2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
22 Jun 2023 || SOUTHEAST ASIA
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Singapore is the ultimate stopover destination, perfect for a two day Itinerary. The city-state is compact enough to explore in a short time and exciting enough to keep anyone occupied and enthusiastic. It is contemporary and fashionable, satisfying high-budget travellers, while being culturally distinct and adventurous, enough to keep even the most daring of backpackers entertained.
Positioned at a crossroads of connecting flights from Oceania, Europe and the Americas, many visitors to Asia will have their first footsteps in Singapore. We did just that, choosing to stopover in Singapore multiple times while transiting southeast Asia. Singapore always outdoes itself – we love this city and will return, time and time again!
No matter where you choose to base yourself, exploring this city is incredibly simple and (surprisingly) affordable (the prices of beer, on the other hand, not so much!). Here, we detail what we would do on a 2 day Singapore Itinerary, including all the best sights the country has to offer.
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IN THIS GUIDE //
2 Day Singapore Itinerary
ARRIVING INTO SINGAPORE
BUDGET FOR TWO DAYS IN SINGAPORE
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE VISAS
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT SINGAPORE
WHERE TO STAY IN SINGAPORE
TRANSPORT FOR THIS ITINERARY
2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
– SINGAPORE ITINERARY MAP
– ITINERARY DAY 1
– ITINERARY DAY 2
– SINGAPORE HAWKER MARKETS
FINAL THOUGHTS
ARRIVING INTO SINGAPORE
Almost all travellers arrive into Singapore by air. This is usually into the famous Changi Airport, which is a sightseer favourite in its own right. Ensure you check out the gardens and fountain – it’s a tourist favourite and genuinely an incredible welcome into this spectacular country.
We book all our flights on Skyscanner. It’s been our go-to for flights for as long as I can remember and always has the cheapest flights and best routes. Check below for flights from wherever you are. If you open the Skyscanner webpage, search for ‘Everywhere’ as a destination to see where is cheapest to fly to!
BUDGET FOR TWO DAYS IN SINGAPORE
A Singapore budget can be pretty low if you don’t do anything extravagant or drink much alcohol. The biggest cost will likely be accommodation – it’s just not particularly cheap in Singapore and rooms are tiny. Alcohol, even from a 7-Eleven, is also shockingly expensive. Everything else in the city is actually very affordable, including food, transportation, sim cards and more.
We wrote about one of our budget trips to Singapore and detailed exactly what we spent over four days there – every penny accounted for. Check out our Singapore trip budget if this is of interest to you.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN SINGAPORE
The best amount of time in Singapore is the amount you have! It’s a city that can be experienced even with just a 12-hour layover, since reaching the city from the airport is so quick, easy and affordable. However, with two full days in Singapore, you can see many of the core highlights while keeping the accommodation budget low, which is ideal.
There are enough amazing things to do in Singapore to easily take up a week or more, but it’s possible to see many of the top sites in far less time. We’ve added on a few things that are worth checking out if you have any extra time.
VISAS - 2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
Most nationalities can enter Singapore for up to 30 days visa free, however some countries can enter for up to 90 days visa free. Check with the Singapore immigration ICA website if your country is not visa exempt and requires a visa for entry into Singapore.
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BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT SINGAPORE
Singapore is hot and humid, all year around. It can also be a bit rainy all year around too! The average day temperature doesn’t drop below 30°C generally, so there’s no respite. The Northeast Monsoon occurs between December and early March whilst the Southwest Monsoon is from June to September, making it tricky to figure out. During spring, the weather is the driest and mildest, apparently.
Our recent visit was in October when we had almost completely clear skies apart from one rainy morning.
WHERE TO STAY FOR THIS 2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
The best place to stay in Singapore is anywhere near an MRT station. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, the underground subway system in Singapore) is incredibly efficient and economical. Most people will likely utilise it a lot on this itinerary, so staying near one specific central landmark isn’t necessarily that helpful!
We always stay adjacent to the Clarke Quay MRT station, somewhere between Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, because:
♦ it is central, nearby cheap food and lots of entertainment;
♦ the location is a short walk from Boat Quay, which is where you start to get some of the best skyline views of Marina Bay Sands;
♦ the Raffles Place MRT is only around a ten-minute walk away.
♦ Finally, Clarke Quay is a hub of nightlife, so if you like to go out, it’s the place to be in the evenings.
Another option would be staying in the Marina Bay Sands hotel, but that’s only if you’re splurging – it’s super expensive (but really, really nice).
We stayed at the Hotel Bencoolen Hong Kong Street, which we would recommend for mid-range budget travellers.
TRANSPORT FOR THIS 2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
As mentioned above, this entire itinerary can be done (including to-and-from the airport) just using the MRT. It is also possible to get taxis, including Grab (a bit like Uber), but, honestly, there is no need. The MRT covers everywhere in this itinerary efficiently while being incredibly affordable. There are also easy-to-use buses that cover the city.
The average Singapore MRT journey costs between 1 and 2 Singapore dollars. Check out our Singapore trip budget for more detail.
Below is a saveable map of the MRT, courtesy of Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. You can also access it online and get up to date information by visiting the Land Transport Authority website.
ABOUT THIS 2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY
This 2 day Singapore itinerary has been written with MRT stops in mind, so each day you can move around in the most efficient way possible (it’s so hot, plus it makes sense to be resourceful with your time). Walking distances between areas are mentioned alongside MRT routes (we found Singapore surprisingly walkable – apart from the heat).
The itinerary includes options for having a bit of a fling (think Singapore slings!) or keeping the budget on the low with some seriously high-quality, low-cost hawker food. There’s a bit of modern elegance, contrasting with the traditional heritage of old-world Singapore – this 2 day Singapore itinerary includes a bit of everything. We have provided a list of some Hawker centres worth visiting that are nearby the stops on the itinerary – use this to find economical meals.
These days are reasonably packed, so wear comfortable shoes!
We’ve also noted if anything listed has entry fees in SGD (Singapore dollars).
⋅ 2 DAY SINGAPORE ITINERARY MAP ⋅
Below is a saveable Google Map of all the locations listed here, with colour codes for the different days and anything extra, including MRT stations, Hawker centres and bonus places to visit.
♦ To save the map to your Google Maps, click on the star icon by the title.
♦ Select the screen icon in the top left to show or hide the breakdown of sections for this 2-day Singapore itinerary.
♦ Click on a tick box to hide/show a section.
2-Day Singapore Itinerary
Day 1 - Glitzy
DAY 1 OVERVIEW
♦ Wander around Boat Quay ♦
♦ Check out Merlion statue ♦
♦ Scenic skyline views of Marina Bay Sands and around ♦
Affordable lunch option: Market Street Hawker Centre
♦ CapitaSpring biophilic skyscraper ♦
♦ ArtScience Museum ♦
♦ Marina Bay Sands, Cloud Forest and Supertree Grove ♦
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RELATED POST | BACKPACKING SINGAPORE GUIDE
⋅ DAY 1 ITINERARY ⋅
BOAT AND CLARKE QUAY
This area is fantastic for a lively evening vibe, but taking a walk around the Singapore River at any time of day is excellent for getting your bearings.
Well known for alfresco dining, these areas are hubs of activity, but feel more peaceful in the mornings. These allow for a more chilled walk along the Singapore River where you can see Marina Bay Sands, the colonial buildings across the water and the famous skyscraper skyline.
In the evenings, Boat Quay is a terrific spot for dinner on the waterfront with amazing views of the polished Singapore horizon. There’s also super affordable food by small street vendors and restaurants right behind the expensive riverfront area if that’s your jam. Clarke Quay is really lively, although pricey, but still worth a walk around even if you don’t want to spend much money.
If you have the time and money, consider a river cruise!
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (North East Line)
