Changi Airport Layover Suggestions
October 29, 2023 12:50 PM Subscribe
What to do during a 7+ hour late evening layover in Changi (~5:30pm - midnight)? Specifically, do we have to go through security to visit each of the terminals and the Jewel or are they all accessible once "airside"? Can you recommend activities or provide specific details?
There have been a few past questions about long Changi layovers, but nothing more recent than 2017, before the Jewel opened. My preferred activity would have been a transit tour into Singapore, which we technically have enough time for, but the last scheduled one leaves around the time we arrive, so we will just miss it. Because it will be nighttime, I don't think I'd bother with a self-guided Singapore tour. We'll be in between a 17 hour flight and an 8 hour flight, so sitting in a lounge or movie theatre doesn't sound very appealing.
If you have eating recommendations, we are all ears. Looks like there might be enough shopping and sightseeing to keep us busy for a couple of hours. Other possibilities: massage, jacuzzi, pool? Where? How? How long? Do they work in the dark/evening hours? Reportedly you can purchase a pool pass at the Aerotel, but I can't find any information on their website. Sleeping in Airports has some suggestions, but is sparse on details. Are the gardens and rain vortex worth more than a passing stroll?
We're flying Singapore Airlines and I believe we land and take off from T3. WWYD?
There have been a few past questions about long Changi layovers, but nothing more recent than 2017, before the Jewel opened. My preferred activity would have been a transit tour into Singapore, which we technically have enough time for, but the last scheduled one leaves around the time we arrive, so we will just miss it. Because it will be nighttime, I don't think I'd bother with a self-guided Singapore tour. We'll be in between a 17 hour flight and an 8 hour flight, so sitting in a lounge or movie theatre doesn't sound very appealing.
If you have eating recommendations, we are all ears. Looks like there might be enough shopping and sightseeing to keep us busy for a couple of hours. Other possibilities: massage, jacuzzi, pool? Where? How? How long? Do they work in the dark/evening hours? Reportedly you can purchase a pool pass at the Aerotel, but I can't find any information on their website. Sleeping in Airports has some suggestions, but is sparse on details. Are the gardens and rain vortex worth more than a passing stroll?
We're flying Singapore Airlines and I believe we land and take off from T3. WWYD?
Best answer: If you are already on airside, you can move within Terminal 1, 2 and 3 without going out to landside. Jewel is mostly on the landside though; there is a train within airside that does pass through Jewel, but I think that's all you'll get.
If you are able to get out of airside, I will definitely recommend that. You will definitely have enough walking space within Jewel (as well as a nice dinner) to stretch your legs.
Some of the things you can do within Changi Airport are listed here: https://www.changiairport.com/en/discover/attractions.html#/filter?tab=all.
posted by applesurf at 9:42 PM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you are able to get out of airside, I will definitely recommend that. You will definitely have enough walking space within Jewel (as well as a nice dinner) to stretch your legs.
Some of the things you can do within Changi Airport are listed here: https://www.changiairport.com/en/discover/attractions.html#/filter?tab=all.
posted by applesurf at 9:42 PM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You need to clear immigration to visit Jewel - I had to skip it earlier this year because my layovers were too short. I just bopped around and sampled food all over the airport instead.
posted by pendrift at 9:55 PM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by pendrift at 9:55 PM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Skytrain connects all the terminals airside. There’s left luggage usually in the basement in each terminal so you don’t need to lug around your carry-on. It’s worth it. There are numerous airline lounges which I believe sell day passes but also a couple of spas for showers. I thought there was some kind of pod hotel which also offered showers but I don’t see it listed. Leg massage chairs (free) are randomly scattered about and wifi is free but you need to get the password from Information.
You can check out all the immigration halls to see which has the shortest line if you want to go out (but it’s pretty fast). The cheapest place to eat was a hawker center in the basement of T3 (IIRC) landslide, it was your usual hawker fare and it’s open to the public. The indoor waterfall of the Jewel is spectacular, just find a place to sit and relax. The rest is your usual mall with shops and restaurants.
Back airside, everything stays open until midnight at least. It doesn’t quiet down until after that. Note that you go through security AT your departure gate. It’s fairly efficient and strict but time consuming. One time they asked me to take off my prescription sunglasses !?!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:34 AM on October 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
You can check out all the immigration halls to see which has the shortest line if you want to go out (but it’s pretty fast). The cheapest place to eat was a hawker center in the basement of T3 (IIRC) landslide, it was your usual hawker fare and it’s open to the public. The indoor waterfall of the Jewel is spectacular, just find a place to sit and relax. The rest is your usual mall with shops and restaurants.
Back airside, everything stays open until midnight at least. It doesn’t quiet down until after that. Note that you go through security AT your departure gate. It’s fairly efficient and strict but time consuming. One time they asked me to take off my prescription sunglasses !?!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:34 AM on October 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Note: All the following recommendations are situated in the public-accessible portions of the Jewel (ie past immigration).
For activities, situated on the top floor of the Jewel is something called the Canopy Walk. It will probably be a nice place to stretch your legs after your long flight, and, nerves permitting, you could try the walking nets that are suspended over the lower floors.
Foodwise, you might want to check out:
Tonkatsu by Ma Maison - their Japanese-style fried oysters are incredible, though on the pricey side (~30SGD). The sides of rice, soup and salad are all refillable. I've been told that their pork katsus are good as well, though I've never personally tried.
For decent lamian (soup noodles) and xiaolongbao (meat & soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung is a good bet. Their fried rice dishes are okay, though a tad too oily for my tastes.
For more affordable options, there's a food court and food kiosks in the basement. IMO the local fare in the food court are pale imitations of what you could get in neighbourhood hawker centres, so it's best to give them a miss.
Dessert:
Lady M: good millefeuille cakes
Birds of Paradise: Asian-inspired gelato flavours - cucumber gelato anyone? Lots of interesting flavours to try out, and there always seems to be a queue whenever I visit.
Shops/Souvenirs
Tokyuu Hands and Muji are close to each other and fun to browse, especially for stationery.
There's an official Pokemon Centre with loads of Pokemon merchandise, if that's your thing!
If you need to top up on stuff, there's a large NTUC Finest (an upmarket version of a local supermarket chain) located in the basement.
Final tip, if you're arriving on a weekend, it might be best to eat first before the dinner crush starts. The Jewel is really popular with locals, and queues can be 1hr+ for popular eateries. Otherwise, you could catch a late dinner when the crowd dies back, around 9pm or so.
posted by seapig at 9:46 AM on October 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
For activities, situated on the top floor of the Jewel is something called the Canopy Walk. It will probably be a nice place to stretch your legs after your long flight, and, nerves permitting, you could try the walking nets that are suspended over the lower floors.
Foodwise, you might want to check out:
Tonkatsu by Ma Maison - their Japanese-style fried oysters are incredible, though on the pricey side (~30SGD). The sides of rice, soup and salad are all refillable. I've been told that their pork katsus are good as well, though I've never personally tried.
For decent lamian (soup noodles) and xiaolongbao (meat & soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung is a good bet. Their fried rice dishes are okay, though a tad too oily for my tastes.
For more affordable options, there's a food court and food kiosks in the basement. IMO the local fare in the food court are pale imitations of what you could get in neighbourhood hawker centres, so it's best to give them a miss.
Dessert:
Lady M: good millefeuille cakes
Birds of Paradise: Asian-inspired gelato flavours - cucumber gelato anyone? Lots of interesting flavours to try out, and there always seems to be a queue whenever I visit.
Shops/Souvenirs
Tokyuu Hands and Muji are close to each other and fun to browse, especially for stationery.
There's an official Pokemon Centre with loads of Pokemon merchandise, if that's your thing!
If you need to top up on stuff, there's a large NTUC Finest (an upmarket version of a local supermarket chain) located in the basement.
Final tip, if you're arriving on a weekend, it might be best to eat first before the dinner crush starts. The Jewel is really popular with locals, and queues can be 1hr+ for popular eateries. Otherwise, you could catch a late dinner when the crowd dies back, around 9pm or so.
posted by seapig at 9:46 AM on October 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all these helpful answers. So we have to go through immigration if we go to the Jewel, but it sounds like there are some worthwhile things to do and eat there. Good to know security is at the gate.
posted by amusebuche at 6:35 PM on October 30, 2023
posted by amusebuche at 6:35 PM on October 30, 2023
Best answer: There are places to sleep (in beds!) without clearing customs.
https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/transit-hotels.html
I have used the Ambassador several times (terminal 2/3) and it is quite nice and surprisingly inexpensive.
I have not stayed at the Aerotel (T1) but it sounds super deluxe.
But if you expect to be awake enough to eat a meal or two, do it! Eating in Singapore is fabulous, even in an airport food court.
posted by eraserbones at 9:06 PM on October 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/transit-hotels.html
I have used the Ambassador several times (terminal 2/3) and it is quite nice and surprisingly inexpensive.
I have not stayed at the Aerotel (T1) but it sounds super deluxe.
But if you expect to be awake enough to eat a meal or two, do it! Eating in Singapore is fabulous, even in an airport food court.
posted by eraserbones at 9:06 PM on October 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Just reporting back, in case anyone else comes here in search of info about Changi layovers. Everyone's answers were helpful, so I have marked them all Best Answer.
We checked out the butterfly garden and wandered around T3 to get our bearings. I found the airport maps strangely lacking in detail, particularly concerning directions to the Jewel. A woman at the information desk told us to take the train to T1 and exit immigration there for easiest access. We did so and there was only a moderate wait, both leaving the airside and then again on re-entry. The Jewel connects directly at the base of T1 after immigration and customs, so it really was quite easy. The thing that took the most time was filling out the SG arrival card.
The security-is-at-the-gate insight was really helpful, and noting that it cuts down on the time you need to spend getting back into the airside terminal. (Thanks Twinbrook8!) Also noting that you CAN walk between the terminals if you want to get some more exercise in.
We spent about 3 hours at the Jewel, including dinner there and some shopping at Muji and Uniqlo. A lot of athletic shoe stores! (Converse, ASICS, Nike, FILA, Puma, Adidas). It's all very high-end airport-mall, but the rain vortex and gardens really amp up the "experience" aspect. I also appreciated that the women's loos had fancy Toto toilets (my partner reported that the men's room did not).
We wanted to eat Singapore food and ended up at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh. We must have timed it perfectly, sitting down just before 7:00pm. By the time we finished eating, there was a long queue of people waiting, who all appeared to be locals, as opposed to travellers.
We didn't do the Canopy Walk because it was dark, and it appeared to require a walk across a glass-bottomed bridge over the rain vortex, which is too challenging for my fear of heights. I checked the Aerotel in T1 before we departed, because I was interested in maybe getting a room and accessing the pool, but it was fully booked. It's also pretty spendy. Maybe next time, if we can manage to book ahead. The Ambassador did have rooms available, but we decided to walk instead of sleep.
posted by amusebuche at 6:07 PM on November 3, 2023
We checked out the butterfly garden and wandered around T3 to get our bearings. I found the airport maps strangely lacking in detail, particularly concerning directions to the Jewel. A woman at the information desk told us to take the train to T1 and exit immigration there for easiest access. We did so and there was only a moderate wait, both leaving the airside and then again on re-entry. The Jewel connects directly at the base of T1 after immigration and customs, so it really was quite easy. The thing that took the most time was filling out the SG arrival card.
The security-is-at-the-gate insight was really helpful, and noting that it cuts down on the time you need to spend getting back into the airside terminal. (Thanks Twinbrook8!) Also noting that you CAN walk between the terminals if you want to get some more exercise in.
We spent about 3 hours at the Jewel, including dinner there and some shopping at Muji and Uniqlo. A lot of athletic shoe stores! (Converse, ASICS, Nike, FILA, Puma, Adidas). It's all very high-end airport-mall, but the rain vortex and gardens really amp up the "experience" aspect. I also appreciated that the women's loos had fancy Toto toilets (my partner reported that the men's room did not).
We wanted to eat Singapore food and ended up at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh. We must have timed it perfectly, sitting down just before 7:00pm. By the time we finished eating, there was a long queue of people waiting, who all appeared to be locals, as opposed to travellers.
We didn't do the Canopy Walk because it was dark, and it appeared to require a walk across a glass-bottomed bridge over the rain vortex, which is too challenging for my fear of heights. I checked the Aerotel in T1 before we departed, because I was interested in maybe getting a room and accessing the pool, but it was fully booked. It's also pretty spendy. Maybe next time, if we can manage to book ahead. The Ambassador did have rooms available, but we decided to walk instead of sleep.
posted by amusebuche at 6:07 PM on November 3, 2023
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Another highlight was trying all the different food at the local hawker centres, which are open late into the night and were full of very good and varied food for very little money.
posted by automatronic at 2:43 PM on October 29, 2023 [2 favorites]