Long airport layovers are rarely fun, as airports are typically boring, hectic places where everything costs about 4 times as much as it does outside the door. Singapore’s Changi airport is an exception to this, and is one of the only airports in the world that is regarded as an attraction in and of itself.
Whenever most people hear they’re going to have a long layover in Singapore, they’re generally pretty excited unlike when they hear about having to spend hours in another airport.
If you decide to just stay at the airport, then there are various ways to kill time, including catching a movie at the in-airport cinema, play X-box at the entertainment deck, treat yourself to some amazing food at one of the many restaurants, or even allow yourself to completely unwind with a massage and a dip in the airport’s rooftop pool.
However, depending on the length of your layover, you may actually want to get out and explore a bit of the place.
Before making plans to leave Changi airport, please first ensure that you have the correct visa or transit visa - you won’t be able to leave the airport until you have this, and it could cause unnecessary delays to your onward travel.
Also make sure you have enough time to leave the airport, do what you want to do, and get back in plenty of time - it’s recommended by the airport themselves that you only leave when you have a layover of 5 hours or more.
When you want to leave the airport, you have a few different options, including train, bus, taxi, and private car service - though the train is located directly next to terminal 2 and easily accessible on foot, so this is really the easiest way to get into the centre quickly.
Once you make it to the streets of Singapore, the first thing that will stand out is just how clean the place is. It’s actually true that chewing gum is banned in Singapore, but any form of littering will get you in serious trouble, so you’ll not see anything lying around on the streets.
A truly great way to capture some photos during your short stay in Singapore is hop on to the Singapore Flyer - think London Eye, but better. From up there you can get an amazing view of the whole country and see how truly diverse and beautiful the landscape is.
If you’re on the search for some truly authentic and delicious food, then head to Chinatown where you’ll find endless markets with an array of foods, spices and treats like you’ve never tasted before.
If you’re hungry then stop at one of the many restaurants there to get a good meal before your flight, Chinatown also makes for some wonderful photo opps thanks to the colourful buildings.
Before heading back to the airport, try to find some time to visit the famous Singapore Fish Spa where your feet (or at least the dead skin) will become a delicious treat for the tiny fish to snack on, and you’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed with supple feet.
Obviously there’s so much to do in Singapore that one day simply isn’t enough - but even if you only have a day, you can still make the most of your time and see enough to make you want to keep coming back.
