How To Reset, Unwind and Slow Down in Singapore Between Flights

For many Australians, Singapore is an easy stopover on the way to Europe, Africa, the Americas or other parts of Asia, but it’s also an incredible destination in its own right.

If you’re just passing through, it’s worth taking a bit of extra time to see what the small but mighty country has to offer. As a city-state with a population of just over six million, and an energy that doesn’t seem to let up, it has plenty to fill your time if you’re happy to hit the ground running. But if you’d prefer a slower reset between flights, there are plenty of wellness-centred offerings too.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

When you need to escape the city without really leaving it, head to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The 82-hectare gardens are the country’s first Unesco World Heritage Site and open from 5am until midnight, making them unusually easy to squeeze into a stopover. Wander through the rainforest, orchid collections and around the lakes, or simply find a patch of greenery and slow down for a while. There’s no admission fee either, more evidence that the best things in life are free.

Gardens by the Bay

Singapore’s other famous garden, situated along the Marina Reservoir, sits on the other end of the spectrum. The futuristic Supertrees are the standout feature, but there are more than 1.5 million plants spread across the 105-hectare site of Gardens by the Bay. Take a slow wander through the gardens to stretch your legs after a flight before ducking into the conservatories, where the temperature offers some welcome relief from Singapore’s heat.

Aramsa – The Garden Spa

For a more traditional reset, head to Aramsa in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Its treatment menu includes massages, facials and spa treatments, with the garden setting doing much of the work before you’ve even reached the treatment room. Aramsa also offers wellness experiences beyond massage, including yoga, meditation and workshops, making it an option for those who want to switch off between the stresses of international travel.

Singapore Oceanarium

If your idea of unwinding involves staring at something other than a screen, head underwater. The Singapore Oceanarium is three times the size of the former aquarium, with 22 zones and more than 100,000 marine animals. The two-to-three-hour experience moves from glowing moon jellies and sharks to prehistoric marine life, using digital storytelling to connect the displays with the wider history and future of the ocean.

New Bahru

For a less prescriptive kind of wellness, spend a few hours wandering New Bahru. The former Nan Chiau High School and neighbouring factory have been transformed into a creative lifestyle destination with more than 60 retail, wellness and hospitality offerings. You can shop, eat or get a workout in, or simply wander the restored buildings without having to commit to an itinerary. For a more focused wellness stop, Hideaway offers massage treatments alongside a bathhouse with cold plunges and infrared saunas.

Weave

Think of Weave as retail therapy within a tropical setting. Resorts World Sentosa’s design-forward shopping destination spans three interconnected levels, with lush landscaping and a mix of retail, dining and concepts unique to Singapore. For a sweet stop, Pierre Hermé Paris has its first Southeast Asian flagship here, while Pop Bakery by Pop Mart brings a more playful option with themed desserts, ice-cream and coffee.

Nowhere Baths

Sometimes the best use of a stopover is to do almost nothing. At Nowhere, a modern bathhouse in Dempsey, that is literally the point. A two-hour pass gives you access to two hot baths, a sauna, steam room and cold plunge, followed by a lounge where you can relax with a warm drink or light bite. It’s an easy way to slow down after a long-haul flight without having to commit to a full spa treatment.

Reva Social Wellness

When you have a few spare hours but don’t want to build your entire stopover around a treatment appointment, head to Reva Social Wellness. The space has twin ice baths, a hot pool and sauna, with all-day access and no booking required. Rather than the hushed atmosphere of a traditional spa, it’s designed to be somewhere you can drop in alone or with friends, or simply to meet other people while doing something good for your body.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Singapore Airlines.