Singapore for one

Singapore is a rare city where travelling alone feels like an upgrade. You can eat spectacularly without company, move through neighbourhoods without friction, and decide your day in real time without anything unravelling. The city rewards curiosity and momentum: coffee leads to a gallery, a walk turns into a meal, dinner stretches into a drink—then another. It stays bright and safe well past midnight. Add beaches, green pockets, and a food culture that never clocks off, and the appeal becomes obvious. Here, everything works, and because it does, you’re free to wander. For solo travellers, that ease is the luxury. Singapore doesn’t demand an itinerary or an entourage; it simply opens up, one neighbourhood at a time.

Check-in

Check in somewhere central and let the city do the rest. The Vagabond Club in Jalan Besar delivers moody rooms, strong whisky and live jazz—ideal for solo nights with intent. Studio M in Robertson Quay suits travellers who like to keep moving, with loft-style rooms and riverside walks. AMOY in Telok Ayer keeps things discreet and design-led, with hawkers and temples minutes away. For plug-and-play convenience, lyf Funan sits inside Funan Mall near City Hall—compact, social and perfectly placed. Pro-tip: the Funan Mall rooftop garden offers stunning skyline views of the Supreme Court, and Marina Bay Sands.

Day 1: Jalan Besar

Morning

Start unfussy. Once scrappy and industrial, Jalan Besar now mixes conserved shophouses with cafes, studios and no-nonsense food spots—still rough around the edges, in a good way. Ease in at a kopitiam like Bistro 8 near Farrer Park MRT, where tables are shared and breakfast comes fast. Order wonton noodles or bee hoon stir-fry—cheap, filling and local. Pro-tip: Go before 9am to dodge the crowds.

Next, drift to Petain Road, a low-key standout of 1930s shophouses where Chinese baroque lines meet Peranakan pastels. Here, you will encounter layers of history, grit and elegance—all in one short wander.

Afternoon

Lunch at Moonchild Cafe hits the spot: pork dan dan noodles, pastas, messy salads and good wine. Browse nearby: Anerdstore for modern Indonesian batik textiles (check out their batik-making workshops), and Loop Garms for vintage apparel, especially if fun bomber jackets are your style (digging pays off). Pro-tip: bring pre-loved pieces if you’re keen to trade. Pause at Antea Social for a tea-centric breather.

Evening

For dinner, skip polish and sign up for the Ugly Food Tour. This small-group walk dives into backstreets and basement food courts, spotlighting dishes prized for flavour over looks. Expect stops like Food Republic, where a sampler from Michelin-recommended Hjh Maimunah Mini delivers turmeric-rich curries, sambal stingray and slow-cooked beef rendang, and Munchi Pancakes for peanut, coconut, Oreo-cheese, Bandung cream and charcoal-batter min jiang kueh—plus plenty of easy conversation along the way. Pro-tip: Arrive hungry, wear comfy shoes, and bring curiosity—this excursion rewards all three.

Day 2: Chinatown and Everton Park

Morning

Chinatown is where solo wandering turns social. Beyond the temples, lanes are filled with murals, and tile shops and old trades still tick along. Start with diamond-shaped, flaky egg tarts at Tong Heng or kaya toast and kopi at Nanyang Old Coffee, then join a walking tour that takes you past temples, a heritage centre, and mural-spattered, lantern-strung alleys interspersed with a booming restaurant and bar scene—or Tribe Tours’ murder-mystery trail—to meet people while cracking clues across the neighbourhood.

Afternoon

Lunch is best at Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice in Chinatown Complex Food Centre. Expect long queues at peak hours, cash-only payments and zero frills, but deeply satisfying food and a lively hawker buzz. The mixed claypot rice with chicken, lup cheong (Chinese sausage), salted fish and vegetables is highly popular. Hop over to Harmony in Diversity Gallery, a thoughtful, compact stop that unpacks how shared urban spaces—lifts, void decks, markets—shape interfaith coexistence in high-density Singapore. It’s reflective without being heavy. Next, check what theatre company Drama Box is staging—its intimate, socially-driven theatre performances offer a glimpse of Singapore well beyond the shiny surface. Pro-tip: Shows aren’t daily, so check ahead.

Late Afternoon–Evening

A five-minute walk from Outram Park MRT brings you to Everton Park, a former 1960s public housing estate turned quiet creative enclave. Head there late afternoon; some shops shut mid-day. Start at Xi Jiang Confectionery for ang ku kueh (Chinese sweet dumplings or red tortoise cakes), go earlier for the best flavour range.

Stroll Everton Road, Spottiswoode Park Road and Blair Road for mural-spotting that includes nostalgic scenes of biscuit tins, ice-cream carts and provision shops that double as easy solo photo stops. Refuel at Morimori Yogashi for French-Japanese bakes or book a facial at Kew Organics for low-key TLC. Pro-tip: The area is very walkable. Carry sunblock, a refillable water bottle and a power bank.

Night

End the night on Keong Saik Road at Maggie’s: intimate with a side of grandma-chic-meets-’70s-glam. Plates are playful, cocktails punchy, and the room hums just enough to keep you lingering. Still restless? Join a GetYourGuide bar crawl nearby with fellow travellers, expats and locals—the easiest way to turn a solo night into a shared one.

Day 3: Katong–Joo Chiat and Kampong Glam

Morning

Once seaside retreats for the wealthy, Katong and Joo Chiat—reached via Marine Parade or Paya Lebar MRT—are now Singapore’s most recognisable Peranakan enclave: colourful, domestic, and made for slow wandering. Start late at 328 Katong Laksa for a no-fuss bowl of coconut-rich seafood laksa with otah otah on the side. Communal seating and quick turnover suit solo diners. Then pick up the pace with Singapore Sidecars’ Nonyas, Babas & Peranakans tour: a breezy Vespa spin past kopitiams, back lanes and Koon Seng Road’s pastel, tile-lined shophouses, all easy photo stops without the crowds. Remember to book ahead, tickets sell out fast.

Afternoon

For a deeper dive, book The Intan, a private Peranakan home-museum filled with heirloom furniture, beadwork and family photographs. The one-hour tea experience (from SGD64) is best if you’re curious but time-conscious. Lunch or dinner tours are immersive but pricey. Pro-tip: Visits are by appointment only. Book in advance.

Prefer a straightforward meal? Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen offers halal-certified Nyonya classics—try ayam buah keluak (a chicken, tamarind gravy and buah keluak nuts) and the signature beef rendang paired with rice.

Evening

Once the seat of Malay royalty, Kampong Glam (Bugis MRT) is now one of Singapore’s most sociable quarters, where faith, fashion and nightlife collide. Start at Sultan Mosque, the neighbourhood’s anchor; visit outside prayer hours and spot the dome’s glass-bottle base, a quiet nod to community effort. Then roam Haji Lane for indie shopping or flip through vinyl at Musicology Records, an easy solo drop-in. After dark, bar-hop on foot: Blu Jaz Café for live music and a mixed, buzzy crowd, followed by Bar Stories, a no-menu cocktail bar where you simply name your mood. Tuck into Lebanese fare for dinner at the award-winning Beirut Grill. With late openings, easy transport and a welcoming energy, Kampong Glam is made for lingering solo, long into the night.

Day 4: From Kallang to Dempsey Hill and everything in between

Morning

For a calm, crowd-free morning, head to Kallang Riverside Park for a breezy walk along the water. Follow the riverfront path, shared lightly with joggers and cyclists, then slow down in the shaded stretches draped with bougainvillea. It’s a good place to pause, people-watch, or sit by the basin and watch canoes glide past. The park offers an easy way to start the day outdoors, with space to move, think, or simply be alone without feeling isolated. Hop aboard a SBS Transit (a leading bus and rail operator) to Wild Coco on Hamilton Road for a sumptuous breakfast of nasi lemak and creamy-fresh coconut shakes.

Afternoon

After a nature-filled morning, reset at Yunomori Onsen & Spa in Kallang Wave Mall. Sink into mineral-rich hot and cold pools, add a Thai or oil massage to unknot tired muscles, then refuel with an easy Japanese lunch on site. The shared baths and communal restaurant make solo time feel pleasantly social, with conversations flowing.

Night

In the evening, pop into the Singapore Botanic Gardens (check out the park’s iconic picturesque Tanglin Gate), then head to the leafy environs of Dempsey Hill. Check out galleries (REDSEA Gallery and Art Space at Siri House) and homeware stores (Bungalow 55, Timothy Oulton @Curio) for an unhurried hour. For dinner, polish off wood-fired plates at Burnt Ends, or crack into chilli crab at Jumbo Seafood Dempsey before a final nightcap. Pro-tip: Reserve well ahead, as tables go fast.

Singapore gets solo travel right by staying out of your way. Whether you’re drifting through a hawker centre, soaking in an onsen, or lingering over a late drink, the city keeps pace—never rushing you, never leaving you stranded. Fly solo here, and Singapore doesn’t fill the silence; it makes space for it.