Singapore, an island city-state in Southeast Asia, stands out as a global city with impressive developmental milestones. The nation attracts millions of visitors worldwide, including families with children seeking enjoyable attractions. As a result, improving and ensuring an array of family-friendly activities across all senses are priorities for stakeholders in the tourism business. In this regard, families with kids can find many sites, tours, attractions, parks, and experiences that will entice and entertain their spirits in Singapore. From nature-themed to science-based activities, from street food trails to cultural workshops, exploring fanciful experiences in Singapore will delight the heart and mind of the little ones.
Among the obvious places to visit, Singapore’s world-renowned zoos allow families to embark on an exciting journey inside massive themed habitats home to over 360 species of animals. Families can indulge in thrilling experiences, such as helping the keepers with feeding elephants at the breakfast buffet or travelling to the animals’ restaurant with the giraffe and zebra on tru-blue tram rides. Other grand opportunities to see the animals up close are available at Singapore Night Safari, where the wildlife park lights up the excitement after dusk, and River Safari, which offers the Amazon River Quest boat-ride attraction. Additionally, green spots in the parks around the island provide progressive edutainment for the kids. Singapore Immersive Park holds entertaining experiences featuring the daring Asia’s first 4D virtual reality indoor roller coaster and Universal Studios, with state-of-the-art rides inspired by famous movies.
The list of activities and sites to visit extends to the breathtaking skyline sparkling in the dark nights. Singapore’s comprehensive adventure-filled activities brim with new experiences that enchant families with kids travelling to Singapore for a dreamy getaway. A round-up of entertaining spots and a brief description of the must-try experiences are provided to ease the planning of trips in Singapore. For a short and full-day packages around the Singapore Zoo, Singapore’s night scenery with the sparkling MBS integrated complex, and experience the intrinsic side with the artsy Joo Chiat are also covered in the response to a complete family itinerary. Envisage a breathtaking getaway in Singapore with this all-in-one travel guide.
Outdoor Adventures
Singapore, popularly known as the Lion City, is a small yet vibrant island city-state located in Southeast Asia, just south of the Johor state of Malaysia. Being slightly over 715 square kilometers in area, it is one of the smallest countries in the world but still manages to hold the title of the world’s most densely populated country. Although city-states are usually associated with skyscrapers and urban jungles, Singapore has more to offer than just a slew of high-rises. Because of the small land area, most of its towns are located relatively close to each other and the city. Commuting into downtown Singapore is extremely convenient and efficient, even without optional rides using bicycles or scooters. The country prides itself on its cultural heritage and is famous for combining a little of each world into one. The food alone from the various cultural cuisines is worth a visit. When flying or taking a cruise into Singapore, locals and visitors alike will be amazed by the iconic structures such as the Marina Bay Sands hotel, one of the world’s most expensive buildings in the world. Nevertheless, Singapore also has a far more natural and scenic side; with the government’s efforts to combat urbanization, many parks and greenery have been preserved and maintained.
One of such places is the Gardens by the Bay, a sprawling garden in the middle of the city that is home to the iconic Supertree Grove. These giant man-made trees have become the symbol of Singapore and display various species of plants, most of which are flowering plants. Breathtaking flower domes with species from around the world can be viewed either in the freestanding cloud forest dome or the giant flower dome, with flowers resembling those from Europe to California. Complete with nightly aerial light and sound shows from Marina Bay Sands and Supertree Grove, the experience becomes a romantic perfect getaway for couples and families alike (Gomes, 2009). Another attraction similar to Gardens by the Bay is the SkyPark Observation Deck on the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Built atop three colossal hotel blocks with an infinity pool gazing downwards at the city, it offers a stunning scenic view of the sunset, especially before the sun sinks down the towering buildings. A priceless experience would be to capture the greenery and serenity of the city with a DSLR camera. Built-in public benches invite people to relax, unwind and take in the breathtaking sight.
Sentosa Island is perhaps one of the best-known places among locals and visitors alike for family-oriented activities. Just a short monorail ride and queue away from the VivoCity shopping mall offers hotels, resorts, and beaches, as well as exciting marine and wildlife experiences. Describing all its family-friendly activities and attractions would warrant another essay or two, but some notable ones include Universal Studios, Sea Aquarium, and Adventure Cove Park. Among these activities, the beaches around Sentosa are often overlooked but not too much less fun. Palawan Beach is home to the southernmost point of continental Asia and is famous for its suspension bridge and watchtower, offering another scenic view of the city from a different angle. Siloso Beach, on the other hand, is more lively and home to the famous beach parties, including foam parties.
Outdoor time can be spent visiting the parks found throughout the country, such as East Coast Park, West Coast Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, and many more. Almost every scenery park offers some amenities such as bicycle rental services, barbeque pits, or playgrounds. Their proximity to many of the local East Coast food courts makes the experience a fun family outing.
Visiting Gardens by the Bay
There are many family-friendly places and activities in Singapore that can easily amuse both parents and their little ones. Families can have a great time visiting parks, museums, and other outdoor destinations. One of the many options includes visiting Gardens by the Bay, one of Singapore’s national icons and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located by the Marina Bay waterfront, Gardens by the Bay covers a total area of 101 hectares that boasts different garden landscapes, outdoor groves, and various attractions. Children and families can enjoy its unique features that cannot be found anywhere else, such as the Supertree Grove, the Flower Dome, and conservatories.
Gardens by the Bay is a free outdoor destination for families. More parents bring their children along with them on weekend family day-outs. Located along Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay is one of the most recognizable spots in Singapore and there are many things and attractions interesting to children and the family that make it worth a visit. The Supertree Grove features 18 iconic trees between 25 and 50 meters tall and has become Singapore’s national icon. Children can view the grove from the ground up or walk among the trees by visiting the OCBC Skyway, a 128-meter long aerial walkway situated 22 meters above the ground that allows views of towering trees, conservatories, and the marina. From the walk, a nightly light and sound show called Garden Rhapsody takes place after sunset at the Supertree Grove. Families can enjoy the spectacular view of the Supertree Grove coming alive with dancing lights along with music while the children dance along. Besides that, the Flower Dome is a cool-dry conservatory that houses perpetual spring and seasonal flower displays. Children can see giant sculptures made with flowers and a beautiful view of the Marina Bay waterfront. The Flower Dome is family-friendly, accommodating families with children by providing children playgrounds, interesting gardens, and interesting flower displays. Gardens by the Bay also boasts various sustainable garden landscapes, one place that highlights greenery in the city.
Exploring Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island is a resort destination located just off the southern coast of Singapore. It is home to some of Singapore’s major attractions, like Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove Waterpark, S.E.A. Aquarium, KidZania Singapore, and many more. Families with children can enjoy fun adventures at the beach or play sports at the various attractions available on the island.
Most attractions on Sentosa Island are family-themed and great for children, like family-friendly resorts, outdoor beach activities, amusement parks, aquariums, and many more. Fun and exciting things to do include a thrilling boat ride with Merlion, enjoying the lush green landscape of Sentosa Island while taking a Singapore Cable Car ride, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Island, visiting the Trick Eye Museum with fun 3D art illusions, searching for nearby beaches dotted with coral reefs while kayaking at Sentosa, playing in the water at Adventure Cove Waterpark, and watching winged creatures fly above head at the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. For families with children aged 14 and below, KidZania Singapore is an edutainment experience where children can discover the adult world by exploring various careers.
Sentosa Island is also a great place to take evening strolls along the beach. Free Sound and Light shows at the beach are held in the evening, like the Crane Dance and Wings of Time, and each show describes different stories with different concepts. Families can spend an entire day visiting the beautiful island with numerous attractions to visit and activities to enjoy, and it is guaranteed that they will spend the day happily.
Cultural and Educational Experiences
Singapore offers a variety of cultural and educational activities that are both entertaining and engaging for children. Two popular options are the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari and the Science Centre Singapore.
Considered one of the most beautiful zoos worldwide, the Singapore Zoo provides a unique experience of visiting 315 species of animals living in naturalistic habitats amid stunning landscaping. The Open Zoo concept allows you to appreciate the animals up close while keeping their enclosure safe. The zoo focuses on open exhibits, natural landscapes, and a diverse selection of animals. In an 8-week summer period, the zoo showcases a special “Animals of the Night” event, featuring several nocturnal animals, a new tiger exhibit, and a zoo-wide stamping activity.
The Night Safari is a zoo that is only open at night and is home to over 130 animal species. This one-of-a-kind experience is enchanting as you embark on a tram ride deep into rainforests, watching animals roaming freely in their territory. The park also highlights the myths and legends of nocturnal animals through 10 sets of intriguing performances. You must follow the magnetic pathway to learn the global significance of different animals in the night cultures of Japan, China, Egypt, and more humorous overseas tales. The best vantage points to catch glimpses of the animals are from benches set 20-30 meters apart. Take your time exploring; otherwise, you may find yourself lost in the vast park despite the various animal sculptures marking the pathways.
Science Centre Singapore is an enjoyable hands-on playground with over 850 interactive science exhibits for kids. It is easy to traverse as the layout is logical and well-labeled. Highlights include exploring optical illusions in the Human Body Experience dome, controlling a model aircraft, sky-diving simulator, and experiencing the virtual city tour. With daily live science demonstrations of a surprise element, toddler-friendly space with interactive exhibition, and a special Ambassador for the Day program with interpreters, science talks, and demonstrations, kids will not leave disappointed. The best visiting time is around noon, so they can closely observe the live experiments during the 15-20-minute demonstration.
Visiting Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Visiting Singapore Zoo and Night Safari presents a wonderful opportunity to engage in edutainment experiences as a family. Singapore Zoo is famed for its open-concept exhibits and wilderness feel, making it one of the best zoos in the world. Children will be fascinated by the sight of wildlife roaming freely in their enclosures, as nearly all of the exhibits are without barriers, such as fences and cages. Food packages are also available for feeding animals like elephants, giraffes, and fish. Participating in animal shows will surely leave every family member captivated by these exotic animals. The zoo covers a massive area of 28 hectares, and a tram ride is available for those who do not wish to walk and explore the exhibits on foot.
Singapore Night Safari is popular for late-night adventures within the zoo. The nocturnal zoo is equipped with special lights that allow the viewing of wildlife. Roofed by heavy foliage and set beside a river running through the entire zoo, the Night Safari offers an additional element of mystery. Highlighting the best features of the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari’s open concept is even more daring. Each enclosure is mounted with a moat for greater safety. The Night Safari features different tram rides, as some animals are solely nocturnal. This aspect is fascinating and adds to the edutainment experience. Besides, two walking trails allow exploration of greater variety, and the absence of daytime heat aids in making the trek more pleasant.
Exploring Science Centre Singapore
Science Centre Singapore is a world-class scientific playground that houses more than a thousand educational and interactive exhibits. Back in March 1977, it was the first institution of its kind in Singapore. Now it is a living exhibition to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and technology among the people of Singapore. A quick browse at its website shows multiple family-oriented programs and workshops (Worsham, 2016). As a family, visitors can learn more about science, innovate a color-changing dress with its newly released A-DO-RE-A-RAY workshop, or even tinker with a robot to bring home! All of the activities are hands-on, as science, instead of being a static body of knowledge, is more useful viewed dynamically as a collection of activities. The science center provides the best chance to engage in scientific learning outside schools and bring back knowledge, skills, and even ideas for inventions and designs. For those preferring observing things from a distance, there are giant interactive displays that run on alternative energy worldwide, or innovative displays on what-learn-from-bubbles to zero-gravity that astonish and amuse visitors. If considering a visit or stay in Singapore, put this on the itinerary and an inquiry to its website will help prepare this visit to be one-of-a-kind.
Entertainment and Playgrounds
In the heart of Sentosa Island lies a place where families can escape from the humdrum of everyday life and enjoy a world celebrating all things entertainment – Universal Studios Singapore. Soak in the atmosphere of Hollywood Boulevard and sit in awe as musicians serenade you with the swinging tunes of the Golden Age. Buzz across the sun-scorched desert with the Dinosaurs from Jurassic Park and scream your lungs out on the indoor roller-coaster ride of Revenge of the Mummy. Celebrate the beloved characters of Madagascar and Shrek with heartwarming parades and stage productions.
In the evenings, watch in wonder as the lakeside scene is transformed with the 3D light-and-sound show, “Lake Hollywood Spectacular”. Universal Studios Singapore may not be the biggest theme park in the world, nor the craziest, but it is certainly one of the most fun places to visit with the family.
Nestled in a vibrantly colored and iconic, sky-high red-and-yellow building at Sentosa Island is an extremely enticing and interactive theme park – KidZania Singapore. At KidZania, kids can fulfill their career ambitions (no matter how impossible they might think them to be) through games as they delve into a world that delights in role-playing! KidZania Singapore hosts 60 interactive role-playing games, featuring a raw mock-up of a real city complete with working businesses, streets, vehicles, and infrastructure. Kids can be a pilot flying a plane 20,000 feet in the air, help put out a raging fire as a firefighter, even try their hand at being a surgeon in an O.R. KidZania Singapore’s motto, “Earn. Save. Spend.” – sums it up perfectly, as kids learn to navigate their financial futures while making life choices that mimic real life.
Should the kids get hungry while engaging in these jobs, there are no worries; ice-cream, donuts, and pizza can all be made there with real play-dollars! All games are mapped on a KidZos currency with clear entry fees. Interestingly, the world of KidZania is not limited to only kids; there is a “KidZania City” in 53 countries around the world!
Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore, or USS, is the first Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia. Located on Sentosa Island, the park opened on 28 March 2010 and features 28 rides and attractions in seven themed zones based on films produced by Universal Pictures. The park was built at a cost of S$4.5 billion, making it the largest attraction on Sentosa. The park is easily accessible via public transportation, and it is usually open every day of the year (subject to change due to weather conditions).
Like other Universal parks, USS is a film studio and theme park combination. It attracts families with children who will enjoy the themed rides based on their favorite films. Its attractions consist of numerous thrill rides, water rides, and shows. Families who are interested in meeting the characters from the theme park’s rides and shows may also enjoy the park. In anticipation of the park’s opening, there are even hoped-for attractions based on upcoming Universal films, such as the animated Despicable Me film franchise and the Jurassic World science fiction franchise.
USS features various attractions, most of which can be easily enjoyed by children, and most of the rides and attractions have a height limit of only 107 cm (roughly 3.5 feet), which means that children 107 cm or taller can go on the rides by themselves, while children shorter than 107 cm can go on the rides but not as the sole guests of the ride. 43% of the rides and attractions have a height restriction of 127 cm (roughly 4.2 feet) or taller to ride alone, and 57% of the rides and attractions have a height restriction of 120 cm (roughly 3.9 feet) or shorter to accompany a child. The park features rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants unique to Southeast Asia, Singapore, and even the world, such as the Transformers: The Ride 3D and the Puss In Boots’ Giant Adventure rides.
USS recommends that guests prepare for their day at the park by reading their tips for riding rides and attractions and/or making a rough plan for when to go on certain rides and attractions during their visit. Most rides and attractions allow guests to bring bags and personal belongings onto them, but small items (e.g. phones) must be secured in a pocket. Lockers are available for rent at the different themed zones to store personal items when going on rides that don’t permit diners and large bags. The park’s operating hours for rides and attractions is either from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., depending on the day, and its stores are normally open every day of the year. The park recommends that guests visit its website or contact them to double-check their hours of operation.
KidZania Singapore
KidZania Singapore is an interactive theme park that offers children a unique opportunity to explore different professions and gain practical experiences in a safe and engaging environment. Located at Sentosa Island, the park is designed to resemble a scaled-down city, complete with buildings, streets, and vehicles, where children can role-play various careers in over 80 real-life establishments.
One of the main highlights of KidZania Singapore is its focus on immersive learning experiences. Children can engage in activities such as flying a plane as a pilot, cooking in a restaurant as a chef, or even working as a firefighter to put out simulated fires. Each profession is accompanied by educational demonstrations and hands-on tasks that allow children to understand the responsibilities and skills required for that job. This provides a valuable opportunity for children to learn about the working world in a fun and entertaining way.
In addition to the professional experiences, KidZania Singapore also emphasizes important life skills such as financial literacy and teamwork. Children can earn KidZos, the park’s currency, through various jobs and use it to purchase goods and services within the city. This teaches them the value of money and budgeting. Furthermore, many activities require collaboration with other children, fostering social skills and teamwork.
Overall, KidZania Singapore is a fantastic family-friendly activity that combines entertainment and education. It offers children a chance to explore different careers, gain practical experiences, and learn important life skills in a safe and engaging environment.
Singapore truly stands out as a prime destination for families seeking fun and adventurous activities. From theme parks that promise thrilling rides to places of natural wonder that delight the senses, the city-state has something for everyone. Family-friendly activities are plentiful here; it merely requires adventurous families to step out and explore. With careful planning, they may be surprised by the exciting opportunities surrounding them.
While ensuring vacation choices fit the family’s vision of fun, there are several tips to guide parents on the most memorable family adventures. The first step is to decide what type of family activities sound most fun since different families have different ideas of fun! For some families, the ultimate fun may be gazing at spectacular natural wonders, participating in kid-friendly activities at a museum, or visiting amusement parks with thrilling rides. For others, fun may also be dishing out scary adventures, such as rock climbing or bungee jumping! Purposefully deciding the type of fun, activities, or event helps narrow down options. Next, it is crucial to set a budget and find out the costs of the most important activities, events, or adventures. Families have to understand how much it will cost to give them the type of fun they want. Developing an exact budget prevents disappointment and wasted time for adventures that turn out to be too costly.
Another key tip is to reserve transportation, hotels, accommodations, and more in advance, especially during peak periods. Reservations made early often cost less, they give the peace of mind that long-sought fun will be available. For families going on a cruise, it is best to look into their cruise line’s prearranged excursions ahead of time! Finally, it is also recommended to seek professional assistance. Consider hiring a family vacation planner, professional travel agent, or cruise company to prearrange most trip details. Seeking professional assistance may come with additional costs, but it will create admirably unforgettable vacations.
In summary, Singapore is undoubtedly one of the best countries for family adventures. With the delectable hawker food, spectacular natural wonders, thrilling rides and attractions, and vibrant culture that allows for immersive experiences, no one will find boredom in this bustling city.