebrations running throughout the year; we arrived in September, just weeks after the main National Day festivities. Seeing how modern, developed, and efficient the city has become in just six decades is genuinely staggering. Worth a few minutes of your time.
8. Ya Kun Kaya Toast at Marina Square Mall
Cost: Under £5
Time needed: 30 minutes
Where: Marina Square Mall
A Singapore institution and an absolute must before you leave. Kaya toast is thin, toasted bread spread with kaya (a sweet coconut-and-egg jam) and cold butter, served with soft-boiled eggs seasoned with soy sauce and white pepper. The traditional way to eat it is to dip the toast into the runny eggs, sounds strange, tastes incredible.
Pair it with a kopi (Singaporean coffee), brewed by pouring boiling water through a cloth filter of coffee grounds and sweetening it with sugar and condensed milk. Strong, sweet, and completely unlike anything back home.
We went to the Ya Kun in Marina Square Mall, not the best coffee we’d had on the trip, but a proper taste of local breakfast culture. While you’re there, head up to the rooftop for a quieter view of the skyline: a different, far less dramatic angle than Ce La Vi, with none of the crowds or the price tag.
What We’d Skip or Do Differently Next Time
- Universal Studios: brilliant, but check ride availability in advance — maintenance closures do happen, and it’s a different (smaller) park to Universal Florida.
- Singapore Zoo and Night Safari: go as early in the day as you can manage; midday heat is intense.
- Merlion Park: go early to avoid the crowds chasing the same photo.
- Satay by the Bay: doesn’t open until 11am, so don’t plan it for breakfast.
- Ce La Vi: factor the table minimum spend into your budget before booking.
What We Wish We’d Had Time For
- The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay (both closed during our visit)
- More hawker centres — we barely scratched the surface
- More time in Kampong Glam — we could have spent the whole day there
Getting Around Singapore
The MRT makes everything on this list easy. Tap your contactless bank card, no tickets or apps needed, and you can cross the city in 20–25 minutes. Every attraction on this list is within easy reach of an MRT station. Grab is widely available for longer journeys or when you’ve done enough walking for the day, and both options are affordable and reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Singapore? Four days felt ideal and still left things on the list, but two days gives you a proper taste, and even a 24-hour layover is worth using — Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, and a hawker centre meal can all be done in a single day near the airport.
Is Singapore expensive for tourists? Yes, relative to the rest of Southeast Asia — we’d rate it 2/5 on budget-friendliness. Food at hawker centres is genuinely cheap (£3–£5 a dish), but attractions, cocktails, and hotels push the overall cost up quickly.
Is Singapore accessible for travellers with disabilities? In our experience, yes — we’d rate it 5/5. The MRT, major attractions, and especially Universal Studios Singapore were among the most accessible we’ve encountered, with well-run access schemes and genuinely helpful staff.
Is Universal Studios Singapore worth visiting if I’ve been to Universal Florida? Yes, but go in with the right expectations. It’s smaller and shares only a couple of rides (the Minions ride) with the Florida park — the rest of the theming, including Far Far Away and the Shrek experience, is different enough to be worth the visit in its own right.
Do I need cash in Singapore, or can I use a card everywhere? You can use a contactless bank card on the MRT and in most shops and hawker stalls. We didn’t find ourselves needing cash for anything on this itinerary.
More Singapore planning: Check out our ideal 4-day Singapore itinerary here.
Have you been to Singapore? Anything we’ve missed that we absolutely need to do next time? Let us know in the comments!
All prices based on our visit in August/September 2025. Always check current pricing before you travel.