Three Days in Singapore: Where Tradition Meets the Future

Our three days in Singapore quickly showed us that this remarkable destination is far more than just another modern city. Singapore is a futuristic marvel, a cultural crossroads, and one of the world’s great culinary capitals. Its skyline is filled with bold architecture, yet just a few streets away you’ll find centuries-old temples, colonial landmarks, and lively hawker food stalls.

Often described as the “Gateway to Southeast Asia,” Singapore sits at the crossroads of major global trade routes and has long been one of the most important ports in the world. Today it blends Chinese, Malay, Indian, and British colonial influences into a dynamic city that somehow feels both ultra-modern and deeply rooted in tradition.

We arrived excited to explore this fascinating place before boarding our Seabourn Southeast Asia cruise.

✈️ Arrival at Changi Airport

We landed at Singapore Changi Airport around 4 PM, and right from the start Singapore impressed us.

Changi Airport is regularly ranked among the best airports in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Inside the airport complex is the famous Jewel Changi Airport, home to the breathtaking Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

Surrounding the waterfall are indoor gardens, walking trails, entertainment areas, restaurants, and high-end shopping. Looking back, we regret not taking a few hours to explore it before heading into the city.

🏨 Where We Stayed: Pan Pacific Singapore

Our driver whisked us from the airport into the dazzling skyline of downtown Singapore. Within minutes we arrived at the elegant Pan Pacific Singapore in the Marina Bay district.

Check-in was smooth and efficient, and when we stepped onto our balcony we were greeted with spectacular views of the city. Spread out before us were the iconic towers of Marina Bay Sands, the giant wheel of the Singapore Flyer, and the futuristic structures of Gardens by the Bay.

It was the perfect preview of the adventures ahead.

After our long flight we were starving, and fortunately we arrived just in time for our hotel’s legendary Seafood Buffet. The spread included lobster, crab, oysters, sashimi, and a carving station filled with roasted meats.

Travel Tip: arrive hungry. This buffet is one of the best hotel buffets we’ve ever experienced.

Spacious room with amazing views of Singapore - Pan Pacific Hotel

🌿 Day 1: Iconic Landmarks and Breathtaking Views

🌳 Morning: Gardens by the Bay & Supertree Grove

Our first full day began at Gardens by the Bay, one of Singapore’s most famous attractions.

Built on reclaimed land along Marina Bay, this enormous urban garden represents Singapore’s vision of becoming a “City in a Garden.” The park combines advanced environmental engineering with dramatic landscape design.

We pre-booked tickets to the Cloud Forest, which houses a massive indoor waterfall and a cool misty ecosystem filled with rare plants. Walking through the elevated pathways around the waterfall felt like stepping into a science-fiction rainforest.

Outside, we explored the famous Supertree Grove—a collection of towering tree-like structures covered with vertical gardens. These giant structures also function as environmental engines, generating solar energy and collecting rainwater.

We climbed to the Supertree Observatory and walked the OCBC Skyway, an elevated bridge connecting two of the towering structures. The panoramic view of Singapore’s skyline was incredible.

🏙 Afternoon: Marina Bay Sands

From the gardens we walked toward the dramatic silhouette of Marina Bay Sands, one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

The three towers supporting the massive rooftop platform look almost impossible from an engineering standpoint. While the famous infinity pool is reserved for hotel guests, visitors can still access restaurants and observation areas.

We enjoyed lunch at LAVO, located 57 stories above the city. Sitting high above the skyline while enjoying pasta and caprese salad was an experience in itself.

Nearby stands the Singapore Flyer, one of the tallest observation wheels in the world. Although we considered taking a ride, we decided to save our energy for the evening’s activities.

🌃 Evening: Light Shows and Hawker Food

That evening we hopped into a Grab car (Singapore’s version of Uber) and headed to Satay by the Bay, a lively hawker food center. (Download the Grab App for service)

Hawker centers are a cornerstone of Singapore’s food culture. These open-air food courts feature dozens of small stalls serving traditional dishes at affordable prices. In fact, Singapore’s hawker culture has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

We sampled delicious satay skewers, noodles, and laksa while enjoying the lively atmosphere.

After dinner we returned to Supertree Grove for the Garden Holiday Light Show. The towering Supertrees illuminated in vibrant colors while music echoed through the park. It was also a great reminder of how soon Christmas would be upon us.

Super Trees in Gardens by the bay lit up for Christmas holiday show

It was a magical way to end our first day.

🏛 Day 2: Culture, History, and Culinary Delights

🌺 Morning: Singapore Botanic Gardens

The next morning Carmen, Bob and I rode the ultra-clean MRT subway system to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Originally established by the British in 1859, the gardens played a crucial role in developing Southeast Asia’s rubber industry.

The highlight was the National Orchid Garden, home to more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids. The vibrant colors and beautifully landscaped displays made it one of the most impressive botanical gardens we’ve visited anywhere.

We spent the morning wandering through the gardens, taking in the beautiful collection of trees, flowers, and tropical plants. It was a relaxing and enjoyable way for the three of us to start the day.

🏮 Afternoon: Exploring Chinatown

After the gardens, we jumped back on the metro and headed towards Chinatown Singapore, one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Our goal was to enjoy a lunch and do a little shopping. Bob and I were collecting different sets of chopsticks to bring home for our daughters who love Asian food.

The area reflects Singapore’s strong Chinese heritage and is filled with temples, markets, and restaurants. We visited the impressive Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a richly decorated Buddhist temple believed to house a relic of Buddha.

We browsed local markets, purchased souvenir chopsticks, and even had a lucky coin blessed for good fortune.

🍣 Evening: Fine Dining and Raffles Hotel

That evening our friend and travel agent, Carmen Palogruto, treated us to dinner at Keyaki, a serene Japanese restaurant set around koi ponds and lush gardens.

Dinner with Carmen at Keyaki - Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore

The fresh sashimi and beautifully presented dishes made for a peaceful and memorable meal.

Later we went for a walk to the legendary Raffles Hotel Singapore, one of the most famous colonial-era hotels in the world.

At the Long Bar, we enjoyed the iconic Singapore Sling, the cocktail created here in 1915. While the drink may be pricey today, the experience of sitting in this historic setting made it well worth it.

🚢 Day 3: Sentosa Plans and a Cruise Surprise

With our Seabourn Ovation cruise departing that evening, we had planned to spend our final day exploring Sentosa Island, home to beaches, resorts, and attractions like Universal Studios Singapore.

Carmen, who is an amusement park aficionado, headed to the Harry Potter Park for the day.

However, once we checked in our luggage at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, Bob revealed a surprise—he had secretly upgraded us to an Owner’s Suite on the ship.

Needless to say, I was thrilled.

Instead of heading to Sentosa, we returned to the ship early to settle into our incredible suite and prepare for the next stage of our Southeast Asia adventure. In retrospect, we should have taken the time to head of to Sentosa Island as it appears to be an amazing place to visit and have a lot of fun.

🌏 Final Thoughts: Singapore Stole Our Hearts

Three days in Singapore passed incredibly quickly, yet we experienced a remarkable variety of sights and cultures.

From futuristic architecture and lush gardens to historic temples and world-class dining, Singapore offers a fascinating glimpse into the future while honoring its past.

It’s one of the cleanest, safest, and most fascinating cities we’ve ever visited.

We’ll definitely return one day.

Until then — Terima Kasih, Singapore!