How To Spend One Day in Singapore

If you have a stopover of one day in Singapore, there is a lot you can see and explore before you continue on your travels. Here is how to spend 24 hours in Singapore…

When I was planning a trip to South Africa from Sydney over Christmas a few years ago, and the best option for flights was through Singapore, so I took it as a sign to spend a night and day in a new to me country. It was the perfect cushion between long-haul flights and a decent amount of time overall to visit a city that is generally popular for short stopovers. I was excited!

We arrived in the early evening, full of expectation but weary from the long flight. We have friends who live in Singapore who we planned on staying with on the way back but for our first short stop in the country, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice hotel stay.

Where We Stayed During Our One Day in Singapore

There are so many incredible hotels to choose from in Singapore, and I found a great deal for the four-star Dorsett Hotel located in Chinatown. As soon as we pulled up outside, I knew I had made the right choice.

Modern and elegant with a sleek interior, the hotel lobby was grand but welcoming, with a large Christmas tree taking pride of place in front of the reception desk. A giant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling and a piano played tunes in the corner.

What stood out to me the most about the hotel were the funky touches that gave the Dorsett a distinct personality that so many other high-end hotels lack.

Each guest room had a colorful camera with the room number on it outside the door, and modern artwork adorned the halls. Our room was reasonably small but I loved the dark décor which made me feel warm and cosy, like we had our own little luxury cave.

I am not a fan of Ikea and in regards to decorating, I dislike it when it is all cream and white: it was so refreshing to see something different. It was almost masculine but I really liked that.

The bathroom was beautiful with mosaic tiles and colorful complimentary toiletries, as well as a two-way opening wardrobe that opened into the room as well as the bathroom, and contained fluffy bathrobes and complimentary slippers.

Our friends were waiting down in the lobby for us otherwise I think I would have just stayed, drooling over the room, but it was time to see the Christmas lights along Orchard Road.

An Evening of Christmas Lights on Orchard Road

A busy shopping street lined with malls wouldn’t usually be my first stop in a new city, but I do love Christmas lights and they were indeed impressive. Multi-colored strings of lights with baubles dripped from the trees and were strung across the road in glittery displays.

There was no doubt that Singapore celebrated Christmas in a BIG way and threw a lot of money towards doing so. The streets were crammed with Christmas shoppers and we virtually had to elbow our way along the footpath but it was still a worthwhile experience, especially because it ended with delicious dumplings at the Food Republic food court.

It felt like I could have been in any first-world city around the world on Orchard Road so I couldn’t wait to explore what made Singapore distinctly Asian the next day.

Exploring Chinatown

After a good night’s sleep, we ventured out to explore the surrounding Chinatown in the early morning hours. We took a quiet pathway through a green strip of parkland bordering the southern edge of Chinatown and I finally started to feel that we were in Asia.

Large trees draped in vines rose up around the path, a brood of chickens pecked at the rich soil and a rooster crowed from his perch on top of a tree stump.

A few locals wandered slowly past us but otherwise, there was no one around. Everything was so green. This felt more like the Asia I dreamt about.

The Chinatown streets are lined with beautifully restored shophouses of various colors, many of them recessed on the ground story so that you could walk under cover, through a tunneled footpath. Very handy for when it rained.

We saw small shrines on the sidewalk, burning incense and offering various foods and drinks to a particular deity or ancestor.

Shoes were haphazardly strewn in front of the intricately carved and colorful Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, very similar to the temple we visited in Nadi: the owners of the shoes praying inside.

The streets were peaceful. We grabbed lattes at an expensive joint called The Alley then ate possibly the worst breakfast I have ever had, a fishy Mee Goreng at a small budget restaurant.

Hanging Out by the Hotel Pool

We were lucky to have a late checkout of 12 pm at the hotel, so we went back to enjoy some time by the pool as the temperature started to rise with the day.

The Dorsett’s pool was located in a quiet spot of calm in the city, with wooden decks and frangipani trees surrounding it. A swim in the beautiful blue and green tiled pool was exactly what we needed.

Walking around the Marina Bay Area

Checking out at the very last minute possible, we took a walk along the murky waters of the Singapore River and to the famous Merlion fountain, with a view over to the even more famous Marina Bay Sands.

I always enjoy seeing attractions that I have previously only seen pictures of, it gives you that “I made it!” feeling, but I much preferred ogling the regal Fullarton Hotel, a white-washed colonial extravagance that dominates this part of the river.

I also enjoyed just wandering riverside and walking through the lush Fort Canning Park with its gnarled fig and banyan trees and shaded pathways. It all felt so exotic.

Wandering Kampong Glam and Little India

The Malay Muslim neighborhood of Kampong Glam was high on my list of suburbs to visit and it lived up to my expectations, despite us not having much time there.

Narrow streets wind through this vibrant community of trendy cafes, tightly packed shophouses selling textiles and Persian carpets, and colorful street art. The palatial golden-domed Sultan Mosque peeks out in all its splendor above the building tops. I would like to explore more of the area’s hidden corners on my next visit.

Our last stop during our one day in Singapore was at Little India. I found it an area lacking in charm as we walked along the chaotic main street past numerous cell phone and sari shops.

It was frenetic and dirty, something I may have found exciting had I not been feeling the effects of the stifling heat after a day of walking in it.

The male-to-female ratio was about 10:1 as there are a lot of male migrant workers who come over for better salaries so that they can send money back to their families. I will have to give it another chance in the future and perhaps look for quieter side streets to explore.

The heavens opened for the regular afternoon downpour, cooling everything down dramatically. Just in time for us to head to the airport.

Attractions of Singapore Airport

Singapore Airport provided thrills of its own with its beautiful Butterfly Garden, complete with a cascading waterfall, and its rooftop cactus garden. I can definitely see why it is consistently rated as the top airport in the world.

My time in this world-class city was short but sweet, and anything but boring. I couldn’t wait to get back and explore more a few weeks later.

The Best Insurance For Your Singapore Trip

Make sure you get travel and health insurance before your trip. Safety Wing is my go-to and they are cheap and easy to claim with – it auto-renews every month unless you turn it off so you don’t have to think about it on longer trips.

Safety Wing also allows you to sign up when you are already traveling, unlike a lot of other travel insurance providers.

If you liked this post, check out some more of my Asia content:

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• Why You Should Visit the Perhentian Islands in the Shoulder Season
• Marveling at the Centuries-Old Batad Rice Terraces
• El Nido, Palawan: Avatar’s Pandora Come to Life
• Why you Need to Visit the Bagan Pagodas, NOW!
• The Best Things to Do in Kampot