It’s known as the Garden City and the Gateway to Southeast Asia.
It’s renowned for its incredible architecture, diverse food scene and that building – the Marina Bay Sands.
But just how much can you fit in if you only have 3 days in Singapore?
Our 3 day Singapore itinerary will talk you through what to do, where to eat and where to stay, making it easy to plan your Singapore family vacation.
Before traveling to Singapore, check official travel requirements and restrictions that may affect your trip.
With the help of our Little City expert Marianne from Mum on the Move, a former Singapore resident and author of Singapore with Kids, we’ve picked out the best places to visit in Singapore in 3 days.
You can listen to an interview between our editor Keri & Marianne on our City Travel with Kids Podcast below – full show notes for the podcast can be found here.
Day 1 Singapore Itinerary with Kids
Morning
Start your trip with a visit to the Singapore Zoo, one of the best urban zoos in the world.
A natural rainforest setting about 20 minutes north of the city centre, easy to reach by taxi/Grab.
It can get really hot, so recommended you spend the morning there from opening time to beat the crowds and take your bathers to cool off at the end in the splash park.
Buy your advance tickets to Singapore Zoo here
Lunch & Afternoon
From Singapore Zoo it is easiest to take a taxi back to town for lunch. Marianne recommends Dim Sum in Chinatown.
After lunch, explore around Chinatown including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, Chinatown Heritage Centre and, of course, shopping!
Evening
Have dinner at one of the city’s famous hawkers markets.
The two most accessible in the city centre are Lau Pa Sat Food Centre and Gluttons Bay Food Centre.
Alternatively, try One Fullerton or Clifford Pier for al fresco dinner with views of the Marina Bay Sands and catch the nighttime light show at 8pm.
Where to Stay – Family Hotels in Singapore
There are a huge number of family-friendly hotels in Singapore, it’s down to budget and which part of the city you want to stay in.
Sentosa Island or Marina Bay area the best area’s for families to base themselves close to attractions. Recommended Singapore hotels for families include:
- Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa
- Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
- Hard Rock Resorts World Sentosa
- Festive Hotel Resorts World Sentosa
- The Ritz Carlton Millenia
- The Westin Singapore
- Sofitel Singapore City Centre
- Top budget pick: Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay
- Spoil yourself: Shangri-La Singapore
We have a detailed guide on best areas to stay in Singapore here
Day 2 Singapore itinerary with kids
The whole day on Sentosa – Singapore’s Playground.
Note you pay to get onto Sentosa by car or public transport. Transport, once you are on the island, is free.
Start early in the day with Universal Studios, rides and attractions themed around kiddy favourites such as Madagascar, Shrek, Seasame Street.
It is worth investing in an Express Pass as no one wants to be stuck queuing with kids on a hot day. The park is pretty consistently busy year-round.
Buy your Universal Studios Singapore tickets here with Express Pass.
Lunch you can get a pass out of Universal to Resorts World Sentosa, here there are plenty of dining options.
Afternoon & Evening
Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying what’s on offer on Sentosa.
There are 3 beaches on Sentosa, all pretty family-friendly.
Stay here until evening and have dinner at one of the plentiful waterfront bars
There are several free attractions on Sentosa too:
- The beaches are free to access
- Fort Siloso war museum – self-guided walk
- Fort Siloso skywalk
Day 3 Singapore Itinerary with Kids
Morning
Start the day with a self-guided walking tour of Little India.
Marianne’s book Singapore with kids includes a great walking trail you can take.
Lunch & Afternoon
SEA Aquarium on Sentosa is a good way to escape the heat in the peak of the day.
Late afternoon & evening
Finish our trip with visiting the iconic Gardens by The Bay.
See the Supertrees (there is a walkway between them), and the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest – well worth the extra money to visit these giant domes.
Skip the lines and get your Gardens by the Bay tickets here
Don’t miss the Far East Asia Organizations Children’s Garden – a great splash park and playground.
Stick around for the evening light show and see the supertrees at their best.
Further family activities in Singapore
3 days is great for a stopover, but it’s definitely worth staying longer if you want to fit in everything Singapore has to offer. Top suggestions you could add to this itinerary include:
- Singapore Night Safari
- River Safari (part of the zoo)
- Jurong Bird Park
- Singapore Flyer – big observation wheel
- Adventure Cove – water park
- Singapore Botanical Gardens
- Plenty of great museums including the National Museum of Singapore, and the Arts Science Museum, part of Marina Bay Sands.
- Legoland (a day trip across the border in Malaysia)
You can see our full guide on Things to do in Singapore here.
How to get around Singapore
The airport is only about 20 minutes from the city centre and unless it’s heavy rain in peak hour, easy to get around by taxi/Grab or public transport. The MRT is easy to use (stroller friendly) and free for under 5’s.
Have the Grab App downloaded to your phone as well as the Singapore taxi App – during peak times you may want to try both.
A full guide to getting around Singapore can be found here
What to pack for Singapore
- Marianne’s book –Singapore with Kids!
- Stroller and a baby carrier
- Bring a refillable water bottle – tap water is drinkable
- Bring an umbrella! For rain or sun
- Lightweight cotton clothing for the weather
Our full guide on what to pack for Singapore can be found here.
Remember to pop on over and listen to the podcast if you would like to learn more about these places.
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Remember to pop on over and listen to the podcast if you would like to learn more about all the places we mention from Marianne & the Little City team.
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