When visiting Singapore, it doesn’t take long to feel like you are an ATM. And with kids, it can feel like you need to re-mortgage the house to have any fun! There are dozens of interesting and fun things to do: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari, Gardens By The Bay and all the various attractions on Sentosa Island, like Universal Studios and Adventure Cove Waterpark.
Yes, our kids would have loved them all, but for us, traveling means staying away from most if not all of these money-grabbing activities and trying to find the local flavour of a place. (Note, we did visit the zoo.)
Thankfully, you can explore Singapore, keep the kids happy and not spend a fortune. Best of all, you can easily to this by foot and public transit!
Expose your kids to different religions
Traveling with kids provides you with an opportunity to open their eyes to different religions. To learn about Buddhism, the main religion in Singapore, head out to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the Thian Hock Keng Temple or any of the hundreds of temples and shrines that can be found almost around any corner. In Kampong Glam, you’ll find the Masjid Sultan Mosque, the focal point for the Muslim community of Singapore. To explore Hinduism, visit the colourful and impressive Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India or the Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown.
Try new foods
Another excellent way to explore new cultures is through food. And Singapore has you covered. Hawker markets (street food centres) are everywhere and offer amazing dishes for as little as $4! You can explore Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai cuisines with your children, sometimes in the same location. It’s easy to order as most places have pictures of the food they serve. Just be careful, levels of spiciness don’t translate well in image form! And if your kids aren’t overly adventurous there’s usually a stand or two that has western-style food.
Window shop
As you walk around the various neighbourhoods, peek into the various stores and markets. Each offers their own unique goods. After you’ve acquainted yourself with the various cultures of the city, hit the Marina Bay Sands mall and pretend to be super-rich. Take a stroll into the luxury mall to stare into stores like Louis Vutton, Cartier, Tiffany’s, Armani, Dior and Gucci. Outside, look for Porsches, Ferraris, BMWs, Mercedes Benz and maybe even a Lamborghini!
Nature meets technology
Right beside the Marina Bay Sands are the Gardens By The Bay. This vast botanical garden, which you can enter free of charge, offers much-needed green space in the heart of Singapore. It’s a very popular place for locals as well! While the two domes will set you back $28 Singapore dollars and $15 for an adult and a child respectively, you don’t have to indulge to appreciate this must-see attraction. (The skywalk is an additional $8 for adults and $5 for children.)
If you are with kids, you’re better off getting to the Gardens around 4-5pm and just walking around a few of the outdoor paths as the lights begin to turn on. The kids will quickly tire of walking and you can stop at the food court for a fairly inexpensive bite to eat (one main will cost about $8-$12). You can then finish off by watching the light and music show at the supertree grove.
Yes, Singapore is expensive compared to all other Asian countries, but it doesn’t mean you have to go broke to enjoy this city. And if you get lucky, you might just stumble upon a free street party, like we did on Arab Street. Once you’ve planned your dates, find out if they coincide with a festival or event!
