DesertRose

Have a choice of a 2 or 3-day stopover in Singapore this May. Is there enough to see and do to make 3 days worthwhile?

glorialf

I find Singapore a pretty boring city but if you can't change to a different stopover, spend the 3 days. There are a couple of interesting places,good food and there are day trips you can take from there.

Kathie

While Singapore isn't as exotic as other cities in Asia, it's an interesting city with plenty to do and see. I love the botanical gardens (especially the orchid garden) and the two locations of the Museum of Asian Civilization. Many people like the zoo and the Jurong birdpark. There are lots of fabulous places to eat. Hotels are luxuroius and well-priced (not as cheap as Bangkok, but certainly less than the US, Canada or Europe). There is lots of shopping as well.

Lindsey

Singapore is a cultural melting pot,with roughly 75% of the population of Chinese ethnicity, and large groups of Indians and Malays as well. there is a very large Chinatown, with lots of shopping, many restaurants, a large Buddhist temple and coincidentally the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. You can get reflexology on your feet, shop in a local "wet market" and enjoy a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.
In Little India, you have a similar array of great cultural experiences....shopping, eating, a major temple, Indian music and spices, and you get can your hands painted with henna in traditional designs.
Same goes for the Arab Street area. Shopping, eating, a large mosque.....I think you get the picture by now.

There is also the Night Safari, a walk in the colonial district (near the museums Kathie mentioned), a stroll along the river and a bumboat ride.

The weather is very hot here in May. If you want to see all these areas, plus the ones mentioned above, at a leisurely pace, you will need 3 days.

The_Hive_Backpackers

3 days would be comfortable to travel in Singapore. Singapore is not that boring actually, depending on your interests. Accomodation can be cheap as there are good, clean hostels to stay in. Let me introdue you to The Hive Backpackers Hostel if you do not mind sleeping in dormitories. Any, i wish you well in your travels.

Guenmai

I absolutely LOVE Singapore and have been there many times and have stayed as long as a week and a half and still haven't seen everything. I basically take public transportation everywhere I go and taxis when I absolutely have to. Taxis aren't that expensive since the distances are usually short.Pick up the Treasures and Pleasures travel series by Impact Guides I think it is. There's Treasures and Pleasures of Singapore and Bali and Treasures and Pleasures of Singapore and Malaysia. In the back of the book is a list of 101 things to do while in Singapore and I haven't gotten through the list yet. I don't find Singapore boring at all.And the food is beyond incredible.On my first visit there I had planned doing 2 days, but ended up staying 5. I found it architectually fasinating and did a lot of photography in different ethnic areas of the city. Don't miss the Asian Civilizations museum. Happy Travels!

glorialf

Guenmai-- boy do you and I disagree on this. I was supposed to spend 5 days in Singapore and left after 2. And I will never return. I do agree that the food is terrific and the hotels are excellent. And, yes, the botanic garden was very nice although I have seen nicer. But that's it. Oh, I think there was one good museum.

Walter_Walltotti

The Night Safari is an absolute must - unique I believe

Guenmai

Glorialf...Maybe the problem was leaving in two days. How can one get a REAL feel of a place in 2 days.If one is in a place for only two days, then I think one needs to be open-minded and realize that the place could really be a nice place if more time had been spent there....and then plan a return trip. As I returned to Singapore for many trips, the place got better each time. I like to talk to the native people of a place and not just run around to tourist attractions the whole time. And I have found Singaporeans to be a wonderful group of people. Most I met are shop owners who will sit with me for hours and talk about the history and politics of Singapore and when their families immigrated to Singapore...some before the arrival of Raffles.And even the manager of the YMCA where I stay, spent a good hour with me talking about all the educational programs the Y provides and some of the problems today's youth are facing in Singapore and how they are trying to combat those problems. I got a real insight into what's going on in Singapore. I could have spent that hour running around sightseeing, but chose to meet and listen to what a real Singaporean had to say.I try to divide my time up between talking to Singaporeans and sightseeing.I like to get beneath the surface of a place.Happy Travels!

thit_cho

I have been there several times, and its worth a stopover if you haven't been before, and is there really any difference between 2 and 3 days -- an extra day in Asia is always fun.

I don't find Singapore particularly interesting, but I do enjoy the Night Safari and Newton Circus (food stalls) and I the fried rice at Chen Fuji (sp?). The few remaining colonial structures are interesting to see (Fullerton Hotel, Raffles, etc.).

If you have an extra day, there are some Indonesian islands within striking distance for beach and swimming.

glorialf

Guenmai -- I rarely spend 2 days anyplace but Singapore just didn't interest me. I went there on my second trip to asia in 1985 and found it far too modern and far too many shopping malls for me. I'm sure there are wonderful people there -- there are wonderful people everywhere. But we all have our likes and dislikes and Singapore just didn't do it for me in the way big cities like Bangkok, Shanghai,Hong Kong, Hanoi, Rangoon did. Felt the same way about Jakarta and Sydney for that matter -- not sorry I went once but not likely to return. But it obviously is your cup of tea which is why you go back so often. And I know other people who have loved it as well. I'm just not one of them.

DesertRose

Thank you everyone for all the input! We decided on 3 nights as our first day may well be affected by jet lag (20 hour flight) and we will also need to acclimate to the heat.

JannaG

Glorialf - Singapore in 1985 and Singapore in 2005 are very different to say the least. If it was modern then, it's a zillion times more modern now But to be fair, I have to say that the many aspects that tourists enjoy there today were not present in 1985. I like Singapore a lot but admit it's not everyone's cup of tea.

TracyB

I guess everyone has a different opinion, but I absolutely loved Singapore..We had an awesome time when we were there in 2001..We stayed 5 nights and could have stayed longer..

fishskis

I completely agree with glorialf...I just don't really "get" Singapore. I have never felt any affection or emotional connection to it, as I have in so many other places. I had high expectations after hearing raves from friends. I enjoyed my first trip, but after 2 days, I was ready to leave.

For a first visit two or three days is fine; not sure of your flight schedule, but it can be a killer flight there, so a day to adjust might be necessary.

One trip there was enough for me (though I have been back twice for business). Some great hotels at good prices; Ritz Carlton Millenia and Raffles, if you are splurging and looking for colonial history. Good food as well. But for me, it is a very modern, very clean, very hot, boring place.

susiesan

In three weeks, we'll be in Singapore for 7 nights/6 days. I had to stay this long while working with frequent flier tickets and taking what I could get. I figure the first day will be a wash what with being jet lagged after flying 21 hours and getting in at 1:00am. That gives us 5 full days to see the city. Is this going to be too much time-will we get bored? If we want to get out to a beach, where would be the best one to go to for the day?
Susie

Kathie

Obviously, from the answers above, whether you get bored depends on you and your interests. Could I spend a week there without getting bored? Yes.

Get yourself a good guidebook. There are lots of places to see and thing to do depending on your interests.

mikeesparza

I go to Singapore once a year on business with my wife. It's nice but I would no spend anymore than one day there since there really isn't that much to do there. It's worth 1-1.5 days, no more!

glorialf

Singapore is a great place to get over jet lag so I'd stay there for the first three days. Where else are you going? You might find a cheap round trip fare to go someplace nearby for the other three or four days. Or go to Malaysia. If you like very modern, very clean citis and love to shop for designer discount clothes in malls, you might find plenty to do in Singapore in 7 days. If you're looking for something else, seven days seems way too long.

But as you can see others will strongly disagree. It really depends on what you like and what your interests are.

NoFlyZone

I just got back last night from my 5th trip to S'pore, my wife's first. Spent 6 nights at the Fullerton and never ran out of interesting things to do, although one more day would pretty much exhaust the list.

Had great food, did some interesting shopping (a few custom tailored shirts and jewellery), took a day trip to Mayaysia, and say the zoo, night safari and bird park. In all 5 trips still haven't gotten to any museums nor Newton Circus!