The long-awaited Jewel Complex has been unveiled at Singapore Changi airport, the home of Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines, complete with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, 100,000 plants, aerial canopy parks, hedge mazes and vertical gardens. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the 135,700 sqm Jewel Changi Airport is covered by a glass biodome that lets natural light flood in. At the heart of the new aviation complex is the 40-metre tall Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Jewel is a destination on its own, providing travellers with plenty to experience between flights, rides and stopovers. Early check-in counters and baggage storage facilities, open from 6am to midnight daily, allow travellers to have a worry-free experience while they shop, dine, relax and play to make the most of their time before flying out of Singapore. In line with the growth of Singapore as a regional cruise centre, Jewel also has the Changi Lounge which provides seamless transfers for passengers with connections to cruise and ferry services.
Features of Jewel Changi Airport
Demonstrating that airports of the future will no longer simply be places of transit but destinations in themselves, features inside the Jewel Complex include the Shiseido Forest Valley, and attractions such as the Manulife Sky Nets in the elevated Canopy Park, the Hedge Maze, Mirror Maze and Discovery Slides. The aim is to be a place for travellers to enjoy between flights, and a destination for Singaporeans to meet friends and family for a fun day out.
The HSBC Rain Vortex is a 40-metre tall indoor waterfall with water cascading through an oculus in the roof of the building. Set to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the HSBC Rain Vortex was inspired by the frequent rains in Singapore and will complement the lush greenery surrounding the various lifestyle offerings, making it a sight to behold from every floor.
Meanwhile, the Shiseido Forest Valley is a verdant four-storey landscape, which houses one of the largest indoor collection of plants in Singapore. The landscaping will complement the wide array of retail and F&B activities at Jewel, allowing visitors to shop and dine amidst a resplendent indoor forest.
Hung Jean, chief executive officer of Jewel Changi Airport Development, said: “The unique proposition of world-class shopping and dining, seamlessly integrated with lush greenery, fulfills the needs of increasingly discerning travellers for a meaningful and experiential journey, even for brief layovers.”
Increasing hotel and food options at Changi
Changi airport previously housed 400 retailers and 140 food and beverage outlets but with Jewel, another 280 shops and restaurants have been added, including international restaurant Burger & Lobster, which has a view over the Rain Vortex. A dedicated retail cluster of local brands can be found on level one.
Singapore Changi has also partnered with innovative capsule hotel brand Yotel. The Jewel Complex will house the first Yotelair property in Asia, which will have 130 space-age cabins that can be booked for a minimum of four hours, making it is ideal for short daytime layovers or overnight stays. It is located landside and directly connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Jewel Changi Airport has a baggage storage service and early check-in counters and kiosks so passengers can maximise their time at the airport. It can be accessed by people both transiting or visiting at the end of a trip to Singapore.
Visiting Jewel Changi Airport
Changi Airport is well-served by public transport, and members of the public are encouraged to use the trains or public buses when visiting. Apart from the Changi Airport MRT station, there are several bus services operating at T1, T2 and T3. T1 is seamlessly integrated with Jewel via the Level 1 Arrival Hall, while T2 and T3 are linked to Jewel via air-conditioned pedestrian linkways.
Update: personal transiting experience
If transiting through Changi airport you’ll be able to leave the airside terminal areas to visit Jewel, but you should aim to have at least a 5 hour transit time to do this. When you leave airside and pass through immigration, they’ll ask you how many hours you have before your next flight and what time it is. They prefer you to have at least eight hours between flights, but late at night I was able to get out of the airport and see the Rain Vortex and grab some food within about two hours. It’s very easy to get from the airside terminals to the Jewel, and only takes about 20-30mins to use the shuttle, then walk and use the linkways, depending on which terminal your flight arrives into. And yes, you will get a passport stamp!