Here’s something exciting for those transiting through Singapore! You no longer need to wander and wonder what to do during those long hours of waiting for your connecting flights through Singapore. The island nation has resumed offering free tours of Singapore to travelers transiting through the airport. You can now reserve a free tour to see the stunning sights of this fascinating Asian nation. Intrigued? This post will enlighten you on Singapore free tours for transit travelers.
Singapore Free Tour - An Overview
Singapore Free Tours are tour itineraries designed specifically for Singapore transit passengers. All nationalities valid to enter and transit through Singapore can avail themselves of this service. Plenty of travelers journey through Singapore Airport on their way to other countries, and it serves as a major airline transit hub. If you have a transit visa for Singapore and have a long layover there, you can take advantage of these tours free of charge. These tours let you step out of the airport, enjoy the city-state’s main highlights, and then return to the airport to catch the connecting flights.This way, travelers can make the most of their free time and explore Singapore rather than simply lounge in the airport. This is a great initiative as well as an ideal way to get a glimpse of Singapore before you depart for your final destination. These tours were earlier operational, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were discontinued. In 2023, Singapore restarted these to let transiting passengers benefit from their time with the wonderful vistas and experiences that Singapore has in store.
Types of Singapore Free Tours
The Singapore Free Tours consist of four fascinating tours with sightseeing ranging from Changi Airport’s splendors to selected highlights of Singapore City. Each tour lasts roughly 2.5 hours and includes a selection of fascinating sights and attractions that make for an insightful short tour of Singapore. All tours are available daily, including weekends and public holidays, and are conducted in English. Depending on their arrival at Singapore’s airport, transit travelers may select from the following options:
1. The Changi Precinct Tour
This tour gives you a quick glimpse into ordinary life in the Changi area by visiting Tampines New Town, Tampines Central Park and Hub, Changi Chapel & Museum, Changi Village, and Changi Beach Park.
Tour hours are from 9:00 am to 11:30 am
The reporting time is before 7.45 a.m. Your onward connecting flight departure should be after 1.30 pm to avail yourself of this free tour.
2. City Sights Tour
Get a glimpse of modern and suave Singapore and sneak in some amazing photo opportunities with iconic landmarks of Singapore on this tour. The City Sights Tour takes you through City Hall, Civic District, Jubilee Bridge, and Marina Bay Sands, with a 30-minute pause at Merlion Park and Gardens By the Bay to enjoy the sights and take some Instagram-worthy photos.
Tour Hours: 12 noon to 2:30 pm
Reporting time: 10.45 a.m. Your onward connecting flight departure should be on schedule after 4.30 pm.
3. Jewel Tour
Revel in the beauty of Changi Airport’s iconic installation, The Jewel. Enjoy a 2.5-hour walking tour around this magnificent modern architectural marvel, a stellar indoor waterfall at Singapore airport. The tour takes you through the surrounding lush green gardens, where you can hike along a mini forest within the airport! The tour starts at Changi Airport Terminal 3 and proceeds to Shiseido Forest Valley and the HSBC Rain Vortex. Continue to discover local heritage brands and enjoy a digital visual treat at Changi Experience Studio. The tour ends with a trip to the extravagant Canopy Park, located on Jewel’s topmost level.
Tour Timing: 11.00 am to 1.30 pm.
Reporting time: before 9.45 am. This tour can be enjoyed by those who have onward connecting flight departing after 3.30 pm.
Note that though it is a free tour, ticketing fees for Canopy Park and Changi Experience Studio’s individual attractions will apply.
4. Heritage Tour
This tour will begin in June 2023, taking you through Singapore’s colonial and historical past. The sights of the bygone era provide a vivid visual of multiculturalism in Singapore as it has persisted through the ages. From Marina Bay, the tour travels through the Central Business District. Spend a little over 30 minutes exploring the lively Chinatown before taking in the breathtaking views of the Singapore River. Pay a visit to Bugis and Kampong Gelam to conclude the tour.
Each tour has a 75-minute waiting period between reporting and the start of the tour. This is done to allow a smooth group processing of arrival immigration clearance.
Who is Eligible for a Singapore Free Tour?
These tours are accessible to anyone traveling through Singapore on a transit visa or with a passport that grants visa-free entry to Singapore. Individuals who qualify for a visa-free transit facility can make the most of this tour. These tours are only available to travelers passing through Singapore, so those arriving with a visit visa to stay in Singapore are not eligible for Singapore free tours. Travelers below under the age of 18 are not allowed to join the tour alone; an adult must accompany them. Transit travelers who want to take this tour can only sign up for one tour based on their arrival time and must have at least 5.5 hours and no more than 24 hours of layover time at Changi Airport.
How do I book a Singapore Free Tour?
Visit the Free Singapore Tour Boots at T2 Transit, Level 2, Departure Transit Hall (near Gate F50), or T3 Transit, Level 2, Departure Transit Hall (near Gates A1-A8) after landing at Singapore Changi Airport.
Please make sure that you remain in the transit area and do not clear immigration to embark on this tour. To book this tour, you need to provide these documents:
- Your passport
- Boarding Pass
- Singapore transit visa
You can also pre-book the tour as per your arrival time at the Singapore Airport and present the booking confirmation at the tour booth.
Tips to Remember
- After arrival in Singapore, transit passengers joining the free tours should stay in the transit area and not clear immigration.
- Those booking from the booth counter should be present at Terminal T2 and Terminal T3 for registration. Those arriving at other terminals should take the Skytrain that runs between the transit area and the dedicated terminal to register for the tour.
- Individuals are not permitted to leave the tour group and spend time at the attraction on their own, as it is a group excursion. Since they will be taken back to Changi Airport after the tour, they should stay with the group the entire time and finish the tour with them. It is strictly forbidden to overstay a transit visa, and it is the passenger's responsibility to make sure they pass security checks, turn up for their flights, and catch their connecting flights.
- Some tour itineraries may include food sampling experiences, so if travelers have any dietary concerns, such as lactose intolerance or allergies, they should inform the tour representative at the Singapore Free Tour booths.
- All passengers arriving at Singapore Airport should get a Singapore Arrival Card. Those joining this tour should also do so and additionally sign an indemnity form before the tour commences.
- Transit travelers should have a minimum of 5.5 hours of layover time at Singapore Airport, but it should not go beyond 24 hours.
- As transit travelers can only leave the airport and enter it once, a transit passenger can only avail of one tour during their layover.
- Travelers must arrive at the Singapore Free Tours booth at least 90 minutes before the tour time, even though the reporting time is 75 minutes prior to the start of the tour.
- Tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it is best to pre-book the tour if your arrival coincides with any available tour slot to avoid disappointment.
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