What to Do in Singapore in 6-8 Hours: A Guide for Short Layovers

Bell | 2 September 24

Singapore is the perfect city for a layover. With its excellent public transport and the close vicinity of major attractions, it’s well worth leaving the airport and seeing the famous “Lyon City”.

Singapore Airport alone is known as one of the world’s best airports and for good reason. From the tallest indoor waterfall to a butterfly garden and rock climbing wall, you could easily just spend your layover exploring the airport.

That being said, Singapore city centre is one of my favourite destinations I have ever visited and 100% worth leaving the airport for. I would say you need at least a 6-hour layover to leave the airport and head into the city, though the more you have, the better! For my first layover in Singapore, I stayed three days and loved every second.

Thanks to Singapore’s compact city centre, you can see a lot of Singapore’s highlights on a short layover too. From Gardens by the Bay to Marina Bay Sands to Chinatown, there are many top attractions you cannot miss on a layover in Singapore.

Here is the perfect itinerary for a 6-8 hour layover in Singapore:

Table of Contents

Can I leave Changi Airport in Singapore during my layover?

I will lay out the details below, but you will need around 4 hours time to leave and re-enter the airport as well as transport. That means I’d recommend a minimum layover of 6 hours so you have at least two hours to explore – anything more is ideal to fit in more highlights.

Visa Requirements to leave Changi Airport during a layover

The first thing you need to consider is whether you can enter Singapore and what visa you may need. If you are from Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and European Union, you don’t need a visa if you stay less than 14-30 days (depending on the country). You do need to apply for a Singapore Arrival Card if you are passing through immigration, which you need to apply for within three days before arriving in Singapore.

Some countries that do not have visa-free entry may be able to get a Transit Visa, you can check this out further here.

Time to pass through immigration in Singapore and leave Changi Airport

It usually takes 30-60 minutes to deplane, go through immigration and be ready to leave Changi Airport. It is a very efficient airport which is great for short layovers.

Normally, your bags should auto-transfer to your next flight, but if you booked with a different airline, you need to collect them. This shouldn’t add too much time and the airport offers convenient luggage storage .

Transport from Singapore Airport to the city center

We will discuss transport and exact options further down, but you need to schedule at least 30 minutes each way for transport.

Free Singapore Tours by Changi Airport

Changi Airport actually offers free tours from the Airport, each 2.5 hours long and covering either the city centre, Changi precinct or Singapore Heritage. Your layover has to be at least 5.5 hours and at most 24 hours to take part in this tour. It’s a great option if you have a very short layover or don’t feel comfortable organising your own way around Singapore. You can find out more about it here.

Getting back to the airport in time

You need to arrive back at the airport with around 2 hours to spare so that you can go through security and passport control. Your bags should have been transferred automatically, but if you booked with different airlines you may need to re-check it too. Allow enough time for this.

How to spend a layover in Singapore Airport?

Should you decide not to leave the airport or don’t have a long enough layover, don’t worry – there is arguably no better airport to spend a layover in than Singapore Airport. Wherever you wander in this airport, there is something new to explore or try out.

Some of the highlights to do in Singapore Airport during a layover are:

Check out the Rain Vortex Waterfall, the world’s tallest and largest indoor waterfall, located in the middle of the Jewel (the heart of Changi Airport). Instructions on how to get there from your terminal can be found here. They even have a light show at night.
Wander the Canopy Bridge right by the waterfall, 23 metres above the ground. You can buy tickets in advance online here.
Go rock climbing and bouldering in Terminal Three at climb@t3.
Slide down the giant four-storey high slide at Terminal Three. You just need to get a free Changi Rewards Card to redeem ten rides on the slide, you can get it here.
Connect with nature at the Butterfly Garden, one of my favourites in Changi. Here you can find over 1,000 tropical butterflies. Located in Terminal 3.

How to get from Singapore Airport to the City Centre:

The quickest but most expensive way to get into the city center is by taxi. There are a couple of surcharges which apply for night taxis and weekdays, so it can get pricy quickly. I would hence recommend getting a rideshare, so a Grab, TaDa or Gojek, which are all apps you can download. You will need to meet your driver at the Arrival pick-up point as they are not allowed in the Taxi stand.

Travel Time: 30 minutes
Cost: around 20-30S$ each way (11-18GBP)
Tickets: Download the Apps or go to the taxi stand at arrivals and pay cash or card

You can also go by MRT, which is Singapore’s rail network. The quickest way is to take the EW train to Tanah Merah from the airport and then transfer to the EW line towards Tuas Link until City Hall. From there, it is only a ten minute walk to Clarke Quay which is our first stop. You can look up the best transit route here.

Travel Time: ~45 minutes

Cost: Around S$2 which is around 1.20 GBP

Tickets: You can pay using a contactless card or Stored-value EZ-Link cards which can be bought at the airport MRT station. Fares are calculated by distance and are super affordable.

How to get around Singapore using public transport?

Much of this guide you will be able to do by walking, however if you are very short on time or want to see some of the further out attractions, you can use Singapore’s public transport system. It is affordable and efficient, which is great.

As mentioned with the MRT from the airport, you can pay for public transport using any contactless payment card or a Stored-Value EZ-Link/NETS prepaid card. The prepaid cards cost $10, $5 of which is non-refundable and $5 is travel credit. I would recommend to just use a contactless payment card if you have one.

Fares are usually between S$1.09 to S$2.37 based on the distance travelled, which is so cheap for a mega city like Singapore.

If you plan on seeing as much as possible in a limited time and will use a lot of public transport, it may be worth getting a tourist pass. It is S$17 (around 10GBP) for the day and allows you to take unlimited rides on Singapore’s public transport. You can buy it at the Changi Airport MRT.

Ultimate Singapore Layover Itinerary

Here are all of Singapore’s must-see attractions for a short layover. When calculating which places you have time to see, account for the roughly 4-5 hours you will need just to leave and re-enter the airport.

The suggested time spent in each place is based on fully exploring it. If you only have 2 hours in the city, you can still see most of these items, take a quick picture and move on. With that little time, I would skip Clarke Quay and head straight to the Merlion.

Let’s get into it:

Start at Clarke Quay (~1 hour)

Clarke Quay is most known for its nightlife, but I think it is worth a visit any time of day. It’s a great starting point as it is only a 10-minute walk from the City Hall MRT.

The area is famous for its waterside restaurants, beautiful old riverside warehouses and lots of river tours. My favourite part was just strolling along the river and spotting the colourful houses lining it as well as the many different foods you can try here.

If you have extra time (tours can take 1-4 hours), a river cruise of Clarke Quay is the perfect way to explore the area as well as learn a lot about this area’s rich history.

Marvel at the Merlion by Marina Bay (30 minutes)

Continue to follow the river from Clarke Quay and you will reach the Merlion after around 20 minutes. The famous statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish may just be THE symbol of Singapore. The lion represents the city’s original name Singapura (lion city in Sanskrit), while the fish alludes to the fact that Singapore started out as a fishing village.

It is located in Merlion Park, right by the waterfront of Marina Bay. Make sure to take some fun photos with the statue – “catching” the water with your mouth is a fan favourite.

From this side of Marina Bay, you also have an amazing view of the stunning Marina Bay Sands Hotel, so make sure to plan in time for photos.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel for Shopping and Rooftop Views (1-2 hours)

Next, walk around Marina Bay to Marina Bay Sands. It takes around 20 minutes and gives you different angles of some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks, as well as the downtown skyline once you reach the other side of the bay.

Right by the hotel is a shopping centre called “The Shoppes“. While the area by the waterfront is full of luxury stores, the indoor shopping centre has something for everyone and is perfect for buying souvenirs. They even have an interactive light canvas where your drawings come to life and a canal you can get a boat ride on.

Once you have done your shopping, check out the Marina Bay Sands Hotel lobby to see the fascinating architecture from the inside.

If you want to experience the iconic rooftop view of Marina Bay Sands, head to the elevator in Tower 3 and visit the rooftop bar. You will need to buy a drink, but at S$25 for a cocktail (14.50 GBP) it is well worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime view. If you want to go into the infinity pool, you will need to stay at the hotel.

Don’t miss

The hotel puts on a light and fountain show called Spectra every night at 8 PM and 9 PM (Friday-Saturday also at 10 PM). It lasts 15 minutes and is an incredible show with an award-winning soundtrack. 100% worth seeing if you can fit it into your layover.

I would highly recommend seeing it with Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop. To do so, head back to Merlion Park and pick a spot – try and come a little early as it gets busy quickly.

Explore the stunning Gardens by the Bay (2-4 hours)

Once you pass through Marina Bay Sands Hotel, you land right in the famous Gardens by the Bay, my absolute favourite place in Singapore. I have rarely seen something so magical that perfectly blends nature with man-made art.

Both the free outdoor gardens with the Supertree Grove as well as the paid indoor domes are absolute highlights.

You have three main things you want to see here: The Supertree Grove which are the famous light-up trees you see in photos that are covered in plants and foliage as well as the two domes. One is the Flower Dome, which is a huge flower garden that often has themed exhibitions. It is also the world’s largest glass greenhouse. The other dome is Cloud Forest, where you can see one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls as well as several plateaus of exotic plants.

I would highly recommend visiting both domes if you have the time. It takes at least 1.5 hours to see each one, so keep that in mind.

Tickets to see both domes are S$59 which is about 34 GBP and it is well worth the money. You can pre-book tickets here, which I would recommend to save time on the day. If you decide to stay longer and stay at a hotel or hostel, they often have deals on these tickets so it is worth asking.

Another highlight at Gardens By the Bay is the Garden Rhapsody, which is the nightly light show in Supertree Grove. It is free to watch at 7.45 PM and 8.45 PM daily for around 15 minutes.

You can check the exact timings for the entire area here. When I went, the theme was “Mamma Mia” and it was the coolest experience, so I would highly recommend it if it works time-wise.

Grab some local food at Lau Pa Sat (~30 minutes)

No visit to Singapore is complete without sampling some street food at a Hawker Centre. A 20-minute walk from Gardens by the Bay, you will find Lau Pa Sat, one of Singapore’s most popular and oldest Hawker Centres. It does feel a little chaotic walking in, but the energy here is contagious, especially after hours of walking.

A Hawker Centre is usually an open-air food court with lots of different stalls selling local and freshly cooked food. Seating tends to be cafeteria-style with trays.

Lau Pa Sat is the perfect stop to refuel after exploring Singapore and offers a vast collection of local dishes, you’ll be spoiled for choice. A local favourite is Hainanese Chicken Rice, while I personally loved the Chili Crab and Satay.

End by discovering the vibrant Chinatown (1-2 hours)

For your final stop, head into Chinatown which starts just behind Lau Pa Sat. It’s a bustling pot of heritage, culture and modern attractions. Strolling through the streets, you will be able to see some incredible street art from some of Singapore’s most famous artists.

Make sure to stop at the stunning red Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, famous for housing what is believed to be Buddha’s left canine tooth. The oldest Hindu Temple Sri Mariamman, with its impressive Dravidian-style architecture, is also a highlight.

If you have time and want to learn more about the rich history of this area, a walking tour is a great way to explore this area:

If you have extra time to explore Singapore:

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Located about 15 minutes outside of the centre by MRT, Singapore Botanic Gardens is my favourite botanic garden I have visited worldwide. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site for its display of the evolution of a “British tropical colonial botanic garden”. The plant and flower displays here are truly one of a kind and there are even waterfalls.

The Gardens are free to explore, except for the National Orchid Garden which boasts a stunning display of over 1000 species.

Bird Paradise Singapore

Getting here is a bit of a trek, around 1 hour by public transport or 30 minutes by Taxi/Grab, yet it is one of Singapore’s highlights. It is the largest and most diverse bird park in all of Asia, with over 3500 birds across 400 species.

Tickets cost S$49 for adults (~28GBP) and there are concession tickets for children and seniors. The park offers bird presentations, feeding the animals and walk-through aviaries. Easily one of the coolest things I did in Singapore.

Sentosa Island

As a man-made island and former military base, Sentosa Island nowadays is almost like a holiday within Singapore. From the cable car ride to get there to Universal Studios, a Waterpark, a Skypark, indoor skydiving and picturesque beaches, this Island has literally anything your heart could desire.

I would recommend doing this if you have an extra day or so in Singapore.

Little India

Little India brings a whole different feel to Singapore, with narrow lanes full of colour, culture and incredible food. Make sure to check out the beautiful Hindu temples, such as the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

Orchard Road

If shopping is your thing, you cannot miss Orchard Road. It is an over 2km long shopping paradise, with anything from large, international brands to local designers.

Returning to Changi Airport: Tips for a Smooth Departure

To return to Changi Airport, either get another Taxi or Grab, or check your journey on public transport here. You will be able to get back from most places in the city centre within 45 minutes, for example, Chinatown to Changi Airport takes 42 minutes.

You will need to arrive at the airport around 2 hours in advance to make time for potentially re-checking luggage, going through security and passport control and finding your gate. Changi Airport actually has their own guide on a smooth check-in.

Terminal 1 tends to be regional destinations, with airlines flying from here being Jetstar, AirAsia and Emirates.
Terminal 2 is for regional and medium-haul destinations. Airlines include SilkAir, Scoot, Tigerair, Malaysia Airlines and Etihad Airways.
Terminal 3 is usually for international long-haul flights, with airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, EVA Air, ANA and Vietnam Airlines.

Make sure to check your ticket for which Terminal you are flying out of.

Is a Singapore layover worth it?

Yes, a Singapore layover is more than worth it. I would even go as far as saying that Singapore is one of the best cities in the world for a layover. Whether it is just exploring the impressive Changi Airport or discovering the magical downtown of Singapore, the layover is sure to be a highlight of your trip.

I personally have had layovers here of 8 hours to 3 days, and loved it every time. If I had the choice and time, I would always try and extend my layover to 2-3 days.

What currency is used in Singapore?

Singapore uses the Singapore Dollar, which equals about 0.58 GBP.

I would highly recommend getting Revolut for real-time currency exchange. I have used their card all over the world with no problems. You can also exchange your cash at Changi Airport, there are a couple of exchange booths with similar and often very fair rates.

What language is spoken in Singapore?

Singapore has four official languages: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. I did not come across anyone on my travels there that didn’t speak English.

You may often hear the local dialect Singlish, standing for Singapore English. It’s an informal combination of English mixed with Chinese languages as well as Malay and Tamil. It is still understandable and locals usually only use it with other locals.