Jewel Changi Airport needs no introduction. Locals and visitors flock over in droves for that million-dollar shot with the famous Rain Vortex in the background. And not to mention, the mall is chock-full of delish grub, tempting stores, lush greenery, and of course, attractions that can keep you entertained for hours.
Trust us when we say – there’s a lot to cover. So here’s a comprehensive guide to all you can do at Jewel Changi Airport.
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We don’t flaunt our Garden City status for nothing, and it only makes sense that one of the first few places tourists set foot in upon reaching Singapore reflects that reputation. Like all terminals in the airport, Jewel Changi is full of green spaces for that extra calming aura.
Your Skytrain might cruise through this area, depending on which terminal you’re headed to.
Perhaps the most prominent green feature of Jewel Changi is its Forest Valley, which is stacked with trellis upon trellis of different trees and shrubs. And right at the centre of it all is the massive Rain Vortex, the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. The falls rain down 40m from Level 5 all the way to B1, and despite being artificial, it’s a sight to behold nonetheless.
Image credit: @blackminusgreen via Instagram
Come night, and you’ll be treated to a magical light-and-sound show, with rainbow-coloured animations projected on the wall of water itself. The Rain Vortex light show happens at 8pm and 9pm from Monday to Thursday, and at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
Occasionally, there’ll also be special, themed light shows based on big events happening on the Little Red Dot. A Disney Cruise one recently played here earlier this year, and December will see a BTS-themed takeover of the man-made marvel.
Note: The floor surrounding the Rain Vortex is usually wet due to the mist, so be careful not to slip and fall.
For a better view of the gorgeous Rain Vortex, you can climb up the Forest Valley stairs to reach an ideal vantage point. As you ascend surrounded by shrubbery and smaller water features, you’ll feel as though you’re taking a hike outdoors – minus the humid weather. Yup, you don’t have to worry about breaking a sweat here as temperatures are a comfortable 23°C.
To best enjoy the walking trails, it is advisable to wear comfortable flat shoes instead of heels as there are numerous steps to climb.
The entire Forest Valley is full of lush, leafy backdrops. Look out for the mini bamboo grove on the lowest floor of the Valley, where you can snap pics to bluff your friends that you’re in Japan.
The top floor of Jewel Changi is where you’ll find the Canopy Park, which is less of a park and more of a giant playground that both kids and adults will find thrilling. Think bouncy nets to play on, flower gardens to walk through, and even mazes to get lost in.
Do note that general admission into the Canopy Park is from $6/pax for Singapore Residents and $8 for everyone else, and covers only the Discovery Slides, Foggy Bowls, Petal Garden, and Topiary Walk. The rest of the attractions have a separate charge, which includes admission to Canopy Park as well.
The looming Discovery Slides are nothing like what you’d find in typical playgrounds. It comes with 3 slides in total – 1 tube and 2 surface slides. The former were surprisingly thrilling, causing us to involuntarily shriek as we wooshed down. Do note that the Discovery Slides have a height requirement of 110cm.
But it was the vertical surface slide that took the cake. Even grown adults chickened out after seeing the drop, so a little crowd formed each time someone was game enough to take up the challenge. Of course, we weren’t about to miss this opportunity, so into a gunny sack I wriggled, and braced myself for the descent.
The verdict? 10/10, SUPER SHIOK. After the initial drop, you’ll realise the scariest part is actually just pushing yourself off the platform. Mind over matter, friends. You’ll be given a helmet, elbow guards, and optional gloves to protect yourself with, so there’s no need to worry about getting hurt.
Tip: Try not to break the fall with your arms and just let gravity do its work. You’ll have a smoother and more enjoyable ride that way.
The Discovery Slides were inspired by the Chicago Bean and look very much like an art installation.
Not forgetting the stellar view – the top of this attraction is the highest vantage point of Jewel Changi, so you’ll be able to bask in the view of the majestic Rain Vortex and the verdure that circles it.
Kids and fun-loving adults will be thrilled by the play areas here. The Foggy Bowls are a couple of concave dips in a lawn of artificial grass, with mystical fog swirling out of the centres. There are crocheted pouf seats for children to play pretend with, or tired parents to take a rest on.
Don’t worry about your toddler scratching himself if he falls, because the artificial grass is pretty soft.
Another flower-filled spot is the Petal Garden, which has seasonal displays of different blooms. When we visited, the garden followed a warm colour theme with hues of red and gold, and looked just like one of those flower fields in Hokkaido.
We were impressed by the Topiary Walk, which features adorable animal sculptures made from colourful flowers and plants. Best photo spot for couples? By the pair of lovebirds perched on a tree branch. Solo travellers – complete the trio of wise orangutans by speaking no evil.
This English garden-style Hedge Maze (from $11.90/adult, $8.90/child) will have you feeling like Alice in Wonderland as you work your way through the walls of shrubbery. The hedge is built tall enough such that even if you’re Yao Ming, you won’t be able to peek out over it. So, yup, no cheating.
It’s not all that clear-cut either – there are swing gates which you can push in different directions to alter the whole path.
Artificial flowers bloom open as you stroll past certain points.
A watchtower stands at the end, from which you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the entire maze. Help direct your lost friends from the top – or have a good laugh watching them scramble around like ants, if you so prefer.
If the Hedge Maze is no kick, perhaps you can anticipate a greater challenge at the trippy Mirror Maze (from $15.90/adult, $10.90/child). You’ll be second-guessing every step, and wondering if you’re about to walk into a wall or an actual opening.
You’ll be given a foam stick to aid in wayfinding. Avoid running so as to not bump into fellow people on their quest.
You’d want to plan ahead and make sure you come here with extra time to spare before your flight, lest you get a little too lost and end up missing your plane.
Pretty self-explanatory – the Bouncing Net (from $20.90/adult, $15.90/child) is basically a massive suspended trampoline where you can run, jump, and tumble along like a child to your heart’s content. Be prepared to sweat despite the cool aircon – we found ourselves panting by the end of it, and we hadn’t even scaled the full magnitude of the structure.
The Walking Net (from $15.90/adult, $10.90/child) requires less physical exertion, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this will be a walk in the park, because some of the uneven surfaces can be quite tricky to navigate. At times we struggled to keep balance and ended up crawling on all fours.
You’ll get a clear view of the Rain Vortex from any point of the Canopy Park, but the Canopy Bridge (from $11.90/adult, $8.90/child) is still not to be missed. Stretching across one end of the park to another, this walkway has a clear glass bottom for that bit of extra excitement.
Changi Experience Studio (from $14.80/child, $19.80/adult) on Level 4 is essentially an interactive mini-museum which lets you find out more about the history and operations of Changi Airport, through a series of interactive games and displays.
Doesn’t matter if you’re not in the least bit musically-inclined, because you, too, can be part of a symphony in the Garden of Harmony. Simply wave your RFID “travel pass” over the ground to play a virtual instrument, and watch as the projected flora and fauna dance around you.
Towards the crescendoing end you’ll be met with a flurry of butterflies surrounding you in a mesmerising spectacle.
Many of us travel bugs have taken off from Changi Airport’s tarmac multiple times, but few might know that the same runways were used for a Boeing 747 airplane vs Porsche 911 car race back in 2009. Amazing Runway sort of recreates that experience, where up to 10 people can pedal away on stationary bikes to beat a virtual plane – pre-flight workout, settled.
Being the best airport in the world, it’s no surprise that there are hundreds of flight routes to and from Changi Airport. The Sky Deck gives you a complete overview of that, with bites of information on each of the featured countries.
The many interactive games throughout Changi Experience Studio will give you a glimpse of the back-end of our airport, from baggage checks to immigration clearance.
You can also pose in front of various backdrops at a green screen photobooth, and have your picture printed out for a fee.
Collect as many trolleys as you can in this trolley handler simulation game.
Changi Experience Studio also has its fair share of greenery in its Hanging Garden, which you can admire as you go about poring over the informative displays.
You don’t have to travel across lands and search far and wide in Japan for that rare Mewtwo. Just swing by Pokémon Center Singapore – you’ll be able to catch ‘em all in terms of plushies, video games, and trading cards.
If you’ve not visited the store in a hot minute, it recently underwent a major revamp in July 2026, taking on an entirely new look. For starters, the official mascot Pokémon for Singapore’s store is the regal Solgaleo, and is represented in the form of a massive sculpture posed front and centre.
Of course, don’t leave without bringing home a couple of Singapore-exclusives. Our must-buys include Durian-wielding Pikachu plushies, a Kopi Cup & Saucer set to drink your daily brew out of, and keychains and magnets depicting various Pokémon living life on sunny Singapore.
If you’ve got a couple of hours to spare before a connecting flight and need some shut-eye, head over to YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport. Unlike its sister branch at Orchard, this one allows for shorter stays of a minimum of 4 hours.
They’ve got all the standard equipment as well as a water dispenser.
And if you don’t need to catch your 40 winks but wish to freshen up a little, make use of their showers at $23.98/15 minutes. Fitness junkies, you can also conveniently clock in a quick workout at their 24/7 gym for $11.99/hour. All patrons are also entitled to free coffee and tea at YOTELAIR’s Komyuniti Lounge, which overlooks the Forest Valley down below.
Jewel Changi is a shopping paradise with over 260 stores. Out of these, a couple of them are huge duplex stores with 2 storeys, such as Muji (#02-227-229), Nike (#02-232-233), Adidas (#02-203), and Apple (#02-234). Get ready to shop till you drop – but make sure you don’t miss your flight.
The Canopy Park doesn’t just have beautiful vegetation; it’s also home to a handful of restaurants with an open-air concept. It’s just like dining alfresco in a garden – but without being subjected to the mercy of the scorching sun or rain, and the possibility of finding creepy crawlies on you. Perfect for a romantic date!
Among these are Arteastiq Bistro (#05-201, Hitoyoshi Izakaya (#05-205), and the Asian fusion restaurant KANTIN (#05-206-207).
Image credit: Eatbook
Sinful as it is, there’s nothing more heavenly than a burger done well like the ones at Shake Shack. While plenty more outlets have opened up around the island, it’s worth paying a visit to the 2-storey flagship that started it all.
Don’t underestimate their burgers – they might look small and unassuming, but the combination of their angus beef patties with melted cheese is a truly foodgasmic one.
It Takes Two To Mango Concrete.
Image credit: Eatbook
Look out for outlet-exclusive Concretes – aka frozen custard with toppings – too. There’s the Jewela Melaka, which has a vanilla base flavoured with coconut salted caramel and gula melaka, and It Takes Two To Mango, a tropical offering with freeze-dried mango bits. As for drinks, wash everything down with a unique Pandan Shake that’s only available here.
Here’s another flagship you can visit within Jewel Changi. This unique Starbucks has a Reserve Coffee Bar that serves Nitro Cold Brews (from $7.50) on tap. That’s when nitrogen is infused into ice cold coffee, which produces a creamy texture, much like a stout but with fewer calories and without the alcohol.
If you don’t take coffee but still want a hit of caffeine to fight off jet lag, the Nitro Green Tea Latte ($8) is a worthy alternative with the same creaminess. Also worth noting is the fact that this Starbucks outlet is open 24/7, so you can get your hit of caffeine before or after your red-eye flights.
Should you be dying to taste-test a couple of Singaporean staples, you can do so at the recently renovated Food Republic. It’s a massive food court with stalls that serve classic hawker dishes that you’d find in the heartlands, all conveniently located under one roof.
These eateries are no slouch either; 4 of them have been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand, namely MP Thai, Na Na Homemade Curry, LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles, and Jian Bo Shui Kueh.
If you’re spoilt for choice, we recommend digging into a hearty plate of chicken rice by Yang Sayang, slurping on a comforting broth at Ju Fu Bak Kut Teh, or ordering a serving of Padang Lezat’s sumptuous Nasi Padang.
Yes. Jewel is landside, so no boarding pass is needed. Only Canopy Park and Changi Experience Studio are ticketed.
The mall itself is open 24 hours, and so are some outlets such as Starbucks. Attractions close at 9pm or 10pm.
By the link bridges. Jewel connects directly to the Terminal 1 Arrival Hall.
Link bridge connecting Jewel Changi to Terminal 3.
Even till today, the novelty of Jewel Changi Airport hasn’t waned – and it probably won’t be any less magical for years to come. We can’t promise that you won’t be engulfed by the human traffic though, so we suggest planning your visit in advance and avoiding peak lunch and dinner hours.
There are a good number of shops and eateries open 24/7 anyway, and even the Jewel Changi Lounge for travellers to freshen up between flights, so not to worry even if you’re waiting for a late night flight and feel the urge to explore.
While you’re here, check out these secret things to do at Jewel or go and see some dinosaurs along the Changi Jurassic Mile. Take note of these Jewel Changi photo spots, too.
For more things to do in Singapore:
Photography by Heng Wei Shin, Adria Tham, and Nadia Elijanto.
Originally published by Rachel Yohannan on 8th June 2023. Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 30th October 2026.
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