Singapore Trip from Bengaluru: Real Costs and How We Planned
Updated on March 16, 2026
Contents
How our Planning for Singapore started
Almost every international trip of ours starts the same way: with lists, spreadsheets, handwritten notes in grid-paper notebooks, and a Google Drive folder structure so carefully organised that even the visa officer probably appreciates it (in fact, one of the agents did appreciate us 😊). We plan thoroughly because we travel seriously and most importantly, do not want goof-ups as trips cost MONEY! We want to make every day count and come home having actually seen what we went to see.
So, when we went to Singapore for the first time, we did what we always do. We planned it properly. And it worked. Every single thing worked.
This post is the planning guide we wish had existed when we started. We had to research a lot on our own although Singapore is a well-travelled destination from India. We mostly found the same kind of Instagram reels. Hence this blog. It covers everything: how we decided how many days we needed, the visa process step by step, which airline to take, how we chose and booked our hotel, how we navigated the attraction pass maze, and what the whole trip cost a family of three flying out of Bengaluru. Our actual decisions, our actual process, and where we know them, our actual numbers.
How Many Days Do You Need for Singapore?
This was our starting question and it is the right question to start with. Before you book anything, you need to know how long you are going to be there.
We began with a long list of everything we might want to do:
- Universal Studios Singapore
- Gardens by the Bay + Cloud Forest
- Singapore Zoo + Bird Paradise
- Night Safari
- Marina Bay Sands / Merlion Park
- China Town
- The Supertree Grove
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
- Haji Lane
- SEA Aquarium
- Haw Par Villa
- Chinese Garden
- Bukit Batok Nature Park
- Fort Canning Park
- Sentosa Island
This list, if you tried to do everything, would need at least two weeks. We had seven days in Singapore.
Our narrowing-down principle was simple: we did not want to see places in a hurry. We would rather spend a full morning at the Zoo and actually stand at exhibits, watch the shows, have lunch there, than rush through five attractions in a single day and remember nothing.
Some places got cut because we felt they were okay to skip on a first visit. Haw Par Villa, Chinese Garden, Bukit Batok: all interesting, none essential for a family with a 10-year-old on a first trip. We also dropped Jurong Bird Park because it had shifted to Bird Paradise at Mandai, so that became one visit, not two.
Legoland Malaysia was seriously considered and then crossed off (we will talk about this in another post about our Malaysia itinerary). We were already going to Universal Studios Singapore. Two major theme parks in one trip felt like too much of the same thing, and Legoland Malaysia would have required a day trip or an overnight.
The Singapore Visa process
Start Here, Everything Else Can Wait
We planned the trip three months in advance but did the detailed planning only after the visa was confirmed. There is no point researching, booking attraction passes and then discovering there is a visa problem. Visa first. Everything else later.
The key thing to know: Indian nationals cannot apply for a Singapore visa directly. You must go through an accredited agent.
We used Travel Visa Xperts in Bengaluru. They were professional, organised, and exactly what the process needs: an efficient hand-holder who tells you precisely what is needed in precisely the right order.
Cost: ₹3,000 per person, all inclusive (visa fee plus agent charges). Timeline: 2 weeks from document submission to approval.
The Complete Document Checklist
This is the checklist our agent gave us. We are reproducing it in full here –
- Original passport valid for at least 6 months, plus all old passports
- Duly filled Application Form 14A
- Authorization letter with applicant’s signature and contact number
- 3 passport photographs: size 3.5mm x 4.5mm, matt finish, face covering 80% of frame, white background
- Covering letter addressed to the Visa Officer, Singapore Consulate Chennai
- Confirmed onward and return tickets
- Hotel confirmation
Additional documents based on occupation
- Salaried employees: Office ID card + last 3 months salary slips + personal bank statement last 3 months
- Business owners/self-employed: Company letterhead covering letter with complete details + company registration/GST copy + personal bank statement last 3 months
- Retired individuals: Government pension book OR relieving letter + any supporting proof
- Students: School/college ID + Bonafide certificate
- Women travelling alone: Husband’s occupation proof + NOC from husband + husband’s passport copy
How We Organised the Documents, and Why This Mattered
We created a Google Drive folder structure: one parent folder per applicant, named clearly with the applicant’s full name as it appears in the passport. Within each applicant folder, every document was named with a number prefix so the order was unmistakable. We kept this handy in case anything else was asked for.
But the visa came through in two weeks. No rejections, no complications.
Agents deal with hundreds of applications. When yours is clean and complete, it moves faster.
Flights: What we chose and mistakes made
We flew IndiGo from Bengaluru’s T2 terminal.
Flight details:
- BLR departure: 9:25 PM
- Singapore Changi arrival: 4:40 AM
- One-way tickets for 3: ₹36,000
The price was reasonable but the seats were terrible! By the time we landed in Changi at 4:40 AM, I had a neck pain that lasted two days into the trip. IndiGo’s international seat pitch is simply not built for a longer flight, especially if you are tall or trying to sleep. This is in spite of using a neck pillow!
Our strong recommendation: For Singapore from Bengaluru, look at Cathay Pacific or Air Asia, or Singapore Airlines if the price works for you. For a flight of this distance, seat quality actually matters for a good start to your trip.
The Changi arrival timing was fine, actually. We arrived at 4:40 AM, collected luggage, got through immigration (Singapore’s immigration is remarkably fast), got a local SIM, and took a cab to our hotel (We could have used public transport. But we travelled with another family and split the cost – so it was fine).
The hotel held our luggage, we freshened up, and started Day 1 by mid-morning after a good nap. No day was wasted.
Where to Stay?
This was one of our best decisions.
Hotel: Furama RiverFront Area: Havelock Road, Clarke Quay area Nearest MRT: Havelock (Thomson-East Coast Line) Cost: Approximately ₹7,000 per night for a family of 3
We booked the non-cancellable rate to save money. The difference between cancellable and non-cancellable for 7 nights was significant enough that we felt the risk was worth taking. It was. If you are committed to your dates and confident in your visa, the non-cancellable rate is a sensible saving.
Why this hotel worked:
The Havelock MRT put us within 2-3 stops of most of the city. Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay were walking distance for evening walks. The hotel had excellent reviews for families, the rooms were comfortable enough for three, and overall, a very good pick.
Would we recommend it? Yes, confidently. Especially for families who want central location, good public transport access, and reasonable pricing without compromising on comfort.
Attractions: The Passes, the Trap, and What We Actually Recommend
We believe this section will save you money and frustration. So, spend a few minutes.
The Klook Multi-Attraction Pass: The Lessons It Taught Us
We initially bought a Klook multi-attraction pass that was supposed to cover 5 attractions including Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, and Mandai (Zoo + Bird Paradise + Night Safari package).
What happened: Two days before the trip, we opened the pass in the Klook app to book our Mandai slot. The Singapore Zoo was not available to book through the pass. It had been silently removed from the package at some point after our purchase, with no notification from Klook.
What followed was a long conversation with Klook customer care. They processed a refund eventually, but not before we had wasted time and caused unnecessary anxiety.
What we did: Without waiting for the Klook refund to resolve, we went directly to the Mandai website and booked our Zoo + Bird Paradise package there. It was seamless, the slots were available, and we never had to think about it again.
Our recommendation after all of this:
- Use Klook for USS, Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest, SEA Aquarium, and most individual Singapore attractions; it works well for these
- Book Mandai directly at mandai.com: Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders. Do not go through any aggregator for Mandai. Book direct, choose your slots at the time of booking, and you will have no problems
Universal Studios Singapore
We booked USS tickets through Klook. This worked perfectly. The tickets arrived digitally, the QR code scanned first try at the gate.
One tip on timing: Arrive at the USS globe early. The park fills up quickly and the popular rides (Battlestar Galactica, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers) need to be done before noon. Our route planning from our handwritten notes is what made this day work.
Cost and Financials involved
Key cost insights
Currency: 200 SGD Was Enough
Singapore is a cards-first city. We used cards for almost everything: hotels, restaurants, most attractions. The MRT uses the EZ-Link card (you can tap with your international card too on newer readers).
We carried 200 SGD in cash for the two of us, primarily for small purchases, hawker centres, and situations where cash was easier. This was enough. We came back with some cash remaining.
Where to exchange: We researched currency exchange providers in Bengaluru for the best rate. Do this comparison a few days before travel; rates vary significantly between providers, and the difference on a ₹1,500 SGD purchase across 7-8 days is meaningful in rupees.
The money-saving decision that made the most difference: Using public transport exclusively within Singapore. The MRT and bus network is so good that there was no reason to take a cab for most of our days. Our transport spend for 7 days was a fraction of what it would have been on taxis or ride apps.
The Cost Breakdown: What a Singapore Trip Actually Costs a Bengaluru Family of 3
I am not including shopping expenses here as it depends from person to person. .
The honest note on food: Singapore’s hawker centers are the best for your food budget. We ate at restaurants maybe once a day at most. But from our experience, the overall vegan/vegetarian scene wasn’t the best in terms of value for money.
On shopping: We had budgeted for minimal shopping. And we stuck to it. Since none of us are keen about fashion or tech, our shopping was mostly around stationery and we had some fun.
5 Things We Would Tell Every Indian Family Planning This Trip
- Apply for the visa before you book anything else. Do not book attraction passes until you have visa confirmation in hand. Book cancellable hotels if travelling during off season as the prices might still be okay. Two weeks is the typical processing time; build that into your planning timeline.
- Use Travel Visa Xperts or a similarly professional agent. Self-applying is not an option for Indian nationals. A good agent makes the difference between a smooth 2-week approval and an anxious 3-week wait.
- Book Mandai directly, everything else through Klook. Our experience with Klook’s multi-park pass should be your warning. Mandai’s own website is clean, reliable, and allows you to book attraction slots at the time of purchase.
- Stay near an MRT station. The MRT is genuinely excellent: frequent, air-conditioned, easy to navigate for first-timers, and cheap. Your hotel’s MRT proximity will determine how much time you spend on transport vs. at places.
- Keep one day as a flexible day. We built Day 6 as an open day with no firm plan. This was one of our better decisions. After five full days of packed itineraries, the ability to move slowly, revisit somewhere, or simply roam a neighbourhood is needed. You always learn a lot about a place by walking around.
What Other Travelers Ask
Can Indian citizens apply for a Singapore visa directly?
No. Indian nationals cannot apply for a Singapore visa directly at the embassy. You must go through an accredited visa agent. We used Travel Visa Xperts in Bengaluru — the total cost was ₹3,000 per person, all inclusive, and the visa came through in 2 weeks.
How long does a Singapore visa take for Indians?
Approximately 2 weeks from the date of document submission to approval, when processed through an accredited agent in Bengaluru. The key to a smooth process is submitting all documents in the correct order and in complete form.
How many days is enough for Singapore with family?
For a family like ours, visiting Singapore for the first time, 6 days is the comfortable minimum and 7 days is ideal. We had 7 days and covered Gardens by the Bay, Universal Studios, Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Singapore Botanic Garden, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Merlion Park, Haji Lane, and Sultan Mosque — without feeling rushed. The key principle: plan fewer places per day and actually spend time at each one rather than rushing through a checklist.
Ramya
Ramya is the Itinerary Mastermind and travel planner for the family. She specializes in crafting efficient, culturally-rich trips, with a passion for India’s art, heritage sites, forests, and waterfalls. She brings the human emotion and logistical precision to their journeys.
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