How to spend 48 hours in Singapore

I’ve always wanted to go to Singapore, but living in the US, it’s quite a trip. For my birthday, I decided to visit Asia. I didn’t have much time, as I had several destinations on my schedule, including India and Indonesia, but given Singapore’s size, I was able to squeeze it in at last. Two days were enough for me to see the most important sights, although I had to rush and ended up walking around 10-12 hours each day. Still, it was definitely worth it!

Here’s a snapshot of my schedule:

I arrived in Singapore at 11:15 am. From there, I took a taxi to my hostel, MET A Pod Singapore (incredible hostel! You can find more info about it here). I dropped off my stuff and decided to start walking around 1, more or less. Here’s what I saw and did that afternoon:


Singapore Flyer She is Wanderlust

Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is Asia’s largest observation wheel, with 360-degree views of the country’s skyline, Marina Bay, and even views of Malaysia and Indonesia on clear days. The observation wheel stands 165 meters tall, with 30-minute rides on spacious, air-conditioned capsules. Besides the observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer is also home to eateries, an art exhibition and the Time Capsule, a multisensory activity that features Singapore’s heritage.


Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is a landmark resort in Singapore, featuring a hotel, a casino, a mall, a convention center and a museum. In my case, I went to the mall for the food court, had an amazing lunch, and then went up to the lookout.


Marina Bay Lookout

Marina Bay Sands lookout

Marina Bay Sands’ lookout points are perfect for seeing Singapore’s famous landmarks like Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer, and the Esplanade. It’s a great spot for photography enthusiasts or anyone wanting to experience Singapore from above.


Gardens by the bay in Singapore

Gardens by the bay

Gardens by the Bay is a stunning mix of nature, art, and technology, an innovative botanical garden covering 101 hectares of reclaimed land and featuring beautiful horticultural displays, futuristic Supertrees, and the amazing Cloud Forest and Flower Dome.


Cloud Forest Singapore She is wanderlust

Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay is a stunning indoor mountain inside a huge glass dome, covered in a variety of orchids, ferns, and bromeliads. You can wander along the winding walkways that encircle the mountain, soaking in the lush greenery and the impressive waterfall.


Flower Dome she is wanderlust singapore

Flower Dome

The Flower Dome is a marvel of botanical engineering, and expansive glass conservatory where visitors can wander through diverse landscapes filled with an array of exotic plants and vibrant flowers from around the globe, from ancient olive trees to colorful blooms of the South African savannah.


Chinatown in Singapore

Chinatown

Chinatown is a lively neighborhood in Singapore, rich in history, culture, and culinary delights, with vibrant streets filled with historic shophouses and unique shops.


Lau Pa Sat singapore

Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat is a historic market and a landmark that dates back to the 19th century. It is one of the most popular food markets in the country, or what locals refer to as a ‘hawker center’, (open-air complexes with many stalls that sell a wide variety of affordably priced food), thanks to its wide variety of food and its unique Victorian design. You can find everything from traditional food like satay and laksa to global dishes like sushi and kebabs, all prepared fresh at the stalls.


Singapore River Cruise

Singapore river & riverfront

The Singapore Riverfront is a vibrant stretch along the Singapore River. It stretches through various districts, offering picturesque views of the river, iconic landmarks, and a blend of old and new architecture. A very nice and scenic walk.


Clarke Quay Singapore

Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is a place full trendy bars, restaurants, and clubs. There’s always something happening here, from street performers to cool events. I went and enjoy myself an ice cream by the river.

I finished everything around 6:30. I spent between 30 minutes to 1 hour at each place. From there, since it was going to be my only night in Singapore, I decided to go watch the amazing light shows!

I went to the Marina Bay show at 8:00 pm, and then to the Gardens by the Bay show at 8:45. Both are free and beautiful. You do need to walk a bit fast to get from one to the other, but it is definitely doable in 45 minutes. After that, it was time for me to head back and get some rest!

Singapore Light Shows she is wanderlust

The next morning started around 9 am. I decided to go to the TreeTop Walk inside MacRitchie Reservoir and the Nature Reserve. I could’ve taken a bus, but I opted for an Uber to enjoy the scenery. It was about a 25-minute ride. I walked through the reserve for around 2 hours, enjoying the nature and the monkeys.

Around 1 pm, I went for lunch in Joo Chiat, mainly because I wanted to try the Putus! I had an amazing Asian lunch and then headed to Sentosa.

Putu Singapore
Selene in Singapore
Sentosa Island in Singapore

Sentosa is huge, with endless attractions. You could easily spend a week there. I only had a couple of hours, so I took the cable car, visited the beach, and explored Fort Siloso, finishing around 4. From there, it was time to return to the hostel, pick up my things, and head to the airport.

Although it’s recommended to take more time to fully enjoy the attractions and not rush, I didn’t have that luxury, but I made it work. It is definitely possible to do 48 hours (or less) in Singapore.

Singapore is an incredible country, and even though it’s not very big, it has a multitude of attractions, and their commitment to the environment is nothing but inspiring.