It has been my long-time dream to travel outside the Philippines. It’s my first backpacking trip and first out of the country trip! I wanted to make the most out of it so I researched through blogs and reading the Lonely Planet book. I booked our flight to Singapore via Jetstar seat sale last October 2016 and each roundtrip ticket costs PHP 3,750 (USD 75). Originally, the plan was to stay in Singapore the whole five days four nights but since it’s just a few hours away to Malaysia via land transportation, and so we got the alternative option.
Getting Around
As soon as you arrive Changi Airport, you can take a bus or MRT going to the city. We took the latter since it’s the cheapest and fastest actually. If you’re in Terminal 1, take the Sky Train to reach the nearest MRT station for free. As you as you get to the ticket booth, purchase an MRT EZ-Link card for SGD 17 (PHP 612). The card alone costs SGD 5 (PHP 180) and the minimum load amount is SGD 10 (PHP 360). Each ride costs starts at SGD 0.70 (PHP 25) and increases depends on how far you’ll go. You can load it like a prepaid card if you need more. In case you won’t use it anymore, you can refund the store value. You can also buy a Singapore Tourist Pass, a special EZ-Link stored-value card which will give you a one-day unlimited pass for SGD 10 (PHP 360). Download the Singapore MRTApp so you know which station you’ll go to. This is very helpful as it provides info about the fastest route to your intended destination. It’s an offline app so if you don’t have any internet, you can still use it.
Where To Stay
Hotels in Singapore as we all know are pretty pricey. You can get a lower rate somewhere in Geylang or Chinatown. Since we’re on a budget trip and we’d like to stay in a very accessible area, we opted to stay in a hostel in Bugis. Bugis is where you can find the famous Haji Lane and thrift shopping centers– perfect!
285 Beach Road, Bugis, Singapore
Private Twin Bunk Bedroom
• SGD 60 (PHP 1,880) per night, free breakfast perfect!
Trip Highlights
DAY 1
Haji Lane
Nearest MRT Station:
Bugis (East West Line from Changi Airport / Downtown Line)
What To Do:
This not so hidden lane is considered as a fashionista’s paradise, which houses colorful shop-houses and cafes. At night, you can have a good time here as it transforms into street bars, complete with live acoustic performances! We went here after we checked in and since it’s almost night time streets are filled already. So we passed by here to reach the Bugis MRT the next day to take photos!
Arab Street
Nearest MRT Station:
Bugis (East West Line / Downtown Line)
What To Do:
Just a few walks away from Haji Lane, you can take a stroll around Arab Street and take a look at the old style shops. You can also visit the beautiful Masjid Sultan Mosque.
Bugis Street
Nearest MRT Station:
Bugis (East West Line / Downtown Line)
What To Do:
It’s the ultimate shopping destination in Singapore located a few walks away from the Bugis MRT. The covered walkway has everything that you need– from trendy streetwear to knick-knacks, fashion accessories, and souvenirs for your pasalubongs! *We went here on our 5th day before heading back to Manila, and forgot to take photos!*
Marina Bay
Nearest MRT Station:
Bayfront (Downtown Line from Bugis / Circle Line)
What To Do:
One of the best places to visit at night, Marina Bay is beautiful overlooking the view of Singapore’s city lights. You can also tickle your fancy by window-shopping at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. And of course, get to see the most spectacular 5-Star Hotel with its famous infinity pool, The Marina Bay Sands.
Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre
Nearest MRT Station:
Telok Ayer (Downtown Line)
What To Do:
Hungry? In Singapore, they have these Hawker Centres, also known as food courts, where you can have good local food at reasonable prices. Lau Pa Sat is one of the best hawker centres where you can find a wide variety of local dishes such as Chili Crab, Laksa, and Fried Noodles. I got a Singapore Fried Noodles with Spicy Duck for SGD 4 (PHP 143) with matching Sugar Cane Juice forSGD 2 (PHP 71). We were so hungry we forgot to take a photo. 😛
Orchard Road
Nearest MRT Station:
Orchard (North South Line)
From Telok Ayer (Downtown Line) transfer to Chinatown (North East Line) transfer to Dhoby Ghaut (North South Line)
What To Do:
One of the famous shopping streets in Singapore. Be amazed by their wonderfully structured shopping malls! There’s no way I’m not leaving Singapore without visiting Sephora at their flagship store in ION Orchard. If you have extra budget, you can also shop here at their flagship H&M store (really cheaper) or your other favorite international brands– name it, they have it!
Day 2
National Gallery Singapore
Nearest MRT Station:
City Hall (East West Line)
What To Do:
Open from Sunday to Thursdays, 10 AM to 7 PM.
Visit the newest stunning architecture of Singapore that houses Singaporean and Southeast Asian art. You can take a look inside for free but you need to purchase a ticket so you can enter the galleries for SGD 20 (PHP 717).
Side Trips:
Visit the Parliament House, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Supreme Court, and the very famous colorful building– Old Hill Police Station.
Side Walk Hawker Center
Nearest MRT Station:
City Hall (East West Line)
What To Do:
It’s lunch time! Best place to eat is at another hawker center. Side Walk Hawker is basic local food court near the Old Fire Station. We ordered Laksa for SGD 6 (PHP 215), Fried Dumplings for SGD 12 (PHP 430) and drinks for SGD 2 (PHP 71) each.
Chjmes
Nearest MRT Station:
City Hall (East West Line)
What To Do:
Photo op time at this beautiful historic building complex in Singapore. They have restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops too!
Merlion Park
Nearest MRT Station:
Raffles (East West Line)
What To Do:
Singapore trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting the famous mythical Merlion while having an ice cream!
Gardens by the Bay
Nearest MRT Station:
Bayfront (Downtown Line)
What To Do:
Open daily, 9AM to 9PM.
Best to visit in the afternoon for a cool break in Singapore’s humid weather! Gardens by the bay is the best indoor attraction for me by far. It has two conservatories, the Cloud Forest conservatory features a 35m-tall mountain covered in plants and dubbed world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Meanwhile, the Flower Dome is a cool-dry conservatory that houses plants from Mediterranean region.
Tickets are priced at SGD 28 (PHP 1005) for the two conservatories. We booked ours for only SGD 22.29 (PHP 800) via Klook. No need to print the voucher, just take a screen shot and present at the queue.
FLOWER DOME
CLOUD FOREST
Universal Studios / Sentosa
Nearest MRT Station:
Harbour Front (North East Line) – Sentosa Express
Tip: Taking the Sentosa Express is pretty expensive for a short ride SGD 4 (PHP 143). Upon reaching Harbour Front at Vivo City Mall, you can take a free bus ride going to Sentosa.
What To Do:
Open daily, from 10 AM.
Visit the most popular park in Singapore and explore Sentosa! Universal Studios Singapore tickets are priced at SGD 76 (PHP 2728) but you can purchase via Klook for SGD 62 (PHP 2217).
Smith Street Chinatown
Nearest MRT Station:
Chinatown (North East Line from Harbour Front / Downtown Line)
What To Do:
Last dinner in Singapore!Smith Street is an open-air food street located in the center of Chinatown where you can eat local traditional dishes. They have a full range of local dishes from chili crab, black pepper crab, BBQ chicken wings, satay, and bak kut teh. I ordered the 3 BBQ Chicken Wings for SGD 2 (PHP 71) each, Yellow Rice for SGD 2 (PHP 71), and Sugar Cane Juice SGD 1.8 (PHP 65). We’re so haggard, lol.
Mustafa Centre
Nearest MRT Station:
Farrer Park (North East Line)
What To Do:
Shop for pasalubongs! Mustafa Centre is a 24-hour shopping mall located in Little India. They have everything that you need at very low prices. Chocolates are very cheap, you can buy 5 big bars for SGD 12 (PHP 470) only!
That ends our short but very eventful 2-Day DIY Singapore trip before we head to Kuala Lumpur. We actually went back for a day before we head back to Manila but I didn’t include it anymore. Hope you learned from this travel guide for a first-timer! If you have questions let me know if the comments area. 🙂
Next up:
Backpacking in Kuala Lumpur for 1 Day
Backpacking in Penang for 1 Day
This is an all expense paid DIY backpacking trip. All thoughts and experience stated in this post are entirely my own.
This is so amazing! I’ve been to Singapore before way back 2010 and i really want to go back there as i didn’t explore the country that much. Anyways thanks for sharing for all the tips this is really so helpful and amazing ^^
http://itsbeyondimaginations.blogspot.com/
Hi Ann, you’re welcome. Singapore is the best! It may be expensive but it totally reflects how clean and organized the place is, def coming back again. ❤
Wow! we will definitely back there next year 🙂 My husband and I was there last february.
We went there just this first week of March and I totally fell in love with Singapore. It’s so worth it to come back! ❤
SIngapore is also the first country I visited. I need to go back! It’s been 9 years!
Even though I just came this month, makes me wanna go back! Singapore is so beautiful! ????