Free sightseeing tours in Singapore, here's how to take advantage of them if you stopover at the world's best airport

If there is one thing I have learned from my frequent passages from the airport in Singapore, is that Changi deserves the title of the world's best airport, although I think Istanbul in the next few years may snatch the crown from it. Of course, it is also thanks to Singapore and its global attractiveness, but there really is everything in this port of call.

Now that the pandemic restrictions are only a distant memory, are returning all the initiatives that have been suspended over the past three years: one of which is precisely the possibility of enjoying free sightseeing tours for all passengers in transit at the airport.

The free tours have been an active initiative since the late 1980s, a service designed by the flag carrier and the Ministry of Tourism to introduce transit passengers to the city. Every year, 1 in 3 travelers who land at one of Singapore's terminals is headed elsewhere, transiting not only with Singapore Airlines but also with all other carriers operating at this airport.

What are the rules for using the service

In 2019, the last year before closure for covid, just under 1 million passengers took advantage of one of several sightseeing tours. The rules are very simple:

1. You have to be a transit passenger
2. The connection must have a minimum duration of 5 1/2 hours and a maximum of 24.
3. Connection times must be compatible with tour times
4. Present ticket and passport (and have a visa or be able to obtain a visa on arrival)

If your itinerary falls within these simple rules, simply go to one of the two dedicated desks near the transit desks in Terminals 2 and 3 and book the tour you like best. It is also possible to book in advance directly on the dedicated website.

What are the free tours in Singapore

There are 4 different routes with varying durations.

• Jewel. This is a must stop for each passenger passing through this airport. Of the four proposals, it is the least desirable, simply because it is a facility connected to the various terminals and so there is no need to be "taken" around. Taking the tour brings no advantage over the do-it-yourself excursion, and you will (eventually) have to pay for the attractions inside the Jewl

• City tour. If you have never been to Singapore, it is perfect to take a quick look at the Marina area, the one where the Formula 1 Grand Prix is held, the one that houses the famous Marina Bay hotel, whose pool is one of the biggest attractions in the whole city and one of the most Instagrammed places in the world, but there will be no swimming.

• Historical tour. We start at Marina Bay, although it is not exactly the oldest part of the city-state, and then visit over the course of about 3 hours, the riverfront until we reach the Bugis district. This is the art district, the one of the clubs and new trends in S'pore. Finally, you will stop, with free excursion, at Kampong Gelam, one of the most authentic neighborhoods of old Singapore.
• Changi hinterland. It might seem like the least interesting tour: what could there possibly be around an airport like Singapore's? Instead, it is an area undergoing tremendous transformation, where there are also very interesting and futuristic urban redevelopment projects. The tour will allow you to visit the city of Tampine, awarded the United Nations World Habitat for being an example of quality of life. In addition to this model city of the future, you will be able to visit downtown Changi and the promenade before returning to the airport.

 In conclusion

If you don't want to be bored in some of the most beautiful lounges in the world, Singapore's airport allows transit passengers to take advantage of free sightseeing tours to discover the city-a service enjoyed by millions of passengers and one of the reasons why this airport is once again, after a two-year pandemic, the best airport in the world.