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

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

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-slideSource: 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>

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Oct 29th 2014, 4:58 PM

    I make it my business to visit the Zoo twice per year! The Big Cats are just majestic particularly the Snow Leopard,and our fellow primates particularly the Silverback Gorilla! True wonders of Evolution.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 29th 2014, 5:34 PM

    Baby boom indeed. They shouldn’t be having babies unless they can provide for them themselves .There they are expecting the taxpayer to pay for them . It’s the entitlement culture striking again .

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    Mute phil
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    Oct 29th 2014, 6:11 PM

    Yeah the foreigners coming from Africa and seeking asylum and then having a kid foreigners

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    Mute thetruth
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    Oct 29th 2014, 6:00 PM

    They do a phenomenal job at the zoo. When we are stuck for something to do at the weekend, i always want to go to the zoo. My wife calls me the biggest kid around

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    Mute CeannComhairleDollop
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    Oct 29th 2014, 5:01 PM

    Ahh an adorable baby boom, what species is a boom.exactly? Is it a type of Monkey? Can anyone out there enlighten me?

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    Mute Paperboy2
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    Oct 29th 2014, 5:34 PM

    Read the article properly and then you’ll be enlightened…

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    Mute ohaimhirghin
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    Oct 29th 2014, 5:04 PM

    zoos only facilitate bored humans on some idle Sunday afternoon.

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    Mute wiklagirl
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    Oct 29th 2014, 5:54 PM

    Each to their own but I visited the zoo last week and had a fantastic day. It was a Thursday, I wasn’t idle (day off work) and I was far from bored ;-)

    Dublin Zoo participates in a conservation programme for endangered species. It was my first visit there since the opening of the African Plains and I was educated and entertained for 4 hours.

    Btw, the young animals are adorable – especially the lion cubs & elephant calves.

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    Mute thetruth
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    Oct 29th 2014, 6:02 PM

    Exactly. Last visit i got into a staring contest with a tiger. Literally face to face inches from one another, just the glass between us. Awesome

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    Mute ohaimhirghin
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    Oct 29th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Animals in captivity for people’s entertainment is just wrong. No place for wild animals, locked up all day to amuse you. Reserves are ok in my books, but zoos are up there with circuses.

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