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 a few times 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 my friend 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. I think when you’ve traveled enough, you started to enjoy an easy day of light exploration and just chill. I love my Thai food but I also enjoy trying new food spots whenever I travel especially to a place where I feel like my second home. To be honest with you, one thing I truly believe Singapore definitely beats Bangkok at is its greenery. There are so many trees here! And that’s something I truly appreciate and love about this city.
So whether you’re a frequent traveler to Singapore like me, or someone who simply wants easy going, relaxing days in Singapore, join me on my 3-day, 2-night itinerary for a super chill 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. So if you see this yellow logo, grab one next time.
Once you reach the airport, it is easy to just Grab home. Since there’s no traffic in Singapore, you can probably reach home within 20 minutes. 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 in Bugis area — from Park Royal Beach Road and Andaz Singapore, to Mercure Singapore Bugis and Carlton Hotel Singapore. These hotels are great for corporate stays. 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. So if your budget is tight, I’d recommend finding a boutique hotel in China because the train is nearby and there are lots of affordable food nearby. The mistake I made on my first leisure visit was to stay in Robertson Quay. Don’t get me wrong, I love this tranquil riverside neighborhood so much. But if you are a first timer visitor, staying near to MRT is the way to go.
This time, I want to stay at The Standard Singapore because 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 and 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!
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. And lucky me, I got an early check-in. Stay tuned for a separate post about the hotel review.
I only had a few things in mind that I really wanted to do this time. The first was eating yummy food, joining the Tai Sui ceremony, and enjoying the greenery. So let’s go for brunch at my favorite spot! 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.
Another great thing about Merci Marcel is that they have five locations — Club Street, East Coast, Orchard, Robertson Quay, and Tiong Bahru — so you can choose the one that best fits your itinerary for the day. This time, we dined at the Club Street location, which is only a 5-minute walk to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. But if you’re going on the weekend, I highly recommend reserving a table in advance, as it can get busy.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is one of the most well-known temples in Singapore and it is popular among tourists. But what most tourists don’t know is they have the Tai Sui ceremony. Tai Sui in Chinese belief refers to a heavenly general or cosmic force tied to the year’s cycle — thought to influence people’s luck depending on their Chinese zodiac sign. If someone’s zodiac clashes with the ruling Tai Sui of the year, they might seek rituals to appease or harmonize with Tai Sui — a practice known as “An Tai Sui” or pacifying Tai Sui. Chinese New Year+1
Traditional Tai Sui ceremonies aren’t originally Buddhist but are part of Chinese folk belief / Taoist-influenced practices common in Chinese temples during the Lunar New Year period.
Day 3 - Time to say good bye until we say hello again
