Do you only have 5 days in Singapore? Are you visiting Singapore on a budget? If so, then this is the ultimate itinerary for you, and you’re going to love planning your trip to Singapore!
We spent an amazing 5-days in Singapore and think it’s the ultimate destination, loved by everyone who visits. The thing is, it isn’t very budget-friendly, which made it challenging for us as we were travelling on a budget.
Unlike places like Indonesia and Thailand, Singapore is notorious for being an expensive holiday destination, regularly being voted as one of the most expensive cities in the world.
However, during our trip, we discovered ways to visit Singapore that won’t break the bank and make it affordable for even budget travellers. Find out how to spend a budget-friendly 5 days in Singapore with this itinerary.
In this post, I’m going to share my 5 days in Singapore itinerary with you. I’m including a bunch of free activities to fill your days with the three things Singapore is most famous for: culture, nature and, best of all, the food.
5 Days In Singapore: Day 1
Culture and heritage are at the heart of Singapore. Therefore, day one should be spent exploring and learning about the different cultures which make Singapore a truly multicultural city.
The best way to do this is to follow one of the free heritage trails which have been set up for tourists and to stop by a heritage centre or two, and learn more about the history.
To start your day, I’m suggesting a trip to the Joo Chiat region to visit the insta-worthy Peranakan Houses and the first heritage town of Singapore!
Morning
Activity: Joo Chiat & The Peranakan Houses
Est. time: 3 hours (+ 50 mins travel from central)
Cost: Free
Joo Chiat is known as the first heritage town of Singapore. The Peranakan culture (Straits-born people with Chinese and Malay or Indonesian heritage) adorns the neighbourhood which makes it a great place to kick off your 5 days in Singapore.
Head there early morning and enjoy a coffee in one of the quirky coffee shops lining Joo Chait Road. Stroll along the streets and snap a photo of the eye-popping Peranakan houses before visiting some of the area’s other popular sites, refurbished indie shops and 19th-century museums.
Heritage Trail
If you’re interested in a Heritage Trail, The Admin have a great one to follow!
How to get to Joo Chait from Central (Capsule Pod Hostel)
44 mins, Circle Line Nicoll Highway to Dakota (3 stops). Bus No.31 Dakota Stn Exit A/Blk 99 to Opp Parkway Parade (5 stops). 5 mins walk to Joo Chiat Road.
Afternoon
Activity: Little India
Est. time: 1 hour (+ 30 mins travel from Joo Chait)
Cost: Free
An amazing thing about Singapore is that the country is full of neighbourhoods from all over Asia. Little India is another buzzing historic area which deserves an hour or so to explore.
Singapore’s Indian community have turned this district into a vibrant, colourful place with some incredible markets. On the main road, Serangoon Road, you’ll find fresh flower stalls, colourful silks and gold jewellery.
There are temples and mosques, street art and fantastic mosaic-painted buildings to entertain any visitor.
Heritage Trail
If you’re interested in a Heritage Trail, check out Roots Little India Heritage Trail.
You can visit the Indian Heritage Centre for S$8.
⭐ Pro tip >> Fancy an audio tour during your walk? If so, click here for a budget-friendly option!
How to get to Little India from Joo Chait
40 mins, Bus No. 48 at Parkway Parade to Rochor Stn (6 stops). Walk 6 mins.
Activity: Bugis Street Market
Est. time: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Time for some shopping, or at least browsing! The market on Bugis Street sells some fantastic souvenirs to remember your visit to Singapore. It’s well-known for being one of the most affordable places to shop so you’ll be sure to find a bargain.
You’ll be able to pick up almost anything from this market; clothes, accessories and beauty products. It’s also a great place to stop for lunch with plenty of eating options to suit any budget!
Activity: Kampong Glam
Est. time: 1 hour
Cost: Free
Kampong Glam is one of Singapore’s hip neighbourhoods and actually incorporates Bugis Street. However, the main Muslim Quarter is centred around Arab street, a busy, happening street full of 19th-century shophouses.
One of the most notable landmarks is the golden-domed Sultan Mosque which you should definitely visit. Another popular street is Haji Lane; here you will find beautiful street art, trendy cafes and boutique shops selling clothes and textiles.
Heritage Trail
If you want to follow a Heritage Trail, you can find one at Ostrich Trails – Kampong Glam.
You can visit the Malay Heritage for free.
Activity: Gelam Gallery on Muscat Road
Est. time: 45 mins
Cost: Free
Incredibly, Gelam Gallery is a free activity which features a whole street full of street art, murals and framed works where you can walk along any time of the day.
The idea was to take grey walls and dated alleyways and turn them into a signature space where professional and young, aspiring artists can express themselves through art.
The street is home to art galleries and pop-up stalls to entice all sorts of curious visitors. It makes for a great, free activity during your trip!
Evening
Activity: Dinner at Golden Mile Food Court
Est. time: 1.5 hours
Cost: S$5 – S$10
After all that walking it’s time for a well-deserved meal! One of the things Singapore is most known for is its hawker centres. If you don’t know about these you’re in for a treat…
The hawker centres are food courts featuring a fusion of traditional-style street food centred around Asian cooking from neighbouring countries. Originally, they were illegal food stalls set up by the Hawkers to make a living.
Nowadays, they are so embedded in the DNA of Singaporean culture that they have obtained recognition from the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Golden Mile Food Court is one of many and somewhere you can go to enjoy a cheap but delicious meal while immersing yourself in the hawker culture.
Activity: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
Est. time: 1 hour
Cost: Free
You might be surprised at I’ve included Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in this itinerary. Famously known for being Singapore’s top arts centre showcasing raw and established talent it’s generally not something which is affordable to budget travellers.
However, if you time your trip to Singapore well, you might be able to visit one of their free evening shows!
To find out more about the free performances at Esplanade click here.
5 Days In Singapore Itinerary: Day 2
Explore central Singapore and some of its most popular attractions. Today is a really fun day with a big focus on visiting some of Singapore’s most famous sites.
Luckily, most of them are free, however, you will need to dish out for the first activity. I suggest getting there early to beat the crowds and have the best experience while getting the most for your money.
Morning
Activity: Cloud Forest & Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay
Est. time: 2 hours
Cost: S$16
Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are two of the most iconic structures in Singapore. I’m sure you would have seen photos of them along with the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Unfortunately for the budget traveller, the hotel is a big no-no, however, the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are a big yes-yes! There is an entrance fee but in my opinion, it’s worth paying to enter.
The Cloud Forest was superb, featuring a large waterfall and spiral walkway which takes you to the top. Along the way you’ll notice different plants which have adapted to the cloud forest environment, drawing their water from the mist and not found in any other climate.
It was stunning and one of the highlights of our trip!
The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome was just as stunning, full of wonderfully colourful flowers from different areas around the world and showcased in sections throughout the dome.
⭐ Pro tip >> Gardens By The Bay Flower Dome & Cloud Forest E-Ticket. Book Today!✅
Activity: Gardens by the Bay
Est. time: 2 hours
Cost: Free
After visiting the wonderful domes, it’s a lovely idea to take a stroll around the gardens themselves. Luckily, this part is completely free.
Gardens by the Bay feature a diverse collection of plants showcased in gardens from every continent. It’s truly a sanctuary for nature lovers and a pleasure to walk around.
Some of our favourite gardens consisted of the Sun Pavillion, Kingfisher Lake walk and the Serene Garden.
Afternoon
Activity: Lunch at Maxwell Food Court Chinatown
Est. time: 1.5 hours
Cost: S$5 – S$10
Maxwell Food Court is probably one of the most famous hawker centres in Singapore. It’s full of bustling crowds from the savvy backpacker to the white-collared businessman.
Everyone loves a hawker centre and so should you! Enjoy the wonderful flavours of Asian cooking for cheap prices at this food court before heading deeper into the side streets of Chinatown.
⭐ Pro tip >> Why Not Try A Small-Group Food Tour Around The Hawker Centres?
How to get to Maxwell Food Court from Gardens by the Bay
30 mins, Downtown Line Bayfront to Chinatown (3 stops). 7 min walk.
Activity: Explore Chinatown
Est. time: 2 hours
Cost: Free
Chinatown is pretty big and there’s a lot to do in the vibrant district. You could easily wander around for the whole day eating and drinking (check out Smith Street). But, we are only in Singapore for 3 days so try and limit yourself to a couple of hours.
A really interesting fact about Singapore’s Chinatown is that it’s the only one in the world boasting a Buddhist temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple along a single street!
A couple of things which shouldn’t be missed is a visit to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum; a beautiful temple architecturally designed in the form of a mandala. Sri Mariamman Temple – the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore – and Masjid Jamae, one of the oldest mosques in Singapore.
It’s easy to get lost down the side streets where old meets new, and why not? Walk to explore and be adventurous and you’re going to find some really quirky spots, thriving places of worship and fascinating architecture.
Heritage Trail
If you’re interested in a Heritage Trail, GPS MY City has a good one for Chinatown here.
⭐ Pro tip >> If you’re interested in an affordable guided tour of Chinatown Click Here
Evening
Activity: Clarke Quay
Est. time: 1 hour
Cost: Free to walk around / S$30 for a meal
Clarke Quay is the go-to place for evening eats and drinks. It’s full of trendy bars and clubs and a fun place to see. It’s definitely not a budget-friendly spot but it does warrant a visit.
Clarke Quay is a historical landmark which used to be a trading centre full of barges and warehouses transporting goods upstream.
The old warehouses have now been converted into colourful buildings along the riverfront which makes for a pretty walk. There’s a large shopping centre and if you did fancy a river boat cruise this is the place to grab one.
⭐ Pro tip >> Fancy a River Boat Cruise? Book today with Viator for a great experience.
5 Days In Singapore Itinerary: Day 3
Singapore has worked hard in growing its reputation as a sustainable, green city and in doing so is now celebrated as the “Garden City” of Asia.
It’s full of green spaces, gardens, parks and living walls adorning concrete buildings. In fact, walking around Singapore you’ll notice how clean and fresh (when the humidity isn’t getting to you) the air is, considering it’s a thriving metropolitan city, this is a huge achievement!
You’ll notice I’ve left your evening free for today, this is because it’s going to be a long day so prepare to be tired. It’s up to you whether you choose to venture out further than some food near your hotel…
Morning
Activity: Singapore Botanical Gardens
Est. time: 3 hours
Cost: Free
The Singapore Botanical Gardens deserves a whole morning to be explored. There are many different areas that make up the botanical gardens. Some of the spaces are really interesting, while others are simply beautiful.
It’s all free to walk around with trails leading to different areas. The only section which does require an entrance fee is the National Orchid Garden (S$15). All the trails are well sign-posted and there are maps along the paths.
It’s easy to lose a few hours just exploring these gardens. A few of our favourites were the Ginger Garden, The Foilage Garden and the Healing Garden.
The latter was full of useful plants, herbs and spices and educational material explaining their usage for treating ailments!
Afternoon
Activity: Central Catchment Nature Reserve
Est. time: 2 + hours
Cost: Free
Part of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, head to MacRitchie Reservoir Park. It’s Singapore’s oldest reservoir and is home to some stunning nature walks. Depending on how you feel, there are many trails of different lengths to choose from.
Some of the more popular hikes are MacRitchie Nature Walk and the Tree Top Walk which takes you over a suspension bridge.
How to get to MacRitchie Reservoir Park from Botanic Gardens
37 mins, Circle Line Botanic Gardens to Marymount. Bus No. 410 Marymount Stn to Opp Blk 454. Walk 5 mins to the Tree Top Walk Trail Head.
5 Days In Singapore Itinerary: Day 4
Time to explore the rest of those wonderful, free parks that Singapore has so many of! Today you’re going to be heading to Fort Canning Park and the Southern Ridges Parks.
Morning
Activity: Fort Canning Park
Est. time: 3 hours
Cost: Free
Jack and I really enjoyed walking around Fort Canning Park and found it to be quite a historical landmark, previously not having known much about it. However, if you did want more time in Chinatown, the park could be skipped.
That being said, if you’re into your history, specifically the Second World War, then this is probably somewhere you won’t want to miss.
The park was the headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks before Singapore’s surrender to the Japanese in 1942. Not only this, but the site is where the palaces of the 14th-century Kings used to be!
If you’re visiting then make sure you head to Armenian Street Park, and visit the Forbidden Spring and Sang Nila Utama Garden which reimagines the royal gardens as they would have stood 800 years ago!
Afternoon
Activity: Telok Blangah Hill Park
Est. time: 3 hours
Cost: Free
Telok Blangah Hill Park is a park in the southwest of Singapore. It’s made up of a few different parks each of which can be connected by a walking trail. It’s closer to central Singapore and, therefore, is more popular with tourists.
The parks crowning glory is its architecturally impressive bridges, notably, Henderson Waves, which is an artistic flow of timber beams creating a wave-like structure.
You can choose from a variety of trails, short or long, to make your visit more memorable.
Evening
Activity: Dinner at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre or Lau Pa Sat
Est. time: 1.5 hours
Cost: S$5 – S$10
Time for the third hawker centre of your 5 days in Singapore. With such a huge variety of flavours, I’m sure you’re not going to get bored of them. Be sure to space out the meals which interest you so you can try something new each time you visit.
Hong Lim Food Centre is in Chinatown and also has a market, however, Lau Pa Sat is a bit larger and probably more well-known. They are both good.
5 Days In Singapore Itinerary: Day 5
For your final day in Singapore, I suggest heading to the bay area again and checking out the below activities. This is a more relaxed day where I’ve given you some free time to wander around with less of an urgency to see everything…now that you’ve seen it all!
Morning
Activity: Marina Barrage & Art Galleries
Est. time: 3 hours
Cost: Free
Marina Barrage is actually a dam which has been turned into a recreational park and tourist attraction! It’s an architecturally fascinating building which highlights Singapore’s sustainable vision.
The dam protects Singapore’s booming urban centre from flooding and creates a 600-acre freshwater reservoir. It’s one of the best places to go for a picnic (in case you wanted something different from the hawker stalls) and has free art exhibitions.
It’s been marketed as a “lifestyle destination with spectacular views of the waterfront and city skyline”, of which it does a good job.
The Marina Bridge is a marvel of engineering that allows visitors to walk across the Marina Barrage reservoir while the Solar Park is something extraordinary, it has over 400 panels providing electricity for lighting the barrage during the day.
Afternoon
Activity: Free Time / Shopping
Est. time: N/a
Cost: N/a
For your final afternoon in Singapore, I thought it might be nice to leave some spare time for shopping. You might have already done some at the markets and picked up some great buys but if you’re still looking there are a few other places worth a mention.
You’ll find amazing deals at places like the Mustafa Centre in Little India, Chinatown Street Market, Bugis Street Market or City Plaza. These are budget-friendly local spots where you can barter to get great deals!
⭐ Pro tip >> If you wanted to, you could include a paid-for attraction in your itinerary at this time.
Art-Science Museum
Private Food Tour With 10 Tastings
Singapore Night Safari
Evening
Activity: Gardens Rapsody
Est. time: 15 mins
Cost: Free
Gardens Rapsody is a free light show at Gardens by the Bay. You’ll find it at Supertree Grove. It’s pretty cool with a touch of fairytale magic. It reminded me of something from Avatar.
The giant trees light up to music which dances up and down the trees changing colour. You can see it from the ground directly beneath the trees however, you might need to get there early to get a prime spot.
There’s not much seating and it does get busy, but it’s worth it. There are two shows every night at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm.
OCBC Skywalk
This is also a good opportunity to visit the OCBC Skywalk. Unfortunately, it’s not a free activity and will set you back S$8. The views are great and it’s one of the cheaper options for getting the views of the city from higher up.
Where To Stay In Singapore
There are of course some super fancy hotels and resorts in Singapore but for this itinerary, I’m going to focus on Budget accommodation. That means hostels and budget hotels.
If you’ve never stayed in a hostel, don’t worry. They’re no longer the nightmare stories old-school backpackers remember them to be. In truth, there’s so much competition now that they have to keep a high standard to survive.
You won’t get luxury but I can guarantee there will be no rats or cockroaches waking you up at night!
Here are my top picks for your 5 days in Singapore
Have you ever considered couch surfing? This is a great way to visit Singapore if you’re on a tight budget, especially if you’re backpacking!
What is couch surfing? Well, it’s where you can stay with a local for free. It’s great for saving money and you’ll also be connected to someone who can share insider knowledge.
Resources For Southeast Asia
Is it your first time visiting Southeast Asia? We’ve written lots of useful posts to help you plan your trip. Below are some of our most popular articles:
- To ensure you stick to your budget, I’ve created a guide to visiting Singapore on a budget.
- Thailand is another country nearby that we love travelling to.
- The small island of Koh Mook is a true paradise, and the history in Kanchanaburi ties into Singapore’s history, too!
- Before we flew to Singapore, we were in Bukit Lawang, searching for orangutans.
- Komodo National Park is another fantastic location you might be interested to visit.
Go To Singapore- Visit Italy
How To Get To Singapore?
Singapore is strategically located in southeast Asia and is commonly reached via plane. There are other ways if you’re travelling over-land such as a bus from Malaysia or a ferry from Indonesia, however, flying is really competitive and much quicker.
⭐ Pro tip >> Bus Timetable: The average trip from Kula Lumpur to Singapore is 9 hours and costs £20.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF 12GO?
A great company to use to get around Indonesia is 12Go. They aim to help travellers from around the world get from point A to point B trouble-free and with a high-quality service guarantee! So, if you’re coming from other areas in Indo, you might want to use these guys!
For flights, it’s a good idea to check popular sites such as Skyscanner and Google Flights. A really cool thing is you can set notifications for price fluctuations with both these companies so you can keep track of prices.
Once you’re certain how long you’re spending in Singapore, start looking at flights as soon as you can. Keep track of them, and if any good deals come up, be sure to book. As a rule of thumb, I find that I get the best price around 2-3 weeks before I travel.
Best Flight Searcher: SKYSCANNER
We use SKYSCANNER to book and compare flights. Book your flight tickets in advance and you should be able to find great deals!
✅ Top Tip: Air Asia is a good airline for internal Indonesian flights.
There are other companies who do the hard work for you and find great deals and flight discounts. Singapore is super popular and often comes up so it’s good to keep an eye out. Check out Jack’s Flight Club.
Getting Around In Singapore
If you’re on a tight budget during your Singapore trip then the best way to save money is to walk as much as possible. Singapore is the perfect city for walking, it’s so safe and well-signposted; it’s actually really enjoyable to walk around.
One of the best things we found was finding all the small backstreets within the city. Places which are normally missed when catching a train or riding a taxi.
Use the MRT
Alternatively, the second best way to get around Singapore is on the MRT. Singapore’s metro station was a dream, super efficient and clean, and it made travel easy.
It’s also very affordable, if you want to stick to your budget then using the MRT during your trip is going to help.
Purcahse the EZ-Link Card
I recommend you pick up an EZ-Link card from the airport when you arrive. This works similarly to any contactless travel card. You have to top it up with credit and can use it to pass through the barriers at the station.
The EZ-Link card costs S$12 from any MRT station which gives you S$7 credit. Note, trips cost around S$2 (depending on how far you go). You could also purchase the card from the 7Eleven convenience stores for S$10 with S$5 credit. Once you have the card you can top it up as normal.
Tourist Pass
Second, if you’re planning to use the MRT a lot (more than 5 trips a day) it’s worth investing in the Tourist Pass. It gives you unlimited rides and you can select how many days you need.
The 3-day pass costs S$30, of which S$10 is refundable. However, if you follow my Singapore itinerary it’s not worth purchasing.
Singapore Travel Tips
👉 Be sure to check the weather during your 5 days in the Singapore trip and pack appropriately. You’ll need to take a light rain jacket, especially if you’re doing the hikes. The weather can change quickly, be humid and very hot, but also very wet.
👉 Did you know you can drink tap water in Singapore? Singapore has safe drinking water so be sure to utilise this tip and take your reusable water bottle with you. Stay fully hydrated as you will lose a lot of water through precipitation.
👉 On that note, Jack and I love using the Salt of the Earth Mineral Deodorant to keep us dry and odour-free during our travels and everyday life! It’s a great product; it’s affordable, plastic-free, and lasts over a year. I recommend it to everyone.
👉 Use a Wise Card to make travelling easier! With Wise, you can switch between currencies and accounts to save on foregin fees.
👉 Be sure to catch the train from Changi Airport into the city instead of a taxi, which is likely to cost you around S$30! The train was really quick, easy and cheap and can be found in the basement of Terminal 2.
👉 One of the best ways to save money in Singapore is to stay away from alcohol; however, if you’re going to drink, then hunt out the drink deals. Many bars offer 2-4-1, buy 1 get 1 free and discounted drink offers to entice customers. Check Instagram, Facebook and websites for deals.
Conclusion: How To Spend 5 Days In Singapore
I hope my 5 days in Singapore itinerary has helped you envision your trip to Singapore and maybe planted a new travel seed for all my budget-conscious readers! As you can see, it’s certainly possible to visit Singapore on a budget.
I do think it’s an extraordinary country with so much to offer, and if you get the opportunity, you should go. Jack and I loved it! If you’re interested in travelling and it’s your first time, have a read of my travel tips for beginners to help make the journey even more enjoyable.
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