The incredible £3.5bn airport with waterfall and cinema that's the 'best in the world'

It's not every day you come across an airport with a 40-metre indoor waterfall, a cinema, a butterfly garden, and even a dinosaur-themed park. Named the World's Best Airport not once, not twice, but an astonishing 13 times by Skytrax, Singapore Changi is a destination in its own right. At its heart lies the 10-storey Jewel complex, home to the world's tallest indoor waterfall, the stunning Jewel Rain Vortex, as well as lush indoor gardens featuring over 3,000 trees and plants, a butterfly centre, a mirror maze, spas, hotels, and even a museum.

Originally opened in 1981 at a cost of over £1 billion, Changi has since seen nearly £3.5 billion in development, and the expansion continues. The airport is currently undergoing a major £1.5 billion upgrade, with a fifth terminal in the works, set to open in the 2030s.

Not only is the airport packed with attractions, but it has also been recognised for its exceptional dining experiences, earning it the title of Best Airport for Food and Beverage, with over 300 dining options to choose from.

The airport is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary with a series of special SG60 events running through July and August 2025, featuring concerts, charity walks, elaborate floral displays, light and music showcases, and interactive exhibitions.

Yam Kum Weng, chief executive officer of Changi Airport Group, said about winning the award this April: "Changi Airport is honoured to be named by Skytrax as the World's Best Airport for the 13th time.

"It is indeed gratifying to receive this recognition, and this certainly encourages us to continue to strive to provide the best travel experience.

"We thank all our passengers for their vote of confidence. And we're especially grateful to the Changi Airport community, whose unwavering commitment to service excellence has made this award possible.

"As air travel continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming passengers to experience the magic at Changi Airport."

Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, also said: "It is a great achievement for Singapore Changi Airport to receive the highest award as the World's Best Airport 2025, this being a record-breaking 13th time in the awards history that they have scooped this award.

"The diversity and expansive choice of dining outlets is also recognised with Changi Airport winning the award for the World's Best Airport Dining.

"With washrooms being a major driver of customer satisfaction during their airport experience, we congratulate Singapore Changi Airport on receiving the first ever World's Best Airport Washrooms award."