Top Things to Do in Singapore: The Complete Guide for Indian Travellers

• Singapore offers incredible value - Experience world-class attractions, diverse food scenes, and cultural districts within a compact, walkable city-state
• Budget smartly - Indian travellers can travel to Singapore fully covered in ₹3000-5000 INR per day, which includes local transport, food, sightseeing, etc.
• Plan 3-4 days minimum - This will help you explore the main attractions of the city, such as Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, cultural neighbourhoods, and the Island of Sentosa without hurrying
• Visit between February-April or October-November - These are the months with the best weather in Singapore and fewer tourists
• Use the MRT system - Singapore's efficient metro connects all major attractions and costs just ₹10-50 per ride

Chinatown remains one of Singapore’s most authentic cultural experiences, where historic shophouses sit alongside temples and modern cafés. At its heart is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a spiritual landmark with free entry.

Wander through its narrow streets filled with tea houses, souvenir shops, and traditional medicine stores, giving you a glimpse into old Singapore. Don’t miss the Chinatown Heritage Centre for a dose of history, or simply take in the vibrant street art and architecture along Pagoda and Temple Streets.

Budget tip: Most temples in Chinatown offer free entry, making it an excellent budget-friendly cultural experience.

Little India offers Indian travellers a comforting taste of home while highlighting Singapore’s Indian roots. At its centre is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, and it is open daily to visitors.

Serangoon Road buzzes with activity, lined with Indian restaurants, spice shops, silk stores, and gold jewellery outlets. The area comes alive during festivals like Deepavali, when the entire district is decorated with colourful lights and decorations.

Pro tip: Visit during weekday afternoons to avoid weekend crowds and enjoy a more relaxed exploration of the temples and markets.

Kampong Glam highlights Singapore’s Malay and Islamic heritage, anchored by the iconic Sultan Mosque. Nearby, Haji Lane blends tradition with trend, offering indie boutiques, street art, and stylish cafes. This vibrant mix of culture and creativity makes the district one of Singapore’s most unique and fascinating areas to explore.

Gardens by the Bay brings Singapore’s “City in a Garden” vision to life with its fusion of nature and tech. Don’t miss the Supertree Grove’s free light show (7:45 & 8:45 PM). For ₹2,000, explore the Cloud Forest’s indoor waterfall and the Flower Dome’s global plant displays. It’s a great escape from the city’s heat and a must visit place in Singapore for nature lovers and photographers. The views, especially at night, are nothing short of magical.

Practical tip: Visit during late afternoon to enjoy the conservatories in daylight and stay for the evening Supertree light show.

Singapore’s hawker centres serve world-class street food at unbeatable prices. They’re a must-visit for an authentic and budget-friendly taste of local cuisine.

Top Picks:

• Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown): Try the famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (₹250–350).
• Lau Pa Sat (CBD): A Victorian-era food court that turns into a lively satay street every evening, perfect for grilled skewers and vibrant vibes.

Must-try dishes: Hainanese Chicken Rice, Char Kway Teow, Laksa, Chilli Crab, and Kaya Toast represent Singapore's diverse culinary heritage.

Hawker Chan gained fame for serving the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal—Soy Sauce Chicken Rice for just ₹120 at Chinatown Complex. It’s proof that great food doesn’t have to be pricey. Other budget-friendly Michelin spots include Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, offering top-quality dishes at hawker centre prices.

The 2km long Orchard Road is the best shopping street in Singapore and includes the famous shopping malls like ION Orchard, Paragon and Takashimaya. It is a paradise of luxury and foreign brands. The best time to visit here is the Great Singapore Sale (June-July), when big discounts are offered. This suits the Indian travellers, especially those interested in getting international labels at a low cost.

Bugis Street Market is the opposite of Orchard Road, as it has a low-cost atmosphere where you can get t-shirts costing just ₹50 or even something unusual to take home. It is fantastic with discounts, and it is available every day. Bugis Junction mall (next door) is the same, except that it is air-conditioned with a mix of medium-priced shopping.

Arab Street is your one-stop for textiles, carpets and other traditional Middle Eastern products and Haji Lane is where to go in case of vintage clothing, custom made accessories and novelty items as souvenirs. Both streets provide a different kind of shopping that you could not get in ordinary malls.

Bargaining tip: In the street markets, the sales are negotiable and friendly bargaining will grant you 20-30% discounts in most cases.

When the sun goes down, Marina Bay is illuminated, and Merlion Park presents a fantastic view of Marina Bay Sands and the skyline. There are fancy bars and high-end restaurants, which are quite expensive. To get a panoramic view of the city, visit the Singapore Flyer (2,500 at sunset). Otherwise, a free view of the same can be experienced at the Helix Bridge.

The nightlife hotspot in the city of Singapore, Clarke Quay, comes to life after 8 PM, where the bars, clubs, live music, and riverside restaurants can be found. Here you can find budget pubs, posh bars, to something that suits every traveller, along with the view of the beautiful Singapore River.

Safety note: Singapore's strict laws make it one of the world's safest nightlife destinations, but drinks can be expensive (₹800-1,500 per cocktail).

Transportation and Getting Around

Singapore has an extensive MRT where a commuter can travel quickly and at a low price to all destinations. The tourist pass in Singapore, costing ₹600 to ₹1,000, will give unlimited rides on MRT and buses and as such is a good deal.

Locally, Grab (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber) is comfortable yet more expensive, whereas walking could be the fastest mode of transport due to the city’s compact size and walkable streets.

Budget Planning

On average, Indian travellers can enjoy Singapore on a budget of around ₹3,000-5,000 rupees a day, when it comes to sightseeing, eating, as well as local transportation. The budget will cover meals available in the Hawker Centre, use of public transport and 1-2 paid attractions per day.

More high-end services such as fine dining, high-end shopping and high-end attractions can quickly turn this budget into twice the value, but Singapore delivers great value at every price.

Weather and Best Times to Visit

Singapore is hot, and the most favourable sightseeing is during the dry seasons (Feb-April and Oct-November). Wet season (Nov-Jan) has afternoon showers, so that should not be an impediment to travel plans since there are numerous indoor attractions.

Packing tip: Lightweight, breathable clothing and a small umbrella are recommended because the weather in Singapore can vary a lot throughout the day.

Singapore has a reputation as one of Asia's most popular destinations, with a combination of traditions and modernities, with its temples and skyscrapers, hawker food and Michelin meals, its easy to explore city is all in a small size. Looking to get culture, food, shopping or efficiency, Singapore has got all of it. Set your Singapore itinerary to 3-4 days, budget a daily spend of ₹4,000 and be blown away.