Photo by Jos Dielis

Changi international airport in Singapore is often regarded as one of the best airports in the world. Located smack in the middle of the European – Australian flight path, Singapore makes a great stopover point and a great gateway to Asia. Compared to other major international airports, such as Los Angeles or London Heathrow, Changi international airport is a breeze to pass through and is the epitome of Asian ingenuity and efficiency. This guide shows you how to make the most of your time at the airport and enjoy many different activities, mostly without spending anything.

The airport has 3 terminals which long haul flights use and a 4th budget terminal for regional low cost carriers. Transit between the main three terminals is made easy by a system of automated monorail trains which speed between terminals every few minutes. Lots of moving walkways are present to speed up journey times even further. With the exception of the actual boarding gate, all areas of all three terminals can be accessed without clearing security or immigration. This means that transit passengers can explore the entire airport with ease and convenience.

There are many things to do at when you transit at Changi international airport. This article will cover 7 things to do while you wait for your flight.

The entire airport, and indeed the country, is covered by the free WIFI network Wireless@SG. Signing up is easy, just connect to the network, open your browser and click register. Note that you need to receive a text message with a confirmation code so please bear this in mind. This WIFI network extends through much of Singapore city so it is great to have an account should you visit Singapore in future. There are also a number of free WIFI networks belonging to various cafes, restaurants, bars and shops.

If you don’t have a laptop then there are literally hundreds of free PC terminals to use all over Changi international airport. Technically they have a 15 minute time limit but there are so many that there is never anyone waiting. All data is cleared at the end of each session automatically so there is no need to worry about having your details being used by the next user. Connection speeds are also very fast, and the PCs themselves are quick and virus free.

You could be excused for claiming that all airports look alike. Large monitors, long walkways and masses of concrete are pretty much the foundation of any airport. At Changi international airport, the designers decided to spread some greenery throughout the airport. There are several gardens in every terminal. These include butterfly parks, cactus gardens and even a fish pond. It is great to unwind here and get some fresh air after a long flight. Be warned though that smoking is allowed in some of the gardens so that air might not be quite as fresh as you imagined. These also provide great observations decks of the airports and the runway – great if you like taking photos.

Choose your weapon, Xbox or Playstation? The entertainment deck is a dedicated area in terminal 2 that has a whole host of entertainment options. The latest games are available for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 where you can play solo or challenge a friend. If you are in the mood to frag some other travellers, then head over to the LAN gaming room where you can play the latest PC games against other people in the room. There is also a selection of online games available.

For passengers without the energy for a fast paced action game, head over to the music area where comfortable seats with inbuilt speakers play relaxing and soothing music. You can choose which type of music you want to listen to then sit back and unwind till boarding time. The nearby MTV booth features 50” plasma TVs showing the latest MTV music videos and entertainment clips.

In terminal 1 there is a transit hotel that allows passengers to sleep for a few hour or overnight, all without having to clear immigration. The hotel has a nice swimming pool that anyone can use for a small charge. It costs S$14 for use of the facilities which includes the swimming pool, showers and even a hot tub. This is a great way to stay refreshed if you have just come off a long flight. Make sure to bring swimming attire, but towels will be provided. Most of the First and Business Class lounges have showers, but if you haven’t read our guide to free premium travel then you won’t have access to these. Fortunately, the Plaza Premium Lounge in terminal 2 has showers that anyone can pay for. There is also a fully function fitness gym here for the truly active among us. Members of certain credit cards and other programmes get access to this lounge but everyone else has to pay for it.

Terminals 2 and 3 both have movie theatres which show the latest blockbuster movies. They are in a dark room with proper cinema equipment and an amazing sound system. Best of all they have some very comfortable seats to relax on. Popcorn is also sold for the true movie theatre experience. The movie theatres at Changi International Airport are also open 24 hours a day and completely free! The only downside is that is easy to fall asleep here and potentially miss your flight so be sure to stay awake. If a full movie is not your thing head over to the Food Gallery in Terminal 1 where large screens show popular TV shows on the Star World and Star Movies channels.

If there is one thing you can’t miss at Changi International Airport it is the masses of shops. With over 300 shops the airport rivals many shopping malls. It has a diverse range of goods from cheap electronics to designer boutiques all at affordable duty free prices. Singapore airport offers much more than the usual array of airport shops and you will find many popular brand names have outlets here. There is an equally diverse range of eating establishments ranging from fast food to sports bars to fine dining. Also, as security checkpoints at each individual gate then you can get a proper knife for your steak. The sports bars are a good place to watch football, golf and many other major sporting event.

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