Singapore Stopover Guide: Maximising your Layover Experience

Singapore’s strategic location in Southeast Asia makes it a common stopover point for Australian travellers venturing onwards to other destinations in Asia, Europe, and beyond. Layovers can be a hidden gem in your travel plans, especially when you get to stop in Singapore.

Singapore Changi Airport is rated among the best in the world, with some travellers even seeing it as an attraction in and of itself. Whether you have a few hours or a full day or more, Singapore's combination of its world-class airport and attractions can turn your layover into an exciting mini vacation within a vacation.

Let us show you how to maximise your Singapore stopover to help make your brief stay as enjoyable as your final destination. And consider buying travel insurance to ensure peace of mind throughout your journey.

Because Changi Airport is a major international travel hub, layovers in Singapore are quite common. Layovers can range anywhere from a few hours to more than a day, so what you will be able to do in and around Singapore will largely depend on the timing of your layover. Of course, you can intentionally adjust your flights to ensure you make time for a generous stopover of a day or more to check out the city in greater detail.

Airlines such as Qantas and Singapore Airlines offer extensive routes that connect Australia to Singapore and beyond, so planning a stopover or layover is readily available. Making things even easier is the fact Singapore offers visa-free entry for Aussies, allowing you to freely leave the airport and explore the city during a layover.

For layovers of a few hours, your best bet is simply hanging around the airport and checking out the many attractions and amenities it offers which we will cover shortly. Half-day layovers may allow you the chance to check out main city sights like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, or Orchard Road and its famous shopping.

Stopovers of a day or longer will allow you to enjoy the theme parks of Sentosa or places like the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the National Museum of Singapore.

Changi Airport is almost like a mini city itself. For starters, there are wonderful transit hotels and lounges available for passengers needing rest during long layovers. There are also endless dining options, offering delicious Singaporean dishes as well as a broad range of international cuisine.

If you are looking to relax, you’ll find spas, a rooftop swimming pool, and a jacuzzi. There are also several indoor play areas for children.

And then we come to the main attraction, commonly known as the Jewel (Jewel Changi Airport), a part of the airport that combines nature, retail, and entertainment to make it almost like a theme park. It features the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, which only becomes more magical at night with regular sound and light shows.

Then there are the indoor green spaces that feature multi-level gardens filled with trees and flowers as well as a hedge maze, topiary walk, and 50-metre glass-bottom bridge. Kids will especially enjoy the augmented reality experience where they seek out dinosaurs, the walking and bouncing nets, the mirror maze, and artistic slides.

There’s also an onsite hotel and nearly 300 stores featuring international brands, local boutiques, and duty-free shops. Added to this are regular special events and exhibitions the complex hosts throughout the year.

Singapore's well-connected transportation system makes leaving the airport to explore the city a painless experience. One of the easiest options is to use the MRT, located in Terminals 2 and 3, which offers many major stops within the city. You can be in the city centre in as little as 30 minutes and fares are rather economical.

Shuttle services are available from the airport, but these generally run to the city’s major hotels which for short layovers or stopovers you may not be planning to stay at. Taxis are of course always available any time of day outside the arrival halls of each terminal.

If you’re not in a hurry, you may consider going the public bus route which will be one of the cheapest ways to get to the city, though the journey can take a lot longer due to the multiple stops. If you value privacy and want to get places fast, you may want to splurge and simply use ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek as Uber is not available in Singapore.

Singapore harmoniously blends its rich culture and history with modern design and amenities, showcased with its diverse range of attractions. Simply utilise luggage storage services at the airport if your airline cannot hold or transfer them and then take the MRT to quickly reach the city’s many attractions.

Start at the Marina Bay Sands, which looks like a cruise ship in the sky. Here you can head to the SkyPark’s famous observation deck for panoramic views over the city and maybe check out the impressive rooftop infinity pool, which although reserved for hotel guests when it comes to swimming, can still be admired from the pool deck.

Gardens by the Bay is another must-visit landmark, with its towering vertical garden trees found in the Supertree Grove that dazzle crowds with their nightly sound and light shows. There’s also the world’s largest greenhouse called the Flower Dome filled with plants from around the world as well as the equally impressive Cloud Forrest that has you descend 40 metres down a path around a mountain covered in plants and waterfalls. Explore Chinatown and its Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, before venturing on to find Little India and its Tekka Centre Market and Hindu Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is filled with thousands of colourful orchids, a lake with real live swans, an interactive children’s garden, and a wide range of other themed gardens and art installations.

Another option may be to book a Singapore River cruise which will take you past Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and the famous Merlion statue. Meanwhile, Sentosa Island offers both relaxation via its beaches like Siloso and Palawan, as well as thrilling fun with Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium, one of the largest in the world.

Singapore’s rich multicultural heritage is reflected in its culinary offerings, featuring Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan, and many other international flavours. Many local dishes combine elements from this melting pot of various international recipes to create new and unique flavours.

Dishes often contain a mix of spices and seasonings that create bold flavours with a bit of a spicy kick to them. And you’ll notice a generous offering of seafood on menus, coming with condiments such as fish and oyster sauces as well as shrimp paste.

A few signature dishes you must try during a limited Singaporean stopover include Hainanese poached chicken in chilli sauce with rice, spicy shrimp and noodle soup with a coconut milk base known as laksa, satay skewered grilled meat in a peanut sauce, and sweet and tangy chilli crab.

Chinatown and Little India are top spots to sample items from street food stalls, with Chinatown’s Maxwell Food Centre offering up many of the dishes previously mentioned. Meanwhile, the Muslim Quarter on Arab Street offers up Middle Eastern and Malay delights.

If fine dining and Michelin-star-type restaurants are what you’re after, head to places like Marina Bay Sands, Orchard Road, Keong Saik Road, or Dempsey Hill. You will find a wide variety of upscale restaurants serving up everything from Japanese and Chinese to French and Italian cuisine.

Singapore’s extensive shopping and entertainment options could keep you busy for years, but if your time is limited during a layover or stopover, there are a few places to focus on. Orchard Road is the most famous shopping street in Singapore.

Here, you’ll find numerous malls such as:

• ION Orchard: Known for its luxury brands and high-end stores.
• Paragon: Offers a mix of designer labels and major department stores.

Other notable malls include:

• The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands: A top destination for high-end goods, featuring luxury boutiques and unique stores.
• VivoCity: Located on the HarbourFront, it is Singapore’s largest shopping mall, offering a wide range of retail options.

If you plan on booking a room for your brief stopover of a day or two in the city, you will want to consider the four c’s: convenience, cost, comfort, and closeness to attractions.

Singapore’s broad mix of accommodation options means there should be something to suit your budget. If you don’t wish to stray far from the airport, you may want to consider a compact yet comfortable room at YOTELAIR which is actually in the airport. Also connected to the airport is IHG’s luxurious Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.

If you want to venture into the city centre and want to pamper yourself, we recommend places like Marina Bay Sands, the historic Fullerton Hotel Singapore, or Pan Pacific Singapore. There are also offerings by Hilton, Mandarin Oriental, Intercontinental, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Four Seasons hotels.

Budget-friendly options would include places like the Village Hotel Changi near the airport, Ibis Singapore or Hotel Boss near Little India, or the Holiday Inn Express close to Orchard Road.

You could also use your time to go on a mini self-guided safari to explore local wildlife in Singapore’s nature reserves. Despite the city being a highly urbanised city, there are still large tracts of remaining rainforest such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This is home to unique-looking pangolins, cheeky macaques, and Sunda flying lemurs that resemble our Australian gliders.

Another great spot for nature is the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, featuring a treetop walk and suspension bridge. The park offers several great walks where you’re likely to spot a great variety of colourful exotic birds.

Or if you want the chance to possibly spot a crocodile or comical mudskippers, you can then head to the mudflats and mangroves of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

For guaranteed animal sightings, visit the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which includes the Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, River Wonders, and Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal zoo. Here, you can get up close with orangutans, tigers, Asian elephants, rare fishing cats, and giant pandas.

Additionally, the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom on Sentosa Island offers a chance to see a variety of butterflies and insects in a beautiful outdoor conservatory.

Singapore is a dynamic city that seamlessly blends modernity and tradition. Whether you’re marvelling at architectural wonders, indulging in culinary delights, or enjoying the urban and natural landscapes, Singapore promises an unforgettable experience. As you plan your journey, make the most of your time in this remarkable city and consider purchasing travel insurance for added peace of mind.