Planning a trip to Singapore and want a totally do-able itinerary? Keep scrolling to check out my 2 days in Singapore itinerary from my recent trip!
This 2 days in Singapore itinerary was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I just got back from an incredible Asia trip with my in-laws and my husband’s aunt and uncle.
We hit Taipei for 3 days, Bangkok for 2, and then spent 2 perfect days in Singapore before meeting up with my husband and boys in Hong Kong.
Here’s the thing about Singapore: it’s compact, efficient, and honestly so easy to navigate that 2 days felt just right.
We packed in some amazing experiences without feeling rushed, and I’m going to walk you through exactly what we did.
Arrival Day: Night Safari (Trust Me on This One)
We landed around 4pm, checked into the Shangri-La Singapore, and after a quick rest, headed straight to the Night Safari.
So my aunt found this on Instagram (the algorithm definitely knew she was heading to Singapore), and when she first mentioned it, she just said we’d be seeing bats.
I wasn’t exactly jumping with excitement. But then I actually looked it up and realized this was WAY more than bats.
The Singapore Night Safari is the world’s first nocturnal zoo, and it’s genuinely incredible.
They open the zoo at night so you can see animals when they’re actually active.
You take a tram ride through different zones to see elephants, tigers, and lions, plus there are walking trails where you can get even closer to other animals.
The Creatures of the Night show in the amphitheater was honestly amazing.
And here’s a surprise: the food at the open-air food court was actually really good. We weren’t expecting much from zoo food, but we were pleasantly surprised.
Pro tip: Book your Night Safari tickets ahead of time, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend. Mid-week you could probably get tickets at the door, but why risk it?
Day 1: Orchids That Made Me Rethink Everything
After breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The main gardens are free to wander, but we paid to get into the National Orchid Garden, and let me tell you, it was worth every cent of the $15 adult admission ($3 for students and seniors).
I’m talking over 1,500 species and 3,000 hybrids of orchids. The colors and variety are absolutely mesmerizing.
But the real star? The Sembcorp Cool House.
It’s designed to mimic a high-elevation mountain forest, with temps between 61-73°F.
When you’ve been walking around in Singapore’s heat and humidity, stepping into this climate-controlled greenhouse feels like a gift.
The way they’ve organized the orchids by biogeographical regions is fascinating, and everything was so beautifully laid out.
Practical info:
- Open 8:30am to 7pm daily (last entry at 6pm)
- Plan at least 1-2 hours minimum
- Don’t skip the Cool House
- Every corner is incredibly photogenic
You can grab tickets for the National Orchid Garden here.
We spent a couple hours there and honestly, it still felt too short. It’s the perfect mix of peaceful, beautiful, and educational. Plus, you get a serious break from the heat.
Lunch at a Michelin Star Spot
After the gardens, we grabbed a taxi back to the hotel to meet up with everyone, then took the free shuttle to Ion shopping center.
We had lunch at Kam’s Roast Express, a Michelin-starred won ton noodle shop, and then did some shopping.
Then we headed back to the hotel for an afternoon break (highly recommend this in Singapore’s heat) before meeting up for dinner at Shang Chinese food, which was conveniently located right in our hotel.
Day 2: Gardens by the Bay and the Best Outdoor Food Court
We fueled up with breakfast at the hotel and headed to Gardens by the Bay. This place absolutely lived up to the hype, and I’m not just saying that because the domes were air-conditioned.
We started with the OCBC Skyway, which is this 128-meter aerial walkway suspended 22 meters above ground between those famous Supertrees. The city views were incredible.
Then we walked through the Chinese and Indian heritage gardens before hitting the main attractions.
Cloud Forest: Jurassic World Edition
First stop was the Cloud Forest, home to one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls.
But here’s the epic surprise: Jurassic World: The Experience! They have life-sized animatronic dinosaurs roaming around the lush greenery and misty waterfalls.
There were literally signs saying “DO NOT TAUNT THE ANIMALS” and they meant the dinosaurs. I absolutely loved it.
Flower Dome: Christmas in November
The Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse, and it was already decked out for Christmas when we visited in November. Cool artwork, gorgeous succulents, and the displays were just stunning.
TripAdvisor rated Gardens by the Bay as the No. 8 World’s Top Attraction, and honestly? I completely get it. This place is incredible and worth every minute.
You can book your Gardens by the Bay tickets here or get just the conservatory access here.
Fun fact: Both Gardens by the Bay and our lunch spot were featured in Crazy Rich Asians!
Newton Centre: Real Singapore Food
After Gardens by the Bay, we headed to Newton Centre for lunch. It’s an outdoor food court where you can try food from different stalls, and it’s about as authentic as it gets.
We ended up ordering mostly from one place: curry crab, black pepper crab, fried rice, veggies, and unsweetened lime juice that was so refreshing in the heat. Fresh cut-up mango for dessert sealed the deal.
The whole experience was great, and surprisingly affordable.
My mother-in-law and I spent the afternoon at the hotel pool after checking in for our flights to Hong Kong.
The pool area was really nice (though the towels were surprisingly ratty for such a nice hotel).
The lounge chairs were super comfortable, and they had staff doing foot massages that you could book. We tried to fit it in but couldn’t make it work with our schedule.
They also had pool service for drinks and food, which was perfect for a relaxing afternoon.
We ended our Singapore adventure with a big family dinner at Spring Court in Chinatown. Our group of 7 basically ordered everything on the menu, and it was all pretty tasty.
We had an early morning flight to Hong Kong the next day, but those 2 days in Singapore were absolutely perfect.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Getting Around
My in-laws prefer taxis, so we used them everywhere in Singapore. Super easy and efficient. We didn’t bother with Grab because we didn’t want to download anything new on our phones, but it’s another great option if you prefer app-based rides.
Weather
It’s hot. Like, really hot. I’m talking serious heat and humidity. Wear linen, loose clothing, anything that breathes.
Plan a mix of air-conditioned activities and outdoor exploring. Always have water with you, or stop frequently for cold drinks.
Multi-Generational Travel
Singapore is absolutely perfect for traveling with extended family. Our group ranged from early 40s to 80s, and everyone could keep up comfortably.
Lots of people speak English, everything is incredibly clean and safe, and getting around with taxis is effortless.
The Verdict on 2 Days
Honestly? It felt like the perfect amount of time.
I’m not sure what we would have added with another day. We hit the highlights, never felt rushed, and left feeling like we’d really experienced Singapore.
Book Your Singapore Experience
Ready to start planning? Here are my top recommendations:
Hotels: Check out Singapore hotels on Expedia for the best rates
Tours & Tickets:
Capture the Memories: Want professional photos of your Singapore adventure?
Book a Flytographer session and save $20 when you use my link. Trust me, having beautiful family photos from your travels is priceless.
Singapore is one of those destinations that just works for families. It’s clean, safe, easy to navigate, and packed with genuinely interesting things to see and do.
Two days gives you enough time to hit the highlights without burning out, which is exactly what you want when you’re traveling with a multi-generational group.
Looking for more Asia travel resources? Looking for more Asia travel content? Check out How to Spend 5 Days in Tokyo with Kids and 2 Days in Bangkok Itinerary!
