Singapore

Singapore: 24-hour itinerary

Singapore Insider

Trishaw in front of shop, Little India

With just 24 hours in Singapore you'll have to make the most of your time. Follow our Insider's expert one day itinerary.

Little India

If you truly want to make like a local, forget about the boring traditional western breakfast. Instead, head to Little India and breakfast at Saravanaa Bhavan at 84 Syed Alwi Road, a vegetarian restaurant that serves up outstanding dosa — enormous, yet light crepes served with a variety of savoury dips. Along with a cup of spice-infused masala tea, your palate will be awoken in true Singaporean style.

Heading out the door, turn left and you'll soon see the block-long behemoth that is the Mustafa Centre on your right. It's still early enough to beat the crowds so head on in and wander — usually with your mouth opened in amazement — through acres and acres of affordable goods on several floors. From jewellery to jam, clothing to cookware, hardware to hard candy, if you can't find it here, you probably don't need it. And, it's open 24 hours if you need to revisit any time!

After scoring a bargain or two, explore more of Little India by walking west to Serangoon Road where you'll find shop after shop filled with dazzling fabrics, spices and flower garlands for offering at the temples. Pick one up and head over to Sri Veeramakaliaman(141 Serangoon Road), a Hindu temple topped with a stunning variety of colourful carved figures. You'll see devotees ringing the bells on the door before they enter as a way of asking that their prayers be heard. Go inside if the doors are open, being sure to remove your shoes. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Kali, whose black statue sits in the main shrine.

Chinatown

By now, the day will be getting hot, so take a cab to Chinatown for air-conditioned refuge in the Chinatown Heritage Centre at 48 Pagoda Street. Enjoy the excellent galleries that recreate the lives of the migrant workers who built this city. When you're done, have lunch in the Singapore Heritage Restaurant next door and try traditional Chinese dishes, such as congee, a rice porridge that definitely qualifies as comfort food. To walk off the meal, wander up and down Pagoda Street for artwork, lucky jade charms and other knick-knacks.

No doubt, after all that walking, your feet will need some relief, which can be found at any of the excellent and super-affordable reflexology centres at the People's Park complex near the Chinatown MRT station.

Robertson or Clarke Quay

Thus refreshed, walk to Robertson or Clarke Quay and wet your whistle with a pre-dinner drink while gazing at the Singapore River. If you're not thirsty, take a Singapore River Cruise — it's touristy but worth it for the excellent orientation. For dinner, grab a cab to Chijmes (ignore the "j"). This impressive former convent is now home to a collection of lively bars and a variety of ethnic restaurants, most of which have dining options in the open-air courtyards.

Still going? Why not catch some live music, then. You can check out the reliably outstanding blues at the Crazy Elephant at Clarke Quay or a range of musical stylings at the Blu Jaz cafe at 11 Bali Lane. Both are free. If clubbing's your thing, mega-club Zirca at Clarke Quay or island-institution Zouk at 17 Jiak Kim Street will let you shake your groove thing 'til it's all shaken out.

Have you tried any of the places on this itinerary? Got any ideas we haven't thought of? Have your say using the comments form, below.

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User comments

I recently stopped over in Singapore on the way back from a month-long trip to China. I had no expectations about the place whatsoever and was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is super clean (greatly appreciated after 3 weeks in rural China) and there are shopping centres everywhere but it's also very multi-cultural and the food is fabulous.It might be a tourist cliche but the afternoon tea at Raffles was fabulous. Plus the chillcrab at Red House Seafood Restaurant (East Coast Parkway Seafood Centre) by the beach was delicously messy. For an upmarket meal Flutes at the Fort was very nice but very expensive. And I'm a total convert to the soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung. I'd also recommend a visit to the Changi Museum - it was very impressive and very moving (NB not the Changi Village) as well as a trip to the 70th floor of the Swissotel, Stamford Plaza to get a panoramic view of the city and the skyscrapers forever.

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