So, before Bali there was Singapore. I thought it may be helpful to some to write about the places I used to like taking my children to when we were living there. If you have any questions please send me an email or comment and I'll try my best to get back to you.
I should say these are some places I liked for my kids, others will have different opinions and you might too. Singapore being ever growing and changing has new things pop up all the time. It's a great place when you have kids because there is just so much to do! This is just a starting point. Below are places I believe are unique to Singapore, but I have linked to other places of interest for our littlest citizens too (posts in progress).
Also, I'm awful at taking photos or even remembering to take photos, so some places don't have photos sorry.
If you want to check out these blogs they might help you too:
https://thehoneycombers.com/singapore/ The parent version https://honeykidsasia.com/
Cost Key:
Free
On or Under $20 $
Over $20 $$
On or Over $30 $$$
Play in Singapore
While this list is in no particular order this is number one for a reason. I love it! We were always here. It's such a lovely garden with so many different places to meet and play with friends. It's great for picnics and often will have family friendly events on. It's not too hard to walk from Bukit Timah Gate (near the MRT downtown line/Blue Line and Cluny Court) to the Tanglin Gate, which we would sometimes do to get to Tanglin Mall for coffee with friends. Dempsey Hill is near the Tanglin Gate and has some really nice places to eat too, but be prepared to pay expat prices for places in Dempsey. There is a children's garden near the Bukit Timah Gate side, but to be honest I wasn't a huge fan of it. The actual garden has so much to offer.
Oh, just two points to note:
1. My husband once got told off for playing soccer with a child's sized soccer ball with our son and some other kids and dads. They were asked to stop by the park staff as it could be "dangerous". We have been back since and not had a problem.
2. I was told off by park staff for letting my children climb a low tree. We were told it was again "dangerous" and that we should just stand in front of it and take a photo. Apart from those two incidents we have really enjoyed our time here and hope you make time to check it out. There are chickens, chicks and monitor lizards wondering around the gardens, both are safe and used to people. You'll also see turtles and swans among other things, but nothing unsafe to my knowledge...maybe just crazy fathers kicking soccer balls!
This may seem odd, but if your child likes transport this is an easy fun way to spend your time and pretty cheap when it comes to things to do in Singapore with children. We would pick up the LRT from Bukit Panjang station and take it on the loop. A and M had the best time sitting at the front, as there is a big window and nice big sitting area so you can see where the train is going. Please be aware that not all LRT trains are the same, the one in Punggol is not like this one. I'm not sure about the others.
The Flower Dome is nice, there is usually a theme happening and inside it's very cool if you're trying to be 'outside', but away from the heat. The boys like the bridge over to the domes from Marina Bay Sands, but the main highlight here is the water play area. This is where A had his first birthday. It's free and the great thing is that it caters to so many ages. You have an area for little ones and big ones! Plus there's a little dry play area nearby too and sand play. Do be aware that there are no shower facilities, there are toilets and change rooms, but nowhere to shower. There are opening hours you need to be mindful of too, I would recommend going right at opening in the morning because you get the place to yourself for a little while.
We lived near here so it was easy to visit. Chris would often take the boys up to the Visitors Centre, which A was a big fan of. The Hindhede walk leads to a beautiful quarry, where you can often see turtles, monkeys and a variety of birds. There are snakes, flying lemurs and more to be seen if you keep a keen eye out. If you're going on a weekend go early as it does get busy with cyclists and hikers etc. Don't take a stroller, there is no easy access, it's all baby carriers here. We used to love walking The Green Corridor up to The Rail Mall to grab chicken curry and prata, but they have closed the Corridor for renovations. Same with the Durian Loop of the park, there used to be a really nice little stream the boys could walk in, but it's since been closed. I really hope they decide to keep the stream.
Singapore Zoo and River Safari $$ - $$$
We do enjoy our zoo days. Just before M was born I bought a Friends of Wildlife pass because it's pretty good value for money and allowed us entry to the Zoo, River Safari, Bird Park and Night Safari. We did use it quite a bit and if we were still living there, I would definitely have renewed our cards. I really like the way the zoo has slowly been changing their animal "shows". I first noticed the difference in the Elephant Show. It has gone from the elephants performing 'tricks' etc, to more of an educational showcase about these beautiful creatures. They no longer 'perform' for the audience instead the audience is invited to learn more about these beautiful animals, their habitat and what we can do to protect them. I love this change and believe this change in mindset is much needed. Animals are not here for our entertainment and zoo's have a wonderful opportunity of taking the role of advocating how to love, respect and protect our beautiful Earth's fauna and flora. Off my soapbox...
We got our zoo days down to an art. Here's what we do if we want to make a whole day of the Zoo and River Safari.
First we'd take the children around the Zoo, sometimes going to the Kidzworld area if it was a really hot day, so they could splash about in the water play. There is a baby changing/nursing room, lockers and toilets in this area. Then we would head for a show or two. After lunch we would take the children on the tram where they would likely fall asleep, which is when Chris and I would head to the entrance to get a Ben'n'Jerry's ice cream (yes, so cruel). We would then walk over to the Underwater Amazon at River Safari (turn right, not left at the entrance of River Safari) or to the bridge at River Safari where we would sit and enjoy each other's company until the boys woke up. Once awake we would do the rest of the River Safari with the boys and then head to dinner and go home. It's a big day, but it's a good day!
We always took our own stroller and carrier with us, so the boys could sleep in those while we were on the move. However, if you don't have your own you can hire one at the zoo.
Night Safari $$ - $$$
Night Safari is probably best enjoyed with an over 1 year old. We took M when he was tiny, but that's just because we went for A. M fell asleep in the carrier and A enjoyed riding the tram and being up so late at night! Yes, he enjoyed the animals too. He also liked the fire show at the entrance of the park. There are different time slots you can book, because it gets super busy and there's a show you can watch. We didn't see the show, so I can't talk to that. We waited a very long time for a tram, but A didn't seem to mind. It was nice to just sit for a while once on the tram. As a mum of more than one child any opportunity to just sit is nice! There are places you can walk, which would be interesting I think, but A was done after the tram because it was just so late for him. It looked like the food options were much better than the ones on offer the the zoo, but we didn't have dinner there so I'm not entirely sure.
Jurong Bird Park $$ - $$$
Of all the animal parks, this one has the best water play area. The boys love it. There is a big baby changing/nursing room, lockers and toilets here. This park is also great for little ones because the birds are so colourful and move so much it really catches their eye. If you have a baby and had to chose one animal park out of all of them I'd recommend this one.
Singapore often has some sort of festival happening. Just go to the Esplanade website and check out what might be happening at their what's on page. There lots of free shows to enjoy and even festivals just for children! They also have a place called PIP'S PLAYbox...it's not amazing, but an area just for children to enjoy if you wanted to check it out. There are crafts, local books, some toys and a little cubby house to play in. I would definitely recommend checking out what's playing at the concourse or outdoor theatre, as they often have free shows that are great!
Changi Airport 0-$$$
There's certainly a reason it's the best airport in the world. There's so much to do there and now that Jewel has opened too it's busy, busy, busy. There's lots of places to eat, photos to be taken and things to see. While A and M are happy just watching the planes take off and land and playing in the playground in T1, Level 3. You can also play in the jewel playground, which you need to pay for of course. I haven't been, but it does look cool. There is also another tiny play area in Jewel near Timberland, however you need to watch your little ones closely here as the structures are a little tricky. A fell off the top of one and hit his head on the wood and he wasn't the first to do that in the 20 minutes I was there. He was fine though, just shocked, however it could have been a lot worse.
This place usually has some really interesting exhibitions for adults and children. They also have the FutureWorld exhibition, which if you're trying to find somewhere to play in AC, is a good option. The exhibition changes every now and then, it's a great hands on light and sound playground for the children. There's an area which has these large colourful light up balls, if you have a really little one just watch them carefully as the big kids tend to go a bit wild in this space. Do be aware that it can get loud too. If you're little one is sensitive to light and sound maybe avoid this one, as it's basically dark rooms full of simulating (possibly overstimulating) light and sound.
Singapore River Cruise $$ - $$$
If you want to see Singapore from a different angle this is a nice way to see it. I've been on this cruise at different parts of the day and would definitely recommend going in the evening or at night, as it gets really hot otherwise. The boys enjoyed the cruise, at the time we had an under one and 2 year old. The length of the cruise was just at their limit of staying still and being respectful of others, okay maybe 5 minutes shy of it.
Sentosa Island $ - $$$
When we go to Sentosa we generally take the monorail over, which you take from Vivocity. It can get busy, but A loves it. We have lunch at the restaurants at RWS, as there's plenty to choose from. There's a lovely water feature just behind the big Merlion - it's frustrating because it looks like such a fun water play area, but there are signs and people that will stop anyone from having fun in it. We used to go to the Palawan Pirate Ship, however I think that is no longer there. There is Tanjong Beach Club, which is very popular with the locals. The beach next to the beach club is calm and everyone is welcome (dogs included). There is a tram that will take you up there, but you could also walk it.
You can also head to W Hotel, which is in a less touristy part of the island, they have some nice family friendly restaurants in that area and the children can look at all the very fancy boats in the harbour.
Cable Car $$ - $$$
A really enjoyed riding the cable car and though initially he was a little scared, by the end he didn't want to get off! You can get discounted tickets for the cable car if you google a bit too. We took the cable car from Harbourfront back to Mount Faber and stayed on to head to Sentosa. I think that's the best way to do it, because there's often a long line if you take it from Harbourfront straight to Sentosa.
Ground Up Initiative (Balik Kampung) Saturdays Only
This is for those parents who want their kids to be part of a local community and to lend a hand. Full disclosure, my husband used to work for this non-profit organisation a few years back, which is why I know about it.
Now, if you're not a fan of labouring, gardening, sweating or generally getting a bit dirty then this is not for you. If that doesn't bother you, do check this place out. It's a local organisation that believes in connection and community, as well as taking care of the Earth. They are a lovely group of people. The last visit the boys had they planted rice, watered pots, watched pizza getting made, watched rambutans getting plucked from the trees and eating them, walked through the stream and ate lunch with the volunteers. The people here are extremely welcoming and love children.
Singapore Fire Stations (Clementi) Saturdays Only
Every Saturday morning kids in Singapore wake their parents up in the hopes of a trip to their local fire station. Okay, maybe not all kids, but I know my kids love visiting the local fire station. We enjoyed going to Clementi fire station, I really liked this one in particular mainly because the head of the station was a young woman. I don't know about you, but I love my boys seeing females in these kind of roles. All the staff were really welcoming, the boys got a cute little fire hat. The staff turned on a fire hose for the kids to play in and they got to explore different parts of the station and emergency vehicles. It is always a nice morning.
The National Gallery hasn't been around for all that long really. In the time it's been open there have been some really interesting exhibitions, which are usually well advertised. From the entrance facing Raffles City on level one/street level you can enter the children's gallery (to the left) where there are usually really fun interactive exhibitions for the children to play in and most of the time they are free!
It's touristy, but the kids will love it. It's basically a giant ferris wheel, which provides some great views of Singapore. If you go a little later on in your trip then the children will get excited when they can name the places they have been. If you go during the week you an often get a pod all to yourself, so you don't need to worry about the kids knocking into people as they run from one end to another. It takes about 30 minutes for one full rotation. There are some food places around here, but I would just head over to Suntec, Millenia Walk or Marina Bay Sands for food. If you're up for it there is a foot spa place where fish eat the dead skin on your feet (gross yes, but an experience). Near the Flyer you will see the F1 Pits and part of the track, which you can walk on, it's by the water. It's really nice to take in the city from a quieter vantage point.
This is a good place to visit if you're around Gardens By The Bay because it's a short walk along the water. Now the actual exhibition is not really all that interesting for little ones, maybe +6, it's all about what Singapore is doing to keep itself sustainable. What the boys love is the little water play area (surprise surprise). On weekends they usually have a whole bunch of people flying kites at the top and A loves watching all the ships docked off shore from here. The last time we went here it was for Earth Day, there were lots of people selling the eco friendly wares, food trucks and talks. It was a really nice day.
Pulau Ubin is a little island not far from Singapore island. There are bike trails and walks around the island. This is not for little babies. I say this because every time I have been, I get eaten alive by mozzies. Don't forget your bug spray and sun cream! You can hire bikes on the island, but they are not great quality so please check them before hiring. Check out the boardwalk it's nice.
We used to go here a bit more when we just had A, but it's subtable for little babies and strollers. It's a lovely walk among the trees near Mount Faber. The metal from the bridges may be a little bumpy for a stroller though...It's worth a look if you like nature, but want an easier walk than somewhere like Bukit Timah or MacRitchie.
Cultural Walks
The following are areas in Singapore that are quite nice to explore with children. I'm not writing much about them because there's plenty out there about these places. I do think you should just go and get lost in them to truly experience them, talk to the locals and check out the local fare.
Little India: Here you can get henna patterns done, eat Indian food, look at jewelry, check out temples, saris and take in the markets. If you want to go, do it during the week because it is extremely busy during the weekend particularly on Sundays. It's good to try time your visit here with either Thaipusam (earlier in the year) or Deepavali (later in the year).
Chinatown: It's bustling and colourful. The best time to go is January/February during Chinese New Year. They decorate everything the place is full of life. Just be prepared for the crowds!
Arab Street: I love Arab St. So many interesting shops, Blu Jaz is really nice if you like good music. The vibe here is really nice. The Malay Heritage Centre is here and there are some lovely pieces of street Art and the food, yum! Don't just stick to Arab St. wonder around a bit, as the street art and nice cafes can be closer to Lavender MRT than to Bugis MRT.
Tiong Bahru: This place has one of my favourite book shops, Tiong Bahru bakery and a lovely little cupcake shop too. Woods in the Books and Plain Vanilla Bakery. There are so many cool little nooks and crannies to find here enjoy getting lost in a very hipster area in Singapore.
Others...
- The Animal Resort
Do not go here. When we went here I ended up reporting the way they keep the rabbits to the local authorities, it was appalling. Most rabbit owners will tell you that rabbits shouldn't actually eat carrot as part of their regular diet as it is high in sugar and not good for them. Yes, they love carrot, just like most humans like chocolate! Do not just feed rabbits carrot, they will get sick! They need dark leafy greens, lots of fresh water and hay. They should also have enough space to run about and not be kept in a tiny cage. They have other animals here too and red flags went up for me when I saw the way these animals were kept, it didn't feel right. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one.
- Resorts World $$$
Look I know I haven't written a whole lot about it here, which may seem strange, except Sentosa and the cable cars. Reason being I don't believe in the captivity of dolphins. I do try to avoid anything to do with it. Yes, I know I go to the zoo, but for some reason I can't handle dolphin captivity #TheCove. I'm weird, but that's that. I have heard from friends that the aquarium is great especially for babies. I've also heard Adventure Cove is fun, but there are usually lines for the slides, so avoid school holidays and weekends obviously.
Links to other blog posts (to come) that may interest you
Outdoor Play
Classes
Comments