The Best Amenities in Singapore Changi Airport

A Guide to The World’s Best Airport

The Best Amenities in Singapore Changi Airport

Considered the top airport in the world, Singapore Changi Airport is more than a pitstop; it’s an award-winning travel transit point designed for the ultimate passenger experience.

If there’s one thing that most travellers dread, it’s a long layover. The stark lights, limited food options, uncomfortable seating and hours of waiting are enough to make even the most seasoned of travellers wince. However, Singapore Changi Airport has redefined airports as we know them, transforming a layover from a bore to a mini-adventure.

Last year, over 42.6 million travellers (ourselves included!) passed through the airport gates, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. The airport has four terminals and it’s possible to walk between them, however, they are also connected by the Skytrain – a speedy tram system that shuttles passengers smoothly between terminals, making it easy to fit more into your layover.

We found ourselves with a layover in Changi, faced with a nine-hour wait for transit. Still, instead of feeling trapped, we hopped on the Skytrain and went on a little exploration, discovering the many amenities inside Singapore Airport.

Here’s our rundown of the top-notch attractions we discovered in Changi!

Jewel Changi Airport: The Beauty of Nature, Indoors

The Jewel Changi in Terminal 1 is a unique element of Singapore Changi Airport that is a sight to behold. The Jewel is a large area that blends nature, shopping and entertainment into a one-of-a-kind experience worth visiting. The award-winning addition to the airport includes:

In fact, The Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport is so big and popular that it has its own separate website! Some of the attractions require an entry fee, but pre-bookings and tickets are available online.

Butterfly Garden: A Flutter of Magic

An unmissable feature of Terminal 3 is the world’s first airport butterfly garden, and is home to over 1,000 butterflies of a wide range of species. The garden is a peaceful oasis, offering a tranquil moment away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Inside the butterfly garden, travellers can find a 6-metre-tall grotto waterfall, a jungle of plants and educational corners that let visitors learn more about the species and witness the breeding process.

For travellers wanting a moment of calm, the butterfly garden is a great spot to decompress between flights, surrounded by butterflies taking flights of their own.

Rooftop Swimming Pool: A Splash Under the Sky

When you think of airports, your mind doesn’t usually jump to swimming pools, but in Terminal 1, as part of the Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel, you can dive right in. If you want to loosen your muscles after a long flight or let the kids burn off some energy before the next leg of the journey, this needs to be at the top of your Singapore Airport layover itinerary. We just wished we had known about it before we travelled so that we could have packed our swimwear in our cabin bags!

Free Singapore City Tours: See Singapore From the Ground

For travellers with a layover in Singapore of at least five and a half hours, Changi Airport has a Free Singapore Tour bus tour program operating from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. The city tours take about two and a half hours, and if there’s seats available you don’t need to pre-book, so we got lucky. If you’re keen on seeing the sights of Singapore from ground level, we’d advise booking in advance to ensure you get a spot. There are three tour itineraries that depart from the airport at varying intervals:

Since we expected that our only views of Singapore would be from the air as we flew over, getting a free tour of the city with a professional guide was an unexpected treat and took a huge chunk out of our layover time.

Movie Theatre and Gaming Areas: Big Screen Entertainment to Break Up Your Layover

Changi Airport has taken in-flight movies to the next level… ground level. In Terminal 3, travellers can find the airport’s cinema, where a range of movies across all genres are played 24/7. Better still, the movies are free of charge, so it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to get in some comedy kicks or give yourself or keep the kids entertained. During peak travel times, the cinema can be quite busy, so if you’ve got your heart set on a screening, it’s best to book in advance.

We didn’t have the time to catch a movie, but we did get a chance to swing by the arcade in Terminal 3, known as Zone X, where we got sucked into some classic arcade games and got beaten by a 10-year-old on the car-racing simulator. There is also another arcade in Terminal 4’s departure lounge and Terminal 2 boasts an entertainment corner with current Xbox and Playstation games for those with a more modern gaming appetite.

Art and Installations: Art Round Every Corner

A far cry from the boring halls and blank walls that make up most airports, Changi Airport has art woven into every terminal, with numerous permanent installations and a collection of rotating exhibits. Though not particularly something that will take much time off your layover in Singapore, the art installations will certainly cause a pause in your travels through the terminals. Some of our favourite works were:

There are numerous more pieces of art dotted around the airport, so how about making yourself a bingo list and seeing what you can spot as you explore the airport?

Airport Spas and Wellness Centres: Refresh and Relax Before You Fly

We all know that post-flight stiff-neck feeling, so grabbing a massage during your layover is a pretty welcome option that we had to indulge in close to the start of our layover in Singapore. There are spas and wellness centres in every terminal, so even on a shorter stay, you don’t have to travel far to find somewhere to freshen up with a facial or a foot massage.

Some of the centres even have a range of more unusual treatments going, such as oxygen therapy and fish spas, offering relaxation with a difference. We also were particularly welcoming of the spa’s showers, giving us a chance to wash off the last leg of the journey – always a plus when travelling to the other side of the world.

Nap Pods and Hotels: A Layover Lie down

Sleeping upright on a long flight isn’t anyone’s idea of a decent kip, and in many airports, it isn’t uncommon to see travellers flat out on the floor trying to catch some ZZZs. Towards the end of our airport explorations, we were feeling pretty tuckered out, so we headed to the GoSleep Nap Pods in Terminal 3. The pods are chargeable by the hour, so they are perfect for a little lie down without breaking the bank, and they’re surprisingly cosy and quiet, giving us a good recharge.

For longer stays, however, there are plenty of places to choose from for breaking up your stay, with hotels inside Singapore Airport including:

Airport Gardens: Escape to Nature Without Leaving the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport has a clear passion for shunning the closed-in, sterile vibes found in most airports. There is greenery at every turn, bringing slices of serenity for travellers with a long layover in Singapore. We made a point of visiting The Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3, but there is a lot more nature to be found within the walls of the airport.

Dining for Every Taste: Food From East to West

Changi Airport caters for everyone when it comes to food and beverages, with a multitude of cafés and restaurants in every terminal. Having dietary restrictions, for us it is often a bit of a pain trying to find somewhere to eat in smaller airports, and we have often resorted to simply grabbing a packet of crisps to keep us going on layovers.

Singapore Airport has eateries with flavours from all over the globe, some of which are open 24/7, so whether you’re looking for some home comforts or a taste of local cuisine, a satisfying meal is guaranteed. From familiar fast food such as Burger King and KFC to a more adventurous taste of Singaporean specials, visitors can easily find something that fits their taste.

We love to try new flavours and dishes, so we headed to Kampong Glam Café while we were in Terminal 2, where they have authentic local dishes with vegan options. There are far too many eateries to list and tastes from all around the world, but here are some of the top restaurants in Singapore Changi Airport, based on cuisine:

The list goes on, and with multiple food courts offering countless options, there’s no need to worry about fuelling your layover with a dry sandwich from a convenience shop – you’ll find a taste of anywhere, somewhere in the airport.

Final Thoughts

Singapore Changi Airport is equipped with everything you need to make a long layover a breeze. From recharging your phone to recharging yourself, the airport is designed to make transit through Singapore smooth sailing. Rather than feeling trapped in the endless stark lights of a normal airport, we were transported into a world of nature and entertainment.

If your journey needs a layover in Southeast Asia and you want a change from the monotony of bland corridors and boring food that travellers often end up with when changing flights, we’d recommend you choose Singapore Airport and transform that feeling of purgatory into a chance to explore gardens, relish world cuisines, indulge in a spa treatment, catch a movie or retire to a comfy bed.

If you’re planning a journey, let us help you find flights, hotels and experiences today!

gotmytrip pages contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I genuinely believe in. Your support helps keep this site running. Thanks Anna!