Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Flights & Information

Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) is one of the world’s busiest airports, connecting millions of passengers each year to Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia. SIN is the hub for Singapore’s flag carrier, Singapore Airlines. In recent years, it has consistently been named The World’s Best Airport by the global airport rating agency Skytrax and it’s easy to see why: the airport’s modern amenities like indoor and outdoor gardens, a movie theater, a climbing gym and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall provide some of the best passenger experiences worldwide.

Navigating terminals at Singapore Airport

SIN has 4 terminals, with plans to build a new one in the next decade. Terminals 1 and 2 are the oldest and Terminals 3 (since 2008) and 4 (since 2017) are the newest addition.

The airport’s chief airline, Singapore Airlines, operates from Terminal 2 for its departures within Southeast Asia and from Terminal 3 for departures elsewhere. Beyond that, networks like Star Alliance or OneWorld are spread across the 4 terminals. It’s best to check with your airline to see which terminal you’d be departing from.

Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are connected by a short ride on the free inter-terminal Skytrain which operates every few minutes. You can also walk between these terminals easily via a series of link bridges. Terminal 4 is located away from the other terminals, connected by a free shuttle bus that operates every 13 minutes. Plan for about 20 minutes to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4.

None of the terminals disappoint in service. I’ve found Terminal 4 to be the quietest, but each one is equipped with at least 1 garden, a variety of art installations and places to rest, shop and dine. We’ll cover the passenger experience, which includes the Jewel, the airport’s retail and dining center located landside near Terminal 1, in more detail below.

Check-in and security procedures

Check-in at Changi is straightforward. As always, I recommend online check-in to avoid queuing up at the airport. If you’re traveling with bags, consider going to the early check-in desks at Jewel, located on Level 1 next to the train to Terminal 1. Depending on your airline and final destination, you can check in and drop luggage here up to 24 hours before your flight.

One of the key differences between security at Changi and other major airports is that in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, security screening is done at boarding gates. Even though you’ll pass check-in and passport control, you’ll still need additional time to clear security, so plan accordingly. Some security lanes service multiple gates, which can take longer, but, in my experience, the process is usually fast.

Be aware that water bottles need to be discarded or emptied before going through gate security, but there are stations at the gate to refill for the flight.

At Terminal 4, security procedures resemble those of other airports: security check is done in 1 central area just after check-in and passport control.

Connecting passengers

If you’re traveling with Singapore Airlines elsewhere in Southeast Asia or beyond, you might be connecting at SIN. In general, the transfer experience here is similar to many other airports worldwide where transit passengers stay in transit zones. There is one key difference: if your next flight departs from Terminals 1, 2 or 3, you will need to get through security clearance again at your gate.

For passengers with layovers between 5.5 and 24 hours, the airport offers free 2.5-hour Singapore bus tours. You can choose from 3 itineraries ranging from visiting the modern side of the city-state to a heritage district tour. Book ahead on the airport’s website or at the Free Singapore Tour booths at Terminals 2 and 3 (both on Level 2).

If your layover is quite long, I recommend visiting the city on your own: it’s easy to get there and you’ll have more flexibility to explore exactly what you want. However, if your layover is on the shorter side (between 6 and 8 hours), this pre-arranged tour may be a good option.

For active travelers, Changi also offers free 2-hour bicycle rides. The ride goes through the nearby Jurassic Mile cycling path where you can see life-sized dinosaur displays, the beaches of the adjacent East Coast Park and the Singapore downtown Marina Bay. Book the ride through the airport app and get the bikes at the rental station next to Terminal 2. For this tour, I recommend at least a 6-hour layover.

Getting to and from SIN

Changi Airport is located ~12 miles west of the city center. You can reach Singapore by taking a public bus and the metro called MRT or by riding a car.

The fastest way to go is by car - that’s what I usually take if I’m pressed for time. I use a local ridesharing app called Grab. The ride takes ~25 minutes and costs much cheaper than a similarly-distanced fare from LaGuardia to Manhattan, for example. There’s also a metered taxi, which typically costs a bit more than the rideshare. You’ll find it at taxi stands outside Arrivals in each terminal.

Pro tip: if you’re arriving at Terminal 4, booking a rideshare app or a cab may be a good option. Because you need to take the shuttle bus to Terminals 2 or 3 first to catch public transport, getting a car directly at Terminal 4 would save you even more time.

The MRT is the next best option. It costs significantly less, but it also takes about twice as long, mainly because you’ll need to transfer at the Tanah Merah MRT station to continue into the city. If you’re traveling light and have time to explore public transport, I recommend it. The station is located between Terminals 2 and 3; use contactless payments upon entrance and exit.

Passenger experience at SIN

Every area at Changi has something delightful to offer. Here are some of my favorite experiences.

Best things to do at SIN terminals

In Terminal 1, I like to visit the rooftop Cactus Garden on Level 3 of the transit area, above the gate area C. It’s one of the more unique features at Changi, displaying over 100 species of cacti. On the opposite side of the terminal, a transit hotel called Aerotel has a rooftop pool and jacuzzi accessible for a fee of about 4 lattes (free to hotel guests).

Don’t miss the Sunflower Garden in Terminal 2, located by gate area F on Level 3 of the transit area. It’s a quiet rooftop garden with over 2,000 sunflowers grown at the airport’s nursery where you can also enjoy runway views and get some fresh air.

Also in Terminal 2, the Straits Food Village on Level 3 is the place to go for famous Singapore flavors. Vendors here are set up like the hawkers on the streets of Singapore. Don’t miss staples like the Malay Nasi Lemak coconut rice or the Tai Wah pork noodles. Bonus: these spots are typically more affordable than the airport’s sit-down restaurants.

In Terminal 3, I recommend heading for the free Butterfly Garden, home to over 1,000 butterflies. It’s the world’s first airport butterfly garden, located on Levels 2 and 3 of the terminal’s right side, next to gate area B. If you have some time to catch a movie, do that on a big screen at the free 24-hour cinema next to the garden.

Jewel Center

Changi’s greatest attraction, the Jewel retail and dining center, is located landside, which means that you’ll need to leave the transit area and enter Singapore by passing immigration. I recommend heading there only if you have 5 hours or more of connection time. Otherwise, I’d stay in the terminal area.

Pro tip: if you don’t have enough connection time to visit Jewel, take a Skytrain ride on the transit side between Terminals 2 and 3 instead - it will give you a great view of the Rain Vortex, the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, and the tiered vegetation gardens that Jewel is famous for.

Lounges at SIN

Dozens of lounges are interspersed throughout the airport. Some, like the Qantas First Class Lounge in Terminal 1, are open to specific airline customers or status holders only, while others, like the pay-per-use Marhaba Lounges in Terminals 1 and 3 or the Premium Plaza Lounge in Terminal 1, are open to paying customers.

I find lounges at Changi to be better than similar airport lounges around the world (and especially in North America). If you have Priority Pass, a global network of lounge access available through major US credit cards, head to the SATS Premier Lounge (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) for the hot laksa noodle bar.

Pro tip: throughout the terminals, you can find free rest areas with something called the snooze lounges. Think of these as open-area lounges with reclining seats on which you can stretch and nap. They do tend to fill up during peak airport times, so plan accordingly.