Changi Airport has won the World’s Best Airport Award from Skytrax for the seventh consecutive year, making it one of the world’s most awarded airports. However, it isn’t just the great connectivity that Changi offers that makes it number one. There is also the amazingly wide range of amenities that the airport boasts for travellers, particularly those on long layovers, that are some of the best-kept secrets of the airport’s success. These are the 10 top attractions that make it such a breeze for people to spend 24 hours at Changi Airport:
- Beautiful Changi gardens – There are nine themed gardens at Changi Airport, all of which are free to use. These gardens include the butterfly garden, cactus garden, sunflower garden, orchid garden, enchanted garden, water lily garden, piazza garden, crystal garden and arrival garden. They are spread out across various terminals and reflect Singapore’s reputation as ‘the Garden City’.
Nervous flyers will appreciate the calming range of gardens at Changi Airport - Free cinemas – There are two cinema theatres at Changi Airport, one in Terminal 2 and one in Terminal 3, both of which play films 24/7 that are free to watch. You can view which film is playing, and when, on Changi’s website. (For those who would rather watch the latest sports match, there is the Xperience Zone in Terminal 2).
Delayed flight? Singapore Changi’s free cinemas help passengers kill time - Swimming pool – For those who want to take a refreshing dip, there is the rooftop pool located at the Aerotel Airport in Terminal 1. Those staying at the hotel can access it free of charge. For everyone else, the cost is S$17. The pool also features a jacuzzi, poolside bar and showers.
Passengers can keep the holiday feel going by spending time poolside at Singapore Changi Airport’s poolside facilities - Free Singapore Sling cocktails – These signature Singaporean cocktails are available for free for Changi Airport passengers at the Long Bar by Raffles in Terminal 3, made by an attentive bartender. One free Singapore Sling per person. Other than the Singapore Sling, there are nine other cocktails available in the menu, such as the Mojito and Dry Martini.
Enjoy a free Singapore Sling cocktail at Changi Airport’s Long Bar by Raffles, which can be found in Terminal 3 - The tallest airport slide – The slide is available to ride at Terminal 3 (in the public area). Besides being the tallest airport slide in the world, it’s also the tallest slide in Singapore. It is free to use but there is a slight entry requirement – you must have spent a minimum of S$10 at any of the airport shops to get a ticket and be at least 1.3 metres tall and no taller than 2m to ride it.
Why not try the tallest airport slide in the world, located in Changi Terminal 3 - World’s tallest indoor waterfall – At the newly launched Jewel Changi Airport is the HSBC Rain Vortex, which is a stunning water feature with a free light and sound show every night. Passengers can also view the surrounding in-door forest called the Shiseido Forest Valley, with amazing trail walks available through the forest.
The amazing HSBC Rain Vortex at the Jewel, Changi Airport - Free city tour of Singapore – These tours are offered for transiting Changi Airport passengers only, with at least 5.5 hours to spare during their transit. There are two tours to choose from, either the Heritage Tour or the City Sights Tour. Each tour lasts for approximately 2 ½ hours and is complimentary. Simply head to the registration booths in the transit area with your passport and boarding pass and get dropped back to the airport at the end.
See the amazing Marina Bay Sands on the Singapore city tour. Photo: Erwin Soo - Free gaming – For those who like gaming, there is a free entertainment corner situated in Terminal 4, which includes a free to use Xbox360 and Xbox Kinect for interactive gaming. There is also an arcade with nostalgic games such as virtual pinball and retro arcade machines.
The Experience Zone at Changi offers high-tech entertainment - Sculptures, design and art – For artistic types, there is lots to enjoy across the airport, such as the kinetic rain sculpture at Terminal 1, or the Les Oiseaux bird sculptures in Terminal 4. There is even Daisy, the 13m-tall flower-shaped propeller in Terminal 3, designed by the artist and professor Christian Moeller. Not to mention the Jewel development which was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie.
The Les Oiseaux bird sculptures can be found in Changi Airport Terminal 4 - Nap-time – There are plenty of facilities for those passengers who need to take a nap. The Jewel development has a Yotel in it where rooms can be taken out for a short period of four hours at a cost. There are also free to use “snooze lounges” scattered across the airport, where passengers can catch some sleep.
Free to use “snooze lounges” are located around Changi Airport
As if all of this isn’t enough, the airport also launched a Canopy Park at Jewel on June 10th. This is a family-friendly park featuring unique offerings such as play attractions, gardens, walking trails and dining outlets in air-conditioned comfort for families. Taking centre stage are three first-of-its-kind play attractions: Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes and Discovery Slides. Entrance to the Canopy Park will be ticketed.
