This was my first international trip — a company offsite to Singapore. The company handled the visa and accommodation, so the only expenses were activities, food, and getting around. Singapore is compact, incredibly clean, and surprisingly easy to navigate. A great first international destination.
Before You Go — Visa & Essentials
E-Visa for Indians — Singapore has an e-visa process. My company handled it on our behalf, so I’m not sure about the exact steps. Check with the Singapore embassy or your travel agent.
We exchanged money to SGD in India before flying — this worked out fine. Singapore also has plenty of exchange counters if you need more.
Pre-booked a SIM card from Klook — around ₹550. Picked it up at Changi Airport. Good data speeds throughout the trip.
Pro tip: Singapore provides a tourist MRT card for a refundable 20 SGD. It works on the metro and buses, and is valid for 3 days. Highly recommend getting one — it saves a lot of money on transport.
Day 1 — Arrival & Changi Airport + Gardens by the Bay
April 29, 2023
Our Vistara flight departed Delhi at 23:45 the previous night (April 28) and landed at Changi Airport at 8:15 AM. Immigration and everything was done by about 10:00 AM.
Morning — Changi Airport Attractions
Since our hotel check-in was at 2:00 PM, we decided to kill time at the airport — and Changi is arguably the best airport in the world to kill time at.
We had pre-booked the Jewel Changi Airport attractions bundle from Klook — around ₹3,300. It included:
- Canopy Bridge
- Bouncing Net
- Hedge Maze
- Walking Net
If you have time before check-in or between flights, I’d recommend doing this. Changi is an experience in itself.
Afternoon — Hotel Check-in
Headed to our hotel and checked in around 2:00 PM. Freshened up and rested for a bit.
Evening — Gardens by the Bay
We went to Gardens by the Bay — tickets from Klook, around ₹4,400. It was a bundle ticket for:
- Floral Fantasy
- Flower Dome
- Cloud Forest (featuring the Avatar experience)
It’s a beautiful place. Kids would have an absolute blast here, but even as adults we enjoyed it. Called it a day after this.
Day 2 — Singapore Zoo, River Wonders & Night Safari
April 30, 2023
We had bought a Klook Pass — around ₹7,000 — which included tickets for the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, and Night Safari. Buying them separately would have been more expensive, so the pass is worth it. All three are at the same location.
Morning/Afternoon — Singapore Zoo
This is genuinely one of the best zoos I’ve been to. It has all kinds of animals, and a free tram ride was included in our ticket. The highlight — I saw pandas for the first time in my life.
Evening — River Wonders
After the zoo, we went to River Wonders. The Amazon River Quest ride was wonderful — a boat ride through different river habitats.
Night — Night Safari
By evening, we took the Night Safari. I was so exhausted from the full day that I slept through half of it — but from what I did see, it’s a unique experience and worth doing.
Day 3 — Universal Studios & Wings of Time
May 1, 2023
Daytime — Universal Studios Singapore
This was the big one. Tickets from Klook — around ₹5,000.
Tip: There’s an Express Pass available that lets you skip the line. If you’re a family and want to do rides together, it’s worth buying. If you’re fine going solo on rides, there’s a separate single rider line that’s faster anyway. Also, try to arrive early — you’ll get through more rides before the crowds build up.
We had an absolute blast, especially on the roller coasters. Easily one of the highlights of the trip.
Night — Wings of Time Show
For the evening, we had booked the Wings of Time show from Klook — around ₹1,000. It’s an outdoor light and water show on Sentosa Island. A nice way to wind down after a full day at Universal Studios.
Took the metro back from Sentosa to our hotel.
Day 4 — Office Work, Marina Bay Sands & Merlion
May 2, 2023
Had some office work during the day, so we were free only by 6:00 PM.
Evening — Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Went to the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck — tickets from Klook, around ₹1,400. The view from the top is gorgeous — you can see the entire Singapore skyline. Absolutely worth going.
Merlion & Marina Bay Sands Casino
After the SkyPark, we walked to the Merlion and clicked some photos — the classic Singapore shot.
There’s a casino inside the Marina Bay Sands mall, so we went in and tried our luck. Lost a little money, but it was a fun experience. If you’re curious, go in with a small budget you’re okay losing.
Day 5 — Departure
May 3, 2023
Had a Vistara flight at 9:00 AM. Reached Delhi at 13:00 local time. Short and sweet.
What It Cost (Per Person)
Activities (per person, booked on Klook)
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| SIM Card (Klook) | ~₹550 |
| Changi Airport Attractions Bundle | ~₹3,300 |
| Gardens by the Bay (Floral Fantasy + Flower Dome + Cloud Forest) | ~₹4,400 |
| Klook Pass (Zoo + River Wonders + Night Safari) | ~₹7,000 |
| Universal Studios Singapore | ~₹5,000 |
| Wings of Time | ~₹1,000 |
| Marina Bay Sands SkyPark | ~₹1,400 |
| Total Activities | ~₹22,650 |
Other Expenses (per person, approximate)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Company-sponsored |
| Visa | Company-sponsored |
| MRT Tourist Card | 20 SGD (refundable) |
| Food | Varies |
| Casino losses | Varies (hopefully small) |
Note: Flight costs (Vistara both ways) and accommodation were covered by the company.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Tourist MRT card is a must — 20 SGD (refundable), valid for 3 days. Works on metro and buses. Saves a lot vs buying individual tickets.
- Klook Pass saves money — If you’re doing Zoo + River Wonders + Night Safari, the combo pass is cheaper than individual tickets.
- Arrive early at Universal Studios — Lines get long by midday. The single rider line is your friend if you don’t mind splitting up.
- Changi Airport is an attraction itself — Don’t rush out. The Jewel attractions are worth doing if you have a few hours to spare.
- Exchange SGD in India — Worked fine for us. Singapore also has exchange counters everywhere.
- Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest — The Avatar experience inside is impressive. Worth the ticket.
- Marina Bay Sands at sunset — Try to time your SkyPark visit around sunset for the best views.
- Casino in Marina Bay Sands — Free entry, just carry your passport. Set a budget and stick to it.
Final Thoughts
Singapore was my first international trip, and it set the bar high. Everything is clean, organised, and just works. The public transport is world-class, the food is incredible (hawker centres are criminally cheap for the quality), and there’s enough to fill 4–5 days without feeling rushed.
The standout experiences were Universal Studios (the roller coasters are top-tier), the Singapore Zoo (genuinely the best zoo I’ve visited), and the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark view. Changi Airport alone is worth a few hours of your time.
If it’s your first time going abroad, Singapore is about as smooth an introduction as you’ll get.
