Think Changi Airport’s fab kid-friendly attractions are just for travellers? There’s actually loads of attractions and activities for families that are open to the public. Hear it from these parents who have family day outs at the world’s best airport, even when they’re not flying.
Changi Airport needs no introduction. It has won the world’s best airport numerous times, and most of us would be familiar with how kid-friendly it is. But here’s the best part – this award-winning airport doesn’t gatekeep its kid-friendly attractions and activities just for little travellers.
Playgrounds, free movie screenings, a giant slide – these are just some of the attractions that you and the kiddos can visit without a boarding pass. Read on for recommendations from parents who love planning family day outs at Changi Airport.
1. The playgrounds at every terminal
You probably already know that the airport has a play area for little ones in each of its four terminals – but did you know there are playgrounds in the public areas too? You can find them at T1’s viewing gallery (Level 3), at Hub & Spoke cafe just outside of T2, next to McDonald’s at T3 (Level 1), and at T3’s basement 2 level.
Mum of three, Syaz shares: My kids love the aeroplane playground at T3! It’s great for very young kids, while babies get to crawl around on the padded flooring.
2. The world’s tallest slide in an airport
Got little thrillseekers? Bring them to check out The Slide @ T3, a tubular slide that’s really the world’s tallest slide within an airport! And it’s not just for the kiddos; you can challenge yourself to this 12m-high twirling adventure together with your kids as well. If you’re keen to go on the slide, just scan your Changi Rewards QR code on the Changi app to redeem up to 15 free rides. Do note that a minimum height of 1.3m is required to go on The Slide @ T3.
Mum of one, Andrina shares: We like to bring our son to watch other kids go down The Slide @ T3, which connects Level 1 to Basement 3. It’s fun to watch even though he’s not tall enough for it yet. There’s actually also a shorter slide at Basement 2 that’s just nice for him.
3. Family restaurants with kids-dine-free promos
It’s true that we at HoneyKids love meal deals when dining out with the fam, especially the ones where our kiddos get to dine for free. On top of having a wide range of family-friendly restaurants at Changi Airport, some of these also offer kids-dine-free promos that satisfy little tummies.
Dad of one, Jon shares: We occasionally have family celebrations at one of the restaurants at Changi Airport since we live nearby. Swensens Unlimited is a current fave because kids below five years old get to eat for free.
4. All the exciting seasonal activities and decor
From the recent Disney-themed showcase to the fun Miffy’s Playground, the airport hosts many events that’s great fun for the whole fam. We especially look forward to the annual Changi Festive Village as it features different themes for every edition. Take this coming school holiday for example, Changi Airport is organising a vibrant ‘Hawker Carnival’ at T3 Departure Hall, where you can expect fun carnival games with a local twist, unique pop-up stores, character meet-and-greet, and more. This is happening from 13 March till 3 May, more deets on the airport’s website!
Mum of two, Dawn shares: We’d head to the airport every time they have kids’ activities or events. There’s play areas, games, and the girls absolutely love the decorations. Sometimes there are even cartoon character meet-and-greets!
5. Plane-watching, of course!
What’s a trip to Changi Airport without checking out the viewing malls? Bring your little ones to the viewing galleries at T1, T2, and T4 to watch planes take off. If you’ve got older kids who are serious aviators, why not play a game of ‘I spy’ to see who can spot the most Airbus A380 or Boeing 737s?
Mum of two, Elaine shares: My oldest absolutely loves planes, so we sometimes bring the kids to the T2 viewing gallery. The gallery is also super near restaurants. We would plane-watch for a bit, head to XW Western Grill for lunch as the kids love the all-you-can-eat salad bar, then go back to watching planes or head to the Hub & Spoke playground.
6. Free family movie dates
This is probably one of the best kept secrets in town, but did you know that you can catch movies for free at Changi Airport? There are daily movie screenings happening at ST3PS in T3 (basement 2), with the schedule and movie list released weekly. Come Saturday, the space becomes a stage for live performances, such as live singing, puppet shows, and even magic performances.
Mum of three, Ina shares: Ever since we found out that there are free movie screenings at T3, we’ve been going there monthly. It’s now a sort of family tradition and my kids look forward to it.
Time to plan your family day out at Changi Airport
Besides the ones listed above, there’s actually a whole lot more that you and your kids can check out at Changi Airport without a boarding pass. There’s Climb @ T3 that welcomes kids as young as two to climb and play, a dinosaur-themed indoor playground, Little Dino by Wan To Play, and arcades for your older kids like Cowboy Utopia by Zone X and iClawTaiwan.
And if you’re visiting with bub, rest assured that Changi Airport has quite a number of baby care rooms, all equipped with changing tables, hot water dispensers, and comfy nursing rooms. This way, you can spend a day out with bub worry-free – we love!
Changi Airport is easily reachable via public buses and the East-West Line via MRT. Planning on driving there but worried about the parking rates? Fret not, you can redeem parking rebates and promos (there’s currently a two-hour free parking deal with just a minimum cumulative spend of $60) through the Changi Rewards membership in the Changi app – just take it from yours truly.
Mum of two, Esther: I’ve redeemed up to one and half hours worth of free parking at Changi Airport with my Changi Rewards points. I accumulated these points from dining at the airport, or from shopping on iShopChangi. Just remember to scan the Changi Rewards QR on the Changi app at the cashier!
Membership is free to join too, so sign up for Changi Rewards if you haven’t. On top of being able to redeem rewards like parking rebates, you can also redeem Changi e-Vouchers, exclusive merchandise, or even access to Plaza Premium lounge.
Pro-tip: Changi Rewards members also get to enjoy GST savings all year round at all of Changi Airport’s public area retail outlets (excluding Jewel Changi Airport), like at Simply Toys, Cosmetics & Perfumes By Shilla, The Body Shop, and more.
Ready for a visit to Changi Airport with the fam? Find out more about the airport’s wide range of family-friendly offerings on its website.
This post is in partnership with Changi Airport Group.
