2 Days in Singapore with Kids: A Family Itinerary
Singapore is one of those rare destinations that works brilliantly with young children — clean, safe, easy to get around, and packed with things that are genuinely fun for little ones rather than just tolerable. Here’s how we spent two days there as a family, with a few tips picked up along the way.
Day 0: The Evening You Arrive
Chances are you’ll land in the evening after a long flight, and if you’re crossing several time zones, don’t expect the kids to be tired on cue. Rather than fighting it, embrace it as a bonus few hours of exploring.
One thing that surprised us about Singapore is just how much of the city exists underground. A huge network of malls connects hotels, MRT stations and shopping districts, so if your hotel is central, there’s a good chance you can step straight from your lobby into one. Ours connected directly to Raffles City Shopping Centre, which we wandered around before bed — plenty of shops and restaurants if you need a late dinner or just want to stretch your legs after the flight.
Tip: don’t feel you need a big first-night plan. A gentle wander somewhere air-conditioned is the perfect way to ease jet-lagged kids into the trip.
Day 1: Gardens, Fountains and Hawker Markets
Morning: Children’s Garden splash park
After a well-earned long lie-in, head to the Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay, home to a free splash park. Singapore’s humidity hits you fast, so this is less a “nice to have” and more a necessity — the kids will want to cool off, and honestly, so will you.
Late morning: Gardens by the Bay
From the splash park, spend a couple of hours exploring Gardens by the Bay itself. Between the Supertrees, the sculptures and the sheer scale of the place, it’s an easy few hours that doesn’t feel like “sightseeing” to kids — it just feels like a brilliant park.
Evening: Newton Food Centre with friends
If you know anyone local (or even if you don’t), a hawker centre is the best way to eat in Singapore with kids — casual, fast, and endless choice. We headed to Newton Food Centre, and our top picks were the curried fish and the chicken wings. Note that you can bring your own drinks, or buy them on-site — handy either way.
Later evening: Clarke Quay
We followed dinner with a walk to Clarke Quay, though we’ll be honest — we found it a bit much with young kids in tow, especially on a Friday night when it’s at its busiest. If you go, it might be worth timing it for earlier in the week or earlier in the evening.
The saving grace was ducking behind the main strip, where we found a set of fountains the kids loved running through. Combined with an ice cream, it turned out to be the perfect way to end the day — so don’t rule Clarke Quay out, just look beyond the main strip if it feels too lively for little ones.
Day 2: Pool Time, the Merlion and Chinatown
Morning: Hotel pool
We stayed at the Swissôtel The Stamford, which has a genuinely child-friendly pool — shallow enough that our kids could enjoy it properly rather than us hovering anxiously at the edge. If your hotel has a similar pool, a relaxed morning swim is a great way to start the day before the heat properly sets in.
Midday: The Merlion
From there, we set off to see the Merlion, Singapore’s iconic half-lion, half-fish statue and a symbol of the city’s strength. It’s more of a photo-stop than an activity, but kids tend to get a kick out of it regardless.
Lunch: Lau Pa Sat
Nearby, Lau Pa Sat is another excellent hawker centre and a great lunch stop — we tried a good spread of local dishes (and, naturally, more ice cream).
Afternoon: Chinatown
With the airport calling, we walked back towards our hotel via Chinatown, which made for a colourful, easy-paced final stretch of the trip — plenty to look at without needing to stop for anything formal.
Quick Tips for Visiting Singapore with Young Kids
- Pack for humidity, not just heat — you’ll want a splash park or pool break most days.
- Underground malls are your friend — great for air-conditioned breaks, food, and rainy moments.
- Hawker centres are ideal for families — casual, quick, and there’s something for even fussy eaters.
- Clarke Quay is livelier at night — worth an earlier visit, or seek out the quieter fountain area behind the main strip.
- Check if your hotel pool is shallow — it makes a huge difference with younger children.