Changi Airport Mini Guide
Tell me About the Airport
Singapore Changi Airport is the main airport for the island of Singapore. It is a huge hub airport for South East Asia and Australasia. The airport has 5 terminals with probably the best passenger facilities in the world – If you get stuck anywhere you would hope its Changi! Their motto appropriately is ’The Feeling is First Class’.
How do I get There?
More than 100 airlines fly into the airport from 200 cities world wide. It is also a popular layover destination for passengers travelling between Europe and
Australia.
Can I get to the City Easily?
You can take the 36 bus into the city or you can also use the airport shuttle bus service to get to most hotels, just check at the ground transport desk in arrivals. The MRT metro leaves from Terminal 2 and 3 into the city also. If you have booked a Rhino hire car, you will find the car rental counters in arrivals at Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
What is at the Airport for me?
There is a 711 convenience store for any last minute items you may need for your trip. Currency exchange counters and ATMs are provided throughout the terminals. There are Customer Service Counters if you need any information about the airport and a Hotel Reservations Counter, if you need to book a hotel. Singapore Visitors Centres are available at Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
The airport has free Wi-Fi and internet corners, should you need to use the internet or go to one of the business centres. There are many lounges in all the terminal buildings these often include business centres and spa facilities. Sleeping areas and showers can also be found there, so you can freshen up. Ambassador Transit Lounge in Terminal 2 and 3 has facilities for you to rest and shower between flights but you can also do business or go to the gym.
Anything Else?
If you have more than a few hours in transit, the airport offers a free tour of Singapore city – so don’t miss out! Take a stroll or relax in one of the six open air gardens and follow the Nature Trail. You can go swimming in the Balinese outdoor pool at Terminal 1. Visit the Changi Aviation Gallery and use the interactive displays to find out more about the airport and aviation industry. There is an Entertainment Deck and Movie Theatre if you still have time to spare.
I’m Getting Hungry, Can I eat There?
You will be spoilt for choice! Even if you are a fussy eater or just love fast food, you’ll find something there. There are 4 food courts with cafes and restaurants offering western and eastern cuisine. You can have a coffee and a snack at one of the 26 coffee shops, O’Brien’s Irish Sandwich Bar has great sandwiches! Try the specialities at Kaveri Vegetarian Cuisine or have a burger at Hard Rock Café. There are 29 full service restaurants including the Crystal Jade Shanghai Restaurant and Peach Garden Noodle House for a taste of the east. Just got time for a quick drink or that last Singapore Sling, head for Singapore Straits Bar.
Have you Heard About the Shopping?
There are over 300 food and shopping outlets at Changi Airport, from high end stores like Hermes and Prada to outlets specialising in local food products. You can buy anything there, a last minute gift or just a book to read on your journey. If you are still feeling jet lagged try a reflexology foot massage at My Foot or traditional Chinese medicine at Eu Yan Sang. Familiar high street stores like Body Shop and Delsey rub shoulders with Asian stores like Shanghai Tang. There are DFS duty free shops where you can look for bargains, the most popular items bought in there are liquor, tobacco and perfume. Outside of duty free, you can buy souvenirs of your visit for example orchids and tiger balm or take home some bottled birds nest, a local speciality!
I’m Tired, Can I Stay at the Airport?
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel is at Terminal 3, it has 320 guest rooms with executive class amenities. They have a fitness centre and indoor pool on-site. The Ambassador Transit Hotel is also available within the terminals should you need to stay at the airport.
Singapore might be mainly an airline stopover point but hire a car and you’ll find out that there’s a lot more to it. To get an idea of what the country was like in colonial days head to Pulau Ubin Island or to Bras Basali in the north where old Singapore still stands.
Singapore is also a great place for food with Little India, Chinatown and Kampong Glam famous for Indian, Chinese and Malaysian food respectively. For a taste of food from colonial times, take tea at Raffles where people have done the same for centuries.