llanfachreth

Hi
Flying out in a couple of weeks and we have about 12 hours transit in Singapore.

Any ideas what is best to make most of our time there? We will be there in daylight hours.

I've seen Changi do a free bus tour. Is it worth doing this or is there plenty of time to explore the city by foot?

Thanks

Dorothy

I would do the free bus tour. Then maybe check into the transit hotel so you can have a nice shower and stretch out for a bit. Maybe go up to the roof for a swim, too.

Make sure you have a good look around inside the terminals. Singapore airport is a destination all in itself.

EvannTel

Hi there. We had exactly this dilemma last year and had a great day there. We caught the tube (MRT) into town and had our own adventure. The MRT is great.
We visited Raffles, did the Singapore flyer (like London Eye but biggest in world), walked a bit, ended up early evening in Newton Circus for dinner then MRT back to airport for night flight very tired!
Also now the Sands hotel is open and you could go and spend a few hours on their roof - thats what I'd do Amazing.

llanfachreth

Thanks guys.

That hotel does look impressive, might check that out.

Is 12 hours plenty of time to spend let's say 4 hours in the city then back to airport to relax?

How long before the flight do you need to leave the city? Wouldnt like to miss our flight!

The_Wookie

Yep do the tour, though I myself just go to the hotel inside the airport and grab some sleep. It's cheap and very comfortable, and so nice to have a hot shower and bed to get some sleep before the next leg of the trip.

llanfachreth

Is it advisable to take some local currency? Difficult to know how much. I guess its easy enough to take from an ATM if necessary.

EvannTel

Yep, we took a couple of hundred AUD (Singapore is quite expensive)
Re times, you'll be checked right the way through so when you get off the plane you should be able just to go directly to immigration and through (no Visa required on AU/UK passport). Upon return there;s no check in again, just have your boarding card and passport and go directly to departures.
90 mins before departure should be ok.

Drell

My friend just recently went to Sydney via a transfer in Singapore- she made sure to get a Singapore Sling in Raffles Hotel. If we go via Singapore- that's the first place on my stop over list.

Kooky.

12 hours is plenty of time to go off and do your own thing. You could have a look at the link in my signature for some more ideas of what to do.

Change a few bucks at Changi so you can get the MRT or a taxi into the city - I'd go straight to City Hall and off from there, as you can walk to the Esplanade, see the new casino, etc., or take the MRT to Orchard Road (main shopping district) or Chinatown, or even down to Harbourfront and off to Sentosa.

Just a note, since that thread in my sig, I believe the Central Line has opened so there are even more MRT stations.

Give yourselves half an hour in a taxi from most places back to the airport.

Amazulu

Get a taxi into the city - no more than SG$20/20-30mins each way. Have a cheap lunch and a beer at a hawkers market. Do a bit of shopping. Take a ride on the Flyer (Singapore's bigger, cheaper version of the London Eye). Have a drink in The Long Bar at Raffles.

There is loads to see and do and you have plenty of time to do some of it.

llanfachreth

Thanks
They all look like great ideas.

Pollyana

Little addition to that - if entering Singapore (not just transiting) make sure you have six months validity on your passport.

shiels

We've stayed at the hotel a few times now, the rooms are booked in a 6 hour block, adding additional hours as necessary, the rooms are great and its great to grab a shower and a rest.
Alternatively if you want to just grab a shower there is a Terminal Lounge where you can get a shower, without the hotel room and of course with less cost.

You can pay using credit card, AUS dollars or GBP but they always give you the change in Singapore dollars.

Nice airport Changi, we've found it ok to fill 12 hours there between flights. A sleep, shower, meal, free film and look around the airport. Never really been that fussed about going through immigration to see Singapore ourselves, but thats just us!

Enjoy, whatever you decide to do.

papilon

In the basement of the new terminal at changi is hawker style market, not bad for an airport and reasonable price.