Here's why this incredible airport was named best in the world again

You’d almost fly there just to take a peek.

Australia's largest state hits record-high COVID-19 cases despite weeks of strict lockdown. 'It's a tinderbox ready to explode,' one official said.
eToro says crypto made up 73% of trading commissions in the last quarter, as retail customers dived in
A flight attendant says she was too exhausted to report a passenger who shoved her when a flight was overbooked: report
US jobless claims climb for first time in 5 weeks, to 353,000

SINGAPORE’S CHANGI AIRPORT was just named the world’s best airport in 2015 by the World Airport Awards.

This is the third year that Changi took the top spot in Skytrax’s World Airport Awards, the most prestigious airport award in the industry.

Skytrax evaluates over 400 airports around the world for service, check-in, transfers, shopping, security, immigration, and more.

It’s no surprise that Changi took the number one spot. The international transit hub has incredible amenities, like a butterfly garden, rooftop pool, movie theatres, hotels, spas, and showers, and even a four-storey slide.

Business Insider visited the airport during a trip to Singapore a few years ago and had a chance to explore. The bottom line: This is a place where you’ll actually enjoy having a long layover.

The newest terminal, Terminal 3, was designed by CPG Consultants, in collaboration with Woodhead, Tierra Design and SOM, Bartenbach LichtLabor and Hugh Dutton & Associates.

the-airport-is-an-architectural-marvel-the-newest-terminal-terminal-3-was-designed-by-cpg-consultants-in-collaboration-with-woodhead-tierra-design-and-som-bartenbach-lichtlabor-and-hugh-dutton-and-associates

Most passengers enter the airport at Terminal 3, which is where Singapore Airlines is based. At 380,000 sq. m., the terminal is spacious, with high ceilings and an open, airy feel.

most-passengers-enter-the-airport-at-terminal-3-the-newest-and-largest-terminal-at-changi-which-is-where-singapore-airlines-is-based-at-380000-sq-m-the-terminal-is-spacious-with-high-ceilings-and-an-open-airy-fe

There’s also a lush vertical garden here called the “Green Wall.” It has more than 20 varieties of plants, vines, and flowers growing on it.
theres-also-a-lush-vertical-garden-here-called-the-green-wall-it-has-more-than-20-varieties-of-plants-vines-and-flowers-growing-on-it

You take a Skytrain to travel between terminals.

its-easy-to-get-between-terminals-on-the-skytrain

Here's the Balinese-themed outdoor rooftop pool, located in Terminal 1. Passengers can pay to use this pool for about $14. (It's free for guests who are staying in the Ambassador Transit Hotel.)

one-of-the-best-things-about-changi-airport-is-its-balinese-themed-outdoor-rooftop-pool-located-in-terminal-1-passengers-can-pay-to-use-this-pool-for-about-14-its-free-for-guests-who-are-staying-in-the-ambassado

You can watch planes take off and land directly from the pool garden.
one-of-the-best-things-about-changi-airport-is-its-balinese-themed-outdoor-rooftop-pool-located-in-terminal-1-passengers-can-pay-to-use-this-pool-for-about-14-its-free-for-guests-who-are-staying-in-the-ambassado

The pool also has its own Tiki bar.

the-pool-also-has-its-own-tiki-bar

And its own fitness centre (along with locker rooms, where you can shower after).
and-its-own-fitness-center-along-with-locker-rooms-where-you-can-shower-after

Each terminal has an Ambassador Transit Hotel, where passengers can rent hotel rooms for a minimum of six hours — perfect if you're exhausted and have a long layover. Room rates start at S$76 for a six-hour block and are charged hourly after that.
each-terminal-has-an-ambassador-transit-hotel-where-passengers-can-rent-hotel-rooms-for-a-minimum-of-six-hours--perfect-if-youre-exhausted-and-have-a-long-layover-room-rates-start-at-s76-for-a-6-hour-block-and-a

Rooms here look like normal hotel rooms, with two twin beds or one double bed, bathrooms, TVs, and desks. Some rooms have windows that look out onto the tarmac.

rooms-here-look-like-normal-hotel-rooms-with-two-twin-beds-or-one-double-bed-bathrooms-tvs-and-desks-some-rooms-have-windows-that-look-out-onto-the-tarmac Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

The airport has a nature trail, which encourages passengers to go outdoors and breathe in fresh air while at the airport. There are five gardens in the airport, including a rooftop sunflower garden.

the-airport-has-a-nature-trail-which-encourages-passengers-to-go-outdoors-and-breathe-in-fresh-air-while-at-the-airport-there-are-five-gardens-in-the-airport-including-a-rooftop-sunflower-garden

There's even an enclosed butterfly garden — the first such garden in an airport — which is home to butterflies, flowers, lush greenery, and a six-metre (20-ft) waterfall.
theres-even-an-enclosed-butterfly-garden--the-first-such-garden-in-an-airport--which-is-home-to-butterflies-flowers-lush-greenery-and-a-6-meter-20-ft-waterfall

Everything here is technologically savvy - even the bathrooms. Each bathroom has an electronic monitoring system where passengers can rate the cleanliness of the bathroom. If you're not happy with the service, simply tap the frowny face on the touchscreen monitor.

everything-here-is-technologically-savvyeven-the-bathrooms-each-bathroom-has-an-electronic-monitoring-system-where-passengers-can-rate-the-cleanliness-of-the-bathroom-if-youre-not-happy-with-the-service-simply-t Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

High-end designer shops, like Gucci, Burberry, and Hermes, keep shoppers occupied while they wait for their flights.

high-end-designer-shops-like-gucci-burberry-and-hermes-keep-shoppers-occupied-while-they-wait-for-their-flights Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

If you go to the first-class lounge, you can have a buffet lunch.

but-i-chose-to-eat-at-the-sumptuous-buffet-in-the-first-class-lounge Jennifer Polland Jennifer Polland

There are two movie theatres in the airport, which show a rotating roster of current movies.
when-youre-tired-of-eating-drinking-and-shopping-you-can-watch-a-movie-there-are-two-movie-theaters-in-the-airport-which-show-a-rotating-roster-of-current-movies

It even has a four-storey, 40-ft. slide. If you spend $10 at any airport venue, you're eligible to ride the slide.
kids-will-love-the-awesome-four-story-40-ft-slide-if-you-spend-10-at-any-airport-venue-youre-eligible-to-ride-the-slide Source: Wong Junhao via Flickr

Photos: Chiangi Airport Group/Business Insider unless otherwise stated. Business Insider's trip to Singapore, including travel and lodging expenses, was sponsored by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Read: It’s official – Dublin Airport is the 81st best airport in the world>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Learn More Support The Journal