48 hours in Singapore

From high life to street food, shopping malls to river cruises, two days are all you need to fall in love with 'the Lion City'

You have just landed at the Singapore Changi Airport after a memorable flight and have a little over 48 hours to explore the area. What do you do? We give you a quick rundown to help you get the most out of a short visit to this multi-cultural South-east Asian city-state.

Day 1

4 pm: Since you've just arrived, you can take it easy. Go on a leisurely walk around Orchard Road, a 2.2-kilometre-long boulevard that is said to be the shopping and entertainment hub of Singapore. It houses numerous upmarket restaurants, coffee chains, cafés, nightclubs and hotels. Grab a bite at Kopitiam, a great food court for trying out local Singaporean cuisines.

7 pm: Take an MRT (subway transport) to Suntec City, located in Marina Centre, which houses a huge shopping complex, one of the largest in Singapore. Once you're done mall-hopping, visit the nearby Esplanade, a waterfront location most famous for its performance art shows. It overlooks the Singapore river and is in between the Singapore Flyer and Merlion park.

9 pm: Time to dine at JAAN on the 70th floor of the Swissotel the Stamford Hotel. Helmed by French chef Julien Royer, it's a foodies paradise. The menu is delicate, fresh, innovative and teamed with excellent wines. They have dishes like rich and earthy cepes, mushroom tea and hay-roasted bresse pigeon leg teamed with barley.

Day 2

9 am: Pick up a map and take a walk through the heritages sites in Singapore. Start with the Raffles' Landing Site, where Sir Stamford Raffles is said to have first set foot in Singapore in 1819. From here, reach the historical Fullerton Hotel, cross and walk up through Boat Quay, once the main harbour for traders, now filled with bars and restaurants. Turn right onto North Bridge Road to take in St Andrew's Cathedral and the Supreme Court. Also check out Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street to discover the origins of the early Straits Chinese settlers.

12 pm: Ride the MRT to Bugis, which is known as a mecca for shoppers and bargain-hunters. A short walk from the street is Haji Lane, where you can try out independent fashion boutiques and Middle-Eastern cafes. Don't miss the Sultan Mosque, built in 1824.

4 pm: Board a bus to Chinatown, the island's traditional Chinese quarters. Wander at random and see the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum to the Chinatown Heritage Centre. There's plenty of Chinese food around to give you company.

7 pm: Go to Clarke Quay, which contains numerous restaurants and nightclubs. There are also moored Chinese junks (tongkangs) that have been refurbished into floating pubs and restaurants. River cruises and river taxis on the Singapore river can be accessed from here. Food lovers don't miss Singapore's quintessential dish, chilli crab at Jumbo Seafood in Riverside Point.

Day 3

9 am: With just about quarter of a day to catch your flight back home, take a walk through the sprawling Singapore Botanic Gardens and smell over 60,000 different varieties of orchids at the National Orchid Garden located within the botanic garden.

12 pm: Head back to Singapore Changi Airport where, if you love shopping, you'll be spoilt for choice, with retail offerings ranging from luxury goods to souvenirs and daily necessities.