Airport layovers are the bane of International travellers, particularly those heading between Australia to Europe or Asia.
There’s only so long that your phone battery will last, usually cutting out half way through a level of Angry Birds or Candy Crush, and only so many times you can wander the terminal before boredom sets in and you wish you’d coughed up the extra money to fly direct.
There is an exception to this rule; an airport where there is so much to do you will be rushing to catch your plane after being caught up in it all… Beat Your Stopover Boredom with a Stopover at Singapore Changi Airport
I spent 72-hours in Changi Airport and still found that I haven’t done everything on my Changi Airport Virgin checklist, but for now here are my top tips to beat the dreaded stopover boredom.
Take the Free Singapore Tour!
Not much in life is free, even less when travelling abroad, so when I saw the sign saying ‘FREE Singapore Tour’ I had to wander over to see if free really did mean free.
For those who have a stopover of 5-hours or longer a 2-hour guided tour is provided for guests flying on any airline. Running four times a day, the tour will give you a brief insight into Singaporean’s multicultural society, a chance to see some of the cities most talked about sights – including the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands, and of course a stopover at the famous Merlion statue.
The tour is quite brief but a good snapshot into what you can see and do on a trip to Singapore and of course a chance to stretch your legs!
Visit the Butterfly Garden
If there were two things I’d recommend while visiting Changi Airport it would be the Free Singapore Tour and a visit to Terminal 3’s butterfly garden.
Step outside into the topical oasis and watch as thousands of butterflies fly, rest of pineapple slices or seek nectar from the flowers.
It’s a great place to visit, particularly for those travelling with kids, not just to see a butterfly up-close but there is a transparent box housing hundreds of cocoons so they can witness the various stages of a butterfly’s life – from cocoon to flight.
If you’re not in Terminal 3 there’s an outdoor Cactus Garden in Terminal 1 (with a great bar!) and a choice between the Enchanted Garden, outdoor Sunflower Garden or Orchid Garden & Koi Pond in Terminal 2.
Soak Up Some Sun by the Pool
Don’t forget to pack your bathers into your carry-on so you can enjoy the swimming pool and jacuzzi atop Terminal 1.
If you’re staying at the Ambassador Transit Hotel pool entry is free of charge, otherwise a usage fee of SGD$13.91/AUD$11.97/GBP£9.97 gets you access to the pool ad jacuzzi, use of the shower facilities, a towel and complimentary non-alcoholic drink from the bar – sounds like a small price to pay for a few hours of relaxation!
Enjoy Baby Soft Feet after a Fish Spa
Originating in Turkey, Asia has gone made for fish spas. So mad that there’s even one inside Changi Airport.
It’s a little odd to begin with as dozens of fish tickle your feet but after a while it becomes relaxing and when the 30 minute treatment is up your feet will be soft and pretty – ready to wear a pair of sandals in your next destination!
Open 24-hours in Terminal 1 consider pairing with a massage to help beat jet lag and feel more relaxed while you’re waiting for your connecting flight.
Take a Ride on the Slide
I’m a big kid at heart so let loose your inner child like I did and take on a giant slide!
At 12 metres high – that’s four storeys! – The [email protected] is the world’s tallest slide in an airport and it’s waiting for YOU in the T3 arrivals area.
Currently, to obtain a ticket for the full-size slide you need to spend SGD$10 at Changi Airport and can redeem up to 10 rides per receipt.
There is a one-and-a-half-storey tall slide available in the Basement 2 area which requires no minimum spend.
Now it’s over to you:
Who gets your vote for best airport?
What service would you like an airport to provide
that would make your stopover more comfortable?
Many thanks to Changi Airport for supporting my trip to Singapore.
All opinions, as always, are my own.
12 Comments
The Runaway Guide
November 14, 2013 at 5:07 amHey Nicole,
This is an awesome post. That free tour sounds so cool, especially cause it’s free!
I had no idea how cool this airport was. You should send this to Huffpost or something, they would definitely pick it up. Hope you’re well! 🙂
Nicole
November 22, 2013 at 1:19 amThanks, Leif!
Come to Australia through Changi Airport soon. 🙂
Lauren Meshkin @BonVoyageLauren
November 14, 2013 at 9:01 amWow! I wish every airport was like this. Very cool, I can’t wait to visit one day. Thanks for sharing!
Happy travels 🙂
Nicole
November 20, 2013 at 3:00 amChangi is a great airport for a stopover. Come visit Australia and stopover soon, Lauren! 🙂
Accommodation Review: The Pod Singapore | Can a Capsule Hotel Be Considered Luxury?
November 24, 2013 at 12:30 am[…] extra room for my backpack, handbag and all the shopping I may have accidentally squeezed in on my stopover at Changi Airport – […]
Jonny Blair
December 20, 2013 at 8:30 amI’ve passed through Singapore about a dozen times but must have somehow missed all this. Best I got last year was free wifi and a load of duty free shops. Will have to try and find the swimming pool next time! Safe travels. Jonny
Christina
April 5, 2014 at 10:47 pmSingapore Changi is my favourite airport to spend a few hours in. There’s so much to do and the shops are great. Love your story.
Hotel Review: Tune Hotel klia2
June 11, 2014 at 10:17 am[…] hope is that KLIA2 will be to Kuala Lumpur as Changi Airport is to Singapore – a prime shopping and dining mall with a convenient airport next door. The […]
Get in touch with Nature in Singapore
April 13, 2015 at 10:00 am[…] abundance of duty-free stores, fish spas, and an outdoor pool you can enjoy the tranquility of the airports own butterfly garden. From cocoon to flight, discover the life cycle of a butterfly and witness hundreds of butterflies […]
City Guide: Singapore
July 15, 2015 at 1:01 pm[…] Spend time at Changi Airport – okay, hear me out here. Changi Airport has to be one of the coolest airports in the world. A swimming pool, indoor slide, fish spas, butterfly garden, and more. Read more about what you can do at Changi Airport experience. […]
Tania Gromenko
November 6, 2018 at 9:01 pmNicely drafted post! Yes indeed Changi Airport is by far the place to be at for long Stopover. Easy quick Check-ins, relaxed immigration and fast transportation make that even more enjoyable
Flying Low Cost to Asia: Onboard Scoot’s ScootPlus - Bitten by the Travel Bug
November 26, 2019 at 9:12 pm[…] Beat Stopover Boredom at Singapore’s Changi Airport […]