Walking Singapore: 3 itineraries on foot
It takes a lot of energy, but visiting Singapore's neighborhoods on foot gives many interesting and unexpected encounters that cannot hold a candle to the fast subway travel by the highly efficient subway.
With the Metro, you can easily reach all major areas of the city, so the location of accommodation is relatively constraining, just consider the proximity to a station. Move by Metro to reach the most distant neighborhoods in no time, and then explore them far and wide by strolling in the crowded commercial streets, or in the deserted residential alleys.
In 3-4 days you can explore the city very well, at leisure. With a couple more days, you can venture further afield by reaching Sentosa Island for a day at the beach, or Katong and East Coast Park for a day among old colonial houses and long stretches of sand.
For a detailed description of Singapore's attractions neighborhood by neighborhood, read the dedicated article:
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DAY 1: THE QUAYS TO KAMPONG GLAM
Start the itinerary from Robertson Quay, walking along the riverbank, arrive at Clarke Quay, take a detour to enjoy some shade in Fort Canning Park. Nearby, Armenian street offers some interesting sights, beautiful murals and the Peranakan Museum.
Returning toward the river, photograph the Old Hill Street Police Station, and then continue to the next bend in the river, observing from the opposite side the row of restaurants of Boat Quay set against the backdrop of skyscrapers of Raffles Place.
At this point, you may decide to spend a couple of hours at one of the museums on the Esplanade, be it the Asian Civilization Museum or the National Gallery. Walking in the park with a view of the Marina Bay Sands is also a relaxing alternative.
For lunch, turn just a little way back and head to Boat Quay by crossing the Elgin Bridge, and choose whether to stop and hoard grilled dumplings at Dumpling Darlings, or brave the heat with the steaming broth of Song Fa's Bak Kut Teh.
If the heat has worn you down, take the road back north past St Andrew's Cathedral and on to Marina Square and Suntec City, two vast shopping malls that will offer refuge from the heat and plenty of alternatives for shopping and recreation. If you are looking for more intellectual pursuits, however, you can head to the National Museum or the National Library. On the way, don't miss the Raffles Hotel with its lush gardens and colonial buildings.
Continue on North Bridge Road to Kampong Glam, the Muslim district, where you can wander aimlessly through the alleys surrounding the Sultan's mosque, browse the eclectic independent stores, and then stop for dinner or an evening drink amidst the lights and music.
DAY 2: TANJONG PAGAR TO MARINA BAY
Early enough, before the heat inexorably takes hold of Singapore, head to the Pinnacle@Duxton and stroll the catwalk on the 50th floor for uninterrupted views of the city. Continue to Duxton Road and explore the beautiful neighborhood with colonial houses, until you reach the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. If you are intrigued, go inside to smell the incense and listen to the monks' prayers. Stroll through the streets of China Town and stop at any of the inviting trendy eateries in the neighborhood.
Passing by the Thian Hock Keng Temple, head toward the financial center that laps Marina Bay. At some point, the impressive view of the Sands will open up before you. Enjoy some natural shade on Marina Boulevard, and reach the Waterfront, where you can visit the Science Museum, relax watching placid water lilies against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers, or spend a few hours browsing the stores and architecture of the Marina Bay Sands Shopping Center.
Although malls are not exactly among our favorite destinations, trust us, at some point during the day you will want to escape the 40 degrees outside and take refuge somewhere with more bearable temperatures. Perhaps you can head to the food court and purchase a delicious homemade refreshing tea.
Around 6:30 p.m. go to Gardens by the Bay and use the first hour to visit the botanical garden and its greenhouses, before taking your seat at Supertree Grove in time for the 7:45 p.m. show and to enjoy the wonderful blue hour with the supertrees starting to light up.
After the show you can enjoy a comforting and simple Asian dinner at Din Tai Fung.
DAY 3: BOTANICAL GARDENS TO ORCHARD ROAD
The morning will be devoted to walking through the lush botanical gardens, taking care to leave enough time to the Orchid Garden. You can reach the gardens by subway, reaching the Botanic Gardens station at the North end, and, after walking through them entirely, take the subway back to the South end, at the Napier stop. With a quick subway ride, you can reach the western end of Orchard Road by getting off at the Orchard stop and popping directly into the ION shopping center, where you can seek out your favorite street food in the bustling food court.
Stroll along Orchard Road doing some shopping or going for the Takashimaya Shopping Center bookstore where you can eventually spend hours looking for books on culture, photography, and local cuisine.
Reach Emerald Hill Road and spend half an hour among the Peranakan houses.
For dinner, take the subway back and move on to look for some trendy places.
For instance, arriving at the Tanjong Pagar stop and exiting to Choon Guan Street, at sunset you will enjoy beautiful light on the distinctive skyscrapers of this district, and an equally picturesque blue hour among the neighborhood alleys, where you can go for a steaming tempura at Ginza Tendon Itsuki.
