Singapore Layover
Arriving in Singapore
When leaving the airport, go to the airport MRT station. This is the mass rapid transport system that connects all of Singapore.
Payment is made by a tap-on-tap-off system with most contactless cards. Each journey is $1.30 (GBP £0.76). You can also buy a Singapore Tourist Pass EZ-Link ticket for $17 (GBP £10) for the day, which includes discounts for a range of attractions, including the Gardens By the Bay.
Stop 1 - Fort Canning Park
From the airport, catch the Green MRT line to Expo and change onto the Blue line towards Bukit Panjang. Leave the train at Fort Canning station. This journey takes roughly 1hr.
In the heart of Singapore's CBD, Fort Canning Park is a beautiful park filled with history. Spend an hour or two exploring the park, including the famous Spice Garden and British Colonial buildings.
The Tiong Bahru Bakery is a great place to grab some breakfast.
Stop 2 - Singapore River
Exit Fort Canning Park onto River Valley Road and follow Read Street towards Singapore River. You'll pass through Clarke Quay shopping area, before reaching a bridge across the river.
From here you can choose to walk east along either the north side of the river (Clarke Quay) or the south side (Boat Quay) and admire the skyscrapers and local architecture.
After around a 20-minute walk you'll reach the mouth of the river and some of Singapore's most famous sights, including the Merlion and view across to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Stop 3 - Gardens by the Bay
From the Merlion, cross the Jubilee Bridge on foot, and follow the Waterfront Promenade around the marina and cross back towards Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay over the Helix Bridge.
From here you can explore the famous Gardens by the Bay, including the Supertree Grove, wetland areas and hundreds of different plant species. Two of the key attractions worth visiting are the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome ($59 SGD = £35 GBP), or get up high on the walkway through the Supertree Grove ($14 SGD = £9 GBP).
Stop 4 - Chinatown
From Bayfront MRT station next to the gardens, take the Blue line towards Sungei Bedok, getting off at Chinatown.
Chinatown is a beautiful area to walk around, filled with Chinese architecture and temples. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is free to enter and you can spend hours exploring the different levels, learning about the Singapore-Chinese culture.
As its probably getting towards evening time, you're already in the best part of town for a traditional Singaporean meal.
Evening in the Gardens
Depending on the time of your layover, the best way to finish your day in Singapore is to spend the evening around Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay.
As the sun is setting, head to the CÉ LA VI SKYBAR in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This costs $35 SGD (£21 GBP), but the entry cost is redeemable against food and drink. You can choose to eat here, or just get a cocktail or two, which would be affordable given the entry cost voucher. Note there is a smart casual dress code here.
After watching the sunset with a cocktail on top of Singapore's most iconic buildings, return to the gardens for the light show. This runs in the Supertree Grove at 7:45pm and 8:45pm every evening, and entry is free. The gardens are also lit up at night making them even more beautiful. This is by far one of the best experiences in Singapore!
From the Bayfront MRT station, you can get back to Changi Airport within 1-1.5hrs.
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