TripPick Singapore Singapore

Singapore in 7 Days — City Plus Cross-Border Day Trips

Singapore + Sentosa + Pulau Ubin + Johor Bahru + Malacca (Malaysia)

Seven days adds Malaysia cross-border day trips to the comprehensive Singapore itinerary. Days 1-5 cover Singapore. Day 6: Johor Bahru day trip (1-hour bus across the causeway, outlet shopping + cheaper food + Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque). Day 7: Malacca (Melaka) — UNESCO World Heritage city, 3-hour bus each way, the deepest single-day Malaysia experience. Both require passport for the border crossing.

A full week is enough to actually understand Singapore. Three days for the major districts, three days for nearby regions, and one day for the offbeat neighborhoods most tourists miss. The back half of the trip is more about texture than checking landmarks — your photos get more diverse and you walk away with a three-dimensional sense of the city.

7-Day Total Budget at a Glance

Budget

$500

Per person, flights excl.

Recommended

Mid-Range

$1,030

Per person, flights excl.

Luxury

$2,255

Per person, flights excl.

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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule

DAY 1

Marina Bay & Gardens by the Bay

Marina Bay Sands · Gardens by the Bay · Merlion · Spectra night show

Activities

  1. 09:00 Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck 1-1.5 hours

    57-floor observation deck on top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. The most-photographed Singapore skyline view — Gardens by the Bay below, Marina Bay Sands floating tower behind, the CBD skyline across. The Infinity Pool is hotel-guests-only but the adjacent observation deck has nearly the same view. Sunrise (7 AM) is the calmest viewing window

    Cost: $25 / S$32 entry TIP: Book online for timed entry. Sunrise (7-8 AM) has the shortest queues and the best photos. The Marina Bay Sands hotel also has the iconic Infinity Pool, but that requires a hotel stay (from S$700 / $550 per night).
  2. 10:30 Marina Bay Sands shopping + ArtScience Museum 1.5-2 hours

    The lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum (designed by Moshe Safdie) hosts rotating exhibits (digital art, design, science). The Marina Bay Sands shopping mall has 270 stores and the iconic Apple Store on the water (the floating glass dome). Lunch options at the mall's Mr & Mrs Bund or DB Bistro Moderne

    Cost: ArtScience Museum $16-25 / S$20-32 TIP: ArtScience Museum exhibits rotate every 6 months — check the current show via the website. The Apple Store floating dome is free to enter and the iconic Singapore architecture photo. Mall food court is the casual lunch option.
  3. 13:00 Lunch — Lau Pa Sat or Maxwell Food Centre 1.5 hours

    Lau Pa Sat hawker center (10-min walk from Marina Bay Sands) for the Victorian cast-iron architecture + lunch hawker stalls. Or Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown for Tian Tian chicken rice. Both are quintessential Singapore hawker experiences

    Cost: $5-13 / S$7-17 TIP: Lau Pa Sat for the architecture + variety. Maxwell for the Tian Tian chicken rice pilgrimage. Cash preferred at most stalls (PayLah works at many now).
  4. 14:30 Gardens by the Bay (Cloud Forest + Flower Dome) 2.5-3 hours

    The 250-acre futuristic garden complex. Cloud Forest (the 35m indoor mountain with the iconic waterfall) and Flower Dome (the world's largest glass greenhouse, with rotating seasonal floral displays). The two conservatories are the destination — the outdoor Supertree Grove is free and accessible separately

    Cost: Conservatories $42 / S$53 combo (both) TIP: Book the conservatory combo ticket online — 20% cheaper than at the gate. Visit during the 3-5 PM rain window to stay AC-cool while it pours outside. The Supertree Grove (free) is best at sunset (6-7 PM) for the photo.
  5. 17:30 Supertree Grove + OCBC Skyway 1-1.5 hours

    The 18 vertical Supertree structures (25-50m tall) covered in 162,900 plants. Free walking ground-level; the OCBC Skyway (the elevated walkway between the trees) is $9 / S$12. The Supertrees light up at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM in the 'Garden Rhapsody' show — free, 15 min

    Cost: Ground-level free; Skyway $9 / S$12 TIP: The Garden Rhapsody show is at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM nightly. Watch from the central viewing area on the lawn. Pair with dinner before or after.
  6. 19:00 Dinner — Satay Street (Lau Pa Sat after 7 PM) 1.5-2 hours

    After 7 PM, Boon Tat Street (outside Lau Pa Sat) closes to cars and 10+ satay grills set up to fill the entire block with charcoal smoke. The iconic Singapore dinner scene. Order satay sticks by counts (chicken, beef, mutton, prawn) with peanut sauce, raw onion, and rice cakes

    Cost: $13-30 / S$17-38 TIP: Pick any of the 10+ stalls — the quality is similar. The touts pulling you to specific stalls are commission-based; politely decline. Pair with Tiger beer from any nearby stall.
  7. 20:30 Spectra Light & Water Show (Marina Bay Sands) 20-30 min

    Free 15-minute light-and-water-fountain show at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, runs nightly at 8 PM and 9 PM (10 PM on weekends). Best viewing from the Helix Bridge, the Esplanade Bridge, or directly from the Event Plaza. Free, accessible to all

    Cost: Free TIP: The Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza viewing is the most-immediate but most-crowded. The Helix Bridge view is the photographer's spot. The 8 PM show is busier; the 9 PM show is calmer.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Ya Kun Kaya Toast Set A

Marina Bay area · $5-10 / S$6-13

Set A — kaya toast + 2 soft-boiled eggs + kopi (Singapore-style coffee). The institutional Singapore breakfast. Multiple branches; Marina Square has a convenient one.

Lunch

Lau Pa Sat or Maxwell Food Centre

CBD or Chinatown · $5-13 / S$7-17

Lau Pa Sat for the variety + architecture experience. Maxwell for the Tian Tian chicken rice pilgrimage. Both are quintessential hawker center experiences.

Dinner

Lau Pa Sat Satay Street

CBD (Lau Pa Sat) · $13-30 / S$17-38

Satay sticks (chicken, beef, mutton, prawn) with peanut sauce + Tiger beer. The street outside Lau Pa Sat closes to cars at 7 PM for the satay grills. The iconic Singapore dinner.

Transit:

Hotel → Marina Bay Sands: walk if hotel is in Marina Bay area, otherwise MRT Bayfront station. Marina Bay Sands → Gardens by the Bay: 5-min walk via the Dragonfly Bridge. Lau Pa Sat → Hawker centers: walking distance from Marina Bay. Day 1 transit: $4 / S$5.

DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $70 Mid $150 Luxury $320
DAY 2

Cultural Districts — Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam

Three immigrant districts of Singapore

Activities

  1. 08:30 Chinatown walk + Buddha Tooth Relic Temple 2 hours

    Singapore's Chinatown is a 200-year-old district that's been preserved while gentrifying. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (a 5-story Tang dynasty-style temple from 2007, claimed to hold the Buddha's left canine tooth). Pagoda Street shopping (souvenirs + Chinese herbs), the Sri Mariamman Temple (Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, 1827). Walking-only district

    Cost: Free temple entries; small donations welcome TIP: The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is open 7 AM-7 PM. Dress code: shoulders and knees covered (free shawls available). The Chinatown Heritage Centre ($15 / S$19) is the deeper museum if interested in immigrant history.
  2. 11:00 Lunch — Tian Tian or Liao Fan at Chinatown 1.5 hours

    Maxwell Food Centre for Tian Tian chicken rice (Anthony Bourdain's pick), or Chinatown Complex Food Centre for Liao Fan soya sauce chicken (Bib Gourmand, formerly Michelin-starred). The two pilgrimage hawker stalls of Singapore

    Cost: $4-8 / S$5-10 TIP: Tian Tian queue: 20-40 min. Liao Fan queue: 30-60 min. The Liao Fan rice + soya chicken at S$3.50 / $2.80 is the world's cheapest Michelin-recognized meal.
  3. 13:00 Little India walking 2 hours

    MRT to Little India station (10 min). Serangoon Road is the main artery. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple (1881, Hindu), the Tan Teng Niah House (the 8-color shophouse, the most-photographed Little India building), 24-hour Mustafa Centre (the 4-story massive Indian shopping complex), the Tekka Market (wet market on the ground floor with hawker stalls upstairs)

    Cost: Free walking TIP: The 8-color Tan Teng Niah House is the photo spot. Mustafa Centre is the 24-hour shopping discovery — gold, electronics, spices, snacks. The wet market at Tekka is the local-life experience.
  4. 15:00 Lunch dessert — Komala Vilas or banana-leaf rice at Banana Leaf Apolo 1 hour

    Komala Vilas thali (vegetarian Indian set meal) or Banana Leaf Apolo's fish head curry (the Singapore-Indian invention). Both are Little India institutions

    Cost: $7-15 / S$9-20 TIP: Komala Vilas (since 1947) is strict vegetarian; the thali set is the survey order. Banana Leaf Apolo's fish head curry is the iconic Singapore-Indian dish.
  5. 16:30 Kampong Glam (Arab Street) 2 hours

    Singapore's Malay-Arab heritage district. Sultan Mosque (the iconic gold dome — 1824, rebuilt 1932) anchors the neighborhood. Haji Lane (the colorful pedestrian alley with vintage shops and street art), Arab Street (carpet shops, perfume oils, fabrics), Bussorah Street (cafés and Middle Eastern restaurants). Less commercialized than the other districts

    Cost: Free walking TIP: Sultan Mosque is open to non-Muslims outside prayer times (typically 9 AM-12 PM and 2-4 PM). Dress code: shoulders/knees covered (robes provided). The mosque interior is photogenic but limited photography during prayer.
  6. 19:00 Dinner — Zam Zam or Hajjah Maimunah 1.5-2 hours

    Zam Zam (since 1908) for murtabak (the iconic Singapore-Malay folded meat pancake). Or Hajjah Maimunah for nasi padang (point-and-choose Malay rice plates). Both are Kampong Glam institutions

    Cost: $8-15 / S$10-20 TIP: Zam Zam is cash-only and located across from Sultan Mosque. Hajjah Maimunah is in Joo Chiat (Peranakan heritage area), 15 min by taxi.
  7. 21:00 Haji Lane bar hop or hotel pool 1.5-2 hours

    Haji Lane has 10+ small bars and trendy cafés open until 1-2 AM — Singapore's most-photogenic alley after the Marina Bay scene. Or return to hotel for the rooftop pool (most Singapore hotels have one)

    Cost: $15-35 / S$20-45 TIP: Haji Lane bars: Singapore Sling at Atlas (in the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel rotunda) is the alternative iconic cocktail experience.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Ya Kun Kaya Toast or hotel breakfast

Near hotel · $5-15 / S$7-20

Ya Kun Kaya Toast Set A for the iconic Singapore breakfast. Hotel buffet for the substantial start before a walking-intensive cultural day.

Lunch

Maxwell or Chinatown Complex hawker centers

Chinatown · $5-15 / S$7-20

Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell + Liao Fan soya chicken at Chinatown Complex — split into two stops for the variety. Each meal $4-8.

Dinner

Zam Zam (Kampong Glam) or Hajjah Maimunah

Kampong Glam · $8-20 / S$10-26

Zam Zam murtabak (since 1908) for the iconic Singapore-Malay folded pancake. Hajjah Maimunah nasi padang for the point-and-choose Indonesian-Malay rice plates.

Transit:

Hotel → Chinatown: MRT NE Line to Chinatown station. Chinatown → Little India: MRT NE Line + Downtown Line transfer (10 min). Little India → Kampong Glam: 15-min walk via Albert Street or MRT (3 min). Day 2 transit: $4 / S$5.

DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $50 Mid $110 Luxury $250
DAY 3

Sentosa Island + Farewell Dinner

Universal Studios · S.E.A. Aquarium · Sentosa Beach · Lau Pa Sat farewell

Activities

  1. 09:30 Sentosa Island arrival — cable car or monorail 20-30 min

    Three options to reach Sentosa: (1) Sentosa Express monorail from VivoCity mall, $4 / S$5 round-trip + island entry — fastest, (2) Cable car from HarbourFront, $35 / S$45 round-trip including Mount Faber — scenic, (3) Walking via the Sentosa Boardwalk (free, 15-min walk). Choose by priority — speed vs view vs cost

    Cost: $4-35 / S$5-45 round-trip TIP: Monorail is the fastest. Cable car is the photogenic option with the Mt. Faber and Sentosa cable car packaged into one $35 round-trip. Walking the boardwalk is free and gives the most-tropical Singapore arrival.
  2. 10:00 Universal Studios Singapore OR S.E.A. Aquarium 5-7 hours (full day)

    Universal Studios Singapore (1-day pass $60 online / S$77): 7 themed zones, the Transformers ride, the Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters. S.E.A. Aquarium ($35 / S$45): 100,000+ marine animals across 50 habitats; the open-ocean tank is the world's largest. Choose one full day or split half-day each

    Cost: $35-65 / S$45-83 TIP: Universal Studios online discount: 20-30% cheaper than at the gate. Best 9 AM (opening) for shorter queues. S.E.A. Aquarium is 2-3 hours — pair with another Sentosa attraction.
  3. 13:00 Lunch — Sentosa or Resorts World food halls 1 hour

    Universal Studios has in-park dining (Marvel-themed Mel's Diner, Discovery Food Court). The Resorts World food hall (separate from the park) has Malaysia Boleh (the entire Malaysian street food scene), Singapore Food Trail (the 1960s nostalgia hawker-style food court)

    Cost: $13-25 / S$17-32 TIP: Singapore Food Trail in the Resorts World casino building is the local pick — replicates 1960s Singapore street food with retro-themed counters. Pay-as-you-go from each counter.
  4. 14:30 Sentosa Beach + boardwalk 2-2.5 hours

    Three beaches on Sentosa: Tanjong Beach (the quietest, with Tanjong Beach Club), Palawan Beach (with the suspension bridge to a small island), Siloso Beach (the most-active, with Wave House surfing simulator). The boardwalk connects them — 30-min walk end-to-end

    Cost: Beach free TIP: Tanjong Beach Club has the upscale beach bar setting (cocktails $20-30 / S$26-38). Palawan Beach is family-friendly. Siloso has the surfing simulator at Wave House ($20-30 / S$26-38 for 1-hour session).
  5. 17:30 Wings of Time (Sentosa) — optional 30-40 min

    Outdoor light, water, and laser show at Siloso Beach. 20-minute story-driven spectacle with fireworks. Nightly at 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM. Free if you have a Sentosa Pass ($75 / S$96 for 5+ attractions); otherwise $14 / S$18 standalone

    Cost: $14 / S$18 (standalone) TIP: Less iconic than the Marina Bay Sands Spectra show but a different Sentosa-night experience. Pair with a Tanjong Beach Club cocktail for the elevated final-Sentosa-evening.
  6. 19:00 Farewell dinner — Jumbo Seafood chili crab or Burnt Ends 2-2.5 hours

    Jumbo Seafood at Clarke Quay for the iconic Singapore chili crab dinner. Or Burnt Ends in Dempsey Hill (Michelin one-star, Australian-style wood-fired BBQ) for the upscale Singapore goodbye

    Cost: $50-180 / S$65-230 TIP: Jumbo Seafood reservations 1-2 weeks ahead for Clarke Quay weekend dinner. Burnt Ends reservations 3-4 weeks ahead. The crab is the iconic Singapore farewell; Burnt Ends is the elevated alternative.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Hotel breakfast

Hotel · $10-25 / S$13-32

Substantial — Day 3 is the most-walking-intensive day. Hotel buffet for the morning fuel before Sentosa.

Lunch

Resorts World Singapore Food Trail

Sentosa · $13-25 / S$17-32

Singapore Food Trail (the 1960s nostalgia food court in Resorts World) for the variety + Singapore-themed setting. Multiple stalls — pick chicken rice, char kway teow, and dessert for the lunch flight.

Dinner

Jumbo Seafood chili crab or Burnt Ends

Clarke Quay or Dempsey · $50-180 / S$65-230

Jumbo Seafood at Clarke Quay for the iconic chili crab farewell. Burnt Ends in Dempsey Hill for the Michelin one-star wood-fired BBQ alternative.

Transit:

Hotel → VivoCity (Sentosa monorail): MRT Circle Line or NE Line to HarbourFront station, 5-min walk. VivoCity → Sentosa: Sentosa Express monorail (3 min). Or cable car from HarbourFront ($35 / S$45 round-trip including Mount Faber). Day 3 transit: $8-35 depending on cable-car choice.

DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $90 Mid $180 Luxury $425
DAY 4

Botanic Gardens, Tiong Bahru, Singapore Zoo

Botanic Gardens · Tiong Bahru · Singapore Zoo / Night Safari

Activities

  1. 08:00 Singapore Botanic Gardens (UNESCO) 2.5-3 hours

    Founded 1859. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 (the only tropical botanical garden on the UNESCO list). 200 acres of formal gardens, the National Orchid Garden (1,000+ orchid species — the largest display in the world), the Bandstand (a 1930 Victorian gazebo), Swan Lake, the rainforest reserve. Free entry; National Orchid Garden $5 / S$6

    Cost: Park free; Orchid Garden $5 / S$6 TIP: Best 7-10 AM for cooler temperatures and active bird life. The Orchid Garden is the destination — the named-hybrid orchids (Vanda 'Miss Joaquim' — Singapore's national flower) are the highlight. The 'rain garden' beyond the orchids is a quieter alternative.
  2. 11:00 Tiong Bahru neighborhood walk 1.5-2 hours

    The 1930s art-deco housing estate (Singapore's first public housing). Restored shophouses, trendy independent cafés (Tiong Bahru Bakery, Forty Hands Coffee), indie bookstores (BooksActually). The neighborhood is photogenic and quiet — Singapore's 'Brooklyn' equivalent

    Cost: Free walking; café snacks $10-20 TIP: Tiong Bahru Bakery for kouign-amann + flat white. BooksActually for indie literature. The neighborhood is best 9-11 AM before the heat builds.
  3. 13:00 Lunch — Tiong Bahru Market hawker stalls 1.5 hours

    Tiong Bahru Market (the heritage hawker center) has 80+ stalls. Lor Mee 178 for the famous lor mee (braised noodle soup), Hong Heng for fried Hokkien mee, Chuan Sheng chicken rice. The wet market upstairs is the local-life Singapore experience

    Cost: $4-10 / S$5-13 TIP: Cash preferred at hawker stalls; PayLah works at many. The wet market upstairs is the Singapore-shopping experience for fresh produce, spices, dried goods.
  4. 15:00 Move to Singapore Zoo / Night Safari area Travel 30-45 min

    Take taxi or MRT + bus to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve (the umbrella park containing the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise). 30-45 min from Tiong Bahru. The Singapore Zoo (the world's best 'open concept' zoo) is the daytime visit

    Cost: $8-13 taxi each way TIP: Combo ticket: Zoo + Night Safari + River Wonders at $80 / S$103 saves 30% vs individual tickets. The 'open concept' design (moats instead of cages) was Singapore Zoo's 1973 innovation, copied globally since.
  5. 15:30 Singapore Zoo 4-5 hours

    The world's best-rated zoo. 4,200 animals across 26 hectares. The 'Fragile Forest' enclosed jungle, the orangutan free-range area, the white tiger habitat. Allow 4-5 hours; tram passes available if walking is too much

    Cost: $36 / S$46 standalone; included in combo TIP: The breakfast-with-orangutans tour (S$45 / $35) is the iconic Singapore Zoo experience — limited to 80 daily guests. The tram passes ($4 / S$5) are useful for cooler walking.
  6. 19:30 Night Safari 2-2.5 hours

    The world's first nocturnal zoo, opened 1994. Visit a separate zone after sunset where 90+ nocturnal species (tapirs, civet, malayan tiger, etc.) are observable. The 35-min tram ride circuits the zone; walking trails extend the visit. Open 7 PM-midnight

    Cost: $40 / S$51 standalone; included in combo TIP: Avoid the 'Creatures of the Night' show with kids — it's a Disney-style talent show with the animals. The tram ride is the substantive experience; walking trails are the natural-history depth.
  7. 22:00 Return to hotel 30-45 min

    Taxi or MRT back to central Singapore. After a long day, just sleep — Day 5 has the early Pulau Ubin departure

    Cost: $13-25 / S$17-32 taxi TIP: Last MRT from Khatib (the Mandai Zoo bus terminus) is around 11 PM. Taxi is the safer post-zoo return.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Tiong Bahru · $10-20 / S$13-26

Kouign-amann + flat white. Singapore's most-respected third-wave coffee + pastry combination. The neighborhood walk pairs naturally.

Lunch

Tiong Bahru Market hawker stalls

Tiong Bahru · $4-10 / S$5-13

Lor Mee 178, Hong Heng fried Hokkien mee, Chuan Sheng chicken rice. The heritage hawker center experience.

Dinner

Singapore Zoo or Night Safari restaurants

Mandai (Singapore Zoo area) · $15-30 / S$20-38

The 'Tusks at Mandai' Indian restaurant or 'Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant' for the on-site dining. Or quick burger/Singapore food at the entrance area food court.

Transit:

Hotel → Botanic Gardens: MRT Downtown Line to Botanic Gardens station. Botanic Gardens → Tiong Bahru: MRT Circle Line + East-West Line transfer (15 min). Tiong Bahru → Singapore Zoo: Taxi $13-25 / S$17-32 (30-45 min) or MRT + bus (60 min). Day 4 transit: $25-45 with Zoo combo and taxi.

DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $95 Mid $185 Luxury $320
DAY 5

Pulau Ubin Day Trip + Farewell Dinner

Pulau Ubin (the last kampong) · Farewell dinner

Activities

  1. 08:30 Pulau Ubin ferry from Changi Point 30 min travel

    Bumboat ferry from Changi Point Ferry Terminal — $4 / S$5 round-trip, 10-min ride. The boat waits to fill 12 passengers before departing (no schedule). The island is 10 sqkm of forest and traditional villages — the last 'kampong' (Malay village) preserved from pre-urbanization Singapore. Population: ~38 permanent residents

    Cost: $4 / S$5 round-trip ferry TIP: Cash only for the ferry. Bring small bills (S$3 each way). The ferry doesn't follow a schedule — boats leave when full. Best 9-11 AM departure.
  2. 09:30 Pulau Ubin bicycle rental + village walking 3-4 hours

    Bicycle rental at the village center: $5-13 / S$6-17 for the day. The island has 10+ km of trails through old rubber plantations, fishing villages, mangrove forests. The Chek Jawa wetlands (a tidal-zone with mudskippers, monkeys, crabs) is the destination at the eastern end — a 30-min ride from the village

    Cost: $5-13 / S$6-17 bike rental TIP: The bicycle rental shops are at the village dock. The Chek Jawa boardwalk is a 5-min walk from the eastern bike-parking. The Bukit Puaka quarry viewpoint has the island-overview shot. Bring water — no convenience stores on the trails.
  3. 13:00 Lunch — Season Live Seafood (Pulau Ubin) or Changi return 1.5 hours

    Season Live Seafood (the most-famous restaurant on Pulau Ubin) — seafood from the surrounding waters, served on a basic open-air patio. Or return to Changi Point and eat at the Changi Village Market hawker centre

    Cost: $15-30 / S$20-38 TIP: Cash only at Pulau Ubin restaurants. Reservations not needed but the restaurant gets busy 12-2 PM. The 'chili crab' on Pulau Ubin is fresher than the mainland versions.
  4. 15:00 Return ferry + hotel rest 1 hour

    Ferry back to Changi Point, then taxi or MRT to hotel. Most travelers need a rest after the bike-heavy day. Hotel pool or shopping mall AC is the recovery move

    Cost: $4 / S$5 ferry + $13 taxi TIP: The afternoon ferry return takes 15-30 min wait at Pulau Ubin (boats leave when full). Plan for the wait.
  5. 18:30 Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel — Long Bar 1-1.5 hours

    Singapore's iconic cocktail (invented at Raffles in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon). The Long Bar is the original location — peanuts on tables (shells go on the floor — the tradition), live music, smart-casual dress. The Singapore Sling at the Long Bar is S$36 / $28 — expensive but iconic

    Cost: $28-40 / S$36-51 for cocktails TIP: Reservations on the Raffles website. The Long Bar is in the Raffles Hotel (a 1887 colonial-era property). The Singapore Sling here is the historical original — replicas exist citywide.
  6. 20:00 Farewell dinner — Odette or Burnt Ends 2.5-3 hours

    Odette (3 Michelin stars, modern French) for the peak Singapore fine dining. Burnt Ends (1 Michelin star, Australian wood-fired BBQ) for the smoky alternative. Both require 2-3 month advance reservations

    Cost: $220-400 / S$280-510 TIP: Odette reservations open 2-3 months ahead. Burnt Ends opens 3-4 weeks ahead. Both are Asia's 50 Best Restaurants — the closing meal of a Singapore trip.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Changi Village Market hawker centre

Changi Point · $5-12 / S$7-15

Substantial — Pulau Ubin has limited food options. Change Village Market has nasi lemak, chicken rice, kopi for the morning fuel.

Lunch

Season Live Seafood (Pulau Ubin)

Pulau Ubin · $15-30 / S$20-38

Seafood from the surrounding waters — chili crab, prawns, fried bee hoon. Cash only. The open-air patio overlooks the channel back to Changi.

Dinner

Odette (3 Michelin stars) or Burnt Ends (1 star)

Civic District or Dempsey Hill · $220-400 / S$280-510

Odette for the peak Singapore fine dining. Burnt Ends for the wood-fired-BBQ alternative. Both require 2-3 month advance reservations.

Transit:

Hotel → Changi Point: MRT East-West Line to Tanah Merah, transfer to Bus 2 (60 min total). Or taxi $25-35 / S$32-45 (45 min). Pulau Ubin: bumboat ferry $4 / S$5 round-trip. Return to central Singapore: reverse the morning route.

DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $80 Mid $175 Luxury $470
DAY 6

Johor Bahru (Malaysia) Day Trip

Outlet shopping · Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque · Malaysian food

Activities

  1. 08:30 Singapore → Johor Bahru (bus across causeway) 1.5 hours total

    Causeway Link Express bus from Queen Street Bus Terminal — S$3.30 / $2.60 one-way, 1-1.5 hour with immigration processing. Or train from Woodlands Checkpoint. The 1-hour customs queue is the time-eater; arrive 8 AM for the smoothest morning crossing. Passport required

    Cost: $5 / S$7 round-trip bus + immigration TIP: Bring passport. Causeway peak hours (6-9 AM, 5-8 PM) have 2-3 hour customs queues. Weekday off-peak crossing is the smooth window. Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) cash needed inside Johor Bahru.
  2. 10:30 Johor Bahru City Square or KSL City Mall 2-3 hours

    Outlet shopping is the primary Johor Bahru day-trip reason. Adidas, Nike, Levi's, Uniqlo at 30-50% Singapore prices. City Square (the original) and KSL City Mall (the newer) are the two major mall destinations. Bring a Singapore-Ringgit ATM card or pre-exchange

    Cost: Shopping varies TIP: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) prices are roughly 30% of equivalent Singapore prices. ATM withdrawal at MYR 3-5 fee. The shopping is the value play.
  3. 13:30 Lunch — Restoran Saujana or Hiap Joo Bakery 1.5 hours

    Restoran Saujana (Indian-Malay-Chinese fusion) for the local lunch experience. Or Hiap Joo Bakery (the 60-year-old kaya bun bakery, the most-famous local bakery). Prices roughly 1/3 of Singapore equivalents

    Cost: $5-12 / S$7-15 TIP: Cash (Malaysian Ringgit) preferred. Restoran Saujana has the local-pricing meal experience — MYR 15-25 / S$5-8 per person.
  4. 15:30 Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque 30-45 min

    Built 1900. The most-iconic Johor Bahru architecture — a marble mosque with Anglo-Malay-Moorish design. Free to visit outside prayer times. Dress code: shoulders/knees covered (robes available). The view across to Singapore is included

    Cost: Free TIP: Best 3-5 PM (between afternoon prayers). The mosque is on a hill — Singapore skyline visible across the Johor Strait.
  5. 17:00 Return to Singapore + dinner 1.5 hours

    Causeway return — arrive Singapore 7 PM. Light dinner at a Marina Bay food court or back to hawker centers. The Day 6 day trip is the long-day variant

    Cost: Included in round-trip ticket TIP: Evening return queue at the causeway is shorter than morning queues. Most travelers cross back 5-7 PM without major delays.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Singapore hotel or Queen Street Bus Terminal

Singapore · $5-15 / S$7-20

Substantial — the JB day requires energy. Hotel breakfast or Ya Kun Kaya Toast set at Queen Street area.

Lunch

Restoran Saujana or local hawker (JB)

Johor Bahru · $5-12 / S$7-15

Restoran Saujana for the Malaysian local fusion (MYR 15-25). Local hawker stalls for the cheap-Singapore-food alternative.

Dinner

Singapore hawker center (return)

Singapore · $10-20 / S$13-26

Light dinner after the day trip — Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat for hawker variety, or a Marina Bay food court.

Transit:

Singapore → Johor Bahru: Causeway Link Express bus from Queen Street Bus Terminal (S$3.30 / $2.60 each way, 1-1.5 hours with customs). Or train from Woodlands Checkpoint (S$5 / $4 each way, faster but limited daily schedule). Passport required. Day 6 total transit: $5-10.

DAY 6 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $50 Mid $100 Luxury $200
DAY 7

Malacca (Malaysia) UNESCO Day Trip

Jonker Street · Christ Church · Dutch Square · Stadthuys · Final Singapore dinner

Activities

  1. 06:30 Singapore → Malacca (Melaka) — bus 3 hours 3 hours

    First bus departs 6:30 AM from Queen Street Bus Terminal. 3-hour ride to Melaka Sentral bus station. Round-trip $25-35 / S$32-45 via Causeway Link or Aeroline. Passport required. Arrive Malacca 9:30-10 AM

    Cost: $25-35 / S$32-45 round-trip TIP: Book bus tickets 2-3 days ahead via the Causeway Link or Aeroline website. The 'Aeroline' coach is the most-comfortable option (S$33 round-trip). Bring passport.
  2. 10:00 Christ Church + Dutch Square + Stadthuys 1.5 hours

    Malacca's UNESCO World Heritage core. Christ Church (1753, the oldest Dutch church in Malaysia, painted Dutch-Red), the Stadthuys (the 17th-century Dutch town hall, now the Malacca Museum). The Dutch Square is the photo destination

    Cost: Free + $4 / S$5 museum entry TIP: Both buildings are painted the iconic 'Dutch Red.' The Stadthuys Museum has the Malaccan history exhibits. Photography permitted outside; some interiors prohibit photos.
  3. 12:00 Lunch — Nyonya Cuisine on Jonker Street 1.5 hours

    Nyonya (Peranakan) cuisine is Malacca's specialty — the fusion of Malay and Chinese cooking from the 600-year-old Peranakan community. Jonker Street (the main heritage shopping street) has multiple Nyonya restaurants. Cendol (shaved-ice dessert with coconut milk, palm sugar, green-rice noodles) is the iconic Malacca dessert

    Cost: $13-25 / S$17-32 TIP: Reservations recommended for Jonker 88 or Restoran Asam Pedas. The 'cendol' at the Jonker Street vendors is the iconic Malacca dessert. Prices in MYR.
  4. 13:30 Jonker Street + Cheng Hoon Teng Temple 1.5-2 hours

    Jonker Street is Malacca's main heritage shopping street. The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (built 1645, Malaysia's oldest Chinese temple) is the spiritual anchor. The night market (Friday-Sunday evenings) is the more famous version — but for Day 7's daytime visit, the heritage shops along Jonker offer Nyonya tiles, antiques, beadwork

    Cost: Free walking; shopping varies TIP: Friday-Sunday evening 'Jonker Walk' night market is the famous version — but only operating if your visit aligns. The daytime heritage shopping is the alternative experience.
  5. 15:30 A Famosa Fortress + St. Paul's Hill 1 hour

    A Famosa (the 1511 Portuguese fortress remnant — Malaysia's oldest European structure) and the climb to St. Paul's Hill above it (with St. Paul's Church 1521, the early grave of St. Francis Xavier). Free entry; 30-min walk to the top

    Cost: Free TIP: The view from St. Paul's Hill across to the Malacca Strait is the most-photographed Malacca vista. Sunset (after 6 PM) gives the iconic photo.
  6. 17:00 Return bus to Singapore 3 hours travel

    Last bus from Melaka Sentral typically 5-6 PM (varies by operator). Arrive Singapore 9-10 PM. The Malacca day is genuinely long — 14-15 hours door-to-door

    Cost: Included in round-trip ticket TIP: Confirm the return bus schedule when buying tickets. The 5 PM departure is the most-popular; the 6 PM is the last reliable option.
  7. 20:30 Singapore farewell dinner — late hawker or hotel 1 hour

    Light dinner after the long day. Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat hawker centers, or hotel room service. Pack for the morning departure

    Cost: $10-25 / S$13-32 TIP: Don't plan the trip-closing splurge for Day 7 night — the long return makes a relaxed casual dinner more appropriate. Save the splurge for Day 5 dinner.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Hotel breakfast or Queen Street Bus Terminal

Singapore · $10-20 / S$13-26

Substantial — Malacca day starts at 6:30 AM. Hotel breakfast or pre-bus pickup at Ya Kun.

Lunch

Jonker 88 or Restoran Asam Pedas (Malacca)

Malacca / Jonker Street · $13-25 / S$17-32

Jonker 88 for the iconic Nyonya cuisine + Malaccan cendol. Restoran Asam Pedas for the spicy fish-curry alternative.

Dinner

Singapore hawker (light closing)

Singapore · $10-25 / S$13-32

Light dinner after the long day. Maxwell or Lau Pa Sat for hawker variety. Or hotel room service after the 14-hour day.

Transit:

Singapore Queen Street → Malacca Melaka Sentral: 3-hour bus, $25-35 / S$32-45 round-trip. Bus operators: Causeway Link, Aeroline, KKKL. Reservations 2-3 days ahead. Passport required. Day 7 transit: $35-50 with return.

DAY 7 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $65 Mid $130 Luxury $270

Book Singapore Tours & Tickets

Packing Checklist

Singapore 7-Day Itinerary FAQ

Is Johor Bahru worth the day trip?
If you want outlet shopping or budget Malaysian food at 30% Singapore prices. The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is the cultural anchor. Otherwise, JB is a basic Malaysian city without significant tourist attractions. Skip if you're not shopping or trying Malaysian food.
Is Malacca worth the 3-hour bus each way?
Yes for travelers interested in Southeast Asian colonial history (Portuguese 1511, Dutch 1641, British 1824). The UNESCO designation and Jonker Street are the substantial value. The 14-hour day commitment is real — only do this if you're genuinely interested in colonial-era heritage.
Should I rent a car for the Malaysia day trips?
No — Singapore-registered cars require an additional Vehicle Entry Permit ($2 / S$2.50 daily) for Malaysia, plus the cost of fuel and parking. The Causeway Link bus is dramatically cheaper and avoids the customs queue uncertainty. Driving is only sensible for multi-day Malaysia trips.
When is the Causeway crossing quietest?
Weekday mid-morning (10 AM-1 PM) and mid-evening (8-10 PM) are the smoothest. Peak hours (6-9 AM and 5-8 PM Mon-Fri, all day Sat-Sun) have 2-3 hour customs queues. Singapore-Malaysia working professionals commute daily — they drive the peak congestion.
What's the total cost of 7 days?
Excluding flights and hotel: budget $500 ($71/day), mid-range $1,030 ($147/day), luxury $2,255 ($322/day). Add hotels: 7 nights 3-star $700-1,260, 7 nights 4-star $1,400-2,800, 7 nights 5-star $4,200-14,000. The Singapore-as-Southeast-Asia-hub model maximizes the 7-day commitment.

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Jimmy Kong TripPick founder · Travel content creator

Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.

8+ years analyzing travel data 30+ countries visited Live exchange rate verified
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