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Singapore with Kids: The Complete Family Guide to Attractions, Hotels & Travel Tips
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
During our last Passover holiday, we unexpectedly found ourselves in Singapore after our return flight from Thailand was canceled, forcing us to change our original plans. What started as an improvised solution quickly turned into an opportunity to fulfill a long-standing dream and visit one of the world’s most fascinating destinations. We spent four days exploring Singapore with our four-and-a-half-year-old son, Dan Dan, and our one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lee, and discovered an incredible family-friendly destination that exceeded all our expectations.
As with every trip we take with young children, we were looking for the right balance between exciting attractions and a relaxed pace that suited their needs. Singapore turned out to be the perfect place for exactly that, offering an outstanding mix of impressive nature, world-class attractions, convenient transportation, excellent food, and thoughtful family-oriented infrastructure. Although we arrived there by chance, we left feeling that it is one of the most child-friendly cities we have ever visited.
Getting Around Singapore with Kids
Singapore has one of the best public transportation systems in the world—clean, efficient, safe, and incredibly easy to use. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) network connects almost every major area of the city and is usually the fastest and most convenient way to travel between attractions.
That said, when traveling with young children, there are plenty of situations where using Grab, Southeast Asia’s equivalent of Uber, is simply more convenient. The app is very user-friendly and even allows you to book family-friendly vehicles equipped with a child car seat or booster seat, depending on your child’s age.
When you select this option, the driver arrives with a foldable car seat and installs it for you on the spot. As parents who travel frequently, this was one of the best surprises we experienced in Singapore. No compromises on safety, no need to carry your own car seat, and no stressful logistics—it genuinely felt like a game-changing travel upgrade.
It’s also worth noting that in regular taxis, children are generally not legally required to use a child car seat, making them a convenient option in certain situations. However, whenever possible, we preferred taking advantage of Grab’s family-friendly vehicles for the added safety and peace of mind.
Where to Stay in Singapore with Kids
Accommodation in Singapore is generally considered expensive, but the quality and overall experience are often well worth the price. The most popular areas to stay are Marina Bay, for those looking for an iconic and central Singapore experience, and Orchard Road, which is ideal for visitors who want to be close to the city's best shopping and dining options.
Even before arriving in Singapore, we had heard about some incredible family-friendly hotels, and we knew we wanted to stay at Shangri-La Singapore. Located in a quiet, leafy neighborhood just a short distance from Orchard Road, the hotel feels more like a resort than a city hotel.
What truly sets it apart for families is its exceptional focus on children. The property features a fantastic water play area, dedicated playgrounds, and the renowned Buds by Shangri-La Kids Club, widely considered one of the best children's clubs in Singapore. Every detail seems designed with families in mind, creating an experience that is both child-friendly and luxurious, without compromising on the high level of service and comfort that Shangri-La is known for.
As Shangri-La Singapore is a large resort-style property, it’s worth paying close attention to the room category you choose. If you book far enough in advance, you may even be able to secure one of the hotel’s themed family suites, featuring imaginative designs such as jungle adventures, space-themed rooms, and other child-focused concepts that make the stay even more magical for young guests.
We booked relatively last minute, so we opted for a Family Room in the Tower Wing, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. The room was beautifully designed and thoughtfully equipped for families, featuring a special tent bed for Dan Dan and a Stokke crib for Lee. It was clear that a great deal of attention had gone into making the space comfortable and practical for parents traveling with young children.
One of the biggest advantages of the family rooms is the added value they include. The rate comes with daily access for one child to Buds by Shangri-La Singapore,, the hotel’s renowned kids’ club. Considering that regular admission costs around SGD 50 per child for a half-day session, this benefit alone can make the family rooms particularly worthwhile.
For us, access to Buds was one of the key reasons our stay was so enjoyable. It gave the kids a fantastic place to play and explore, while allowing us to enjoy some downtime and fully appreciate everything the hotel has to offer.
Things to Do in Singapore with Kids
Singapore was one of the biggest surprises for us as a family destination. Before visiting, I had no idea there would be so many attractions designed specifically for young children. From family-focused hotels and incredible playgrounds to an entire island packed with entertainment, Singapore offers an endless variety of experiences for families traveling with kids.
What makes it especially enjoyable is how easy everything is to navigate. Attractions are well-maintained, stroller-friendly, and thoughtfully designed, making it possible to enjoy the city at a comfortable pace, even with toddlers in tow.
Whether your children love animals, water parks, nature, playgrounds, interactive museums, or theme parks, Singapore has something for every age group. In fact, there’s so much to do that you could easily spend several days exploring Sentosa Island alone, a family paradise filled with beaches, attractions, water activities, and entertainment for all ages.
Without a doubt, Cloud Forest was one of the most unique attractions in Singapore and one of the places that impressed us the most during our visit. This massive, air-conditioned conservatory recreates a tropical mountain rainforest, featuring lush vegetation from around the world, suspended walkways, and countless corners that look as if they belong in a science-fiction movie.
The experience begins with a breathtaking waterfall, one of the tallest indoor waterfalls in the world. From there, visitors make their way up a series of pathways and elevated walkways that wrap around the towering “mountain” at the center of the conservatory. Along the route, you'll find spectacular viewpoints overlooking the entire space, as well as fascinating exhibits about nature, sustainability, and climate change.
We happened to visit during a Jurassic World-themed exhibition, featuring life-sized dinosaur installations throughout the conservatory, which made the experience even more exciting for the kids.
Located within Gardens by the Bay, Cloud Forest is accompanied by two additional attractions:
Flower Dome is a vast indoor conservatory showcasing flowers and plants from around the world, with displays that change throughout the year. To be completely honest, we didn’t connect with it as much. If you need to choose between the two, I would definitely prioritize Cloud Forest, which we found far more impressive.
The second attraction is the Far East Organization Children’s, a water play area designed specifically for children, with splash zones and interactive water features that are perfect for Singapore’s tropical heat. It’s worth checking the opening schedule in advance, as it is not open every day. Unfortunately, it happened to be closed on the day we visited, so we didn’t get the chance to experience it ourselves.
Singapore Zoo is widely regarded as one of the best zoos in the world, and after visiting, it’s easy to understand why. This is far from a typical zoo. Instead, it’s a vast, beautifully landscaped park where animals live in spacious habitats designed to feel as natural and open as possible.
One of the things we loved most was the feeling of walking through a tropical rainforest rather than a traditional zoo. The grounds are filled with lush greenery, shaded pathways, and interactive areas that make the experience especially enjoyable for families with young children.
The zoo is home to an incredible variety of animals from around the world, and the exhibits are thoughtfully designed to offer excellent viewing opportunities while prioritizing animal welfare. Beyond the animals themselves, everything is extremely well organized and family-friendly, with plenty of rest areas, food outlets, educational shows, stroller-accessible paths, and even small water-play areas where children can cool off.
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance, although booking online in advance may sometimes offer discounts. I would recommend setting aside at least half a day to fully enjoy the experience.
Located next to Singapore Zoo, River Wonders is a unique wildlife park dedicated to the world’s most famous rivers and the ecosystems that surround them. While it tends to receive less attention than the zoo itself, it offers a very different and fascinating experience.
The park is divided into themed zones inspired by iconic rivers such as the Amazon, Nile, and Yangtze, with each area showcasing the animals and plant life native to those regions. Visitors can learn about freshwater ecosystems from around the globe while exploring beautifully designed exhibits.
One of the park’s biggest highlights is the Giant Panda Forest, home to Singapore’s beloved giant pandas and one of the most popular attractions in the park. There is also a family-friendly boat ride that takes visitors through a setting inspired by a tropical rainforest, adding an extra layer of adventure to the visit.
Unfortunately, due to limited time, we didn’t get the chance to visit River Wonders ourselves. However, if you have an extra day in Singapore and especially if your children love animals, it looks like a wonderful addition to a visit to Singapore Zoo.
Sentosa Island is probably the ultimate family destination in Singapore. This small island feels like a world of its own, separate from the city’s skyscrapers and busy streets, offering a huge variety of attractions, beaches, resorts, and activities for both children and adults.
Getting there is part of the experience. You can reach Sentosa by cable car, car, or the Sentosa Express monorail, and from the moment you arrive, the atmosphere feels more like a tropical vacation than a city break.
The island is home to some of Singapore’s most popular attractions, including Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark, SkyHelix Sentosa, and several beautiful beaches where families can relax between activities.
Although Sentosa is relatively compact, it’s large enough that walking everywhere can be tiring, especially with young children. Fortunately, getting around is easy thanks to the island’s free shuttle buses, which connect the major attractions, beaches, hotels, and entertainment areas throughout the day.
If you're visiting Singapore with kids, I highly recommend setting aside at least one full day for Sentosa—though you could easily spend two or three days here without running out of things to do. It’s one of those places where every family can find something they’ll love.
Located on Sentosa Island, Adventure Cove Waterpark is one of Singapore’s best family-friendly attractions and a fantastic place to cool off in the tropical heat. The park is beautifully maintained and offers something for every age group, from toddlers and young children to thrill-seeking teenagers and adults.
You'll find a great mix of water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and splash zones designed specifically for families. There are plenty of attractions suitable for younger children, while older kids and adults can enjoy the park’s faster and more adventurous rides.
What makes Adventure Cove especially unique is the way it combines a traditional water park experience with marine-life encounters. One of its signature attractions is the Rainbow Reef, where visitors can snorkel among thousands of colorful tropical fish in a protected reef environment. It’s a memorable experience that feels very different from a typical water park visit.
The park can get busy during weekends and school holidays, so arriving early is a good idea if you want to make the most of the day. We found it to be a perfect combination of relaxation, fun, and adventure—an attraction that both kids and adults can genuinely enjoy together.
Located on Sentosa Island, Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park that may be smaller than some of the other Universal parks around the world, but that’s actually one of its biggest advantages when visiting with young children. Everything feels compact, easy to navigate, and well organized, making for a much more relaxed family experience.
The park is divided into themed zones inspired by popular movies and franchises, each featuring its own rides, attractions, shows, and character meet-and-greets. There’s a great balance between gentle rides designed for younger children and more thrilling roller coasters and attractions for older kids and adults.
Whether your family is looking for excitement, entertainment, or simply a fun day together, Universal Studios Singapore offers something for everyone and is easily one of Sentosa’s top attractions.
Also located on Sentosa Island, S.E.A. Aquarium is one of the largest and most impressive aquariums in the world, and one of the best family attractions in Singapore.
The aquarium is enormous and beautifully designed, featuring dozens of exhibits that showcase marine life from oceans and waterways across the globe. From the moment you enter, it feels as though you’ve stepped into an underwater world, surrounded by fascinating creatures and immersive displays.
Visitors can admire sharks, stingrays, colorful jellyfish, coral reef species, and countless exotic fish in every shape, size, and color imaginable. The massive viewing panels are particularly spectacular, allowing you to sit and watch marine life glide peacefully through the water.
For families with children, it’s an engaging and educational experience that combines entertainment with a deeper appreciation for the ocean and its ecosystems.
Skyline Luge Singapore was one of the most surprising and enjoyable experiences we had on Sentosa Island. It’s the kind of attraction that both children and adults genuinely love.
The experience is best described as a combination of go-karting and a gravity-powered luge ride. You ride a small cart down a winding track, controlling the speed and steering yourself as you make your way down the hillside. It’s simple, exciting, and just the right amount of adventure for most ages.
Once you reach the bottom, you take an open-air chairlift back to the top, which offers beautiful views of Sentosa Island and the surrounding area. There are several different tracks with varying layouts and levels of difficulty, making it easy to ride multiple times and try a different route on each run.
Even Dan Dan absolutely loved the experience. At his age, he was required to ride together with one of us, but that didn’t make it any less fun. In fact, it ended up being one of our favorite family activities in Singapore and one that we would happily do again.
Conclusion
Singapore may not have been part of our original travel plans, but it quickly became one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of our trip. In just four days, we discovered a destination that combines world-class attractions, impressive green spaces, exceptional convenience, and a genuine commitment to making travel easy and enjoyable for families.
From the efficient transportation system and family-friendly hotels to the incredible variety of activities for children of all ages, we constantly felt that families are an important part of Singapore’s vision. Whether exploring futuristic gardens, visiting world-renowned attractions, enjoying Sentosa Island, or simply navigating the city with young children, everything seemed thoughtfully designed to make the experience as smooth as possible.
If you're looking for a destination that is safe, clean, easy to navigate, and packed with unforgettable experiences for both kids and adults, Singapore is hard to beat. What began as an unexpected detour ended up becoming one of the highlights of our travels—and a place we would happily return to in the future.
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