A Singapore stopover is a popular choice for some international skiers and snowboarders and travellers in general. Tucked in between Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore is probably most well known as a stopover for those travelling to go skiing in Japan, but it’s ideal to break long hauls from the UK and Europe for those travelling to New Zealand, or for Australians travelling to ski Europe.

With Changi Airport (SIN) in Singapore accepting flights from 200 cities with 80 airlines, it’s one of the largest transport hubs in Asia, making Singapore an ideal choice for a stopover. Not surprisingly, flights with Singapore Airlines are most likely to stop via Singapore, but airlines such as British Airways, Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Delta also commonly have flights via SIN.

A Singapore stopover can be so much more than just a place to lay your head. The Republic of Singapore is an exciting city full of contrasts, where there’s a multi-cultural fusion of the east and west, and where colonial history meets modern buildings that have popped up on reclaimed land. In amongst the buzz of a highly urbanized city, there are many gardens, and these aren’t just your average garden-variety gardens! It’s not called the Garden City for nothing!

Hops from Singapore

Being such a major transport nucleus, it’s also very easy to take short hops from this island country to other Asian destinations to thaw out on a beach before or after your ski or snowboard trip. Singapore Airlines or Silk Air head to Koh Samui in Thailand (2 hours), and Jetstar heads to Bali, just to name a couple of beach destinations. Thailand and Cambodia are also just a short hop away.

Getting Around Singapore

The Changi Airport is at the eastern end of Singapore, about 17km from the main part of the city and Marina Bay. From the airport it’s possible to catch trains into the city, although it’s a bit messy to buy tickets (if you don’t have small notes – you can’t use a credit card) and you have to change trains multiple times to get to downtown. However the MRT is a handy and cheap way to get around the city.

Taxis are a great way to get between the airport and the city, and are surprisingly inexpensive (relatively).

For getting around the many city attractions, the tourist hop on hop off buses make it all very easy.

Singapore Hotels

Singapore has the full gamut of budgets covered when it comes to accommodation, although as a general rule, the Singapore hotels are rather expensive. Many of the 3 star hotels are costly, whilst you only pay a little more for one of the many 5 star hotels.

If your Singapore stopover is just one night, it’s incredibly convenient to stay at the upscale Crowne Plaza Changi Airport which is located right inside the airport. You don’t have to catch a hotel shuttle bus to get there; it’s just a very short walk from Terminal 3. You can get into the city sans any luggage, and you don’t have to rush to get back to the airport in the morning - you’re already there!

See the Singapore accommodation page for more options.

Singapore Hotel Listings

Singapore Stopover: Things to Do

The obvious pastime of the past in Singapore was to go on a shopping spree, but cheap shopping is really a thing of the past, unless of course you want to buy some cheap souvenir crap in Chinatown. Singapore shopping is now more about exclusive and expensive designer gear and glitzy shopping malls such as The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, or the glam shops on Orchard Road.

There are a myriad of other activities for your Singapore stop over, from visiting Little India to traipsing around some gardens, sipping on a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel, or savouring an outrageously priced cocktail at the bar overlooking the infinity pool (and the city) on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. See the Singapore activities page for more information.

Or just enjoy some famous hawker cuisine that reflects the ethnic diversity of Singapore, with a choice of Chinese, Malaysian or Indian spices.

Weather

Well it goes without saying that you won’t be able to wear your puffer jacket and Sorel boots in Singapore! The climate in Singapore is somewhat uniform year round, with a hot and humid climate, average temps from 25 to 31 degrees C, and common bouts of rain. So with respect to your attire, wear light cotton clothing that will breathe in all that humidity!

It’s not fine and sunny that often in Singapore, or if it is you wouldn’t know it because there is commonly haze, smog, or smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.