3 Days in Singapore

Last year I traveled to Southeast Asia for four months. My final stop of the trip was Singapore, an incredible place with lots to see and do. I spent three days exploring the small island country.

Day 1 – Singapore by Night

I arrived at Singapore’s beautiful Changi Airport in the late afternoon and took a Grab to The Bohemian hostel. After getting checked in and organized, I headed to the Gardens by the Bay around sunset to admire the Gardens and the nearby Marina Bay Sands hotel after dark. The area was very peaceful and clean despite the large number of tourists, and I couldn’t believe I was finally seeing the place that’s been featured in so many movies. I spent some time admiring the area and then headed back to get some rest before the next day.

Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands after dark

Day 2 – Universal Studios

I woke up early to catch a train to Universal Studios Singapore, where I arrived around 15 minutes before opening time. I had read online that weekdays were slow and wouldn’t be as busy (I opted to visit on a Monday). This turned out to be extremely wrong; the Sentosa train to the park as well as the line to get into the park were packed. I finally got inside around 10:45 AM, 45 minutes after opening time.

My first stop was the Human side of the Battlestar Galactica rollercoaster, where I put my bag into a free locker (the park does not allow cell phones, bags, or any items in pockets on the rollercoasters, but they have free lockers near each of the big rides). The wait time was supposed to be 20 minutes, but it ended up taking 70 minutes to get through the line. At least the coaster was really fun. After that excitement I was hungry and got a snack and two waters (one for later since the line was long). Next, I headed to The Mummy ride which also had an hour-long line. The ride was at least worth the wait and I had a big smile on my face when it was over.

The Mummy, my favorite ride at Universal

It was afternoon at that point and really hot, so I went to the Jurassic Park water ride next. This was a big mistake and I waited in line for nearly two hours! They would open the single-rider line for 20 seconds just to close it immediately after, so I was stuck in the same long line as everyone else. The ride was not worth the wait and I barely even got wet. I was in a horrible mood after this and walked around looking for food. All of the restaurants were packed, and there was minimal seating around the park which was disappointing.

After finally finding somewhere to sit and eat, it was nearly 5 PM. I couldn’t believe that I had only ridden three rides and only had three hours left in the park until close! Thankfully the wait times finally started going down around this point. I rode the Cylon side of the Battlestar Galactica coaster next, which was fun but had so many weird turns that everyone was visibly dizzy afterwards. The Mummy had a 20-minute wait so I rode it again, then I rode a small Shrek coaster and the Transformers ride. Finally, I rode The Mummy one more time before close.

I left at 8 PM having ridden nine rides which was better than expected. I walked along the Sentosa Boardwalk to a nearby mall and had a really good pasta dinner and a dessert. I then headed back to the hostel, exhausted but somewhat satisfied with the day. If you are visiting Universal Singapore, I would highly, highly recommend purchasing fast passes. Otherwise, I don’t think it’s worth the visit.

Universal Studios Singapore

Day 3 – A Full-Day City Tour

I slept in longer than planned but eventually made it to the Michelin-recommended Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist. The hawker stall where it was located was packed and I was worried I wouldn’t find a seat (a hawker stall is a food-court-style place that is popular in Singapore). Locals will leave small items, such as a box of tissues or a coin, to reserve their seats while they wait in line, and everyone respects the item and leaves the seat empty. After walking around for awhile I finally found an empty, item-less table, where I was soon joined by two strangers. It was a unique dining experience, and my char siew noodles were amazing!

Lunch from Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist

Next, I went to another hawker stall to try Michelin-recommended coffee at The 1950’s Coffee (who knew there was such a thing?). I got an iced milk Kopi C which was fine; luckily I found a shaded table to sit at outside. I headed to the Jewel Changi Airport next to properly explore the beautiful architecture. I decided to take the bus to the airport, and the driver was really rude and didn’t tell me how or what to pay. I put in $2 worth of coins and hoped he wouldn’t yell at me or kick me off the bus halfway through the journey.

Thankfully I made it to the airport without incident, and it was just as amazing as everyone says! I explored the beautiful rain vortex (the world’s tallest indoor waterfall), and I also bought a ticket for the Jewel Blooms floral exhibit as well as the glass Canopy Bridge. After spending some time admiring the exhibits, I took a train to Merlion Park and then walked back to the Marina Bay Sands, which I admired in the daytime.

The incredible Jewel Changi Airport

Jewel Blooms at Changi Airport

The Canopy Bridge at Changi Airport

It was late afternoon by this point, so I returned to the Gardens by the Bay and bought tickets for the Cloud Forest and the Supertree Observatory. Both exhibits were really impressive, although the observatory line was really long. After nearly an hour of waiting, I finally made it to the top of the Supertree observation deck after sunset, which had beautiful views of the city skyline at night. From there, I rushed back to Marina Bay Sands to catch the second half of the laser light show. I then went to another hawker stall for dinner, where I had a Chinese pepper beef and rice dish.

Merlion Park

Marina Bay Sands during the daytime

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay

Before long I headed back to the hostel, since I had an early flight the next morning. While I had no expectations of Singapore beforehand, it absolutely blew me away! Everything was immaculate and well-organized, despite the city’s large population. I also enjoyed trying some Singaporean cuisine and admiring all the gorgeous architecture. It’s the perfect country to spend a few days in, especially if you are already traveling through Southeast Asia. I hope to return someday!

Sunset at the Supertree Observatory