Lindsay As I write this, I’m currently on a flight from Sydney to Singapore, on SQ232. When I land in this small but vibrant Asian country, it will become my 19th country visited. I’ve been wanting to come here since 2006, but due to a travel agent’s mistake back then, it never happened. Now, all that stands between Singapore and me is a seven-and-a-half-hour flight, some turbulence, a couple of meals, and about three films. So, come along with me as I make the most of my 9 hour layover in Singapore and try to fit in as many sights as I can.
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Finding Singapore
When I exited the plane, I’d already completed my Singapore Arrivals Card (you can check if you need your own here), so I went straight through passport control. Since my bags were checked all the way through to Delhi, my next destination, I had nine hours before my next flight—plenty of time to explore on my stopover. I’d already decided I would catch the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), Singapore’s version of the tube or metro. I headed to the ticket office, loaded 20 Singapore dollars onto a card, tapped through, and off I went.
The train was already waiting on the platform, and within minutes we were moving. After a quick change at a stop called Expo, I boarded the green line train heading toward City Hall, which took about 30 minutes. When I disembarked in the Raffles area, I made a mental note to try and find the famous Raffles Hotel on my way back to the airport so I could stop in for a drink.
St Andrews Road
I exited the station at the Stamford Road side and wandered down Saint Andrew’s Road, where I spotted St. Andrew’s Cathedral. It looked so clean and pure, surrounded by beautifully neat, manicured gardens. As it was approaching 7 pm, it was closed, which surprised me—maybe it was in the middle of mass? Either way, it was still a treat to admire from the outside.
As I wandered further down the street, I caught my first glimpse of the amazing Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the distance, slightly obscured by trees. Even from afar, I felt a surge of excitement. It was one of those must-see moments during my 9 hour layover in Singapore.
A little further along, I passed a bus stop and noticed a huge metal wall engraved with self-portraits of people from all walks of life: men, women, couples, even families with kids. At its centre, the words read: “We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people.” I absolutely loved this—it was so unique.
Colonial District
Continuing down St. Andrew’s Road, I passed the National Gallery of Singapore on my right. Since it was already 6:45 pm and the gallery closed at 7 pm, I knew I wouldn’t get to explore it on this trip. I made a note to visit next time. Housed in a stately Colonial building, it once served as the old City Hall and Supreme Court. Fun fact: In 1942, Old City Hall was where the Singaporeans surrendered to the Japanese.
Just like the cathedral, the buildings here were pristine and meticulously maintained, each with its own charm. The Arts House at the Old Parliament, painted a soft pale yellow, reminded me of a small stately home with its rows of windows, graceful columns, and brick lower section. I also stopped to admire the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. The latter especially stood out, with its dark grey base, striking brickwork above, grand columns, and an impressive clock tower.
I carried on in the same direction and pulled out my Singapore Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to make sure I was heading the right way toward the Marina. That’s when I realised I’d completely missed the Raffles Hotel. Oh dear! No Singapore Sling cocktail for me this time. Still, I figured the waterfront was calling, and with Marina Bay Sands already peeking out between the buildings, I knew an even bigger highlight of my 9 hour layover in Singapore was just around the corner.
Marina Bay Sands and the Waterfront
I crossed Anderson Bridge and walked past the famous Fullerton Hotel. It felt surreal seeing it in person after booking it so many times for clients back at work.
As I continued walking, I realised I was getting closer to the waterfront, catching bigger glimpses of the Marina Bay Sands. After stopping in a shop to pick up some obligatory souvenirs and pins for my collection, I couldn’t resist grabbing a Merlion-shaped ice cream. It was definitely needed after all that walking in the humidity.
A minute later, slightly cooler, I headed down to the waterfront, looked up to see the spectacular Marina Bay Sands rising across the water, lit up in all its glory. Lit up with lasers shooting from the top, it was a sight to behold. After seeing it in countless magazines, Instagram reels and travel books, experiencing it in person was every bit as amazing. This enormous, iconic hotel also houses a casino, a huge mall, and a museum. Sadly, I didn’t make it up to the very top floor, where the infinity pool and bar are, but that’ll have to wait for my next visit. Experiencing all of this during my 9 hour layover in Singapore made it feel like I’d truly scratched the surface of what the city has to offer.
Merlion Park
The great thing about this area is that so many attractions are close together. Just to the left was the famous Merlion statue, which I’d seen hundreds of times online but never in person. To my surprise, it turned out to be much bigger than I expected. I’d always thought it was only three or four feet tall without the pedestal, but in reality, it stands over 8 metres high!
Located in Merlion Park, this iconic water feature is half lion, half fish. The lion’s head represents Singapore’s nickname, “Lion City,” while the fish body refers to its ancient name, Temasek, meaning “sea town.” The symbol reflects both bravery and strength, as well as Singapore’s roots as a fishing village and maritime hub. Fun fact: the design was created in 1964 for the Singapore Travel Bureau and later became the country’s tourism logo.
On the hot and humid night I visited, the park was absolutely packed with tourists, making it tricky to get photos without unwanted photo bombers. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so busy, but it was still worth seeing. That said, there’s only so long you can admire a statue, no matter how cool it is, so it was time to move on and explore more.
After snapping a few photos at the Merlion, I decided it was time to keep moving and see what else I could discover before the night slipped away.
Helix Bridge and Marina Bay Sands Mall
I ditched the map and just started exploring in whatever direction caught my eye. Big mistake. During my 9 hour layover in Singapore, I wandered aimlessly in the heat for about 30 minutes, wasting precious time I really didn’t have to spare. Still, the detour did get me a little closer to Marina Bay Sands, so it wasn’t all bad.
Eventually, I found myself right back where I’d started, so I wandered over to the very cool Helix Bridge. Opened in 2010, it’s designed to look like a strand of DNA. If you’ve ever seen DNA under a microscope, or, like me, if you’ve binged too many crime-solving shows—you’ll know exactly what I mean. So, I really enjoyed exploring this murder-solving-inspired bridge! 🙂
Once I got to the other side of the bridge, I reached the entrance of the Marina Bay Sands Mall. At that point, all I could think about was air conditioning! The moment I walked in, the cool air hit me, and it was pure relief. Honestly, if you’re walking around Singapore, definitely duck into places with air con whenever you can. It makes all the difference and gives you the energy to enjoy the rest of your exploring.
Marina Bay Sands Mall Interior
As I entered, I noticed a food court down below and directly in front of me was a chandelier that lit up in shifting sections, giving the illusion of light cascading down like a waterfall. Directly underneath was a projection on the mall floor of an under-the-sea scene, with whales, fish, and plant life moving along to soothing music. When I stood back and really took it in, I noticed a whale image appear inside the chandelier itself, looking as though it was swimming down into the projected “ocean.” It was such a clever effect.
Although I was starting to feel hungry, I decided to take a quick stroll through the mall first, as I’d heard it was home to all the best shops. I really got a kick out of the window displays, since many were gearing up for Christmas and had gone all out. It was also the perfect way to cool down after all the walking. So, if you’re looking to melt those credit cards, this is definitely the place to do it.
Eventually, I headed back toward the food court. Despite it being around 8:00 pm, it was still pretty busy. I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of food courts as I prefer a quieter, more private spot to eat, but I decided to suck it up and give it a go. I ordered some Chinese chicken with rice and a salad for about 12 SGD. From the look of it, I wasn’t expecting much, but as soon as I took that first bite, I was blown away by how flavourful and delicious it was. Needless to say, it didn’t touch the sides! After finishing my meal, I grabbed a very large cold drink from Rasapura to take with me. It was exactly what I needed to stay cool when I stepped back outside.
Gardens by the Bay
Refreshed and cooled down, my next stop was to find Gardens by the Bay, especially the Supertree Groves, which are huge futuristic trees. These vertical gardens tower between 25 and 50 metres tall, about the height of an 8 to 16 storey building, and are covered in a living skin of plants, making them look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. After seeing them hundreds of times on TV and online, I was thrilled to finally witness them in person. Gardens by the Bay truly feels like a garden from the future. Around 15 years ago, space-age domes were built to house gardens and plant species from all over the world, such as the Flower Dome, which captures a Mediterranean climate, complete with olive trees and other regional plants. There’s also the famous Cloud Forest, replicating a tropical climate, which is basically a piece of cake for Singapore. I decided to save visiting the domes for next year when my family and I return, so watch this space.
It was a bit of a hassle to find the gardens. For starters, the signs told me to head outside to take a lift up to the top floor, so that’s what I did. When I came out, I had to follow a path that didn’t fill me with confidence, as it just redirected me back into the mall. Eventually, I crossed a bridge on the top floor and finally saw a sign indicating that the Gardens by the Bay were through some double doors. Stepping out onto a large wooden bridge covered in plants, I felt myself getting closer, eager to see the Supertree Groves up close.
Following the bridge, I edged closer, anticipation building, and finally spotted the Supertree Groves in the distance, lit up in a dazzling array of colours. Soft music began to play across the night sky, and I realised I’d arrived just in time for the end of the light show. I’d heard great things about it, and it didn’t disappoint. I hurried along the bridge as the ‘Fantasia’ soundtrack from the Disney movie filled the air. The trees lit up in time with the music, changing colour for dramatic effect. Wow! This was a bucket-list moment. I stood in awe with the crowd, taking it all in. No one was pushing or shoving, and the atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed.
Among the Super Trees
However, I didn’t have much time, with only a few hours before my flight to Delhi, so I had to push on to get closer to the Supertree Groves. As I approached, the music suddenly swelled, building to a dramatic climax, and just like that, the show ended.
Almost immediately, the crowd began to disperse, and as I descended the stairs to stand among these amazing giants, I did so just as most people were leaving! What timing!
I stood below the first tree, looking up in awe. Believe it or not, these towering structures are actually giant exhausts for the steam turbines used to cool the conservatories. Whhaaaaaatt? They’re basically big, ugly exhausts disguised with plants in a truly futuristic style. The ‘stem’ is completely covered in greenery, with flowers at the top, and honestly, I reckon this garden would fit perfectly in a Back to the Future movie.
Around the bottom of the trees, it kind of feels like you’re weaving through a secret garden, if you can get rid of all the people! Looking up, you can also see the Sky Walkway. I thought about heading up for a closer look, but decided to save that for next time. I wandered a bit more, taking in the lush greenery, and felt so happy to be there in the moment.
After soaking up the magical atmosphere, I reluctantly began to make my way back to the MRT station. It took around 50 minutes to find, despite it not being too far. Once underground and back in the air conditioning, I only had to wait a few minutes before a train arrived. As I sat down on the hard seats, tiredness washed over me, and I realised that my 9-hour layover in Singapore was almost over. With just enough time left for one final stop, I made my way back to the airport—but I wasn’t quite done yet!
Changi Airport and The Jewel
An hour later, I arrived back at Changi Airport and decided that, before leaving Singapore, I had to check out the Jewel. In case you’re not familiar, there’s a stunning indoor waterfall inside Terminal 1, accessible via the link bridges from Terminals 2 and 3. I headed to Terminal 3, and even though I was feeling pretty drained, I knew I couldn’t skip it.
The walk to the Jewel felt like a fairly long trek along a boring bridge, but after about 10 minutes through a tunnel, I emerged at a food court. Since it was close to 11:00 pm, everything was closed. I turned right, then followed a sign that sent me left toward the Jewel. As I stepped out into the multi-level atrium, I couldn’t quite believe I was inside an airport. The only downside was that the waterfall was switched off, but to be fair, it was late and hardly anyone was around. Even so, it was still stunning.
At the centre of the roof sits a large funnel that changes colours, and with the dimmed nighttime lighting, the effect added to the calming atmosphere. I was completely surrounded by plants and tropical trees, and even with the main waterfall off, I could distinctly hear the sound of water. Exploring a bit further, I noticed smaller water features hidden throughout the greenery.
While wandering, I followed the Shiseido Forest Valley East Trail and realised that the mini waterfall I’d heard earlier was called Cataract Falls. The displays throughout the Jewel are truly spectacular, and it’s definitely worth a visit. Even on a short 9-hour layover in Singapore, the Jewel is a must-see stop and a perfect way to end your brief visit in style.
After exploring this small area, I didn’t venture any further, as I was completely drained. I decided to head back the way I came and check in for my flight to Delhi. On the way, I stopped by a little display of Cinnamoroll, which my daughter loves. I wandered a bit further and came across a huge Hello Kitty installation celebrating the brand’s 50th anniversary. A giant Hello Kitty doll was surrounded by flowers. It was incredibly cute.
Thanks for reading my post on how I spent a 9 hour layover in Singapore. Even with limited time, I managed to see some of the city’s most iconic highlights—wandering past St Andrew’s Cathedral and the Colonial District, marvelling at Marina Bay Sands, catching the light show at Gardens by the Bay, and even squeezing in a visit to the Jewel at Changi Airport. It was a short visit packed with highlights, but absolutely worth it for such an unforgettable stopover.
Ready to book your 9 hour layover in Singapore? You can find great deals on flights and hotels [insert link here].
I’ll be back soon for a longer 24-hour stopover on my way home from India, so stay tuned for part two of my Singaporean adventures, where I’ll uncover even more of what this city has to offer.
Have you visited Singapore before, or are you planning a trip soon? Let me know in the comments, as I’d love to hear your tips and stories! And if you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog for more travel inspiration, freebies, and ideas for your next adventure.
Singapore is Malaysia’s neighbour. But I haven’t visit there for quite a long time. I kinda miss Singapore.
You defo should visit again sometime, it’s got the most amazing areas and each time I go, I experience something new. I can’t wait to go back!