Day 1 of a 3-Day Trip in Singapore
We arrived in Singapore from Taiwan late in the evening. Despite being early May, the climate was warm with temperatures reaching 30°C during the day. It felt like summer! After dropping our bags at the hostel, Happy Snail Hostel, we walked to the outdoor food court around the corner and enjoyed a plate of stir fried rice and beer. Note: Singapore’s cleanliness is largely due to its strict laws. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the laws. Corporal punishment is widely accepted in Singapore.
Day 1
Singapore
After toast and nutella at the hostel, we took the bus to Raffles Place. Raffles Place, the centre of Singapore’s Financial District, is filled with skyscrapers and manicured lawns. One Raffles Place is a shopping mall and also one of the tallest skyscrapers in Singapore.
We walked to the Singapore River and passed by the Fullerton Hotel. Before redevelopment into the 5-star hotel it is today, the neoclassical building has been used as a post office and also as a hospital during World War 2.
We continued to the Cavenagh Bridge to cross the Singapore River. The Cavenagh Bridge opened in 1869, making it not only the only suspension bridge in Singapore, but also one of the oldest bridges in Singapore.
Across the bridge is Esplanade Park which is surrounded by historical landmarks, museums, and sport fields. We passed by the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall as well as the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore.
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall 
Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles
We enjoyed a nice stroll along the Singapore River and walked through Makansutra Gluttons Bay. Makansutra Gluttons Bay is a street with various food stalls and ample seating, making it a great option for a meal, but the restaurants do not open until 1pm. It was still early in the day so none of the restaurants were open when we passed through. Across the Singapore River is the iconic Singaporean statue, the Merlion, and the Marina Bay Sands, a resort recognizable by its three towers.
We continued to the Singapore Flyer, a giant ferris wheel along the water. The entrance path to the ferris wheel is filled with lush greenery. The 30 minute ride gave us a good view of the city as well as the Gardens by the Bay, which we were headed to in the afternoon.
After leaving the Singapore Flyer, we headed to The Shoppes at the Marina Bay Sands. The centre is a huge shopping space with an immense food court and indoor gondola.
We scouted the options for lunch at the food court and decided on laksa with chicken and tofu from Rasapura Masters. Laksa consists of noodles in a spicy coconut and curry-like broth. The dish also came with chilis in soy sauce. Yum!
After lunch, we headed to the DC Super Heroes Cafe for a drink. Note: The Cafe has permanently closed. The Cafe is located on the 3rd floor and is identifiable by the life-size superhero statues. I ordered a Superman Vanilla Milkshake, which was cold and refreshing.
DC Super Heroes Cafe
Our next destination was the Gardens of the Bay. We had pre-purchased our tickets online beforehand for both conservatories — Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Note: During online ticket purchase, you must select a designated entry time.
We visited the Flower Dome first, which is filled with a variety of exotic plants and trees. What an exciting experience to see baobabs outside of the Little Prince! The lychee wood animal sculptures are amazingly detailed.
Flower Dome
The Cloud Forest also houses beautiful gardens with a centre waterfall. The pathway takes you up and back down the vertical garden.
Gardens by the Bay also has outdoor gardens and sculptures scattered throughout the area which are free to visit. Another popular spot to visit is the Supertree Grove. There is an admission fee to ascend to the Observatory, but guests can appreciate the trees from the ground at no fee. Every night at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, the Supertree Grove comes alive through their light and sound show, the Garden Rhapsody. After wandering the gardens, we stopped by the Supertree Food Hall for dinner. We ordered butter chicken and naan from Chutney Mary.
After dinner, we found a grassy spot to observe the evening show. Despite daily shows, the area was quite busy and crowded.
We headed to the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands to watch another free light show called Spectra — A Light and Water Show. This 15 minute outdoor show also occurs every evening at 8pm and 9pm (as well as 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
After a long day, we headed back to the hostel for the evening.
Complete Day 1 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary and do not include walking distances to and from train stations. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
8:00am: Enjoy a quick breakfast at the hostel. Head to Raffles Place (12 minute bus from Opp Blk 140 to Prudential Twr if staying near or at Happy Snail Hostel). Wander Raffles Place.
9:00am: Walk along the Singapore River. Visit the Merlion (6 minute walk from Raffles Place). Stop at the Fullerton Hotel (4 minute walk from Merlion). Cross the Cavenagh Bridge (1 minute walk from Fullerton Hotel). Visit the museums and theatres. Visit the Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles (3 minute walk from Cavenagh Bridge). Visit the war memorials at Esplanade Park (6 minute walk from Sir Stamford Raffles). Walk through the Makansutra Gluttons Bay (6 minute walk from Esplanade Park).
12:00pm: Ride the Singapore Flyer (13 minute walk from Esplanade Park).
1:00pm: Have lunch at Makansutra Gluttons Bay or cross the Helix Bridge to get to the food court at Marina Bay Sands (13 minute walk from Singapore Flyer).
2:00pm: Visit Gardens by the Bay (6 minute walk from Marina Bay Sands). Explore the conservatories and outdoor gardens.
6:00pm: Have dinner at one of the restaurants at Gardens by the Bay. The Supertree Food Hall is close to the Garden Rhapsody show.
7:00pm: Relax and watch the 7:45pm Garden Rhapsody show.
8:30pm: Head to the Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands (7 minute walk from Supertree Grove) to watch the 9pm light and water show.
Travels with Carolyne 