We weren’t sure what to expect from Singapore beyond clean streets and good food, but it turns out this small island nation is packed with fun for families. From zip-lining through garden playgrounds to cycling past monkeys on a wild little island, we found so many things to do in Singapore that kids will genuinely love – and, just as importantly, grown-ups will enjoy too.

It’s not just a stopover. Singapore is a destination in its own right, and whether you’re travelling with toddlers, tweens or teens, there’s something here to match your family’s travel style (and energy levels!).

Spoiler alert: You’ll get your steps in, your kids will sleep like rocks, and you might even drink a coffee while it’s still hot. Below is our personal list of top experiences, including a few that might surprise you.

Explore the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, is hands down one of the best places we visited in Singapore. There are heaps of interactive activities such as a hedge maze, zip-line, obstacle course, playground, plant potting and sensory garden, water play area and more.

We had a really great morning here, and to top it off, the public toilets were incredibly clean with kiddie-sized toilets and sinks for those with younger children. Surprisingly, you don’t have to pay a cent to visit the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.

This is one of the best free things to do in Singapore with kids!

Relax at the East Coast Park and beach

Singapore’s East Coast Park is one of those great places that locals know about but isn’t really marketed as a tourist attraction. It’s a lovely 15-kilometre stretch of park area and beaches that’s also free to visit.

Whilst the beach is no French Polynesia or Cook Islands paradise, it’s still nice with plenty of sand for the kids. And because this is Singapore, it’s squeaky clean too. The grassy area that follows the coastline has a great walking path that boasts an awesome playground and picnic area.

Enjoy the world-class attractions at Gardens by the Bay

I’ll start by saying that you need to visit Gardens by the Bay twice. The first time in the daylight, so you can explore the two spectacular domes, wander around the supertrees and gardens, and let the kids play at the water park. Then you need to come back at night and visit Supertree Grove.

At both 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm daily, the Supertree Grove lights up with sounds and music. Even though many people come to see this, there is still plenty of room to move around and sit down. It’s worth keeping the kids up past their bedtime for.

It’s free to visit Gardens by the Bay and wander around the Supertrees and gardens, and even the kids’ water play area is free. However, you can also get a paid-for ticket that allows you to skip the line.

There is also a fee to enter the two domes, which are totally worth it. If you want to walk on the OCBC Skyway, there is a cost as well. We didn’t do the OCBC Skyway but thoroughly enjoyed walking around at ground level.

Out of all the things to do in Singapore with kids … don’t miss this one!

Ride the Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel in the heart of Singapore. The whole circuit takes around 30 minutes and you will sit at 165m at the highest point. You get great views of the Colonial District, CBD and Marina Bay, and the South China Sea full of giant ships.

Each glass cubicle has seats in the middle and touch screens to learn more about the city. We all really loved this.

Day trip over to Pulau Ubin Island

Pulau Ubin is a rustic island that can be reached by a short (ten-minute) and cheap bumboat ride across the ocean from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. When you arrive, you can either grab one of the waiting taxis or hire a pushbike. There are lots of options available for the kids, from kid seats on the adult bikes, to tandem bikes, to kiddy-sized bikes.

Cycling to Chek Jawa Wetlands and walking out onto the two wooden boardwalks was a highlight for us. One weaves through the mangroves, and the other out over the ocean, where at low tide, there is marine life to view underfoot.

Expect to see monkeys, lizards, birds, and all sorts of wildlife that you would likely see in wetland areas. Also, don’t believe anything you read that says it’s a ‘flat’ ride to the wetlands. It’s not.

The bumboat road across to the island is only a few dollars and the boats leave when there are 12 passengers. We didn’t have to wait longer than a few minutes each time.

Out of all the modern things to do in Singapore with kids, this one feels like a step back in time off the beaten path.

Stroll around Little India and Kampong Glam

The Little India and Kampong Glam areas of Singapore are just really atmospheric and quite enjoyable to explore on foot. We stayed in Little India in a nice little hotel directly across from a shopping centre and the Farrer Park MRT station. However, this hotel is more suited to those on a budget and those who can deal with a teeny tiny room.

There are plenty of food options nearby, plenty of clothes shopping, beautiful mosques, really cute little shopfronts and epic street art.

We had a great time on our last day, hitting up the Tekka Centre to buy some great-priced Indian-style dresses.The kids scored their own little outfits, and we strolled around the fascinating wet market at ground level.

If you would like a little more insight while you are strolling around, check out this Little India Walking Tour.

Explore Fort Canning Park and Battlebox

Battlebox is an underground British WWII bunker, and apparently, a rabbit warren of rooms and tunnels. Guided tours are available to take you through but unfortunately, it was closed on the day we visited. Fort Canning Park is basically a park on a hill covered in lush plantlife. It makes a great retreat from the humidity of Singapore. The bunkers mentioned above are located inside the hill.

This is a great thing to do in Singapore with kids to surround yourself in greenery and enjoy nature. There is a green grassy area for the kids to run around on, steps to wear them out, historical buildings to check out, and a spice garden and museum. Visiting the park is free but there is a cost to experience Battle Box.

Enjoy the greenery at Macritchie Reservoir

Macritchie Reservoir is another great place to escape the humidity of Singapore. It seems to be the place locals head to exercise, with hiking tracks, exercise equipment, canoe hire, and bike trails.

You can stroll around the reservoir and hire a canoe, or you could aim for the Tree Top Walk. This walk is a popular hike that will see you traversing a 250m long suspension bridge 25 metres up in the air. I desperately wanted to do this, but my kids went on a hiking strike for this trip.

It’s free to visit Macritchie Reservoir, but a fee is payable to rent a canoe if you wish to do so. Kids under 7 years of age aren’t allowed on the canoes. This is one of those great things to do in Singapore with kids if you have a bit more time up your sleeve like we did.

Go wild at Resorts World Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island is basically an all-ages playground that will burn a hole in your wallet pretty quickly. Is it worth it? Yes. If your family loves theme-park type attractions, then the ‘Island of Fun’ is absolutely for you!

There are a lot of attractions packed onto this small island, including Universal Studios Singapore, SEA Aquarium, Wave House, Adventure Cove Waterpark, Kidzania, Skyline Luge and more. We only spent one day here so we hit up the SEA Aquarium in the morning and one of the beaches in the afternoon.

Have breakfast at the Singapore Zoo

For a unique experience in Singapore, book in for a breakfast in the wild at Singapore Zoo. Families can enjoy a jungle breakfast buffet in the company of a family of Orangutans, African Penguins, Sealion, Bengal Eagle Owl and more in this iconic dining experience.

After breakfast, explore the world-class ”open concept” zoo, home to over 2,400 specimens and 300 species. The Singapore Zoo has attained a strong reputation internationally for its conservation initiatives and breeding programs.

Shop till you drop at the famous Orchard Road Shopping District

We strolled along the famous shopping district, Orchard Road, although I admit, the only thing we bought was a well-deserved ice-cream. We didn’t have room in our luggage!

It’s worth checking out if you’re in the mood for 2.5 kilometres of malls and department stores, but you might have to duck into an ice-cream store or two, as the kids probably won’t be thrilled with all the shops after the novelty wears off.

Visit Bird Paradise (formerly Jurong Bird Park)

Bird Paradise originally opened as Jurong Bird Park in 1971 and is Asia’s largest bird park, featuring 50 acres of lush greenery. It’s home to over 5,000 birds from 400 different species. The sanctuary boasts several themed zones that are designed to simulate the natural habitats of the birds.

So there you have it – our ultimate list of things to do in Singapore that both kids and adults can enjoy. Whether you’re chasing butterflies in gardens, eating your way through hawker centres, or letting the kids run wild at the beach while you pretend not to notice the time, Singapore is full of moments that make family travel feel easy, fun, and surprisingly relaxing.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll leave with tired legs, full bellies, and at least one child begging to come back. And honestly? You’ll probably want to come back too.

^{This article contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.}

---

Where to next?