Changi is one of the best airports in the world to be stuck in, and Singapore is one of the easiest cities to see on a layover. With a few hours you can see the Rain Vortex at Jewel; with half a day you can be at the Merlion and back. Here is how to plan it.
Can you leave Changi Airport on a layover?
Yes, if your passport allows you to enter Singapore. Many nationalities can visit without a visa; others need one, and some can use the Visa Free Transit Facility for up to 96 hours if they meet its conditions. Check the ICA visa requirements, and submit the free SG Arrival Card in the three days before you land. You will pass immigration, so allow time to clear security again on the way back.
What is the Free Singapore Tour?
Changi runs free guided city tours of about two and a half hours for transit passengers with a layover of 5.5 to 24 hours. Your checked bags must be through-checked to your final destination, and you can only pass through immigration once during the layover. Tours include a Heritage and Culture tour, a City Sights tour, a Singapore River and Marina Bay Sands tour, and a newer Sentosa Discovery tour, with start times from 10 am to 7 pm.
You can pre-book on the Changi Airport website up to 50 days ahead, or walk in to a tour booth in the transit area of Terminal 2 or 3, subject to seats. Arrive at the booth at least 90 minutes before the tour starts, and do not clear immigration first.
What can you do with 6 hours?
Take a free tour if the times fit, or stay at the airport: walk through Jewel to see the Rain Vortex, explore the gardens inside the terminals, and eat well. Jewel is on the public side, so you need to clear immigration to reach it. Read our Jewel Changi guide for the light show times.
What can you do with 12 hours?
Head into the city. The MRT reaches the centre in well under an hour, or take a taxi for about S$25 to S$45. Spend the afternoon at Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay waterfront, eat at Lau Pa Sat or Maxwell, and if your flight is late, catch the 7.45 pm Garden Rhapsody show. Aim to be back at Changi at least two to three hours before departure.
What can you do with 24 hours?
Book a hotel and see the highlights: Marina Bay and the light shows in the evening, Chinatown and Kampong Glam the next morning. Our 3-day Singapore itinerary has more ideas to choose from, and things to do in Marina Bay covers the area closest to the airport.
What should you know before you go?
- Store bulky bags at the airport's baggage storage before heading out.
- Tap a contactless card on the MRT; there is no need to buy a ticket. See getting around Singapore.
- It is hot and humid: carry water and wear light clothes.
- Leave your vape at home: e-cigarettes are illegal in Singapore. See Singapore travel tips.
Facts checked October 2026. Tour times and eligibility are set by Changi Airport, and entry rules by ICA; both can change, so check before you fly.
