Singapore Changi Airport



Singapore Changi Airport, "Changi" or just "the airport" to locals, is the main commercial airport of Singapore. It is 25 km (16 mi) from the centre of Singapore, on the eastern edge of the island, and has good public transport links to all parts of Singapore.

Consistently voted one of the best airports in the world, Changi is quintessentially the hub for flights within Southeast Asia, to where virtually all Southeast Asian airlines fly, and a common stop on the Kangaroo Route between Europe and Australia. It is the hub airport of the island nation's flag carrier Singapore Airlines alongside its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, and Jetstar Asia, a low-cost subsidiary of Australian flag carrier Qantas.

Understand
Changi Airport is on the east coast of Singapore, about 25 km from the downtown area with good rail and road connections. There are no domestic flights due to the small size of Singapore; all flights to Changi are international (Singapore has only one other civilian airport: Seletar).

Opened in 1981 on reclaimed land to alleviate the ever-increasing air traffic at what was then Paya Lebar Airport closer to the city, Changi is one of the world's busiest, and has been consistently voted in the world's top three best airports. Passengers are made to feel at home while in transit, with more facilities than you'd typically expect at an airport. Airside gardens and artworks soothe the eyes, a massage parlour and spa relax the muscles, a swimming pool at Terminal 1 helps keep the body fit, while a cinema and giant television screens provide visual entertainment. There are even butterfly gardens and koi carp ponds! In 2019, a nature-themed mall called Jewel Changi opened its doors right in the middle of the terminal buildings, with countless restaurants, spectacular high gardens and the world's tallest indoor waterfall, that wows not only travellers using the airport but also locals living in other parts of the island nation.

The airport's schedules are dominated by the island nation's flag carrier, Singapore Airlines, its low cost subsidiary, Scoot, and its fellow low-cost competitor, Jetstar Asia. All Southeast Asia n major airports have at least one daily flight from Singapore, taking at most 4 hours. East Asia, South Asia, and Australia are reachable in 7 hours or less and see multiple services per day by different airlines. Many major cities in Europe, as well as some in Africa and North America, also have a non-stop connection from Singapore. In fact, three of the world's top 10 busiest international flight routes (to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok as of 2019) and three of the top 10 longest flight routes (to New York JFK and Newark airports and Los Angeles as of 2023) originate from Singapore, cementing its reputation as one of the world's most important aviation hubs.

Flights


Changi has four terminals, referred to as Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 (T1, T2, T3 and T4). T1, T2 and T3 are connected in a horseshoe shape, yet are numbered rather in order of their construction completion time. Thus, T1 is sandwiched between T3 on the left and T2 on the right. A walk from gate A21 in terminal 3 to gate F60 at terminal 2 spans at least 5 kilometers; to spare you the hike, free Skytrain shuttles connect these terminals together, and the shuttle between T1 and T2 is an attraction in itself since it passes right next to the Jewel waterfall. You can walk or use the Skytrains to transfer without going through immigration.

T4 however, is located on a separate area not directly connected to the former three terminals. To transfer there, you must take the bus from outside the departure levels of Terminals 1 or 3, or Gate C21 at Terminal 1 if you are connecting from airside.

Singapore Airlines flights arrive at T1, T2 or T3 regardless of where they are coming from; if you have friends picking you up, ask them to check the flight information system via the airport website.

For transit, each concourse has a prominent transfer desk to collect your next boarding pass. Check the TV screen for information about where to retrieve the boarding pass for your flight.

There are no boarding calls made within the airport and boarding gates generally close 10 minutes before departure.

Unlike most other airports, there are no separate zones for departing and arriving passengers in the airside of the main terminals, hence arriving passengers are free to shop and eat if they are not in a hurry to pass through passport control. In addition, unless you have checked luggage, you can clear passport control at any terminal; security checks are done at the gate of the respective flight. At Terminal 4 however, the centralised security screening is after immigration.

Ground transportation


From the airport there are a number of ways to get into the city. If you're coming off a long flight and have luggage, by far the easiest option is to simply take a taxi, fares are reasonable ($20-30) and the city center is only 30 minutes away.

By train
Changi Airport is the terminus of the East-West line of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system. While cheap, the MRT is aimed squarely at commuters: there are no express services; the trains are regular commuter trains without baggage storage (although many of the train sets have handrails installed in place of seats in order to occupy more standing passengers with luggage), and can get quite crowded during rush hour (mornings towards the city, evenings towards the airport). But if you're not in a rush, don't have too much luggage or are staying near a station, the train can still be worthwhile.

The station sits between Terminals 2 and 3, and is well indicated from Terminal 1; access to Terminal 4 requires you to take a bus that stops at Terminals 1 or 3. You'll need to change trains at Tanah Merah – exit on the left hand side door and cross the platform if you are heading to the city, or right hand side in the unlikely event that you're heading to the northern residential areas of Simei, Tampines or Pasir Ris. When returning to the airport from either direction, cross to the middle platform. If you use the Downtown Line, transfer at the Expo station, the first one after the airport. It should cost you less than $3 (Singapore dollars) to get anywhere from the airport, for instance the 40-minute ride to City Hall station costs $2.30 and you can pay by tapping any Visa/Mastercard on the gates. Trains run Mondays to Saturdays from 05:30 and Sundays from 06:00 every 10 minutes until midnight. See Singapore for more details and other payment options.

By shuttle
A Ground Transport Desk is available in the arrival hall at all terminals and can arrange shuttle bus transfers, with hourly departures between 7 AM to 11 PM daily. The shuttle costs $10 per adult and $7 per child (aged 12 years and below) and will take you to most downtown hotels. Quite frankly, it's hard to see why you'd want to use this: for a solo traveler it's more expensive yet slower than the MRT, while for two or more a far faster and more convenient taxi/Grab will be about the same price.

Transtar Travel operates a coach service from Terminals 1 and 4 to Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ). Fares are $10 from Changi Airport to Johor Bahru, and RM10 in the reverse direction. Payment is accepted by cash and EZ-Link card. The first bus departs at 8:15AM and the last leaves at 11:15PM.

If you are heading to Batam or Bintan, there is a shuttle service from Terminals 1 and 4 to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT), with the journey costing $4 in each direction.

By taxi
Taxi remains the fastest way to travel to the City Centre, taking around 30 minutes. Keep in mind the additional surcharges for trips from the airport.

There are 2 types of taxis to choose from, depending on how many people are travelling together.
 * Taxi (cab) is easiest - simply follow the signs after clearing customs. Meters are always used in Singapore. A trip to the city during the day will be $20–40 including a $8 airport surcharge from 5PM to midnight and $6 at other times. An additional 50% surcharge of the final fare applies daily 00:01-05:59, while a 25% surcharge is applicable 06:00-09:30 weekdays & 18:00-00:00 daily. By law, a taxi can carry a maximum of 4 passengers.

Taxis are easily available at the airport and you need not call one if you are traveling from there. If you are traveling to the airport however, calling ahead may be a better option.
 * An airport transfer service, bookable from the Ground Transport Concierge at the arrival levels, charge a flat rate of $55 or $60 for a party of 4 or 7 respectively, to anywhere in the city. These are a pretty good deal after midnight, as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized cabs, which are good for large families if you have lots of baggage.
 * An airport transfer service, bookable from the Ground Transport Concierge at the arrival levels, charge a flat rate of $55 or $60 for a party of 4 or 7 respectively, to anywhere in the city. These are a pretty good deal after midnight, as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized cabs, which are good for large families if you have lots of baggage.
 * An airport transfer service, bookable from the Ground Transport Concierge at the arrival levels, charge a flat rate of $55 or $60 for a party of 4 or 7 respectively, to anywhere in the city. These are a pretty good deal after midnight, as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized cabs, which are good for large families if you have lots of baggage.
 * An airport transfer service, bookable from the Ground Transport Concierge at the arrival levels, charge a flat rate of $55 or $60 for a party of 4 or 7 respectively, to anywhere in the city. These are a pretty good deal after midnight, as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized cabs, which are good for large families if you have lots of baggage.
 * An airport transfer service, bookable from the Ground Transport Concierge at the arrival levels, charge a flat rate of $55 or $60 for a party of 4 or 7 respectively, to anywhere in the city. These are a pretty good deal after midnight, as you can skip the queue and avoid the surcharge. The same pricing applies to chartering van-sized cabs, which are good for large families if you have lots of baggage.

By rideshare
Private hire car services Grab, Gojek, Tada Mobility, and Ryde enable you to book a ride using the respective apps from your phone. This is often cheaper than taking a taxi and can be faster too if there's a queue. Head to the designated pickup points at the arrival levels of T1, T2, or T3, and pay attention to the door number, since this is how the drivers will find you in the scrum.

By bus
A number of bus routes serve the airport and take you to the city center and other points at eastern and northern Singapore, but they are generally not optimised to bring luggage. If you wish to look at the views of Singapore from ground level at a leisurely pace however, they can be of great use. Bus terminals are in the basements of T1, T2 and T3, and at ground level at T4 next to Car Park 4B.
 * Route 24 serves the airport from Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, as well as Tai Seng, Macpherson, Paya Lebar, Eunos, Kembangan, Bedok, Tanah Merah, and Upper Changi MRT stations
 * Route 27 traverses Hougang, Buangkok, Sengkang, and Tampines before entering the airport premises.
 * Route 34 follows a similar route as Route 27 but only serves Punggol before Tampines.
 * Route 36 goes directly to the city center and takes roughly one hour travelling on expressways through the East Coast to City Hall and Orchard Road.
 * Route 53 takes you to the airport from Bishan and Serangoon MRT stations as well as Pasir Ris region.
 * Route 110 is an express bus from Sengkang MRT station to the airport
 * Route 858, connecting the airport with Woodlands, Sembawang, and Yishun MRT stations, is ideal if you are heading towards the northern part of the country or the land crossing with Malaysia.

All buses serve terminals 1 to 3; only routes 24, 34, 36, and 110 make a stop at Terminal 4.

Buses generally run from 05:30 to midnight every day. Fares vary depending on distance, but a ride to the city should cost around $2.50. You can pay by tapping in a bank card or mobile wallet, as well as store valued cards, Singapore Tourist Pass, or exact fare in cash to the driver.

By car
The airport is at the terminus of the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), the East Coast Parkway (ECP), and the Tampines Expressway (TPE). A drive to Tampines takes 10 minutes, to Downtown, Woodlands, & central Singapore 30 to 40 minutes; a drive to Jurong at the western end of the expressway is twice as long. All parking lots except the one for Terminal 1 and Jewel Changi are eligible for long term parking, with parking rates capped at $57.60/24 hours; short term or general parking at all terminals are at a rate of $0.04/minute, starting from 10 minutes after entrance. An open-air parking lot between Terminal 2 and JetQuay terminal offers a cheaper parking rate of $35/24 hours or $0.035/minute.

Car rental counters are open 7AM to 11PM. Mainstream brands have their respective kiosks at the arrival level of all terminals except terminal 1.

Get around
Passengers whose flights depart from Terminals 1, 2, or 3 are free to use most of the facilities within these three terminals (e.g. if your flight departs from Terminal 2, you can head over to Terminal 1 to use the swimming pool there). This is because Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are well-connected to each other by the SkyTrain, an automatic driverless people mover which operates both landside and airside, that operates from 4AM to 1:30AM. When the train is not in operation, you must walk if you wish to remain airside. A walk from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 or vice-versa should take about 30 minutes as you have to pass through Terminal 1. A buggy car that will take you to your boarding gate, very useful if you are in a hurry, is available upon request. If you are landside, you can walk along the walkway that passes through Jewel Changi.

Terminal 4 is located in a separate area from the other 3 terminals, and is not served by the SkyTrain system. To connect airside, you need to clear security first, take the bus from gate C21 at Terminal 1 or the arrival hall A before immigration at Terminal 3; to connect landside, get on the bus from Door 3 Departure Level of Terminal 1 or Door 8 Departure Level of Terminal 3. The bus shuttle runs 24 hours every 10 minutes and takes you there in 10 to 15 minutes.

Wait
For the listings below, "landside" requires going through passport control to enter Singapore, while "airside" can be accessed in transit without going through immigration.

Landside

 * There are several kinetic art installations at each terminal. The most significant ones include the Kinetic Rain at Terminal 1 that displays sequence of raindrops forming shapes as they go up and down and Daisy at Terminal 3, a windmill whose movement corresponds to the movement of travelers within its immediate area.
 * If you have at least 5 hours and 30 minutes of transit time to spare, you can join the Free Singapore Tour. After check-in at one of their counters (Terminal 2: near Gate F50, Terminal 3: near Gates A1-A8), you get to travel as a group and seeing a choice of the modern skylines or ethnic areas at the city center, the local neighborhood of Changi, or the gardens and shops in Jewel Changi.

Airside
Even if you are stuck in the airport, there are plenty of ways to kill time as each terminal has a unique design and the airside areas of T1, T2, and T3 are attractions in themselves. T2, arguably the most interesting, has an indoor garden, a music listening area with couches and mood lighting, a computer gaming room, a small cinema (you can bring your luggage trolleys inside and park them at the back), paid massage services and, of course, plenty of duty-free shops. T3 has a butterfly garden and plenty of natural light, but fewer entertainment options. T1 has a swimming pool for $13.91 and Jacuzzi, both open until 23:00. There is an outdoor cactus garden on the roof of T1. You can travel between the main terminals without passing through immigration and, if you have no checked-in luggage to collect, you can clear passport control and customs at any terminal. T4 is smaller than the other three terminals, but has a Peranakan heritage area with exhibits about Peranakan culture and history.


 * Movie theaters with several current movies are played in the loop at Terminals 2 and 3. Simply park your trolley and tuck in, for no charge!
 * There is at least one TV lounge at every terminal, inviting football fans to watch matches live.
 * Let your kids enjoy their time at the play area in Terminals 1 (public area) and 3 (public area & transit area behind Louis Vuitton)
 * Have a little time for art? Create your own woodblock print at the art stations in Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Gardens
Being a tropical country, the airport tries to introduce native flora for travelers who lucked out of visiting Southeast Asian gardens and jungles, or just to unwind themselves.
 * Terminal 1: Cactus Garden, Water Lily Garden, Discovery Garden, Piazza Garden
 * Terminal 2: Enchanted Garden, Orchid Garden, Sunflower Garden
 * Terminal 3: Butterfly Garden, Crystal Garden
 * Terminal 4: Steel In Bloom

Lounges

 * Singapore Airlines has a SilverKris lounge for First Class & Business class passengers, and another lounge for Krisflyer Gold members in Terminals 2 and 3. While you can access the lounges at either terminal regardless of your destination, the lounges at terminal 3 have a larger space in addition to The Private Room, a dining lounge exclusively for First Class passengers with made-to-order dishes.
 * Pay-per-use lounges enables you to work in a more comfortable space, take a shower, eat a little snack, or have a short nap during a long transit for a fee. Merhaba operates a lounge at Terminals 1 & 3, while Ambassador Transit Lounge can be found at Terminals 2 and 3, each with a dedicated transit hotel, and Blossom has one lounge at Terminal 4. Changi Lounge at Jewel Changi also offers paid access, the only landside lounge in the airport.
 * Ground services dnata & SATS have lounges at each terminal. Inquire your airline about which lounge they use.
 * British Airways, Emirates, Qantas and Qatar Airways have large dedicated lounges for First and Business Class passengers in Terminal 1 with shower facilities, food and drink, Wi-Fi access and internet terminals.
 * Cathay Pacific has a lounge for First and Business Class passengers in Terminal 4.
 * Plaza Premium Lounge has a lounge in Terminal 1, and another one jointly run with SATS in Terminal 4.
 * Local bank DBS operates DBS Asia Treasures Lounge in Terminal 3 for their private banking clients.

Priority Pass holders have access to all of the pay-per-use lounges.

Eat and drink
All of the terminals include a food court at Level 3 within the transit area, where you can savor Singapore delicacies without stepping out of the airport. There are however many more options landside that are worth checking out, especially at Level B2 of Terminal 3 and Jewel Changi. As locals do also frequent these places, prices generally are similar to other spots across the island.

Some of the restaurants in the transit area accept neighboring and world major currencies; change in cash is however always given in Singapore dollars. The food courts and convenience stores there are, with few exceptions, open 24 hours.

Public
Many of the establishments can be found at Level 3, where there are also facilities such as a playground and a viewing mall, where you can see aircraft movement at the terminal.

Terminal 3
Terminal 3 offers by far the most complete eating options, especially at the publicly accessible level B2 that is like a mall in itself.

Jewel Changi
A shopping mall adored by locals & transiting passengers alike, restaurants that cater to many tastes of the world are peppered across 7 levels of this spherical building. Many are sit-down establishments in a space designed akin to fine dining places, some with a lucky view of the gushing Rain Vortex, while others offer snacks that can be enjoyed as you stroll around. For something cheaper yet substantial & still authentic Singaporean, head into the food court at level B2.

Buy
If Changi Airport were a mall & moved to more than 100 countries, it would constitute their largest mall! The shopping experience is vibrant, especially thanks to the variety of shops that are housed at Jewel Changi. As it is frequented by locals alike, prices landside are the same as other places within Singapore, be it retail or F&B, and you need not venture far into the city center to find similar options.

All stores in general accept American Express, Visa and MasterCard; most accept Diners Club, JCB and UnionPay. Should you need cash, there are ATMs from Singaporean banks as well as ICBC & Citibank before security, as well as money exchange operated by UOB or Travelex at each terminal & FXCHANGE at levels B1 & 4 of Jewel Changi, although you will pay a small premium if doing so inside the airport. Duty free shops even offer payment in the traveler's home currency or in Singaporean dollars; make sure to check the exchange rate of your credit card issuer first.

If you have little time to roam the shops, the airport also has a dedicated online shopping page, where you can pre-order from 30 days to 12 hours before your departure flight from Singapore and retrieve your items at one of its collection centers during your transit (Terminal 1: behind Charles & Keith, Terminal 2: near GST refund counter, Terminal 3: behind Louis Vuitton, Terminal 4: to the right after immigration & security, before Shilla duty free). You can also collect these items upon arrival before customs and at Jewel Changi, although these are subject to the Singaporean Goods and Services Tax (GST).

If you are eligible for a GST refund after shopping in Singapore, you can claim one with evidence of your passport, boarding pass, receipts, and purchased items at both the public & transit area of each terminal, as well as Level 1 of Jewel Changi.

If you're just arriving and need to buy a SIM card for your phone, there are plenty of tourist help-oriented shops that will be happy to sell you one with $50-70 of credit on it (and that's how much it will cost). 1GB of data for a week is only $7 though, so if you're only in Singapore for a short time, the bigger cards are definitely overkill. Instead, head to the money changers - you can buy a $15 SIM card there. You need to present your passport when purchasing SIM cards.

Airside




Connect
There are two ways to connect to the Internet at the airport. One option is Wi-Fi connectivity with the WiFi@Changi access point that resets every 3 hours. Don't really count on its speed and reliability though. A much better option is to use one of the 100 standing computers throughout the airport. You have 20 minutes for each session, although you can always re-login. They are always free of charge. Meanwhile, Jewel Changi also has its own Wi-Fi hotspot called #WiFi@Jewel, also free with no limitations on usage.

Charging ports can easily be found at the sitting areas, especially those at the gates. If you are visiting Jewel Changi, you can rent a power bank for free for up to 12 hours at the Experience Concierge on Level 2.

Any local calls made within the departure transit lounge are free. You can use the public payphones or head over to the convenience stores. If you are on the land side, you can rent a smartphone or buy a prepaid card.

Passengers that have liquid, aerosols, and gels that are too big to make their way pass the security checkpoint, can take advantage of the Speedpost@Changi service. Purchase an envelope from the security offices or at the mailbox, drop them in, and wait for them to be delivered within 5 working days to most cities. You must drop them in the mailbox by 30 minutes before departure.

If you want to send some last minute postcards, you can buy stamps from the 7-Eleven on the airside of Terminal 1 on the right-hand side of the immigration control, and put the cards in the mail box behind the Aspial store. You can also drop them at Transfer F at Terminal 2 or near the GST Refund Counter at Terminal 3.

Cope

 * Free water fountains are generally found next to the restrooms. While you can fill up your bottle with its water, saving money compared to buying bottled water, do not forget to empty it before proceeding through security for your flight.
 * Baggage storage can be found at all terminals both landside and airside. Rates range from $5 for loose items to $18 for extra bulky items, per 24 hours. These can come in handy if you wish to stroll the city only for a couple of hours.
 * Although smoking is not allowed at most areas, outdoor smoking areas are peppered within the terminal (Terminal 1: near Cactus Garden and Snooze Lounge, near Gates D36 and C16. Terminal 2: Sunflower Garden, opposite gate E5, behind Sunglass Hut. Terminal 3: Opposite gates B10 and A21, next to Harry's Sports Bar, Butterfly Garden. Terminal 4: near gates 4 and 16, Level 2M).
 * If you'd rather sit, there are chairs throughout the area. Charging points are also adjacent while a few are even equipped with feet massage.
 * Although prayer rooms can be found at all terminals, these mainly cater to Muslims.
 * Should you feel unwell or require medical assistance, the Raffles Medical Clinic at all terminals will be able to assist you. Pharmacies from mainstream landside brands such as Guardian and Watson can be found at all Terminals, with generic medicine and vitamins you might need.
 * While all toilets are both child and disabled friendly, there are a couple dedicated for baby care, both at public and transit areas. (Terminal 1: near gates D36 and C24, behind Kaboom shop, level 3 near Playground and 7-Eleven. Terminal 2: near gate E1, behind Guardian. Terminal 3: Gates A1-A8, A16-A20, A21, B1-B4, between B8 and B9. Terminal 4: Near Gates 4, 7, 10, Baggage Claim.)

Airport maps and signs to some essential facilities are clearly indicated at various points in the terminals, although you can also just grab a free guide book to make your way through the airport. You can also scan your boarding pass at the scanner kiosk to look for which gate your flight is departing from.

Sleep
While the transit area is open 24 hours, police & staff regularly go around overnight to check on connecting passengers. In this case, you just need to show them your passport and the boarding pass for your next flight.

Airside
Snooze lounges for a little nap or lounging while charging your devices can be found at all terminals. Though they are often packed, travelers do come and go quite frequently within the hour.
 * Terminal 1: Level 3, opposite O'Leary's Sports Bar
 * Terminal 3: Level 2, along the passage behind the shops with a view of the runway.
 * Terminal 4: Level 2M, opposite International Food Hall

For a more substantial sleep on real beds, there are transit hotels in Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Landside


Central Singapore is only 30 minutes away by taxi, so if you have a longer layover it's worth venturing into the city. There is no budget accommodation near the airport, but the East Coast district of Geylang has plenty and it can be reached in 20 minutes by MRT.

Around airport
There are two small clusters of hotels near the airport: leisure hotels near Changi Village, and business hotels at Changi Business Park. Both are under 15 minutes away by taxi.



Stay safe
By and large, the airport is safe as police frequently patrol by Segways and buggy cars and the building is well-lit throughout the day. The airport practically never sleeps, so even at dawn there will always be a few people at some points in the airport.

Passengers sleeping or hanging around in the public areas of the airport for extended periods of time can expect to get questioned by security. You'll be fine as long as you have a departing flight within the next 24 hours or so.

Nearby
While the area within the immediate vicinity of the airport houses primarily industries and offices, going a little bit further takes you to Changi Beach to the north or East Coast Beach starting from around Bedok MRT station. Grab a classic Singaporean delight in Geylang, East Coast Lagoon Food Village in the East Coast, accessible directly from the airport with bus number 36. See Singapore/East Coast for complete listings.

Or head over to the pubs and clubs in Riverside and Chinatown.