Inside Look: How I Made the Most of My 12 Hours at Singapore Changi Airport

It may sound strange that I chose to spend 12 hours at an airport, but Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is no ordinary airport. Known for its exceptional efficiency, cleanliness, passenger experience, and numerous amenities, Changi Airport is widely regarded as the world’s best airport.

Although I flew in and out of Changi Airport once, that was in 2016. In fact, it was so long ago that the iconic Jewel Changi was several years away from opening. So when I had the opportunity in July 2025 to visit the airport (and the country) again, I took full advantage to return and explore.

Here’s a look at how I spent 12 hours at Singapore Changi Airport before my flight.

Singapore Changi Airport Background

Changi Airport is Singapore’s primary international airport. It is on the eastern end of the country, about 12 miles from the Central Business District.

Its strategic location means it serves as a major connecting point between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. It is one of the busiest airports in Asia.

Changi serves as the hub for Singapore Airlines, one of the most prestigious airlines worldwide, and Scoot, a low-cost carrier.

Thanks to its innovation, service quality, and general passenger satisfaction, Changi Airport consistently ranks among the top airports worldwide. The airport offers numerous amenities that make it a destination rather than just a transit point.

Hot Tip:

Check out our detailed guide on the best ways to fly to Singapore using points and miles.

How I Spent 12 Hours at Singapore Changi Airport

1. Jewel Early Check-In Lounge

After arriving at Changi Airport early in the morning, my priority was getting my boarding passes for my Thai Airways business class flight to Istanbul (IST) later in the evening. Fortunately, Changi Airport makes this relatively straightforward.

The airport boasts the Jewel Early Check-in Facility, where passengers can check in for their flights up to 24 hours before departure. With this feature, travelers can check their bags and get their boarding passes before exploring Changi Airport.

You can check in for your flight at different times, depending on which airline you are flying with.

Since I was flying Thai Airways, I could check in for my flight exactly 12 hours before the flight departure time.

Numerous kiosks were available for passengers to use, and airport and airline representatives were present to assist travelers. The process was simple and took under 3 minutes to complete.

2. Changi Lounge

With my boarding passes in hand, I headed to the Changi Lounge, which I had access to because it is part of Priority Pass.

The lounge was on the land side of the Jewel facility, opposite the Jewel Early Check-In Facility.

After waiting in line for about 10 minutes, I reached the lounge reception desk and checked in. After completing the check-in formalities, the receptionist explained how things worked in the lounge.

She gave me a voucher to grant me 1 hot meal, 1 beer, and access to a shower suite. She mentioned that members had access to snacks and unlimited nonalcoholic beverages.

After grabbing a seat, I scanned a QR code, which presented me with the hot food options. Looking through the limited menu, I chose the tom yum noodles (Thai broth with prawns and noodles).

The meal was absolutely delicious. The Thai broth was tangy and spicy, and the noodles and prawns were well-cooked.

After devouring the hot meal, I relaxed and finished some work while waiting for my designated shower slot. I did not have to wait too long, as some guests were absent for their time slots, so I was allowed to take their spot.

Hot Tip:

A Priority Pass membership is a valuable perk on many travel rewards cards. Check out our guide on the best credit cards that provide Priority Pass lounge access.

3. Jewel Rain Vortex at the Jewel

Next, I headed to Changi Airport’s crown jewel (pun intended): the Jewel. Opened in 2019, The Jewel is a massive shopping and entertainment complex and part of the airport (although on land side). It connects terminals 1, 2, and 3 and serves as a destination for locals and tourists alike.

With a total floor area of over 135,000 square meters, it features over 280 retail shops, dining venues, and leisure facilities. It is also home to numerous attractions, such as Canopy Park, Mirror Maze, and the Bouncing Net.

However, its defining attraction is the Jewel Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. At 40 meters (about 130 feet) high, it is surrounded by the Shiseido Forest Valley, a multilevel indoor garden with over 2,000 trees. There is also a Jewel Rain Vortex Light & Sound showcase every night starting at 8 p.m.

The waterfall cascades from a large circular opening in the roof, creating such a unique spectacle. The natural light shining down from the dome and the forest atmosphere made me completely forget that I was in an airport.

As expected, the Jewel Vortex was extremely busy. Thousands of people were taking group pictures and selfies. I walked around the different levels to find the best vantage points for photography. Overall, the Jewel was everything I expected it to be.

Hot Tip:

If you are transiting through Changi, you must clear arrival immigration and enter Singapore to visit the Jewel. 

4. Pokémon Center Singapore

After admiring the Jewel Vortex, I walked over to the Pokémon Center Singapore, the first Pokémon Center outside of Japan. Also opened in 2019, it is modeled after the original Pokémon Centers in Japan and carries various official merchandise.

As with all other Pokémon Centers, much of the space was dedicated to plush Pokémon toys. However, this location had a much better variety, which was nice. The store was packed with tourists admiring the world-famous brand that influenced much of my childhood.

Since I had more than 40 days left on my Round the World ticket, I did not purchase anything at the Pokémon Center, as I did not want to carry souvenirs in my carry-on bag for that long.

5. Terminal 1 Viewing Mall

After a few hours in the Jewel, I decided to head to the other terminals. I walked to Terminal 1 to one of the airport’s few viewing malls. This viewing platform was landside, so there was no need to clear immigration or security to access it.

Here, I could watch aircraft take off, land, and taxi. Thanks to the panoramic views of the runways, I could also see Changi Airport’s ground operations on the tarmac.

Bottom Line:

The Terminal 1 viewing platform offers excellent views of planes taking off and landing.

6. Ambassador Transit Lounge

After spending some time photographing aircraft, I was starting to feel hungry. I walked to Terminal 1’s security area and cleared Changi’s efficient security and immigration procedures in under 5 minutes.

I then took the Changi Airport Skytrain to Terminal 3. As I got off the Skytrain, I walked around to see if anything caught my eye. Fortunately, something did.

I spotted the Ambassador Transit Lounge, another of Changi’s many Priority Pass lounges. Since I had access, I decided to head inside to see what it offered.

Although the lounge was small and relatively busy, it had a hot buffet with a good selection of food, including chicken wings, chicken nuggets, chicken curry, pasta, and steamed fish.

Unfortunately, much of the food was on the cooler side, as if it had been sitting out for too long. Still, having a quick bite before continuing my adventures was nice.

6. Movie Theater

Next, I headed to the Terminal 3 movie theater beside the Ambassador Transit Lounge. It is open 24 hours a day and free to enter (no booking required).

Since I had time to kill, I watched “Scoob!” as it was about to begin when I entered the theater.

The movie theater seats about 50 people and offers a wide selection of movies from popular action and comedies to animated films for children. The viewing schedule changes monthly, and you can view the current offerings here.

Although no food is available inside the movie theater, passengers can bring in food and beverages.

7. Singapore Food Street

After about 2 hours in the movie theater, I headed to Singapore Food Street, a 1960s-themed food court showcasing Singapore’s diverse food culture and rich heritage.

Singapore Food Street features 13 makeshift food carts and stalls, reminiscent of street food from Singapore’s earliest days.

Each food stall is different from the previous one, offering a wide selection of food choices, including popular options like Hainanese chicken rice and bak kut teh (pork ribs cooked in broth).

I’d had plenty of Hainanese chicken rice when I was in Singapore, so I got a bowl of pho, which I hadn’t eaten since I was in Vietnam weeks earlier.

I ordered from Chef Minh Vietnamese Pho. The meal was delicious and had a tremendous balance of flavors.

8. Butterfly Garden

Next, I walked over to another iconic Changi attraction, the Butterfly Garden. It is the world’s first butterfly garden in an airport and features over 1,000 tropical butterflies across nearly 40 species.

The garden is housed in a 2-level enclosure with a natural environment mimicking a tropical habitat. It also features a 6-meter (about 20-foot) tall grotto waterfall, which adds to the serene atmosphere.

There were dedicated feeding stations to attract butterflies, which was a nice touch, and I could get so close I could really take in the distinct colors and patterns on the different butterflies.

9. Sunflower Garden

As the sun set and my flight departure time approached, I took the SkyTrain to Terminal 2 and walked over to the Sunflower Garden, a rooftop garden with hundreds of sunflowers.

It was a literal breath of fresh air to step outdoors after spending nearly half the day indoors.

The rooftop garden also offers runway views, where you can watch aircraft taxi and take off. Had I known this beforehand, I would have arrived earlier to get better lighting for aircraft photography.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Pop-Up Store

Walking toward the business class lounge, I stopped by the Nintendo Switch 2 Pop-Up store. Although I’d purchased a Nintendo Switch for my wife in Tokyo just last year, I wanted to see what the next-generation console had to offer.

Although I plan to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 console eventually, I will wait until my next trip to Japan, which will likely be later this year, as the savings would be substantial.

The store also featured official merchandise from games such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and The Legend of Zelda.

11. Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge

To end my time at Changi Airport, I headed to the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2. I had access to the lounge because I was flying business class on Thai Airways, a Star Alliance carrier.

The lounge was massive and offered a buffet with an excellent selection of international food. An entire section was dedicated to hot snacks, including chicken nuggets, potato curry puffs, medu vadai (spiced and fried lentil doughnuts), potato samosas, onion pakoras, and pappadam.

After eating, I took a shower in the lounge, a nice way to wind down the long day at Changi Airport.

Final Thoughts

Singapore Changi Airport consistently ranks among the best airports in the world, and it’s easy to see why. It has exceptional efficiency, cleanliness, and numerous passenger-friendly amenities, from rooftop gardens to viewing malls to the iconic Jewel Rain Vortex.

Singapore is a fascinating country and definitely worth visiting. However, the airport is also a destination I recommend everybody check out at least once.