If you only have one day in Singapore, I am so sorry because it is such an epic place and I highly recommend finding time for a longer visit! However, if you really must keep your stop so short...here’s what I would recommend!

BREAKFAST @ Mr Prata

Get an early start and head to Mr Prata, a 24-hour spot for pratas and other Indian foods. Super tasty and not too pricey.

MORNING ACTIVITIES

Mr Prata is just a 6 minute walk from the first stop of the day - the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The gardens are ideal for the morning because if you get an early enough start, you can try to beat some of the intense heat that is guaranteed during the afternoon. It’s also a very zen way to start what should be a very busy day! The gardens are beautifully designed (just like everything else in Singapore) and admission is free. You will likely forget you are still in a major city.

Once the heat starts getting to you (trust me it won’t take long), you can take a “Grab” (Singapore’s Uber-equivalent) to Orchard Road. Orchard is the hub of high-end shopping in Singapore. You will find everything from H&M to TopShop to big brands like Tiffany’s and Cartier. It’s a nice area to do non-souvenir shopping or window shopping and there are plenty of spots to pick up some ice cream or bubble tea along the way to cool off.

If you are short on time and just want a quick peek into this side of Singapore, take a stroll through Takashimaya, a huge, high-end department store. Takashimaya, like any large complex in Singapore, is of course equipped with a large food court. If you ever feel hungry during your day in Singapore, you are doing something wrong.

LUNCH @ A Hawker Centre

After the gardens and some shopping you will likely be ready for lunch. You cannot go to Singapore without eating at a Hawker Centre. You just can’t. I often describe hawkers to my American friends as outdoor food courts but every stand is selling authentic street food. You will never be terribly far from one in Singapore so you can decide whether you want to find one close to Orchard Road or on the way to your next activity.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

Next Stop: Bugis Street. When you are done on Orchard Road hop on the nearest MRT, AKA: the best way to navigate Singapore. Grab, buses, and the MRT are all viable options for getting from Orchard to Bugis but if you choose the MRT this will likely your route: Get on at Orchard or Somerset (whichever is closer), take the North South Line towards Jurong East one stop to Newton. At Newton transfer to the Downtown Line towards Sungei Bedok and ride just 3 stops to Bugis. This will take about 25 minutes.

Once you have arrived, hit Bugis Street for some budget shopping. Bugis is a covered street market where you can find everything from souvenirs to phone cases to clothing and accessories.

Need a mid-day air-con fix? The National Library is just down the street from Bugis Junction and not only is it beautiful on the inside but there are some great views of the city from the higher floors.

DINNER @ JUMBO SEAFOOD

At this point you are probably sufficiently sweaty and tired. That means it’s time to shower and change for dinner! If you only have one dinner in Singapore, you have to indulge in chili crab. This amazing dinner experience is accompanied by a hefty price-tag but it will not disappoint. Suit up with bibs and metal claws and break into the spicy, melt-in-your mouth crab meat. Order some bread to dip in the leftover chili sauce and wash it all down with a cold Tiger Beer.

There are numerous places that offer chili crab around Singapore but I would recommend doing Jumbo Seafood at Clarke Quay. Enjoy your meal along the water and then have a beautiful place to stroll afterwards.

NIGHT ACTIVITY

After dinner, walk along the river over to Gardens by the Bay and enjoy the beautiful modern trees glowing in different colors (admission is free and public light shows set to music happen nightly at 19:45 and 20:45).

Of all the countries outside the US, I’ve spent the most time in Singapore! Let me know what else you want to know about it in the comments!