72 hours in Singapore

Arrive on a direct 13-hour flight from London or Manchester and take a 20-minute transfer along the coast to check in at your favourite hotel. Perhaps choose sustainable luxury at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, traditional refinement at Raffles Singapore, or a convenient riverside hub like the Hotel Miramar. If you’re travelling with kids, consider making a bee-line to family-friendly resorts such as the Village Hotel Sentosa or Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.

Once refreshed from your journey, discover how Singapore is reimagining nature at the mesmerising Gardens by the Bay. Stroll along aerial walkways through the Cloud Forest, step into a never-ending spring in the Flower Dome, and peer across the landscape from the Supertree Observatory. Arrive in the afternoon to make the most of the sun, or wait until sunset to see the gardens illuminated against the night.

Take a turn on the Singapore Flyer or climb to the SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands for a sky-high view across the twinkling city before setting out to satisfy your appetite. Eat like a local at one of the famous Hawker Centres, which have earned Singapore’s dining scene a place on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In Chinatown and Downtown alone, you’ll find the Maxwell Food Centre, the Amoy Street Food Centre, and, in a Victorian Market shipped piece-by-piece from Glasgow in 1894, Lau Pa Sat. For something truly special, head over to Kallang, where Michelin star street food is served at Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle.

If you time your evening right, a cruise from the Singapore River to see the nightly light and sound show in Marina Bay is a great way to cap off your first day in Singapore.

Wake up fully rested and jump on the MRT to discover the diverse districts of the city. Explore independently using contactless payments on public transport to find the colourful murals of Little India, the vibrant cafés of Kampong Gelam, and the pastel-painted shophouses of Joo Chiat-Katong, renowned as one of the coolest neighbourhoods. Wander the iconic tourist boulevard of Orchard Road, where shopping, entertainment, and people-watching are abundant at every step. Alternatively, let a resident be your guide with an inspiring tour such as the Zero to Hero food sustainability tour through the heartlands, the Hunt for the Green Treasure responsible design tour, or a Good Morning Singapore journey which follows the routine of a typical local. For something impeccably cool, try a bespoke Vintage Vespa Sidecar tour with Singapore Sidecars.

After pounding the streets, get off your feet with a unique wellness experience. Try yoga sessions above the city at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, a floating sound bath in a hammock at the Ministry of Yoga Wellness, or immersive forest bathing and nature therapy by XIU Nature Connections.

Make your second afternoon in Singapore all about nature. Start by escaping to MacRitchie Reservoir at the edge of the city for a hike through tropical rainforest on a 7-mile trail loop, or take a stroll in the sky on the 250-metre suspension bridge, the TreeTop Walk. Just a short drive north, beside the 50-year-old Singapore Zoo, is the newly opened Bird Paradise. Enjoy up-close encounters and feeding experiences in this magical home to 3,500 birds from 400 species.

Grab dinner in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve at the multi-concept outlet of Luke’s Lobster, Leckerbaer, Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, or any of the reserve’s themed restaurants and experiences, then embark on the highlight of the evening with the world-famous Night Safari guided tram ride to see the planet’s most magnificent beasts and adorable critters at their most active.

After one day in the city and another in nature, it’s time to escape to the beach. Make the short journey to Sentosa Island, either by taxi or via the cable car from HarbourFront, and start the day with brunch on the sand. Pass the day relaxing on the shore, kayaking in the lagoon, or splashing around on the HydroDash inflatable obstacle course. Away from the sand, find a world of activities, from bungee jumping and indoor skydiving to luging, or try the latest in 21^st-century go-karting at HyperDrive.

Bigger attractions on Sentosa include Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Waterpark, Mega Adventure Park, the S.E.A. Aquarium, and the latest attraction – The Palawan. Home to the HyperDrive and Singapore’s first floating aqua park, amongst others, The Palawan is a beachside entertainment wonderland where you can enjoy a round of UltraGolf, make family memories at Splash Tribe waterpark, indulge your appetite at a choice of artisan food trucks, or book an exclusive terraced cabana with a personal plunge pool for the ultimate beach club soiree.

Sentosa is an amazing destination for kids, families, young-at-heart adults, or those who just want to kick back and enjoy the sun for a few hours. If the playground of Sentosa doesn’t sound like your thing, don’t worry. Spend the afternoon hopping between Singapore’s offshore islands, such as the cat-filled St John’s, the rustic villages and wetlands of Pulau Ubin, or the white sand beaches of unspoiled Lazarus. Cruise to see the temples and tortoises of Kusu, cycle the tropical trails of Coney or dive in the coral reef marine park of Sisters’ Island.

On your last evening in Singapore, it would be a shame not to celebrate your stay with another taste of the award-winning food and drink available across the city. Sip a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles, go for more modern flavours in the bird-inspired PLUME at Pan Pacific Singapore, or stop into Jigger & Pony at the AMARA hotel to sample the award-winning concoctions, which earned a Top 20 place in the official World’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Treat yourself to something special at the three-Michelin star Zén restaurant in Chinatown, the first Brasserie Astoria outside Europe in the grand Victoria Concert Hall, or, for a truly one-off experience, ‘travel through the multiverse and eat the most absurd food’ at Absurdities.

In most destinations, we’d recommend arriving at the airport for your return flight around three hours before take-off. In Singapore, you’ll want more time. Changi is the world’s favourite airport for a reason. It has a butterfly garden, a rooftop pool, a digital experience studio, and a spiral slide which takes you through four stories of Terminal 3. It also has Jewel, an under-canopy rainforest filled with mazes, bouncing nets, bridges, and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.