Singapore is an ideal place for an extended layover on a long journey. And it’s not just because you can explore the award-winning Jewel at Changi Airport! In fact, we booked our tickets so we’d have an 18-hour layover in Singapore on purpose to leave the airport and explore the city. This little Singapore stopover guide will help you make the most of your time.
This post may contain affiliate links. Bookings or purchases through these links generate a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Booking your layover in Singapore
Usually a long layover is something you do to save money on flights or because you have no other option. But planning a long layover in Singapore is actually a brilliant way to get out and explore the city. A mini vacation on your vacation, if you will.
With 18 hours to play with, you can experience a slice of the city, grab some iconic food, and still have time to check out the Jewel before your next flight.
How we timed our journey
It’s not worth doing an 18-hour layover in Singapore if you’re going to be there overnight. So when selecting our flights we made sure they lined up well. We landed at 6:10 AM and had all day to explore until our evening flight at 9:30 PM.
6:10 AM is obviously a bit early, but by the time you’re off the plane, clear customs, and catch the train, it’s closer to 8 AM before you’re actually in the city. Just in time for a Singaporean breakfast to start the day.
Read more: How to Use Seats.aero for Cheap International Flights
Getting from Changi Airport to the city
This could literally not be any easier. Singapore is super well-connected by public transport and everything runs efficiently and on time.
While you still want to give yourself a good window of time to get back to the airport to catch your flight, it’s very unlikely that you’ll have significant delays or struggle to get around.
- Take the MRT (train). You can go straight from Changi Airport into the city. And it’s fast, clean, and budget-friendly — easily the best transport option. It’ll take about 30–45 minutes to reach Chinatown or Marina Bay in the city. You don’t even need a special train card or ticket, you can just tap your credit card to open the gates. Expect to pay about 3 SGD.
- Use Grab. Grab is just like Uber. And I suggest downloading the app before you get to the airport because you’ll need to do a couple of verification things before you can use it. (There is no Uber in Singapore.) Expect to pay about 25 SGD to reach the city.
- Take a taxi. There’s not really any point in pulling Singapore dollars for such a short trip. Fortunately, most taxis will accept card, but be sure to double check before you get in. Expect to pay about 30 SGD to 50 SGD for the trip into the city.
What to do with your luggage
Your bags will go straight through to your final destination if your layover is part of the same booking. So you won’t have to waste time waiting at the baggage carousel or lug them around the city, which makes things even easier.
If you’ve organized your long layover by paying for two separate tickets, that’s still fine. There is the Smarte Carte baggage storage service at Changi Airport that’s available in every terminal and the Jewel. Storage rates ranged from about 6 SGD to 20 SGD depending on how big of a locker you need.
Having instant internet access when we landed and throughout the day made our lives so much easier! There are so many eSIM companies out there, and I’ve covered all the pros and cons of different ones in this article. But you’ll definitely want one.
Activities for your Singapore layover itinerary
If it’s your first time in the city, you’ve gotta use this short layover in Singapore to visit the most iconic sites. And if you’ve been before, you’ll know there’s an endless amount of cool things to tick off, so here’s some inspo.
ArtScience Museum (Future World)
Ok I’ve listed this first because if you’re trying to get to Future World, you need to make the ArtScience Museum your first stop. We chose to do the Singapop! exhibit instead when we went because it was in honour of Singapore’s 60th birthday and we love a bit of history/culture.
But Future World is a more immersive experience with crazy lights, vibrant projections, and more cool stuff that’s visually pleasing. As it’s very Instagrammable, the line was long to get in — even on a Tuesday morning. So if you can get there when the ArtScience Museum opens, you should be able to avoid a long queue.
If you don’t care about Future World, I’d head to Gardens by the Bay first. And you can always check out the other rotating exhibits on at the ArtScience Museum that aren’t as touristy.
If you don’t care about Future World, head straight to Gardens of the Bay.
Artscience Museum booking tip
Make sure you get your tickets on Klook in advance. (Like, specifically Klook.) Even when we got to the museum’s ticket booth they told us to get our tickets online. It was kinda weird, but I think we saved $5 each? And if you do it before you get there it’ll make the entry process smoother.
Inside Future World, ArtScience Museum
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay is a 10-minute walk from the Bayfront MRT station. And if you went to the ArtScience Museum first, you can easily walk to Gardens by the Bay in about 10 minutes. Here’s what to do around here:
Cloud Forest
If you only do one activity at Gardens by the Bay, make it this one. It’s a gigantic indoor flower garden with tall indoor waterfalls and walkways that snake through several levels of lush green garden. This was a highlight for me.
Flower Dome
More flowers! This is more of a classic-ish botanical garden with different themed areas. But just like the Cloud Forest, it’s indoors and massive.
Floral Fantasy
Another Instagrammable attraction with flower installations hanging from the ceiling, Pixar characters covered in flowers, and a 4D ride. (I didn’t do this, so I have no idea what it entails.) But you can be sure it’s all very aesthetic.
Supertree Observatory/Skyway
Following the Skyway through the “trees” is a fun way to see some of the city’s iconic buildings. But if you’re on a budget, the structures look pretty epic from the ground, so you can just walk around below them to save time and/or money.
They look best when lit up at night. But if you have a plane to catch in the evening you might not be able to do both. (The sun sets in Singapore at 7 PM basically year-round because it’s so close to the equator.)
Marina Bay Waterfront
Walk around the rest of the Marina and take in Singapore’s iconic skyline. Some of the most unique buildings/statues include:
- The Merlion
- Marina Bay Sands (the hotel shaped like a boat across three towers)
- The Helix Bridge
- The ArtScience Museum
- The dome-shaped Apple Store
- The Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel
You might also consider a river cruise if it’s nice weather out! They’re usually just under an hour, so you’ll still have lots of time for more activities on your short layover in Singapore.
And if you want to feel like you’re on top of the world, you can get up to the SkyPark Observation Deck at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel for epic views. I’ve never done this, but it’s highly rated.
Outside the ArtScience Museum | Merlion
Tip
The mall is just a mall, but it’s a very nice air conditioned mall. So make sure you walk through it rather than outdoors if you can for a little break from the heat. The Bayfront MRT station is inside the mall.
Chinatown is a must on your layover in Singapore
Chinatown is an awesome part of the city, especially if you want to eat some amazing food and pick up cool souvenirs. The hawker markets (Singaporean food courts) don’t open until around 10 AM. The market’s not in full swing yet either, so plan to head here for lunch.
You can’t go wrong with any of the hawker markets, just wander around until you find something that appeals to you. (And everyone says: the longer the line, the better the food.) Sooo many dishes are just a few bucks and it’ll be the best meal(s) of your life.
Some local foods I suggest you try:
- Water chestnut juice (my fave)
- Kopi (strong coffee with optional condensed milk)
- Kaya toast (for breakfast)
- Hainan chicken
- Singaporean lahksa
- Satay skewers
- Chili crab
- Pandan cake
- Durian fruit (if you’re feeling brave!)
It’s just a vibe. And the Chinatown MRT station will take you right into the bustling centre. There’s some great street art around so keep your eyes peeled.
Trying durian | Hainan chicken, satay skewers
Some optional Singapore activities
I mean, everything I’ve included in this article is optional. But I’ve separated these ones because they’re either going to take up a big chunk of time or skyrocket your budget. But they’re still possible within the constrains of a one-day layover.
Singapore Zoo
I’m always a bit hesitant to go to a zoo because I don’t want to spend money on activities that keep animals in cages. But the Singapore Zoo is one of the best in the world and is well-known for its conservation efforts. The habitats had unique designs and animals were rarely (if ever?) behind glass. There’s a really cute little informational train ride that takes you around the zoo and then you’re free to explore on your own.
Definitely recommend. But the Singapore zoo is obviously not downtown. Getting there, whether you take public transport or order a Grab car, will eat into your day. And you don’t want to be rushed when exploring the zoo! So if you’re an animal lover, I suggest making this your main and maybe even only activity on your one-day Singapore layover. An adult day pass is 49 SGD; kids 34 SGD.
Raffles Hotel
I’ve listed this separately because it’s kind of only worth it if it feels like a bucket list thing for you. You can get a famous Singapore Sling at basically any bar in the city. But the Raffles is said to be where the cocktail was invented. The hotel has been around since the 1800s and is still stunning, but it’s by no means a hidden gem.
When we tried to go there was a 30-minute wait to get in, and they don’t take reservations for the bar. With limited time, it might be one to save for your next visit.
Hilton's Estate Buffet
Some consider this the best (and most luxurious) buffet experience in the world. While dining at the Hilton in Singapore will come with a hefty price tag, you’ll definitely walk away happy and too full to bother with microwaved plane food.
If you’re there on a Sunday, go for the Lobster, Wagyu, and Champagne Brunch. Just make sure you dress the part and make a reservation in advance. It’ll run you a whopping 220 SGD per person including the unlimited Champagne. But money is for experiences, ya know?
Sentosa Island
Tbh, this one feels risky to me. Something about going to a whole-nother island when you’re on a short layover doesn’t sit right with me. However, it’s still very possible. There are many ways to get to the island, including a cable car, train (but not MRT), Grab/taxi, or even just walking 15 minutes from the mainland. Once your on the island, buses and beach trams are free.
Here are some top activities for Sentosa Island during your Singapore layover:
- Singapore Oceanarium
- Universal Studios Singapore
- Fort Siloso
- Adventure Cove Waterpark
- Just be sure to consider whether it’s worth having a wet bathing suit in your carry-on luggage
Tips for your 1-day Singapore layover
- Select flights carefully. Make sure your stopover is between reasonable hours when things will be open.
- Pack light or use luggage storage at Changi Airport. You’ll move around more easily if you can get away with a light backpack.
- Prepare for the heat. Singapore is basically 30°C year-round, with super high humidity to match. Wear comfortable, light clothing and bring a water bottle.
- Leave time for the Jewel. When heading back to the airport from the city, set aside at least an hour to explore the Jewel. It’s why Changi is consistently rated the best airport on Earth. And it has the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Estimated Singapore layover budget
In my experience, the most expensive part about visiting Singapore is the accommodation. It’s hard to find a hotel for under 100 USD per night. So a little day trip is the perfect solution!
Eat at hawker markets, take public transport, and splurge on one or two activities and you can have a perfectly affordable experience. You can easily spend under 60 USD per person on a short layover in Singapore.
I use TravelSpend to track my expenses on every trip. As you can see, food was kind of our main event.
We spent 216 NZD (123 USD) between two of us