Things to do in Changi Singapore

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: July 18, 2024
The Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport

Changi is a cute village right at the eastern tip of Singapore, best known for its sandy beaches, lush palm groves and, not to put too fine a point on it, its status as the country’s primary transport hub, thanks to Changi Airport’s prime position slap bang in the middle of the district. But if low-flying aircraft don’t bother you a jot, you’ll find that Changi has bags of charm, from its laid back beach resorts to the many attractions located inside the airport itself. Don’t believe us? Read on to discover why Changi is worthy of a day trip or weekend mini-break on any Singapore vacation, and check out our bite-size guide to the best things to do in Changi, Singapore!

Changi and How to Get There

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Its designation as one of the biggest and busiest transport hubs in all of Asia makes getting to Changi an absolute breeze. The airport is right at the end of the East–West Line on Singapore’s super-efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) metro system, meaning you can get there in around 30 minutes from just about any centrally located hotel. There’s also a slew of bus and taxi services available and, heck, you can even walk, jog or cycle there via the Changi Airport Connector if you fancy it (more on this later).

The airport encircles the enormous nature-themed entertainment and shopping complex known as Jewel Changi Airport (or just ‘Jewel’ to in-the-know locals) and its this magnificent, magical, massive playground that has earned the airport the title of ‘best in the world’ dozens of times.

Things to do in Changi Airport

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Make no mistake, Jewel Changi Airport is an entertainment destination in its own right, absolutely worthy of a visit even if it does feel a little weird heading to the airport for a fun day out. But this is no ordinary airport. Far from it, in fact. Housed inside this architectural marvel, you’ll find epic waterfalls, huge slides, pretty gardens and world-class shops and restaurants. And that’s just for starters. Let’s unpack just a teeny tiny selection of the highlights, many of which are free!

The Rain Vortex

Staking its claim as the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex is the jewel in the Jewel’s crown. Rainwater enters through an oculus in the roof of the dome, cascading seven stories through the heart of the building to a pool in the basement level. A truly mesmerizing spectacle at the best of times, it’s even better during the hourly light and music shows every evening.

Kinetic Rain

Over in Terminal 1, this hypnotic moving sculpture is comprised of 1,216 gleaming copper-plated raindrops, each able to move independently. Together they form elaborate shapes including planes and hot-air balloons, with the patterns repeating on a 15-minute loop. But you really could watch this thing for hours on end without tiring of it.

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The Slide@T3

Ever imagined the unbridled joy of whizzing down the world’s tallest airport slide? Of course you have! And now’s your chance, thanks to this four-story beast that gets you from level one to basement level three in a matter of seconds. Fab fun for kids young and old.

Butterfly Garden

There’s no shortage of flowers and foliage to explore in this vast nature-themed complex, but chief among the many verdant attractions on offer has to be the Butterfly Garden. Inside, around 1,000 tropical butterflies dance and flutter around the flowering plants and tranquil waterfall.

Pokémon Center Singapore

The kids will love this real-life replica of the gaming world’s Pokémon Center, even if your wallet does not. Expect larger-than-life characters as well as (naturally) a vast array of toys, games, trading cards, clothes, bags and, well, just about anything else you can think of. Got to buy ‘em all!

Changi: Best of the Rest

Changi Beach Park

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There are plenty of things to do at Changi Beach Park: wiggle your toes in the warm white sand, picnic in the palm groves, take a dip in the blue, blue sea or simply sit and watch the world go by. Way less busy but no less beautiful than its near neighbor at East Coast Park, Changi Beach is a great choice for kampong-style vibes and beach cookouts, though note you’ll need to book a designated BBQ pit to do this. The beach park also has bikes to rent and easy access to the ace Park Connector Network that criss-crosses the island with cycle paths linking parks, wetlands and nature reserves via great green corridors.

Changi Airport Connector

One such corridor is the Changi Airport Connector, 3.5 kilometers of car-free pathways that link the airport to the East Coast Park. Kids will go wild for the roar-some Jurassic Mile section of the route, where life-sized dinosaurs nibble the leaves and forage in the undergrowth. Dodge nightmarish velociraptors, pause to say hey to gentle giants including the brontosaurus, and get ready to run for it when you spot the terrifying T-rex tearing through the fence!

Changi Village Hawker Centre

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Aromatic nasi lemak, that utterly sensual blend of rice, coconut milk, chilli sauce, crispy anchovies, peanuts and egg, is the one to try at this mostly-Malay hawker center in Changi Village, but you’ll find other fragrant local favorites like chili crab here, too. Heck, why not try both? You only live once, after all.

Changi Point Coastal Walk

Start at the boardwalk at Changi Bay Point, where the waterfront views are at their absolute finest, then wander waterside, taking in views of village life and watching bumboats ferry daytripping tourists out to Pulau Ubin. If you’re feeling energetic, you can continue as far as Changi Beach Park, for those stunning white sands, relaxing beach vibes, and (go on, you’ve earned it!) a cooling ice cream.

Changi Chapel and Museum

The collection at this thought-provoking museum includes paintings, murals, sculptures and other artifacts, each contributing to the story of the soldiers and civilians interned at the Changi prison camp during Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Hear tales told by the very people who were imprisoned here, and visit the powerful Changi Chapel, a faithful reproduction of St George’s, one of the churches built here by PoWs.

Save on attractions and activities in Singapore

Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Fireworks over Marina Bay in Singapore
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Singapore in December

December heralds the beginning of Singapore’s northeast monsoon season. This, as festive vacation planners will no doubt be delighted to learn, is the season’s ‘wet phase’, when heavy persistent showers are all but guaranteed to sweep in and ruin your stroll in the late afternoons and early evenings. In spite of this, the last month of the year remains a popular time to visit the Garden City, largely thanks to its epic Christmas lights and awesome New Year’s Eve celebrations. Read on for our whistlestop guide to what to expect of Singapore in December. Visiting Singapore in December Temperature: 77–85°F • Average Rainfall: 25 days/month • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day The temperature in Singapore remains pretty uniform all year round. We’re talking hot days and balmy nights. December brings higher humidity and monsoon downpours into the mix, meaning choosing which outfits to pack can be a little like learning to play the ancient Chinese game of mahjong for the first time. In short: tricky. Light cottons and linens are your friends and Singapore’s proliferation of covered walkways and air-conditioned megamalls probably means you can leave the novelty umbrella hat at home. But do pack a pocket poncho and a light hoodie or sweater to see you through those wetter/cooler moments. If you’ve never experienced a Singapore monsoon before, you’re in for quite the treat. Usually heralded by darkening skies and a brisk breeze, the rains move in fast. And boy, can they be vicious. It’s not unusual to spot newly arrived tourists bounding frantically across rapidly rising puddles like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain, but without the slick Hollywood moves. If you are planning to visit Singapore during its glittering festive season, we’d recommend you get your flights and accommodation booked as far in advance as possible. In spite of the rains, this is a very popular time of year and booking early can often (if not always) help to beat the December price hikes. Things to do in Singapore in December It’s all about Christmas in Singapore in December. Well, almost. Certainly, you’d be forgiven for thinking the entire planet’s electricity supply is being channeled into the festive light displays here, which are so bright they might well be visible from the planet Zork. See some of the most extravagant Christmas decorations in town on an evening stroll along Orchard Road, Singapore’s most famous luxury shopping thoroughfare. The street’s strangely titled ‘Christmas on A Great Street’ boasts not one but three Christmas villages crammed with carnival rides, games, street food stalls and, of course, pop-up gift stores. There’s even a full-on street party on Christmas Eve, complete with live music and dance, carol singers and a huge Christmas market. The evergreen Gardens by the Bay turns the charm offensive right up to eleven in December with its annual Christmas Wonderland event. Take a romantic stroll along the Walk of Lights which, with somewhere in the region of 75,000 light bulbs, more than lives up to its name. Swap rain for snow at the Blizzard Time exhibit, visit (but please don’t nibble) the life-size gingerbread house in Gingerbread Grove, and try your luck on the carnival game stalls in Frosty’s Fairground. Heck, you can even get your festive kicks at the airport. As anyone who has ever traveled through it will tell you, Changi is no ordinary airport, with attractions such as a butterfly garden, a three-story slide, a Pokémon center and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall making it a tourist destination in its own right. No surprise then that it also hosts one of the city’s finest Christmas villages. We’re talking candy-themed rides and games, a snow house with ice sculptures, and luges and marching bands – it’s the stuff Christmas dreams are made of! What’s on in Singapore in December? Of course, it’s not just Christmas and monsoon-dodging that make Singapore a fun place to visit in December. The island’s other annual end-of-year events are designed to appeal to as broad a church as possible. First up is the Singapore Marathon, which takes place (almost) without fail on the first Sunday of December. The epic route (all 26.1 miles of it) takes in some of the city’s finest sights, including a sprint through Marina Bay, a shuffle past Merlion Park and a shimmy within sight of the famous Sentosa cable car. You’ll need to register (and train) to take part and, for those who prefer their runs a little… shorter, half-marathon, 10km and even 5km routes are also available on the day. The entertainment juggernaut that is Comic Con also rumbles into town during December for two extraordinary days of toy-, game- and comic-based events at Marina Bay Sands. Book your spot for the chance to ogle rare vintage toys and comics, as well as the opportunity to meet your favorite comic book creators, Marvel movie stars and more. Marina Bay is also the location for Singapore’s epic New Year countdown and fireworks. Of course you can see the flamboyant pyrotechnic display from just about anywhere across the city, but Marina Bay is where it's at for ringside seats and the best Insta snaps as the colorful display kicks off and an epic, soul-soaring soundtrack booms out across the water. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
View looking up at skyscrapers in Singapore's CBD on a sunny day.
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Singapore in June

Hot, steamy and sticky, June sees Singapore’s peak season get into full, glorious swing. The streets teem with sightseeing vacationers, the summer shopping season peaks during the Great Singapore Sale and hotel prices rise more sharply than the midday mercury. In short, it’s an expensive but fun time to visit, assuming you can stand the heat. Here’s our expert guide to what to expect when vacationing in Singapore in June. Visiting Singapore in June Temperature: 75–88°F • Average Rainfall: 19 days/month • Average Sunshine: 8 hours/day If you remember to pack just one thing for your June break in Singapore, make sure it’s sunscreen. The sun is hot and relentless at this time of year, even when there’s cloud cover. So do yourself a favor and slap on the factor 50 to avoid the shame (and discomfort) of a ‘Singapore tan’. The heat and humidity also encourage the wearing of light, loose-fitting cotton or linen clothes and broad-brimmed hats. Heck, maybe even stuff a parasol in your backpack along with the water bottle and city map, just to be on the safe side. You’ll also want a proper umbrella: June sees the start of the southwest monsoon season, with regular afternoon downpours that increase in intensity, frequency and duration as the month progresses. Nicknamed the ‘Sumatra squalls’ these sudden, heavy downpours are usually heralded by strong gusty winds and peals of thunder. If you spot the signs in time, we’d advise ducking into the nearest café or mall until the rain passes because, frankly, no umbrella is going to keep you completely dry when torrents of accumulated water begin gushing around your feet, like a miniature version of The River Wild. Hotel prices do also increase at this time, but not crazily so. As always, we advise booking your accommodation as far in advance as possible to lock in the best deals. Things to do in Singapore in June It’s just too damn hot to do most anything other than meandering gently down a lazy river in a giant donut, right? Right! Good news! Singapore is just a hop and a skip from its tiny island sibling of Sentosa, reachable via road, monorail, pedestrian bridge or (hands down the most fun and scenic option) cable car. Once there, you have access to a veritable playground of sunny day activities including, yep, the biggest and best water park in Singapore. Hit up Adventure Cove for the aforementioned lazy river, with 14 different zones that include a verdant jungle garden, a secluded grotto, and a spectacularly trippy underwater tunnel teeming with tropical marine life. Hop over to the park’s Rainbow Reef, where another 20,000 or so watery critters are waiting to say hello to snorkeling tourists. There are fun wave pools for the kids as well as, inevitably, a handful of heart-pounding high-octane flumes for adults. Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be flushed down the loo? The Riptide Rocket and Spiral Washout rides have your name written all over them! Adventure Cove is part of Sentosa’s enormous Resorts World complex, where there are more drinking and dining options than you can shake a stick at, as well as an aquarium, the awesome Universal Studios Singapore theme park, and more. Want beaches? Sentosa has those, too. Whether a history buff, an adrenaline fiend or, you know, simply in the market for sipping cocktails beneath the shady fronds of a coconut palm, the island’s man-made trio of sandy beaches will have something for you. Stroll the elevated walkway through the treetops to Fort Siloso, soar high over Siloso Beach on a giant swing, or strap on your snorkel and flippers for a spot of marine sightseeing in the emerald-green waters that lap the shore. A free shuttle operates along the southwest coast, linking the three beaches. There are plenty more activities to keep outdoor types occupied in Singapore in June. Take to the waters in a kayak around the coastal waters and mangrove forests of Pulau Ubin, a boomerang-shaped island just off the northeast coast. Slap on the sunscreen and hit the 26 kilometers of lush cycling trails around the Northern Eastern Riverine Loop, pausing for breath in wetlands, woodlands and beach parks along the way. Commune with nature at the MacRitchie Reservoir, or meet the ferociously cute inhabitants of the sprawling Singapore Zoo. And if the June heat doesn’t have you scurrying for the nearest air-conditioned building, the afternoon downpours surely will. In fact, they’re as good an excuse as any to while away a few hours browsing the vast collection of Singaporean and Asian art in the National Gallery or indulging in a traditional tea ceremony in Singapore’s biggest and oldest traditional teahouse, a venue once visited by Queen Elizabeth II, no less. And if it’s good enough for Her Majesty... What’s on in Singapore in June? You’ll also want to spend time in the malls. Regardless of what the weather’s doing outside, June is prime time for picking up a bargain as the annual Great Singapore Sale gets into full swing. You might want to pack an empty suitcase for this one, because it’s a whopper. We’re talking hundreds of participating stores offering unheard-of discounts of up to 70% on designer goods, big-brand electronic gadgets, homeware and more. Head to the famous malls along Orchard Street for some of the most sensational bargains in town and a veritable festival atmosphere amongst feverish shopaholics. You’ll also find some fine bargains in and around the atmospheric lanes of Kampong Glam (pictured above), where even the independent boutiques and souvenir stores are getting in on the action. Easily June’s most enjoyable Singapore spectacle, the Dragon Boat Festival has its roots in a tale about ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. It’s said that when he threw himself into a river in despair after being banished by the king, locals beat the water with oars and threw in rice dumplings to prevent fish from devouring his body. Weird, right? Anyhoo, this annual festival commemorates that legendary event by way of colorful dragon boat races along the island’s rivers, accompanied by a loud beating of drums and the sound of millions of Singaporean’s tucking into those delectable little dumplings – glutinous, sticky blobs of rice warped around any number of delectable sweet and savory fillings. Yum. Save on attractions and activities in Singapore Save on admission to Singapore attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Jurassic Park Ride at Universal Studios
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