If you’re lucky enough to be flying to Australia or New Zealand, there’s a high chance of being able to include a night’s stopover in Singapore on the way there or back. Not only do you get to break your journey, but you’ll also have enough time to see just a little of what this amazingly vibrant and modern city has to offer.
Although it’s little bigger than the Isle of Wight, Singapore is jam-packed with all kinds of sights and attractions. If your time is limited, though, just do a few different things so that you can really enjoy each experience. There’s always the possibility you might come back for another stopover, after all.
Relax in Gardens by the Bay
If you’ve been on a plane for hours, a trip to the Gardens by the Bay will feel very restorative. This is an amazing collection of gardens and green spaces, which will make you feel like you’re miles away from the busy bustling Singaporean pace of life. Divided into sections, you can decide which ones you’re most interested in before you go, as you probably won’t have time to explore it all. The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are not to be missed, but neither is the Supertree Grove. There are 18 of these and the tallest is 16 storeys high. You can travel to the top of one of them, or walk the OCBC Skyway which joins two of them together, giving you some amazing views of the gardens and the bay. At night, the supertrees provide a stunning lights display.
Source: Gardens by the Bay via Facebook
Gardens by the Bay is ranked as the number one tourist destination in Singapore, and more than 30 million visitors have already been to see it.
Roll the dice and make a splash
By spending the evening at the Marina Bay Sands Resort, you’ll be killing more than two birds with one stone – a great idea when your time in the city is limited. Not only will you have the possibility of trying your luck at different casino games, but you’ll also be visiting perhaps the most iconic building in Singapore. Not only that, but you might also squeeze in a quick dip in the infinity pool on the roof – and get a selfie in one of the most famous pools in the world. Be aware though, that you’ll need to be a hotel guest to use the pool.
Entry to the casino, however, is free (at least for foreign visitors). This is a huge casino with 15,000m2 of gaming space. It’s on four levels, with over 600 table games and 2,500 slot machines. If you’re not familiar with games like roulette and blackjack, you can get some online Vegas gaming practice in before your trip. For casino novices, the live dealer games at online casinos are great for giving you a taste of what it’s like to play in a bricks and mortar casino.
Sample the hawker food
“2012-06-17 06-30 Singapore 460 Lau Pa Sa” (CC BY 2.0) by Allie_Caulfield
There are so many eating options in Singapore it’s difficult to pick out the best experience. But part of the fun of eating out in this city is trying out the hawker stalls. To get started, head to the Maxwell Food Centre, the Golden Mile Food Centre on Beach Road or Lau Pa Sat. For ambience, you probably won’t be able to beat the 120-year-old building of Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre, which is the middle of the Central Business District.
The best advice is to have just a small taste of something at each stall, so you don’t fill up too fast and miss out on the next tempting treat you encounter at another stall.
A stopover in Singapore is certainly worth considering. Not only does it break up your long-haul flight, but it’s a chance to see an exciting city that you might not otherwise plan to visit.
