10 FREE THINGS TO DO AT SINGAPORE’S CHANGI AIRPORT I know, I know, airports aren’t exactly destinations you choose to visit or to hang out. But you might want to make an exception.. There are really good reasons why Singapore’s Changi International Airport is repeatedly voted the best airport in the world. Some of those reasons include Changi’s amazing free activities. I personally always allow extra time to hang out at this airport whenever I have the pleasure to pass through. In fact, believe it or not, I once actually re-scheduled a flight for 2 hours later so that I could take advantage of a free 2-hour city tour! If you’ll be passing through Singapore en route to your final destination, chances are good you’ll have an overnight lay-over at Changi. Common booking procedures include an evening arrival with an early morning onward departure. You’ll be delighted to have these amazing activities to indulge in while there. In addition to international airports’ usual free activities like watching planes take off, trying on designer perfumes and sunglasses or reading books and magazines, at Changi you’ll also get to…
1. Pamper your feet with free foot massages Rejuvenate your weary travel feet at plentiful free cushy massage chairs located throughout the airport. Relax as long as you want in luxurious lounge chairs while mechanical built-in massagers rub, press and roll your feet and ankles. You can even adjust settings to your preferred strength and type of massage. Get online free all over the airport via several connection options. If you’re traveling without your laptop use the free computer internet terminals. With your laptop you can access free wifi or use the free laptop usb ports. All choices located throughout the airport. Yep, you heard it right. Changi Airport has free movie theaters, and not 1 but 3 theaters, one in each terminal, showing non-stop movies 24/7. Prefer relaxing in nature? Wander through gardens of cactus, sunflowers, orchids, or ferns. Colorful butterflies are also fluttering around the Butterfly Garden, the world’s first butterfly garden at an airport.
Do you love technology? Try out the newest games, computers, 3D TV, cameras and other cutting edge technology while you’re between flights. If you’re gallivanting around the world long-term it’s easy to get behind on new technology. Here’s an easy and fun chance to get caught up. Make your own wood-block print then learn about Singaporean Peranakan and other SE Asian cultural arts at Changi’s Interactive Art Center.Changi has actually set up several rest areas for travelers to sleep on comfy lay-back lounge chairs. Not surprisingly, these sweet in-transit beds do fill up with weary passengers. With luck you’ll find one awaiting you but if not you’re more than welcome to stretch out and sleep on the well carpeted & padded floors in various quiet sitting areas located well out of the path and noise of airport foot traffic. In conjunction with the Singapore Science Center, Changi offers interactive science displays to entertain and stimulate the weary minds of passing travelers.
Crazy as it seems, Changi Airport has the world’s tallest indoor slide. Visitors get a free slide token with any $10 purchase anywhere in the airport. Feel like indulging the playful side of your nature? Go race down the 12 M/ 4 story slide. If you’ve got a 5-hour lay-over you can join a free 2-hour tour of Singapore. Changi’s city tour service will put you on a bus, take you into the city, board you on an old Chinese junk, sail you up and down the Singapore River with a tour guide, walk you along the scenic river banks, then take you back to the airport. Tours head out several times per day in mornings and afternoons. (* This is the tour I took by rescheduling my onward flight. Even though I’d visited Singapore many many times already, I couldn’t pass up a free guided tour of my favorite city. FYI- Changi’s always adding more activities, freebies and events, so be sure to check out their website before arriving so you don’t miss anything. You might not have ever considered an airport as a destination in its own right, but perhaps you’ll be making an exception for Singapore’s fantastic airport?
If you found this post useful, you’ll love my FREE eBook: 100 Free Things to do in Asia. It describes 10 free activities in 10 different Asian cities and destinations. You might also like the following posts from my ’10 Free Things to do in…’ and: Why is Singapore the Best City in the World? (note: all photos from Flickr Creative Commons except the photo of Singapore River tour, which I photographed. find Creative Common photo authors via photo links.)Singapore Changi International Airport has long been consider one of the top airports in the world. Winning several awards including airport of the year several times. I’dd heard great things about this place. And as someone whom spends a great deal of time in airports I was curious about the hype. There is no way for me to prepare for what I was about to experience. I intentionally booked a late flight from Bangkok so we would arrive at 1am. This would force us to stay in the airport overnight. One of my best decisions.
Changi is full of wonderful art, cool green spaces, excellent shopping, and revolutionary technology. You’ll be hard pressed to find something you don’t like here. Unfortunately I didn’t eat much here as most things were closed between the 8 hours we were there. There are however plenty of 24 hour fast food and traditional places to choose from. Changi has enlisted some world class artist to create stunning sculptures and interactive art throughout the airport. You can’t move far without see a stunning piece of work. I especially like this piece depicting a family returning from a long trip. The Koi Pond is located in the Orchard Garden. Terminal 2, Departure/ Transit Mall South, Level 2. They have hundreds of these little guys covering the floor. You can also feed them if you want. Changi International is definitely a luxury shopping experience. You can find major brands from Prada to Gucci throughout the airport. I will say that if you’re not inclined to spend that much money their are several cheaper options for clothes and electronics available.
You’ll find free massage chairs everywhere. Nothing like getting a nice massage after that long flight. One of the only places I’ve ever seen this. This has to be my favorite feature in the airport. A 24/7 movie theater. And they show relatively new films. Maybe a few months old. You can’t beat that. I noticed a few people sleeping in here. Near the Sunflower Garden at Departure Transit Lounge South, Level 3 Changi Airport doesn’t have a shortage of video gaming locations. From PC games to console, any gamer will find something to entertain themselves. The PC selection was quite impressive. Again, free of charge. You’ll find these at Departure Transit Lounge, Level 3 of Terminal 2 You can easily find a computer to send emails back home or check your itinerary. Although Changi has free wifi throughout, they provide computers as well. I liked this ePoscard kiosk. You can take a picture of yourself, write a message, and email it to your friends and family. Even post it too Facebook.
I was under the impression you could sleep in Changi Airport. A gun totting policeman informed me I was wrong. Something may have been lost in translation but they were basically saying we couldn’t stay there until the morning. Our flight arrived at 1am and we decided to stay until 7am for safety reasons. I talked them into letting us stay but be aware. These lounges are for those who have morning flights and connections. And they fill up fast. Security will wake everyone up around 3am to check their boarding passes. They were relatively nice though. If you can, I recommend getting one of the massage chairs below. YOU ARE NOT supposed to sleep in them but clearly some people don’t care about that. If you want to avoid the police hassle you may want to just stay at the Ambassador Transit Lounge or Hotel. Basically a lounge and hotel insode the airport. They have an interesting model. Rooms are booked in 6 hour blocks. A standard is 76 and budget 48 Singapore dollars. This is largely for privacy and if you want to take a shower.