Singapore Changi Airport

Map of Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN ^IATA), "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 Asian 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.

Terminal 1: Concourse C & D
Air China, Air France, Air Niugini, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cambodian Airways, China Southern Airlines, Chongqing Airlines, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hebei Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Myanmar Airways International, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Starlux Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, XiamenAir, ZipAir Tokyo

Terminal 2: Concourse E & F
Air Canada, Air India, Air India Express, Air Japan, Air Macau, ANA, Ethiopian Airlines, Firefly, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TransNusa, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines flights to Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Japan (except SQ12, which continues on to Los Angeles), Maldives, Nepal, South Korea and Sri Lanka

Terminal 3: Concourse A & B
Air New Zealand, Aircalin, Asiana Airlines, Batik Air, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Citilink, Drukair, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Myanmar National Airlines, Saudia, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Lion Air, T'way Air, US-Bangla Airlines, Vistara, Vietnam Airlines, and Singapore Airlines flights to destinations not listed under T2

Terminal 4: Concourses G & H
Aero Dili, AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, GX Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Indonesia AirAsia, Jeju Air, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Air, Pacific Airlines, Korean Air, Spring Airlines, Thai AirAsia, VietJet Air

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#Get around 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 $11 from Changi Airport to Johor Bahru, and RM13 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 $5 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.

- Comfort or Citycab, ☏ +65 6552 1111.
- Premier Taxis, ☏ +65 6363 6888.
- SMRT, ☏ +65 6555 8888.
- Transcab, ☏ +65 6555 3333.
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

Rain Vortex at the Jewel Changi with the Forest Valley and Canopy Park in the background

1.36022103.989761 Jewel Changi Airport (directly connected to Terminal 1; walk across the link bridge from 2 and 3; from Terminal 4, take the bus to Terminal 2). 24 hours. Most shops & attractions: Daily 10AM-10PM. A shopping mall with many restaurants and shops, many of which have their only outlet in Singapore here. Even the locals do come often to bask in the semi-indoor cool tropical greeneries after a hearty meal & a day of shopping. Head to the Canopy Park at Level 5 for assorted mazes and walks between hedges, or the Shiseido Forest Valley to shelter under the trees. The iconic Rain Vortex is the world's highest fountain, whose water showers down rather than shoots up, and at night it becomes the stage for a light and sound show. If you don't want to move landside, you can see the fountain by taking the skytrain between Terminal 3 Concourse B and Terminal 2 Concourse E. (updated May 2019)

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.

Terminal 1

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.

Anjappar, Terminal 1 Level 3. 24 hours. Indian cuisine with focus in southern Indian, especially the Chennai region. (updated Aug 2023)
Heavenly Wang, Terminal 1 Level 2. Daily 7:30AM-10PM. Be here for a quick Singapore style breakfast such as Kopi & Teh, kaya toast, and soft-boiled eggs, or something more substantial like Nasi Lemak or chicken congee. (updated Nov 2022)
Penang Culture, Level 3. Daily 10:30AM-11PM. Savor the street food favorites from the Malaysian island town, such as nasi lemak, fried kway teow (rice vermicelli), or prawn noodle soup in a fine-dining setting. From $10. (updated Aug 2023)
Staff Canteen, Terminal 1 Car Park 1B (Terminal 1: From Departures take lifts 8 or 9 behind row 13 to Level B1. From Arrivals head past Changi Meet & Greet for the lift of the same number. Go down the stairs on the left at the end of the passage.). Daily 06:00-22:00. Featuring a wide array of local food at local prices, this miniature hawker centre is where the airport staff eat. Best of all, it's also open to the public, albeit a little hidden & with a slightly higher price. $5-$10. (updated May 2019)
Terrace Chinese Kitchen, Level 3. Daily 8AM-11PM. Dim sum and other Chinese stir-fried dishes. From $6. (updated Nov 2022)
TGM & Root 98, level 3. Choice of Japanese or Korean specialties and vegetarian under one roof. The set menu is a deal worth trying. From $15. (updated Aug 2023)

Transit

Crave, Level 2 (near Discovery Garden). Daily 5AM-10PM. Taste the famous Adam Road Nasi Lemak (coconut rice) that you can pay per ingredient, and pair it with Teh Tarik (milk tea) From $7. (updated Nov 2022)
Food Gallery, Level 3. 24 hours. The food court offering diverse Singaporean delicacies. (updated May 2019)
Ippudo Express, Level 2 near D Gates (near Discovery Garden). 24 hours. Head here for a quick ramen stop with various toppings from the famous Japanese chain. From $10. (updated Aug 2023)
O'Learys Sports Bar, Level 3. Daily 6AM-midnight. Premium diner style dishes and drinks from the bar to enjoy while catching up with the ongoing sport matches on screen. Food from $25, drinks from $15. (updated Aug 2023)
Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Level 2 (near Discovery Garden). 6AM-midnight. The famous Singapore Kopitiam franchise with its renowned toast with kaya jam, or try it together with a bowl of soft boiled egg and a cup of coffee. Set menus from $6, drinks from $2. (updated Aug 2023)