7-hr evening layover in Singapore_ideas, please?
 

What did you guys do during a long layover in Singapore, please? Would like to have inputs on relaxing (not energy-consuming) activities.

My Bangkok-Rome flight stops at Changi for 7 hours (6 pm - 1 am) on Thu Apr 7. It's the evening time, and too bad....
- no show program at the Esplanade
- no free tour offered by Changi airport
- I don't want to nap at Changi's transit hotel since there'll be plenty of sleep time on board.
- Plan to save animal sightseeing (bird park, night safari, aquarium) for another 7-hr transit on my way back.

You ideas are more than welcome!

Well, you could go into the city for a lovely dinner.

Lots to do. Go and see a movie, you might have time to have a swim, I think they close the pool about 8 pm. You can take a shower ( they are very good ) and it passes time and you feel great ( take a spare t-shirt and things so you can change ). Have a meal, surf the internet, there are free terminals but they cut you after 15 mins, you can relax at the paying Internet place. Browse the shops and find a good book for the onward flight, get a drink and sit in the sunflower garden, have a massage, you will be surprised how quickly the time goes by.

Oh, yes, on a recent transit though Changi, I had a foot massage and pedicure at at place in the airport. If you do a search here on Changi you'll find my report from December, 2004.

Hi Jane.
if you plan to get out of the airport, there's many things you could do.

I have the following suggestions:

Option 1: Take the MRT from Terminal 2 to Tanah Merah sation, cross the platform and take the eastbound train to Tampines. There's two shopping complexe, each with its own cineplex, and food court. It's a regional town centre, so you can see much of typical Singaporean lifestyle. Train journey from T2 to Tanah Merah about 15mins, another 7 minutes to Tampines.

If you wanna work out at a gym or swim, there's a Sports Complex in Tampines (walk 10min from MRT Station) and pay a small fee.

Or visit the library (10min) walk from MRT Station. Our libraries close at 9pm.

If you wanna see some beach, you may go further another stop (3 min) to Pasir Ris. You can walk to the beach (which takes 20 - 30min, depending on your speed). In the White Sands Shopping Centre (small compared to Tampines Mall) beside Pasir Ris MRT, there's a also a library on the 5th floor.

From Pasir Ris, if you don't want to take the MRT again, ask for directions to the bus-stop for bus no. 53 that takes you to the airport. You can alight at T1 or T2. The bus journey from Pasir Ris (counting from bustop under the MRT line) to T1 takes about 25min.

Option 2: Take the MRT from Terminal 2 to Tanah Merah sation, cross the platform and take the westbound train to Bugis. (15min + 20min) (one more stop 3min takes you to City Hall, where you can change to northbound train to Orchard Road, another 15min). There's a shopping complex above the MRT station which also has a cinema. Opposite the road is the Bugis flea market which is more of a tourist trap. Behind there's a Chinese KuanYin temple and a Hindi temple, both would be closed at night though.....Sim Lim behind OG is a good place to buy IT appliances and accessories. If you are keen, check out the offerings.

To get to City Hall is a 15min walk past Raffles Hotel, Raffles City and Chijmes. There's an underground shopping street: CityLink from City Hall to Suntec City Shopping Mall.

I can offer other suggestions, if you could narrow down top what you like to do.....but personally, I think Tampines and Pasir Ris would be a good short trip to see Singaporeans at home. Enough activities here to keep you occupied for the evening and very close to the airport.

Since our MRT service ends after mid-night, pls check the last train departure for each station....u may like to simply rest and relax on the train while sightseeing as you travel from East - West - North - South. (From Pasir Ris to Jurong East - the East line takes 1 hr, Jurong East to City Hall via Woodlands - the North line takes 1hr 30min).

Here is an article about what you can do at the airport:
http://www.frommers.com/deals/asia/a...f%20the%20Wait

Thanks so much for your helpful information. I thought I would die in solitude from sitting bored in the airport.

I'm most interested in taking some peak into the library and walking in the Raffles area. And I'll kill the remaining time (if any) by taking a shower and explore Changi. May the suggested free movies!

Once again, thank you : )