Top Family-Friendly Outdoor Adventures and Activities to Experience in Singapore

Ah, getting some fresh air and beautiful scenery after being couped in an air-conditioning office room or stuffy house all day. Why would you want to be stuck inside? Singapore has so much to offer in terms of outdoor options to entertain the entire family. The city-state might be a small, densely populated urban island, but there are plenty of family-friendly things to do in Singapore, whether you want to see the water or connect with nature.

If you’re wondering how to have a fun-filled action-packed weekend or vacation, check out our list of enjoyable family outdoor activities in Singapore.

Singapore Night Safari

Visit the Singapore Night Safari at Mandai, one of the only night zoos in the world known for its nocturnal animals. There, children can learn about nocturnal animals such as the Malayan Tapir and leopards in their nighttime habitats by sight. You can easily plan your trip with pre-booked tickets and skip the line.

You can choose to ride on the guided tram or explore the walking trails of the Night Safari and visit places like the Fishing Cat Trail, Wallaby Trail, or East Lodge trail, where you might get the chance to spot the elusive Malayan Tiger. Also, try not to miss the Creatures of the Night show – you can book seats 2 hours before each show timeslot on Mandai’s website.

Kayak Fishing Adventures

Going on a fishing excursion in a kayak as one of your outdoor activities in Singapore is definitely a unique experience not offered in all parts of Southeast Asia. You can sign up for a trip with Fever, where a fishing guide will accompany you on a kayak fishing adventure at the pace you choose. 

Take advantage of the mellow waves of the East Coast or Sentosa to learn the basics of kayak fishing with your kids as a fun angling activity for family bonding. Plus, the kid-friendly (Slow Pace) fishing type is suitable for adults and children aged 3 and up, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your young ones behind on this adventure.

Fever provides Hobie leg-powered kayaks, which are a little different from the rest as you paddle down the water with your feet. If you’re someone who loves wet activities or you’re just looking to try something a little different by yourself or with a family, be sure to check out their kayak fishing tour.

Singapore Historical Bike Tour

Take a scenic and leisurely bike ride with knowledgeable guides who can share interesting stories about Singapore’s past and culture as you travel past historical landmarks and tourist spots such as the Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, Little India, and Colonial District Bike riding offers a more up-close and sensory experience where you can discover vibrant street art, iconic neighborhoods and old shophouses, and even stop for a coffee or iced tea.

There are a lot of cycling tracks in Singapore called PCN (Park Connector Network) if you prefer safer and more paved cycling paths, where people of all ages can enjoy this scenic bike track. If your guides take you onto a PCN trail even on a weekday, you might encounter an exercise crowd during the morning or evenings.

Singapore River Cruise 

Relax and unwind as you take a trip through the iconic Singapore River in a traditional bunk boat.  Cruise past historical buildings and modern skyscrapers, and learn about the history of Singapore as a fishing port. The boat trip lasts approximately 40 minutes, which is enough time to relax and take in the sights and sounds of Singapore’s river life. 

Starting at Clarke Quay, it will go past Parliament House, and turn around at the Marina Bay Waterfront with the view of the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Esplanade, and the Fullerton Hotel. You will go past many beautiful Colonial buildings and sites, both in their original state and others perfectly restored. There will be a commentary on the boat, so learn about the various bridges you would cruise under, such as the Anderson Bridge and Cavenagh Bridge. Listen in and enjoy some quiet time, a perfect way to unwind after a long day of exploring or doing some outdoor activities in Singapore.

Sentosa Island

It’s no secret that Sentosa Island’s best attractions all have one thing in common: great fun! Singapore’s man-made island is connected to the main island via a small bridge and can be accessed either by walking, driving, taking a monorail, or even by cable car.

Sentosa offers a variety of activities, including some geared toward families with young children. There is the Adventure Cove Waterpark Singapore, located at Resorts World Sentosa, which offers plenty of adrenaline-pumping thrills and a range of other water-related activities suitable for kids of all ages. There are activities for those who don’t enjoy hurtling through huge tunnels or spiraling in rubber rings around giant funnels.

You can also head to Universal Studios Singapore, which features 7 zones and a total of 28 different rides, shows, and attractions for you to browse at your leisure. Be warned though, Singapore is a humid country and you will end up sweating buckets while waiting in line for the next attraction, so bring some drinks or portable fans if you can.

For sporty enthusiasts, Sentosa Golf Club features not one but 2 courses with 18 holes, attracting amateur and professional golfers alike. The island of Singapore has dozens of golf clubs, but none can compare to the one on Sentosa for its quality and reputation. 

Adventure Cove Waterpark

At Adventure Cove Waterpark, the fun never stops with thrilling water slides and relaxing lagoons to suit every mood. Create waves as you jump into the fun rides of the waterpark, such as the slippery sliding, hydro-magnetic coaster called the Riptide Rocket that will pull anyone in who wants a ride jam-packed with adrenaline.

There are also plenty of child-friendly rides and activities along with relaxing activities if you prefer things not to be so action-packed, such as a laidback float down the Adventure River as you move through a tropical “landscape” before passing through an underwater tunnel filled with marine life.

Another highlight is the Rainbow Reef, which is a great place to snorkel and get up close to over 20,000 tropical fish without needing a snorkeling license. Kids can also look forward to the Big Bucket Treehouse, a multi-level play structure with water cannons and slides.

Admission to the waterpark includes unlimited rides and activities all day. Try to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds and enjoy shorter wait times for the rides.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park offers a glimpse into the beauty of nature. Discover a unique world filled with diverse wildlife while exploring the wetlands. Sungei Buloh spans 202 ha of mangroves, ponds, mudflats, and forests, making it a large, special habitat for plants and animals.

Due to the special conditions of seawater mixing with freshwater from inland in these wetlands, it creates brackish water, which is more saline (saltier) water conditions. Most plants cannot survive with this water, but here, mangrove trees thrive. It creates an ecosystem of unique plants and animals that have developed various features to survive, such as mangrove tree leaves secreting salt on top of their leaves, or mudskippers that mysteriously pop in and out of sight only when the mud is visible at low tide.

You can walk on a self-guided tour on wooden stilt platforms while weaving through mangroves, and follow the nature trail signboards and infographics placed around various areas to learn more about the plants and animals. Otherwise, you can register for one of their guided tours that can be conducted in any one of these 4 languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, or Japanese.

As you explore the nature reserve, a crab or shellfish can be seen around tree trunks during high tide, while low tide reveals the unusual roots of the mangrove trees that stick upwards from the mud. At the right season, you can also witness migratory birds from as far as Russia or Alaska making their pit stop in Sungei Buloh. On the rare occasion, you might even get a lucky glimpse of a crocodile from a river.

Suitable for the whole family to experience, and an educational journey for sure.

East Coast Park

One of the largest and most accessible parks in Singapore, East Coast Park stretches across Marine Parade, Bedok, and Changi. It’s a hotspot for joggers, cyclists, and pet owners at any time of the day, connected from end to end by a long road and a pedestrian path. You can also access the shallow beach, where you can get a clear view of the sunrise if you reach early enough. Occasionally, you may even spot fishers and some tents placed along certain areas of the park.

There is an area near the center of the park that has a variety of shops such as McDonald’s or even a beach bar. And of course, there are bicycle rentals available in East Coast Park. Nearby, there’s a skateboarding street course suitable for beginners as well as a playground that you can let your kids run loose and enjoy.

For those who want to enjoy a more relaxed outdoor experience, you can also book the BBQ pits available in East Coast Park and stay in a nearby chalet, or try glamping in one of the big white tents set up along the park. There are toilets within 10-20 minutes of walking distance from almost any area of the park as well, so it is pretty convenient to wash the BBQ cutlery or even the sand from playing at the beach.

The best time to visit would be slightly before sunrise until late morning before the sun gets too hot to enjoy what the park has to offer, be it the good view for exercising or simply to get a breath of fresh air. As a very popular exercise spot in Singapore, it does get very crowded especially after office hours until around 9pm or so on weekdays, not to mention the weekends.

Singapore Wake Park

Those looking for a wet adventure to cool off the humid heat can head to the Singapore Wake Park at the East Coast lagoon located in East Coast Park and try out fun new wakeboarding skills and tricks in the cable-ski circuit. The wakeboarding areas are divided into Systems A, B, and C based on the difficulty level (from easiest to hardest).

Children have to be 6 years old and above to participate, plus all participants need to know basic swimming skills before going for wakeboarding. System A is also suitable for both young children and beginners, with the instructor present to ensure their safety while teaching the basics of wakeboarding, as there’s only a single person that can be carried by the cable-ski system at any time. The more experienced wakeboarders can head directly to Systems B and C to try out more advanced techniques and these areas do not have an instructor, unlike System A.

Get ready for a fun time outdoors with sun-kissed skin together with your family, and be prepared to splutter plenty of seawater with every antic you pull while skidding off the wakeboard.

Maxwell Food Centre

Singapore is also known as the land of foodies. From Western cuisine to East Asian cuisine, you name it, there’s a store in Singapore that sells it. As a multiracial melting pot of many cultures, it’s reflected in the local food areas. Instead of typical restaurants that sell a fixed cuisine, Singapore has food courts and hawker centers made up of different stalls that each sell a different cuisine. Don’t be surprised if you find more than 5 different culture’s types of food in a single food court!

One of the most famous stalls you can try at Maxwell Food Centre is Tian Tian chicken rice, with snaking long queues that start way before it’s time for your lunch break. There was a small uproar when Tian Tian’s main chef left to open up his own chicken rice stall a few years back (and opened his store just 3 stalls down from Tian Tian!), featuring similar tasting dishes with a shorter queue, which is great for those who want to scarf down their favorite dish faster.

Maxwell also features hawkers well-known for their local fares too, such as Zhen Zhen Porridge with their thick, succulent congee, or Old Nyonya with their aromatic Nonya laksa. For the uninitiated, congee is a thicker porridge of Cantonese origin and has a different consistency than rice soaked in water, taking a longer time to cook to perfection. Laksa uses coconut to create a fragrant, mildly spicy orange broth, typically prepared with seafood such as dried baby shrimp or prawn paste, and certain spices like galangal and turmeric to create that distinctive look and smell before it is topped off with noodles, fresh prawns and fishcake (and more!).

Come prepared beforehand with packets of tissue paper to “chope” seats! Placing tissues or other non-valuable items like water bottles or umbrellas on the empty table signals to locals that the table’s taken.

Kampong Glam

Located a short distance away from the Central Business District, this neighborhood has kept its historical charm with traditional-styled shophouses decorating both sides of the roads, lined with Muslim and Indian-themed boutiques and food stalls. Nearby is Haji Lane, decorated brightly with handpainted murals along the entire shophouse walls, eventually leading to the bright, gold-painted roof of a mosque. If you’re there during the Muslim prayer time, you can also hear the distinct singing echoing throughout the area as people gather towards the mosque. Don’t worry if it’s not your religion, you don’t need to do anything but enjoy the chant-like singing like plenty of other locals milling around.

Though there is a distinct lack of shelter between the rows of shops in Kampong Glam, it doesn’t stop crowd goers from frequenting this area during immensely hot days to visit the unique shops during the day and explore the bars at night. There’s always something interesting to look at when you’re shopping around.

A local treat hidden among the shophouses is the Tarik shop in Arab street, selling milky tea that’s poured and “pulled” before it’s handed to you hot or iced depending on your order. The shop doesn’t have seats, so grab and go with a cup of refreshing goodness to continue your journey exploring Singapore.

Clarke Quay

Lights, camera, action! But instead of heavy cameras, you’re probably only bringing your phones.

This place is one of the most iconic tourist spots of Singapore, well-lit with bright lights and a bustling nightlife with a panoramic view of a short section of the Singapore River. You can start your adventure right outside Clarke Quay Central building and loop your way past all the bars and restaurants on one side of the river before heading across the bridge to go to the other side. Take your pick on which shop you want to try, but do make a reservation where possible as it can get really crowded by dinnertime.

You can travel down the river as well by the Singapore River Cruise, or hop on the Slingshot bungy ride to have exhilarating fun in the air. Otherwise, photography enthusiasts can walk towards the Anderson Bridge or Cavenagh Bridge nearby to snap their moments. Families with kids can also take this time to simply spend a leisurely walk and bond over the moment with the beautiful sights of the city and its reflection in the river.

All in all, it’s a good place for relaxation and a way to wind down after a long, busy day in the city.

Conclusion

Singapore is a beautiful and outdoors-friendly garden city to visit for travelers from all around the world, even more so from neighboring countries like Malaysia. Depending on your country of origin, make sure you have all your visa requirements in place before you travel to Singapore.

Other than that, have a relaxed and stress-free trip and get the most out of your time with these outdoor activities in Singapore. This island city has both nature-rich attractions and outdoor areas to visit or shop, not to mention the quality and affordable hotels across the island. With so many activities for the family, you won’t experience a dull moment in Singapore. Why not head out and experience it?