Layover in Singapore
Visited on August 15, 2018
I had a short layover in Singapore on the way home from Bali. I read that you can spend an entire day exploring Singapore Changi Airport as it is rated the #1 airport in the world according to Business Insider. The airport has several gardens, waterfalls, shops, and even tours. If you have a layover of 5.5 hours or more, I recommend taking the free Singapore City Tour. I had about 24 hours in Singapore so I opt out of the free tour. I spent the night in the city and enjoyed my short stay.
Table of Contents
Getting Around:
With little time to spare, we took a taxi from the airport to our hotel. Taxis is the most convenient way of travel in Singapore. Taxi’s are fully licensed and are all run on meter. A ride from the airport to the city can cost about $20-35.
Currency:
$1 = $1.39 SGD
€1 = $1.57 SGD
£1 = $1.76 SGD
¥1 = $0.01 SGD
Language:
Singapore’s has four official languages: Malay, Tamil, English, and Mandarine Chinese. Most Singaporean speak English in addition to one of the other three languages.
Where to Stay:
PL and I were not expecting to stay in Singapore for the night. The challenging part for us was booking a hotel blindly. As in, booking a room with no knowledge of the surrounding area. We wind up staying in the Business District. Despite of the name, the area was pretty sketchy. We booked a room that had no windows and a room so small that you could touch the bathroom door from the foot of the bed. When we exit the hotel, we were greeted by the dumpsters. With the disappointment of the hotel, I have decided not to disclose the name of where we stayed.
There are plenty of better hotels around the great city. Prices range from $75 to a few hundred dollars. Regardless of our “unsuccessful” choice of hotel, we were minutes away from a river that runs through downtown Singapore. It was already dark outside and the lights were lit across the city. The city was majestic.
What to Do:
Garden by the Bay
→ 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
PL and I were able to explore the Gardens by the Bay during the day and at night. The Gardens offer two completely different experiences depending on when you explore. In the day time, you witness the beauty of the gardens. You can explore the flower dome for $20. At night, the garden transforms to an Alice in Wonderland type experience. The Gardens by the Bay offers 2 light shows every night at 7:45 and 8:45. Personally, I enjoy my time at the gardens at night more than in the day time. In the day time, Singapore is uncomfortably humid (during the Summer when I went). At night, when the garden is lit, you feel like you’re in a different world.
Marina Bay Sands Show
The night of our arrival, PL and I walked along the Singapore River when we saw a light show from the distance. The Marina Bay Sands offers a free light and water show every night at 8pm and 9:30pm. There is a 3rd showing at 11pm on Friday’s and Saturday’s. This is one show that you cannot miss while in Singapore. The show is accompanied by music that could be heard from great distance.
Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
→ 2 Bayfront Ave Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972
Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is not like any other indoor mall. Not only is the mall filled with boutiques and restaurants, the mall also has clubs, observation deck, infinity pool, museums, and more.
Where to Eat:
LAVO
→ 10 Bayfront Ave, Tower 1, Singapore 018956
Singapore is surprisingly expensive when it comes to food and cocktails. Most of the places that we came across served gourmet food. It felt like we were living in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. The movie just hit theaters the weekend we were in Singapore. We wanted something simple and nothing too extravagant. We found ourselves at LAVO.
LAVO is an Italian restaurant located in the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. We ordered a personal size Margherita pizza for $26 and 2 glasses of red wine for $28/glass. The food was delicious, but…Singapore, why are you so expensive!