What to Do During a 24-hour Stopover in Singapore

Singapore surely is one of the most-loved stopovers for every traveler going to Asia. Singapore Changi Airport is one of the biggest airports in the world. It serves over 100 airlines and connects Singapore to 300 cities in about 60 countries and territories worldwide. The best way to enjoy a long layover in Singapore is by leaving your bag at the airport and getting ready to explore all the treasures of this place. You can also book yourself a hotel near the airport if you want some rest before your next flight. If it is your first layover in Singapore, we are here to help you out with all the planning.

Singapore, for first-time visitors, may seem like an industrial pigeonhole, but it is so much more than that. Called the melting pot of Asia, Singapore offers something for everyone. To get the best out of your 24-hour layover in Singapore, we recommend you to book all the tickets to tourist spots beforehand. The main reason behind this is that Singapore is a bustling place, and thus there is no off-season. There are several things to do in Singapore, but it is best to stick to the spots near the airport if you are in a hurry to cover a lot.

We know you have a lot of questions, so without any further ado, read on to find out about all the things to do in Singapore in 24 hours.

Getting around Singapore Changi Airport

If you have a long layover in Singapore, you can either book a hotel near Changi Airport or even leave your bags at the airport. All the terminals have bag storage available throughout the day. Prices vary according to suitcase size. If you are looking for a hotel, you can opt for some of the famous ones like Crowne Plaza, Aerotel, and more. After checking into your hotel, freshen up and start your Singapore stopover holiday! You can opt to take the MRT to save money, but if you want to see maximum in the limited time of your Singapore stopover, then you take the cab.

Things to do in Singapore

Like we said earlier, you will never fall short of things to do and see in the beautiful city of Singapore. You can start your Singapore stopover holiday by visiting these places.

• Marina Bay

Start your Singapore stopover by seeing the beauty of Marina Bay Sands. If you want a stunning view of the city, then visit the viewing platform on top of Marina Bay Sands, also known as the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck. We assure you that you will fall in love with Singapore seeing the wonderful skyline. There are buses from Changi airport to Marina Bay every 5 minutes. Use redBus to book online tickets in advance.

• Gardens by the Bay

You will love the layover in Singapore once you breathe in the fresh air at Singapore’s topmost attraction, Gardens by the Bay. You can visit the cloud forest, the flower dome, supertree Grove and OCBC skyway. Do not miss out on the Garden Rhapsody, which is the light show and one of the biggest attractions. It has to be one of the topmost things to do in Singapore for any first-time visitor. 

While you’re at this tourist spot, you can also cover some other attractions like the OCBC Skyway, the Supertree Grover, and the Flower Dome. SMRT and SBS operate buses from the airport MRT Station to Gardens by the Bay every 5 minutes. Tickets cost $1 to 3, and the journey lasts for around 50 minutes. You can book tickets in advance using the redBus app.

• ArtScience Museum

Your Singapore stopover has to include this museum as it is sure to baffle your mind! The museum has a few permanent galleries named Curiosity, Inspiration, and Expression. It has 21 galleries, and you will surely need more than 2 hours to complete the entire museum tour. Although it seems like a waste of your precious time since it is a long layover in Singapore, we definitely recommend visiting this curious museum. The Line 36 bus through the Changi PTB2 takes 1 hour to reach the museum, and tickets costs between $1 to 3. Try redBus for easy and convenient booking of online bus tickets.

• Chinatown and Little India

No Singapore stopover is complete without a visit to the iconic Chinatown and Little India. Chinatown is the main Chinese hub in Singapore and thus offers you several delicacies as well as shopping opportunities! Near Chinatown is Little India, where you can also try traditional Indian cuisine and visit temples like Temple of Thousand Lights and more. 

The bus journey to Chinatown takes 35 minutes and tickets cost around 1 to 3 Singapore dollars. Use the redBus app to book your tickets in advance. The journey to Little India via line 36 bus takes around 1.5 hours, and tickets cost around $3. Book your tickets in advance using the redBus website or app.

Apart from exploring Singapore on your own, you can also opt for the Changi Airport’s free guided tour of the city. You are eligible for this free tour if your layover in Singapore is more than 5.5 hours. There are two types of tours, the heritage tour and the city sights tour. Do a bit of research regarding these and get yourself a free guided tour!

Last but not least, let us talk about all the several types of food you cannot miss out on during your long layover in Singapore. Eat some of the famous local dishes like Laksa, Hainan chicken rice, Bak Kut Teh, Durian, and more. There are several restaurants open till late night where you can get delectable hawker food!

So why wait anymore? Start planning your Singapore stopover holiday. Plan ahead and book your Singapore city bus tours with redBus, as they offer great deals and discounts. redBus will help you have a safer journey around the city and also keep your travel affordable!