My Short & Sweet Trip in Singapore (2025 Edition)

Last updated February 8, 2025

I’ve traveled to Singapore many times over the past few years, mostly for work and sometimes for leisure. Singapore has always been a special place for me because I’ve made great friends there and created many fond memories. So when I planned a trip to Vietnam with my Singaporean friend, I decided to follow her back to Singapore afterward so I could revisit one of my favorite countries again.

Some say there isn’t much to do in Singapore. Maybe that’s true to a certain extent, but for me, Singapore is easy to travel around, explore, and enjoy — a metropolitan city that I absolutely love. Most importantly, the food is amazing, and one thing Singapore definitely beats Bangkok at is its greenery. That’s something I truly appreciate and love about the city.

So whether you’re a frequent traveler to Singapore like me, or someone who simply wants easygoing, relaxing days in this amazing city, here’s my 3-day, 2-night itinerary for a relaxing trip.

Day 1 - Landed in Singapore at night

As soon as we landed at Changi Airport, I found my favorite Nonya Beef Rendang puff from Tip Top, so of course I had to grab one. Arriving at Changi is always a pleasant experience — the airport is clean, smells amazing, and instantly makes you feel refreshed after a flight.

Tip Top is a brand you can easily find around Singapore. They sell lots of ready-to-eat snacks like fishballs and savory puffs. When I used to work in the Bugis area, there was a Tip Top stall nearby, and I would always stop by to grab a puff for my afternoon break. Seeing this nostalgic snack again made me feel like I was truly back in Singapore after more than a year.

One of the perks of having a local friend is being able to stay at their home and save money — which is exactly what I did on my first night before my friend flew back to the UK. After saying goodbye, I chose to spend my second night at a new hotel called The Standard this time. 

Day 2 - Wholesome Exploring

Throughout the years of visiting Singapore, I’ve stayed in many hotels — from Park Royal Beach Road and Andaz Singapore, to Mercure Bugis and Carlton Singapore. Something most people already know is that hotels in Singapore can be very expensive due to the limited space. So if you’re traveling for leisure, pricing becomes a key factor to consider.

As for The Standard Singapore I’ve always wanted to stay in this hotel chain after visiting its Bangkok and Hua Hin properties for meals. The Standard, Singapore opened not long ago, and it’s located in a great area for anyone looking for a stylish, relaxing stay. The first thing I love about this hotel is the colorful, stylish décor with a cool vibe. It’s situated between the Singapore Botanic Gardens (a UNESCO site) and Orchard Road, making it super convenient for shopping and food! We decided to try our luck for early check-in and I was lucky that they had a room available then! 

For anyone that wants to stay here in the future, this hotel has 143 rooms and suites, starting at around 23 sqm for a Standard Room, while the Suites go up to about 72 sqm. Room amenities include a Nespresso machine, minibar, Bluetooth speaker, bathrobes, and designer toiletries. For my stay, I chose the humble Standard Twin with One Twin Bed. I would say the room size is compact, but it has everything essential for a comfortable stay. The bed is comfy, and I really loved the view. I will do a separate post about the hotel review later. 

Since I’ve been to Singapore many times for relaxing trips, I only had a few things in mind that I really wanted to do this time. The first was joining the Tai Sui ceremony, eating great food, and enjoying the greenery. So on my first day in Singapore, the very first thing I did was go out for brunch at my favorite spot with my best friend. I was first introduced to this restaurant by another close friend who is Singaporean — she took me to the Orchard Road branch. So this time, I wanted to bring a different friend to try another location, especially since this one is near Chinatown where we planned to visit the temple later.

The restaurant is called Merci Marcel, and this French-style bistro is one of my favorites because it has delicious food and great service. At night, it transforms into more of a wine-bar concept. I haven’t been there in the evening yet, so maybe I’ll try that next time. I love the relaxed French social-dining vibe, with its artisanal, bohemian style. The menu includes French and European-style dishes: brunch classics like eggs Benedict and brioche French toast, sharing plates, and mains with a touch of flair.

This time, we dined at the Club Street location, which is only a 5-minute walk to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Another great thing about Merci Marcel is that they have four locations — Club Street, Orchard, French Fold Telok Ayer, and Tiong Bahru — so you can choose the one that best fits your itinerary for the day. But if you’re going on the weekend, I highly recommend reserving a table in advance, as it can get busy.

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Day 3 - Time to say good bye until we say hello again