Take a tour of the best airport in the world

Singapore's Changi Airport, voted world's best airport in 2015, is the amusement park of travel hubs.

Advertisement

The airport's attractions include innovative art installations, a swimming pool, cactus and orchid gardens, a movie theater, and an entertainment complex with free video games. It's a layover paradise.

In December, Tech Insider named Changi Airport in its top 10 list of the most innovative airports around the world. Take a look inside to see why.

changi airport
joyfull / Shutterstock.com
Advertisement

Look familiar?

Passenger crowd at JFK airport 2010
Chaos erupts in New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2014. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

If you've traveled through an airport at some point in your life, you know these travel hubs are stress-inducing, inconvenient, and downright annoying.

airport, gatwick, busy, crowds, crowded
Passengers wait in the departure hall of Gatwick airport's North Terminal as severe weather has caused delays and cancellations to numerous flights from the airport on December 24, 2013 in London, England. Christmas plans have been badly affected for thousands of people after storms across the UK have resulted in flooding, power cuts and significant problems with transport infrastructure. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) Oli Scarff/Getty
Advertisement

There's at least one airport that's gotten it right: Changi Airport, located in Singapore.

#architecture #nguanducthuyen

A photo posted by Nguẫn Đức Thuyện 📷🎥🎬💻 (@nguanducthuyen) on Dec 10, 2015 at 8:48am PST

 

Voted world's best airport in 2015, it contains dozens of sweet amenities that transport a traveler back to the golden days of flying.

changi airport, singapore, lounge
Passengers have their coffee with a view at the newly refurbished Terminal One of Changi International Airport, one of the world's top airports in Singapore, Thursday July 12, 2012. Refurbishing works were done to the city-state's oldest terminal opened in 1981 in a bid to keep up with increasing number of passengers and provide more comfort and better passenger flow in its facilities. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP
Advertisement

Most airports serve Starbucks and bitter coffee served in paper cups.

#airportcoffee #gross #struggleisreal

A photo posted by @willile on Nov 27, 2015 at 1:15pm PST

 

Advertisement

Changi Airport puts a little more love into their lattés.

I always feel loved at the World's Best Airport #changiairport #changi #I❤️Changi #treat #coffee #coffeeart #skytrax #airport #instasg #sgig #igsg

A photo posted by Mel Goh (@meowmelmeowmel) on Dec 11, 2015 at 6:14am PST

 

Advertisement

If you want to take a nap in an American airport, you stretch yourself across these terribly uncomfortable chairs.

o'hare international airport, girls sleeping, airport lounge
Stranded passengers wait for flights at O'Hare International Airport on September 27, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. O'Hare was forced to cancel more than 1,500 fights yesterday and more than 600 today after a contract worker sabotaged a suburban air traffic control center yesterday morning. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Scott Olson/Getty
Advertisement

Not so at Changi Airport.

good room

A photo posted by Connor J. Denis (@connordenis) on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:26am PDT

 

Advertisement
Advertisement

Your reservation comes with a complimentary meal.

dinner yet? It's Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl served with baby vegetables and Miso Soup 😍

A photo posted by Freddy Sai (@freddy_sai) on Sep 24, 2015 at 8:45am PDT

 

Advertisement

We're not sure what these noodles are, but we want them now.

A photo posted by @drey07

 

Advertisement

The package also comes with access to a luxury bathroom. It contains a rain shower, restroom facilities, a wash basin, and a built-in hairdryer.

You call it as bathroom, I call it as heaven💦

A photo posted by sugarlim (@sugarlim) on Jul 3, 2014 at 10:25am PDT

 

Advertisement

The nap room and other sweet perks lie inside The Haven, a pay-per-use lounge located in the airport's public area. It costs about $25 for two hours, $37 for five hours.

Internship got me looking like a banquet manager

A photo posted by @junyuann on Apr 22, 2015 at 4:15am PDT

 Source: The Haven

Advertisement

Comfy chairs and complimentary drinks await weary travelers.

 

Advertisement

You may remember doing a lot of this last time you flew over a holiday weekend.

Ngurah Rai international airport, tourists, sit, cell phones
Foreign tourists sit as they wait the flight information at Ngurah Rai international airport departure on July 13, 2015 in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Bali's international airport reopened after being closed due to volcanic ash clouds from Maunt Raung, but Australia's main carriers to the holiday destinations are still not flying. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/Getty Images) Agung Parameswara/Getty

At Changi Airport, there are tons of attractions to keep fliers active and engaged during a long layover. There once was an indoor ice skating rink, called Ice Forest.

singapore, changi airport,
Children skate on a synthetic ice rink set against the backdrop of St. Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum in Moscow on Saturday March 16, 2013 at the Changi International Airport in Singapore. This is part of the airport's efforts in promoting overseas travel, this time being Russia. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP
Advertisement

It was set against a backdrop of St. Basil's Cathedral and Moscow's State Historical Museum in order to drum up interest in Russian tourism.

changi airport, singapore, ice rink skating
Children skate on a synthetic ice rink set against the backdrop of St Basil's Cathedral and the State Historical Museum in Moscow on Saturday March. 16, 2013 at the Changi International Airport in Singapore. This is part of the the airport's efforts in promoting overseas travel, this time being Russia. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP

The Slide in Terminal 3 stands four stories high.

changi slide
Flickr/wongjunhao
Advertisement

The Kinetic Rain sculptures in Terminal 1 will entrance you for hours.

kinetic structure, art installation, changi airport, singapore
A kinetic structure is suspended from the ceiling of the Changi International Airport on Wednesday July 4, 2012 in Singapore. Claiming to be the world's largest kinetic art installation, "Kinetic Rain" designed and built by a German team is made up of 1,216 bronze droplets that transforms into multiple shapes through slow fluid movements. The Singapore Changi Airport has constantly revamped and updated its establishment in a bid to remain one of the top ranking airports in the world.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP

Made of 1,216 bronze droplets, the installation mimics the movement of flight through subtle, fluid motion.

changi airport, singapore, kinetic structure, art installation
People admire a giant kinetic structure at the Changi International Airport on Wednesday July 4, 2012 in Singapore. Claiming to be the world's largest kinetic art installation, "Kinetic Rain" designed and built by a German team is made up of 1,216 bronze droplets that transforms into multiple shapes through slow fluid movements. The Singapore Changi Airport has constantly revamped and updated its establishment in a bid to remain one of the top ranking airports in the world.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP

Source: Changi Airport

Advertisement

In 2012, US artist Kurt Wenner (pictured) created a 3D art installation commissioned by the airport as part of its "Be a Changi Millionaire" campaign.

kurt wenner, singapore, art installation, changi airport
U.S. artist Kurt Wenner works on part of his 3D art installation as workers install the artworks at the terminal three departure hall at Changi International Airport in Singapore May 9, 2012. The 30 feet by 30 feet (9.14 x 9.14 metres) installation was commissioned by the airport as part of their "Be a Changi Millionaire" promotion. Picture taken May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Tim Chong Tim Chong/Reuters

Stretching 30 feet by 30 feet, the artwork creates endless cheesy photo opportunities.

changi airport, singapore, kurt wenner, art installation
U.S. artist Kurt Wenner poses with his 3D art installation at the terminal three departure hall at Changi International Airport in Singapore May 9, 2012. The 30 feet by 30 feet (9.14 x 9.14 metres) installation was commissioned by the airport as part of their "Be a Changi Millionaire" promotion. Picture taken May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Tim Chong Tim Chong/Reuters
Advertisement

While you sit glued to a wall outlet so you can charge your phone ...

airport travelers phone phones laptops outlets
Holiday travelers lay and sit on the floor as they wait for their flights at the Salt Lake City international Airport on November 27, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. A wintry storm system that is covering much of the nation is threatening to wreak havoc on holiday travel . (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) George Frey/Getty
Advertisement

Travelers at Changi Airport take a relaxing stroll through the orchid garden, where there are over 30 species on display.

orchids #changiairport #seeyousoon

A photo posted by Michelle (@imurgirl84) on Dec 11, 2015 at 7:42am PST

 Source: Changi Airport

Advertisement

In the world's first airport butterfly garden, visitors meet 1,000 tropical butterflies from as many as 40 species.

butterfly garden, changi airport, singapore
Visitors attempt to pick up butterflies at the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3 of Changi International Airport on Thursday Aug. 28, 2008 in Singapore. The butterfly garden was officially opened to transit passengers in the country's newest terminal Thursday. Singapore's tourism board expressed concern that tourism numbers could fail to meet this year's target of 10.8 million visitors due to the global economic slowdown, rising inflation and high oil prices. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP

Source: Changi Airport

The tropical butterfly habitat features flowering plants, lush vegetation, and a 19-foot waterfall.

butterfly garden, changi airport, singapore
A butterfly rests on a man's collar at the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3 of Changi International Airport on Thursday Aug. 28, 2008 in Singapore. The butterfly garden was officially opened to transit passengers in the country's newest terminal Thursday. Singapore's tourism board expressed concern that tourism numbers could fail to meet this year's target of 10.8 million visitors due to the global economic slowdown, rising inflation and high oil prices. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Wong Maye-E/AP
Advertisement

An estimated 38 million people will fly on US airlines during the upcoming holiday season, so you can expect crowds.

airport crowded floor pile
DJERBA, TUNISIA - MARCH 17: Men from Bangladesh sleep on the floor in the international departure lounge at Djerba airport on March 17, 2011 in Djerba, Tunisia. As the fighting continues in Libya, tens of thousands of guest workers including men, women and children from Egypt, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Sudan and other countries continue to flee to the border of Tunisia. The situation has turned into a humanitarian emergency as Tunisia is overwhelmed with the workers. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the end. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Dan Kitwood/Getty

Source: Los Angeles Times

Though we think this is the crowd you really want to be in. All Nippon Airways launched a media tour at Changi Airport in November to celebrate its "Star Wars" themed Boeing 787.

changi airport, singapore, star wars, stormtroopers
People take photos of Stormtroopers as they gather around a life-sized "Star Wars" TIE Fighter model on display at Singapore's Changi Airport November 12, 2015. The event coincides with a media tour of a "Star Wars"-themed All Nippon Airways ANA R2-D2 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday as it makes its first Asian stop outside Japan. REUTERS/Edgar Su Edgar Su/Reuters
Advertisement

Actors dressed as Stormtroopers marched around the airport to stand guard.

stormtroopers star wars changi airport singapore
Stormtroopers take the escalator as they march around Singapore's Changi Airport November 12, 2015. The event coincides with a media tour of a "Star Wars"-themed All Nippon Airways ANA R2-D2 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on Thursday as it makes its first Asian stop outside Japan. REUTERS/Edgar Su Edgar Su/Reuters

And this stunning, life-sized replica of the X-wing fighter looked far more impressive than the real aircraft just outside the airport's walls.

changi airport, singapore, star wars, tie fighter, stormtroopers
People are greeted by "x-wing pilots" as they gather around a life-sized Star Wars X-wing Fighter model on display at Singapore's Changi Airport November 12, 2015. The event coincides with a media tour of a Star Wars themed All Nippon Airways ANA R2D2 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which was opened to the media on Thursday as it makes its first Asian stop outside Japan. REUTERS/Edgar Su Edgar Su/Reuters
Advertisement

This time of year, travelers can kill time in Changi Airport's real-life winter wonderland.

#singapore #singapura #changiairport #airport #travel #disney #departure #

A photo posted by @andrea_putzu_ on Dec 10, 2015 at 12:42pm PST

 

Advertisement

The pavilion features a slide, a glowing ball pit, a ski slope, and even a rock climbing lighthouse station.

A photo posted by Perapong P. (@perap0ng)

 Source: Marketing Interactive

Advertisement

Once you fly from Changi, you'll never want to step inside another airport again.

Checked in-Checked out stomp that stamp🏃🏻👣✍🏼

A photo posted by Mason (@mason_maddog) on Dec 10, 2015 at 4:56pm PST

 

Singapore
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.