My First Singapore Tour
by Paul Sinohin
(Manila, Philippines)
| Hi, I'm glad I've found this site. I'm planning for a tour in Singapore on August 6-11, 2010. I wonder what's the best itinerary for me to maximize the time that we have. We'll be checking into one of our friends in Bedok. We'll be arriving at Singapore Airport at 1530hrs of August 6. Since we'll be coming back to Bedok every night, I hope we can have the best of our tour... Day 0 - Aug 6 1. Changi Airport - 1530H 2. Checking Bags - 1600H 3. Dinner at hawkers nearby... (Do you have any places near Bedok for that night??? Midnight Shopping? Or we can go to Singapore City?) Day 1 - Aug 7 "Cultural/Environmental Tour" 1. Singapore Zoo 2. Jurong Bird Park 3. Museums? Landmarks? 4. Merlion 5. Clarke Quay 6. Botanic Gardens Night Safari (evening) Day 2 - Aug 8 "Shopping" 1. Little China 2. Orchard Road 3. Vivo City 4 Esplanade Day 3 - Aug 9 Day 4 - Aug 10 1. Universal Studios (fixed day because of our ticket reservations) 2. Any other ideas? Day 5 - Aug 11 1. Sentosa 2. Flyers/Cable Rides 3. @ 5pm back to airport for our flight home... Hope you can help us maximize our time and give some additional spots to visit if still possible on our time... Thanks a lot. |
Hi Paul
First of all, congratulations for doing such thorough research for your Singapore tour. This is a sign you're going to enjoy your holiday in Singapore.
Here are my suggested changes to your Singapore tour itinerary:
Day 0 - Arrival and Evening Activities
After checking your stuff into your friend's place at Bedok, you could have an early dinner at the food centre at Bedok Town Centre (near the bus interchange). This is one of my favourite places for cheap, delicious local food.
Thereafter you could:
1) shop around Bedok Town Centre,
or
2) take the MRT to:
a) Tampines Town Centre (3 big malls)
or
b) One of the MRT stations in town near shopping, e.g.
(i) Bugis Station (Bugis Junction & nearby Street Bazaar)
(ii) City Hall Station (lots of malls nearby)
Day 1 - City Sights, Singapore Zoo & Night Safari
The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are next door neighbours. So it makes sense to visit the Zoo in the afternoon and the Night Safari in the evening.
Because you'll be doing quite a bit of walking at both the Zoo and Night Safari, I recommend you do something light in the morning, such as visiting the National Museum or taking a Singapore River Cruise.
So your Day 1 Singapore tour itinerary could be:
Morning: Singapore River Cruise or National Museum
Afternoon: Singapore Zoo
Evening: Singapore Night Safari
Day 2 - Shopping at Chinatown & Orchard Road
Shopping at all the 4 places mentioned is simply too ambitious and you'll lose a lot of time to commuting/travelling.
So I recommend just 2 places on Day 2:
Morning: Shopping at Chinatown
Check out the food places and malls around Chinatown MRT station, namely People's Park Complex and People's Park (food centre & plaza shops). Follow up with a walk around the shops on Pagoda Street, Temple Street, Ang Siang Road and Club Street.
Afternoon/Evening: Shopping on Orchard Road
Day 3 - Aug 9: Singapore Flyer, Shopping at Marina Bay, Singapore National Day
Take the Singapore Flyer in the morning. Follow up with shopping at the Marina Bay malls, such as:
a) Esplanade Mall
b) Marina Square
c) Millenia Walk
d) Suntec City
Have early dinner at a food court at one of the malls. Around 6pm, head out to a waterfront spot at the Marina Bay area to watch the flypast and fireworks as Singapore celebrates National Day.
Day 4 - Universal Studios & Sentosa Island
Universal Studios Singapore is actually located on Sentosa Island. So it makes sense to visit the other Sentosa attractions after you've enjoyed yourself at Universal Studios.
Day 5 - Little India or Sentosa Once More
You could go back to Sentosa if you did not have enough time on Day 4. This could be followed by shopping at Vivocity Mall, which is just across the waters from Sentosa.
Or you could check out Little India - for its colourful streets, atmospheric temples, delicious food, and bargain shopping on Serangoon Road and Mustafa Centre.
Have a great Singapore tour.
Gabriel Tan
