5D4N Malaysia and Singapore Adventure Itinerary

If you've been dreaming of exploring Malaysia and Singapore this year, why not combine both countries in one trip? Check out your 5-day, 4-night itinerary covering both Malaysia and Singapore curated by Nguyễn Duy Anh to pocket for your own adventure! After reading this itinerary, you won't feel lost anymore.

People say it's impossible, that there's not much to do, just sightseeing...

But I decided to do it. Because:

• Explore two new countries in just one trip.

• Maximize time as office schedules make it challenging to take long vacations. Combining two neighboring countries is a practical solution.

• Cost-effective: Considering Singapore's high expenses, opting to fly to Malaysia first is a sensible choice. Costs in Malaysia are much more budget-friendly.

• Include Malacca for its beautiful, historic charm. Conveniently located between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, making travel and exploration seamless.

• Seize the opportunity to embark on a crazy adventure with a trusted companion.

Finally, our 5-day, 4-night journey to Malaysia and Singapore concluded with a complete and enriching experience.

Thanks to abundant online information and helpful insights from fellow travelers, I felt more confident in planning and executing our journey.

Our trip was about minimizing costs without compromising comfort. No sleeping on the streets or surviving on instant noodles. We enjoyed proper flights, good food, and fun activities. Here, I share the practical details based on our research and real experiences.

⏰Time: For travel enthusiasts like me, the timing isn't crucial. If I find affordable tickets, I book and go. Weather is unpredictable, and I can't control it.

✈️Flights: The key is reasonable prices and weekend flights. I chose to fly to Malaysia first and return from Singapore. Purchased an additional 20kg baggage for the return journey to accommodate shopping.

🏡Accommodation: Traveling in a group of six, I aimed for shared rooms for convenience. Knowing Singapore's high accommodation costs, I opted for a bit of luxury in Malaysia.

• In Kuala Lumpur: Prefer areas like KL Sentral, KLCC, Bukit Bintang for accommodation.

• In Malacca: Due to its historical nature, finding a room for six people here can be challenging. Opt for accommodation near Jonker Walk and Dutch Square for convenience.

• In Singapore: Choose rooms near MRT subway stations (as subway travel will be primary) in areas like Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Orchard, Bugis. Due to the high cost, we opted for a 6-bed dorm with shared facilities. The room is small but sufficient for our sleep-only needs.

🚌Getting Around:

• In Kuala Lumpur: While there's an elevated train, buying tickets for each leg is inconvenient. Trains are small and often crowded. From KLIA2 airport to the city, take the Express train (55RM/person) or bus (10RM/person) from the ground floor to KL Sentral. From there, you can continue by train or grab to your accommodation.

• In Malacca: As there's no train, we mostly used Grab for transportation. Grab is affordable, especially when choosing a 6-seater, saving on transportation costs.

• In Singapore: Primarily by MRT subway and bus, as taxis and Grab are expensive. For subway and bus travel, you need an Ezlink or Nets flash pay card (available at MRT stations for 12$SG, including a 5$ card fee and 7$ for travel). Alternatively, you can borrow or rent cards, or buy from recent travelers. The minimum top-up for travel is 10$, with the lowest MRT fare starting from 0.77$ and increasing based on distance. Bus travel is straightforward with Google Maps on hand.

• Kuala Lumpur – Malacca – Singapore: Travel by coach. Consider planning to choose a suitable departure time as prepaid tickets are challenging to change. You can also buy tickets at the bus station, but it's risky if you want to stick to your planned schedule.

📱4G SIM and Wifi: It's truly essential. I opted to buy a SIM card to insert into one device and provide wifi for others. The SIM also comes in handy for contacting Grab drivers.

• In Malaysia: I chose to buy a SIM through Klook, picking it up at the store right at KLIA2 airport for 138k with unlimited data, offering stable performance.

• In Singapore: Since we didn't land at the airport, I bought a SIM in Vietnam for 240k, allowing immediate use upon arriving in Singapore.

🌅Tickets and Attractions: I purchased tickets through Klook, Gardens by the Bay (including admission to Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) for 325k/person, Universal Studio Singapore (access to all park attractions) for 1 million/person (prices after applying Klook promo codes).

💵Currency Exchange: Malaysian Ringgit (1 RM = 5,850 VND), Singapore Dollar (1 SGD = 17,250 VND). Plan a reasonable amount for exchange, as having excess currency may result in a loss when selling back. Consider exchanging a small amount of USD just in case, as it's easily convertible and minimizes the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. If you don't spend it all, head to the duty-free area at Changi Airport for some last-minute shopping.

😜The most concerning issue is immigration. However, it's not too worrisome if you prepare thoroughly and clearly demonstrate that your purpose is tourism. I printed a set for fellow travelers, including: return flight tickets, hotel booking confirmation, coach tickets, entrance tickets to attractions, games, and a well-planned itinerary for the trip. Also, have enough cash to cover expenses (after deducting pre-paid amounts). When traveling in a group, passing through is quite straightforward. Just stand in line, present all required documents, and be prepared to answer some simple customs questions (where, how many days, with whom, where are you staying, etc.). The key is to show confidence, greet warmly, and smile (for ladies, avoid heavy makeup and dress modestly).

– Petronas Twin Tower (near MRT KLCC): The symbol of Kuala Lumpur. Be ready with a fisheye lens for your phone to capture the entire twin towers (there are sellers here, but the prices are quite high). You can also visit the KLCC Mall and cross over to KLCC Park.

– Chinatown (near MRT Plaza Rakyat): Most famous for Jalan Petaling, a street known for affordable shopping, souvenirs, and food. Try Hokkien fried noodles at Kim Lian Kee (you can search the name on Google Maps).

– Bukit Bintang (near MRT Bukit Bintang): This is a lively area for entertainment and shopping, notably Pavilion Mall and Lot10 (on the ground floor, Lot 10 Hutong food court features HoWeng Kee for wanton noodles, Campbell Mini Popiah for spring rolls, and Kim Lian Kee for Hokkien Mee noodles - though I haven't had a chance to try them yet due to being full), and there's KOI bubble tea for those interested! 🥤

– Jalan Alor Street: Located in Bukit Bintang, this is a vibrant night dining street with nearly all of Malaysia's dishes. It's famous for its small and fragrant durians, but they come at a high price (120-150k per pod)

– Merdeka Square (near MRT KL Sentral): This square boasts many beautiful landmarks, perfect for photo opportunities.

– Central Market (400m from Merdeka Square, opens at 10 am): Explore and shop at this market (famous for durian chocolate, a great souvenir)

– Terminal Bersepadu Selatan Bus Terminal: This main bus terminal in Kuala Lumpur is as clean as an airport terminal. Exchange your pre-booked Malacca tickets from easybook at the counter and board the bus to Malacca (2 hours journey)

– Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal: This is the central bus terminal in Malacca. The bus will stop at this terminal (located in the city center). It's also the departure point for buses heading to Singapore.

– Dutch Square: The red-painted buildings make for fantastic photos. You can try chicken rice balls at Famosa Chicken Rice Ball Restaurant on 21 Jalan Hang Jebat, or enjoy a drink at Baboon House café inspired by Hoi An at 89 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock ☕️

– Jalan Hang Lekir Street (convergence of 4 religions on the same street) including Cheng Hoon Teng Confucian Temple, Masjid Kampong Kling Mosque, Sri Poyyatha Moorthi Hindu Temple, and Kito Tamil Methodist Church.

– Jonker Walk: A lively night street for entertainment. Here, you can try spicy laksa noodles and cendol dessert at Jonker88 (88 Jalan Hang Jebat), and Duria Buff durian pastries at Taste Better (106 Jalan Hang Jebat)

– Departure to Singapore from Melaka Sentral, takes just over 2 hours to reach the Malaysian border crossing (at Johor Bahru). Move to the 2nd floor for a quick and simple exit procedure (the bus will wait about 20-30 minutes on the other side). Continue the journey to the Singapore border crossing (at Woodland). On the bus, the driver will provide a Singapore entry form for you to fill out. At the Singapore border, the driver will ask you to disembark, collect your luggage, and go to the immigration area on the 2nd floor. The process is straightforward and fast if you are confident and have the necessary documents. The bus will be waiting below to continue the journey to the city center of Singapore.

– Marina Bay Area (near MRT Bayfront): Includes Merlion Park with the iconic Merlion statue, Esplanade Theatre (the durian-shaped theater), the standing Ferris wheel Singapore Flyer, and the Marina Bay Sands building.

– Gardens by the Bay (walking distance from Merlion Park, about 800m, passing through the beautiful Helix Bridge): Since tickets were booked in advance, just show the code on your phone to enter the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome (truly worth the money). At 7:45 PM daily, the famous Supertree Grove area hosts a spectacular light and sound show (about 15 minutes)

– Chinatown Area (near MRT Chinatown): Explore the Chinese district (Pagoda Str. and Temple Str.), where you can buy many inexpensive souvenirs (compared to the general price level in Singapore). You can also indulge in the famous Chilli Crab with chili sauce, available at many reasonably priced restaurants, costing around $30-40/crab (600g) for 2-3 people (if you can't make it to the famous ones) 🦀🦀🦀

– Universal Studios Singapore: The most famous amusement park in Singapore on Sentosa Island. To get here, take the subway to MRT Harbour Front at Vivo City. There are two ways to reach USS:

+ Take the Sentosa Express train, go to the 3rd floor of Vivo City to catch the train for $4/person, then get off at WaterFront station, which is the entrance to USS (return journey is free)

+ We chose to walk along the BoardWalk on the 1st floor of Vivo City, a 800m-long walkway with escalators and shade, free of charge. It's a comfortable walk, offering beautiful views without spending money. Remember to check in at the famous USS globe

USS opens at 10 AM, present the pre-purchased USS voucher at the entrance for check-in and grab a map for guidance. Dive into USS (spending about 5 hours or more here). To make the most of your money, focus on the thrilling and intense rides (expect long queues, so try to avoid weekends)

+ Transformers The Ride – The Ultimate 3D in the Sci-fi City zone: wear 3D glasses

+ Human & Cylon in the Sci-fi City zone: high-speed flying coaster (there's a free baggage drop for 45 minutes, exceeding the time will cost $4 for 20 minutes)

+ Explore Revenge of the Mummy in the Ancient Egypt zone: delve into the Egyptian tomb with many exciting surprises

+ Visit Jurassic Park in the Lost World zone: be prepared to get wet on the water slide, consider bringing raincoats from Vietnam (available there for $5 each)

+ Experience Canopy Flyer in the Lost World zone: enjoy a thrilling flight with scenic views

+ Additionally, there are many activities for children, film screenings, and street festivals (scheduled at specific hours)

Lunch can be enjoyed at the Lost World area – the only affordable dining venue, Discovery Food Court (around $11.5/dish)

– Orchard Road (near MRT Orchard and Somerset): a 2km shopping paradise with numerous malls such as Orchard Central, 313@Somerset Mall, Ngee Ann City (featuring Takashimaya food court on B2), ION Orchard. Shopping here with a single receipt exceeding $100 in a day qualifies for tax refund at the airport.

– Explore Geylang area (near MRT Kallang): renowned for frog porridge at Lion City (235 Geylang) priced at $25/pot for 2 people, and spicy crab at No Signboard Seafood restaurant (414 Geylang Rd).

– Visit Boat Quay area: a lively night dining district by the river, enjoy beer with a view, priced at $4-5/bottle 🍻🍻

– Little India area (near MRT Bugis): famous for Haji Lane, a perfect spot for Instagram-worthy photos (preferably visit in the morning to avoid crowds).

– Changi Airport (MRT Changi Airport): the subway only goes to Terminal 2, for Vietjet flights, find the free shuttle bus (according to signs) to transfer to nearby Terminal 4. Terminal 4 operates automatic departure procedures. The duty-free area here is a paradise for luxury shopping, offering a wide range of renowned brands in clothing, footwear, perfumes, cosmetics, etc. Pay attention to the time to avoid missing the flight due to shopping.

💰EXPENSES (excluding shopping): $8,935 per person. Breakdown:

– Flight ticket: $2,850

– Accommodation cost: $1,420

– Bus tickets: $230

– Entrance fees and entertainment: $1,325

– Transportation, meals, and SIM card: $3,120

– Taxi expenses (Noi Bai Airport) and additional luggage purchase: $190