🇸🇬🇲🇾🇹🇭 Singapore vs. Kuala Lumpur vs. Bangkok: which one first on your Asia trip from Europe?

Planning your first long-haul trip to Asia from Europe?
The classic triangle is Singapore → Kuala Lumpur → Bangkok.
But the question is simple: which city should you start with?

This guide compares the three destinations in travel comfort, prices, food, safety, transport, and flight options — and gives you the perfect order for a 10–14-day trip from Europe.

✈️ 1. Flights from Europe (which city is cheapest to start?)

Singapore (SIN)

• Usually the most expensive to fly into
• Extremely reliable airport
• Great connections from Zurich, Munich, Vienna
• Typical return: €650–900

Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

• One of the cheapest long-haul entries into Southeast Asia
• Perfect for smart stopovers (Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul)
• Typical return: €450–650

Bangkok (BKK)

• Best mix of price + frequency + airlines
• Direct flights from Vienna
• Typical return: €450–700

Winner for cheapest start:
👉 Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok

💰 2. Cost level (daily budget comparison)

Cheapest city: Kuala Lumpur
Most expensive: Singapore (hotel prices mainly)

🛏 3. Best areas to stay

Singapore

• Marina Bay → iconic views
• Bugis → affordable + central
• Orchard → shopping

Kuala Lumpur

• Bukit Bintang → nightlife + malls
• KLCC → Petronas Towers
• Chow Kit → budget

Bangkok

• Sukhumvit → modern + easy
• Riverside → luxury
• Silom → food + nightlife

🚇 4. Transport & convenience

Singapore

✔ Best public transport
✔ Perfect for first-timers
✔ Super clean & organised
❌ Most expensive

Kuala Lumpur

✔ Cheap taxis
✔ Easy Grab
❌ Public transport weaker

Bangkok

✔ BTS/MRT excellent
❌ Traffic can be brutal
✔ Lots of options

🍜 5. Food & nightlife

Singapore

• Hawker centres
• Cleanest + safest
• Controlled nightlife

Kuala Lumpur

• Malaysian + Indian + Chinese mix
• Cheaper than SG
• Great café culture

Bangkok

• Street food paradise
• Largest nightlife
• Most variety

Best food: Bangkok
Best cafés: KL
Best hygiene: Singapore

🗺 6. Which order is best for a 10–14-day trip?

Best recommended order if flying from Europe:

Option A — Most comfortable

🇸🇬 Singapore → KL → Bangkok 🇹🇭
(reason: start easy → finish with fun)

Option B — Cheapest

🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur → Bangkok → Singapore 🇸🇬
(reason: cheapest inbound flight)

Option C — Only 10 days

🇹🇭 Bangkok → Singapore → KL
(reason: best flight timings)

📅 Example itinerary (12 days)

Days 1–4 – Singapore

• Marina Bay
• Gardens by the Bay
• Chinatown
• Sentosa
• Night Safari

Days 4–7 – Kuala Lumpur

• Petronas Towers
• Batu Caves
• Bukit Bintang
• Little India
• Food markets

Days 7–12 – Bangkok

• Wat Pho
• Wat Arun
• Floating markets
• Rooftop bars
• Shopping at ICONSIAM

💡 Smart tips

• Use Grab in KL and Bangkok
• Singapore = use MRT
• Book hotels earlier for Singapore (prices jump!)
• KL–SG trains are slow → fly (cheap!)
• KL–Bangkok has many low-cost flights
• Singapore is great for jetlag adjustment

🧳 Who should start where?

Start in Singapore if:

• It’s your first time in Asia
• You want order, cleanliness, comfort
• You like premium travel

Start in Kuala Lumpur if:

• You want the cheapest flights
• You prefer variety + food
• Budget matters

Start in Bangkok if:

• You want nightlife + energy
• You like big cities
• You want flexible onward connections

⭐ Final recommendation

For most European travellers:

👉 Start in Singapore → KL → Bangkok
Perfect mix of comfort → culture → freedom.