It was our first time in Singapore. And actually – our first stop in Asia on our family gap year trip. Would we be able to find our feet backpacking in Singapore with kids?!
It turned out to be a great first stop – safe and easy to get around with some areas that literally seem set up just for families.
Plus, we wanted to get out and see a more local side to Singapore. Namely with the goal for hunting down some ‘Hawker Centres’ which we had heard so much about…
Here is what we loved most about Singapore with kids.
Hawker Centres – Singapore with kids
The food scene of Singapore is definitely worth all the raving. We became hooked on hawker centres!
‘Hawker Centres’ are a common sight in Singapore, and are literally an open-air complex housing different kinds of stalls and booths that sell a wide variety of food at inexpensive prices.
We ate dumplings (far too many dumplings!).
And ‘Grass Jelly’. And something else pretending to have something to do with cashews and tofu…
East Coast Bay Park
We knew Singapore was renowned to be well set up for families. And as soon as we set out on day one to explore East Coast Bay Park we could feel it everywhere.
Singapore with kids is easy. The playgrounds are massive, free, and dotted around regularly. Even the public toilets have tiny toilets and special sections for children!
We hired bikes, including one for Harry, and cycled right along the waterfront park towards Marina Bay.
The Skywalk and Gardens by the Bay
We definitely took a moment to admit and enjoy being our touristy-selves atop the Skywalk at Gardens by the Bay. It’s incredible!
Amazing views of Singapore and the harbour, and indoor walks that have you literally winding up through tree-top gardens and waterfalls, with different sections dedicated to different climates and regions of the world!
- Tip: A note for the Skywalk though. It is also slightly wobbly when walking. (I am still in trouble for getting the giggles!) .
Exploring Joo Chiat – Singapore with kids
Joo Chiat is an area in the east of Singapore known for its multicultural heritage: Malays, Indians, Peranakans and Eurasians.
That is definitely apparent on a first walk up Joo Chiat road – you can find shops, restaurants, food, mosques, and temples that represent all of those cultures.
It is a great location to enjoy parts of that history of Singapore with kids, and to find out a bit more about the colourful cultural mix that it represents today.
Where we stayed in Singapore with kids
- Joo Chiat: Betel Box Hostel
We loved Betel Box!
We stayed there on week two of our trip (after an amazing week in Fiji) and when we arrived back at the end of the year it was such a nice feeling to be welcomed again by owner Uncle Tong; “Oh my goodness! Look how much you two have grown!”
Betel Box is in Joo Chiat Katong.
It’s easy to find by bus from the airport (even arriving late at night/early hours of the morning). And a great location for nearby restaurants and hawker centres with only a 20-30 minute walk to East Coast Park Beach.
Getting around Singapore with kids
Its easy to walk and bus around Singapore!
We made the most of using the Grab app for taxis, and were supported by the hostel to figure out the best ways for us to navigate Singapore with kids and to reach each of the destinations we had planned for.
Budget for our time in Singapore with kids
This is our daily budget for travel in Singapore with kids…
- Average daily spend (food, transport, admissions etc): $140 NZD
- Average accommodation per night: $110 NZD
More about travel planning for Singapore and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world.
- Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home).
Read more about travel in Asia
- The ultimate travel guide for Japan with kids.
- Fushimi Inari Shrine: Walking up Mount Inari.
- Taiwan with kids: A complete Travel Guide.
- Taiwanese food: The real deal traveling in Taiwan.
- Visiting Busan’s Jagalchi Market, South Korea.
- Hong Kong: Mount Davis (accidentally) and the Monster Building.
- Pakistan with kids: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan.
- How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
- Our complete packing list for travel in India.