A Week in Singapore: Street Food, Sky high Views and 43 Miles on Foot

On my most recent trip, I spent a week in the Lion City, combining family time, foodie adventures, shopping, sightseeing and a touch of luxury. According to my step counter, we walked 43 miles over the week, so it definitely qualified as a "relaxing" break in only the way a city break can!

Getting There: A Smooth Journey via Doha

We travelled with Qatar Airways, routing via Doha into Singapore. The connection was seamless, with excellent onboard service and comfortable cabins that made the long journey feel easy. For clients considering Singapore as a standalone city break or as a stopover en route to destinations like Australia, New Zealand or Southeast Asia, this routing works very well and sets the tone for a premium start to the holiday.

Getting Around: Walking & the Wonderfully Simple MRT

We walked a lot, but one of the big advantages of Singapore is how easy it is to get around when walking is a bit too far or the heat and humidity start to build.

The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system is:

• Clean and air‑conditioned
• Simple to navigate, with clear signage and announcements
• Excellent for connecting key areas like Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Chinatown and the Arab Street / Kampong Glam neighbourhood

For clients, I often suggest a mix of walking and MRT: wander on foot when everything is close together, then hop on the train to comfortably cover longer distances. It keeps the trip feeling relaxed, even when you are packing a lot into each day.

Settling In: Time with Family & First Tastes of the City

For the first four nights we stayed with family, which gave us a lovely, local insight into daily life in Singapore. This also meant we were perfectly placed to explore some of the city’s green spaces and legendary food spots at a relaxed pace.

Singapore Botanic Gardens: Calm in the Heart of the City

One of the real highlights was a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must‑see on any visit. Wide lawns, tranquil lakes and lush tropical planting create an oasis right in the city. It is the sort of place where you can wander for hours, find a shady bench and simply watch the world go by.

If you are planning a trip, I highly recommend setting aside a morning here. Go early to avoid the heat, then reward yourself with a leisurely lunch or a shopping fix afterwards.

Hawker Heaven: Lau Pa Sat & Newton Food Centre

Singapore is foodie heaven, and no trip is complete without diving into the hawker centre scene. On this trip we visited:

• Lau Pa Sat: A beautiful, historic market hall in the heart of the financial district, famous for its satay street in the evenings. Long rows of stalls, billowing smoke from grills and table after table of locals and visitors tucking into barbecued skewers, noodles and ice‑cold drinks. It is atmospheric, busy and very tasty.
• Newton Food Centre: Another classic hawker destination, especially good for seafood. Think chilli crab, black pepper crab, satay, oyster omelettes and sugarcane juice. It is lively, informal and a great place to sample lots of dishes by ordering several small plates to share.

For clients who love food, I always recommend including at least a couple of evenings focused on hawker centres. They are affordable, authentic and full of local character, yet still very accessible and easy to navigate.

Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Day: Colour, Crowds and Heavy Rain

One of the most memorable experiences of the trip was visiting Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Day. It was:

• Very busy: Locals and visitors packed into the streets, enjoying the holiday atmosphere.
• Very wet: A serious downpour that had everyone diving under awnings and into shops.

Despite the rain, it was an incredible time to visit. Lanterns, decorations and festive stalls filled the streets, and there was a real sense of celebration. If your dates happen to coincide with Chinese New Year, be prepared for crowds and some logistics challenges, but the trade‑off is a unique cultural experience that brings the area to life in a special way.

Sky‑high Icons: Marina Bay Sands & Gardens by the Bay

No recent trip to Singapore would feel complete without time around Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, and we made sure to include both.

• Marina Bay Sands:
  We spent time around the Marina Bay area, soaking up the skyline views and that now instantly recognisable silhouette of Marina Bay Sands. Whether you choose to stay there or simply visit, it is a genuine modern icon. In the evening, the waterfront lights up, and it is a fantastic spot for a stroll, photos and people‑watching. For clients who enjoy a touch of glamour, rooftop bars and statement architecture, this is a must.
• Gardens by the Bay:
  Just across the way, Gardens by the Bay feels almost other‑worldly, with its towering Supertrees and imaginative domes. Wandering along the pathways, watching the Supertrees glow as the evening light show begins, is a real highlight. It combines nature, art and technology in a way that feels very “Singapore” and is ideal for couples, families and solo travellers alike.

I often suggest timing a visit so you can enjoy late afternoon in the cooled conservatories, then stay on for the Supertree light show before walking back around the bay with Marina Bay Sands shining in the distance.

Shopping in Singapore: From High‑End Malls to Local Finds

Singapore is also an excellent destination for shopping, and clients who enjoy browsing will be spoilt for choice. During our stay we dipped into a variety of different shopping centres, each with their own personality:

• Orchard Road malls:
  Orchard Road is lined with gleaming shopping centres, from designer‑focused galleries to big, multi‑storey malls packed with international brands, boutiques, cafés and food courts. It is perfect for a few hours of air‑conditioned retail therapy, with plenty of options for all tastes.
• Marina Bay shopping:
  Around Marina Bay and Marina Bay Sands you will find sleek, modern malls with luxury labels, high‑end watches and jewellery, plus stylish dining options. It is ideal if you like to combine shopping with waterfront views and a more glamorous feel.
• Neighbourhood centres:
  Away from the big names, there are also smaller, more local‑feeling shopping centres and arcades where you can pick up everyday bits, snacks and simple souvenirs. These are great for a quick cool‑down and a glimpse of everyday life.

For clients, I usually suggest a mix: some time on Orchard Road or around Marina Bay for that big‑city shopping fix, combined with a wander through more local areas for a sense of place.

Colour and Culture: Arab Street & Haji Lane

Another area we really enjoyed was the Arab Street / Haji Lane neighbourhood in Kampong Glam. This district has a very different feel to the glass towers of Marina Bay:

• Vibrant street art and colourful shophouses
• Independent boutiques and quirky little shops
• Cafés, bars and Middle Eastern restaurants spilling out onto the pavements
• Views of the impressive Sultan Mosque nearby

It is a great place for a slower afternoon or early evening: browsing, taking photos, stopping for a drink and just enjoying the creative, bohemian atmosphere. For clients who like characterful areas and a slightly more laid‑back vibe, I highly recommend building this into a Singapore itinerary.

Stepping Up the Luxury: The Fullerton, Singapore

After our time with family, we checked into The Fullerton for three nights, staying in a Straits Club room. This was a wonderful way to finish the trip and I would be very happy recommending the hotel to clients looking for a classic, luxurious base in the heart of the city.

Staying in a Straits Club room adds an extra layer of comfort and exclusivity, with club benefits that help you make the most of your time in the city. The hotel itself has a beautiful heritage feel and an excellent location, ideal for exploring the waterfront area, Marina Bay, Boat Quay and many of the city’s main sights on foot or by MRT.

Iconic Elegance: A Visit to Raffles Hotel

No discussion of luxury in Singapore would be complete without mentioning Raffles Hotel. We made time to visit this iconic property, which has been welcoming guests for well over a century and remains a symbol of refined, colonial‑style elegance.

Whether you go for a drink, afternoon tea or simply to soak up the atmosphere in its graceful courtyards and bars, it feels very special. For clients looking for a truly classic, landmark stay, or simply a memorable stop during their trip, I always recommend including Raffles in some way, even if just for a signature drink.

Evenings by the River: Boat Quay & Local Favourites

One of the joys of Singapore is how walkable the central areas are, especially around the river. We spent time wandering around Boat Quay, with its row of bars and restaurants along the water and views back to the city skyline.

A particular highlight, and a place I am now actively recommending, is:

• Darling Dumplings at Boat Quay:
  A small, unpretentious spot that was busy with locals when we visited, which is always a good sign. The dumplings were excellent, and the atmosphere felt very authentic. It is exactly the kind of place I love to share with clients who want to feel like they have discovered a local gem rather than simply ticking off the famous names.

Why I Keep Returning to Singapore

This was not my first time in Singapore, and it certainly will not be my last. What keeps drawing me back is the mix of:

• Food: From hawker centres to refined dining, the variety and quality is superb.
• Walkability & transport: You can cover a lot on foot, and the MRT makes it effortless to reach further‑flung areas.
• Green spaces: Parks, gardens and waterfront promenades create breathing space in between the skyscrapers.
• Skyline & icons: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and the beautifully lit bayfront make evenings feel magical.
• Shopping: From sparkling Orchard Road malls to stylish centres around Marina Bay, there is plenty to browse in comfort.
• Neighbourhood character: Chinatown, Arab Street and Haji Lane each offer their own slice of culture and colour.
• Effortless luxury: From world‑class hotels like The Fullerton and the iconic Raffles Hotel to excellent airlines and slick infrastructure, Singapore makes travelling in comfort wonderfully straightforward.

For clients, Singapore works perfectly as:

• A standalone 3 to 7 night city break
• A stopover en route to Australia, New Zealand, Bali or wider Southeast Asia
• A multi‑centre itinerary paired with beaches in Thailand, Malaysia or Indonesia

I would be delighted to help you design a Singapore stay that reflects how you like to travel, whether that means club rooms in a luxury hotel, a hawker centre food safari, shopping days on Orchard Road, time around Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, exploring Arab Street and Haji Lane, or simply a beautifully put‑together stopover that makes your long‑haul journey feel like part of the holiday.

If this has inspired you to experience Singapore for yourself, contact me to start planning your trip.