Changi airport in Singapore is an international hub (meaning many flights connect here from all over the world) and it is my absolute favourite airport. I had been inside Changi airport an embarrassing eleven times on my way to and from other countries before I finally decided to spend two days in Singapore!
I added a couple of days’ stopover on my way home from a surf trip in Bali. And I’m glad I did! Singapore is a beautiful city with lots to do, and a place that I felt absolutely safe and comfortable as a solo female exploring alone.
Here’s how I recommend you spend two days in Singapore!
Day one in Singapore
Kayak in the bay
I like to do fun, active activities when I visit new cities, as an alternative to the usual walking tours or city bus trips that are usually recommended. In Singapore, one of the options is to take in the city from the unique vantage point of a kayak in the bay.
You can book a kayak tour of Singapore Bay on Viator, a Tripadvisor company. I love kayaking as a way to explore because, although it’s active, it’s not normally too full-on energetic.
Remember to take your GoPro (and the best GoPro Mount for kayaking) to capture the memories! Just like I didn’t… 🙂
Walk around Gardens By The Bay
I recommend a wander around the Gardens by the Bay the first afternoon of your two days in Singapore. It’s also a really great place to go if it’s raining because there are some indoor conservatories to explore (Singapore weather is tropical, so whilst it’s always warm there might be some tropical showers).
I could describe the gardens in detail, but you’d do better checking out the official website.
Just make sure you stay until it’s dark to see the trees light up!
Eat at Satay By The Bay
After you’ve walked around the Gardens by the Bay, Satay by the Bay (which is situated close by) is a great option for lunch or dinner. It’s a Hawker Center, which is a bit like a food court or food market.
There are lots of different stalls offering mainly Asian cuisine. There are both full meals and snack options on offer and you can pick and choose from all of the stalls to make up your meal.
I had some really great Satay (pictured above) followed by an awesome stir-fry!
Day two in Singapore
Walk the Southern Ridges
One the second of my two days in Singapore I got up (relatively) early to walk the Southern Ridges. The Southern Ridges is a 9km trail connecting a series of parks along the southern ridge of Singapore.
It’s a great way to get out of the city for a while and take a walk through nature. The start point is the Marang Trail which starts just across the street from Harbourfront MRT station. This trail leads to the Henderson Wave Bridge from which you can enjoy views of the city, before joining the Forest Walk which is a raised walkway through the forest canopy.
The entire trail will take you a few hours to walk, so make sure you take a map which shows transport links to get back to your hotel.
Check out the shopping malls
Singapore is a bit of a shopping mecca. There are shopping malls everywhere selling all the brands you can think of, and some you won’t have heard of.
There is a really great shopping mall at the Harbourfront MRT station, which I didn’t take seriously before a long hike, but you could do – or start the hike at the other end and shop afterwards!
The main area for shopping, though, is Orchard Road. Walk along this street and you’ll find multiple shopping malls and department stores. A great place for some retail therapy and to escape the heat in the air conditioned shops.
Get a posh cocktail
You will certainly already know that, when in Singapore, you should have a Singapore Sling at Raffles. Well… Raffles was shut for refurbishment when I was there (it will re-open at the end of 2018, so check the website if you want to go before then) and was replaced by a pop-up bar which I didn’t really fancy. So I don’t have much of an opinion on it!
Instead, I headed to 1-Altitude Bar, the highest alfresco bar in the world. It was $30 to get in, including a drink, but the views of the city are awesome and I always like to get to the highest point in any new city.
Where to stay in Singapore
I stayed at the Hotel Bencoolen@Hong Kong Street for three nights and two days in Singapore and I couldn’t fault it. The hotel is in a great location – walking distance to the river and the bay and close to the trains. I booked it because the reviews said it was a great location and perfect for solo travellers, and it didn’t disappoint.
The hotel staff were super friendly and the receptionist took the time to make sure I tried the Singapore noodles for breakfast – they were delish! The buffet was fairly basic, but good (and included in the price of the hotel) with both asian and european options to choose from.
The rooms were spotlessly clean, more spacious than I had expected, and had super soft sheets which were amazing to settle into after a late-arriving flight! The hotel has 24 hour reception which is essential for flights at antisocial hours.
I got a little exhausted from all my walking around and spent a few hours chilling out at the small rooftop spa pool. No-one else was there so it was frankly pretty perfect 🙂
When it was time to end my two days in Singapore I had to leave the hotel at 5am to catch an early flight. The receptionist walked to the end of the street and hailed me a cab to save me the additional cost to me if he booked one by phone. It’s small touches like that which make a hotel memorable.
Getting to Singapore
Unsurprisingly, Singapore Airlines often have good flight deals to and from Singapore.
Sometimes flights to Singapore are actually cheaper if your final destination is somewhere else (e.g. I flew from London to Bali and stopped for two days in Singapore on the way back for £525 (May 2018), where the return flight to Singapore only was closer to £600).
Singapore Airlines also let you add in a stopover, which can include hotels and tours if you wish, in their booking steps.
As always though, check out Skyscanner or Momondo for the best flight deals before you book.
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