2 Days in Singapore: Our Stopover from Marina Bay Sands to Jewel Changi
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Liz and I spent two nights in Singapore on our way to Thailand. We packed a lot into about 42 hours. If you only have time for one thing, make it sunset at the Infinity Pool on top of Marina Bay Sands. Like our 4 days in Iceland, this was a short trip. We planned every hour and still left room to wander.
Trip at a Glance: Singapore
- Where: Marina Bay, Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, and Jewel Changi Airport
- Getting there: Qatar Airways from Miami through Doha, Qatar, landing at Changi Airport mid afternoon
- How long to stay: Two nights is enough for the highlights on a stopover
- Best time to go: We went in mid March. Singapore is hot and humid all year, so plan outdoor sights for the morning and evening
- Where we stayed: One night at Marina Bay Sands and one night at YOTELAIR inside Jewel Changi Airport
- Don’t miss: Sunset at the Infinity Pool, a hawker lunch in Chinatown, and the Supertree light show
- Pack: Light, breathable clothes, a swimsuit for the pool, comfortable walking shoes, and a small umbrella
Jump to: Our Two Days · Where We Stayed · Things to Do · What to Eat · Getting Around · FAQs · Final Thoughts
Our Two Days in Singapore
This was just a quick stop between Miami and Chiang Mai. It was a different pace from our big group trips, which made it easy to move fast and change plans on the fly.
Day 1: Arrival, ArtScience Museum, and Sunset at the Pool
- Afternoon: We landed at 2:55 pm after an overnight connection in Doha and checked into Marina Bay Sands.
- 5:30 pm: The ArtScience Museum, right next door to the hotel, for teamLab Future World. It is a permanent exhibit of interactive digital art rooms where the projections react as you move through them.
- 6:00 pm: The Infinity Pool for sunset. Our photos turned out so well that we skipped the 6 am pool session we had planned for the next morning.
- Evening: We grabbed fruit and snacks for a quick breakfast, since day two started early.
Day 2: Gardens by the Bay, Hawker Food, and the Light Show
- Morning: We checked out of Marina Bay Sands and left our luggage with the hotel. That way, we could explore all day before checking in at our next hotel. We skipped the Helix Bridge and went straight to the Supertree Grove for photos before the crowds. Then we toured the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay.
- Midday: Chinatown and lunch at Maxwell Food Centre, home of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, plus Liao Fan Hawker Chan and Café Monochrome nearby. We also tried chili crab at one of the Maxwell stalls.
- Afternoon: Fort Canning Park, then Little India and Kampong Glam.
- Evening: Back to the Supertree Grove for the Garden Rhapsody light show. Then we picked up our bags and took a Grab to our cabin at YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport for the night.
Day 3: Jewel Changi and On to Thailand
- Morning: We walked out of our cabin and were greeted by the waterfall at Jewel Changi Airport. After taking it all in, we caught our 8:55 am Scoot flight to Chiang Mai.
Where We Stayed: Marina Bay Sands vs. YOTELAIR at Jewel
We split our two nights between a bucket list splurge and a practical airport stay. Honestly, the combination worked perfectly for a stopover.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is the hotel with the famous rooftop Infinity Pool, the one you might recognize from the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Staying there is the only way to swim in it, since the pool is for hotel guests only. We paid SGD 1,068.01 for one night, about US$835. It is a splurge, but the sunset view from the pool was the moment of the trip for me.
The view from our room was just as spectacular. Our window looked straight down over the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay. I could have stood there all night watching them glow. My tip: after you check out, leave your bags with the hotel. We did, and it let us spend the whole next day exploring the nearby area before heading to our next hotel.
I also had one of the best pastries of my life here: a soft brioche bun filled with the most decadent pandan filling. It came from Origin + Bloom, the hotel’s patisserie, and if you stay here, don’t leave without trying one. Pandan is a fragrant green leaf used in a lot of Southeast Asian desserts. It also tastes a little like vanilla and coconut.
YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport
YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport is a cabin style hotel on the fourth floor of Jewel Changi Airport, before airport security, and a short walk to the terminals. Honestly, the location could not be better. The hotel sits directly across from the Rain Vortex. In fact, we literally walked out of our room and were greeted by the waterfall. Our cabin was tiny, probably the smallest hotel room I have ever stayed in. But it was comfortable and so convenient, and I would stay again. We paid SGD 560.53 for one night, about US$438. Breakfast was free: a light spread of small pastries and coffee in the lounge overlooking the waterfall. It is simple, but perfect for grabbing a bite before an early flight. However, if you want something bigger, Jewel has plenty of restaurants. Free coffee and tea are also available all day.
Which One Should You Book?
Marina Bay Sands is about the experience: the pool, the views, and being steps from Gardens by the Bay. YOTELAIR is about convenience: you can roll out of bed, walk to your gate, and still have time to explore Jewel. With an early flight the next morning, the airport hotel saved us a stressful taxi ride at dawn. If you have two nights, do what we did and book one of each.
Things to Do in Singapore
1. Watch the Sunset from the Infinity Pool
The pool sits 57 floors up. At sunset, the whole sky turns shades of pink, purple, and orange over the skyline. It was truly majestic. The pool can get busy, but I was actually surprised it wasn’t more crowded. We were able to take lots of pictures without other people in them. If you have seen our flying dress photoshoot guide, you know we love a good photo spot, and this one delivers.
2. See the Supertrees and the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay
The Supertree Grove is free to walk through, and early morning is the best time for photos without crowds. Inside, the Cloud Forest has a huge indoor waterfall and a misty walkway winding up through the plants. We skipped the Flower Dome, the second conservatory, which I believe was closed the day we visited. My tip: get to the Cloud Forest early too. We went first thing in the morning and got great shots with no crowds. As of this posting, a ticket covering both conservatories costs SGD 46 for visitors. So check the opening hours before you go and make sure both are open.
3. Stay for the Garden Rhapsody Light Show
Every night at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm, the Supertrees light up in time to music. It was fantastic. For about 15 minutes, the giant trees pulse and change color with the soundtrack. Meanwhile, the whole grove goes from glowing purple to bright gold to twinkling like stars. It felt like the perfect way to end our last night in Singapore. The show is free, and the theme changes throughout the year. So grab a spot on the ground under the trees, lie back, and look up. Get there 15 to 20 minutes early if you want a good spot, since the crowd fills in fast.
4. Eat Your Way Through a Hawker Center
Hawker centers are open air food courts packed with stalls. In fact, they were one of my favorite parts of the trip. Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown is one of the most famous. In fact, the Michelin Guide recognizes a few stalls there.
5. Walk Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam
These three neighborhoods are close together, but each one feels completely different. For example, there are Chinatown temples and shophouses, the colors of Little India, and the street art around Kampong Glam. On the way, we stopped at Fort Canning Park, a hilltop park in the middle of the city. There, at the Tree Tunnel, we took one of the most epic photos of the whole trip. It is a spiral staircase built into a round shaft. When you stand at the bottom and look up, the steps swirl up toward a circle of trees and sky.
The photo was my idea. I even packed a massive yellow tulle dress in my carry on just for it. But once we got there, my fear of heights took over, so I made Liz climb up on the stair wall and do it instead. She was a great sport, and the photo is incredible. If you go, expect a short line of people waiting for the same shot.
Just a few minutes’ walk from Maxwell Food Centre, we also stopped at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This striking red and white temple in the heart of Chinatown opened in 2007. It is named for the Buddha tooth relic kept inside. Even from the street, the tiered roofs against the blue sky are worth the stop.
6. Explore Jewel Changi Airport
Jewel is a shopping center, garden, and attraction built right into the airport. Its centerpiece is the Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It pours down through a glass dome into a terraced indoor forest. The whole place is amazing, and worth a visit even if you are not flying out. Jewel sits before security and connects to the terminals, so you can explore it on a long layover too.
There is a reason Changi keeps winning awards. It has been named the World’s Best Airport by Skytrax a record 14 times, including in 2025 and 2026. The only airport to take the title from it in recent years is Hamad International in Doha, which won in 2021, 2022, and 2024. I connected through Doha on Qatar Airways on this same trip, so we got to experience both. They really are in a league of their own.
What to Eat and Where to Eat in Singapore
Singapore is a food city, and just like the street food on our week in Colombia, the best meals we had cost just a few dollars at hawker stalls. Most hawker dishes cost around SGD 4 to 8, which is only about US$3 to 6. As of this posting, a plate of chicken rice at Tian Tian is SGD 5 to 6. However, many stalls only take cash or local payment apps, so bring some Singapore dollars.
What to Eat
- Hainanese chicken rice: Poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken broth, served with chili and ginger sauces.
- Soy sauce chicken: Tender chicken in a sweet soy glaze, the specialty at Liao Fan Hawker Chan.
- Pandan pastries: Pastries flavored with fragrant pandan leaf. Mine was a brioche bun with a rich pandan filling. It was one of the best pastries of my life.
- Ice kacang: A tall mound of shaved ice drizzled with bright syrups and condensed milk, with sweet red beans, corn, and jellies hidden underneath. It was delicious, and the perfect way to cool off in the heat.
- Chili crab: Singapore’s most famous dish, crab in a sweet and spicy tomato chili sauce. We made sure to try it at one of the stalls at Maxwell Food Centre, and you should too.
Where We Ate
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Maxwell Food Centre: The chicken rice stall with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
- Liao Fan Hawker Chan, Chinatown: Famous as one of the first hawker stalls to earn a Michelin star, back in 2016. However, it lost the star in 2021.
- Café Monochrome, Chinatown: A cafe designed to look like a black and white cartoon, from the walls to the furniture. It feels like you stepped inside a sketchbook, and it makes a fun stop for photos.
Getting There and Getting Around
Getting there: I live in Miami, so we flew Qatar Airways through Doha. The overnight trip then landed us in Singapore mid afternoon. Changi is a major hub, so Singapore makes an easy stopover on the way to Thailand, Bali, or anywhere in Southeast Asia.
Packing: Pack light and plan for heat and humidity, with one nicer outfit for the pool and dinner. Our capsule wardrobe guide makes a short trip like this easy.
Getting around: Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and the neighborhoods are close together and easy to walk. For longer rides, like between the airport and the city, we mostly used Grab, Southeast Asia’s version of Uber. We also took the occasional taxi.
Useful Apps
- Grab for rides
- Google Maps for walking between neighborhoods
- WhatsApp for staying in touch
Singapore FAQs
Can you use the Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool without staying at the hotel?
No. The pool is for hotel guests only, and you need your room key to get in. So if you want the pool, you need to book at least one night.
Is two days in Singapore enough?
For a stopover, yes. In two nights we saw Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, three neighborhoods, and Jewel. With more time, you could also add Sentosa Island or the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Is Singapore expensive?
Hotels are, especially Marina Bay Sands, where we paid SGD 1,068.01 for one night. Food does not have to be. Hawker meals are some of the best food in the city and cost a few dollars. The Supertree Grove and the light show are free, too.
Do US citizens need a visa for Singapore?
As of this posting in October 2026, US citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport needs at least six months of validity. You also need to fill out the free SG Arrival Card online within three days before you arrive. Check the latest rules before you go.
Is it worth staying at the airport hotel in Jewel?
If you have an early flight, yes. We walked from our cabin to check in, and we had time to see the waterfall before boarding.
Is Singapore safe for women travelers?
Very safe. Singapore is one of the safest cities I have ever visited. We walked around during the day and at night, rode in Grabs, and never once felt uneasy. The city is clean, well lit, and easy to navigate. As a result, it is a great first stop in Asia, whether you are traveling solo or with a group.
Final Thoughts
Singapore packed so much into two days: a sunset swim on top of the city, some of the best cheap food I have ever had, and an airport that is a destination in itself. It was the perfect start to our Thailand trip. If you are flying through Asia, this is your sign to give yourself a night or two here.
