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24 Hours In Singapore

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Only have 24 hours in Singapore? Well buckle up, we have the perfect itinerary for you! First, we’ll tackle what there is to see and do within 24 hours and second, we’ll tell you how to tackle it in the order that makes the most sense.

24 Hours In Singapore

Entering the Country of Singapore

First, you have to get into the country, right? Let’s make sure you do.

For us (American citizens), we did not have to have to apply for a Visa ahead of time. Instead, we were able to do Visa on Arrival.

For those of you who are not US citizens, check your Visa requirements here.

As for us, we arrived by bus from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The process was extremely straight forward and simple. You’ll need the following to receive a Visa on Arrival the country of Singapore…

  • A valid passport
  • $30 USD’s for the entry fee
  • Immigration Document filled out (our bus gave this to us and so will your flight)

Singapore’s Highlights & Must See Attractions 

Now, there are tons of things you can do in Singapore but for us, only having 24 hours, we wanted to hit the “must sees.”

We’re sure you could squeeze another spot in or two but the key to this list is, it’s not rushed!

You don’t want to be running around trying to fit in as much as you can that by the end of the day, you’re exhausted and really didn’t take the time to appreciate the things you were looking at or the city you were exploring.

So, please keep that in mind when adding anything additional to the list below.

Anyways, below are the sites we recommend that will give you a taste of Singapore.

  • Hawker Stalls
  • Little India
  • Arab Quarter
  • Singapore Sling
  • Merlion Park
  • Marina Bay Sands Hotel
  • Garden by the Bay

The Best Way To Get Around Singapore

First things first, you need to get a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) pass to tackle the above list of sites.

The MRT is Singapore’s subway system and it is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way (besides walking) to get around Singapore.

When buying your pass, we suggest buying the tourist pass.

The tourist pass allows you to pay $10 SGD and have unlimited rides for one day. 

1 Day Itinerary for Singapore

Since 24 hours is a real time constraint, we based this itinerary on location, location, location.

We mapped out the below route that made sense based on what there was to see and do close to each other.

We wanted to maximize our time and enjoy the city stress free. So without further ado, The Wandering Stüs 24-hour Singapore itinerary!

The Morning

Wake up and head to the closest Hawker Stall. Why? You have some breakfast to eat! Hawker stalls are Singapore’s version of street food.

Here you’ll find every local and tourist alike chowing down on a plethora of food options any which are sure to please your taste buds.

However, you here to get yourself the national breakfast of Singapore, Kaya Toast!

The dish is basic but worth the try!

The whole breakfast is eggs and toast.  The toast is sweet and loaded with custard jam (kaya) and topped with butter. It’s served on a plate and next to the plate you’ll find a small bowl of soft boiled eggs. You crack the eggs into the bowl and then dip the toast into soft cooked eggs to complete the bite.

Ta-da! That’s it. That’s breakfast.

Singapore traditional breakfast
Singapore traditional breakfast

Being that this breakfast is super sweet, no worries if you don’t care for it. You’re at a Hawker Stall and loads of other breakfast options await you.

After breakfast, you’re going to head to Little India to explore their colorful houses like the Tan Teng Niah and the Hindu Temple, Sri Veeramakaliamman.

If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch a Hindu ritual at Sri Veeramakaliamman temple. Believe us, you’ll know if there is a ritual going on or not..people packed out to the streets!

Don’t forget to mosey on down Serangoon Road to peak in the shops before leaving Little India. 

Lunch Time

With all the walking you’ve done, you’re probably getting a little hungry. After you’re done exploring Little India, make your way over to Zam Zam in the Arab Quarter for lunch.

Zam Zam’s is a centrally located café that makes for a great spot for lunch and an even better jumping off point to explore the Arab Quarter.

Zam Zam is known for their murtabak and we encourage you to get it.

Oh, and don’t get your own, it’s definitely a dish to split. We mean, look at the size of this thing!

Zam Zam's murtabak
Zam Zam’s murtabak

The Early Afternoon

Once you finished lunch at Zam Zam, spend the next few hours walking up and down the streets of the Arab quarter looking at the beautiful textile stores as well as the other beautiful Arab crafts vendors are selling.

Masjid Sultan Mosque is another beautiful sight to see and well worth the visit to hear the call to prayer.

After you’ve had your fill of the Arab Quarter, make your way to the historic Raffles Hotel to sit at the Long Bar and drink at the establishment where the Singapore Sling was invented.

Fair warning, you’ll pay a pretty penny so if you want to say, “I had a Singapore Sling in Singapore”, split one with a friend, especially if you are on a budget.

The Raffles Hotel in and of itself packs a ton of history and is a beautiful building. Touristy, 100% but for us, it was worth it.

To be fair, the main goal of this stop was to get a picture at the same place Jesse’s grandma and grandpa sat decades ago. Success! And made a great Christmas present!

Singapore Sling at the historic Long Bar
Singapore Sling at the historic Long Bar

The Evening

After you guzzled down your Singapore Sling, make your way to Merlion Park where you’ll take in views of Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Singapore Flyer.

Continuing on by foot, arrive at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and make your way to the elevators to head to the Sand SkyPark that will offer you incredible views of the Singapore Skyline.

A word to the wise, it costs $20 just to get up to the bar but the $20 goes towards your tab at the bar.

When we went up there we spent about $45 dollars for two drinks and an appetizer of French Fries. Long story short, it’s expensive but the views are beautiful.

Views from the Marina Bay Hotel
Views from the Marina Bay Hotel

Night Time Fun

The only place that you have to be at by a certain time on our itinerary is Garden by the Bay for their music and light show. Show takes place at 7:45 pm (check times to be sure) and is free to the public.

Free in Singapore is a good thing!

Be sure to get there 15-20 minutes before hand as the grounds are beautiful and you’ll want a bit of time to explore.

Light show from Gardens by the Bay
Light show from Gardens by the Bay

After the light show, head to get a late dinner a Hawker Stall or any restaurant of your choice. Grab a night cap at one of the many bars and cheers to one amazing day.

So, that’s that! Congratulations, you just did the highlights of Singapore in 24 hours! A whirl wind of a day, but hey, one must do what one must do to get the sights in they want to see.

Where to Stay in Singapore

For The Budget Conscious: the11room is a capsule hostel that is a few minutes walks from the MRT station, allowing you to get to top attractions in Singapore fast. the11room is clean and quaint, perfect for a few days stay.

For The Luxury Inclined: Looking for luxury in the heart of Singapore? Look no further than the Ann Siang House. This heritage shop house offers high standard rooms, in-house dining and an epic location. It’s no wonder why Ann Siang House is a Singapore accommodation favorite.

For Something In Between: Wink Capsule Hostel is heritage shophouse in Singapore’s Chinatown. The location is prefect for tourists looking to see Singapore’s top site. After a day of exploring, you can crash in a comfy bed or make a meal in the shared kitchen.

For more accommodation choices and places to stay in Singapore, you can check the latest prices here


PIN IT FOR LATER!

24 hours in Singapore pin

For more travel tips, guides and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site, follow us on Instagram @wanderingstus and on Facebook. Oh and if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, just leave us a positive note!

Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stüs)


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