Discovering much to do at Singapore’s Changi Airport

Irwin Schatzman; Scottsdale, AZ

Fourteen hours at Singapore’s Changi Airport: it sounds like the title of a horror movie, but it’s actually quite the opposite. After the completion of a cruise in Southeast Asia, my wife, Joy, and I decided to go directly to Changi Airport. We had spent four days in beautiful Singapore prior to the cruise, and we were anxious to see if this airport, acclaimed to be number one in the world, really deserved this title.*

On arrival

There are three terminals at Changi, each with its distinct personality. We arrived on Jan. 6, 2013, so the Christmas decorations were still on display. As a result, the first thing we saw was an explosion of colors and shapes, including SpongeBob SquarePants’ pineapple house, the Roman Colosseum and, of course, Christmas trees. 

The next thing we noticed was how immaculate the floors and everything else were and how orderly it all looked. And it never changed, no matter how busy it got!

The first matter of business was obtaining a brochure that showed us what each terminal offered. Some of the features were available prior to check-in and others only after we went through security. There was a place to check our luggage while we toured the facility. 

In addition to all the activities, there was a number of restaurants in each terminal, some offering a quick meal and others, a relaxing one.

Terminal 1

Let’s start with Terminal 1. The first thing you will notice in the public area is the “Kinetic Rain” sculpture, consisting of 1,216 copper-plated raindrops, each about six inches tall and suspended by a thin wire attached to a small, computer-controlled motor — 1,216 motors in all. The raindrops move up and down in two separate segments of 608 drops each, creating some beautiful patterns. I watched them for at least 30 minutes.

Once you pass through security, you’ll find the Cactus Garden with more than 40 species of cacti and succulents from Africa and the Americas. The Lily Pad Garden features circular overhead shelters, each of which is actually a water catchment, channeling rainwater for reuse.

The Social Tree is a new attraction that lets travelers post their photos and videos on high-definition screens. They can be retrieved for viewing on repeat visits to the airport. 

Finally, you can have a swim or spend some time in the Jacuzzi located in the rooftop pool ($14, or free for guests of the Ambassador Transit Hotel).

Terminal 2

Moving on to Terminal 2, we stopped for lunch before exploring further. There were many options. We chose Penang Culture, a restaurant that featured the cuisine of Penang, Malaysia, including Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes. The food was very good and was reasonably priced (about $6.50 for most dishes).

Continuing our exploration, we visited the Enchanted Garden, which comprises four giant glass sculptures decorated with a mosaic of reflective stained glass and filled with fresh flowers. 

If you can’t get enough of flowers, you can move on to the Orchid Garden, featuring an array of orchids growing from the rocks and cascading from driftwood in this lush setting of foxtail palms and other unique foliage. Both gardens include koi ponds. 

If you’re looking for a change of pace, walk over to the Entertainment Deck, where you can play some Xbox or PlayStation games, or walk right around the corner to watch a movie in the theater. 

If you’re still in the gaming mood, you can go to the Xperience Zone, where visitors can play 3-D video games or catch the latest sports event on a large-screen video wall from the comfort of cushioned seats. 

Finally, there is the Sunflower Garden, which turns into a lighted garden party at night. There are flickering lights creating an effect of “fireflies” in the garden. 

If you need a break from the airport, Singapore Airlines offers free bus tours of the city. There are five different tours offered throughout the day. You’ll need to register in Terminal 2, level 2, near transfer lounge E at least one hour before the start of the tour.

Finally, Terminal 3

Terminal 3 offers the Aviation Gallery, located in the public area, with answers to some of the questions you might have about operations at Changi and the history of aviation in Singapore. It also features models of airplanes that have flown through the airport.

This terminal also offers a garden — the Butterfly Garden — which includes a waterfall and an educational corner to gain a deeper understanding of butterflies. As in the other gardens, there is a beautiful koi pond. There is also another movie theater. 

Finally, for children (and adults who like to revert back to their childhood), there is a 4-story-high slide on which you can reach speeds of 20 feet per second.

As you visit these attractions, you almost forget you have a plane to catch! Believe me, you can keep busy for a dozen hours, leaving a couple of hours to check in and maybe get in a light bite to eat before boarding. It is truly an amazing airport.

*Changi Airport was voted the “World’s Best Airport” at the 2014 World Airport Awards. See this month's Boarding Pass.