Exploring My Singapore Itinerary

Where we stayed

We stayed in a double pod at Galaxy Pods Boat Quay, and it was perfect for our us. The location is central, close to all major areas, and near the train station. The pod bed was comfortable, and we didn't have any issues with the shared bathrooms. The staff are friendly, and there's a small common room available.

Arrival in Singapore

After a long flight from Sydney, we finally landed in Singapore! Once arrived we made our way to the MRT and travelled towards our hostel. The hostel was only about a 10-minute walk from the station and once checked in, we headed out for dinner. After we walked along the river, towards Merlion Park where we took some photos with the iconic half-lion, half-fish statue and Marina Bay Sands before heading back to the hostel.

Day 1: Exploring Chinatown, Marina Bay and light shows

We left the hostel around 10 a.m. the next morning and walked towards Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, a popular hawker centre housing a variety of food stalls. We both got an iced coffee, tried Granny's Pancakes (really tasty after a few bites-trust the process), and also a curry puff. I had the yam one, and Adam had the chicken and mushroom, which he said was unbelievable.

After breakfast, we headed towards Chinatown. We love just walking up and down the different streets and would recommend that, as well as stopping off at some of the main temples. Our first temple was Sri Mariamman Temple, then Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. We then went for lunch at Hawker Chan- they do have a few veggie options here (to the left when going up the escalator on the side of the visitor centre). Our next stop was Thian Hock Keng Temple, and then we headed back to the hostel for a refresh and a bit of air conditioning.

We had already booked a tour early with Monster day tours for a Marina Bay tour, and I'd definitely recommend this! Our guide showed us all around the Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and also some good spots for photos and recommendations. We also learned a tiny bit of history from the tour, which we enjoyed.

The tour finishes in the Gardens by the Bay at around 6:30pm and there is a light show at 7:45 p.m. While waiting, we checked out the Jurassic Nest food court and had some dinner. After that, we headed back towards the shops, did a bit of window shopping, and headed outside between the Apple Store and Louis Vuitton for the Spectra – A Light & Water Show at 9 p.m. 

Day 2: Little India, Kampong Gelam and beers with a view

The next day, we headed over the river towards Little India. We stopped off at Ya Kun Kaya Toast for some traditional Singaporean breakfast, and it was actually pretty nice (we are both big fans of kaya!). We then did a bit of shopping and continued our walk.

After walking a few streets, we stopped off for lunch at the Tekka Centre, and I had a veggie curry deal with a HUGE naan, which was super cheap and tasty. We also found our love for mango lassi here!

After lunch, we did some more sightseeing down the colorful roads and headed towards the Former House of Tan Teng Niah and got a few snaps. Then towards Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, which were closed to walk in but so pretty from the outside. Also worth checking out is the Mustafa Centre, a huge shopping area with everything you need in one place.

After another quick air-con stop in City Square Mall, we walked towards Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple, which was closed, but we were still able to see the beautiful outside and found both Leong San See Temple and Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple hidden off the main road. Definitely check out Sakya Muni Buddha as it was incredible inside!

We then started heading towards Kampong Gelam, stopping off at Thekchen Choling Singapore on the way and also grabbing another mango lassi. Once we reached the Sultan Mosque, there's instantly a change of scenery- street art, Turkish restaurants, and palm trees. After a walk around and a stroll down Haji Lane, we made our way back to the hostel.

We then headed out for dinner. at Lau Pa Sat—the oldest hawker centre in Singapore! There is a completely vegetarian stall here called Su Xiang, which offers a variety of Chinese vegetarian dishes. We got some noodles to share as well as trying some dumplings and buns. After food, we headed towards LeVeL33; I did try booking online, but they said they were full but to try and walk in. Luckily, we got in and were provided a beautiful view of the city and some great-tasting beers.

Day 3: Universal Studios Singapore

The next day, we set an alarm and headed to Universal Studios Singapore. We spent all day here, and it was fantastic—tried so many themed treats and met so many characters. 

Overall, our time in Singapore was fantastic. It's an expensive city, but with hawker centres and budgeting, you'll have the best time and I'd definitely recommend it!