Singapore’s airport now again offers a transit program: Anyone travelling through the airport and staying between 5.5 and 24 hours can benefit from a free tour of Singapore, as long as their luggage is checked through to their final destination, and they are not staying overnight in a non-transit hotel. You can choose from one of the three current tours – all last two and a half hours.
A similar program was previously operated by Singapore Airlines. Now the airport itself has relaunched the transit program. All transit passengers can therefore benefit from it, regardless of which airline they fly with.

Table of Contents
Free Tours
As of September 2024, you have the following tours to choose from. Each lasts two and a half hours, and all tours except the Jewel Tour are conducted by bus.
- Changi Precinct Tour (once daily):
This tour keeps you in the Changi district, near the airport. It doesn’t go to Singapore’s downtown but goes to Tampines instead. Not only is there a huge community centre here, but there are also visits to Central Park (30 minutes), Our Tampines Hub, Changi Village, and 30 minutes at Changi Beach Park. The beach is artificial, of course. - City Sights Tour (thrice daily):
After being picked up at the airport, you’ll first go to City Hall and then briefly to the Civic District and the Jubilee Bridge. As the city’s main attractions are covered, a 30-minute stop at the Merlion is also on the agenda. There you can not only look at the lion sculpture but also have a good view of the city skyline. Then you get 30 minutes at Gardens by the Bay, where you get to see the Supertrees – artificial trees that are even more impressive than they sound. After a short stop at the Hotel Marina Bay Sands, you’ll drive back to the airport. - Heritage Tour (twice daily):
First, you’ll go to Marina Bay and the Central Business District. You’ll then have 30 minutes in Chinatown before heading to the Singapore River. Then you’ll spend another 30 minutes in the Muslim district of Kampong Glam before heading back to the airport.
Unfortunately, there are currently no longer city tours for passengers with longer stays. You can only participate in a maximum of one tour per Singapore transit.
You can find the starting time for the tours at this table:

Conditions
In order to take advantage of the tours, a transit in Singapore with a minimum stay of 5.5 hours and a maximum of 24 hours is required. You also need a passport and must meet the entry requirements.
Your luggage needs to be checked through to your final destination. You can take small backpacks and similar items with you on the bus. Cabin trolleys or similar must be stowed in the baggage storage for a fee (SGD 10 (~€7) per piece of luggage).
You can book the tour from 50 days before your layover online. After landing, you have to go to the corresponding counters in Terminal 2 (near gate F50) or Terminal 3 (near gate A1-8) (map). Do NOT go through immigration. The counters are in the transit area of the terminals. If you did not pre-book, you can try getting a spot directly at the counter, but seats are limited. It’s definitely better to pre-book online. Regardless of if you pre-booked, you need to show up at the counter 90 minutes before the tour starts.
Please note that you must remain with the group throughout the tour. Whether unauthorized removal has negative consequences is not mentioned anywhere. But you better not try it. If you do, you will need to get back to the airport at your own expense.
More questions and answers are available here on Changi Airport’s website.
Longer, Paid Tours
Changi Airport also offers three longer tours. However, these are not free, costing between SGD 78 (~€52) and SGD 129 (~€85). To participate, you need a layover of at least 7 hours. Furthermore, these tours only take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You can book them online and need to report to the counter at gate F50 in Terminal 2, 90 minutes before it starts.
- City River Cruise Tour (SGD 78 (~€52) 14:00 – 18:00): First, you’ll head to the Old Hill Street Police Station, known for its rainbow-coloured windows. Then, you’ll take a 20-minute river cruise at Clarke Quay. Afterwards, you’ll get to see Merlion Park, Chinatown, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, where the left canine tooth of Buddha is displayed.
- Sentosa Skyline Tour (SGD 119 (~€79) 17:00 – 21:00): You’ll board a bus that will provide a scenic journey along the city’s main sights. The bus will then leave you at the peak of Mount Faber, where you’ll not only enjoy panoramic views of Singapore but also take a beautiful cable car ride. Following Sensoryscape, an interactive and immersive art experience, you get to have dinner at Good Old Days Food Court. Once the sun has set, you’ll enjoy the 20-minute Wings of Time show, with water, lasers, and fireworks. Then, it’s back to the airport.
- Marina Gardens Tour (SGD 129 (~€85) 11:00 – 16:00): This tour focuses on the gardens near the Marina. First, you’ll get a 20-minute outdoor audio tour, after which you’ll have lunch at the dinosaur-themed Jurassic Nest (the lunch itself is not included). After lunch, you’ll enter both of Garden by the Bay’s domes: The Flower Dome (with Impressions of Monet until February 2025) and the Cloud Forest. Afterwards, you’ll get to take some pictures at Merlion Park, before boarding a bus that will show you Singapore’s top landmarks.
Cover Picture: bsh | Ditmar Lange