One Day in Singapore Itinerary: From Cruise Ship
Are you looking for a one-day in Singapore itinerary from the cruise ship? Then you are in the right spot!
Singapore is one of my favorite ports of call in Southeast Asia. The city has everything: culture, Instagrammable spots, friendly people and safety.
However, Singapore is pretty big, so it can be hard to decide what to do there. Luckily for you, I have been to Singapore twice on a cruise, and I know the perfect itinerary.
So without further ado, let’s jump right in!
Table of Contents
- 1 Day in Singapore: at a Glance
- Shore Excursions in Singapore
- About the Singapore Cruise Port: Marina Bay Cruise Centre
- 1. Raffles Hotel
- 2. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
- 3. Lunch at CE LA VI
- 4. Gardens by the Bay
- 5. Haji Lane
- 6. Merlion Park
- 7. Street Food at Lau Pa Sat
- Alternative Things to Do in Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌโจ
- Is One Day Enough to See Singapore?
- More Southeast Asia and Australia Cruise Itineraries
- Conclusion: Singapore Shore Day
- About the Author
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1 Day in Singapore: at a Glance
๐ Morning: Raffles Hotel
๐ Late Morning: Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
๐ Lunch at Cร LA VI ๐ฝ
๐ Early Afternoon: Gardens by the Bay
๐ Afternoon: Haji Lane
๐ Late Afternoon: Merlion Park
๐ Early Evening: Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre ๐
Shore Excursions in Singapore
If completing this itinerary seems a little daunting for you, I have a great list of shore excursions available that will get you to the same spots.
Singapore: 6 Hours – Private Car or Minibus Rental with Driver
About the Singapore Cruise Port: Marina Bay Cruise Centre
The main cruise terminal in Singapore is called Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCCS). It is located near Marina South.
Itโs about 10-15 minutes by taxi to the city center, depending on traffic. That makes it easy to see the city without much hassle.
For public transport, you can walk to the Marina South Pier MRT Station (North-South Line, NS28). From there, you need to take the MRT to Raffles Place or Marina Bay Station in just 2-3 stops.
Taxis and ride-share apps like Grab are the fastest and easiest way to travel in my opinion.
1. Raffles Hotel
We’ll start our day in Singapore at the legendary Raffles Hotel.
It is one of Singaporeโs most iconic landmarks – and it is super instagrammable.
After visiting the museum and maybe having a small bite, you can snap a photo under its gorgeous colonial-style arches!
They also have a super cute gift shop with quirky stuff!
Make sure to stroll through the beautiful courtyard, and (if it is open early) peek inside the historic Long Bar! This is the original home of the famous Singapore Sling.
2. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Next up on our day in Singapore is one of my personal highlights: the SkyPark Observation Deck.
This is the most famous rooftop in Singapore. You can enjoy the breathtaking 360ยฐ views of the city skyline and the bay. This is THE spot for those lovely Instagram shots!
While the tickets are definitely not cheap, I thought it was one of the coolest things to see in the city!
The lower level is connected to a fabulous mall, in case you need some goodies! But we’ll stay up there for a bit to enjoy lunch with a view!
Sadly, the famous rooftop pool of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is only for hotel guests and not visitors, but the panoramic views still need to be included in your Singapore day itinerary.
3. Lunch at CE LA VI
While you’re up there, enjoy a stylish rooftop lunch at Cร LA VI.
It is one of the most instagrammable restaurants in town, and this is where you might even spot a celebrity or two.
They are famous for sushi, seafood, and modern Asian cuisine – so you’ll find something on the menu for sure.
Make sure to reserve your spot in advance, it is super popular!
4. Gardens by the Bay
After a delicious (and Instagrammable) lunch, we’ll go to another Singapore highlight: Gardens by the Bay.
Just a short walk away from the Marina Bay Sands building, you can find the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay! They are futuristic, towering trees that look amazing in photos!
If you have the time, head inside Cloud Forest or Flower Dome for a lovely indoor garden experience.
5. Haji Lane
Next, we’ll take a quick taxi ride to Haji Lane. It is one of Singaporeโs most colorful and instagrammable streets.
The area is packed with cute murals, trendy boutiques, and cozy cafes. Itโs perfect for snapping some viral Instagram shots and grabbing a quick coffee.
Haji Lane is in the Kampong Glam area of Instagram, which is totally worth seeing. If you have the time, you can stroll around a bit too!
6. Merlion Park
I hope you are not sick of taking cute pictures yet because we’ll head to another favorite of mine next!
We’ll stop by Merlion Park, which is the home of Singaporeโs famous half-lion, half-fish statue.
The Park is located in a lovely area by the bay, so you can walk around and take some great shots of the skyline.
The entire marina bay area is a great place for tourists to explore, and you can find a shopping mall and plenty of bars selling cocktails at the waterfront area.
You can shop for souvenirs here or just enjoy the architecture.
7. Street Food at Lau Pa Sat
We’ll wrap up our day at Lau Pa Sat, Singaporeโs most famous hawker center for authentic street food! This is an authentic place where most locals eat, and the atmosphere is amazing!
I totally loved the Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay, and the Chili Crab there.
Alternative Things to Do in Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌโจ
I know that my itinerary is very much according to my taste – and there is so much more to do in Singapore besides my suggested stops.
For this reason, I have created a small overview of alternative things you can check out!
๐ Cultural & Historic Neighborhoods
๐ Chinatown โ A beautiful mix of traditional temples, street markets, and bars. Donโt miss Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Maxwell Food Centre for snacks!
๐ Little India โ A super colorful (and busy) area filled with murals, spice shops, and temples. Stop by Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and try some delicious Indian food at Tekka Centre.
๐ฟ Unique Attractions & Fun Experiences
๐ Sentosa Island โ Singaporeโs beach resort, home to Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A Aquarium, and chill beach clubs like Tanjong Beach Club. If you are not into sightseeing, this is a great alternative!
๐ Singapore Cable Car โ A scenic ride between Sentosa and Mount Faber. The views here are insane!
๐ Changi Airport โ Explore Jewel Changi, the worldโs tallest indoor waterfall (Rain Vortex)! It is not too far out of the city so you can do it!
๐๏ธ Museums & Temples
๐ National Museum of Singapore
๐ Sri Mariamman Temple
๐ Thian Hock Keng Temple
๐ Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Is One Day Enough to See Singapore?
One day is definitely not enough to see Singapore. Yes, you can definitely see some of the highlights, like the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the Gardens by the Bay – but there is so much more to this city!
I have been there twice now and stayed in total for two nights (we had overnight docking) – and it was still not enough to see most of the city!
Especially visiting Sentosa Island can take up to a day, so you should have at least a night in the city.
With my ultimate one-day Singapore itinerary, you have the major sights covered and will get enough great pictures for a full Insta-feed. However, I would definitely go back for more!
More Southeast Asia and Australia Cruise Itineraries
One Day in Tokyo from Odaiba Cruise Port Itinerary: Awesome and Fun
Amazing One Day in Bali From Benoa Cruise Port Itinerary
Koh Samui Cruise Port: How To Spend an Awesome Shore Day
One Day in Bangkok Itinerary: From Laem Chabang Cruise Port
One Day in Sydney From Cruise Ship: The Perfect Itinerary
Amazing One Day in Phuket From The Cruise Port
One Day in Pattaya from Laem Chabang Cruise Port: Awesome Itinerary
One Day in Da Nang Itinerary from Cruise Ship (Tien Sa Port)
Awesome One Day in Hong Kong From Cruise Port Itinerary
Conclusion: Singapore Shore Day
To wrap it all up, Singapore is a fantastic city and one of my favorites in Southeast Asia. It is one of the coolest ports of call on any cruise itinerary.
We’ll start our day off at the legendary Raffles Hotel, before heading up to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel for an insane view.
Gardens by the Bay, the Indian quarters, and the Lau Pa Sat are more instagrammable stops on our itinerary.
Of course, I have mentioned a couple of different activities you can plan since one day in Singapore is barely enough to see them.
I hope you enjoy your day and have a fantastic time!
About the Author
Justin is a military pilot and travel blogger.
Justin enjoys discovering the world together with his wife and venturing out with his drone to take magical shots.
