Singapore Layover Guide: A 12-Hour Singapore Itinerary

I know. Layovers aren’t the most exciting thing in the world. But who said layovers can’t be fun? In this guide, I show you how to rock a layover in Singapore, including information about visas, where to stay, where to eat and an example of a 12-hour itinerary for Singapore.

In this post:

Singapore layover visa information
Singapore travel statistics
Things to do on a layover in Singapore
Singapore layover itinerary (12 hours)
Where to stay in Singapore

Why don’t you start off by watching this short video of how I experienced my layover in Singapore last summer?

Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Ars Currendi!

Singapore layover visa information

Question: Do I need a visa for a stopover in Singapore?

You probably don’t. Most nationalities do not require a visa to enter Singapore. If you’re from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or most European countries, you can enter Singapore without a visa.

If you’re not from any of the aforementioned countries, it’s a good idea to check the government’s website to see if you need a visa to get into Singapore.

Question: Can I leave Changi Airport during transit?

Again, if you’re from one of the countries mentioned above, you can leave the airport without a visa.

If you’re from a visa-requiring country, you should apply for a visa to leave Singapore Airport during transit before flying to Singapore. Check with your embassy if you’re not sure how to do this.

Singapore travel statistics

Now that we’ve got the visa information out of the way, let’s take a look at some basic travel facts about Singapore.

Singapore is an island city-state located just south of Malaysia. It’s one of the smallest, but most densely populated countries in the world and it’s mostly known as a global hub for education, finance and entertainment.

Singapore capital: Singapore (duh)
Currency in Singapore: Singapore dollar (convert to USD or EUR here)
Singapore time zone: UTC +8
Singapore population: roughly 5,6 million inhabitants
Languages in Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil
Singapore climate: tropical rainforest climate all year round

What can you do on a layover in Singapore?

It really all depends on how much time you have, as with any layover.

Singapore is one of the best countries for a layover, because the city is not too big, everything is easily accessible through public transport and there are a lot of things to do in a relatively small area.

And even if you have a lot of time, you might want to take it easy after a long-haul flight.

But still, there are quite a few things to do in Singapore when you’re short on time. Here are a few of my personal favourites if you are leaving the airport. (More detailed information in the Singapore itinerary below)

The airport of Singapore has consistently been named one of the top airports in the world. It consists of three interconnected terminals (T1, T2 and T3) and one separate terminal (T4).

Here are some things to do during a layover in Singapore airport:

Butterfly Garden (T3)
Enchanted Garden (T2)
Shopping (T1, T2, T3)
Food! (T1, T2, T3, T4)

Singapore layover itinerary (12 hours)

If you follow this itinerary, you’ll be able to see all Singapore highlights in just 12 hours.

You could even do it more quickly, if you’re a fast traveller. Or if you’re travelling alone.

Related: The insider’s guide to solo travel on a budget

There are many things you can do in Singapore in one day. Here’s a useful overview of what you could fit into your one-day layover to get the most out of your stay.

Singapore itinerary: breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal on a day. Even when you’re on a layover in a foreign country.

Here are some options for breakfast in Singapore.

Pacamara (recommended: eggs Benedict)
Sarnies (recommended: avocado toast with feta and cherry tomatoes)
Clinton Street Baking Co. (recommended: brioche French toast)
Kitchen by Food Rebel: gluten free and vegetarian options (recommended: ‘Rebel Breakfast’)

Singapore itinerary: morning

For this suggested Singapore layover itinerary, you’ll be exploring some of the city’s neighbourhoods in the morning. On the menu: Little India and Chinatown.

What I would recommend is that you simply walk around these neighbourhoods, get lost in the narrow streets and take in the atmosphere.

I suggest you start your morning in Little India.

Traditional storehouses in Little India, one of Singapore's ethnic neighbourhoods

If you don’t want to stroll around without a goal, check out some things to do in Little India.

Next, move to Chinatown using Singapore’s very efficient train system, the MRT.

You could buy a Singapore Tourist Pass, but since you’re only here for a short layover, it’s cheaper to just buy tickets for single trips. You can buy tickets at any upgraded General Ticketing Machine at MRT stations.

Again, if you don’t feel like aimlessly wandering around Chinatown, check out these things to do in Chinatown.

Singapore itinerary: lunch

Although Singapore is literally the most expensive city on earth, you can still get lunch on a budget.

Below are some options for lunch in Singapore:

Liao Fan (Michelin-starred plate of rice for under $5)
Dumpling Darlings (dumplings and noodles)
Chilli Pan Mee (noodles and rice)
Mrs Pho (pho, obviously)

Singapore itinerary: afternoon

With a belly full of delicious food, it’s time to continue exploring Singapore.

Next up are cultural heritage, nature, and some bad ass light shows. Let’s go!

From wherever you had lunch, make your way to Katong, a residential neighbourhood where you’ll find remnants of Peranakan heritage – like the houses below.

You can't miss these Peranakan houses on your Singapore layover

Stroll along vibrant shophouses, narrow backstreets and small boutique shops.

There are also plenty of cafés, coffeeshops, bars and ethnic restaurants in this area. Take your pick if you’re in need of a small break.

Next, we’re going to Gardens By The Bay.

If you’ve ever seen any pictures of Singapore, chances are you’ve seen the Supertree Grove, which is located in Gardens By The Bay. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that.

The Cloud Forest observatory, part of the Gardens By The Bay complex (Singapore)

We’ll start off our visit to Gardens By The Bay by checking out the Cloud Forest observatory. This is an indoor tropical plant garden with a 30-metre waterfall as cherry on top.

You can spend as long as you like in the Cloud Forest. It’s definitely interesting enough to keep you busy for a few hours, but you could leave after 30 minutes, too.

The Flower Dome, part of the Gardens By The Bay complex (Singapore)

Moving on: the Flower Dome. This is the world’s largest glass greenhouse and it could be described as a magnificent botanical garden. Same story here: you could stay here for hours, but you don’t have to.

The last thing you’re visiting before dinner is the Supertree Grove. Admission to the Grove is free.

The Supertree Grove, something that you can't miss on your Singapore layover itinerary

The supertrees are up to 50 metres (which is equivalent to 16 storeys) high.

If you want to, you can walk on the skyway that runs through the supertrees at 22 metres high. Admission for this skyway is $8 for adults.

Don’t spend too much time here – you’ll come back after dinner to experience the supertrees at night.

Singapore itinerary: dinner

Singapore is well-known throughout the world for its top class cuisine. What follows is a list of great restaurants in Singapore for an affordable price.

A Noodle Story (Singapore-style noodles)
Jypsy (Japanese plate-sharing concept restaurant)
Kota88 (Chinese food with Indonesian influences)
The Communal Place (fine dining in a café setting)

On many holidays, the day is over after you’ve had dinner. Not here.

You’ve still got two amazing light shows ahead of you. Oh, and did I mention they’re both free?

Here are the two shows you’ll want to attend:

Garden Rhapsody (Supertree Grove)
Spectra (Marina Bay Sands)

The Garden Rhapsody show runs daily at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm and it lasts for 15 minutes.

One of the best light shows in the city is held at the Supertree Grove twice a night (Singapore)

The Spectra show runs daily at 8 pm and 9 pm and it also lasts for 15 minutes.

I saw Garden Rhapsody (7:45 pm) first and then made my way to Marina Bay Sands for Spectra (9 pm). You could do it the other way around if you wanted to.