Things to do at Changi Airport Singapore
Changi Airport, Singapore (IATA:SIN) is a major international airport serving Singapore and one of the largest transportation hubs in Asia. The airport is located in Changi, at the eastern end of Singapore, approximately 20 km from Singapore’s downtown core. As a major international hub for business and a common stopover point between Asia and Australasia, the airport can be extremely busy with both business and leisure travelers. In 2019, Changi served 68.3 million passengers, making it the 16th busiest airport in the world.
SIN is an amazing airport and was voted the best airport in the world seven years in a row! Amenities include art installations and sculptures, a butterfly park, cactus garden and cinema and so much more, making SIN one of the best airports to have a layover.
Things to do on a layover at SIN
Relax and refresh with a massage at Be Relax
One of the best things you can do to relieve travel stress is head to the spa at SIN airport. Be Relax has a location in Terminal 3 near Gate A1. Stop by and get a massage the next time you have a stopover at SIN and really upgrade your airport experience. No matter how much time you have to spare, the staff at Be Relax will cater their offering to suit your needs. The location also offers a shower to guest so that you can freshen up and energize yourself before continuing on your journey.
Head to a lounge for some peace and quiet
Changi airport can be a crazy and chaotic place. With millions of passengers traveling through SIN’s doors each year it is not often that you will find a quiet spot in the airport. Heading to a lounge can be a great way to get away from the chaos, get comfortable and relax before your next flight. SIN has many lounges available to passengers, some of which you need a membership or to be flying with a certain airline to access and some of which you can pay at the door. There are 21 lounges in total at Changi Airport and Sanctifly members can access 7 lounges in the Sanctifly app.
Download the Sanctifly app to explore all the facilities available to Sanctifly members.
Take a dip at Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel
Take a refreshing dip and watch the planes soar overhead at the Aerotel Airport Transit hotel swimming pool. Located in Terminal 1 the rooftop pool also features a jacuzzi, poolside bar and shower facilities. It is the perfect spot to refresh and energize before you continue on your travels. The pool is open from 6 am to 12 am daily and is available for use for non hotel guest for S$17 per person.
Free things to do at SIN
There are some many great free amenities to do at Singapore International Airport, you will never be left wondering how to spend your time.
Visit the Jewel at Changi - The Jewel, an addition to SIN airport that house over 280 shops and restaurants, indoor gardens and the world’s largest indoor waterfall was added to Changi airport in 2014. Walk on the Canopy bridge to get a bird’s eye view of the amazing waterfall, explore and get lost in the largest hedge maze in Singapore or walk among thousands of butterflies in the butterfly gardens.
Catch a movie - SIN has two movie theatres that are free to use by visitors to the airport. Located in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and show some top class movies. The movie theatres hold showings 24 hours a day to accommodate those that have an overnight layover at the airport and are only closed for a few hours due to maintenance.
Go on an art trail - SIN is home to some amazing art exhibitions. You can easily spend hours exploring the terminals and discovering an array of beautiful pieces, enchanting sculptures and more. Visit A Million Times At Changi in Terminal 2 for a truly breathtaking experience.
Baggage Storage
Changi Airport has a number of Left Baggage counters where travelers can store their luggage so that they can explore the airport, shop or dine hands free or even leave the airport and explore Singapore without dragging around heavy bags. There are left luggage services available 24 hours a day in Terminals 1-4 and the Jewel at SIN. Payment varies depending on what you are leaving at the counter, ranging from S$5.00 to S$18.00 depending on size and weight.
Best eats - Enjoy a host of local cuisines and south east Asian delights at the airport
Quick bite - So Pho
Enjoy traditional Vietnamese street food options in Terminal 3 by visiting So Pho. The restaurant is open from 10.30 am to 11.30 pm.
Sit down meal - The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck
If you are looking for a first class dining experience at the airport visit The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck in Terminal 3. Enjoy hearty, filling meals packed with local flavours, it is the perfect spot to fill up before continuing on your journey.
If you have more than 6 hours on a layover at Changi Airport, why not get out of the airport and enjoy the surrounding area.
Join a free tour and head downtown - Changi Airport organises free city tours for travelers. They recommend that you have at least 5 hours to spare to take part in the 2.5 hour guided tour. Get an overview of local sites, culture and cuisine with this free tour! The tours leave from Terminal 2 and 3 with two bus tours each including two short photo stops at famous landmarks; and one walking tour to Jewel Changi Airport. You will be required to provide your passport, boarding passes and valid entry visa where necessary to register for the free tour.
Get a bird’s eye view of Singapore - If you don’t have too much time to spend exploring Singapore but you would like to see as much of Singapore as possible, you should visit the world’s largest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer. Get a panorama view of the entire city with a birds eye views of Marina Bay, the Singapore River, Empress place and the Padang. A full rotation of the wheel takes approx. 30 minutes but make sure you budget in some time for waiting in line.
Top Tip for your layover - If you have a longer layover at Changi Airport and you want to get out of the airport and explore the city make sure you have a valid visa! If SIN is a layover stop for you you may not automatically have a valid visitors visa that allows you to leave the airport. Check you have the right documentation when you are planning your trip to ensure you are not disappointed and not stuck in the airport. Although, as airports go, SIN is a pretty good one to have a layover at!
Transport options - Getting to, from and around the airport
Between the terminals
SkyTrain - Terminal 1, 2 and 3 are connected by a complimentary SkyTrain. The SkyTrain runs between 5 am and 2.30 am with travel time between terminals averaging at about 4 minutes.
T4 Bus - Terminal 4 is not connect with the SkyTrain but there is a complimentary bus that connects Terminal 2 and 4. If you are transferring from Terminal 1 or 3 to Terminal 4, you need to first make a connection to Terminal 2 via the Skytrain. The bus can be boarded from both pre and post security areas of the airport.
Getting out of the airport
Bus - Public bus routes stop at all terminals at Changi Airport. Bus stops are located at the basement bus bays in Terminal 1, 2 and 3 and next to Car Park 4B in Terminal 4.
Train - Unfortunately there is no direct train from the airport to downtime however it is still very easy to get there. Get the train at the Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2) to Tanah Merah MRT Station (EW4), then transfer to the East West Line towards Tuas Link MRT Station (EW33) or take the train from the airport to Expo MRT Station (CG1/DT35), then transfer to the Downtown Line towards Bukit Panjang MRT Station (BP6/DT1).
Airport Transfer - Changi Airport offers airport transport services available for hire. A 4 or 7 seater shuttle can be hired for S$55 - S$60 or there is a city shuttle available for S$9 that will stop at most downtown hotels.
We want to hear from you.
If you know of any wellness options within 5 miles of any airport let us know.
Join the Club!
Become a Sanctifly member and get access to 4000+ wellness locations at over 200 international airports including SIN. You can get access to airport executive lounges, airport gyms, pools and spas all over the world when you are a Sanctifly member. Make the most of your airport downtime and make healthy choices on your next trip.