The best things to do at Singapore Changi Airport

One of the standout features in Terminal 2 is The Wonderfall – a striking digital waterfall nestled within a nature-inspired setting. Flowing down a towering green wall in the departure hall, this immersive installation combines soothing visuals with Rhythms of Nature, an audiovisual experience set to an original score by neo-classical composer Jean-Michel Blais. It’s a serene welcome (or send-off) for travellers.

Canopy Park, located on the highest level of Jewel Changi Airport, spans 14,000 square metres and boasts a wide range of fun attractions for the fam. Visitors can enjoy the Manulife Sky Nets, which include a 250-metre-long bouncing net and a suspended walking net that’s 25 metres above ground. Other highlights include the large indoor Hedge Maze, the garden-themed Mirror Maze, the whimsical Topiary Walk with animal-shaped topiaries, and the Discovery Slides that’s home to four long slides. While you’re here, take a stroll along the 50-metre-long Canopy Bridge, and enjoy the panoramic views of the HSBC Rain Vortex from 23 metres above ground. 

Tickets are priced from $6 for adults and children, and can be purchased here.

Make the most of your layover at Changi Airport by catching a free movie at the in-house theatre located in Terminal 3. The theatre is open 24 hours and has about 50 seats. There’s a rotating selection of films across genres, from recent blockbusters and action thrillers to family-friendly animations. The lineup is regularly updated to keep things fresh, with recent titles including A Haunting in Venice and The Bob's Burgers Movie, and you can check the screening schedules here.

The space is open every day, except during its weekly maintenance hours on Thursdays from 11am to 4pm, so plan your visit accordingly.

Yes, there’s no doubt Changi Airport is packed with dining options – but Hub & Spoke Café is a quieter spot that not many know about. Tucked away just off Terminal 2, this sleek, glasshouse-style café offers a peaceful retreat from the airport’s high-energy bustle. Expect everything from local staples like mee siam and kopi to Western-style brunch plates featuring avocado toast, eggs benedict and pasta. Don’t miss the café’s standout feature – a self-watering green wall that makes for a gorgeous photo backdrop. 

Honestly, need we say more? You can’t visit Changi Airport without witnessing its crown jewel – the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Located at the heart of Jewel, the seven-storey Rain Vortex is a breathtaking sight as water cascades through the glass dome. Catch the waterfall at its most magical during the nightly Light and Music Showcase, which transforms the waterfall into a dazzling display of colour and sound. Shows run at 8pm and 9pm from Monday to Thursday, with an additional 10pm slot on weekends, public holidays and public holiday eves.

Located in the transit area near Gate G18, the Entertainment Corner in Terminal 4 is open 24/7 and free for all passengers with a valid boarding pass. Play a variety of games without needing any tokens – from Xbox Kinect sports games like bowling, soccer, and wake racing, to retro arcade classics like Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Space Invaders, foosball and virtual pinball. 

Airport, flying, and everything associated with it are generally not conducive for anyone who fancies a good, long sleep. Changi Airport, however, has risen above sleep mediocrity with its Snooze Lounges. It’s actually comfortable and you can get quality sleep here, thanks to the fully reclining, butt-hugging chairs. These rest areas are open 24/7, and you can find them at T1, T2 and T3’s transit areas. 

T4 shows extra love to the colourful Peranakan culture at its Heritage Zone. As a lounge area, the carpeted space is adorned with an assortment of plush furnishings, complete with power plugs for electronic devices, that sit against a statement wall featuring a facade of shophouses reminiscent of those found in Katong and Chinatown. Made up of nine different panels reflecting architectural styles of Baroque, Rococo, and Modern Deco, the space also conceals an LED screen where the short film Peranakan Love Story is projected. Screened on scheduled timings, it is not only entertaining to watch but also enlightening for travellers to learn more about this vibrant culture while waiting to board their flights.

Changi Airport is known for its many attractions, and it’s adding one more jewel to its crown. Climb@T3, managed by The Rock School (TRS) Singapore, is a kid-friendly rock climbing and bouldering facility at Basement 3 of Terminal 3. 

The highlight of Climb@T3 is the eight-metre high wall. Hook yourself up to the auto-belay system and go for a challenge on any of the climbing routes. For some rope-free fun, head over to the 12-metre-long boulder wall – the perfect spot for young ones and beginners to clock in some practice and build up confidence before giving the High Wall a try. Do note that climbers need to be at least two years old. Those aged between two and three will only be allowed to climb the boulder wall for safety reasons. 

Time Out tip: Walk-ins are allowed, but it is recommended that you make a booking, especially on weekends and public holidays, to avoid disappointment.

The Changi Experience Studio lets you experience the airport in a whole new way. This interactive space has plenty of fun games and activities, we’re talking 20 different interactive zones, where kids and kidults can learn about the history of Changi and play airport-related games. This includes the Amazing Runway where you have to cycle on a stationary bike for as fast as you can to beat a plane and the Garden of Harmony where each step you take creates a new melody. 

You can find the Changi Experience Studio at Level 4 of Jewel Changi Airport, and it is open from 11am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends. Tickets are priced at $19.80 for adults and $14.80 for children. There is free admission for children below age 5. 

Feel the rush at Terminal 3, home to one of Singapore’s tallest slides that’s open to both adults and children. Standing at 12 metres high, this spiral chute takes riders from Level 1 all the way down to Basement 3. Simply sign up for the Changi Rewards and present your e-Card at the Terminal 3 Customer Service Counter (Basement 2) to redeem ten rides. Then, just scan your redemption slips at the slide entrance and you’re set. Do note that participants must be between 1.3-metres and 2-metres tall.

Time Out tip: For a milder experience, there’s a shorter version of the slide that connects Basement 2 to Basement 3. This one doesn’t require any sign-ups or redemptions – just queue for your turn and enjoy the ride. It’s a great pick for families with younger children or anyone who prefers a gentler descent. Riders for this slide must be between 1.1-metre and 2-metres tall.

You wouldn’t think an airport would be the ideal spot for a nature lover, but who said Changi was a normal airport? Singapore’s crowning jewel of aviation has gone to great lengths to propagate our treasured ‘Garden City’ image. Throughout Terminals 1, 2, and 3 you’ll find five different gardens – the Cactus Garden (T1), Sunflower Garden (T2), Enchanted Garden (T2), Orchid Garden (T2), and the ever-popular Butterfly Garden (T3).

Travelling can take a toll on the body, and Changi Airport’s new Fit&Fun Zone in Terminal 2 is here to help. Opened in February 2025, this wellness zone spans over 400 square metres and is split into five sections. 

Unwind in the soothing green zone, where guests can sink into swinging pendulum chairs that face a massive digital screen that projects calming scenes of skies, fish, and over 20,000 digital plants. Those in need of a stress release can head to the orange zone, where soft punching bags and padded, petal-shaped targets offer a satisfying outlet for pent-up tension. The pink zone keeps things interactive with pull-down levers connected to colour-changing light orbs, offering a light arm and back workout. Over in the yellow zone, mini trampoline pods respond to movement with music, while the blue zone is where your balance and agility are put to the test in a rope maze inspired by natural landscapes.

Move over Marina Bay Sands – Changi Airport also has its own rooftop pool and jacuzzi in Terminal 1. While it’s not free, a $25 fee grants you access to the poolside area and shower facilities, with plush towels available upon request. No reservation is needed for the pool or jacuzzi. Do note that these amenities are exclusively for travellers transiting through Changi Airport, and guests of the Aerotel Airport Transit Hotel can enjoy free access.

Okay, massage chairs are usually absolute junk that feel more like they’re violating you than easing any stress. Not these puppies though. Found in T3, these are the Rolls Royce of massage chairs – they’ll relieve all the tension in your body swiftly and smoothly. And they’re free. Go ahead, bliss out but don’t miss your flight.

While aviation, retail therapy, and engaging leisure pursuits come to mind at the fast-paced lifestyle haven of Changi, there’s also the activity of art appreciation that is best indulged in when you take your own time. Perhaps the airport’s most popular is Kinetic Rain, located at T1’s Departure Hall. The structure is made up of more than 1000 bronze droplets that cohesively contort into abstract patterns and other recognisable shapes. T2 also boasts a kinetic art installation called A Million Times at Changi, where the hands of over 500 clock faces spell out greetings and form other mesmerising cadences. Elsewhere, wire-formed birds hover over T4’s Departure and Arrival hall and the scene of Singapore’s hawker past is immortalised as wall murals along the underpass of T4.

No points for originality here, but Changi’s 350-plus selection of shops which run the gamut from luxury goods to daily necessities is not to be sniffed at. Head to the Wines and Spirits Duplex store in either T2 or T3 to pick out a special bottle from its full assortment of wines, spirits, and tobacco. Pick up some souvenirs from RISIS’ selection of fine orchid jewellery or get some natural Chinese remedies, tonics, and supplements from homegrown brand Eu Yan Sang. Don’t forget to box up some holiday perfumes and scents for your trip and also stock up on the mags for that long plane ride.