12 hour layover in Singapore
 

Hi,<BR><BR>I'll have a 12 hour stopover in Singapore on Feb 1 and was hoping to see at least part of the city in this time. Any suggestions on what spots are an absolute must-see and which are the best shopping spots here?<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>Aruna

If you are on Singapore Airlines, they offer a free city tour for people with layovers over a certain number of hours. I forget what the minimum is, but with 12 hours you definitely qualify. It is on a first come first serve basis, so you will need to ask where to go to get the tour as soon as you get off your flight. I have never taken it, but I don't think that they will allow much if any shopping time. However, there are many shops in the Singapore Airport and they are reasonable.

My husband will have about 12 daylight hours in Singapore come September. We aren't too interested in shopping, so I think we'll go to the Botanical Gardens. I'm especially interested in the well-known orchid display there.<BR><BR>Any other thoughts?<BR>

Go over to the Raffles Hotel. Have a Singapore Sling at the bar, eat lunch, do some shopping at their beautiful arcade or just sit in the lobby or gorgeous courtyard and people watch.

We also had about a 12 hour layover in Singapore. As it was overnight, we got a room the Ritz-Carlton and hit some of the sights in the city. As we had about a 24 hour trip back to NYC, we wanted a place to catch a bit of sleep and a hot shower.<BR><BR>If your layover is during the day, the Singapore Airport has great facilities for showers, etc. I seem to recall they also have a swimming pool. Of course, not suggesting you spend the whole time in the airport.<BR><BR>I found the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel to be one of the most disappointing tourist destinations I've ever visited. It's long past its prime as a place for the literary ex-pats and is living off its reputation. I was expecting it to be similar to the Oak Bar at the Plaza in NY, a kind of casual elegance. Instead, the Singapore Slings come premade with the optional commerative glass.

I'd recommend the botanical garden, especially the Orchid Garden. If you want a really lovely lunch, there's Les Ami au Jardin, a fancy (and very expensive) French restaurant in the gardens. I also like the Asian Cultural Musem, and I'd recommend the tiny museum in the Raffles hotel. Another memorable lunch spot is Doc Cheng's in Raffles.

I agree with the above posters about the Long Bar. I live in Singapore and when I have visitors, I always take them to see Raffles. But we go early in the morning and buy some breakfast at Ah Teng's Bakery. You can carry it out to the courtyard and sit there and enjoy the atmosphere and spend a lot less money than you would for a Singapore Sling or lunch in the Tiffin Room.<BR>Then go for a walk in Chinatown or Little India if you want to see a sample of some the many local cultures. Good places to buy all sorts of interesting souvenirs if your time is limited.

February 1st is Chinese New Year! Be aware that a lot of places will be close in Singapore.

Topping.