In a nutshell
- Singapore is perfect for a layover — especially if your final destination is another Asian country, Australia, or New Zealand.
- This article gives you ready-to-use stopover itineraries for 1, 2, or 3 days in Singapore, so you won’t miss a single highlight.
- For a central and affordable place to stay, Chinatown is our top pick. Our favorite hotel there is the Heritage Collection on Chinatown.
- If you’d rather not walk everywhere, grab a Hop-on/Hop-off Bus ticket — it covers all the major stops.
- We also cover entry requirements, getting around, payments, and internet access. One heads-up: pick up an eSIM from Saily before you fly — you’ll need it for Grab.
Is a Stopover in Singapore Worth It?
Absolutely! If you ask us, Singapore is perfect for a layover. The country is too small to spend an entire vacation there, but also too beautiful to skip entirely.
Especially for trips to Bali, Australia, and New Zealand, you’ll find plenty of flights with a stopover in Singapore. That’s because Singapore Changi Airport sits perfectly between Europe and Australia or Asia.
Our tip: On flight search platforms like Skyscanner, you can actively search for flights with a Singapore layover using the multi-city option — for example, when planning a trip to Thailand, a trip to Malaysia, or a vacation in Japan.
How Much Time Should You Plan for a Stopover in Singapore?
For the ideal Singapore layover, you should set aside three full days. In that time, you can comfortably see all the major highlights in Singapore.
Don’t have that much time? That’s okay too. But for your Singapore stopover, you should have at least one full day and one night. Otherwise it really will feel too rushed.
Good to know: If you’d also like to discover our insider tips in Singapore, you should extend your Singapore vacation to four or five days.
Our Hotel Picks: Where to Stay During a Stopover in Singapore?
We recommend staying in Chinatown during your stopover. It’s a really cool area to stay in Singapore. Chinatown is super central and hotels are usually cheaper there than in other neighborhoods.
Our top hotel picks in Chinatown are:
An unforgettable experience in Singapore is spending a night at the Marina Bay Sands. There’s arguably no more famous infinity pool than the one at this hotel.
The rates for a night are of course seriously expensive. But if you want to treat yourself, this would be a great way to do it.
Here you'll find our other hotel recommendations for Singapore
3-Day Stopover Itinerary in Singapore
With three full days, you can explore Singapore’s must-sees at a really relaxed pace. For detailed info on the individual attractions, check out our dedicated article.
Here’s our 3-day Singapore layover itinerary:
Day 1: Marina Bay
Day 1 includes:
- Helix Bridge
- Supertree Grove
- Gardens by the Bay
- Marina Bay Sands
In the morning, take a taxi or Grab to Youth Olympic Park. From there, take a leisurely stroll across the Helix Bridge toward the ArtScience Museum. From the bridge, you get a great view of the skyline.
A lovely promenade starts at the ArtScience Museum that you can walk along. On the opposite side is a large shopping mall. If you’re already hungry, you can grab something to eat there.
Then continue walking past Marina Bay Sands toward the famous Super Trees.
Some of the trees are connected by the OCBC Skyway, a pedestrian bridge that offers a stunning panorama over Gardens by the Bay. Your ticket costs 14 dollars and can be purchased either on-site or in advance online at the official website.
After that, head over to Gardens by the Bay. You can visit both greenhouses if you feel like it. We especially love the Cloud Forest, but the Flower Dome is beautiful too. If you do both, plan for about two to three hours here.
Get tickets for Cloud Forest & Flower Dome
About an hour before sunset, make your way to Marina Bay Sands and head up to the public observation deck.
This is probably the most beautiful of our nine viewpoints in Singapore — the vista over the city at sunset is spectacular.
Get online tickets for the Marina Bay Sands observation deck
A really special experience is having dinner or drinks at one of the restaurants at Marina Bay Sands. There are several restaurants, but you should definitely make a reservation (visit the website).
Get more tips for your visit to Marina Bay Sands here
Day 2: Downtown, Riverside & Food Tour
Day 2 includes:
- National Gallery
- Raffles Hotel
- Merlion
- Lau Pa Sat Food Centre
- Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Robertson Quay
- Guided food tour
In the morning, take a taxi or Grab to the National Gallery. If you’re in the mood, you can head inside (costs 20 dollars) — it’s one of the most impressive and historic buildings in Singapore.
After that, walk over to another legendary building in Singapore: the Raffles Hotel. The Queen and Michael Jackson have both stayed here. If it’s not too early for you, try the famous Singapore Sling at the Long Bar.
Next, make your way toward Riverside to the Merlion statue — a photo of the city’s official symbol is a must.
If you’re hungry by now, we recommend stopping by the Lau Pa Sat Food Centre. The building is really cool, the selection is huge, and the food in Singapore is absolutely delicious anyway.
After eating, you can casually explore the rest of Downtown. We recommend just strolling through the streets, especially around Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, and Robertson Quay.
If you love food like we do, we recommend doing a guided street food tour through Chinatown in the afternoon. Singapore is truly one of the best destinations for foodies!
Book the food tour in Chinatown
Our tip: Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay in particular are Singapore’s nightlife hotspots. If you’re up for it, you can head back there after the food tour. Or you can stay in Chinatown and check out Ann Siang Hill and Club Street, which are also among Singapore’s most popular going-out areas. Personally, we liked those a little better.
Day 3: Chinatown, Little India & Arab Street
Day 3 includes:
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Arab Street
On Day 3, you’ll explore three more cool neighborhoods in Singapore. Start with Chinatown. Since you were already here the evening before on the food tour, you’ve already soaked up the atmosphere.
You can visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, for example, and the Sri Mariamman Temple — Singapore’s oldest and most well-known Hindu temple.
Next, head over to Little India. Even if you’ve already seen the most famous Hindu temple, there’s plenty more to discover here — like the Mustafa Centre or the market halls in Little India.
The most famous market hall in Little India is the Tekka Centre. You’ll also find a great food court there with authentic Indian food — perfect if you’re getting hungry.
You’ll also find great traditional restaurants in Arab Street, your last sightseeing stop. The Sultan Mosque here is particularly impressive.
In the side street, Haji Lane, you can wrap up your Singapore stopover in style at one of the many bars.
Our tour tip: If you’d rather not do sightseeing on your own, you can explore all three neighborhoods on a guided tour. Keep in mind though that you’ll have a bit less time in each neighborhood. The tour runs four hours in total.
Book the Chinatown, Little India & Arab Street tour
2-Day Stopover Itinerary in Singapore
If you only have two days in Singapore, you’ll do a condensed mix of the 3-day itinerary. Personally, we’d skip the Downtown and Riverside area, since Chinatown and the surrounding neighborhoods fascinate us so much more.
Here’s our 2-day Singapore layover itinerary:
Day 1: Marina Bay & Food Tour
- Helix Bridge
- Supertree Grove
- Gardens by the Bay or food tour
- Marina Bay Sands
The day is similar to Day 1 of our 3-day itinerary. However, we’d skip Gardens by the Bay and head straight from the Super Trees to the Marina Bay Sands observation deck (skipping the sunset timing).
In the afternoon, we’d definitely do the food tour through Chinatown. Of course, you can also follow Day 1 of the 3-day itinerary exactly and skip the food tour.
Get online tickets for the Marina Bay Sands observation deck
Book the food tour in Chinatown
Day 2: Chinatown, Little India & Arab Street
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Arab Street
On your second day, we recommend visiting the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little India, and Arab Street. In the evening, you could still head back to Chinatown or Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay to go out — or whatever you feel like.
Alternatively, you can do the guided tour through the three neighborhoods. Since it only lasts four hours, you’ll still have time for one or two other sights that catch your eye.
With the subway or Grab, you can get around quickly.
Book the Chinatown, Little India & Arab Street tour
1-Day Stopover Itinerary in Singapore
Here’s our 1-day Singapore layover itinerary:
- Helix Bridge
- Supertree Grove
- Marina Bay Sands
- Food tour
If you only have one day in Singapore, we recommend focusing on the Marina Bay area. Since we really love Chinatown though, we suggest skipping Gardens by the Bay and doing a food tour in Chinatown in the afternoon.
Afterward, head over to Ann Siang Hill and Club Street and wind down your day at one of the bars.
Get online tickets for the Marina Bay Sands observation deck
Book the food tour in Chinatown
Extra Tip: Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus in Singapore
If you want to see as many sights as possible in one day, or you’d rather not walk or use public transit, the hop-on/hop-off bus is a great option.
The bus passes by all the major attractions — including every stop on our itineraries. It’s especially worth it if you only have one day in Singapore and don’t plan on going inside every sight.
The great thing: there’s a 24- or 48-hour ticket. There are two routes, and buses run between 9:30 AM and 5:20 PM, roughly every 20 to 40 minutes depending on the time of year.
All additional info (stops, routes, etc.) can be found in the app, which you can download after purchasing your ticket.
Get your hop-on/hop-off bus ticket for Singapore
Important Info and Tips for Your Singapore Stopover
To make sure your Singapore layover goes smoothly, here are a few important things to know.
Entry into Singapore
For stays of up to 90 days, travelers with a passport from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland do not need a visa.
Before arrival, you just need to fill out the entry declaration (SG Arrival Card). It’s super easy and can be done online (visit the website).
Passport control at Singapore Changi Airport is also generally very quick — you’re usually through in five to 15 minutes. Of course, if many flights land at the same time, it can take a little longer.
Getting from the Airport to the City
You have several options for getting from the airport to the city.
#1 MRT (Subway)
approx. 3 dollars
approx. 30–60 minutes (depending on your hotel’s location)
The cheapest option is the subway. If you’re staying in Chinatown as we recommend, the subway takes about an hour and requires one transfer.
Note: The subway doesn’t run at night, however. The first train is around 5:30 AM and the last is around midnight.
#2 Taxi or Grab
approx. 15–30 dollars (a bit more at night)
approx. 20–30 minutes (depending on your hotel’s location)
The fastest option — and super convenient — is taking a taxi or Grab.
Taxis are right outside the arrivals hall. Just follow the taxi signs. There you’ll find official taxi stands with a queue.
Grab pickup points are also marked in the arrivals area. Just follow the signs for Ride-hailing or Private Hire Car. The app will also show you exactly where to go.
Our tip: If you want to travel in Singapore without cash, we recommend booking a Grab. You can easily pay by credit card right in the app.
#3 Private Transfer
approx. 35 euros (via GYG)
approx. 20–30 minutes (depending on your hotel’s location)
Even more relaxing is a private transfer from the airport to the city. You can easily book it online a few days before your trip to Singapore.
The transfer may even be slightly faster since you don’t have to hunt for a taxi. And you’ll have your driver’s contact on WhatsApp right when you arrive in Singapore.
A bonus: depending on the time of day and your hotel’s location, the private transfer could even be cheaper than a taxi or Grab, since you pay a fixed price upfront.
Book a private airport transfer in Singapore
Getting Around in Singapore
There are also several options for getting around Singapore itself. Here’s what makes the most sense for your Singapore layover.
#1 MRT (Subway)
Within the city, the subway is also the cheapest option and, depending on traffic, usually the fastest too. You can pay conveniently by card — just tap your credit or debit card on the turnstile when you enter and exit.
Read our tips for the best travel credit cards here
To figure out which train to take or where to transfer, just use Google Maps. Enter your location and your destination, and Google Maps will show you the best route.
Check out our tips for trip planning with Google Maps
#2 Grab
If you’d rather not take the subway, you can also get around by Grab. You’ll need to download the app in advance, of course. You can also pay online.
Since we’re not always sure where official taxis are stationed in Singapore, we simply recommend Grab.
#3 Walking
Most of the routes in our stopover itineraries can also be done on foot. You’ll obviously need to enjoy walking and plan for more time, but you’ll get to see a few extra corners along the way.
Internet and eSIM for Singapore
You’ll need internet in Singapore especially for Grab. Hotels and most shopping malls have free Wi-Fi. But even for one to three days, it makes sense to have internet on the go.
We recommend getting an eSIM for your trip from the eSIM provider Saily in advance. You can install the eSIM at home through the app before you leave and activate it as soon as you land.
Paying in Singapore: Cash or Credit Card?
For your Singapore stopover, you generally don’t need cash. Singapore is extremely modern, and almost everything — transportation, food, activities — can be paid by credit card or booked online in advance.
We’ve been to Singapore multiple times and have never needed to get cash out.
The only time you might need cash is at small kiosks or street stalls (for food or souvenirs). But you can get both of those things elsewhere without cash too.
If you do want to have some cash on hand, we recommend withdrawing a bit of money from an ATM at the airport. You can do this conveniently with your travel credit card as well.
The currency in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (SGD).
Frequently Asked Questions About a Singapore Stopover
Which airlines offer free stopovers in Singapore?
Currently, one airline runs a true stopover program in Singapore: Singapore Airlines. The airline lets you add a Singapore stopover to long-haul flights.
Cost: The base airfare often doesn’t increase — only taxes and fees may vary slightly.
Special feature: There’s the “Singapore Stopover Holiday” program, which offers discounted hotel rates and attraction tickets.
Alternatives
Scoot (budget airline subsidiary): Doesn’t offer a free stopover in the traditional sense, but affordable layover connections are possible through open-jaw flight searches.
Star Alliance partners (e.g., Lufthansa): A stopover is often possible when the flight is operated by Singapore Airlines (codeshare), but it usually needs to be booked via an open-jaw search.
How much does a stopover in Singapore cost?
Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in Asia — but how much you spend really depends on where you stay and what you do.
Here are some average prices:
- Accommodation: Mid-range 120 to 180 euros. Budget (hostel) from 40 euros.
- Food: Hawker centers (street food) 10 to 20 euros. Restaurants around 50 euros.
- Transportation: MRT (subway) approx. 5 to 10 euros. Grab from the airport approx. 20 euros.
- Admission: Top attractions (e.g., Gardens by the Bay) approx. 30 euros. Many things (Merlion, Gardens outdoor area) are free.
Bottom line: With 120 to 150 euros per day (including your share of a double room), you can experience Singapore very comfortably.
Are stopover flights cheaper?
Yes, usually! Stopover flights are often cheaper than direct flights, since airlines price connecting routes through their hubs more attractively to keep those hubs busy.
In most cases, you don’t pay any surcharge for the stopover on top of the base fare (only minor differences in taxes and fees). So you essentially get two trips for the price of one. Some airlines even throw in free hotel nights to help boost local tourism.
What should you avoid as a tourist in Singapore?
- Chewing gum: Importing and selling it is prohibited. Spitting it out can result in heavy fines.
- Eating & drinking on public transit: In the MRT and at train stations, even drinking water is not allowed (fine of approx. 350 euros).
- Smoking: Only permitted in designated zones. Be very careful about where you stub out your cigarette.
- Littering: Littering is punished extremely harshly — even for small scraps.
- Drugs: Absolute zero tolerance. Even possession of small amounts can result in draconian penalties, up to the death penalty.
- Feeding birds: Feeding pigeons can quickly cost you several hundred euros.
- Tipping: Not customary. In restaurants, a 10 percent service charge is usually already included in the bill.
What trip can you combine with a Singapore layover?
There are several countries that pair really well with a Singapore stopover:
1. The Classics (Neighboring Countries)
- Malaysia: By bus, train, or short flight (one hour). Ideal for Kuala Lumpur, Penang (foodie mecca), or the Cameron Highlands.
- Indonesia: Most commonly Bali (2.5-hour flight) or by ferry to Bintan Island for beach resorts.
2. Beach & Culture Focus (Short-Haul)
- Thailand: Especially the south (Phuket, Koh Samui) for a beach vacation, or Bangkok for culture and shopping.
- Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City or the island of Phu Quoc (approx. two-hour flight).
- Cambodia: Direct flights to Siem Reap for the temples of Angkor Wat.
3. The “Big Trip” (Long-Haul)
- Australia & New Zealand: Singapore is the standard layover for trips Down Under, breaking up the 20+ hours of flight time.
- Philippines: For island hopping (e.g., Palawan or Boracay).
4. The Exotic Option
- Maldives: Reachable from Singapore in about 4.5 hours — often a popular honeymoon combination.
Bottom line: The most practical choices are Malaysia (logistically the easiest) or Indonesia/Bali (the most popular combination).
Do I need a visa for a stopover in Singapore?
No, you can stay in Singapore for up to 90 days without a visa.
