Singapore is one of the world’s most kid-friendly cities,
and there are several reasons why it should be on your list of places to visit
with your family. Parents will undoubtedly benefit from experiencing a
fascinating melting pot of culture and a hub of world-renowned cuisine.
With so many things to do in this grand city, be sure to go through these top 10 “must–do’s” when in Singapore.
Sentosa Skyline Luge
Skyline Luge is a thrilling adventure activity suitable for riders of all ages and levels of experience.
Skyline Luge was founded in New Zealand over 35 years ago and has since expanded to seven international locations, hosting over 50 million rides worldwide. The tracks are all designed with twists, turns, and tunnels for a thrilling outdoor experience with friends and family.
Race down four thrilling luge tracks – Dragon, Jungle, Kupu Kupu, and Expedition. Each trail has unique features such as hairpin corners, thrilling tunnels, and thrilling downhill slopes. In Sentosa, they race through lush tropical forests. When you reach the bottom of the track, scramble back onto the Skyride for a treetop ride back to the beginning and a view of the Singapore skyline and the South China Sea.
The Singapore Zoo
The Singapore Zoo is well-known for its open concept, in which thousands of animals roam freely. Explore the zoo paths and you might see an orangutan swinging overhead. Watch as a small kangaroo hops into another enclosure just a few feet in front of you. It’s truly incredible.
The magnificent white tigers (contained by a moat) are breathtaking. The lush rainforest foliage is beautiful and, thankfully, provides some shade as you explore (more on Singapore’s weather at the bottom of this post). If your children are unable to spend an entire day at the zoo, make sure to research the zoo’s schedule online.
In the afternoon, there are several animal feedings and even elephant rides, while Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife is a fun morning event that includes a photo opportunity with orangutans.
Gardens at Jurong Lake
Jurong Lake Gardens is Singapore’s new heartland national garden. It is a people’s garden, with landscaped areas and gathering places for families and the community.
Lakeside Garden (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens West), Chinese and Japanese Gardens (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens Central), and Garden Promenade are all part of the 90-hectare Gardens (formerly Jurong Lake Gardens East). The Gardens is a popular spot for fitness enthusiasts. It’s also a great place to go for morning and evening walks. The Gardens, which are surrounded by Jurong Lake, are a great place to see a variety of water birds such as herons, egrets, and storks. Bring binoculars if you want to see the birds in action.
Marine Cove
Marine Cove, located nearly smack dab in the middle of East Coast Park, has long been a popular destination for those looking to relax by the beach or cycle through the park. Today, you can enjoy views of the sea while sipping a drink or nibbling on a bite at a modern glass-and-steel structure, with the happy sounds of children from the open-air playground filling the air.
Marine Cove, formerly known as East Coast Recreation Centre in the 1980s, received its current name in 2002. The complex then housed, among other things, a bowling alley, an arcade, and eateries with replica facades of the historic Lido and Odeon cinemas. There was also a 24-hour McDonald’s, one of Singapore’s largest. It was extremely popular among park-goers, who would stop by to refuel after cycling or skating – it was the world’s first McDonald’s to have a skate-through facility.
Apart from the simple joys of flying kites, making sandcastles, cycling and skating in East Coast Park, children will be thrilled with the huge playground at Marine Cove. Spread across 3,500 sqm, it is packed with play equipment suitable for different ages, including swings, an 8 m lighthouse-like tower with slides and a rope bridge, as well as a colourful rock-climbing wall. When tummies rumble, parents and little ones alike can fuel up on the diverse range of family-friendly fare here — tangy Peranakan dishes, traditional kopi and kaya toast, and scrumptious Indian-Muslim food, just to name a few.
The S.E.A Aquarium
The Marine Life Park is part of Resorts World Sentosa in Sentosa, Singapore’s southernmost island. The S.E.A. Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark are located within the 8-hectare (20-acre) park.
The South East Asia Aquarium (SEA Aquarium) was the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume until it was surpassed by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China. It holds 45,000,000 litres (9,900,000 imp gal; 12,000,000 US gal) of water for over 100,000 marine animals from over 800 different species.
The S.E.A. Aquarium houses over 100,000 marine animals from over 1,000 different species in 45 different habitats. The S.E.A. Aquarium offers a completely new underwater experience, complete with updated educational content and immersive audio-visual programmes. This is in addition to the aquarium’s recent makeover, which includes specially designed light effects and fascinating soundscapes.
Adventure Cove Waterpark
A day at Adventure Cove Waterpark will help you beat the heat. Pipeline Plunge, one of seven thrilling water rides, will get your heart rate up as you plunge down an elevated chute and careen across banked turns and radical twists before splashing out in a pool of water.
If all you want is a lazy day in the sun, grab a float and float down Adventure River, passing stunning habitats such as a lush jungle garden, a mysterious grotto, and an underwater tunnel with a sea of marine life swimming above and around you. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Reef offers snorkelling in a lagoon with 20,000 friendly fishes playing hide-and-seek in the man-made reef. Alternatively, you could wade among dozens of rays in Ray Bay, gently touching their velvety wings as they swim past you.
The kids will have a great time as well, with attractions like Seahorse Hideaway, a shallow wading pool complete with fountains just right for tots.
Universal Studio
Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park within Resorts World Sentosa on the island of Sentosa in Singapore. It has 28 rides, shows, and attractions spread across seven themed zones. It is one of six Universal Studios theme parks worldwide.
Universal Studios Singapore, Southeast Asia’s first Hollywood movie theme park, offers an enticing selection of attractions, rides, and entertainment for families and thrill seekers. Indeed, 18 of the 24 movie-themed rides were created specifically for the Singapore park. There are seven distinctively designed zones, each themed after movie icons. The renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame can be found in the Hollywood zone.
As you progress into New York, the landscape changes to include impressive city skylines, as well as a mock-up of a subway entrance. Step onto a movie set and experience the destructive force of a hurricane, complete with special effects created by Steven Spielberg.
TRANSFORMERS are featured in Sci-Fi City. The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle Ride, in which you battle evil forces in heart-pounding 3D combat. Continue on to Ancient Egypt, where you’ll encounter mummies and scarab beetles on an indoor roller coaster in complete darkness—all the better to arouse your fears. Prepare to get soaked on a river boat ride in Madagascar.
Jurong Bird Park
Jurong Bird Park is a tourist attraction and aviary in Jurong, Singapore. The bird park is 0.2 square kilometres (49 acres) in size and is located on the western slope of Jurong Hill, the highest point in the Jurong region. It is managed by Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the same company that owns Singapore Zoo, Night Safari Singapore, and River Wonders.
Jurong Bird Park is a 20.2 hectare family-friendly bird park in Singapore. It is home to over 3,500 birds from 400 species and has cutting-edge facilities such as walk-in aviaries and unique exhibits.
You will be able to meet hundreds of different bird species, learn about their habitats, and even interact with them up close! Meet the Philippine Eagles, the country’s national bird, and spend some time observing the frugivorous Red Crested Turacos.
Bayside Gardens
The Gardens by the Bay is a 101-hectare (250-acre) nature park in Singapore’s Central Region, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park includes three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden (in Marina South), Bay East Garden (in Marina East), and Bay Central Garden (in Marina Central) (in Downtown Core and Kallang). [2] The Bay South Garden, designed by Grant Associates, is the largest of the gardens at 54 hectares (130 acres). Its Flower Dome is the world’s largest glass greenhouse.
Gardens by the Bay was part of the country’s plans to transform its “Garden City” into a “City in a Garden,” with the goal of improving the city’s quality of life by increasing greenery and flora. Gardens by the Bay, was envisioned as Singapore’s premier urban outdoor recreation space and a national icon. Gardens by the Bay, located on the Marina Bay Waterfront in the heart of Singapore, is a haven for nature lovers and budding horticulturists alike. This oasis of lush greenery, which spans 101 hectares and includes three distinct spaces–Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden–has received numerous accolades since it first opened in 2012.
The Flower Dome
The Flower Dome in Bay South Gardens entices visitors with its natural beauty. This verdant space, measuring 1.28 hectares, is the largest of three cooled conservatories and set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Glass Greenhouse in 2015. From thousand-year-old olive trees to magnolias and orchids, it is home to plants and flowers from five continents.
Floral Dreams
Keep an eye out for Floral Fantasy as you explore Gardens by the Bay at your leisure. The second of the Gardens’ three indoor conservatories delves into both historical and fantastical realms. Each of its four distinct zones, with cavernous spaces, dramatic driftwood sculptures, and floral art, draws inspiration from fairy tales and the storied Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay’s third conservatory, is a mist-filled landscape of rare vegetation and dramatic vistas. Cloud Mountain, a 35-metre-tall structure veiled in mist and covered in lush vegetation, towers above the conservatories’ ferns and pitcher plants. As you scale its heights and discover plant life from the tropical highlands, your imagination is bound to soar.
Grove of Supertrees
As you leave the conservatory, you’ll probably notice the Supertrees, a grove of soaring, surreal structures. These vertical gardens range in height from 25 to 50 metres, with two of the towering structures linked by the dramatic arch of the OCBC Skyway. When dusk falls, the grove comes alive with the Garden Rhapsody, a light and sound show. Ascend to the top of the Supertree Observatory, a 50-metre-high observation deck with an unobstructed view of the beautiful Marina Bay district, for an unforgettable view of Singapore. Finish your visit to Gardens by the Bay with a breathtaking sunset at Bay East Garden. The lush open lawns and beautiful waterfront provide a clear view of Singapore’s skyline.