A Short Layover in Singapore

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Singapore is one of those places I hoped I’d one day visit on my way to or from another destination, just so I could spend a whirlwind layover getting to know a city that was very far from home.

With the post-holiday blues already creeping in after leaving the Philippines, I was thrilled that I’d decided to break up the long journey back to London by hopping off the plane at Changi Airport to spend two nights in Singapore.

Roughly translating to a 40-hour layover between the two flights, we didn’t have much time to waste.

Arriving at around 8pm, first on the agenda was heading to the Rain Vortex located inside the Jewel. You can easily access this from whichever terminal you arrive into or fly from, but check the timings before you visit so you don’t arrive to find it shut down for maintenance like we did. 

Spoiler alert: luckily I managed to see it before I left for London, but it definitely wasted a chunk of our limited time in the city by not doing the research.

After that mistake, we fled towards the city in a Grab taxi, checked into the DAO by Dorsett hotel, dumped our bags, and immediately headed back out into the surprisingly bearable humidity (because nothing compares to Japan in the summer) to explore whilst we still had a slither of energy remaining.

After roaming around the waterfront and soaking in the sights of the spectacular Marina Bay Sands Hotel, it dawned on us that it was already 1am. One thing about this city is that it feels incredibly safe and quiet, which isn’t something I’ve experienced anywhere else.

The next morning we loaded up on the buffet breakfast and made our way to the starting point of our four-hour city bike tour.

Getting to see so much of the city with a group of other travellers was a lot of fun, and despite the heat, it didn’t feel too challenging thanks to the regular sightseeing stops factored into the itinerary. 

After racing along a section of the Formula 1 Marina Bay Street Circuit and visiting a few of the city’s main highlights, including the skyscrapers of the waterfront and the bustling markets of Chinatown, we made one last stop in Little India to refuel with a freshly served sugar cane juice and spicy vegetarian samosa.

After the tour we checked out some of the street food markets to taste more of the local delicacies, and later ended up at the hotel’s infinity pool for a quick dip as the light began to fade.

For our one full evening in Singapore, we obviously had to visit Gardens by the Bay.

Starting with the two garden domes, we moved onto the Supertree OCBC Skyway. Somehow we got our timings just right and managed to be up there for the first of the two evening lights shows that take place at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, even avoiding what felt like a looming thunderstorm that could unload at any moment.

I’ve got to admit I felt pretty wobbly up there as the wind gently shook the walkway, but you’re so dazzled by the twinkling trees and towering landscape of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel that it’s not hard to find yourself distracted from the height.

To end the night we watched the 9pm water and light show on the waterfront and took the lift inside the Marina Bay Sands Hotel up to LAVO, an Italian restaurant and bar. By some sheer luck we managed to grab a table on the terrace, complete with an unbelievable city view to devour alongside a pizza and Singapore Sling cocktails.

The next morning it was time to say our goodbyes to Singapore and return to reality, so we begrudgingly packed our things and prepared for the 14-hour flight home.

But not before seeing that Rain Vortex…

From our experience, the best thing to do is check-in your baggage and make your way to the Jewel before going to your gate. You can do this no matter which terminal you’re flying from, and once you’re there you only need 30-minutes tops to see it and snap a few photos. That said, you could easily lose a few hours with all that’s on offer inside.

Overall I loved Singapore, and there’s plenty more still to see if I end up returning via another layover one day.

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