Long Layover at Singapore, Sorted!

For our trip to South Korea, we had two layovers at Singapore Changi Airport spanning over 24 Hours. Therefore, we had plenty of time to do whatever we wanted in Singapore and as it was my first time in the city, I thought why not share all the things we did and all the things I would recommend? So, let’s talk about my top five tips for spending over five hours' layover in Singapore!

Tip 1: Experience the Jewel

The Jewel is a huge mall that can be easily accessed through the terminals at Changi Airport. It hosts a wide variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It is a beautiful way to experience the Singaporean culture and other things that you might not be able to experience in your home country. We ate ramen, cheese ice cream, donuts, and chips. The Jewel also has theatres, and walks, and little places that allow you to see the Jewel Rain Vortex, the tallest indoor waterfall, in full view. If you’re feeling extra bored, check out some of the attractions at Canopy Park! It’s located at the top level of the Jewel with plenty of things to do. We didn’t go but according to Jewel Changi Airport it costs around 8.00 SGD for one ticket and this includes access to Discovery Slides, Foggy Bowls, Petal Garden and Topiary Walk. The Jewel is truly magnificent and if you're worried about having to carry your hand luggage around, then Smarte Carte has a baggage storage area for 6.00 to 19.00 SGD, depending on the size of your bag.

Tip 2: Visit the Gardens by The Bay

The Gardens by the Bay is one of the most famous attractions in Singapore. These structures are home to vertical gardens that come to life at night with stunning light shows and music. They are located at Marina Bay, a place accessible by public transport and walking. The Gardens have so many attractions to keep you occupied, like the Cloud Forest, the Flower Dome, and the Floral Fantasy, and there are many walkways to see it all. Whether you want to see it during the day or at night, it's perfect. And no matter if you visit it all or simply watch it from a distance, the Gardens by the Bay is a fantastic sight to see when stopping by Singapore. On our layover, we watched the Gardens by the Bay light show from the Marina Bay Hotel as it had a viewing point to watch it from. Although it was from a distance, you could really marvel at its beauty.

Tip 3: Visit the Esplanade

The Esplanade is also known as the Theatres on the Bay as it features a diverse range of performances and really immerses you in the arts. The Esplanade is located near the mouth of the Singapore River and can be reached by public transport and walking. The Esplanade is perfect for art enthusiasts, or anyone interested in arts or just keen to watch a beautiful performance by the many artists who perform at the Esplanade. There are approximately 3,000 performances yearly, of which 70% are free. They have indoor and outdoor theatres, so you can enjoy the weather while watching a performance. The performances take place during the day as well as at night. The Esplanade also has a mall that overlooks the beautiful Marina Bay and features a large number of shops, exhibitions and restaurants that can keep you entertained. It is a truly immersive space that cannot be missed if you want to experience a fun atmosphere.

Tip 4: Take a Walk around the City

Singapore is a marvellous place where you can truly see where nature meets the city. You can take a brisk walk through the city and experience its food, architecture, and culture. Singapore has a spectacular skyline and many sights like the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer and the Lotus Flower. Even if you are only on a layover for a few hours, it is very easy to take the train and walk around the city, which is exactly what we did. Your credit card can be turned into a transport card, and you can take the train to City Hall. It is hard to get lost in this city because of the big attractions that serve as markers. But if you do get lost, there are always Singaporean locals who can help you!

Tip 5: Explore Changi Airport

Even if you don’t want to leave the airport, there are tons of things to do and explore at the airport. Changi Airport has four terminals interconnected through Skytrains, which come every few minutes and are super quick and accessible. Changi Airport is also home to so many stores, restaurants, and entertainment places that it can take many hours just to see everything. Even if you didn't visit the stores, you would be so impressed by the elegant and stylish shopfronts that you would end up taking many photos. There are chairs at the airport where you can rest and sleep, and playgrounds for children and movie theatres for free! On our layover, we watched Hotel Transylvania: Transformania at their 24-hour free movie theatre, where we were able to relax, enjoy and eat chips as we watched it. They show different movies and it is an excellent way to wind down and spend time at Changi Airport. Changi Airport also has a butterfly garden, discovery gardens, and multiple art pieces along the way.

These are all my tips for having a layover at Singapore Airport. I loved every second of our layover! Whether you are there for a little while or for quite some time, I hope you enjoy the airport and its surroundings as we did. And safe travels!

About the Author

Cheska is a high school student and loves reading, watching movies and baking! She has been traveling with her family ever since a young age for their shared love of travel. Cheska has travelled in many places all over Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. Her dream is to visit every single continent and the Seven Natural Wonders of the World!