Singapore Layover,
the Garden City in a few hours

Singapore surprises you from the moment you step off the plane. Ultra-modern, incredibly green, cleaner than anywhere I'd ever been, and absolutely cosmopolitan, it's literally the crossroads of Asia. Malaysians, Indians, Chinese, Europeans all coexist in an urban space that has achieved something quite rare: making concrete jungle and nature live side by side.

Visa: no visa required for EU, UK and US citizens. Fill in a few arrival documents, pass through immigration, and that's it. Easy and fast.

Accommodation: Singapore is expensive. For a layover, a hostel is really the best option, there are good ones in the city centre, easy to find on Booking. I won't recommend a specific one, but filter by central location and recent reviews.

Before even leaving the airport, take time to wander through Jewel Changi. It's the connecting hall between terminals, and it's probably the most spectacular airport in the world. A 40-metre indoor waterfall right in the centre of the building, surrounded by an indoor tropical forest, with dozens of restaurants from every cuisine. It's massive, it's beautiful, and it's free.

After dropping off your bags, head straight to Gardens by the Bay : the absolute must-see. A 101-hectare park on the bay's edge, home to the famous Supertrees (those giant plant structures that look straight out of science fiction), two spectacular glass domes, and sweeping views over the Marina Bay skyline.

Access to the outdoor gardens and Supertrees is entirely free. The domes cost entry, but they're completely worth it:

Cloud Forest : a 35-metre indoor waterfall inside a real cloud forest, with carnivorous plants, orchids and ferns. The cool temperature and incredible scents make it a welcome bubble of freshness in Singapore's heat. My personal favourite.

Flower Dome : the world's largest glass greenhouse, housing floral species from every continent. Staggering in its scale.

From Gardens by the Bay, head up to Chinatown. Wander through the colourful streets, street markets and temples, the atmosphere is completely different from the rest of the city. Then let yourself drift towards the business district and Raffles Place: you go from buzzing Chinatown to glass-and-steel skyscraper canyons in just a few minutes. The contrast is striking, and it's one of those moments where you realise just how extraordinary Singapore really is.

Your walk through the skyscrapers can take you straight to the best sunset spot in the city. LeVeL33 is the world's highest urban craft brewery, on the 33rd floor of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, with a 180° panoramic view over the bay, the Supertrees, Marina Bay Sands and the entire skyline.

I preferred this over the Marina Bay Sands observation deck (much more expensive and touristy) because here you're inside the buildings, you look at the skyline rather than being part of it, and the view is, in my opinion, even more beautiful and complete.

You don't need to dine, one drink is enough to enjoy the terrace. The beers are brewed on-site and excellent.

After the Garden Rhapsody show at Gardens by the Bay, walk along the waterfront from the gardens towards the Marina. At night, it's a different city altogether. Buildings light up, their reflections shimmer in the bay, the promenades are quiet and peaceful, it's my favourite moment of the entire layover.

Along the way you pass the ArtScience Museum (the huge white lotus floating on the water), then stroll along the waterfront promenade to Marina Bay Sands. The indoor mall is monumental and ultra-luxury, free to enter, perfect for people-watching, grabbing a bite at one of the many restaurants, or simply marvelling at the architecture.

Then a quiet walk back to your hostel, and off to the airport for the next leg of the adventure.

Singapore is expensive, no point pretending otherwise. But for a layover between two destinations, the experience-to-cost ratio is genuinely excellent. And you discover an entire country you might never have put on your list.