The SPOT.ph Guide to Exploring Singapore by Train
You only need three days.
(SPOT.ph) The tiny island nation of Singapore has always been a popular getaway for Filipinos, especially those who only have a few days to spare. Its size coupled with its efficient public transportation makes going around easy, especially for first-time visitors.
Singapore's Rail Network, in particular, is known for its reliability, so you don't have to worry about exploring the city on your own. We recommend visiting destinations close to the Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit stations, as per our suggested itinerary below.
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Singapore MRT and LRT Itinerary for Three Days
Singapore has six Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and three Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines. The MRT lines are mostly underground while the LRT lines run above ground and are elevated on concrete pillars.
Tourists can avail of the Singapore Tourist Pass, a special EZ-Link smart card that offers unlimited travel on the MRT, LRT, and basic bus services for the duration that it is valid. A one-day pass is at SGD 22 (around P1,00), a two-day pass is at SGD 29 (around P1,200), and a three-day pass is at SGD 34 (around P1,400).
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Day 1: The Colonial District, Marina Bay, and the Three Quays
Your first day in the island country is best spent discovering the best it has to offer: old-world charm and exhilarating modernity.
The so-called "Colonial District" is where you go if you want to have an idea of what Singapore was like under colonial rule. With its colonial buildings, museums, and tree-lined parks, this area is your perfect introduction to the Lion City.
The City Hall MRT Station (East-West Line; North-South Line) is an ideal starting point, especially if you’re keen on seeing some of the island nation’s most popular remnants of colonial rule, such as the Raffles Hotel and Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.
The station is a four-minute walk from the impressive National Gallery Singapore, which boasts a vast collection of more than 8,000 19th-century and modern Southeast Asian art.
One stop away from City Hall MRT is Raffles Place MRT Station (East-West Line; North-South Line), the nearest station to another significant museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum. This features a comprehensive collection of pan-Asian treasures, displayed in expertly curated galleries spanning three floors.
First time in Singapore? Raffles Place MRT Station is within a 10-minute walk of the iconic Merlion sculpture near Fullerton Road. The Merlion statute, which stands at 8.6 meters, was built by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng and designed by Kwan Sai Kheong. It was originally situated at the mouth of the Singapore River, then relocated to Merlion Park in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking Marina Bay after the completion of the Esplanada Bridge in 1997.
Within the area, but on a different MRT line is the Bayfront MRT Station (Circle Line; Downtown Line), where some of Singapore’s more contemporary sights are clustered. Get off this MRT stop if you wish to marvel at the ultra-modern Gardens by the Bay. Spanning 101 hectares, this outdoor attraction is more than just a "garden," but is really an architectural marvel.
Right behind Gardens by the Bay is another architectural wonder, Marina Bay Sands. In fact, if you go up one of the "Supertrees," you’ll be able to capture a photo with the five-star hotel as a backdrop.
From Bayfront MRT Station, you can head to the Promenade MRT Station (Circle Line), which is about 650 meters from the Singapore Flyer. A ride on the giant observation wheel brings you about 165 meters above ground, where you get a breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline.
To cap off the night, you can ride the Downtown Line to Chinatown, then transfer to the North East Line to Clarke Quay MRT Station. From there, you can walk to any of the city's three riverside quays.
Clarke Quay, the most popular of the three, has bars, restaurants, and clubs aplenty. Boat Quay is both a conservation zone and a lively entertainment area. Robertson Quay has similar establishments but tends to attract an older crowd of 30- and 40-somethings more interested in a subdued atmosphere.
Day 2: Chinatown and Sentosa
You can’t say you have been to Singapore if you haven’t gone on a food crawl. As one of the world’s culinary meccas, it’s a must to eat, eat, and eat when you’re there.
If time is of the essence, a great place to sample the best that Singapore has to offer in terms of food is Chinatown. Near Chinatown MRT station (Downtown Line; North-East Line) are three famous hawker centers. You can choose just one, two, or all three—don’t worry, you won’t be judged.
Maxwell Food Centre is arguably the most popular of the three. Must-tries are the fragrant chicken rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which is made even more famous by Anthony Bourdain; and a comforting bowl of rice porridge from Zhen Zhen Porridge.
Chinatown Complex, on the other hand, is well-loved by foodies. Join the one-hour queue for a taste of Michelin-starred Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle or mouthwatering satay at Shi Xiang Satay. Hong Lim Food Centre boasts the yummy char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles) from Outram Park Fried Kway Teow and the delectable seafood dishes of Tuck Kee Ipoh Sah Hor Fun.
Once you’ve had your cravings satisfied, it’s time to burn the calories away at Sentosa Island, Singapore’s entertainment center. Just take the train from Chinatown MRT and get off at the last station, Harbourfront (Circle Line; North-East Line). From there you can take the monorail to Sentosa Island or you can burn even more calories by getting there on foot, which will take anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes.
You can choose to spend a whole day at Sentosa or allocate the rest of your afternoon at Universal Studios Singapore, a crowd favorite.
But if you want to try something else, another great option is SEA Aquarium. With more than 800 species of marine creatures, faithful recreations of 49 aquatic habitats, and one of the world’s largest viewing panels, it’s a destination that’s just as thrilling, if not even more mind-blowing, than its noisier neighbor.
Day 3: Little India and Orchard Road
Known as one of Asia’s shopping meccas, it would do you well to spend your last day in Singapore shopping ‘til you drop. After all, no vacation is complete without some pasalubong to bring home to your loved ones back home.
Start your last day with some affordable shopping in Singapore’s Little India. Filipinos love Bugis Market, which is near the Bugis MRT Station (Downtown Line; East-West Line) for good reasons. It’s teeming with stalls selling cheap clothes, shoes, accessories, and yes, those T-shirts, keychains, and magnets that we love bringing home as presents. Who doesn’t know anyone with a Merlion keychain or a "Singapore is a ‘Fine’ City" shirt?
From Bugis MRT Station, you can ride the Downtown Line to Rochor MRT Station, which is a few minutes walk to Sim Lim Square. This department store is popular among locals and tourists alike for affordable electronics from laptops to cameras, gaming consoles to smartphones. Don’t forget to haggle and make sure that a warranty is available back home.
A great way to end your Singaporean sojourn is by spending your last few hours in the city inside the shiny malls along Orchard Road. You can hop off at any of the three MRT stations in the area—Orchard (North-South Line; Thomson East Coast Line), Somerset (North-South Line), and Dhoby Ghaut (Circle, North-South, and North East Lines)—and you’ll surely be greeted by a shopping center.
Perhaps, the most popular among the malls jostling for space on Orchard Road is ION Orchard (near Orchard MRT Station; North-South Line). Its sleek exterior houses a plethora of shops from relatively affordable ones like Uniqlo and Muji to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior.
A stone’s throw away, though technically not on Orchard Road, is the imposing Takashimaya Shopping Center (near Orchard MRT Station; North-South Line), a branch of the famous Japanese luxury shopping mall. Book lovers would lose themselves amid shelves upon shelves of books in the huge Kinokuniya on the top floor, while foodies will have a grand time at its basement food court which has stalls selling fresh and affordable dishes from various cuisines like Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Southeast Asian.
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