More than 100 airlines connect the city state of Singapore to 300 cities around the world and an aircraft takes off or lands at Changi Airport roughly once every 90 seconds. It’s also the winner of more than 450 best airport awards. As well as the things common to most good airports– free wifi, shower facilities, early check-in, duty-free shopping and an international selection of dining outlets – there are many aspects to Changi that make it a Singapore destination in itself. Here are just a few…
Gardens galore
Former Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew, envisioned Singapore as a Garden City, so it should be no surprise that the greenery begins on landing. There are gardens dedicated to cacti, orchids and sunflowers, as well as an Enchanted Garden and the world’s first airport Butterfly Garden, home to over 1,000 butterflies from 40 species. See the beautifully winged insects burst forth into the world at the Emergence Enclosure or catch a glimpse of others breeding and feeding amidst their tropical habitat. The nature theme continues elsewhere in the lush airport with a Koi Pond and a Green Wall of vertical garden.
Art abounds
Reflect on the mesmerising “Kinetic Rain”, the world’s largest kinetic sculpture, as you watch its 1,216 bronze droplets fall. Created by German design firm Art+Com over a two-year period, it’s just one of a number of art pieces found throughout the airport. Kumari Nahappan’s super-sized “Saga Seed”, renowned Australian artist Janet Laurence’s “The Memory of Lived Spaces”, Baet Yoek Kuan’s dynamic “Birds in Flight” and the 900 kilogram sculpture “Going Home” by Chinese artist Han Mei Ling, creator of the Beijing Olympic mascots, are just some of the striking pieces to look out for. You can also get creative at the wood block rubbing station, reliving a popular Singaporean art form of the 1950s and 60s.
City tours
Find yourself with five-and-a-half hours to spare in transit? Waste none by hopping on a bus and taking one of two free tours of the city. The Heritage Tour runs seven times a day and takes in architectural and cultural aspects of Singapore’s colonial past, taking visitors through Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, with a short stopover at the landmark Merlion Park. The City Lights Tour (minimum transit time of six hours required) runs twice a day and takes visitors to some of Singapore’s most renowned attractions by night. Enjoy the sparkling lights of the Singapore Flyer, the city’s observation wheel, the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel, the durian-like Esplanade performing arts centre and the magical Gardens by the Bay.
Long Bar by Raffles
If you haven’t made it into the city, this airport outpost of the famous Long Bar found at the legendary Raffles Hotel can still make you one of its world-famous Singapore Slings. The cocktail, gin-based and originally called the gin sling, was created in 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, one of the hotel’s bartenders, and is widely considered to be Singapore’s national drink.
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Reach speeds of up to six metres per second as you launch yourself down Singapore’s tallest slide. It also lays claim to being the world’s highest airport slide, standing tall at 12 metres – that’s four storeys high. Spend S$10 in the airport in a single receipt and redeem one ride.
Entertainment central
In case you haven’t seen enough movies in the air, Changi is home to two movie theatres, offering screenings of a selection of the latest and greatest films 24 hours a day. There’s also an Entertainment Deck where you can challenge others on Xbox360 or Kinect consoles.
Take a dip
Coming from somewhere cold? Heading somewhere colder? Why not make the most of Singapore’s tropical climes by taking a dip in the Balinese-themed rooftop pool at the Transit Hotel. Or if you just fancy a spot of sun or like the idea of relaxing by the lapping waters as other swimmers take the plunge, there’s also a poolside bar.
Get well
With a spa or wellness centre in each terminal, it’s never been easier to relax while in transit. Choose from soothing massages, signature Fish Spa rituals, mani-pedis, hair styling services, foot massages and treatments specially tailored to travellers. You can even drop by to catch up on some sleep in dedicated napping facilities.
A social network
This interactive installation brings a new dimension to the airport’s art collection, taking Changi into the digital age. The Social Tree allows visitors to share photo and video memories of the airport instantly using the touch-screen photo booths that surround the Tree. These memories are then saved and stored as part of the airport’s history. Link them to your own social media platforms, or look them up again the next time you visit.
Sweet treats
Bengawan Solo is the perfect place to pick up a last-minute souvenir, albeit an edible one. Unmissable delights include the signature pandan chiffon cake – an Indonesian sponge cake, light and flavoured with pandanus leaves, which give it its signature green colour, and kueh lapis – an Indonesian layered cake. Treats are boxed and packaged, ready for you to take straight onto the plane. The only struggle is trying not to crack them open before you reach your destination.
Featured and slider images Changi Airport Group
