Joanna James
While Singapore is often ranked among the best Asian holiday hubs for a brief stay, 24 hours is hardly sufficient to explore the Lion City in full. Those who are visiting the island for a limited period, however, can hit the major attractions and activity base if they manage their time carefully. Here are some tips and a comprehensive itinerary curated to help you make the most of your day trip in sunny Singapore.
Travellers without a minute to spare during their trip to Singapore must secure a strategic hotel base. In addition to providing easy access to some of the Lion City's main points of interest, the ideal hotel should also be within close proximity to a local MRT station. So, whether you choose to stay at Copthorne King's Hotel Singapore or any other hotel on Havelock Road Singapore, it's important to consider the property's proximity to highlights and public transport networks.
After checking in to the hotel, visitors should make their way to the nearest Ya Kun Kaya Toast to enjoy a traditional Singaporean breakfast meal of kaya toast and eggs. Served with a piping hot cup of coffee, a Kaya Toast meal consists of a soft-boiled egg and toasted bread slathered with Kaya coconut jam and a thick layer of butter.
Chinatown should be the first stopover on the itinerary as it is home to some of Singapore's most popular cultural highlights. Paying homage to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple are some of the best things to do in this area, which exemplifies Singapore's multicultural identity.
Although there's no shortage of street food hotspots in Chinatown, a trip to this area would not be complete without dining in the largest hawker centre in the country. Offering diners an array of local delicacies and classic rice and noodle meals, some vendors at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre include those that boast Michelin Stars and accolades from Bib Gourmand..
There's no better way to walk off the calories after a hearty lunch than with a walking tour of Singapore's iconic Gardens by the Bay. This futuristic garden lined with SuperTrees is not only home to a Cloud Forest and a Flower Dome but a number of temperature-controlled greenhouses abloom with some of the world's most beautiful plants and flower varieties.
Often compared to New York's Fifth Avenue due to its trendy boutiques and towering shopping compounds, a getaway in Singapore demands that one spends at least an hour enjoying the sights and sounds of Orchard Road.
Lau Pa Sat should be your next stopover as this bustling hawker centre is where some of the city's best street eats and traditional dishes are all accessible under one roof. The grilled meat skewers from Satay Street, for example, are simply too good to pass up.
There are perhaps few activities that are as romantic or as magical as embarking on a bumboat cruise on the Singapore River after sundown. Offering day trippers the opportunity to catch their breath and enjoy the beauty of the Singapore city skyline, it is an unforgettable way to bid adieu to the city.
Those with a few hours left in their Singapore sojourn can venture over to Clarke Quay, which is home to some of Singapore's finest bars and pubs.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
