Family Activities in Singapore

Most of us look forward to the week-ends when we can spend time with the family and do some fun activities together. If you have recently moved to Singapore with your family, planning activities that will engage the family will no longer be a chore as Singapore offers a wide range of family activities, where you can not only spend time together as a family but also have lots of fun. There is something to suit every interest ranging from the historic museums to exciting themed attractions to recreational experiences against the backdrop of flora and fauna and many more. Moreover, these activities build family ties, make learning fun, provide an appreciation for culture and bring you closer to nature.

Listed below are some of the popular family activities you can enjoy in Singapore.

Explore History

If you have time on your hands and like discovering history then visiting museums should feature on your list of family activities. There are several museums in Singapore that cater to various tastes. Admission fees are reasonable, with some even allowing a free entry. Some of the museums that might interest children include:

• MINT Museum of Toys - MINT (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys), is the world's first purpose-built museum for toys. It showcases an extensive collection of more than 50,000 toys ranging from vintage toys, character toys, Pre-war Japanese toys, China-made toys, an exclusive Teddy Bear Collection, Tintin collectibles and many more interesting items.
• The Singapore Mint Coin Gallery - This gallery houses an impressive collection of coins, medals and medallions from all over the world.
• Singapore Philatelic Museum - Irrespective of whether your children are stamp collectors or not, they are sure to be delighted by the extensive collection of local and international stamps featured here. Moreover, your children can learn about the intricate process leading to stamp issue - from artwork through printing plates and progressive sheets to the final product - through interactive games and hands-on activities.

For a complete list of museums in Singapore click here.

Discover Nature

Sometimes referred to as the 'Garden City', Singapore has a rich diversity of parks, gardens and nature reserves that also offer recreational activities for nature lovers. Some of the green spots in the city that you can head to for some family fun are:

• Singapore Botanic Gardens - A popular attraction, the impressive Singapore Botanic Gardens sprawls across 52 hectares right in the middle of the city. If you want to bring your child closer to nature, you can visit 'Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden', which is a unique and interactive fun place where children up to 12 years of age can discover how plants provide their daily needs.
• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - If your family loves the outdoors, you can trek through the lush and verdant Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and discover its interesting plant life along the way.
• East Coast Park - A favorite weekend spot for most locals, the East Coast Park is the perfect family getaway. You can hire bicycles or roller blades, enjoy a game of bowling at the bowling alley, practise some shots at the tennis complexes or cool down at the water sports centre. There are a number of beach-side restaurants and cafes that offer interesting gastronomical fare.
• MacRitchie Reservoir - Another family favorite, the MacRitchie Reservoir is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the northern region of Singapore, this reservoir is an oasis of calm surrounded by swamps and greenery. There are walking trails, jogging tracks, playgrounds, exercise areas and every child's attraction - the fountain. Most families spend an entire day here, picnicking and relaxing.
• Agricultural farms - Unknown to many, Singapore houses over 200 real working farms in its six Agrotechnology Parks. These farms grow fruit, vegetables, ornamental plants and rear fish and goats. They are a popular destination for children, who often enjoy discovering how vegetables are grown, delight in feeding the fish, learn about the automated milking process and take joy in feeding the goats and cows in the barn. For a complete list of farms, visitor timings, admission fees etc., click here.

Other attractions include: The Chinese Gardens, Labrador Park, Mandai Orchid Garden, Marina Barrage, Pasir Ris Park, The Southern Ridges, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve etc. Visit the Singapore National Parks website to learn more.

Engage with Singapore's wildlife

A favorite activity amongst children and adults alike is visiting the amazing world of animals. There are several animal attractions in Singapore that are a worth a visit.

• Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom - One of the attractions at Sentosa Island, the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, offers an enthralling experience, where you can witness thousands of tiny colorful butterflies flutter their wings or keenly observe the many insects that crawl about. There are several stage shows that are entertaining and enlightening and a Stick Insect Safari you can embark upon.
• Jurong Bird Park - Worth every minute of your time spent here, the Jurong Bird Park houses close to 9000 colorful birds of over 600 species. Children often enjoy the experience of feeding the birds and marvel at the several bird shows. Some of the attractions include, 'African Wetlands Exhibit', 'Parrot Paradise', 'Pelican Cove', 'Penguin Exhibit', 'Swan Lake' and many more. The Splash N Slide Station, is a facility housed within the Park, for children to enjoy.
• Night Safari - This is an interesting way to experience the zoo animals by night. There are several walking trails like the 'Fishing Cat Trail', 'Leopard Trail' etc., and animal exhibits where you can discover over 900 animals of 135 exotic species housed in eight geographic zones.
• Singapore Zoo - You can spend an entire day at the Singapore Zoo starting with a Jungle Breakfast with wildlife, watching animal shows, meandering through the Rain-forest walk, stopping over at Gibbon Island and the Elephant Bathing area, before making you way to the various animal exhibits. A new and special attraction is the Rain-forest Kidzworld with a water play area, animal-themed carousel, pony rides etc.
• Underwater World - One of the popular attractions at Sentosa Island, at Underwater World you can witness stingrays, sharks and other shoals of fish through a spectacular 83 metre-long tunnel. There are various 'Dive Adventures' for children and adults, interactive activities and interesting exhibits.
• Dolphin Lagoon - Another major attraction at Sentosa Island, you can swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Lagoon and get to know more about the charming and intelligent pink dolphins.

Enjoy Themed Attractions

Spending a day at a themed attraction is a popular family activity. Depending on what interests your family you can choose to spend time at any of the below mentioned varied theme attractions in Singapore.

• Science Centre Singapore - Children can never seem to get enough of the state-of-the-art Science Centre Singapore which tickles their brains with than 1,000 interactive science exhibits. The Kinetic Garden is Asia's first outdoor interactive garden of science. Here, you will find 35 interactive sculptures, exhibits and displays set within a pleasant garden environment with water features like waterfalls, ponds and fountains. The Omni Theatre offers 'Star-gazing sessions' and other learning resources.
• Exploring activities at Sentosa Island - Sentosa 4D Magix - interactive movie experience with 4-dimensional digital effects, Sentosa CineBlast - a thrilling 4-dimensional motion-simulated ride, by combining the virtual 'roller coaster' rides with high-definition wide-screen projection, Sentosa Luge & Sky Ride, etc.
• Singapore Discovery Centre - The Singapore Discovery Centre is a leading edutainment attraction in Singapore where you can learn about 'The Singapore Story' through entertaining and interactive activities. The Centre houses five main galleries around eight different themes, where you can explore Singapore’s past, present and future.
• Snow City - Snow City is the first permanent indoor snow centre in Singapore. At Snow City you can visit the 'Polar Bear Gallery', engage in skiing or snowboarding or slide down a snow slope on an inflatable snow tube. There are interactive educational programmes where you can learn about low temperature science and conduct experiments. This is a popular must see place, given Singapore's tropical climate.
• Downtown East - Described as a self-contained entertainment district, Downtown East houses the 'Escape Theme Park', which offers a wide range of thrilling rides; 'Wild, Wild, Wet' is a water theme park for children, teens and adults with exciting features like: wave pool, water slides, water rafting boats etc.; 'eXplorerkid' is an Indoor Children's Playground for families with children under 12, who are encouraged to learn by exploring the various play-stations designed around a mystical forest theme.
• Forest Adventure - This is a fun and unique outdoor activity for all ages, where you participate in a 'Tree Top' course. At Forest Adventure you will learn to move from tree to tree with aids like ladders, bridges, swings, nets, trapezes and zip lines etc.
• Lilliputt Indoor Mini Golf - The latest entertainment showcase in Singapore, LilliPutt is Singapore’s first themed indoor mini golf course that offers fun for the family, including children aged 5 years and above. Its uniqueness lies in its 18 sensational mini golf holes - all modelled after familiar Singapore landmarks.

Other activities include Reverse Bungy, Xtreme Swing, Singapore Flyer and Tiger Sky Tower panoramic views, Cable skiing at Singapore's first cable-ski park etc.

Visit nearby Isles

If you wish to get away from Singapore for the day, you can visit the tiny isles of Singapore, each with its unique flavour and character.

• Sentosa Island - This is the most popular destination that offers diverse recreational experiences. The beaches, nature trails, themed attractions etc. spoil you for choice. A visit to Sentosa is sure to awaken your senses.
• Pulau Ubin - The quaint and offbeat Pulau Ubin island is a tranquil retreat for those families who enjoy nature. There is little to do in this laid-back atmosphere except for leisure walking, cycling and exploring its natural beach.
• St. John's Island - St. John's Island is another idyllic retreat for families who are interested in picnicking, trekking, swimming and lazing on the beach.