This article includes links to our travel partners at Tripadvisor, where you can read traveller reviews, book tours and plan your visit to Singapore.
As a hub for Asian travel, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) has taken extra measures to make layovers in Singapore an enjoyable breeze. Travellers with a layover over five hours should consider stepping out of the impressive terminals and embarking on a guided or self-directed tour of the remarkable city center. The airport offers free two-hour city tours, though public and private transit makes reaching the major sights easy, quick and inexpensive. While the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay are among the most glitzy and impressive destinations, there are also a few relaxing and low-key options, including the Botanic Gardens and the countless fish-based spas.
Airport Overview
Singapore Changi International Airport is consistently ranked a favourite among travellers participating in our annual Best Airport Survey. Layovers of less than five hours are happily spent exploring the depths of this world-class airport. The five airport gardens are a few relaxing places to visit, and the entertainment options are plentiful. Couple that with Wi-Fi and snooze chairs, and this Singapore layover is off to a good start. For more information on the airport, check out our Singapore Changi Airport Guide.
Singapore Sightseeing Attractions
Below are a few of the top things to do in Singapore:
Transit Tour
Together, Singapore Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines offer a FREE two-hour city tour to people with layovers of a minimum of 4 hours. A Heritage Tour and a City Sights Tour run at select times during the day. Registration can be completed at the airport at the Free Singapore Tours desks in Terminals 2 and 3.
Marina Bay
A spin through Marina Bay is an exercise in extravagance and modernity. The area is most famous for the Integrated Resort Marina Bay Sands, which houses the city’s largest casino and shopping mall. With gondola rides, skyscrapers and the world’s highest rooftop pool (on the 57th floor!), this resort is sure to amaze. Within Marina Bay, you will also find several spas offering the city’s famous fish pedicure, where Garra rufa fish nibble away at dead skin. Be sure to walk along the massive pedestrian Helix Bridge as you wander the perimeter of this DNA-inspired piece of architecture, pausing on the viewing platforms for stunning glimpses of the Singapore Skyline.
- Time Required: For some, visiting Marina Bay is a multi-day adventure. For layover purposes, we recommend budgeting at least 2 hours to explore a few areas of the park – though more time is always better. Note that this does not include travel time to and from the airport.
- How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options and the required time.
- Plan Your Visit: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about visiting Marina Bay, book a tour or read traveller reviews.
Singapore Flyer
Soar to the height of a 42-storey building as you circle on the world’s largest observation wheel: the Singapore Flyer. From the peak of the wheel, you will get some of the best panoramas of the city possible – with bird’s eye views of Marina Bay, the Singapore River, Empress Place and the Padang. Each capsule holds up to 28 people and serves cocktails, snacks and beverages during unique experience rides. Round off the experience with a 1-hour tour through the Journey of Dreams – a multi-media exhibit that shares the story of the wheel’s development about the city’s history, culture and aspirations. Discounts are available if you book ahead online.
- Time Required: each rotation on the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes, and you should also budget 15 – 20 minutes for wait times in line. Add another hour to visit the Journey of Dreams exhibit. Note that this does not include travel time to and from the airport.
- How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options and the required time.
- Plan Your Visit: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about visiting the Singapore Flyer, book a tour or read traveller reviews.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Craving some fresh air on your layover rather than the intensity of this world city? A trip to the planet’s most extensive botanic gardens may be the perfect antidote to a long Singapore layover. With over 600,000 specimens enclosed within the 74-hectare perimeter, these trails will help you unwind amidst the explosive gardens. Walking trails run throughout, carrying you through the Tanglin Heritage Core, the central belt of the Gardens and Bukit Timah, and the educational and discovery zone. The gardens also provide an interesting peek into the city’s history and development since they were founded in the early 1800s.
- Time Required: Exploring the full breadth of the botanical gardens could take a lifetime. We might recommend a minimum of an hour to explore at least a section of the park. Free guided walking tours are run on Saturday mornings and afternoons. Note that this time estimate does not include travel time to and from the airport.
- How to Get There: Check out this Google Map for details on public and private transit options and the required time.
- Plan Your Visit: Visit Tripadvisor for more information about visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens, book a tour or read traveller reviews.
Airport Transportation
Singapore Changi (SIN) is connected to the city through several means. Driving in private transport to the city center covers 11 miles. Taxis take in the neighbourhood of 30 minutes, while public transit takes closer to an hour.
Public transit options include:
- Buses (stations at Terminals 1, 2 and 3): Bus Service 36 connects the terminals to the city center.
- Metro (Terminals 2 and 3): The MRT also connects the airport to the city center via the Tanah Merah station.
Private transit options include:
- Airport Shuttles: The transit desk organizes fixed-fare shuttles to most downtown locations.
- Car Rentals: Rental desks are in the Arrivals Halls of Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
- Taxis: Available at the Arrivals Halls of all airport terminals.
- Free Business Park Shuttles: Changi offers free shuttles between the Changi Business Park and the airport
Before You Go: Layover Tips
Now that you are motivated and excited about your mini layover vacation, check a few final logistical concerns off your list before you fully commit.
- Do you need to organize a visa to leave the airport? Requirements change frequently and for each nationality, so be sure to seek out current details on the availability, cost, and procedures of obtaining a transit visa.
- When is your next flight’s check-in time? Double-check with your airline exactly when you need to be at the airport – and plan your layover accordingly.
- What are security wait times like at the airport? Some airports are notorious for extended security wait times, so research in advance and factor that into your overall time budget.
- What’s happening with your luggage? When you check in to your first flight, confirm whether your luggage is checked through or needs to be picked up between your connecting flights. Visit our Singapore Changi Airport Guide for information on Luggage Storage.
Other Useful Resources
Finally, here are a few handy resources to help you plan your layover even more thoroughly:
- Changi Airport Transport Information
- Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (Bus and Metro) Information
- Tripadvisor – Need more sightseeing ideas? Visit Things to Do in Singapore to plan a tour or the Singapore Travel Forum to check out past threads to see what other travellers have shared about sightseeing during long layovers at Changi Airport and post your questions.