Dec 19, An Optimised 7-Day Singapore Tour

by Lucy Das
(Bangalore, Karnataka, India)

Dear Gabriel, thanks for maintaining this AWESOME site. It has been the basis of my planning. However, I think my itinerary could use some of your expert advice. Here is what I have. Please optimize it to get the best out of our trip in terms of location/scheduling. Also, kindly suggest best shopping spots where the cost is not high but the goods are of decent quality.

My itinerary:
2 adults + 2 kids aged 6 and 9

DAY 1 ? 25 DECEMBER SATURDAY
(We start our day at around 9:00 or 9:30 am)
1. Jurong Bird Park
2. Snow City
3. Evening: Orchard Street Light up

Your plan for Day 1 looks spot on. Just be aware that the Christmas Grand Concert starts around 7.30pm. A large crowd is expected. You could get to the Concert by exiting at Orchard MRT Station.

DAY 2 ? 26 DECEMBER - SUNDAY
1. Morning Take the FREE TOUR + Bugis Flea Market
2. Visit FRIEND if she is free
3. Take a short break in the hotel
4. Explore Clark Quay (Retire early) ? Extreme swing/Quayside Seafood, Singapore Sling Boutique for a drink
5. Take a relaxing boat ride if possible. Best time (7-7:30pm) ? Hippo cruise

Day 2 looks good on its own. But I noticed that you've planned Arab Street on a later day. Consider visiting Arab Street / Kampong Glam on Day 2 as well - since these places are near the Bugis Street Bazaar.

I'm just curious - what free tour would you be embarking upon?

DAY 3 ? 27 December MONDAY (8:00am ? 10:30pm)
1. Chinatown area ? for shopping
2. Singapore Zoo + Night Safari (see zoo/safari planner)

Day 3 is another well-planned itinerary.

DAY 4 ? 28 December TUESDAY
1. Science Discovery Center + Omnimax movie
(Swap with Day 2 if required)
2. Arab Neighborhood
3. Chinatown on foot/Trishaw? (Tea service)
4. Hotel Break - optional
5. Trishaw + Bumboat tour or just the bumboat ride OR take river taxi and walk back if we haven?t covered it already on Day 2.

Day 4 is too ambitious. You're not going to cover so many places.

If you plan on visiting the Science Centre and Omnimax Theatre, do it on the same day you visit the Jurong Bird Park and Snow City. There's no point making 2 different trips to Jurong - you lose lots of time on commuting.

The same applies for Chinatown, and Arab Street(which is close to the Bugis Street Bazaar).

Remember: less is more!

For Day 4, consider visiting a heartland town centre such as Toa Payoh or Bedok in the morning. You'd be surprised to find some really nice clothes or shoes for children.

Then head for Little India in the afternoon/evening. Check out Mustafa Centre and the bargain shops along Serangoon Road. You'll find something for the family here.

DAY 5 ? 29 December WEDNESDAY
1. Change Hotels
2. Go for the Marina Bay Mall Crawl
3. Spend some time at Marina Bay Sands
4. Explore Raffles Hotel
5. High tea at Swissotel Stamford ? Equinox Book !
6. Dinner at Lau Pat Sat

If you have not already taken the bumboat tour, you could fit in a Singapore River Cruise (bumboat tour) in the evening before heading to Lau Pa Sat for satay and BBQ seafood.

DAY 6 ? 30 December THURSDAY
1. Singapore Botanic Gardens
2. Hotel break
3. Sentosa ? Butterfly Park, Underwater World & Dolphin Lagoon, Sentosa Luge and Songs of the Sea ? Cable car ride. Merlion ? photo opportunity OR
4. Town Center shopping ? Recommendations for outlet stores?

Read my earlier recommendations for town centre shopping.

DAY 7 ? 31 December FRIDAY
1. Relax ? East Coast Park - beach? Flight Experience?
2. Shopping - need recommendations for the best place to shop for clothes.
3. Fireworks in the evening (Promentary ? across the Hotel ? Carnival)

The Waterfront Boardwalk in front of Marina Bay Sands is a nice spot to watch the fireworks. Pack your food, snacks and drinks. Then arrive early and have a family picnic. If you arrive late, be prepared to be bumped off to less desirable spots for fireworks viewing.

However, if you've booked into a Bay-facing room at your Marina Bay hotel, you're better off watching the fireworks from your hotel room or balcony.

Our Hotels: 1st 4 days ? Clarke Quay hotel and next 3 days ? Marina Bay hotel

I have deliberately left out LITTLE INDIA since we are from India. :)

Is there a gems factory that is worth seeing? Read about it somewhere.

Can we ditch Sentosa or is the Songs of the Sea too good to miss?

1) Little India in Singapore, I believe, is slightly different from any spot in India. It's worth the trip for the wonderful family shopping at Mustafa Centre and the other bargain shops.

If you plan on buying gold jewellery and gemstones, Mustafa and the other gold shops in Little India are great for variety.

2) Visiting Sentosa just for Songs of the Sea is not worth it, IMHO. But it's definitely worthwhile when you think of it as a place where lots of family-friendly activities are clustered together. You get to do lots without commuting too much.

The activities you've listed for your Sentosa trip are great for a family with pre-teen children.

3) I noted that shopping is of importance to you. Apart from the shopping spots already recommended, you might want to spend an entire day just browsing the malls on Orchard Road.

Robinson's, as you have already noted, is great for lots of stuff. So is John Little's, Isetan and Tangs. There are also some smaller outlets at Far East Plaza, Centrepoint, Plaza Singapore, etc which offer something slightly different.

Enjoy your week-long Singapore tour.

Gabriel Tan

Thanks a lot
Lucy
Bangalore, India

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