Top Kid-Friendly Attractions in Singapore
Description:
Guide written by Diana David.
If you had suggested a vacation to Singapore during my pre-Mommy days, I would have laughed at you. After half a dozen trips there over a decade, Singapore has always seemed like a great place for business. For leisure, well, it's a bit like taking a vacation to Cleveland. It's just not first on the list with Angkor Wat and Katmandu beckoning nearby.
Our recent holiday involved three generations including two children aged 2 and 3. With Singapore aggressively courting visitors through its $1-a-night hotel stopover specials and value flights, plus frequent recommendations from friends with children, it catapulted to the top of our list. In fact, after four days there, we wished we had spent two weeks!
Our home base was the Grand Hyatt, centrally located on Orchard Road. They have family suites with two rooms and shared living room (but check, it may be cheaper just to get adjoining rooms) and the pool there has lovely tented beds. They even have special mini-van taxis to accommodate big groups.
Note: Be sure to read the Day Notes for the kid-friendly details on recommended attractions.
Ciao Bambino provides tips and advice around all things related to traveling with kids and is a guide to the best kid friendly hotels.
If you had suggested a vacation to Singapore during my pre-Mommy days, I would have laughed at you. After half a dozen trips there over a decade, Singapore has always seemed like a great place for business. For leisure, well, it's a bit like taking a vacation to Cleveland. It's just not first on the list with Angkor Wat and Katmandu beckoning nearby.
Our recent holiday involved three generations including two children aged 2 and 3. With Singapore aggressively courting visitors through its $1-a-night hotel stopover specials and value flights, plus frequent recommendations from friends with children, it catapulted to the top of our list. In fact, after four days there, we wished we had spent two weeks!
Our home base was the Grand Hyatt, centrally located on Orchard Road. They have family suites with two rooms and shared living room (but check, it may be cheaper just to get adjoining rooms) and the pool there has lovely tented beds. They even have special mini-van taxis to accommodate big groups.
Note: Be sure to read the Day Notes for the kid-friendly details on recommended attractions.
Ciao Bambino provides tips and advice around all things related to traveling with kids and is a guide to the best kid friendly hotels.
Author: Ciao Bambino!
Day 1 - Singapore
Animals
Singapore Zoo
With kids, the highlight of Singapore is always the Singapore Zoo. It’s not just any zoo – more like its own country and we went to various parts of it for two days running! Thanks to advice from friends, we came prepared with swimsuits and towels for the kids rainforest water play area. After a breakfast with the monkeys, hand-feeding the elephants, tromping to see the white tiger and hopping the tram to view the kangaroos, the water park, the fountains and water slides were a huge and dousing relief for the kids. You can make a day of the animals by buying a Park Hopper 3-in-1 admission ticket to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park all together. Prices are on the website and are admission only or for admission with tram, which is recommended if you have smaller children.
Night Safari
The night safari is the world’s first wildlife night park where kids can see over 1,000 animals in their nocturnal environment. The best way to see the safari is an open tram ride through eight different geographic regions. Once you are done, don’t miss the Creatures of the Night show.
Jurong Bird Park
As the world’s largest bird park, there something for everyone here. Older kids can sign up to be a Falconer and younger children will enjoy the bird feeding sessions, penguins and bird performing acts.
1
Singapore Zoological Gardens
Location:
view in google maps80 Mandai Lake Road
729826 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6269 34112
Raffles Hotel Museum
Location:
view in google maps1 Beach Rd
Raffles Hotel Singapore
189673 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6337 18862
Singapore Crocodilarium
Location:
view in google maps730 East Coast Parkway
439172 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6447 37222
Night Safari
Location:
view in google maps80 Mandai Lake Rd
Singapore Zoo, at the western edge of the Bukit Panjang Nature Reserve, on the Seletar Reservoir
729826 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6269 34113
Jurong Bird Park
Location:
view in google maps2 Jurong Hill
628925 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6265 0022Day 2 - Singapore
Local Flora and Culture
Botanical Gardens
If the weather is not too hot, spend the morning at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden in the Botanical Garden. It is a wonderful place to play and to learn about the local flora. Bring a picnic for lunch. On the local cultural scene, kids and parents alike rave about the museums.
Science Museum
The Science Museum has loads of fun things for small kids and events like a Snow City where kids can suit up in parkas for their first experience playing in snow in this tropical city state.
Asian Civilizations Museum
The Asian Civilizations Museum is at Empress Place opposite the Fullerton Hotel. For small kids they have an entire top floor with an interactive area where children can learn about the different civilizations that make up Singapore’s unique melting pot culture. The website has online games to give you a flavor of what’s to come.
National Singapore Heritage Museum
National Singapore Heritage Museum has been recently refurbished with offerings including art, workshops and performances related to the exhibit especially designed for children.
Cheng Ho Harbour Cruise
Children will enjoy the open air Imperial Cheng Ho Harbour cruise to the Merlion as an alternative to pounding the pavement.
1
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Location:
view in google maps1 Cluny Road
Main entrance at corner of Cluny Rd and Holland Rd
259569 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 8444 11482
Singapore Science Centre
Location:
view in google maps15 Science Centre Rd
Off Jurong Town Hall Rd
609081 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6425 25003
Asian Civilisations Museum
Location:
view in google maps1 Empress Place
179555 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6332 77984
National Museum of Singapore
Location:
view in google maps93 Stamford Rd
#01-03 National Museum
178897 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6336 36705
Imperial Cheng Ho Cruises
Location:
view in google maps1 Maritime Square
10-30 Lobby A, Harbour Front Center
099253 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+65 6533 9811Day 3 - Singapore
Sentosa
Sentosa boasts a wonderful Aquarium that kids enjoy with picnic tables outside (just watch out for the monkeys!). The beaches here are mediocre, but you can bike along the beach, ride the sky-gondolas and there is even a luge.
1
Sentosa
Location:
view in google mapsSentosa Island
099981 Singapore, Singapore
Phone:
+1800 736 8672