Singapore Changi Airport Guide: Transportation, Terminals & Attractions

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By Zora

Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) stands as one of the world's major transfer hubs, handling large volumes of arriving and transiting passengers. Efficiency, comfort, and convenience are hallmarks of the Singapore Changi Airport experience.

This article will focus on sharing transportation information between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and the city center. After landing, you can effortlessly reach your destination and kickstart your Singapore adventure!

Singapore Changi Airport | Transfer Between 4 Terminals

Singapore Changi Airport | Transportation Between 4 Terminals

Source from Wikipedia

Terminal

Airlines

​Terminal 1 (T1)​

Scoot, Shenzhen Airlines, China Southern Airlines, etc.

​Terminal 2 (T2)​

Singapore Airlines (Southeast Asia & Japan/Korea), Malaysia Airlines, Air Macau,

​Terminal 3 (T3)​

Singapore Airlines (Hong Kong/Europe/Americas/Australia/Africa), China Airlines, EVA Air

​Terminal 4 (T4)​

Cathay Pacific, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia,

Round-trip to Jewel Changi Airport

Jewel Changi Airport is located in the public area, situated between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, and directly connected to Terminal 1. If you're transiting through Changi Airport, you'll need to clear Immigration to enter Singapore before accessing Jewel Changi Airport.

  • ​From Terminal 1 to Jewel Changi Airport​​: The northern entrance of Jewel Changi Airport connects to Terminal 1's Arrival Hall on Level 1.
  • ​From Terminal 2 to Jewel Changi Airport​​: Jewel is a 5–10 minute walk from Terminal 2 via the link bridge at Level 3 (near the MRT station).
  • ​From Terminal 3 to Jewel Changi Airport​​: Jewel is a 5–10 minute walk from Terminal 3's Departure Hall (near Crowne Plaza Hotel) via the link bridge.

Changi Airport | Between Terminals 1, 2, and 3

  • ​Via Skytrain​​: Round-trip travel between Terminals 1, 2, and 3 in both public and transit areas is available using the complimentary Skytrain.
  • ​Operating Hours​​: 4:30AM – 1:30AM
  • ​In Transit Area​​: Between T1 and T3, use the travellators connecting terminals within the Departure Transit area
  • ​In Public Area​​: Between T2 and T3, use the pedestrian bridge connecting both terminals; Between T1 and T2/T3, use the link bridge at Level 3 of Jewel Changi Airport

Changi Airport | Round-trip to Terminal 4

​Via Airport Shuttle Bus​

Complimentary airport shuttle buses operate between Terminal 4 and other terminals in both public and transit areas.

• ​​Public Area Shuttle​​: Approx. 10-minute journey
• ​​Transit Area Shuttle​​: Approx. 10–18 minute journey

​Note​​: If traveling from the transit area to Terminal 4, ensure your onward flight is confirmed for your final destination before proceeding.

​​Transit Area within Singapore Changi Airport​

Source from Changi Airport Offical Website

Singapore Changi Airport Transfer | Comparing 4 Transportation Methods

For the transportation for Changi Airport, you get four ways, here is a quick overview:​

Criteria​

​MRT​

​Bus

​Taxi​

​Car Hire​

​Cost (SGD)​

~2.10–2.50

$2.24

20–

40 (+ surcharges)

90–

120+/day (+ parking/tolls)

​Travel Time​

35–60 min

~70 min (traffic-dependent)

25–40 min (traffic-dependent)

Flexible

​Availability​

05:31–00:06

05:30–22:53

​24/7​

Counters: 07:00–23:00

​Luggage​

Challenging during peak hours

Limited space

​​Ideal for large luggage​

​Maximum flexibility​

​Best For​

Budget travelers

Light packers

Solo travelers to Orchard

​​Families/Late arrivals​​

​Accessibility needs​​

Day trips

Malaysia border runs

See All Flights
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Tue, Nov 18
Wed, Nov 19
Return
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From 515.64AU$ 415
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Thu, Nov 6
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Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Wed, Nov 19
Thu, Nov 20
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19% off
From 515.64AU$ 415
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Wed, Nov 5
Thu, Nov 6
Return
19% off
From 515.64AU$ 415
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Mon, Nov 10
Tue, Nov 11
Return
19% off
From 515.64AU$ 416
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Wed, Nov 5
Thu, Nov 6
Return
19% off
From 515.64AU$ 416
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Tue, Nov 4
Tue, Nov 4
Return
19% off
From 515.64AU$ 416
Sydney
SYD
Singapore
SIN
Sun, Nov 2
Mon, Nov 3
Return
19% off
From 515.64AU$ 417

Singapore Changi Airport Transfer | Singapore MRT

Singapore Changi Airport Transport | Singapore MRT

Singapore's MRT system is the most efficient way to travel between Changi Airport and the city center! Passengers arriving at or departing from ​​Terminals 2 and 3​​ can access the city directly via ​​Changi Airport MRT Station​​. Those using ​​Terminals 1 or 4​​ should first take the complimentary ​​Changi Airport Skytrain (CAAS)​​ or ​​Terminal Shuttle Bus​​ to Terminal 3, then proceed to Changi Airport MRT Station.

The fare of the Singapore MRT depends on the distance of the trip and the type of ticket used. Ticket prices are divided into two categories: adult tickets and senior/student tickets.

The price of adult tickets ranges from S$0.92 to S$3.10 depending on the travel distance. Passengers can also choose to use the Yitong Card to enjoy a 10% discount on the standard adult fare. Yitong Cards can be purchased and recharged at any subway station or convenience store.

The prices of senior/student tickets range from S$0.50 to S$1.55, again depending on the distance of the trip

Changi Airport MRT Station (CG2)

Category

Details

Operating Hours

05:31 – 00:06

Travel Time

• Bugis: ~39 min

• Marina Bay: ~50 min

• Orchard: ~51 min

• Chinatown: ~52 min

• Clarke Quay: ~58 min

Frequency

Every 4–8 minutes

Fare

~SGD 2 to city center (varies by destination)

Key Notes

• Serves ​​only​​ the Changi Airport Branch Line

• Transfers required for destinations beyond Expo or Tanah Merah

Singapore Changi Airport Transfer | Bus

Singapore Changi Airport Transport | Bus

​Route Network​

Only ​​Bus 36​​ provides ​​direct access​​ from all terminals to downtown Singapore.
🔹 ​​Key Destinations​​: Orchard Road, Suntec City, The Esplanade
🔹 ​​First/Last Bus​​: 05:30–22:53 daily
🔹 ​​Travel Time​​: 60–90 mins (scenic local route)

​Terminal Boarding Points​

Terminal

Location

Routes

​T1​

Basement Bus Bay

​36​​, 24, 34

​T2​

Basement Coach Stand

​36​​, 27, 53

​T3​

South Coach Stand (B2)

​36​​, 110, 858

​T4​

Car Park 4B

​36​​, 24, 34

​Fares & Payment​

  • ​Standard Fare​​: SGD $2.24 (to city center)
  • ​Accept​​:
    ✓ EZ-Link Cards
    ✓ Singapore Tourist Pass
    ✓ Contactless Visa/Mastercard
    ✓ Exact cash (no change)

Singapore Changi Airport Transfer | Taxi & Ride-Hailing

Singapore Chyi Airport Transport | Taxi & Ride-Hailing

Taxi and ride-hailing are always good choices for travelers with a lot luggages. Here's a quik comparison for ​Regular Taxis vs. Ride-Hailing Apps​ at Singapore Changi Airport:

​Feature​

​Regular Taxis​

​Ride-Hailing Apps​

​ (Grab/Zig/Gojek)

​Pickup Points​

Taxi stands ​​outside Arrivals​​ (all terminals)

Designated ​​app pickup zones​​ (follow terminal signs)

​Best For​

• Late-night arrivals

• Heavy luggage

• Cash payments

• Long taxi queues

• Upfront pricing

• Card payments

​Avg. Fare to City​

• Regular: ​​SGD 20–25​

• Peak: ​​SGD 25–35​

• Late Night: ​​SGD 35–45​

• Regular: ​​SGD 18–23​

• Peak: ​​SGD 23–33​

• Late Night: ​​SGD 30–40​

​Payment Methods​

Cash (majority), some accept cards

App wallet, credit/debit cards

​Key Apps​

N/A

​Grab​​ (card payments, ride tracking)

​Zig/Gojek​​ (SE Asia-wide)​

​Tada/Ryde​​ (local options)

Singapore Changi Airport Transfer | Car Hire

For travelers wanting the flexibility to see Singapore independently, especially outside the core, renting a car at Changi Airport (SIN) is highly recommended. It's generally less suitable for tourists staying centrally due to cost and parking issues. ​Book now on Trip.com and save 8% on rentals!​

Key Rental Details

​Category​

​Information​

​Service Hours​

• ​​Counters​​: 07:00–23:00 (T1/T2/T3)

• ​​T3 Arrival Hall​​: 24/7 via kiosks

​Terminal Access​

• ​​T1​​: Level 1 Arrival (Avis, Eurocar)

• ​​T2​​: Level 1 Arrival (Hertz, Sixt)

• ​​T3​​: Level 1 Arrival (Budget, Enterprise)

• ​​T4​​: No counters (use T2/T3 shuttle)

​Requirements​

• Valid driver’s license (international permit if non-English)

• Credit card (debit cards not accepted)

• Minimum age: 23 years

​Avg. Daily Cost​

• Economy: SGD 90–120

• Includes: Collision waiver, unlimited mileage

​Parking Notes​

• City center hotels: SGD 20–40/night

• Attractions: SGD 3–10/hour

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Lounges at Singapore Changi Airport: FREE VIP Lounges Here!

Lounges at Singapore Changi Airport: FREE VIP Lounges Here!

Trip.com membership is divided into five levels, namely: Silver Member, Gold Member, Platinum Member, Diamond Member, and Diamond Plus Member. Among them, Platinum members enjoy one free use of Trip.com lounges at airports around the world, while Diamond members have two free uses and Diamond + members can have up to three free uses.

For detailed member benefits and level promotion systems, please refer to the Trip.com loyalty Program.

Free VIP lounge tutorials for Trip.com members

  • Step 1: Complete 3 orders through Trip.com to become a Platinum member and enjoy the privilege of one free exchange for an airport lounge
  • Step 2: Enter the Trip.com App or Trip.com website, log in as a member, select the departure city, destination, date and number of people, and then choose the flight
  • Step 3: Select your preferred flight
  • Step 4: Before paying for your air ticket, you can choose to use the Trip.com lounge in "Select Your Add-ons"
  • Step 5: Both Platinum and Diamond members can enjoy the membership benefit of free use of the Trip.com lounge at the airport once and twice respectively. After redemption, you will receive a QR Code. Show it at the Trip.com lounge to use it

Must-Visit Singapore Attractions

1. Universal Studios Singapore

Must-Visit Singapore Attractions

Universal Studios Singapore is the first and only Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia. Experience adrenaline-pumping rides, interactive performances and a variety of exciting attractions adapted from your familiar and favorite blockbusters and TV series. It is also the most popular destination for families in Singapore.

Reviews of Universal Studios Singapore
4.7/5
14285 reviews
5/5
USS is an excellent place for family outing. not too long a queue, and the place is packed with a lot of rides and entertainment. Value for money, though can do better with special rate for senior citizen, most theme parks in China do that. Weather is hot and humid, though there’s plenty of water coolers around. Would be nice if there are cooling mega fans installed. USS early birds tickets should be refundable as I reckon most people bought them thinking they get early admission but have to buy another normal admission ticket, this leave an unpleasant feeling that could ruin the visit. An hour earlier, which got delayed sorting out buying another admission ticket is just sore point, definitively not worthwhile money spent on early birds tickets. Hope this areas can be improved when I visit USS next time.
review picture
5/5
The VIP experience is very good. The tour guide leads the way very well. You don't have to worry about it at all. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼Just happened to come by on Halloween to feel the atmosphere😄
review picture
4/5
Since our visit fell on a weekday and wasn't a Singapore holiday, most of the visitors were foreigners, but compared to USJ on weekdays, it wasn't as crowded. While there are only seven parks, you still can't enjoy them all in one day. It would probably take a day and a half, leaving another half for shopping and taking pictures with the characters. I'm sure fans will want to visit again and again! 😅😅 For food, we opted for the popular Minions restaurant. While the food was average, the layout was beautiful and definitely worth checking out! Overall, USJ offers excellent value for money and is worth a visit! 👍
review picture
4/5
The most thrilling roller coaster, Sea World, and the light and shadow camera were also under maintenance. Jurassic Park, which I had waited half an hour to get to, was temporarily closed due to technical issues. Transformers was also temporarily closed for 10 minutes during my second visit. Overall, it was fun, but the technical interruptions and the numerous suspensions for maintenance really ruined the experience.
review picture
4/5
Recommend at least come one time with you family ( must bring your kids). It’s was wonderful big place lots of rides amazing environment.
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2. Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Must-Visit Singapore Attractions

The Night Safari is the world's first wildlife park specifically designed for nocturnal animals. Covering an area of 35 hectares, it houses around 900 animals of about 100 species, some of which are endangered. It is one of the iconic tourist attractions in Singapore.

Reviews of Mandai Wildlife Reserve
4.7/5
12 reviews
5/5
The trip was worth it as ticketing was in promo price. It's definitely worth the experience and saved the time for public transport.
review picture
4/5
A unique and beautiful experience with the safari and night marketplace, but hard to see the animals in the night with a lot of people, and a bit redundant after a visit to the Rainforest Wildlife Asia in the day. For $45, this two hour visit is not the best value for the money.
review picture
5/5
Rainforest Wildlife Asia offers a rare chance to see Asia’s most iconic animals up close in a well-maintained, immersive setting. We spotted creatures like the Malayan Tapir, Asian small-clawed otters, exotic birds, native Singaporean monkeys, etc. Loved this unique and enjoyable experience!
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5/5
have a fun day with family and friends ~ love it so much ~ will come again next time ~
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3. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Must-Visit Singapore Attractions

Gardens by the Bay is a park located in the center of Marina Bay, Singapore, covering an area of 101 hectares. The park features various greenhouses showcasing diverse garden landscapes. Among them, the Optimus Prime Observation Deck is a landmark of Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, offering a view of the lush environment of Gardens by the Bay and the unparalleled scenery of the Marina Bay area.

Reviews of Gardens by the Bay
4.7/5
5247 reviews
5/5
The Flower Dome was lower than I expected, but the Cloud Forest was really great.
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5/5
I was surprised at how high the quality was. I thought it was a little pricey, but if you're a Disney fan, you'll be very satisfied.
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5/5
不同的主题能拍出不一样的风格。各种各样不同的花与植物,缤纷艳丽。
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5/5
A perfect spot for a scorching summer day, the spacious and cool interior makes it a pleasant place to visit even when crowded. The largest indoor glass greenhouse boasts a diverse variety of plants and flowers, and the Cloud Forest, complete with an indoor waterfall and skywalk, is truly worth a photo stop!
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5/5
When I went here, the weather is quite humid. I went at night to watch the light show, the queue was too long so I advise you to go there early so you can catch the show. However, I advise to go during the day to see the cloud forest to take better pictures because it's too dark at night. Wear a comfortable shoes for long walks. Book also the OCBC Skyway so you can see the view on top.
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Recommended Singapore Hotels

Top Hotels Near the Changi Airport
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NO.1
9.3/102315 reviews
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
Hotel in Singapore
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NO.2
9.1/101270 reviews
Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong
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NO.3
7.8/10159 reviews
ISA Hotel & Apartment Hotel
Hotel in Singapore
24-hour front desk
Parking

FAQs about Singapore Changi Airport

  • How to spend 8 hours in Singapore airport?

    Start by exploring Jewel Changi, where you can marvel at the Rain Vortex waterfall and stroll through lush indoor gardens. Relax in one of the comfortable lounges or unwind at the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3. Enjoy a meal at diverse restaurants or do some shopping at high-end boutiques. If you need a break, take a dip in the Aerotel’s pool or watch a movie at the free cinema. Additionally, you can visit the sunflower garden or simply relax in the serene central atriums to make the most of your layover.
  • Which Terminal is Best in Singapore Airport?

    Choosing the best terminal at Singapore Changi Airport depends on what you’re looking for. Terminal 3 is a favorite for its spacious layout, extensive dining and shopping options, and attractions like the Butterfly Garden and free movie theater. Terminal 2 is great for its peaceful koi pond garden and direct access to Jewel Changi. Terminal 1 offers convenient amenities for Singapore Airlines and Scoot passengers, including the Aerotel transit hotel. Terminal 4 is perfect for those flying budget airlines and who appreciate a modern, automated experience. Ultimately, the best terminal is the one that best fits your airline and personal preferences.
  • Can I Walk from T1 to T3 Changi?

    While it’s technically possible to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at Changi Airport, it’s not the most practical option. The terminals are connected by the Skytrain, which is a quick and easy way to move between them, especially if you have luggage. Walking would take significantly longer and require navigating through busy areas. For convenience and speed, it’s best to take the Skytrain or use the Skybridge to transfer between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
  • Can I Go Out of Singapore Airport During a Long Layover?

    Yes, you can leave Singapore Changi Airport during a long layover, provided you have the necessary visa and enough time to explore. Changi is just a short 20-30 minute ride from the city center by taxi or MRT, allowing you to visit attractions like Marina Bay Sands or Gardens by the Bay. Make sure to account for immigration and security checks when planning your trip outside the airport. Always check visa requirements based on your nationality and ensure your layover is long enough to enjoy a quick city tour without stressing about your next flight.
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