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48 Hours in Singapore – The Guide

International Traveller

Sterile, controlled and over-policed – that’s the Singapore rep. But it doesn’t have to be. One of the most accessible cities in Asia, it’s been built to please tourists and business travellers alike. So whether you like to indulge in amazing shopping and other western pursuits or look a little harder for the authentic Lion City, we’ve got your stopover sorted.


Eat

Budget 

Chinatown
Smith Street is a bustling place with hawkers selling a large range of home-grown delights.
Make sure to try the spicy lobster (around $10) – a local favourite.

Shanghai Renji Blk
(151, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5)
With its freshly made local dishes and five-table dining area, this quaint little restaurant is the perfect place to come and eat like a local.
Make sure to try the homemade noodles and smoked duck. Mains for $10.

Ananda Bhavan Restaurant
(221 Selegie Rd, Little India, anandabhavan.com)
This mix of South-Indian and Indian-Chinese is the best vegetarian cuisine at budget prices.
Indulge your senses in traditional curries and roasted naan. Mains from $5.

East Coast Seafood
(Centre East Coast Service Rd)
A local institution and a culinary experience, the ultimate Singaporean meals here are chilli or pepper crab, drunken prawns, baby kai lan and cuttlefish.

 

Top end

Iggy’s The Hilton Hotel
(581 Orchard Rd Level 3, iggys.com.sg)
No. 27 on the world’s 50 best restaurants list, it’s just as you’d expect: exceptional food made from the very best seasonable ingredients. Set menu $125.

 

Bars

Timbre @ The Substation
(45 Armenian St, timbregroup.asia)
If you think a nightclub is hell, then Timbre is your watering hole. An outdoor venue with alfresco dining, quiet surrounds and live music by local bands.
Perfect for chilling.

Ku Dé Ta Club Lounge
(SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, North Tower 1, Bayfront Ave, kudeta.com.sg)
Singapore’s chic, A-lister lounge.
Atop the iconic Sands SkyPark at the Marina Bay Sand’s Hotel, Ku Dé Ta is well worth the exy drinks just for the 360-degree views.

Orgo
(8 Raffles Ave, Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay, Roof Terrace, orgo.sg)
A serious cocktail venue with fab lounges on the rooftop of the Esplanade – great for a mixologist-led jetlag recovery.

 

Things To do

Typical Tourist

Sentosa Island
Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but it’s a great place for kids. Beaches, Universal Studios and an Underwater World will wear them out.
Use Harbour Front MRT station. sentosa.com.sg

 

Something A Little Different

Botanical Gardens
With the world’s most amazing collection of Orchids ($5 entry) and stunning greenery, it makes a nice break from the hum of the city.
Bus via Holland Rd or Bukit Timah Rd. nparks.gov.sg/sbg

Night Safari Tour
Designed for tourists but actually great fun. See (well, hear is usually more like it) the lions, tigers et al in the 40ha jungle.
$50 adults, $30 kids. nightsafari.com.sg

Cookery Magic
(117 Fedelio St)
An amazing and authentic experience, learn to make favourites like stir fired Mee (noodles) and Hainan Chicken Rice in just three hours.
$75 pp. cookerymagic.com

 

Shopping

Haji Lane
Groovy fashionista laneway tucked into the middle of the Muslim quarter.
See where the next-gen Singaporean style masters are shopping.

Chinatown
The heart of Chinatown is a humming bargain hunter’s paradise.
Think souvenir trinkets, ancient medicine, vibrant textiles, steamy dim-sims – and the Tooth Relic Temple.

Orchard Road
The iconic retail strip of Orchard Road is a bustling boulevard of malls and boutiques.
Be warned: Orchard Road is a parallel universe – days just disappear in a flurry of credit card transactions.

 

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Stay

The Scarlet
(33 Erskine Rd, +65 6511 3333, thescarlethotel.com)
A quirky and original boutique hotel in the centre of the creative heart of Chinatown, The Scarlet is one of the edgier places to stay.
Despite a list price of $250, expect to pay about $150.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel
(10 Bayfront Ave, +65 6688 8868, marinabaysands.com)
A city in its own right, the Marina Bay Sands is a casino complex development with more than 2500 hotel rooms.
Oh, and a slew of celebrity chef restaurants – and don’t forget the infinity pool on the SkyPark.
From $300 a night.

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This is why cruising is the best way to see Asia

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
    Continue
    Iconic destinations, unforgettable adventures and thrilling onboard adventures; say hello to your next Asia holiday with Royal Caribbean.

    When you want to explore the gleaming skyscrapers of Shanghai and the bars of Singapore, but also embrace centuries-old traditions in Japan before traipsing through the lush jungles of Malaysia, a conundrum presents itself: how do you do it all seamlessly without the stress of flying (or repacking)? Enter, Royal Caribbean.

    With a brand designed around maximising your holiday time, sip cocktails by the pool or watch Broadway-style performances on board as the ship glides effortlessly from one atmospheric port to the next.

    Now that you have Asia at your fingertips with minimal effort, the big question is: which all-inclusive experience (and itinerary) is best for you?

    Japan

    The itinerary

    Spectras Cabaret royal caribbean
    Prepare for a show, on and off the ship.

    The Land of the Rising Sun has never been hotter, and Royal Caribbean has a vast array of unforgettable Japanese itineraries – these range from eight-night adventures to 14-night holidays circumnavigating the country’s islands.

    The eight-night Best of Japan sailing is memory-making perfection, kicking off in Shanghai (Baoshan) on 24 October 2026. Stop at fascinating ports to soak in the sweeping landscapes and seascapes of Saikaiminato, Kyoto, Niigata and Hakodate while enjoying incredible dining and adventurous activities onboard Spectrum of the Seas®. Complete your journey back in Shanghai, ‘the Paris of the East’.

    Port highlights

    mt fuji in japan
    See iconic vistas of Japan.

    Off the ship, hike the dramatic volcanic peaks of Sakaiminato’s Daisen-Oki National Park, explore the iconic temples of Kyoto, enjoy traditionally brewed sake made in Niigata (the birthplace of many quality sake brands), and taste local flavours at Kanemore Red Brick Warehouse, a premier dining and shopping district in Hakodate.

    Don’t miss Royal Caribbean’s Amanohashidate Highlights shore excursion in Kyoto, an exhilarating experience that features a cable car ride up to Kasamatsu Park and includes a visit to Nariaiji Temple, a hillside Buddhist site.

    The ship

    Spectrum Of The Seas in Singapore
    Step on board Spectrum of the Seas®.

    Aboard Spectrum of the Seas®, days at sea are just as action-packed as those on land. Here, 17 dining venues, along with eight bars and lounges, take guests on the ultimate global dining tour. Stop into Sichuan Red, designed specially for this ship, where you can savour a rich tapestry of authentic spices and Asian-influenced flavours. Start with the chef-recommended royal sea cucumber, then move on to a hot and savoury bowl of mapo tofu simmered in a traditional spicy sauce, or authentic pickled radish and duck soup.

    Fancy a little post-dinner entertainment? Talk salsa lessons, or book front row seats to Showgirl, a multisensory spectacular that pays homage to the ultimate siren of the stage. You can also take a visual journey into the exotic cultures of the Far East with The Silk Road at Two70®.

    Kids (and kidults), as always, are well-catered for, with aqua park Splashaway Bay℠ and the largest indoor active space at sea, SeaPlex®, which offers everything from laser tag to bumper cars. Those looking to relax can find peace in the adults-only solarium, as well as a wealth of treatments at Vitality℠ Spa.

    Thailand and Malaysia

    The itinerary

    Izumi Teppanyaki on ovation of the seas royal caribbean
    Sit down to hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki℠.

    Royal Caribbean’s Southeast Asia sailings deliver the perfect fusion of culture, cuisine and coastlines, and the four-night Penang & Phuket cruise is proof that short escapes can still feel spectacularly rich.

    Kick off with Royal Caribbean’s iconic Sail Away Party as Ovation of the Seas® departs from Singapore on 27 February 2026. The itinerary then weaves through two of the region’s most mesmerising destinations: Malaysia’s melting pot of cultures in Penang and Thailand’s sun-soaked island of Phuket.

    Each port stop is layered with history, flavour and natural beauty, while each moment spent onboard Ovation of the Seas® is filled with fun and excitement.

    Port highlights

    iconic ‘James Bond Island’ made famous in The Man with the Golden Gun thailand
    Zoom around the ‘James Bond Island’.

    In Penang’s George Town, a maze of heritage architecture, vibrant murals and street stalls serving sizzling char kway teow and aromatic laksa come together, blending past and present. Visit the Taoist Goddess of Mercy Temple to soak up its peaceful energy, ride the century-old funicular to the forested summit of Penang Hill for panoramic views, and wander Batu Feringhi Beach, where the Andaman Sea laps gently against golden sand. Jet skis? Why not?

    Then it’s north to Phuket, where both adventure and relaxation beckon. Make the most of the local beach scene at Kata Noi and wander up Monkey Hill for sweeping vistas (and mischievous company). Be sure to book Royal Caribbean’s thrilling shore excursion here – you’ll zip along in a three-engine speedboat to the iconic ‘James Bond Island’ made famous in The Man with the Golden Gun. After a day of exploration, you’ll have enough time to enjoy a sunset cocktail on the waterfront before returning to your ship for another unforgettable evening.

    The ship

    Ovation of the Seas®, royal caribbean
    Experience thrills aboard Ovation of the Seas®.

    Of course, life on board Ovation of the Seas® is just as exhilarating as your adventures off it. Sit down to 16 flavoursome finds, from Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver® to theatrical hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki℠.

    Build up an appetite with Royal Caribbean’s iconic onboard activities, from the FlowRider® surf simulator to soaring sky-high on RipCord® by iFLY® and zipping around in bumper cars in SeaPlex®. You can really choose your own adventure.

    End the night with Spectra’s Cabaret at Two70®, a fascinating fusion of music, robotics and light that redefines entertainment at sea.

    The result? A holiday brimming with discovery, indulgence and Royal Caribbean’s signature magic: Asia, perfectly packaged.

    Start planning a cruise around Asia that you’ll never forget at royalcaribbean.com.