Marina Bay at dusk — Singapore, 2012.
Singapore in two nights —
and we absolutely loved it
In 2012, long before Two for the Row'd existed, Nicola stopped in Singapore with her friend Anita on the way to Australia. Two nights was all they had — a private city tour, the Singapore Zoo Night Safari, hawker food, an evening at Lantern rooftop bar overlooking Marina Bay, and karaoke. Singapore is one of those places that immediately makes you wish you'd booked more time.
The story
Nicola & Anita — Singapore in 2012
Two nights on the way to Australia. That was the plan. And two nights is not a lot of time in a city as dense as Singapore, so Nicola and Anita hit the ground running — a private guide for the day so they could actually see the place properly, and then everything else crammed in around it.
The food was the first revelation. Singapore's hawker centres deserve every bit of their reputation — some of the best food anywhere in the world, at prices that made us double-check the bill. Laksa, chicken rice, roti prata, satay — whatever we could get our hands on.
The Singapore Zoo Night Safari was the standout experience of the whole trip. Watching nocturnal animals in their natural setting after dark, with a properly done light show, is genuinely unlike anything else. If you have even one evening in Singapore, put it at the top of the list — and book in advance, it fills up.
Then karaoke. Anita has a lovely voice and got up to sing. Nicola sensibly concentrated on the cocktails. 🍸 That's what a Singapore evening looks like.
What we'd do differently: stay longer. Two nights was a brilliant taste, but Singapore has more than enough going on to easily fill a week.
Where we stayed
🏨 The Fullerton Bay Hotel
We stayed at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore and absolutely loved it. Waterfront location, incredible Marina Bay views, a rooftop infinity pool that ranks among the best pools we've ever swum in, and Lantern — the rooftop bar — which is a gorgeous place for a drink overlooking the skyline as the city lights come on.
Would we stay there again? Absolutely, without hesitation.
Before you go
Before you go — the practical bits
Our Singapore photos
Tours we actually took
🎟️ The two experiences we'd recommend
Both booked through GetYourGuide, both genuinely worth it on a short stopover. These aren't generic "browse Singapore" recommendations — they're what we actually did.
🌙 Singapore Zoo Night Safari
The standout experience of our whole stopover — one of the most unique wildlife experiences we've had anywhere. Book in advance; it fills up.
Book on GetYourGuide →🚗 Private Singapore city tour
Particularly worthwhile on a short stopover — having a guide meant we saw far more of Singapore in a day than we could have managed on our own.
Book on GetYourGuide →Disclosure: Both are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've actually done.
Explore Singapore virtually
Virtually drive Singapore before you go
Want to get a feel for Singapore before you visit — or just remember what it looked like after? Our partners at Drive From Home let you virtually explore the city's streets: the atmosphere, the traffic, the local radio. Particularly useful when you're planning a short stopover and want to know what to prioritise.
Take a virtual drive of Singapore →Common questions
Singapore FAQ
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Heading further afield?
Singapore was our stopover en route to Australia — if you're planning a similar trip, our Australia guide picks up where this one leaves off.
Planning your own Singapore stopover?
Two nights is enough to fall for the city. Book the night safari, do a proper city tour, eat everything, and if you can — stay longer.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've actually done.