24 Hours in Town: Singapore

The dreaded day-long layover can be a real drag, especially if you don't leave the airport.

At That's we want to help you make the most of a layover, by providing the knowledge you need to get a taste of the town. For this week's 24 Hours in Town we will sling you to Singapore to see how you can pass your next layover there.

David Attenborough once remarked, “Getting to places like Bangkok or Singapore was a hell of a sweat. But when you got there it was the back of beyond. It was just a series of small tin sheds.”

In the Singapore of today, this is no longer the case.

The Singapore skyline plays host to countless towers of metal and glass, daunting in their height and each is architecturally unique.

The city plays host to a highly developed system of highways and roads and the best metro system I have ever used. 

Attenborough’s Singapore of the past is no more.

As far as Asian layover cities go, Singapore has to be one of the best. Unlike its Southeast Asian neighbors, the city is not known to be cheap. In fact the opposite is true, Singapore is one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Despite this, you can have a lot of fun with 24 hours in Singapore and it can be done cheaply. Here are your options for burning time between flights in one of Asia’s most spectacular cities.

Food

Singapore truly is a culinary melting pot. Where you can easily find Chinese, Malay, Halal, Thai, Japanese, Indian (every manner of Indian food imaginable) and Western food, among countless others I’ve forgotten.

If you have a day, or less, in Singapore I recommend checking out Little India and Chinatown, both districts have a wide array of dining options to fit any budget.

In Little Indian you can enjoy cuisine from the southern tip of India all the way up to the Punjab region - spicy and flavorful curries, traditional rice options and countless varieties of naan bread. This neighborhood is also your best bet if you are a vegetarian.

If you are looking to save cash, avoid the sit-down restaurants and hit a roadside food court. The food is great and the price is right, plus sitting roadside at a plastic patio-set is an experience in itself – a great place to people-watch. These food courts can be readily found in both Little India and Chinatown.

[Photo by Matthew Bossons]

Marina Bay Sands

Billed as the world’s second most expensive building to construct, the Marina Bay Sands is a must see while wandering Singapore.

This building is an architectural wonder, a hybrid of sky and sea - of imagination and reality. Its image is recognizable around the world, three sloping towers crowned with a bent ship-like structure across their tops. 

If you are feeling adventurous, take the elevator to the observation deck for phenomenal views of the city. It’s a bit pricey at SGD24 per person, but if there’s one thing to bend your budget for - this is it.

At the very least be sure to wander around the Marina Bay area, the views are spectacular, there are countless food and drink options and it’s the definition of a shopper’s paradise.

Gardens by the Bay is also worth a visit while exploring the Marina Bay area.

Ideally located next to the Marina Bay Sands, this public garden includes two cooled conservatories, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, as well as a cluster of large and artistically impressive Super Trees. Much of this area can be visited for free.

[Photo by Matthew Bossons]

Drink

Booze is not cheap in Singapore. This is in stark contrast to its Southeast Asia neighbors, where a bottle of Tiger can usually be procured for approximately USD1.  In Singapore this will likely run you closer to USD5 at 7-Eleven.

That being said, there are ways to get a couple drinks in you for cheap. Your best option is to hit Little India, buy a 750-milliliter bottle of gin (approximately SGD28) from one of the small family-operated corner stores and grab a fountain pop from McDonalds. Next, hit the streets for some inconspicuous street boozing.

If public drinking isn't really your cup of tea, head over to the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel - home of the original Singapore Sling. Over the years this bar has served cocktails to countless characters, including Ernest Hemingway, and for a price you too can join the ranks. Although definitely worth a visit, be forewarned - enjoying an original Singapore Sling is not cheap. 

Alternatively, if you like beer and want to try something made locally pay a visit to Hospoda. Located in the Village Hotel’s Albert Court, this microbrewery specializes in Czech-style beers. If you only have time for one be sure to try the Bohemian Pilsner. 

[Photo by Carmen Ryley]

//  To see more from our , 24 Hours in Town series click here.