Singapore - 12 hours in Singapore

I am in the process of organising a Trip to Egypt next year and on the way home due to flight schedules I have a transit time on the way back from Cairo to Adelaide of a little over 16 hours.Is that enough time to fit in the Science Centre/Chinese and Japanese Gardens and the zoo using a combination of MRT and Taxis.I don't have a firm idea of the schedules at this stage but I am assuming I would be getting in around 7am and not leaving again till 11:50pm the same day.What other options can you recommend for someone not wishing to do day tours in Singapore but to take in some sightseeing to kill most of the day(I have been there many a time so can do most of the places on my own).Any help would be most welcome:)

I am in the process of organising a Trip to Egypt next year and on the way home due to flight schedules I have a transit time on the way back from Cairo to Adelaide of a little over 16 hours.Is that enough time to fit in the Science Centre/Chinese and Japanese Gardens and the zoo using a combination of MRT and Taxis.
Let me get this straight -- you're expecting to spend some time in Egypt, sit for half a day on a plane, and then spend 16 hours walking outside in the heat and humidity of SIN? :confused:

So yes, as a schedule that's entirely possible if you're superhuman, but I'd predict you'll be pretty pooped after one of those three -- I'd book a hotel instead and play it by ear when you land.

Also, the "Japanese" Garden isn't, and the Chinese one is pretty bad.

I think a good part of it is doable. jpatokal has a point in that OP could potentially be rather on the knackered side on arrival in SIN. However, if he got some kip and was in a comfortable seat/suite on the way over, he could make use of his time in the manner he is planning.

Personally, I like to take a more relaxed and air conditioned approach to things. Head over to Raffles for a virgin Singapore Sling, take the cable car over to Sentosa, come back, and depending on the time of the onward flight, maybe do a night safari in a tram, if you like that sort of thing. Alternatively, have a cabbie take you on a drive-by through Little India and Chinatown and get something nice to eat.

for 12 hours

I would recommend heading to the Marina bay area (casino, city view, esplanade(arts), shopping malls). + Little india + try out the local "street" food if you are into food.

Chinese and Japanese garden are kinda far. MRT rides from Changi to Chinese garden will take at least 40-45 mins.

You have to do the zoo - is one of the best zoo (if not the best) in the world.
Take a taxi, they are cheap and all metered.

They have in singapore realy cheap half day city tours (look at viator.com) /just arrange pickup from the crown plaza airport hotel - shuld not be a problem

You can see a lot from the city (also orchid garden) and after that you can go by taxi to the zoo - its easy , and a long afternoon is ok to see the hole zoo and the shows.

I recently spent 17 hours inside Changi. Arrived at 2pm and left at 7am the next morning. Walked around, surf the internet, went to the fish spa in Terminal 1, eat and then went to bed at 8pm.. woke up 4am.. (i reserved 8 hours only at the Ambassador Hotel). Went thru customs, got my stamps, come back in.. Eat.. board plane..Very relaxing time...:D

It can't be done within 12 to 16 hours so after some careful evaluation following a recent visit to Singapore which saw me taking in some wonderful sightseeing and having a great time The revised plan now has me spending two nights there on the way home from Egypt to Australia.I missed out on Universal Studios and Sentosa this time with much regret due to time constraints so keeping it for the next one.