Singapore 5 Days Trip – Local and Touristy Things To Do

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I went on a 5 days trip as my first destination in my 2 months trip. This is my second time here so I’ve done some of the tourist things already. Therefore, in this 5 days trip I added more local things to do. When I talked to my Singaporean friend before the trip, she was telling me what’s happening during those days and what’s she up to. We ended up creating this itinerary to do local and touristy things.

This island country is a food heaven from all the Malay, Chinese, Indian influences in their food. The land of hawker centres, chewing gum ban, and strict rules, I had so much fun exploring this place again the second time specially that it was close to Christmas because there were many festive activities. I was also there during Deepavali holiday and with Christmas coming up, the locals were very busy.

Also, it was 2018 was the hype of Crazy Rich Asians so inserted a CRA Tour where I went to the venues of the film. I prepared ahead and read book 1 months before this trip haha. This trip will have other places in Singapore besides Marina Bay Sands and hawker centres. I love them too and you should always go when you’re in the country but there are other places to explore.

Day 1 – River Safari + Clarke Quay

I arrived in Singapore early in the morning and felt the need to shower after a 7 hour flight. I have Priority Pass so I had access to SATS Premier Lounge and took a refreshing shower.

Picked up the things I need which are sim card, NETS travel pass, and went to the designated stop to get picked up to head to my hotel. I stayed at Hilton Garden Inn Serangoon at the heart of Little India. It’s good to book everything in advance and Klook made it easy to book everything all at once.

Klook.com

After I dropped of my stuff at the hotel, I met up with my friend at Tekka Market Food Centre where we ate lunch and caught with each other’s life. I was so happy to be eating at hawker centres again. It’s been so long since I had this convenience of amazing food in a food court. Tekka Market Food Centre is famous for Indian food so we grabbed some great eats like fall off the bone chicken biryani, fresh pratas, and my favourite sugar cane juice.

After, we took a grab to River Safari to see animals!!! Super cute safari animals and they have the rare red panda Yes, I love the zoo and definitely enjoy going to the Singaporean ones. River Safari is one of the four zoos in Singapore. They are a very popular tourist attraction and locals also enjoy them so be sure to checkout at least one when in the country. I already went to Singapore Zoo in October 2015 so I decided to go to the next big thing. I highly recommend you go to one. The zoos are well kept and fun-filled for any age to enjoy!

After hanging out with animals, my friend and I went to Clarke Quay for dinner. This area is vibrant and by the river side overlooking Gardens by the Day. We had Japanese food at Tomo Izakara then walked around by the river. The National Library of Singapore was still open. The interior was nice and spacious. Plus you can go to the top floor for free to see Singapore up high.

Day 2 – Food Crawl and Shop

This is the day when I ate a lot lol. I explored the Singaporean culinary scene beyond hawker centres. Singapore is home to a lot of Michelin restaurants as well including Bibi Gourmand ones. So if you’re into this type of food, Singapore won’t disappoint. The places where inside malls so I also shopped while I was at it.

My first meal was a splurge at Sushi Kimura located inside shopping centre Palais Renaissance. Everything was great from service, atmosphere, food, and friendliness. It is as what you would expect from a Michelin starred restaurant.

Then, I went to ION Orchard, another shopping mall where ION sky is located. ION sky is a virtual experience to see Singapore in a 360 degree panoramic view. Your ticket is a receipt of at least $20.00 spent in the shopping centre. It can be towards food so I went to the restaurant across the entrance called Taste Paradise. Popular for its Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling) and also tried the shark fin soup and crispy baked pork bun too.

It was finally time to see Singapore 360 view so I exchanged my receipt to get 1 admission ticket and went up floor 56. I spent a good amount of time hanging out here pretty much the whole afternoon. Then I walked around some more inside the mall and on Orchard Road.

For dinner, I stayed near my hotel and ate at Muthu’s Curry. They are a Bibi restaurant famous for fish head curry.

Day 3 – Day Trip to Johor Bahru Like a Local

I spent a day at Johor Bahru. Apparently, it’s a local thing to do. Singaporeans like to take a trip across the bridge, shop and buy necessities, and hangout since their dollar is stronger. It ended up being my first time in the country. I had so much fun that I wrote a whole post on this about my day trip.

I found this experience similar to how Canadians who live in the US-CAN border visit the states for a day to shop and stuff. My family do this too. We visit Niagara or Buffalo, New York for a day or overnight to shop, buy groceries, visit the casino, eat American food, and checkout Niagara Falls American side.

Day 4 – Crazy Rich Asians + More Local Things

This was the day when I checked out all the hype on Crazy Rich Asians in Singapore. Released that year, I wanted to see the locations mentioned in the novel/seen in film. My friend, who also read and wanted to show me around, went with me to see these places. On the same day, we went to some hipster streets because I like those places too.

After a breakfast at the staple Ya Kun Kaya Toast for kaya toast and kopi, we walked around the Central Business District (CBD) downtown core to see Chijmes and the Raffles Hotel.

Took a break to eat at a very local hawker centre Berseh Food Centre where you get amazing laksa at Sungei Road Laksa. Also ate popiah and rojak.

Then we went to see cool looking streets Haji Lane and Arab Street. This is totally my scene. Millennials like me who enjoys street art and rows of cafes, restaurants, and vintage stores will definitely love these areas.

We took a break at this very unique cafe called Selfie Coffee. They specialize in selfie prints in their coffee so my friend and I printed out faces in a latte. Pretty cool to see your face in a drink.

November weather in Singapore was hot and humid. In the middle of the afternoon was even worse so we decided to cool my spending time at the National Museum of Singapore. where they also had the Story of the Forest exhibit.

After an hour or so at the museum, we went to Bugis and Kampong Glam for some shopping. I had Tian Tian Chicken Rice for dinner at Maxwell Food Centre which surprisingly wasn’t sold out. Inspired by our one and only Tony Bourdain. Got delicious carrot cake and hokkien mee at Marina South Delicious Food too which is also at Maxwell.

For desserts, we went to Chinatown and basically just hopped from one place to another. Egg tart from Tong Heng, soy bean curd dessert from Woong Kee Traditional Beancurd, and shaved ice from Mei Heong Yuen Dessert.

Finally, it’s not a Singapore trip if you don’t end up somehow at the Supertrees and Marina Bay Sands. My last night was at the CÉ LA VI Club Lounge up the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands Skypark to see Singapore at night.

Day 5 – Hangout at Changi Airport

Still did Singapore things even on my last day. I ate my favourite peppery pork rib dish Bak Kut Teh at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh at New Bridge Road which is a Bibi restaurant.

I checked out then went straight to Changi Airport. The best airport to have a long layover or to hangout before a flight. Even if you don’t have a lounge pass, each terminal offer their own attractions so you will never get bored. I walked around a bit and then went to SATS Premier Lounge where I ate and drank while waiting for my flight to Clark, Philippines.