How to plan a whirlwind 48 Hours in Singapore with kids

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Can a big city be kid-friendly? You’d be amazed at the family fun you can have in Singapore with kids. This Island nation has a lot to offer when it comes to family travel. Whether you prefer to see the city skyline or learn about Singapore history, cuisine or culture, you will be spoiled for choice with a dizzying list of must-see attractions. Here’s our guide on how to plan a whirlwind 48 Hours in Singapore with kids.

singapore skyline in summer

48 Hours in Singapore with kids

Day 1

1. Eat breakfast at a Hawker Centre

If you want to dine out with your kids on the cheap in Singapore, it’s time to learn all about hawker centres. Hawker centres are open-air complexes housing many stalls that sell a variety of inexpensive Chinese (and other) food. When in Singapore, you have to make it to Maxwell Hawker Centre. It is located at the edge of Chinatown, and has more than 100 different stalls, so there is a great of variety of Chinese, Indian, as well as Western food to choose from.

Locals and tourists alike flock here for the variety of cuisines and local specialties. The quality is also unbeatable. Order some Thai pancakes or Chinese dumplings for your kids and drink some Chinese bubble tea so you can get yourselves ready for a busy day in the city.

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, worry not. With dishes like laksa soup, bee soon and mala xiang guo, there is a huge variety of plant-based options available, so it’s easy to be vegan in Singapore.

sweet bean cake in singapore
Delicious food at one of Sweet bean cake for breakfast – yum!

2. Visit Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island is the Mecca of fun things to do with kids, particularly when it’s sunny. Sentosa has many playgrounds surrounded by beautiful beaches. Sentosa, marketed as “Asia’s Favorite Playground” is where you can find Universal Studios, the S.E.A. Aquarium, beaches, hotels, spas, and restaurants. There is no shortage of family-friendly attractions and activities, including swimming, playing badminton, skating or cycling.

3a. Head to Universal Studios Singapore

If you have kids of a certain age, visiting Universal Studios could well be the highlight of your stay in Singapore. Here your kids will experience shows, cutting-edge rides, and watch Shrek 4-D or Madagascar movies. Prepare to be dazzled and delighted by an immersive entertainment experience that brings the silver screen to life. Make sure you visit on your first day if possible.

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3b. Dive into Marine Life Park

Is there a budding marine biologist in your midst? They will delight in visiting the world’s largest oceanarium, and be inspired by the myriad marine wonders of our blue planet. Marine Life Park essentially consists of 2 paid zones within Resorts World Sentosa: SEA Aquarium (a bigger and better version of Underwater World Singapore) and Adventure Cove (a water theme park with some innovative bits). Admission fee is only $29 for adults and $20 for seniors and children. The highlight of the Aquarium is the Ocean Dome and Shark Seas. Truly a majestic and fascinating sight (with reference to HK Ocean Park and Underwater World SG).

4. Enjoy a picnic at the beach

Take your pick from the pristine beaches on Sentosa Island, and pack a picnic of fruit, sandwiches and freshly squeezed juices from nearby shops. Relax in the sun and waves, and try your hand at flying a kite.

tooth relic temple in singapore
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Chinatown

5. Go for a night walk

If you’re all not too exhausted by the busy day’s events, gather your kids and head down to the Marina to take some shots of this magnificent city lit up at night and reflected across the water. The cityscape of Singapore is beautiful at night and you can chill out by the water’s edge with a jazz band playing in the background, the humid air keeping you warm and take some time out to appreciate the city’s amazing skyline.

pond with flowers in singapore
The natural and man-made beauty of Singapore

Day 2

1. Take a morning bike ride

Renting bikes and cycling with Singapore’s first eco-friendly electrical bicycles at the Gogreen Heritage & Island Explorer in Sentosa is a great way to see the island and city, and at a reasonable cost.

local girl in singapore
A candid shot of a local girl in Singapore

2. Ride the world’s highest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Singapore. The wheel’s capsules offer a bird’s-eye view of the city centre, Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. You that your kids will love the experience. When the weather is nice, you can see far south across the water to Indonesia and north to Malaysia.

3. Have your lunch at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands

From Singapore Flyer you can easily get to Marina Bay Sands complex, which has an enormous range of restaurants, from fine dining to casual and quick treats. Tasty items include, delicious seafood (grilled fish, crabs and prawns) and local desserts (Sticky rice with mango, sweet dumplings). It’s a great place to try Chinese, Malaysian and Western cuisine too.

marina bay sands complex
The stunning Marina Bay Sands complex

4. Visit the Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is famous for its rainforest environment and great variety of rare animals You can see orangutans hanging in the open air right above your head. If you get there early enough, sign up to have breakfast with these gentle creatures. It will be an experience you’ll never forget.

5. Enjoy a dinner at East Coast Seafood Centre

Finish your whirlwind Singapore experience with a visit to the East Coast Seafood Centre, a super family-friendly area of restaurants where you can experience authentic local cuisine. You can find up to 150 of the best, “die-die must-try” foods in Singapore. My personal recommendations would be:

coconuts in hawker market singapore
Refreshment time – fresh coconut juice at a hawker centre in Singapore

Bak kut teh – meaty pork ribs boiled for hours served with lots of garlic, pepper, medicinal herbs and spices.

Fried Hokkien mee – thick yellow egg noodles mixed with rice vermicelli are cooked in a rich seafood stock, and tossed with prawns, squid, small strips of pork belly and deep-fried lard pieces.

Chili crab – served with the spicy chilli-tomato gravy – delicious!

Feel daring? Rent a scooter or roller skates, and let the kids run off some steam while you enjoy cold drinks and great food.

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About the author: Agness Walewinder and her fellow tramp Cez, are Polish world explorers, dreamers and founders of eTramping.com. On their travel blog they share budget travel tips on how to travel the world with $25 in your pocket. Agness and Cez are passionate about photography and obsessed with Chinese cuisine and culture. You can follow their adventures on Twitter at @Agnesstramp.

Photo Credits: Agness Walewinder

Claudia Laroye
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