Is Singapore Good for Families?
Singapore is not a cheap destination, but for families it is extraordinary value in experience-per-dollar terms. Universal Studios Singapore, Gardens by the Bay (the free Supertree night show alone is worth stopping for), Sentosa Island, and the world's best food courts (hawker centres) are all here in a spotlessly clean, fully English-speaking, highly efficient city-state. Most NZ families visit Singapore as a 3-5 day stopover en route to or from Bali, Thailand, or Vietnam — and many find Singapore itself the highlight of the trip.
Exceptional for 3-5 day family stopovers. Safe, English-speaking, efficient, and packed with world-class family experiences. Expensive but delivers extremely high quality for the money.
NZ$500-1,000/day all-in — accommodation, food, activities and local transport.
Best Places in Singapore for Families
Sentosa Island — Universal Studios and Beaches
Singapore's island playground — theme park, beaches, and cable cars
Sentosa is Singapore's dedicated resort island, 10 minutes from the city centre by cable car or metro. Universal Studios Singapore has excellent rides including Transformers, Jurassic World, and the Minion Land. The island also has beaches (sand is imported, but the water is clean), the S.E.A. Aquarium, and Adventure Cove Waterpark. A full day on Sentosa suits families perfectly.
Gardens by the Bay
The Supertree Grove light show is the most spectacular free thing in Singapore
Gardens by the Bay is a futuristic garden on Singapore's Marina Bay waterfront. The Supertrees — 25-50m vertical gardens — put on a free light and music show at 7:45pm and 8:45pm nightly that is genuinely breathtaking. The Cloud Forest dome (two-story waterfall inside a glass dome, NZ$20/adult) is spectacular. The Children's Garden is free and has excellent water play facilities for under-12s.
Hawker Centres — The Real Singapore
The world's best cheap food — $3-6 for world-class dishes
Singapore's hawker centres are UNESCO-listed. A family of 4 can eat extraordinarily well for NZ$25-40 at any hawker centre. Maxwell Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, and Old Airport Road are the most famous. Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow, laksa, satay, and kaya toast are all must-tries. Kids who are adventurous with food have a transformative experience. Kids who only eat plain things can always get chicken rice (a genuinely universal crowd-pleaser).
Practical Info — Singapore with NZ Kids
Singapore Family Budget Breakdown
Singapore Airlines flies Auckland-Singapore direct and is consistently rated the world's best airline — the service for families is exceptional. Air NZ also flies direct. Singapore makes an ideal 3-5 day stopover when travelling to Southeast Asia — often the same price as flying direct to Bangkok or Bali with a Singapore stopover added. Book accommodation in Orchard Road or Marina Bay Sands area for the best access to all major attractions.
Connect with Families Who've Been to Singapore
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