Singapore Stopover — Allure of Elsewhere

Singapore is one of our favourite cities. Over the years Kapil and I have been there a number of times separately and together, but we never tire of it. In fact, this is one place where we even like the airport...a lot! I often tell people that if I had to be stuck in some airport, I'd pick Singapore's Changi Airport.

We love a Singapore stopover to break up long international flights. We love it as a lazy (because it feels like a second home) go-to for a break from Melbourne winters. Also, since it is (kind of) midway between Australia and India, we love it for quick catch ups with family/friends living in India.

I would go so far as to say it is the ultimate stopover in all of South East Asia. Here's why:

Language: No need to memorise words and phrases in a new language for this stopover. English is the common language here.
Weather: Tropical and very predictable. Singapore is warm and humid all year. The average temperature is between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is almost a daily occurrence and is easy enough to stay out of.
Size: This city-state is small enough that you can explore its highlights in a couple of days, but large enough, and more importantly, dynamic enough that there will always be more for another time.
Microcosm of Asia: There is a lot to see, do, eat and drink here. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures from all over the continent, predominantly Chinese, Malay and Indian. Add to this mix Singapore's colonial heritage (it was a British Colony from 1819 - 1965). All this combined has left an imprint on the country's traditions, language, architecture, art, attitudes and...
Food! Absolutely glorious food. Scroll to the end of this post for details of some of our favourites.
Easy to get around: Singapore has a budget-friendly and super efficient public transport system. This includes buses, rail and taxis. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail service here is super easy to navigate and runs the length and breadth of Singapore.
Clean: It is an impeccably clean city. They have stringent laws against littering.
Safe: Singapore is regularly rated amongst the safest cities in Asia and the world.
You can find food and accommodation here to suit every budget.

Suggested Itinerary for a relaxed 48 hour (2 days and 2 nights) stopover in Singapore:

First things first, you have 3 options for getting from the airport to the city:

1) Taxi: This is the most pricey option, but is also the quickest and available at all times. There are taxi ranks outside all three terminals. All taxi's are metered and the fare to the city is usually approx. S$30-35 (this will vary of course based on time of day, traffic and weather conditions, and your destination). Maxi taxis are also available for groups larger than 4 people.

2) Airport Shuttle Service: This shared transfer service costs S$9/ adult and S$6/ per child below 12 years of age. Go to the Ground Transport Desk after baggage claim and customs clearing and tell the staff the name of your hotel or hostel. You will be given a coloured sticker to display on your shirt based on your destination. These stickers help drivers identify people on their shuttle. The general wait time for a shuttle is 10-15 minutes. However, if there are heavy showers or lots of traffic, you could end up waiting longer. The shuttle will drop you off at your hotel usually within 30-60 minutes depending on other drop offs en route.

3) MRT or Mass Rapid Transit: This is Singapore's super efficient public train system. It costs under S$3 to get to the city and trains run from 6am to midnight daily. The MRT station is located in the basement of Terminal 2. Follow signs within other terminals to get here. This is a cheap, safe and dependable way of travelling to the city, but not the most convenient. Changi Airport is a spur line on the East-West line and you will need to transfer to the East-West Line at Tanah Merah station to get to the city. Depending on where your hotel is you may have to transfer to another train. Plus, as these are standard commuter trains and not a dedicated airport line, there are no luggage areas in the trains. You can find out more about the MRT service here.

Room With A View:

If budget allows, get yourself a room with a view. Most hotels in the Downtown Core will have rooms with great views of the city and its skyline. A room with a view in a bustling city like Singapore is great for feeling like you are in the middle of the action even while you in your room, particularly on a short stopover. On a recent trip, my sister and I stayed at the Peninsula Excelsior on Coleman Street. From one side of our room on the 16th floor we had views of the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade Theatre, The Merlion and Marina Bay Sands, and from the other side we had views of Boat Quay & Clarke Quay.

Room with a view:  we watched the sun rise  over Singapore landmarks — Room with a view: we watched the sun rise over Singapore landmarks

And now to our two day itinerary...

Day 1:

Hop on Hop Off Bus tours are a great idea to get orientated to your new surroundings as quickly as possible. Singapore Hop on, Hop off Tours runs tours daily from 8.30am - 6pm in open top double-decker buses. Buses run 2 routes—a City Route and a Heritage Route—and cover all the landmarks in Singapore. Each complete loop takes about an hour. Of course you can hop off the bus at a stop that you want to explore more and hop back onto another bus when you are done. There are buses every 15-20 minutes. Here's another company that runs similar tours.

This is a quick, easy and cost affective way to get your bearings in this city and see all the landmarks. Plus, the commentary onboard the bus will give you an understanding of the history and significance of each landmark/stop. 24 hour and 48 hour tickets are available on these tours.

Head to Gardens By The Bay late afternoon. This stunning 101 hectare garden in the heart of the city is somewhat of a horticultural marvel really. The Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world that showcases plants and flowers from all over the world. Inside the Cloud Forest dome you can check out the the world’s tallest indoor waterfall shrouded by a 35 metre tall mountain covered in lush vegetation from tropical highlands up to 2,000 metres above sea level. The Supertree Grove is made up of tree-like vertical gardens which are 25 and 50 metres tall.

Kapil on the Helix Bridge, walking towards Gardens by the Bay.

My darling little sis Sush inside the belly of the waterfall in the Cloud Forest Dome

Walk the OCBC Skyway to get a closer look at the futuristic Supertrees. 22 metres above ground and 128 metres long, this aerial walkway is a great spot for photos of the surrounding gardens during the day, or otherwise, some fantastic shots of the Marina Bay skyline as the lights come on at dusk.

The Skyway: This aerial walkway is 22 meters above ground and  128 meters long and offers some spectacular views — The Skyway: This aerial walkway is 22 meters above ground and 128 meters long and offers some spectacular views

Garden's by the Bay: The Supertree Grove at Sunset, with the Marina Bay Sands in the background

After sunset, the Supertree Grove becomes packed with people looking for a great spot from which to watch the Garden's Rhapsody light and music show. This is a must-see.

Afterwards, head to the nearby Marina Bay Sands foodcourt for dinner. The food here is reasonably priced and there are numerous options. For something more upmarket combined with superb views of the city, head to CÉ LA VI Restaurant and SkyBar on the top floor or Marina Bay Sands (make sure to book this well in advance). If neither of these appeal, then check out the Hawker stalls at Makansutra Guttons Bay at the Esplanade (a short walk from Marina Bay Sands).

Day 2:

On Day 1 you had a small taste of what this city has on offer. Time now for a closer look at the parts that appeal to you. Explore Little India, Chinatown or Kampong Glam to immerse yourself in local Singaporean culture, colours, sounds and culinary delights. If you desire time outdoors amongst flora and fauna then you can head to the Botanic Gardens or the Singapore Zoo or the Jurong Bird Park. If museums and art galleries are your thing, then the city caters to that too—check out the National Museum of Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, the Peranakan Museum etc. Head to Orchard Road if retail therapy is what you are after. The Bugis Street Market (largest market in Singapore with over 800 shops) is worth a visit even if only to see a sprawling market with shops of all sizes selling cheaper goods—everything from souvenirs, accessories, clothes, electronics, homeware and cosmetics. For something totally different from Day 1, head to Sentosa Island for the day.

Head to the Singapore Flyer late afternoon and see the city from Asia's largest observation wheel. Afterwards walk along the Marina Centre towards the Esplanade Theatre, and then across to the Merlion Park where you will find The Merlion. This famous Singapore icon is so named because he has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. No matter the time of day, this spot is always teeming with people because it offers great photo opportunities. You have The Merlion next to you, the Esplanade Theatre off to one side with its durian-like shape and across the water you have the Marina Bay Sands.

Next head towards the Fullerton (former General Post Office, now a luxury hotel), walk along Boat Quay, then Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay. More photo ops here too.

If you feel like splurging, spring for dinner at one of the Quays. Otherwise, head to Chinatown's Food Street for a scrumptious dinner, that is also wallet friendly.

Singapore in Pictures:

Some Food Favourites:

Chicken Rice: This is so popular that it can be found everywhere in Singapore—hawker centres, food courts, restaurants. Most locals have their own firm favourite. Two well-known places that we have tried and loved are Chin Chin Eating House and Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall in Maxwell Road Food Centre.

Chicken Rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Road Food Centre

Biryani: This is a delicious rice dish that is said to have originated amongst the Muslims in the Indian subcontinent. It is extremely underrated dish in this area's culinary repertoire. Kapil and I are devoted biryani lovers, willing to travel long distances for a good biryani. The biryanis at Bismillah Biryani in Little India are absolutely sensational.

Chilli Crab: This is another dish that is everywhere in Singapore...another must-do. You could easily end up forking out a small fortune for a good chilli crab in one of the upmarket seafood restaurants. So, on a recent trip to Singapore, my sister and I chose to try one cooked in the Chinatown Crab Master hawker stall in Chinatown Food Street instead. We spent S$60 on a giant, juicy crab and a plate of fried mantou (Chinese bun), and absolutely loved it.