In March 2019, we headed out on an amazing trip with our family and friends from Australia. We met them in Penang, Malaysia. On our way home, we stopped over in Singapore for a busy 72 hours. I had been to Singapore once before in 2002, but in 2019, it was like visiting a completely new destination. Singapore with kids was fabulous – I saw a whole different side to this amazing country. We walked a lot, and saw a lot, but the kids never once complained, they were mesmerized by it all.
Singapore is the perfect city to visit with kids. It’s futuristic but traditional, it’s high speed but chilled, it’s unlike any other city I’ve ever been to, and the amount of things to do is unreal. I can guarantee that you will never be bored in Singapore. It’s easy to get around, lots of places to stay, huge choice of places to eat. You can spend the day at the beach or a day in a high-tech city. I want to help you to make the most of your time in Singapore with kids, planning is the key to getting the most out of it.
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Day 1: Adventure-Filled Fun on Sentosa – The Ultimate Start to Singapore with Kids
Sentosa wasn’t really a destination on my first visit, but by 2019 it was a must-visit destination. 6 Years later in 2025, there are even more attractions to please the 25 million visitors who venture here each year. Somehow, like the rest of Singapore, it never feels too busy or crowded.
Head to Sentosa from the city in the morning, the fastest option is to get there by taxi. The cheapest option is by bus – Bus number 123 from Orchard will get you there directly. The most memorable way to get there is by cable car – from Mt Faber station it costs S$31.50pp for the 15-ish minute journey.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios is the biggest attraction on Sentosa, and it is worth the hype. It’s such a fun way to spend a day in Singapore with kids, big attractions like Minions, Madagascar and Shrek pull in the crowds. The Mummy Returns ride was memorable – my eldest aged 11 found it terrifying, but our 9-year-old wanted to go on again and again – so that one depends on how much of a daredevil the kids are! Stay until late on a weekend to catch the Parade – a great way to end the day.
A day entry to Universal Studios is S$83pp for adults and S$62 for 4-12 year olds – under 4’s go Free. We got tickets at the gate, but you can buy online before travel if you are more organised than me!
Harry Potter – Vision of Magic
One of the newest attractions on Sentosa, but one that we would not miss if we were visiting now – Harry Potter – Vision of Magic. It’s an interactive art exhibition and a must see for Harry Potter Fans. buy tickets online for this one before travelling.
Palawan Beach
If a day at the beach is your thing, Sentosa has 3 to choose from. My favourite was Palwan beach. When we were there, there was an inflatable festival in the area, which was great fun, but the beautiful sandy beach would have been enough. I’m talking about a White sandy beach – beautiful!
KidZania
If you are in Singapore with kids aged 4-14, KidZania is a great way to spend a few hours. Your children can be a surgeon, airline pilot, TV presenter – whatever they want to be in this kids’ city. Brilliant fun for the whole family – buy your tickets online before visiting to save up to 50% on entrance.
Day 2: Wildlife & Nature Adventures – Exploring the Wild Side of Singapore with Kids
Day 2 in Singapore with kids, make it all about the wildlife. Singapore is home to the Mandai Reserve with over 21,000 species and encompasses 6 parks. Singapore Zoo, The Night Safari, River Wonder and Bird Paradise. If you are animal lovers, this day will be ideal.
Singapore Zoo
Start your day at Singapore Zoo, a truly unique experience in Singapore with kids is Breakfast in the Wild. Breakfast is served from 9 am – 10.30 am daily, and costs S$47 for adults and S$37 for kids aged 6-12. You must also have a Zoo entrance ticket for this experience. The best value ticket for the Zoo is the ParkHopper Plus multi park ticket, which covers 4 parks and includes Amazon Riverquest, tram tickets and a carousel ride at Singapore Zoo for kids, this is priced at S$110 for Adults and S$80 for kids aged 3-12.
Start your day well with this iconic dining experience designed to inspire a love for wildlife and delight your senses!
Savour a hearty meal of local and international flavours in our charming rainforest zoo and meet our wildlife ambassadors and their keepers, who will fill your minds (and hearts) with stories about the animal kingdom, habitats and nature. Enjoy a scrumptious planet-friendly breakfast spread that is thoughtfully prepared by our chefs.
Singapore Zoo
River Wonders
Asia’s first and only River themed wildlife park. Explore animals that live on and along the rivers of the world, including Giant Pandas and manatees. A great way to spend a few hours in the afternoon after a busy morning in the zoo.
Bird Paradise
After a visit to River Wonders, head over to Bird Paradise – Asia’s largest bird park. lots of feathered friends to see, plus opportunities to feed the birds, presentations, and you can pre-book wildlife experiences. My favourites are either the Penguins or Flamingos – I can’t quite choose!
Night Safari
Hop on an open-sided tram and explore the night safari. The kids will love seeing the animals at dusk and at night, seeing and hearing a different side to them. We did this when we went to Singapore with kids, it was a great memory. We all loved seeing the animals up close and personal. When we had finished with the Night Safari, we were able to relax a little around the park with the shops, had some food and a beer and watched fire dancers. A totally unique way to spend the evening.
Day 3: Culture, Iconic Landmarks & Playgrounds – The Best of Singapore with Kids
Use your final day to explore all that the city has to offer and see why people fall in love with this city time and time again.
Gardens by the Bay
Begin your final day in Singapore with kids at Gardens by the Bay. It’s such a huge area to explore – most people think that it’s just the SuperTrees but there is so much more to it. There are two huge conservatories to explore – the Flower dome, which houses plants and flowers from all over the world, from rainforests to deserts. The Cloud Forest is home to one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls. Of course, the Supertrees are another amazing feature of the Gardens by the Bay – not only do they look amazing but they create solar power and help with the cooling of the conservatories too.
The Children’s Garden
Once you’ve seen all the sights of the Gardens by the Bay, let the kids cool off at the Children’s Garden. There’s a huge splash park for the under 12’s to keep cool in as well as a big playground with HUGE slides. Lots of fun, Free to enter too, just remember the kids swimmers.
Marina Bay Sands
Head over to Marina Bay Sands. If you are tied for time and want something quick and relatively cheap to eat, there’s a 7-Eleven inside the Shoppes shopping centre! If you are looking for the best views, head to the Sky Park Observation Deck at Marina Bay Sands. It’s not free to get up there and will set you back S$110 for a family ticket – at one point you could go into a bar and pay for a drink only and get the same view but not anymore – they now charge a minimum of S$30pp so the Observation deck is the better price with a family. (If you visit at peak times 5 pm – 10 pm, this price is S$126)
Merlion Park
No trip to Singapore is complete without a picture at the Merlion – which is why I need to go back to Singapore with Kids as it was being refurbished on our last visit! I did get a photo on my 2002 trip but that needs updating! The iconic half-lion half-mermaid statue is the perfect spot for some amazing photos! It’s free to view and take photos – just be aware that it can be very busy there, especially if a cruise ship is in dock.
River Cruise
Head back to your hotel by taking a nice bumboat river cruise down to Clarke Quay. A 45-minute cruise down the river to see some of the sights of the city that can easily be missed when using the city’s super efficient MRT, relax on the traditional wooden ship and take it all in.
Dine at a Hawker Centre
Singapore is famous for its hawker centres. You’ll be sure to find something for everyone and some of the best food you’ve ever eaten too. There are loads to choose from around the city, the food is great value as well as being made to traditional recipes.
Final Tips for Visiting Singapore with Kids
Getting around Singapore is super easy, the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) is often the quickest and easiest way. The air-conditioned trains are a great way to cool down and get away from the humidity for a little while. Singapore has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 25-33ºC, so make sure that you are packed for the right climate. You might want to consider taking a travel fan to help keep you all cool. Check out the Visit Singapore Website to get all the essential information before you travel. If you would prefer to stay away from the main attractions, check out my Singapore away from the main attractions post for other ideas of things to see and do.
Let me know if you have other tips or things that you can’t miss in Singapore.
Becky x
