Can I leave Singapore airport during layover COVID

A few years ago I visited my best friend in Thailand during my school’s winter break. I was on a shoe-string budget and found a cheap flight- however, it involved an eight hour layover- UGH. Given that I only had one week to travel- was it worth it to fly from New York to Thailand AND add almost half a day to my travel time by taking an eight hour layover in Singapore?

After doing some research and learning about Singapore’s famous airport and amazing sights, my answer was HECK YES. My eight hour layover in Singapore ended up being a major highlight of my week-long trip.

Singapore Changi Airport is located very close to the heart of Singapore (about a 20 minute drive) which makes it easy to go out and explore the city and then return in time for your connecting flight. In addition- Singapore Changi Airport is an attraction in and of itself, being voted the best airport in the world for the past eight years. 

There are several options if you have a long layover in Singapore- take Changi Airport’s free tour of Singapore, go out and explore Singapore on your own, or stay at Changi Airport and enjoy everything that it has to offer. Due to the timing of my flights and the length of my layover, I chose to go out and explore Singapore on my own. However, I will outline the details for all three options below. 

Note- If you are traveling with a large carry-on bag, there are several bag storage options available at the airport so that you can explore comfortably during your long layover in Singapore. 

Option 1: Take a Free Guided Tour of Singapore

Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines sponsor free tours of Singapore for any traveler transitioning at Changi Airport with at least a 5.5 hour layover. Tours are conducted in English and are 2.5 hours long. There are two tour routes available: the Heritage Tour and the City Sights Tour. Due to immigration guidelines, transit passengers can only exit and enter the Singapore airport once during a layover, so it is only possible to do one of the tours. 

The Heritage Tour includes visits to historical monuments such as city hall, a stop at the famous Merlion statue, and walks throught the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam.

The City Sights tour includes stops at major sites including the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and the Merlion.

Note: Tours are currently suspended because of Covid-19. 

Option 2: Explore Singapore On Your Own

Due to the timing of my flights I decided to explore Singapore on my own rather than go on the free tour. In order to maximize my time exploring Singapore, I took a taxi to and from the airport which cost approximately $25 USD each way and was only a 20 minute ride (I was traveling very early in the morning, before rush hour). There are a variety of sites that you can see, many of which are within walking distance of eachother. Below I am listing some of sites that you can choose from depending on the length of your layover and your interests. I only visited about half of the below sites during my eight hour layover in Singapore because I wanted time to return to the airport and enjoy it’s unique amenities.

The Merlion 

The Merlion is one of the most popular tourist sites in Singapore. It is a large fountain with the head of a lion and the tail of fish, representing Singapore’s beginnings as a fishing village and it’s original name “Singapura” meaning “lion city”. 

Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is located along the Singapore River and is well known for its bars and restaurants. The area nearby is filled with unique and picturesque sites. 

Singapore Flyer 

The Singapore Flyer is the world’s second tallest observation wheel. One rotation in the flyer takes 30 minutes- so I would only recommend this activity if you have a very long layover in Singapore. Tickets cost approximately $25 USD. 

The Esplanade

The Esplanade is Singapore’s performing arts center. Is it known by locals as “the durian” because of its resemblance to the durian fruit (I had to google this- it looks similar to a jackfruit!).

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a showcase of plant and garden artistry located in downtown Singapore. It consists of three gardens: Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. Admission fees vary from $8-$28 depending on how many of the exhibits you would like to see. Due to Covid, reservations are required. 

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is a huge complex comprising the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the SkyPark Observation Deck, the ArtScience Museum, and the Shoppes. Admission to the SkyPark Obervation Deck costs $20 and offers great views of Singapore. Another option would be to enjoy a drink at “Ce La Vie” which is the bar located on the Marina Bay Sands rooftop.

Little India

According to my fiance, Singapore’s Little India has the best south Indian food outside of India.I did not have the opportunity to visit Little India, but I hope to visit during my next trip to Singapore. 

Chinatown

Singapore’s Chinatown is an energetic neighborhood with a ton of beautiful buildings, historic sites, and restaurants. One of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world is located here-  Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (Hawker Chan). 

Newton Food Center

If you watched “Crazy Rich Asians” you might remember the market where Nick took Rachel when they first arrived in Singapore. This took place at Newton Food Center which is home to dozens of food stalls with some of the best street food in Singapore. 

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is the place to go for upscale shopping in Singapore. Many of the stores and buildings here are very futuristic-looking with interesting architecture. 

Option 3: Explore the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport has been voted the best airport in the world for the past eight years. Some of the airport’s activities include multiple gardens (a butterfly garden, sunflower garden, cactus garde and orchid garden), art installations, movie theaters, restaurants, a giant slide, a rooftop pool, multiple spas and an indoor waterfall. In fact, there are so many options to choose from that the airport’s website lists several different airport itineraries to choose from depending on your interests and time frame. In addition, there is also a free tour available of the airport’s newest development, Jewel.