🇸🇬✈️ Changi – The Best Airport in the World?

  By

Changi Airport has been crowned the Best Airport in the World by Skytrax more than a dozen times. So when I found myself with a whole day to spare, I figured I might as well see what all the fuss was about – and whether it really lives up to the hype.

What surprised me most wasn’t the shopping or the food (though both are excellent), but how many completely free things there are to do. I’m talking gardens, art installations, trampolines, movie theatres – the kind of activities that make you forget you’re in transit and start wondering if you should just move in. And haven’t even mentioning the rooftop pool (paid).

So here are the best free things to do at Changi Airport.

🦋 Terminal 3 — Butterfly Garden

A lush, two‑storey tropical haven filled with butterflies, greenery, and a tiny waterfall. It’s peaceful, surreal, and the kind of place where you instinctively start whispering. A must‑visit if you want a moment of calm before your flight.

🌺 Terminal 2 — Enchanted Garden

A glowing, orchid‑filled garden that feels like a mini botanical escape. Bright, colourful, and full of little surprises, it’s one of the most charming spots in the airport and perfect for photos.

🤸‍♀️ Terminal 2 — Fun Fit Zone

A playful, energetic space designed to wake up your body after hours of sitting. It features punching cushions, mini trampolines, a stealth‑style wire course, and pendulum seats (blocked when we visited, but still fun to see). It’s silly, lively, and surprisingly addictive.

🌻 Terminal 2 — Sunflower Garden

A cheerful rooftop garden lined with bright yellow sunflowers and a view of the runway. Small but lovely, and perfect for a quick, sunny pick‑me‑up.

🎬 Terminal 3 & Terminal 2 — Free Movie Theatre

Yes, a real cinema. Yes, completely free, and exactly why Changi is iconic. Ideal for long layovers or when your brain needs a break from exploring.

🛋️ All Terminals — Rest & Relax Zones

Comfy recliners, dim lighting, and big windows overlooking the runway. These zones feel like mini‑lounges for people who refuse to pay for an actual lounge but still want to recline like royalty.

Photo credit: Othello95

🐠 All Terminals — Green Spaces and Aquariums

Surprisingly large green spaces and aquariums tucked into the terminals, perfect for zoning out while watching fish.

🎨 All Terminals — Art Installations

Changi is basically an airport‑museum hybrid, and the art is everywhere. From Terminal 1’s iconic Kinetic Rain — hundreds of bronze droplets dancing in hypnotic patterns — to Terminal 4’s whimsical petal clouds, giant sculptures, and interactive pieces, the airport treats art like a core part of the travel experience. You don’t just walk to your gate here; you wander through a gallery.

Photo Credit: jackson tee
Photo Credit: ScribblingGeek
Photo Credit: Ronggy

🌧️ Jewel — Exploring Without the Rain Vortex

Nothing prepares you for the moment you first see the Rain Vortex in action. One minute you’re walking through a mall, and the next you’re staring at a 40‑metre indoor waterfall pouring dramatically from the ceiling. It’s loud, it’s mesmerizing, and it makes you forget you are in an airport.

We wandered around the “Shiseido Forest Valley”, taking in the mist, the greenery, and the endless photo ops. Every angle looks like a postcard. Every level gives you a new perspective. And when the light hits the water just right, it feels like you’ve stepped into a sci‑fi movie where the airport is the main character.

Changi Airport isn’t just a place to catch a flight — it’s a destination. Even without spending a cent, you can wander through gardens, bounce on trampolines, walk over fish, watch a movie, and explore a mall that looks like it belongs in a sci‑fi film.

If you ever have a long layover here, don’t just sit at your gate. Go explore. You might end up having a better day than you planned.

Scroll to Top