As the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” This year, instead of spending our annual leave overseas, Singaporeans have been going on staycations, checking out must-visit attractions and exploring hidden parts of Singapore via local tours. Along the way, we’ve found that there is a treasure trove of destinations and experiences waiting to be discovered, right here on our shores.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing staycation or an adrenaline rush, we’ve curated a 2D1N Changi Airport itinerary that combines both of the above into a fun-filled and IG-worthy package. There’s no other location in Singapore that’s more closely connected to our spirit of wanderlust, after all. And, if you think you’re familiar with the airport’s offerings, well, think again. On top of food and attractions that can’t be found elsewhere on the island, there are all sorts of unique activities lined up to make it a one-stop getaway destination.
From go-karting to a bakkwa and wine tasting, here’s how to bid farewell to 2020 and welcome 2021 with your BFF, SO or solo.
Kick off your staycay by checking into YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport. The hotel’s Overnight Getaway promotion, available for its Premium Queen cabin, comes with a slew of perks on food and activities to use during your stay at Changi Airport.
These include 1 Canopy Park entry ticket per guest, as well as 30% off standard tickets at Changi Experience Studio, 10% off bike rentals at Hub and Spoke, and more.
The Premium Queen cabin has a Queen size adjustable SmartBed and is outfitted with coloured LED lights. If you’ve been wanting to try the TikTok lights trend for months, now’s your chance. Alternatively, you can chill out in bed as you catch up on the latest Korean dramas.
Rates: From $123 per night for the Premium Queen Cabin
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-280, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Booking: Call 6407 7888, email singaporechangi.reservations@yotel.com or check the room availability on its website
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We’re all familiar with wine and cheese pairings. Pop over to Bee Cheng Hiang for an unexpected local twist on the classic combination. Its wine and bakkwa tasting—available only at its flagship store and Jewel Changi Airport—lets you sample different varieties of bakkwa, along with a recommended wine pairing.
Depending on your hunger level and love for bakkwa, choose from 3 ($11.90), 6 ($19.90) or 9 courses ($28.90), and look forward to trying anything from Minced Pork to Chili Gourmet bakkwa. After the tasting sesh, pick your favourite versions and buy some home for the fam to enjoy as a souvenir from your staycation.
Come CNY, you’ll be able to flex your bakkwa knowledge. Who knows? Your relatives might just be impressed enough to give you a bigger ang bao.
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #01-226, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 11am to 9pm (Mondays to Thursdays) | 10am to 10pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: Call 6214 3968 or email bch@bch.com.sg
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After appreciating some fine French wines, it’s time for another culture fix at Asian Artistry Fine Jewellery. Inspired by the book The Bejewelled: Lives of the Peranakans, the Peranakan Jewellery Exhibition lets you feast your eyes on curated antique jewellery from the author’s own private collection.
From a 100-year-old deer kerosang (a brooch used to fasten kebayas) to vintage gold hairpins, the exhibition sheds light on the history and culture behind the different types of jewellery worn by the local Peranakan community.
And if you’re inspired to start your own jewellery collection, you’ll also be able to purchase beautiful remakes of some of the more unique designs in the exhibition in-store.
Dates: From now to 28 February 2021
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #01-246, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819663
Opening hours: 11am to 9pm (Sundays to Thursdays) | 10am to 10pm (Fridays, Saturdays and eve of public holidays)
Contact: Call 9777 2107 or email francis_ngau@asianartistry.sg
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Come dinner time, continue your Singapoliday with a hearty BBQ seafood feast at Tiger Street Lab. Tuck into classic hawker favourites like Grilled Sambal Stingray ($18) and Sambal Kam Heong Clams ($16) created in collaboration with Jiao Cai Seafood, and throw in the Double Fried Crispy Pork Belly with Sambal ($17) for good measure.
Naturally, the best way to wash it all down is with a pint of Tiger beer. Order any of the 3 dishes above, and top up $10 to enjoy any Tiger beer on tap. Pro-tip: try the Tiger Orchid Brew draught, which is only available at Tiger Street Lab; or the limited-edition Tiger Radler Pomelo.
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #05-205, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm (Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays) | 10am to 10pm (Fridays and Saturdays)
Contact: Call 6243 2047 or email tigerstreetlab@apb.com.sg
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Make your way to Changi Airport Terminal 4’s taxi waiting area and get set for an electrifying go-kart race. While Dino Kart kicks off in the day, at dusk, colourful lights and neon dinosaur silhouettes line the circuit, complete with a lighted tunnel. Hop into one of the go-karts and speed down a meandering 200m course with 12 bends for a major adrenaline rush.
P.S. Save up to $5 per ride by redeeming a discounted Dino Kart activity pass with every $30 ($80 for supermarkets) spent in a single receipt at public areas at Terminal 1, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 or Jewel. Visit the Changi Festive Village website for the full list of terms and conditions.
Rates: From $12 for the Novice circuit (for kids) and $15 for the Pro circuit (13 years and above) from Mondays to Wednesdays
Dates: From now to 31 December 2020
Address: 10 Airport Boulevard, Changi Airport Terminal 4, Arrival Kerbside, taxi waiting area, Singapore 819665
Opening hours: 3pm to 10pm (Mondays to Wednesdays) | 2pm to 11pm (Thursdays to Sundays and eve of public holidays)
Booking: Purchase an activity pass on the Changi Festive Village website or pre-book or redeem them through PlayPass on the iChangi app
Contact: Call 6595 6868 or email enquiry@changiairport.com
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Don’t retreat to your hotel room just yet, because the night is still young. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d have heard of Jurassic Mile and seen it all over your Instagram feed. The park has over 20 life-sized dinosaur statues from 9 different species stretched across a 1km path.
Even if you’ve already visited the attraction, you won’t want to miss its festive makeover, Dino-Dazzle Light-Up. Come nightfall, the space will be lit up with a 25m fairy light-dotted tunnel and colourful neon signs. Even the dinos themselves have Christmas lights wrapped around them for a festive feel.
Admission to Dino-Dazzle Light-Up is free. Best of all, it is on from 6.30pm to 1am daily, perfect for all the night owls out there.
Address: Airport Boulevard, Changi Airport Terminal 4, Singapore 819665
Dates: From now to 3 January 2021
Opening hours: 6.30pm to 1am daily
Contact: Call 6595 6868 or email enquiry@changiairport.com
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Anyone who has been to Jewel knows that trying to capture its attractions on camera without a photobomb is almost impossible. Unless, of course, you’re on a staycation within its premises. Those who manage to tear themselves out of bed in the morning will be rewarded with plenty of photo ops minus the crowds.
Top on the list of must-visit photo spots during this period is the massive 16m-tall Christmas tree at Shiseido Forest Valley. Be sure to snap a picture at the entrance so you can get the towering tree in its full glory.
While capturing the Christmas tree from all angles, look out for another pop-up photo op from 22 to 24 December: the Disney x Haring x Coach display at the level 2 entrance of Jewel Changi Airport. A QR code links to a Mickey ears AR filter for more IG-worthy moments, and you can also take part in a “Spot the Mickey” photo contest to win an item from the Coach x Mickey x Keith Haring collection.
Once you’re done snapping pics of the tree, head up to Canopy Park. One of Jewel’s highlights ever since it opened, Canopy Park has been decked out with dazzling festive decorations, offering lots of pretty spots to soak in the holiday atmosphere.
Take a relaxing stroll and admire the beautiful variety of flowers on display, as well as lit-up gift boxes, Christmas ornaments and more.
Price: From $5; see the full list of different available attractions on its website
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, Level 5, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Thursdays) | 10am to 11pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: Call 6956 9898 or email contact.us@jewelchangiairport.com
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Taking pictures for Instagram can work up an appetite. Make your way from Jewel to Hub and Spoke, a beautiful glasshouse cafe located outside of Changi Airport Terminal 2. With natural light streaming in through the glass windows and wallet-friendly prices, rest assured your visit will be worth the trek.
Treat yourself to brunch classics such as Scrambled Egg on Toast ($6.90) and Eggs Benedict ($7.90) or opt for local breakfast fare such as Nasi Lemak with Fish & Otah ($6.90). Wash it all down with a cup of kopi ($1.40).
Address: 60 Airport Boulevard, #01-T2S-02, Kampong Changi, Singapore 819643
Opening hours: 7.30am to 8pm (Mondays to Thursdays) | 7.30am to 9.30pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: Email hubandspoke@changiairport.com
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You might be missing out on your annual ski trip to Hokkaido or Switzerland, but you can still enjoy a winter wonderland at tokidoki Snow Holiday. The temperature in the double-storey snow funhouse is kept at -10ºC all day, making it a perfect chill-out spot.
Besides frolicking in the snow, let your inner kidult loose by hopping on a tyre and sliding down a 12m-long snow luge. There are also whimsical backdrops featuring tokidoki characters and lit-up figurines dotted across the space for even more photo ops.
While each activity pass includes rental of winter wear, socks are not included, so remember to bring your own pair.
Rates: $13.90 for an activity pass
Dates: From now to 3 January 2021
Address: 65 Airport Boulevard, Departure Hall, next to check-in row 11, Changi Airport Terminal 3, Singapore 819663
Opening hours: 10.40am to 10.20pm daily (last entry at 9.40pm)
Booking: Purchase an activity pass on the Changi Festive Village website or pre-book or redeem them through PlayPass on the iChangi app
Contact: Call 6595 6868 or email enquiry@changiairport.com
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Post-snow adventure, recharge with a warm and hearty meal at Pizza Maru. The South Korean pizza chain has a limited-edition Merry Pink pizza combo ($39.90). It includes the first-ever dragon fruit pizza in Singapore, a grapefruit mocktail, as well as tenders and chips.
Made of black rice dough and topped with pink dragon fruit puree plus mozzarella cheese, the 10-inch dragon fruit pizza seems like it was created just for BLINKS. There are only 10 pink pizzas available daily. So if you’re a Blackpink fan who needs a shot of this for the ’gram, head there early to avoid disappointment.
Dates: From 16 November 2020 to 10 January 2021
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-222, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm (Sundays to Thursdays) | 10am to 10pm (Fridays, Saturdays and eve of public holidays)
Contact: Call 6612 465
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Changi Airport is usually the starting point of our year-end vacations. But in a year that has been anything but business as usual, this 2D1N Changi Airport itinerary proves that it is worthy of being a destination as well. So round up your loved ones and head down to Changi Airport and Jewel Changi to explore hidden gems and check out the vast array of novel experiences they’ve lined up for you this festive season and beyond. From go-kart racing to a winter wonderland, you can have the same fun as you would overseas, without leaving the country.
This post was brought to you by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Photography by Tan Wen Lin
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